Riva Petroleum, Vivo Energy Kenya Celebrate 30-Year Partnership as Homegrown Business Expands Nationwide
By ATN
NAIROBI, July 9, 2026 — Riva Petroleum Dealers Limited and Vivo Energy Kenya have celebrated three decades of partnership, marking a journey that has transformed a small Nakuru-based lubricants reseller into one of Kenya’s leading Shell lubricants distributors. The milestone highlights the role of long-term partnerships, ethical leadership and innovation in building resilient local businesses despite changing economic conditions.
The anniversary celebrations brought together senior government officials, business leaders, financial partners and industry stakeholders to reflect on a relationship that began in 1996 when Riva Petroleum entered the fuel and lubricants business. Today, the company employs about 200 people, supplies more than 4,000 retail and trade outlets, and serves customers in 28 of Kenya’s 47 counties through an extensive distribution network stretching from major cities to remote towns such as Moyale on the Ethiopian border.
Speaking during the celebrations in Nairobi, Vivo Energy Kenya Managing Director Peter Murungi described the partnership as the longest-standing distributor relationship Shell has maintained in Kenya. He said the two companies have continued to thrive because they built their relationship on trust, integrity and a shared commitment to delivering value to customers.
“The lubricants business is highly competitive and presents its share of challenges. Yet throughout the years, our two organizations have worked side by side, navigating changing market dynamics and industry headwinds with determination and confidence. Together, we have not only weathered those challenges but emerged stronger because of them,” said Murungi.
He credited Riva Petroleum founder and Managing Director Eng. Peter Njeru Njagi for building a company founded on ethical leadership and professionalism. Murungi noted that Riva’s recognition with the ELNET Mark of Ethics in 2012 reflected the values that have shaped the business over the years, adding that trust remains one of the greatest assets any successful enterprise can possess.
For Njagi, the anniversary was a celebration of perseverance and the collective effort that has driven the company’s growth over the past three decades. He said the business had overcome numerous challenges through strong partnerships with customers, suppliers and financial institutions while remaining committed to integrity and reliable service.
“The story of Riva Petroleum is one of resilience, a strong partnership, and doing business with integrity and reliability—qualities that have sustained us for three decades,” he said. “Thirty years can feel like just another year, but this milestone reflects the contribution of many, including financial institutions such as KCB Bank, our business partners and suppliers. The growth of Riva has taught us that nothing is impossible.”
Njagi founded the company, whose name is derived from Rift Valley Petroleum, after leaving the Ministry of Works’ Roads Department, where he had worked as a civil engineer for 11 years. Since then, the company has steadily expanded its footprint, becoming an official Shell Lubricants Distributor in 2012 and adopting a fast-moving consumer goods distribution model to strengthen its market reach. Four years later, it expanded its nationwide distribution network, while in 2025 it became the first Vivo Energy Kenya distributor to implement the VERA digital end-to-end Order-to-Cash platform, reinforcing its commitment to digital transformation and operational excellence.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui said Riva Petroleum’s success demonstrates the potential of Kenyan-owned businesses to grow into major corporations that create jobs and contribute to the country’s industrialisation agenda. He said the government remains committed to creating an enabling business environment that allows small and medium-sized enterprises to scale up, attract investment and compete in regional and global markets.
“Our role is to create an enabling environment where family-owned businesses can grow into major corporates, access the capital markets and compete regionally and globally. The success of companies like Riva demonstrates the potential of home-grown enterprises to drive industrialisation, create jobs and contribute to Kenya’s economic growth,” he said.
KCB Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Russo said sustainable business success depends on strong partnerships, innovation and investment in people. He described the long-standing relationship between Riva Petroleum and Vivo Energy Kenya as proof that collaboration enables businesses to grow while creating lasting value for customers and communities.
Looking ahead, both companies identified digital transformation, improved last-mile delivery systems and the growing demand for cleaner energy products as key drivers of future growth. They said continued investment in technology and efficient distribution networks will help meet changing customer needs while strengthening Kenya’s energy sector.
As the company enters its next chapter, Njagi said younger members of his family have begun taking up roles within the business, signalling the start of a generational transition. Even so, both leaders stressed that the future of Riva Petroleum will be built not on individuals but on strong institutions, sound governance and enduring partnerships that can sustain the company for decades to come.
