Kenyan Billionaires Who Found Love in School

President Uhuru Kenyatta with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta sharing a light moment
President Uhuru Kenyatta with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta sharing a light moment
File

It is often said that behind the success of every man, there is a woman, and the adage is no different to the high and mighty in society. 

Whether it is love at first sight or the proverbial courting period, these moguls turned their school sweethearts into wives.

Kenyans.co.ke takes a look at the billionaires who found their lovers while in secondary school or campus. 

An undated file image of the chairman of the National Association of Private universities in Kenya, Simon Gicharu.
An undated file image of the chairman of the National Association of Private universities in Kenya, Simon Gicharu.
File

Simon Gicharu and Jane Gathoni

Simon Gicharu has had a storied career, rising from a tutor at Thika Technical Training Institute to being the founder and chairman of Mount Kenya University. 

However, Gicharu's professional rise in his career is also attributed to his wife, Jane Gathoni. Unknown to many, Gathoni and Gicharu were campus mates at Kenyatta University back in the 1980s.

During a past media interview, Gicharu detailed that Gathoni, who at the time was his campus girlfriend, helped him during his trying times. 

Gathoni loaned him Ksh800 to buy a music system for his campus room in 1987, and he ended up repaying the debt the following semester. 

Riara Group of Schools founder Daniel Gachukia and his wife Eddah Gachukia at Sarit Center in 2016.
Riara Group of Schools founder Daniel Gachukia and his wife Eddah Gachukia at Sarit Center in 2016.
Daily Nation

Daniel and Eddah Gachukia

Professor Eddah Gachukia, alongside her husband Daniel Gachukia, has led the Riara Group of Schools franchise to become one of the highly acclaimed institutions in the country. 

Their love story began at Makerere University in Uganda whereby the two graduated as teachers. After campus, Daniel taught in various schools including Namilyango High School in Uganda and Thika High and Kagumo High School in Kenya. His wife, on the other hand, began her teaching career at Thika High School. 

Over the years, the two have established Riara Group of schools to a multi-education institution consisting of Kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, international school, and University. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta and first ladyMargaret Kenyatta at a previous function
President Uhuru Kenyatta and first ladyMargaret Kenyatta at a previous function
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Uhuru and Margaret Kenyatta

President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta have been married for 33 years. Unknown to many, the pair met while the Head of State was in high school. 

Revealing the details during a past event, Uhuru stated that he managed to meet Margaret through her elder brother, when they were schoolmates.

What started out as a friendship soon turned into a relationship as the two grew fond of each other. The couple later decided to formalise their union and got married at the Holy Family Basilica Church in 1989.

Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi (right) and his wife Tessie Mudavadi.
Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi (right) and his wife Tessie Mudavadi.
File

Mudavadi and Tessie

Not much is known about Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi's wife, Tessie Mudavadi as she has kept off the political limelight.

The two, however, met at a Harambee during a school function in Lugare. Mudavadi, during a past interview, revealed that they were conducting a public function in order to raise money for the school when one of the school board members came with his family.

The ANC party leader was invited for lunch and he met with Tessie. 

"When I went there, I saw this beautiful girl I had seen at the function and the rest is history," he concluded.