In Kenya, politics has always been huge a platform where strong, wealthy, and smart men and women compete with promises. Here is a list of the richest politicians in Kenya.
On the other hand, others see politics as the trickiest and most dangerous game played by politicians. Kenya is one of the countries in Africa where politicians are highly paid since most of the laws are implemented by the politicians.
Politicians contest for different seats such as Member of County Assembly, Member of Parliament, Senator, Governor, and the Presidential seat. The Member of County Assembly is the smallest seat in Kenyan politics and the Presidential seat is the highest seat.
In Kenya political positions are mostly for people who are well connected and perhaps they have “godfathers in that field”.
Moreover, according to the 2014 report done by the New World Wealth showed that people who are politically connected own about 50% of Kenya’s wealth.
Despite Kenya being ranked as lower-middle-income status, Kenyan Members of Parliament are ranked as the second-highest paid in the world.
On the other, President Uhuru Kenyatta was ranked as the fourth highest-paid leader in Africa in May 2021.
In Kenya, MP receives about Sh 710,000 monthly without allowances when allowances are added the amount adds up to about Ksh 1,000,000 monthly. In addition, they are given a 5 million car grant.
1. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta
Uhuru Kenyatta is the current and fourth President of the Republic of Kenya, at the moment he is serving his second term after he was re-elected.
In addition, he is also the son of the first president of the Republic of Kenya. He joined politics in 1997 when he vied for Gatundu South parliamentary but lost to Moses Mwihia.
Uhuru Kenyatta Net Worth
Despite being a politician he is also a businessman and he runs his family’s wealth where they have invested in almost all sectors of the Kenyan economy.
Moreover, his net worth is estimated to be around Ksh 71billion ($650 million). In 2011, he was ranked one of the 40th richest Africans.
This places Uhuru Kenyatta among the richest politicians in Kenya currently.
2. Raila Amolo Odinga
Odinga is a former Prime minister and has been in politics for a very long time and he is considered as one of the most experienced politicians in Kenya.
He is the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga the first vice president of Kenya. Odinga followed in his father’s footsteps and joined politics.
However, his start was not that smooth as he was jailed for seven months together with his father after the 1982 failed coup while attempting to eject the late Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi.
After that, he was charged with treason and jailed for six years. Odinga was released from prison in 1988 and in 1991 he went to Norway after assassins tried to assassinate him. In 1992, he was elected as a member of parliament and served for two years until 1994.
Raila has contested for the office of president four times since 1997 and he is expected to contest for the fifth year in the upcoming general election in 2022.
In 2008, he was appointed to serve as the first Prime minister, after the 2007 post-election violence, serving alongside former president Mwai Kibaki. Odinga is the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Raila Odinga Net Worth
Odinga is not only successful in politics but also in business, Odinga has invested heavily in Gas and Oil industry.
He is the owner of the East Africa Spectre, a021 company established in 1970 and manufactures liquid petroleum gas cylinders. As of 2021 at the age of 76 years, Odinga’s net worth is Ksh 54.4 billion ($500 million).