Muthokinju Paints & Cement is a building materials supplier that has recently gained popularity among players in the construction industry across the country.

The business has a physical presence in many areas across the country, including Juja, Ngong, Rongai, Karatina, Kenol, Kasarani, Embu, Thika, Murang’a, Kitengela, and Kiambu Road, among others.

Muthokinju Paints was founded by Susan Muthoni Kimani and Barnabas Njuguna. The name of the business was coined from the names of the founders Muthoni (MUTHO), Kimani (KI), and Njuguna (NJU) – MUTHOKINJU.

Susan was a businesswoman who operated a restaurant in Kenyatta market. She however opted to shut down the business and explore other fields that did not involve the sale of perishable goods.

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The two settled on setting up hardware which a few years later proved to be a wise decision. Their first hardware and paint store was established in 1995 in Kasarani, Nairobi.

It was not long before the company started expanding to other parts of the country, and in 2004, Muthokinju got incorporated as a Limited Company.

Seven years later, the founders passed the business over to their son Benjamin Kimani, who is the Managing director, and his wife, Sarafina Njatha, who is the Operations Director.

Muthokinju Paints has, over the years, achieved tremendous growth, with over 16 branches nationwide and about 150 employees.

Benjamin Kimani attributes the business’s success to a good reputation maintained by his parents from the grass root level.

“I took over a business that already had a good name. I give credit to my parents for building goodwill. I have been able to amplify their values by playing in a bigger space than they did,” Kimani, who took over the business at 24, stated.