Riva Petroleum Dealers is a well-established oil marketing company with a strong presence in Kenya and Uganda.
Founded on June 21, 1996, as a limited liability company, Riva has expanded from a small reseller to a prominent regional brand.
The company’s headquarters are located at Mayfair Suites in Westlands, Nairobi.
Over the years, Riva has grown significantly and now operates more than 25 retail petrol stations across Kenya under the brand name “RIVA.”
Operations and services
Riva Petroleum Dealers is involved in a wide range of activities within the petroleum industry.
The company imports, distributes, and transports various products including crude oil, bitumen, LPG, fuel oil, industrial diesel oil, automotive diesel, unleaded premium and regular fuels, jet fuel, and kerosene.
Riva is also the largest distributor of Shell lubricants in East Africa, holding a dominant market position in Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
The company participates in Kenya’s Open Tender System (OTS) coordinated by the Ministry of Energy and operates depots in Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret, further consolidating its footprint in the region.
Ownership
Peter Njeru Njagi is the founder of Riva Petroleum Dealers.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Nairobi (1984) and an MBA specializing in Finance from Egerton University.
Njeru’s career began at the Ministry of Roads and Public Works, where he worked as a roads and highway engineer for 20 years.
During this time, he oversaw projects across various regions in Kenya, gaining valuable experience in project management.
In 1996, Njeru made the bold decision to leave his government job and venture into the petroleum business.
Despite having limited start-up capital, he was determined to establish Riva as a leading oil marketing company in East Africa.
Journey to establishing Riva Petroleum
Initially, Njeru borrowed Ksh 45,000 from Ufundi Cooperative Sacco and started his business by selling hardware tools to construction sites.
Over three years, he successfully grew his capital to Ksh 8 million.
With this foundation, Njeru turned his attention to the petroleum industry, however, securing sufficient capital was a challenge.
Despite a lack of security and prior industry experience, he approached a bank for a loan.
Initially declined, Njeru was later supported by a KCB bank manager based in Nakuru who believed in his business idea.
This loan marked the official start of Riva Petroleum.
In the early days, Njeru faced a steep learning curve.
For instance, he had to acquire tankers, a critical part of his operations, but had no experience in their specifications.
Additionally, Njeru started selling lubricants, despite being unfamiliar with the product.
As the company expanded, Njeru had to learn quickly and recruit customers, never fully anticipating the scale his company would eventually reach.
Notably, the company’s growth was swift.
In its first year, Riva’s turnover was Ksh 60 million, and by the second year, it had skyrocketed to Ksh 800 million.
Today, the company is dealing in billions, evolving from a small reseller to a fully-fledged oil marketing company.
Other involvements
Beyond his role as the founder and Managing Director of Riva Petroleum, Njeru is also active in various other business and community ventures.
He serves as a director in several companies, including Fusion Capital Limited, FREDS Limited, Hand in Hand East Africa Limited, Key 3 Properties Limited, Briken (EA), and South Lake Developments Limited.
Njeru is deeply involved in governance and industry affairs.
He is currently the Chairman of the Petroleum Industry Association of Kenya (PIAK) and holds several other key positions, including International Vice President of IFES, Chairman of NACPA, and trustee of the Nakuru Christian Professionals Association.
He has also served on the boards of numerous organizations, such as the University of Eldoret, Menengai and Nakuru High Schools, and the Nakuru Business Association.
Recognitions
Njeru’s leadership and contribution to the economy have earned him several accolades.
In 2011, he was a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for East Africa.
His significant contributions were further recognized when he received the prestigious Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) award, presented by the late President Mwai Kibaki on December 12, 2011.
Additionally, in November 2016, Njeru was honored with an ethics award (ELNET) for his ethical leadership and successful career, which spans over two decades.
