Ann Njeri Njoroge (born in 1978, Age: 45 years old) is a Kenyan businesswoman who made headlines in 2023 after importing 100,000 metric tonnes of diesel worth Sh17 billion ($153 million) into the country. She is the owner of Ann’s Import and Export Enterprises Ltd, an international company with offices in Kenya and Dubai. She is also involved in other businesses such as real estate, agriculture, and mining.
However, Njeri’s life took a dramatic turn when she disappeared for two days after being summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over the ownership of the oil consignment. She later resurfaced and claimed that she was abducted and tortured by unknown people who wanted to steal her cargo. She also accused some government officials and oil marketers of being behind the plot.
Who is Ann Njeri Njoroge?
Ann Njeri is the owner of Ann’s Import and Export Enterprises Ltd, a company that deals with various products in Kenya and abroad. She is also a billionaire who has a good credit record with her financiers, according to her lawyer Cliff Ombeta.
She is married to John Njoroge, a former banker, and they have three children. Her family lives in a lavish mansion in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi.
Early Life and Education
Njeri was born in 1978 in Nyeri County, Kenya. She is the third-born in a family of six children. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a teacher. She attended Nyeri Primary School and Nyeri High School, where she excelled in academics and sports. She was the captain of the school’s basketball team and also participated in drama and music festivals.
She later joined Kenyatta University, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. She graduated in 2000 and got a job as an environmental officer at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). She worked there for two years before quitting to start her own business.
Career and Business Ventures
Ann Njeri Njoroge started her business career by importing and exporting agricultural products such as coffee, tea, and flowers. She also ventured into real estate and bought several properties in Nairobi and Mombasa. She expanded her business network to Dubai, where she established an office and a warehouse. She also partnered with an Israeli national, who helped her secure financing and contacts for her oil business.
Njeri entered the oil industry in 2020 when she imported her first consignment of 50,000 metric tonnes of diesel from Turkey. She sold the oil to various local and regional buyers, making a huge profit. She repeated the same process in 2021 and 2022, importing and selling more oil from Turkey and other countries. She became one of the largest oil importers in the country, despite not having a license from the Ministry of Energy.
In 2023, Njeri imported her largest consignment of 100,000 metric tonnes of diesel from Turkey via Saudi Arabia. She claimed that she had bought the oil from Aramco Trading Fujairah, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company. She said that she had paid $1,530 per tonne, totaling $153 million. She also said that she had a bill of lading and other documents to prove her ownership of the cargo.
However, her importation sparked a controversy when two other companies, Galana Energies Ltd and Ramco, claimed that they were the rightful owners of the oil. They said that they had bought the oil from Aramco Trading Fujairah and that Njeri had no authority to import or sell the oil in Kenya. They also said that Njeri had forged the bill of lading and other documents to deceive the authorities and the public.
The dispute led to the detention of the vessel, MT Haigui, that was carrying the oil at the Port of Mombasa. Njeri filed a case at the Mombasa High Court, seeking to stop the offloading and distribution of the oil until the matter was resolved. She also sought an order for the other companies to deposit Sh17 billion in an interest-bearing account as security. The court granted her request and issued an injunction, barring the vessel from leaving the port and the oil from being offloaded.
Ann Njeri Njoroge Wiki/Bio
| Name | Ann Njeri Njoroge |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Industry | Oil, Real Estate, Agriculture, Mining |
| Company | Ann’s Import and Export Enterprises Ltd |
| Net Worth | Sh20 billion ($180 million) |
| Age | 45 |
| Date of Birth | June 12, 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Nyeri County, Kenya |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Kenyatta University |
| Husband | John Njoroge |
| Children | Three (two sons and a daughter) |
| Residence | Runda, Nairobi, Kenya |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| annnjeri | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Disappearance and Resurfacing
On November 9, 2023, Njeri was summoned by the DCI to record a statement over the ownership of the oil consignment. She went to the DCI headquarters in Nairobi, accompanied by her lawyer, David Chumo. However, after recording her statement, she vanished and could not be traced by her family or her lawyer. Her phone was switched off and the DCI denied having her in their custody.
Two days later, on November 11, Njeri resurfaced and narrated her ordeal to the media. She said that she was abducted by four men who claimed to be DCI officers after leaving the DCI headquarters. She said that they blindfolded her, handcuffed her, and drove her to an unknown location. She said that they tortured her for two days, demanding that she surrender the oil to them. She said that they also threatened to kill her and her family if she did not cooperate.
Njeri said that she managed to escape from her captors on the night of November 10, when they left her alone in a room. She said that she untied herself, broke the window, and ran away. She said that she boarded a matatu (minibus) and went to a nearby police station, where she reported the incident. She said that she was taken to a hospital, where she was treated for injuries and trauma. She said that she had bruises, cuts, and burns on her body as a result of the torture.
Njeri accused some government officials and oil marketers of being behind her abduction and torture. She said that they wanted to steal her oil and silence her. She said that she had evidence to prove her ownership of the oil and that she was ready to face them in court. She also said that she feared for her life and the safety of her family. She appealed to the government and the public to protect her and help her get justice.
What is the Sh17 Billion Oil Saga?
The Sh17 billion oil saga is a controversy that has rocked the Kenyan oil industry and the government. It involves a shipment of 100,000 metric tons of diesel that was imported by Galana Energies Limited from Saudi Arabia and arrived in Mombasa on October 11, 2023. However, another company, Ramco, claimed that it had also imported the same consignment and produced a bill of lading that showed that it had paid for the cargo.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) were unable to verify the authenticity of the documents presented by the two companies and decided to detain the ship until the matter was resolved. The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum also intervened and appointed an independent auditor to investigate the issue.
Meanwhile, Ann Njeri Njoroge accused Ramco of trying to steal her cargo and demanded that the authorities release her shipment. She also claimed that her life was in danger and that she had received threats from powerful individuals who wanted to benefit from the deal. She said that she had followed all the legal procedures and had the approval of the government to import the diesel.
The saga took a new twist on November 15, 2023, when Ann Njeri Njoroge’s lawyer, Cliff Ombeta, announced that she had gone missing after being summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on November 13, 2023. He said that he had not heard from her since then and that he feared for her safety. He also alleged that there was a conspiracy to implicate her in a fraud case and to deny her justice.
The DCI, however, denied having any knowledge of her whereabouts or the summoning. The DCI also said that it was conducting a thorough probe into the matter and that it would soon reveal the truth.
What is the Status of the Case?
The case is still pending in court and the ship is still docked at the port of Mombasa. The High Court has issued several orders and directions to expedite the resolution of the dispute. The court has also ordered the KPA, the KRA, and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum to submit reports on the verification of the documents and the audit of the cargo. The court has also ordered the DCI to provide updates on the investigation and the whereabouts of Ann Njeri Njoroge.
The case has attracted public attention and raised questions about the transparency and accountability of the oil sector and the government. It has also exposed the loopholes and challenges in the regulation and management of the importation and distribution of petroleum products in the country.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Njeri is estimated to have a net worth of over Sh20 billion ($180 million), making her one of the richest women in Kenya. She owns several properties in Kenya and Dubai, including a mansion in Runda, a penthouse in Westlands, and a beach house in Mombasa. She also owns a fleet of luxury cars, such as a Range Rover, a Mercedes Benz, and a Porsche. She is known to live a lavish lifestyle, traveling to exotic destinations and attending high-profile events.
Njeri is also a philanthropist, who supports various causes and charities. She has donated money and supplies to schools, hospitals, and orphanages. She has also sponsored scholarships and mentorship programs for young girls and women. She is passionate about environmental conservation and climate change mitigation. She has planted trees and supported renewable energy projects in Kenya and other countries.
Husband & Family
Njeri is 45 years old as of 2023. She was born on June 12, 1978. She is married to John Njoroge, a businessman and a politician. They have three children, two sons and a daughter. They are aged 22, 19, and 16 respectively. Njeri is a devoted Christian and a member of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. She is also a loving and caring mother, who values her family above everything else.
