Sam Mburu is a prominent businessman based in Nakuru, known for his heavy investments in Kenya’s real estate sector. A close associate of President William Ruto, Mburu played a significant role during the 2013 URP campaigns. Media reports suggest that he also financed Susan Kihika’s campaign during the 2017 general elections.
Relationship with Susan Kihika
Mburu met Susan Kihika during the 2013 elections, shortly after she returned to Kenya from a 20-year stay in the United States. Their bond grew quickly, and in November 2020, the couple tied the knot in a colorful African-themed traditional wedding ceremony held in Laikipia. The event was graced by top politicians, including President William Ruto, MP Oscar Sudi, and Hon. Aisha Jumwa.
Interestingly, Kihika is 10 years older than Mburu — she is currently 48 years old.
Business Interests and Early Life
Mburu is a director at Landmark Freight Services, a company headquartered in Mombasa with two additional branches in China. The logistics firm is reported to earn approximately KSh10 million in monthly revenue.
Apart from the freight business, he owns numerous rental properties across the country. Born and raised in Solai, Nakuru, Mburu comes from humble beginnings. His parents earned a living from charcoal burning, and he himself started off as a soft drinks distributor in Nakuru.
His ex-wife, Beatrice Wanjiku, once revealed that Mburu owns:
- 62 flats in Kitengela
- 43 rental apartments on Airport North Road, Embakasi
- 15 rental houses in Nakuru
- Six luxury cars
Separation from Beatrice Wanjiku
Mburu and his ex-wife, Beatrice Wanjiku, were married in 2003 and had two children together before parting ways. After the separation, Mburu moved in with Susan Kihika, which led to a highly publicized custody and maintenance court battle.
Beatrice accused Mburu and his new partner of mistreating the children. In court documents, she claimed Kihika verbally abused the kids and that Mburu was rarely present when they visited him. She sought KSh757,000 in monthly child support and alleged that she had significantly contributed to the family’s wealth. Beatrice stated she left a well-paying job to help run their family’s electrical goods business at her husband’s request.
In response, Mburu claimed his income was unstable and averaged around KSh500,000 per month, with most of it going towards loans and other expenses. He offered a monthly contribution of KSh136,000 for the children.
Eventually, the court ruled in favor of joint custody and awarded KSh597,000 per month in child maintenance, including KSh140,000 for food.
Tax Evasion Allegations
In 2019, Mburu faced legal trouble after being accused of evading taxes amounting to KSh64 million. He was alleged to have collaborated with officials from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) and two companies — Gendipe Enterprises and Rupai Trading Limited — to undervalue imported goods from Dubai.
Investigations revealed that the companies declared imports as machinery, while the goods were actually cooking oil. Mburu’s freight company, Landmark, was linked to the scandal, and six of his cars were reportedly seized during the probe. Senior Counsel Tom Ojienda was also arrested in connection with the matter.
