8 Women Entrepreneurs Putting Kenya on the Global Business Map

By Amina Faki

“There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard.” – Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first female entrepreneur millionaire.

The business world is purported to be male dominated, despite the hustle a number of Kenyan women have tremendously flourished in this sector as the most successful entrepreneurs:

The following are among top successful and re-known female entrepreneurs in Kenya who have mastered and navigated entrepreneurship world to become CEOs of multibillion companies:

Flora Mutahi, Founder and CEO Melvin’s Tea
Flora Mutahi is the chair lady of Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM). She was appointed the first ever female chairperson of KAM on 21st July 2016.

The Kenyan tea tycoon and founder and CEO Melvin Marsh International started her first Kenyan flavored tea company in the mid-90s.

Before starting the company, she used to work for an auditing firm with clients in food processing. It was at this point that she realized the market gap and demand for flavored tea. She then decided to quit her auditing job and set up her own tea company. Her company is currently worth billions in total assets and serves both local and international markets.

It maybe harder for us women, but we need to work hard… – Ms @FloraMutahi #WomeninmanufacturingKE #GenderBellKE pic.twitter.com/TmZbKWgHWx

— KAM (@KAM_kenya) March 7, 2017

She believes that the call to recognize the economic value of women is not a call towards ‘women empowerment’ but rather, it is a wake-up call to embrace smart economics.

Tabitha Karanja, Founder and CEO Keroche Breweries

Tabitha Karanja started her breweries company. She launched Keroche Breweries in 1997, initially making fortified wine and later moving into spirits and, from 2008, beer using capital acquired from her hardware in Naivasha.

Her company, Keroche Breweries is the second largest liquor producing company in Kenya after East Africa Breweries Limited.

Women entrepreneurs have to work harder than their male counterparts in order to succeed because of the need to balance family and work

— Tabitha Karanja (@TabithaKaranja) July 20, 2015

Its main brands are Summit Lager, summit Malt, Valley wines, Pinotage’, Savignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Crescent Range of Spirits and Viena Ice and Viena Ice Ready to Drink Vodkas.

Gina Din Kariuki, Founder and CEO Gina Din

The 55-year-old Gina Dina is a successful business woman and mother of two from Nanyuki. She is specialized in strategic communication and public relations. Former Barclays Bank employee was named one of top 100 most influential Africans in business by the New African Magazine.

Women entrepreneurs are a safe bet @BarackObama #GES2015Kenya pic.twitter.com/O0iVEqMaJU

— GINA DIN (@gina_din) July 25, 2015

Gina Din Kariuki is the founder and CEO of Gina Din; a leading independent and indigenous strategic communications agency in East Africa.

Judith Owigar, Co-Founder of Akirachix

Judith co-founded Akirachix in 2010 at iHub. Her desire to see a bigger representation of women in technology is what prompted her to start the organization with her colleagues. The organization has grown since 2010 from holding only meet-ups to running 4 successful initiatives: i.e. high school outreach program, the training program, kids outreach program and community building program.

Njeri Rionge, Founder Wananchi Online

Njeri Rionge one of the pioneers of the ICT sector in Africa. She is the Founder of multi – billion companies Wananchi Online, Wananchi Group Holdings, Ignite Consulting, Insite Limited, Business LAunch, Njeri Rionge Business Consulting Inc.
Wananchi Group holdings which Njeri Rionge co-founded is one of East Africa’s leading providers of pay-tv, broadband internet, and VoIP services.

Olive Gachara, Founder Couture African Magazine
Olive is the founder of Olive Image and Couture Africa Magazine which is an image consultant and a magazine publishing firm.
The 31-year-old Kenyan fashion-preneur is a Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, Certified Image Consultant, Fashion Stylist, Fashion Show Producer, Model Agent, Speaker, and Mentor. She is a self-made business person who is indeed making a difference in the East African.

Julie Gichuru, Founder Arimus Media Ltd and African Media Personality
Julie Gichuru is an entrepreneur and African media personality. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arimus Media Limited, a production house focused on quality AFRICAN content, and MIMI HOLDINGS LTD, a fashion retail business.
The 43-year-old mother of 5 has worked for various media houses in the country.
She initially worked for Capital FM then moved to KTN, later on, she worked at NTV before moving to Royal Media Services.

Waceke Nduati, Founder and CEO Centonomy
Waceke founded Centonomy LTD in 2009 with the vision to help people interact with their money more wholesomely and better use it as a tool to live out their dreams.

She was nominated as one of the Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs in November 2007.She regularly speaks on money, entrepreneurship and career success on Citizen TV, KTN, K24, NTV, KBC and Capital FM.
Waceke Nduati has been the Financial Columnist for The Daily Nation’s Saturday Magazine since 2011.