The wealth of Hassan Joho, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, alongside former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, has long sparked public speculation. Many have linked their substantial fortunes to the illicit narcotics trade, fueling debates and rumors. However, both Joho and Kabogo have repeatedly denied any involvement in such activities.
So, how did these two individuals amass their fortunes and become billionaires?
Hassan Joho’s Path to Wealth
Hassan Joho recounts making his first million at the age of 20. His entrepreneurial journey was shaped by the influence of his late grandmother, a tailor, who sparked his interest in business. She would make vitumbua (traditional fried rice cakes) every afternoon, and Joho would help sell them. This early exposure to salesmanship sharpened his business skills.
“I would hawk vitumbua, and that’s where I learned to be a really good salesperson,” Joho shared with Churchill Show host Daniel Ndambuki.
Despite his poor performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, Joho worked part-time during school breaks, loading and offloading scrap metal at the Old Port. It was during these times that he learned the ins and outs of importation, clearing, and forwarding, including understanding the necessary documentation. This experience laid the groundwork for his breakthrough in business.
“My first major transaction was at the age of 20. I got a clearing and forwarding job and received a Sh6.6 million cheque. It was the first time I had seen such money, and I thought, ‘This is it,’” Joho revealed in a 2022 interview.
As of now, Joho’s wealth is estimated at Ksh2.36 billion.
William Kabogo’s Path to Wealth
Like Joho, William Kabogo also began his career in Mombasa. He started working at the age of 22 and spent years building his fortune.
“I started working at 22 in Mombasa and have worked hard throughout the years,” Kabogo said. “I am one of Kenya’s real estate developers. I don’t boast about it, but I don’t engage in illicit businesses,” he clarified in a 2018 interview on Citizen TV’s JKL show.
Kabogo’s big break came at 27, when he entered the car importation business. “I made my money in the 1990s. I used to sell cars. My last shipment was over 100 cars from Japan. If you’re making Sh100,000 on one car, how much is that?” he explained.
His success didn’t stop there. Kabogo later became a supplier for the now-defunct Nakumatt Supermarket, though he clarified that he was not a shareholder in the retail chain. “I used to supply Nakumatt with goods. People tend to think I’m fabulously wealthy. In Kiambu, if they see a building, they immediately assume it belongs to me,” he remarked.
Both Joho and Kabogo’s stories underscore their entrepreneurial spirit and hard work, providing an insight into how they built their empires without the involvement of illicit businesses, despite the public speculation surrounding their wealth.
