FORBES AFRICA - 50 Most Powerful Women Jennifer Riria
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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.
Riria was born in Kenya. She was the forth-born in a family with 10 children. She attended a primary school every day, about 4 kilometres , from home, traveling barefoot
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, located in Nairobi, Kenya's capital and largest city.
At the end of high school, Riria became pregnant. 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.
Following her first degree, Riria taught at Kabete Technical Institute for six months followed by one year at State House Girls High School. 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
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.
Riria was born in Kenya. She was the forth-born in a family with 10 children. She attended a primary school every day, about 4 kilometres , from home, traveling barefoot
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, located in Nairobi, Kenya's capital and largest city.
At the end of high school, Riria became pregnant. 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.
Following her first degree, Riria taught at Kabete Technical Institute for six months followed by one year at State House Girls High School. 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
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.