List of Richest People from Western Kenya, Their Businesses and Properties
- The Western Kenya region has four counties, with Kakamega being the richest, while Vihiga is the poorest
- Vihiga tycoon Ibrahim Abwere is among the wealthiest businesspeople from the region, as he owns several commercial buildings
- Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi disclosed his net worth during his vetting by the National Assembly
TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto has over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting and offers deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.
Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, and Kakamega are the four counties that make up Western Kenya.
Source: Twitter
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The total population of the aforementioned counties surpasses five million according to the 2019 census.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) revealed that Kakamega is the richest county, with a Gross County Product (GCP) of KSh 291,817.
On the other hand, Vihiga is the poorest devolved unit in the region, with a GCP of 109,075.
GCP is the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within each of Kenya's 47 counties.
Western Kenya is home to several prominent millionaires and billionaires who have significant property holdings.
Who are the richest people from Western Kenya?
1. Ibrahim Abwere
Vihiga tycoon Ibrahim Abwere is among the wealthiest businesspeople from Western Kenya.
In the 1980s, The Standard reported that he proposed to save the government by paying KSh 48 million (about KSh 4 billion today) in overdue teacher salaries.
He owns several rental properties as well as business structures such as Ambwere Towers, Ambwere Furaha, Ambwere Plaza, and Ambwere Complex.
Ambwere's story is a perfect illustration of the rags-to-riches myth since he built an enterprise worth millions of shillings from humble beginnings as an illiterate.
2. Julius Mwale
Julius Mwale, a Kakamega tycoon who resides in the US, is the mastermind of Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC), which is valued at over KSh 200 billion.
He was born in Lunza village, Butere sub-county.
After moving to the US, he established a biometrics-focused company in the US called SBA Technologies.
The Kenyan tycoon made $2 million (KSh 258.4 million) from the wave-based biometric system that the New York-based company invented.
Business Daily reported that in October 2021, Mwale placed the highest bid of KSh 27.6 billion for the leasing of debt-ridden Mumias Sugar Company for 20 years, but he failed.
3. Musalia Mudavadi
Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi revealed he is worth KSh 4 billion.
He told the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments that he owns shares and investments in several companies.
"If I take my investments in shares in some companies and also the properties that I own, I will put my net worth at approximately KSh 4 billion," he stated.
He disclosed his sources of income, which include dividends from his shares and interests, rental revenue in Riverside, and income from his farm.
Mudavadi owns multi-million shilling houses in Karen, Riverside, and Vihiga (Mululu). He also has a chopper.
4. Moses Wetang'ula
Moses Wetang'ula was elected the National Assembly speaker after the 2022 General Election.
As a speaker, the former Bungoma senator earns a gross salary of KSh 1.2 million, according to a gazette notice by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
Wetang'ula owns the 360 Court apartments with ultra-modern amenities in Syokimau, according to Business Today.
Source: Twitter
The politician owns a mansion in the lucrative Karen suburb that sits on 10 acres of land and another mansion in Sirisia.
He also runs a law firm, Wetangula and Company Advocates, and was the late retired president Daniel arap Moi's lawyer.
According to Pulse Live Kenya, Wetang'ula's net worth is estimated at KSh 2.4 billion.
5. Francis Atwoli
Francis Atwoli is the long-serving secretary-general of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), having been at the helm of the union's leadership since 2001.
Atwoli was born in Webuye in 1949, but lives in Khwisero, Kakamega, where he owns a multi-million shilling mansion.
He also owns another mansion in Kajiado county, where he hosts politicians frequently.
Atwoli has a farm in Nakuru, which he disclosed is his retirement home.
Besides his salary, his income comes from residential units in Nakuru and Nairobi.
Who are the richest people from Nyanza?
In other news, TUKO.co.ke listed the richest people from Nyanza.
Among them is former prime minister Raila Odinga, who revealed his net worth is KSh 2 billion.
Another wealthy businessman from the region is Benard Odote.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
