Waira wa Kamau: The Man Who “Owned” Ruiru and Fooled a European Nation

Born in Githunguri, Waira wa Kamau rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential businessmen and political figures associated with Ruiru and its surroundings. Through aggressive land acquisition, ranching ventures, and strategic alliances, he came to be viewed as a man who “owned” much of Ruiru, with his name closely linked to local land buying companies and ranching schemes that opened up the area for settlement and commerce.
Even in death, his legacy still hangs over the town. Residents say that the backbone of Ruiru’s meat supply traces back to his abattoir at Mwihotoro Farm near Ruiru Prisons, where livestock from across the region was slaughtered and distributed, turning the once quiet agricultural outpost into a bustling commercial hub.
Waira was also remembered as a master of image and theatre in public life. Local lore recalls that he embodied the spirit of “fake it till you make it,” willing to stage grand performances to impress foreign visitors and local audiences alike, blending bravado with ambition in a way that captured the post-independence Kenyan hustle.
In one of the most enduring anecdotes, he is said to have presented himself before a European nation’s officials as the “king” of the Agikuyu people, dressed in animal skin and elaborate headgear, and was accorded a level of honor that included a formal gun salute – a story that, whether embellished or not, reflects how larger-than-life his persona had become in public memory.
Today, stories of Waira wa Kamau are told as much in whispers of controversy as in tones of admiration, but there is no doubt that his influence on land, business, and local politics helped shape the modern history of Ruiru and Githunguri.