Jane Wanjiru Michuki is a Kenyan entrepreneur, investor, and lawyer who is also the Nairobi Stock Exchange’s largest female stockholder.
Who is Jane Michuki? (6)
Jane Wanjiru Michuki is the Managing Partner of Kimani & Michuki Advocates, a Nairobi-based corporate law firm whose clients include Equity Group Holdings Limited, Africa’s largest bank holding company with over 9.2 million customers as of 30 June 2014.
She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with over 36 years of experience in corporate and commercial law.
Michuki’s expertise in commercial law has allowed her to lead legal teams in some of the most significant commercial transactions in the Kenyan financial sector. She has a strong background in international law and has supervised several international transactions on behalf of both domestic and international clients.
Early Life
Jane Michuki was born and raised in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community. She obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi. She also has a postgraduate diploma in legal practice from the Kenya School of Law.
Michuki obtained a Master of Laws from Warwick University in the United Kingdom , and she is currently the Managing Partner of Kimani & Michuki Advocates, one of two partners in the law firm.
In addition, she also attended the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights, where she earned a Certificate in Human Rights and International Instruments.
Jane’s Career
In previous years, the Kenyan corporate and legal scene was heavily dominated by men, mirroring many other sectors around the world. However, trailblazing women in Kenya’s legal sector, such as Jane Michuki, are slowly but steadily shattering the metaphorical glass ceiling.
Michuki has worked hard throughout her career to overcome societal stereotypes and has established herself as one of Kenya’s most influential entrepreneurs.
Jane has previously served on the boards of several organizations, including the Institute for Education in Democracy, the Federation of Women Lawyers, British American Tobacco Kenya, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF), and The Star. She is currently among the Board of Directors of Nyumbani Children’s Home and the Chairperson of Kenya’s National Construction Authority.
Michuki was involved in advising Equity Bank Kenya Limited’s Strategic Investors on the legal choices available to the bank as it transitioned from a building society to a full-fledged bank.
She has also led counsel in a number of multibillion-dollar housing developments in Kenya, including Suraya Group’s Fouways Junction Housing Project on Kiambu Road, Thika Greens in Thika, Langata Gardens, and Ngongview Apartments. Her involvement in the development of the corporate and general affairs of Kenya, has further established her as one of the most influential women in Africa.
NSE Involvement and Earning Sh2 billion in Six Months
In November, 2014, more women appeared in the lists of major shareholders, with disclosures showing that more than 50 women now owned holdings worth millions of Kenyan shillings.
Within six months, women stock market billionaires increased their paper wealth by approximately Sh2 billion, riding the tide of continuous price gains on certain counters where they have a presence.
Jane Michuki topped the list of major gainers, with a portfolio rise of Sh1.2 billion, beating out Jane Wangui, a fellow Kenyan entrepreneur, who gained Sh768.9 million. Other women on the list were Leah Wanjiku Muguku, relative of late Kenyan entrepreneur Nelson Muguku, and Amarjeet Patel, despite her decline from the billionaires’ league.
The four women’s portfolios increased by Sh1.8 billion, or 21.4 %, to Sh10.6 billion. The information came from regulatory filings made by Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE)-listed companies in August, 2014.
The NSE’s list of female billionaires includes self-made women, inheritors of substantial estates, and first-generation wealth beneficiaries.
As of 2014, Michuki’s 9.5% stake in financial services firm Britam was worth Sh4.5 billion, according to a 40% increase in the stock price, which closed trading in the same week, at Sh25.
Jane Michuki’s Net Worth
Jane Wanjiru Michuki is the Nairobi Stock Exchange’s largest female stockholder, with a net worth of around US$50 million as of November 2014, making her one of Kenya’s wealthiest persons.
Other Significant Achievements
- Served as a consultant for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Kenya. Reviewed the Electoral Commission of Kenya’s strategic plan and was tasked with developing a Gender and Sexual Harassment Policy for the commission to incorporate within its mandate.
- IFES-Washington D.C. project coordinator, Zimbabwe Elections Observer Mission (2002).
- As a member of the National Election Monitoring Unit’s executive committee, Michuki trained election observers for Kenya’s 1992 general elections.
- Served as a human rights consultant with the UN Special Representative to the Secretary-General for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL), Liberia
- She worked as a consultant and a member of the International Commission of Jurists’ Board of Directors (Kenya Chapter).