One time during former President Moi’s era, civil servants particularly teachers, faced months of unpaid salaries. This prompted them to hold placards and banners to demand their wages in countrywide strikes.
One of the names that came to the rescue in the 80s & 90s salary crisis was that of Western tycoon Ibrahim Ambwere. In an offer that shocked the nation, Ambwere offered to pay all teachers their salaries, which amounted to Sh. 48 million.
At the time, Sh. 48 million wealth was by no means little money. This is despite it coming from a man with a humble background and little formal education. He seemingly had it all.
Ibrahim Ambwere’s name easily rings a bell in any of Kenya’s busiest towns. Worth billions and a man shrouded in mystery, Ambwere has diverse business interests that place him in the billionaire category.
He deliberately fails to keep a public persona admitting that he wants to avoid the watchful & glaring eye of the media. However, above all, he is a man who values education.
Ambwere philanthropy extended to constructing schools and libraries in Western Kenya, as well as sponsoring needy students. It would only be a fitting narrative to see his children ascend the academic ladder and use their education in global corporate offices.
Ibrahim Ambwere: Tycoon who once offered to pay all teachers their salaries
Ambwere’s twins, Nicholas Abwunza and Timothy Mudasia have chosen to keep a low profile, which mirrors their father’s approach despite coming from an extremely rich background.
The twins have a track record of over 15 years of experience in the corporate world. They set out to prove that being wealthy doesn’t guarantee a soft & fulfilling life; only hard work does.
They were born and raised in Chavakali, Vihiga County where their father holds several investments to his name. The Mudasia brothers attended Kenyan schools before taking different paths after attending Vihiga High School.
Tim Mudasia pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Management at Moi University before furthering his studies in Australia. On the other hand, Nicholas pursued his A levels in Uganda before enrolling at Makerere University.
The twins were mainly raised by their mother, a medical practitioner known for her strictness on education matters, a value shared by their father.
“Their mum loves education so much and was a member of several school committees. She served at Kakamega Hospital and Mbale Hospital before retiring,” one source close to the family spoke in confidentiality.
“Having not had a chance to get quality education, their father heavily invested in their education, and this has seen Nick and Tim forge different paths from that taken by their old man.”
Tim, the elder twin, currently serves as a consultant at ESSSuper in Australia. He is a key financial advisor to government and NGO entities managing multi-billion dollar pension funds and insurance portfolios, with a focus on emergency and state departments.
Now a father of two, Timothy Mudasia, has held positions at prominent companies in Australia, including the National Australia Bank, as well as renowned wealth advisory firms like AMP and MLC.
On the other hand, Nicholas Mudasia currently serves as the Chief Human Resource, Public Affairs and Communication Officer for Coca-Cola in Africa.
He has previously led various companies across Africa, the United Kingdom, and Israel, including renowned brands such as Carlsberg, Kansai Plascon, GT Bank, MTN Group, and Kenya Airways.
The twins have forged their own paths and become independent of their father’s wealth through the education he provided. In Mandela’s words, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”