John Harun Mwau, famously known as “The Boss,” is a Kenyan and former member of parliament born in 1948 in Kilungu, Kaiti, Makueni County, Kenya.
In October 2025, Mwau made headlines again after filing a petition in the Labour Court to stop the planned recruitment of 10,000 police officers.
He argued that the process was marred by corruption and failed to follow due procedure.
The court agreed and suspended the exercise, sparking national debate on accountability in public service recruitment.
Having been brought up in extreme poverty, Harun Mwau dropped out of formal schooling and joined the Kiganjo Police College in 1968.
Career Life of Harun Mwau
Mwau served as a police officer in Kenya and first gained national recognition through sports.
He represented Kenya in two Olympic Games, competing as a rifle shooter in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and as a pistol shooter in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
His talent as a sharpshooter made him one of Kenya’s finest marksmen, and his international travels during this time later contributed to his wide network of contacts.
After leaving the police force, Mwau ventured into business and gradually built a vast portfolio of companies across different sectors.
He founded Pelt Security Services and later expanded his interests through various firms, including Harun International Limited, Vitu Ltd, Tom Brown Ltd, Kuston Kenya Ltd, JN Records Ltd, Pepe Enterprises Ltd, and the Africa Centre for Hope Initiative.
His reach extended further into real estate and trading through Mwundo Ltd, JH City Ltd, Preme Ltd, Sheltown Ltd, and Sports Champions Ltd. Collectively, these enterprises placed him among Kenya’s wealthiest businessmen, with investments spanning security, logistics, import–export trade, property development, and retail.
Political Career
Harun Mwau is also a notable figure in Kenyan politics.
He founded the Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya (PICK) and served as a Member of Parliament for Kilome from 2007 to 2013.
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Additionally, he was the first director of the now-defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority, though his tenure was cut short after he was declared unfit for the role.
He ran unsuccessfully for Kenya’s presidency in 1992, garnering over 10,000 votes, and later contested for the Makueni senatorial seat in 2013, losing both elections.
Controversies and U.S. Designation
In 2011, the U.S. government designated Mwau under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, accusing him of involvement in drug trafficking.
Mwau strongly denied the claims, dismissing them as politically motivated. Despite the designation, no formal charges were ever filed against him in Kenya, and he has consistently maintained his innocence.
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The same year, an alleged assassination attempt occurred when his vehicle was shot at; no one was injured, and police suggested the incident may have been staged.
Net Worth
After leaving the police, Mwau built a diverse business empire.
Though his exact networth is not publicised, Harun Mwau is ranked among billionaires as his wealth is estimated in billions, though a portion of his assets was frozen by the U.S. government in 2011 over alleged drug trafficking, which he has consistently denied.
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