COUNTRY OF BIRTH

Kenya

INDUSTRY

Brewing and alcoholic beverages

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Tabitha Karanja is a Kenyan entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries, the second largest brewery in Kenya and the first 100% local home-brewed beer and alcoholic beverage manufacturer in the country. Karanja is known as a pioneer in women’s rights in business as she entered and conquered an industry that has been dominated by men for decades.

EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION

Tabitha Karanja was born in central Kenya near the town of Kijabe. She attended the University of Nairobi where she achieved a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, and Operations. Karanja is married to Joseph, who owned a hardware store before closing it to go into the brewing and beverage industry with his wife.

EARLY CAREER

Karanja began her career working as a clerk at the Ministry of Tourism. She also worked as the chief librarian for the Kenya Wildlife Service for nearly two years. In 1997, Karanja and her husband took on the brewing industry, which had been controlled by multi-nationals for several decades. They began manufacturing fortified wine at their home in the Rift Valley Province. Joseph Karanja continues to serve as chairman of Keroche Breweries. Keroche produces a range of valley wines including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, and Chenin Blanc. They also produce two types of beer, Summit Lager and Summit Malt, as well as a range of ready-to-drink vodka and gin drinks.

ACHIEVEMENTS AT KEROCHE BREWERIES

After the government increased taxation on locally manufactured wines in 2007, Karanja shifted focus to ready-to-drink vodka and gin drinks. The following year, she started brewing beer and launched the Summit brand. In 2013, plans were implemented to increase the production of beer from 60,000 bottles to 600,000 bottles a day. Keroche Brewery’s state-of-the-art brewing and manufacturing facility caters to approximately 20% of the market in Kenya.

KEROCHE FOUNDATION

Launched and led by Tabitha Karanja, the Keroche Foundation was created to assist young entrepreneurs in Kenya on their entrepreneurial journey. The foundation works with industry experts to offer mentorship, inspiration, and guidance in overcoming professional and personal challenges. Connections are forged between rising businesspeople and experienced entrepreneurs in solution-centered sessions. The foundation aims to increase the likelihood of success by cultivating confidence and motivation as well as by increasing business acumen.

RECOGNITION

In 2010, then-Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki gave Tabitha Karanja the most noteworthy accolade in Kenya—the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) Award. This was made in recognition of the substantial contributions she has made in liberating the Kenyan liquor industry from the monopoly previously held by multinationals.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

• Achieved the African Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2014
• Achieved the East African Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2014
• Mother to four children: James, Anerlisa, Edward, and Tecra
• Serves as director of the Federation of Kenyan Employers