Pius Ngugi is one of the wealthiest Kenyans. He was born in Kiambu on March 8, 1944.
He is a proud polygamist and is married to Josephine Wambui Ngugi and Kenyan politician Esther Passaris.
He has four children. Ngugi is the owner of Kenya Nut Company which exports macadamia and cashew nuts to various parts of the world.
The company was established in 1974 and has since diversified to include coffee, chocolates and oils. Kenya Nut Company employs over 4,000 people and has farms in excess of 8,000 acres.
The company’s brands include Out of Africa nuts, Nassu Snacks, Aberdare Tea and Leleshwa Wines.
Over the years, Ngugi has grown his nut processing business into one of the biggest on the African continent. On the export market, his macademia nuts are traded and sold under the brand name: ‘Out of Africa’.
The 79-year-old tycoon is the proprietor of Thika Coffee Mills. The company produces and exports special green coffee beans from around the African continent. The company mills coffee from various farms in Kenya, grades and sorts it before exporting.
Ngugi is also a shareholder in the multi-billion Tatu City project, one of Kenya’s special economic zones projects. Tatu City is a 5,000-acre, new city with homes, schools, offices, a shopping district, medical clinics, nature areas, a sports and entertainment complex. The project is located 18km from the Nairobi CBD and expects to host over 250,000 residents once complete.
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Controversy
In 2014, a woman sued Ngugi for KSh9.6 million annual maintenance. Lynette Buddery said she gave birth to Ngugi’s daughter in 2001, but he had abandoned her.
“Ngugi is one of the wealthiest men in the country, owning various business enterprises and properties in and around the city. He is capable of catering for the needs of our daughter but he has refused,” she told court.
However, Ngugi rejected the demands accusing the woman of using the child to extort from him.