Uasin Gishu County, the host of the eighth Devolution Conference, is one of the 47 devolved units in the country.
With a population of 475,716, according to the 2019 National Population Census, the county is the fifth most populous urban area, whose headquarters is Eldoret.
Located within the larger Rift Valley, Uasin Gishu is not only the County of Champions, but also the home of the country’s current president William Ruto, who served as Eldoret North Member of Parliament in his early years into politics.
Unknown to many, the county is also a haven of millionaires, men who wield power and have built vast empires of wealth throughout their lives. So, who are these tycoons?
1. Zedekiah Kiprop Bundotich (Buzeki)
Zedekiah Kiprop Bundotich is one of the richest businessmen in Uasin Gishu and countrywide.
Popularly known as Buzeki, the shrewd businessman cum politician is the Executive Director and founder of Buzeki Group of Companies, a major business conglomerate in Kenya.
He is a self-motivated entrepreneur running one of the most successful logistics and heavy commercial transportation companies in East Africa.
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Buzeki Group of Companies is an amalgamation of companies started in 1999 becoming one of the most successful in East Africa.
In addition, he has tried his luck in the political arena, unsuccessfully vying for the Uasin Gishu gubernatorial seat twice.
Buzeki has expanded his operations to various sectors of the economy to respond to the needs in the Transport & Logistics, Dairy, Oil, Motor-Vehicle & Cement Sector.
2. Swarup Mishra
The former Kesses member of parliament is a wealthy tycoon based in Uasin Gishu.
He is the founder of Mediheal Group of Hospitals, a venture he started in 2006 with over ten branches across the country.
In a past interview, Swarup Mishra said that he travelled to Kenya in search of greener pastures. His move to Kenya was motivated by the competition of medics for jobs in India.
Swarup Mishra is married to Dr. Pallavi Mishra is a lecturer at Moi University. She is also a gynecologist with a key interest in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and high-risk pregnancy.
The couple moved to Kenya in 1999 with just $500 but has invested much and is now worth up to 10billion shillings. He lost the Kesses seat after the UDA primaries in 2022.
3. Jackson Kibor
The late Jackson Kibor was a filthy rich businessman and landowner. Nicknamed ”Chairman of Men Conference” Mzee Jackson Kibor had over the years amassed millions of wealth mostly through land ownership.
Mzee Jackson Kibor who hailed from Kabenes Uasin Gishu county had the following under his name.
- Moiben farm – Among his farming empire, he owned 357 acres of land in Moiben, Uasin Gishu county. He acquired it at Ksh 12 million.
- Kipkabus farm – Kibor purchased his Kipkabus farm for Ksh 35,000 which was a loan from a local bank and a Ksh 55,000 loan from another local bank. He grew maize and had a dairy farm in the 836-acre plot of land.
- Kabenes farm – He owned 1,543 acres of land in Kabenes, Uasin Gishu which he bought in 1969. The agricultural land was valued at Ksh 220,000 then.
4. Uasin Gishu, Home of William Ruto
The fifth President of Kenya is among the richest people in the country making him one of the richest in his home county of Uasin Gishu.
William Ruto’s investments are in the hotel industry, farming, real estate, and gas industry, among others. He owns the Weston and 680 Hotel in Nairobi worth almost Ksh2.5 billion.
He also owns a large poultry farm in Kosachei village in Eldoret rearing 150,000 chickens. In a past interview, he revealed the chicken lay at least 150,000 eggs per day earning him Ksh 1.5 million daily
Ruto’s vast empire includes a 1.2 billion mansion in Moiben, Uasin Gishu. The facility is complete with a private airstrip.
Here are other businesses and properties that President William Ruto owns:
- Kitengela Gas
- Murumbi Farm – Transmara Narok
- ADC Laikipia Mutara Ranch – 15000 acres
- Dolphine Hotel, Mombasa
- Mata Farm, Taita Taveta – 2537 acres
- Private residence Elgon View
- Private Residence in Kosachei Eldoret
In addition, President Ruto owns 3 Euro copter Helicopters, a Mansion in Karen, and a fleet of cars worth millions.
5.David Langat
David Langat is a wealthy entrepreneur and corporate executive who runs a multimillion business empire.
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Even with a low profile, David Langat has risen through the ranks in the business world becoming one of the wealthiest in Uasin Gishu county.
He initially invested in the import and export business, before stretching to agribusiness, real estate, energy, hospitality, insurance, and, more recently, special economic zones (SEZs).
