By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, 2 February 2026 - Former Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency, Eliud Owalo, has revealed that his personal net worth currently stands at approximately KSh 1 billion, up significantly from KSh 645 million he disclosed during his vetting for a Cabinet position in October 2022.
The disclosure comes just days after Owalo resigned from his government role and declared his intention to vie for the 2027 presidency.
Owalo made the revelation during an interview broadcast on Kenyan television on Sunday, describing his current wealth as “about one billion shillings.”
At the time he was vetted for Cabinet in 2022, Owalo detailed assets including a Nairobi home valued at about KSh 120 million, an upcountry residence worth KSh 70 million, land valued at KSh 200 million, and four vehicles worth roughly KSh 15 million, part of the total KSh 645 million asset figure he then declared.
Since that vetting, Owalo also had interests in an incomplete hotel project and commercial tree-planting investments, which sources at the time valued at around KSh 80 million and KSh 160 million respectively.
Combined with real estate and other holdings, these contributed to the earlier valuation.
While Owalo did not break down the full composition of his current billion-shilling net worth, his sustained asset growth, an increase of about KSh 355 million over three years, reflects rising valuations in property and business ventures, and possibly additional investments since his 2022 declaration.
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Owalo’s net worth disclosure comes at a politically significant moment. The seasoned economist and strategist resigned from his government position after announcing a presidential bid for the 2027 General Election, framing the transparency on personal wealth as part of his broader appeal to voters.
The timing has attracted public attention. Political figures such as Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale publicly commented on the “speedy rise” to billionaire status in a short span of public service, highlighting how the figure compares to his previous declared wealth and noting its prominence in Kenya’s political and economic discourse.
In Kenya, where public scrutiny of leaders’ wealth and ethics is intense, declarations of net worth carry weight in shaping perceptions of integrity and economic independence.
Wealth disclosures during vetting processes, such as those by the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, have historically offered insight into leaders’ personal assets, as was the case when Owalo first disclosed his holdings in 2022.
For investors and policymakers, such disclosures also reflect the intersection of politics, property markets and business activity, particularly for high-profile figures navigating transitions between public service and political leadership.
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