Dr Thuo Mathenge is a renowned trained medical doctor and politician who gained popularity in 2013 when he vied for the Nyeri gubernatorial seat which he unfortunately lost.
Dr Thuo is very affluent and has achieved billionaire status primarily from his poultry farming business.
He is the proprietor of the Brade Gate Center located along the Nyeri-Nanyuki highway.
The complex consists of the Brade Gate Poultry Industry, Brade Gate Chicken, a restaurant and supermarket, a bakery, printing press among others.
The billionaire also has vast interests in the real estate, property, and hospitality sectors.
Early Life
Dr Thuo Mathenge was born in Nyeri County in the year 1964 to a Kikuyu family.
As of 2023, the business mogul is 59 years old.
He was brought up by his grandmother since his father was killed while fighting for independence and his mother was detained by the British colonialists.
The politician attended both primary and secondary education in Kenya before being awarded a scholarship to study at Fairland University in Europe.
Career
Much about the doctor’s career as a medical practitioner is not public knowledge.
On the business front, however, Mathenge started Brade Gate Industries in 2011 with a starting capital of Ksh 400 million which he obtained from selling a portion of his property.
He claims that he started the business with the aim of impacting the lives of his community, a claim he has since achieved as his company employs a majority of people in Nyeri County.
Currently, the company is estimated to be worth over Ksh 3 billion.
Politics
Dr Thuo venture into politics began in 2013 when he vied to be the governor of Nyeri County.
He was however unsuccessful as he lost to the late Nderitu Gachagua.
The loss did not deter his ambition and he tried again in 2017, this time he was disqualified by the Jubilee Party on the basis that he lacked a degree.
2022 brought another chance and this time he was cleared to participate by the Independent Electoral and boundaries commission under The New Democrats Party.
He used the slogan ‘No Wanguku’ which means ‘It is just chicken’ during his campaigns.
The business man however lost to Mutahi Kahiga and the viral video of him crying and praying for his enemies is still fresh on many Kenyans’ minds.
Personal Life
Dr Mathenge is happily married to Catherine Mathenge.
Net Worth
Dr Thuo Mathenge is estimated to be worth over Ksh 1 billion.
A vast majority of his riches come from his business ventures where he has invested heavily.
The Brade Gate Center is his main income source, but he has other sources including real estate and several pieces of land.
Controversy
In the year 2018, the entrepreneur had a torrid time with the financial sector as several of his properties faced auctioneers.
He had due debts from the I&M Bank which he owed Ksh 95 million, Ksh 121 million at the Family Bank and Ksh 80 million at Jamii Bora Bank.
He settled the Jamii Bank loan by selling his land.
However, Family bank sought to auction a hotel in Nyeri town being constructed by the tycoon for Ksh 200 Million.
The hotel was estimated to be worth Ksh 800 million.
The businessman prevented this from happening by obtaining a court order from the Nyeri High Court.
It is also widely remembered that the late former president Mwai Kibaki’s family distanced itself from the controversial businessman’s party in 2018.
Controversy aside, Dr Thuo is a very successful and philanthropic businessman who strives to protect his community from the claws of poverty.
The people of Nyeri should perhaps give the good doctor a chance at leadership as he has already proven himself on the job creation front.
