The Kalenjin community is one of the largest in Kenya, it is mostly known for producing the best athletes in the country. The athletes from Rift Valley are known in participating in a Long distance run.
The community has also produced many rich businessmen and politicians who have a big influence in Kenya’s economic growth.
The current President of Kenya is among the most influential people in the community.
According to a list compiled by whownskenya, these are the 10 richest tycoons from the Kalenjin community:
Daniel Moi’s family
The family of the late Retired President Daniel Moi ranks as one of the richest in the country. Moi’s family owns and controls many economic ventures ranging from manufacturing, agriculture, education, real estate and many others. According to Moi’s grandson Collins Kibet Toroitich, his family’s net worth is over KSh 300 billion.
According to a report released by Oxfam International, a global charity organisation, the richest man in Kenya is Sameer Merali with an estimated net worth of US$790 million, an equivalent of Sh89.6 billion.
William Samoei Ruto
Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto, commonly known as Hustler, is indubitably one of the richest Kalenjin men. Alongside his monthly salary of Ksh 1,487,500 which excludes allowances, Ruto has major interests in the hospitality industry owing city hotels like Weston located in Nairobi.
The deputy president is also a majority shareholder in Amaco Insurance, among other companies. His net worth remains unknown but he is definitely worth billions of shillings.
Zedekiah Kiprop Bundotich aka Buzeki
Buzeki is a businessman, farmer and politician who owns Buzeki Group of Companies, a conglomerate dealing in processing and value addition of dairy products. The group also offers transportation services managed under Buzeki Enterprises Limited.
The former Uasin Gishu gubernatorial seat aspirant claimed to have made his first billion in his 30’s prompting Forbes to rank him as one of Kenya’s richest men.
Gideon Kipsiele Towett Moi
Gideon Moi is the last born son to the former president. He has interests in Eagle Airlines, Chemusian Company, Fresh Produce Ltd, Siginon Freight, Car Track Kenya Ltd, First American Bank, Equatorial Bank, The Sasine Group of Farms, Cable and Wireless, Kent Ship Maritime, Sielei properties Ltd, Giant Forex Bureau, Revak Ltd, Giant Holdings, Westfield International Ltd, Chesco Ltd, Hampstead Enterprises, Metipso Services Ltd and Maternity Shop, Sudbury Ltd, Westfield International, Metipso Services Ltd, and Homestead Enterprises.
Additionally, Gideon owns two properties in London held in trust and others in South Africa.
Joshua Kulei
Joshua Kulei doubled as the ex- President Moi’s personal personal assistant and investment manager. His business interests are in the banking industry among other sectors with majority controlling stake in CFC Bank, Sovereign Group, Trade World Kenya, CMC Holdings, Ngata Flower Farm and Sian roses.
Additionally, Mr. Kulei has interests in Kenya Television Network, Bamburi Cement Kenya, Aerotech Ltd, National Milling Company and Signon Freight. Kulei is also a real estate mogul who owns properties in Lavington, Nakuru and Karen.
David Lang’at
David Lang’at is a Kenyan billionaire businessman who is the Chairman and founder of DL Group of Companies. The group owns a number of tea factories not only in the Rift Valley region but also in Tanzania.
Mr. Lang’at recently made news when he launched his KSh200 billion Pearl-River Industrial Park located in Eldoret.
Henry Kosgey
Henry Kiprono Kosgey is a seasoned politician and businessman who served as a member of parliament for Tinderet Constituency.
He was also a Minister for Industrialization and the Chairman of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Kosgey remains to be the longest serving Member of Parliament for Tinderet constituency.
As a businessman he is reported to own large tracts of tea farms.
Jackson Kibor
Jackson Kibor is a retired Kenyan politician, an astute businessman and prominent farmer based in Uasin Gishu county.
He is one of the wealthiest businessmen in Kenya who formerly served as KANU Chairman and a close friend of retired President Daniel Arap Moi.
His wealth is pegged on the more than 3,500 acres of land he owns in Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia. Mzee Kibor owns real estate and prime plots in Kapsabet, Nairobi and Eldoret as well as a fleet of luxury cars.
Charles Keter
As of 2015, the current cabinet secretary, Ministry of Devolution net worth stood at Sh352.8 Million. He served in the powerful Energy docket before he was replaced by Eugene Wamalwa.
Jackson Kiplagat Arap Mandago
Mandago is the first and current Governor of Uasin Gishu County in Kenya. He was first elected Governor in 2013 and later re-elected in 2017 for his second and final term.
Before politics, Mandago served in the Teachers Service Commission, Uasin Gishu Rotary Club and the Agriculture Society of Kenya.
Felix Kiptarus Koskei
Felix Koskei was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on 25 April 2013 and later nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta to serve in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in 2018.
He is among the Kalenjin millionaires in the Rift Valley. The former CS is worth Sh867 million as of 2018.