See also
Wikiquote has quotations related to Jennifer Riria .
Jennifer Riria | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Alma mater | University of Dar es Salaam (Bachelor of Arts in Education) University of Leeds (Master of Arts) Kenyatta University (Doctor of Philosophy) |
| Occupation(s) | Businesswoman, academic |
| Years active | 1991 — present |
| Known for | Microfinance banking, women's empowerment efforts [1] |
| Title | Group Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Women Holding Group |
Jennifer Riria, is a Kenyan businesswoman, corporate executive, banker, and academic who serves as the group chief executive officer of Kenya Women Holding Group, a microfinance, banking and insurance group serving nearly one million mostly rural Kenyan women. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Riria was born in Kenya. She was the fourth-born in a family with 10 children. She attended a primary school every day, about 4 kilometres (2 mi), from home, traveling barefoot. [1]
She was admitted to Precious Blood High School, an all-girls boarding school administered by the religious order of the Sisters of the Precious Blood, [5] located in Nairobi, Kenya's capital and largest city. At the end of high school, Riria became pregnant. [1]
After giving birth, she went on to study at the University of Dar es Salaam on a scholarship. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She then earned a Master of Arts degree in Education Administration from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. Later, Riria obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Women's Education and Development, from Kenyatta University. [1] [6]
Following her first degree, Riria taught at Kabete Technical Institute for six months followed by one year at State House Girls High School. [6] In 1979, after her second degree, she returned to her native Kenya and registered for her Doctorate degree at the Kenyatta University. She also began lecturing, part-time at the same university. [6] [7]
In 1991, she joined Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT), a microfinance financial institution, founded in 1982. As at 1991, when Riria arrived KWFT was in bad shape, understaffed, and losing money. Riria worked as CEO, janitor, accountant, loan officer and receptionist. Her efforts began to bear fruit and the institution stabilized. [6] [8] In 2010, the institution was split into Kenya Women Microfinance Bank and Kenya Women Holding Limited. The holding company then re-branded to Echo Network Africa Limited, in February 2018. [9] Riria is the incumbent CEO of the holding company. [6] [8]
Dr. Jennifer Riria was the winner of the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award, or Kenya in 2014. She is also serves as chairwoman of Women's World Banking, a global microfinance network consisting of over 53 MFIs from 30 countries. [1] Riria is a supporter and promoter of the Educate the Net 235 Girls programme. The initiative supports needy girls in their education. [6]
She has served on the boards of Kenyan and international organizations, including at the Nairobi Stock Exchange, being the first female to serve in that capacity. She has also served on the boards of Jitegemee Trust Limited, a microfinance company, National Bank of Kenya, and Kenya Post Office Savings Bank. [7]
Jennifer Riria is the author of two books; an autobiography and A History of Higher Education in Kenya. Both books were launched in June 2014. [10]
Kenyatta University (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Nairobi County, Kenya. It acquired the status of university in 1985, being the third university after University of Nairobi (1970) and Moi University (1984). As of October 2014, it was one of 23 public universities in the country.
Anne Mumbi Waiguru, EGH, is the second Governor of Kirinyaga County in Kenya, who has been in office since 22 August 2017. She was re-elected to office as Governor for her second 5 year term in the elections that were held on 9th August 2022. Previously, she served as the first Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Devolution and Planning. She was nominated by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta to the position on 25 April 2013. She is behind the establishment of Huduma Centres, places where Kenyan citizens can access government services more efficiently at their respective counties. as well as the 30% procurement rule, which accords at least 30 per cent of all supply contracts to the government to the youth, persons with disability and women.
Maasai Mara University (MMU),, is a public university in Kenya.
Kenya Women Microfinance Bank, formerly Kenya Women Finance Trust or KWFT, is a deposit-taking microfinance bank in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community.
Emma Miloyo is a Kenyan architect, who was reported, in 2017, to be the first woman president of the Architectural Association of Kenya. She serves as the first female president of the Architectural Association of Kenya since 2017. In October 2016, Archinect.com listed her among the five Emerging Female Architects of East Africa, in African Great Lakes region countries.
Eddah Wacheke Gachukia is a Kenyan educationist and entrepreneur. She is a co-founder of the Riara Group of Schools that includes Riara University.
Lily Chepkorir Koros Tare is a Kenyan medical administrator, who serves as Administration Secretary in the Kenya Ministry of Health, effective December 2018.
Sylvia Shitsama Nyamweya, is a Kenyan consultant neurosurgeon at the Kenyatta National Referral Hospital. She is the first female neurosurgeon in Kenya and one of a handful of female neurosurgeons in the country.
Borna Nyaoke is a Kenyan physician and clinical researcher, who works as a Manager of Clinical Trials at Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative/ Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (DNDi/GARDP). She previously worked as a Clinical Trial Manager at the KAVI Institute of Clinical Research, based in the University of Nairobi.
Esther Muchemi, accountant, businesswoman, entrepreneur and corporate executive in Kenya, who serves as the group chief executive officer of the Samchi Group of Companies, a diverse Kenyan conglomerate, whose companies span telecommunications, microfinance, hospitality, real estate, restaurants and ICT.
Topyster Namasaka Muga, is a Kenyan telecommunication and fintech specialist, who is currently serving as the chief executive and founder of Prosper App. Before launching her own venture in July 2020, her immediate former role was senior director of Financial Inclusion Africa, at Visa Inc., based in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. Prior to that, she headed Airtel Money in Kenya.
Susane Nabulindo Masakhwe is a Kenyan consultant anesthesiologist at the Kenyatta National Referral Hospital. Her specialty is pediatric anesthesiology, a specialty where, in 2014, there were only five qualified Kenyans in the field. She is one of a very small number of female pediatric anesthesiologists in the country. She also concurrently serves as a lecturer in the Department of Anesthesia at the University of Nairobi, Kenya's largest public university.
Lizzie Muthoka Wanyoike,, is a Kenyan businesswoman, entrepreneur, educator and philanthropist, who is the founder and chief executive officer of the Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS).
Joyce Mbui, is a Kenyan lawyer, who is a Partner at Coulson Harney LLP, a law firm, based in Nairobi, Kenya's capital city. Coulson Harney LLP, is a member of the Bowman Law Firm Network, headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with offices in Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Kampala and Nairobi.
Maggie Ireri, is a Kenyan businesswoman and market research professional, who serves as the CEO of TIFA Research Limited, a market research company, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya's capital city. She is also an award-winning market researcher professional, recognized for her contribution to the development of research methodologies for Africa, by regional research bodies such as Pan Africa Media Research Organisation (PAMRO) and South Africa Market Research Association (SAMRA).
Mercy Gakuya is a Kenyan politician. She is a member of Jubilee Party and the member of parliament for Kasarani Constituency.
Peninnah Gathoni Muchomba popularly known as Gathoni Wa Mucomba is Kenyan entrepreneur and politician. She is the Kiambu County Women representative in the bicameral Kenyan parliament and a member of the ruling political party, Jubilee Party of Kenya. She vied and won the Kiambu women representative post in the 2017 General election. Gathoni garnered 922,829 votes from Kiambu county constituents becoming the third highest candidate with the majority votes after President Uhuru Kenyatta and the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Jennifer Kabura Karina, is a Kenyan businesswoman, "psychologist, certified professional coach, energy leadership practitioner, public speaker and author". Effective July 2021, she serves as the chairperson of the board of directors at the Kenya Reinsurance Corporation, a publicly traded company on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Before she was appointed to her current position, she was a member of the board at Kenya RE and chaired the human resources and nominations committee of that board.
Terry Ramadhani Kiunge, commonly referred to as Terry Kiunge, is a Kenyan businesswoman, human resource professional and corporate executive who was, in May 2022, appointed as the chief executive officer (CEO), at Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). Before her current position, she worked as the director of human resources at Aga Khan University, based in Nairobi, Kenya. She also previously served as a board member on the KEMSA board of directors.
Liz Aluvanze, is a Kenyan aeronautical engineer, businesswoman, aviation consultant and corporate executive, who serves as the chief executive officer of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) since September 2022. The association brings together operators of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, hot air balloons, remotely-piloted drones, approved aviation maintenance organizations and approved aviation training institutions in Kenya.