Benjamin Kimani is a Kenyan entrepreneur and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Muthokinju Paints & Cement, a family-owned construction materials company in Kenya.
Kimani took over the leadership of the business at 24 and has since overseen its expansion from a small hardware store into a multi-branch enterprise serving customers across the country.
The company has grown into one of Kenya’s recognised suppliers of paints, cement, and other building products.
Currently, the company operates several branches and supplies products used by contractors, developers, and homeowners, positioning itself as a major distributor in Kenya’s construction supply chain.
Benjamin Kimani’s Early Life and Education
Benjamin Kimani grew up closely connected to the family business that his parents had established at the age of 9
“I think, if there’s one big lesson I’ve learnt from my parents, it’s humility. Because they’re always humble and still working up to date. They help us in different roles,” said Benjamin in an interview.
He attended Alliance High School, one of Kenya’s leading secondary schools, before pursuing higher education abroad.
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In 2006, Kimani enrolled at Strathmore University, where he studied for professional account training, completing in 2007.
Kimani then joined Edith Cowan University in 2008 to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance General, graduating in 2010.
While studying in Australia, Kimani also worked part-time to supplement his school expenses, an experience he says helped him understand the value of discipline and hard work.
After completing his B.Com studies, he returned to Kenya and joined the family business, learning the operational aspects of the enterprise and later assuming leadership at the age of 24.
Kimani has also attended Executive and Leadership Programs, including:
- Strathmore University
Executive Development Program (EDP) from December 2017 to December 2018, attaining a First Class Honours. - Strathmore University
Owner Manager Program (OMP) from March 2020 to December 2021.
- Harvard Business School
Boris Groysberg Leadership Series from January 2021 to March 2022.
Net worth of Benjamin Kimani
There is no publicly verified figure for the net worth of Benjamin Kimani.
Because the company is privately owned, its revenues, profits, and shareholder distributions are also not publicly disclosed.
Based on the scale of the business:
- Muthokinju operates multiple branches across Kenya, supplying construction materials and employing more than 200 people
- The company serves contractors, developers, and retail hardware markets
History of Muthokinju Paints & Cement
Muthokinju Paints & Cement was founded in 1995 in Kasarani, Nairobi, by business couple Susan Muthoni Kimani and Barnabas Njuguna.
The company’s name was created by combining parts of the founders’ names: “Mutho” from Muthoni, “Ki” from Kimani, and “Nju” from Njuguna.
Before venturing into the hardware business, the family had operated a restaurant at Kenyatta Market, Ngumo Estate.
The family later decided to shift to the construction materials sector, believing it offered more sustainable opportunities than selling perishable goods, after experiencing losses in the Hotel business.
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The decision led them to establish a small hardware shop selling paints, cement, and building supplies.
The business steadily grew as demand for construction materials increased in Nairobi and surrounding towns.
Over the years, Muthokinju expanded its product range to include paints, adhesives, cement, and decorative materials, which it supplies through partnerships with major manufacturers, and now employs more than 200 people.
In 2004, the company was incorporated as a limited company, a move that helped formalize operations and support expansion plans. New branches were opened within Nairobi and later in other towns across the country.
When Benjamin Kimani assumed leadership, he built on the foundation established by his parents and accelerated the company’s growth.
“I wanted the business to expand more, but I realized that you need to have a structure to grow at that pace. So I slowed down and went back to creating the right structures to make that happen,” said Kimani.
Through digitization, improved logistics, and expanded retail networks, Muthokinju has grown from a single hardware store into a national distributor of building materials across the country.
