Ten years after its formation, Muthokinju was incorporated as a Limited Liability Company (LTD) in 2004. It then took almost another decade for the company to open a second and third branch in 2013. 

However, Muthokinju’s growth caught on rapidly, with the company opening a new branch each year in 2014, 2015, and 2016, two branches in 2019, four branches in 2020, and two in 2021.

Overall, the company operates 14 branches with over 150 employees.

Muthokinju is an acronym derived from the names of its co-founders, Susan Muthoni (MUTHO) Kimani (KI), and Barnabas Njuguna (NJU). 

After operating a restaurant in one of the most popular marketplaces in Kenya, Kenyatta Market, the couple started the hardware business. 

Under their leadership, the paints company grew from a little hardware store with limited stock to a nationwide distributor. 

However, Muthokinju’s founders have taken a back seat in managing the company and transferred its operations to the next generation.

Their son Benjamin Kimani has taken over as the Managing Director and CEO, while his wife Sarafina Njatha is the Operations Director. 

Kimani joined Muthokinju in 2011 straight from school and learned the trade before rising to his current position.

Other members of the Muthokinju management team include James Kabugi, the Head of Logistics; Gerald Macharia, the Head of Sales; and Hatim Sheraz, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). 

Muthokinju’s peaceful transition allowed the company to avoid ownership wrangles that plague many family-owned businesses in Kenya, leading to their eventual collapse.

Paints

Muthokinju has partnered with paint manufacturers such as Crown Paints, Basco Paints, and Plascon Paints to sell their products in its stores.

Cement

The company sells various cement brands, such as Bamburi Cement, Blue Triangle Cement, Mombasa Cement, Rhino Cement, Savannah Cement, and Simba Cement.

Waterproofing

Other items stocked by the company include waterproofing products such as Mapelastic, Keralastic, and Lamposilex from Mapei, waterproofing products from Dr. Fixit, and Aquatech waterproofing from Duracoat.  

ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Muthokinju Paints became ISO 9001:2015 certified in September 2021 in a glamorous ceremony attended by company executives, customers, partners, staff, and the general public.

According to ISO, the standardization body, an ISO 9001:2015 certification requires a company to demonstrate its ability to provide products that meet customer requirements and adhere to regulations.

Additionally, it requires that a company demonstrate its ability to enhance customer satisfaction through the application of the system.

According to Muthokinju’s Managing Director, the ISO certification would propel the company to greater heights in its quest to become East Africa’s premier distributor of building materials.

Despite its relatively small size, Muthokinju Paints and Hardware packs a serious punch in the construction industry. 

However, it competes directly with every small hardware in its area of operation. Muthokinju also competes with other nationwide distributors, such as Twins Hardware, and its partners, such as Crown Paints, who sell directly to customers at wholesale prices.  

Despite the stiff competition in the market, the company has managed to create a niche for itself. 

Key drivers of its success include the strategic location of its branches, consistent branding across branches, and good relationship with customers and partners.

“We assure our customers of a consistent standard of service – wherever they are,” the CEO told the Nation Newspaper during the ISO certificate award ceremony.

Additionally, Muthokinju has differentiated itself by employing interior décor professionals who advise customers on choosing and matching colors for impressive finishing designs. 

The company also embraced digital technology by operating in a networked environment, allowing easy tracking of orders and deliveries and saving thousands of customers from frustration. 

This strategy sets the company apart from many nationwide distributors who have failed to address delivery issues, causing delays for months and halting construction projects.

Below is a list of Muthokinju branches, locations, and contact information.

Muthokinju has emerged as a popular construction materials distributor after growing steadily for more than a quarter of a century. 

Its smooth transition has also allowed the company to remain a formidable player in the construction industry and avoid family battles that have caused the downfall of many family-owned businesses in Kenya.  

Its achievement of the ISO: 9001:2015 certification promises to cement the company’s formidable reputation in the industry plagued by poor customer service.

It will be interesting to watch which direction Muthokinju Paints and Cement takes in the next decade.