In this article, I will take you through the top 20 richest companies in Kenya.
These are companies that have really changed the outlook of Kenya as a country by putting a positive impact on Kenya’s economy.
These are companies that have been creating quite a large amount of revenue for the country and making sure that Kenyans get a place to earn their daily bread.
Top 20 Richest Companies in Kenya
Safaricom – Richest Company In Kenya
Safaricom PLC is a listed Kenyan mobile network operator headquartered at Safaricom House in Nairobi, Kenya.
It is the largest telecommunications provider in Kenya, and one of the most profitable companies in the East and Central African region.
By the end of the fiscal year 2019, Safaricom made a net profit of 63.4 billion which was 14.7% profit from the 2018 fiscal year.
East African Breweries Ltd
East African Breweries Limited, commonly referred to as EABL, is a Kenyan-based holding company that manufactures branded beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages.
It’s headed by Andrew Cowan as the managing director.
EABL is one of the richest companies in Kenya with its net revenue for the fiscal year 2019 being 82.5 billion, a 12% rise from 2018.
Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Kenya Airways, is the flag carrier airline of Kenya.
The company was founded in 1977, after the dissolution of East African Airways. Their head office is located in Embakasi, Nairobi, with its hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
It is one of the top 20 richest companies in Kenya with over 160,000 million worth of assets.
Kenya Commercial Bank
KCB Bank Kenya Limited is a financial services provider headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It is licensed as a commercial bank, by the Central Bank of Kenya, the national banking regulator.
As per the last year 2019, KCB Bank hit a net profit of 12.7 billion thus one of the richest companies in the country.
Nation Media Group
Nation Media Group is a Kenyan media group listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. NMG was founded by Aga Khan IV in 1959 and is the largest private media house in East and Central Africa with offices in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
In 1999, NMG launched NTV, a news channel in Kenya, and Easy FM.
Although their net profits dipped by 24% last year, NMG remains one of the top 20 richest companies in Kenya.
Britam – Richest Insurance Company in Kenya
Britam Holdings Limited, the richest insurance company in Kenya, previously known as British-American Investments Company, is a diversified financial services group and is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange as wells as the best insurance company in Kenya.
It has subsidiaries such as Britam Insurance, British-America Assets Managers, Britam Properties Ltd, etc. It has branches in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Malawi.
In the first six months of 2019, Britam reported a 2.4 billion profit, making it one of the best paying private companies in Kenya.
Royal Media Services
This is one of the largest media groups in Kenya owned by a tycoon, SK Macharia.
The company owns Citizen Tv, Inooro Tv, Citizen Radio, Hot 96, and quite a number of other local radio stations.
Royal Media Services is one of the richest private companies in Kenya with one of its employees, Jeff Koinange getting a salary of Ksh 2 million per month.
Deloitte – Largest and Most reputable firm in Kenya
Deloitte is among the largest and most reputable firms in Kenya. It offers audit and assurance services, financial advisory, risk advisory, consultancy services, and tax services.
It has also been listed among the top 20 richest companies in Kenya.
In 2018, Deloitte had a net profit ratio of 2.7%.
Kenya Power
Kenya Power and Lighting Company, commonly referred to as Kenya Power or KPLC, is a limited liability company that transmits, distributes and retails electricity to customers throughout Kenya.
The Company recorded a profit before tax of Kshs. 334 million for the year ended 30 June 2019.
Bamburi Cement
Bamburi Cement Limited is an industrial company here in Kenya specializing in cement and concrete. The company has operations in Bamburi suburb of Mombasa, it’s headquartered in Nairobi and its stock is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
This is one of the top 20 richest companies in Kenya with over 50 billion worth of assets. The company posted a profit of Ksh 300 for the first six months of 2019.
Centum
Centum Investment Company Plc, commonly known as Centum is a public East African investment company.
It operates as an affiliate of the Kenyan government-owned Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation.
The company’s total assets amount to Ksh 101.764 billion (as of March 2019) and posted a net profit of 4.12 billion for 2019’s financial year.
KRA
Kenya Revenue Authority is an agency of the government of Kenya that is responsible for the assessment, collection, and accounting for all revenues that are due to the government, in accordance with the laws of Kenya.
The company collected over Ksh 628 billion for the first half of the 2019/2020 financial year.
Coca Cola
The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational corporation, and manufacturer, retailer, and marketer of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups.
In Kenya, the company is headquartered in Nairobi and it’s one of the top 20 richest companies in Kenya with its total assets amounting to USD $1.017.
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco plc is a cigarette and tobacco manufacturing company headquartered in London, England.
It is the second-biggest cigarette maker in the world as of 2012. BAT has a market-leading position in over 50 countries and operations in around 180 countries including Kenya.
By the end of the financial year 2019, BAT posted gross revenues of KSh 19.2 billion, after-tax profit of KSh 2.5 billion and a contribution to Government revenue of KSh 9.3 billion.
Airtel
Airtel Kenya Ltd, a subsidiary of Airtel Africa, is the second-largest telecommunications services provider in Kenya after Safaricom PLC.
It has an estimated 9.7 million subscribers and a 19.7% market share. Airtel Kenya previously operated as Kencell, Celtel, and Zain before rebranding to Airtel in November 2010.
Toyota Kenya
Toyota Motor Corporation is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan.
In 2017, Toyota’s corporate structure consisted of 364,445 employees worldwide and, as of December 2019, was the tenth-largest company in the world by revenue.
It’s one of the top 20 richest companies in Kenya and it’s headquartered in Nairobi.
Cytonn Investments
Cytonn Investments, whose complete name is Cytonn Investments Management PLC is an independent investment management firm with offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Metropolitan Washington DC, United States of America.
It’s one of the largest companies in Kenya with current projects totaling over Ksh 82 billion.
Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered PLC is a British multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in London, England.
It operates a network of more than 1,200 branches and outlets across more than 70 countries and employs around 87,000 people.
Standard Chartered Bank in Kenya is headquartered in Nairobi and has its total assets amounting to Ksh 220.39 billion.
The bank posted a profit of 6.9 billion in the financial year 2019.
Serena Hotels
Serena Hotels is a hospitality company that operates upscale hotels and resorts in East Africa, Southern Africa, and South Asia.
Serena Hotels Kenya is one of the biggest companies in Kenya.