Ibrahim Ambwere is a local tycoon from Vihiga County with vast interest in real estate, wholesale and farming business.
The low-profile businessman rose from humble beginnings as a carpenter to control the larger Kakamega Province economy. At some point he got in trouble with President Moi, in the 19080’s, when he offered to loan the government of Kenya Ksh 48 million (a fortune the 1980’s standards) to pay teachers who were on strike due to delayed payments as the government was broke.
Ibrahim Ambwere was born in 1936 in Maragoli, Vihiga County-Western part of Kenya. His mother was deaf and dumb, his father left to fight in the army when he was only four years old, never to return.
In his journey of survival, Ambwere worked as a gardener in people’s farms in Maragoli Western Kenya, and later relocated to Molo in Nakuru County to work in pyrethrum farms. But he never worked in the farms for long due to incessant allergic reactions.
After that, Ambwere then met an Asian mason who employed him as a sweeper for almost ten years. The Asian gave Ambwere an old toolbox as a gift for being a committed worker. With savings and the toolbox, Ambwere began his long journey towards a new life. He started a carpentry workshop with only Ksh 38 in his pocket.
He grew from there to become the wealthiest man in Western Kenya who owns tallest flats both commercial and residential.
