From temple priest to industrial titan, Narendra Raval built Devki Group into East Africa’s steel and cement powerhouse with political clout and vision.
From Temple Acolyte to Steel Billionaire with Political Clout
Born in 1962 in Mathak, a dusty village in Gujarat, India, Dr. Narendra Raval’s journey to the summit of East Africa’s industrial scene is nothing short of cinematic. Today, he stands as the Executive Chairman of the Devki Group of Companies—East and Central Africa’s largest manufacturer of steel and cement products, with subsidiaries in Kenya, Uganda, and the DRC, employing over 11,000 people.
Yet, Raval didn’t begin with blueprints and capital. At age 11, he joined a Swaminarayan temple as a junior priest. That spiritual path took him to Kenya as a teenager, landing him in Kisumu, where he served in another temple overlooking Lake Victoria.
But his fate took a decisive turn when, at 22, he fell in love with a young medical doctor from Thika—Neeta. Marriage meant the end of his priesthood. “Once you get married, you are not allowed to serve in the temple,” he recalled in a 2015 Forbes interview.
Entrepreneurial Fire Forged in Gikomba
Now secular and without formal qualifications, Raval took a job at a small steel mill in Nairobi. When it folded in 1990, he and Neeta used their modest savings to open a tiny hardware stall in downtown Gikomba.
In just two years, he established a small steel rolling mill in Athi River—fueled by a loan from a local bank and a vision to break Kenya’s monopolized, high-priced steel market.
“I saw an opportunity to manufacture moderately priced building materials,” he told Forbes. “The bank believed in the idea.”
That bold move birthed Devki Group, which today owns:
- Devki Steel Mills Limited
- National Cement Company (Kenya & Uganda)
- Maisha Mabati Mills
- Northwood Aviation Ltd
Key installations include a clinker plant in Simba town (Kajiado), cement grinding plants in Lukenya (Machakos), and steel factories in Athi River, Ruiru, and Mariakani. In 2017, Raval committed KSh6 billion to build two cement factories in Mariakani and Rongai, each with a capacity of 750,000 tonnes annually.
By slashing cement prices from KSh700 to KSh550 per 50kg bag, Raval says, “Our goal was to reduce the cost of housing.”
From Grit to Greatness: A Continental Force
The Group’s annual turnover is estimated at over $600 million, with Simba Cement now the top-selling brand in Kenya. Raval was ranked by Forbes in 2015 as the 46th richest person in Africa, with a net worth of $500 million (KSh 78.9 billion)—making him Kenya’s second wealthiest individual at the time.
He is now a naturalized Kenyan and proud of it: “Kenya is my home, my future, and my duty.”
An Industrialist With Political Clout
Dr. Raval’s close ties with the political elite—especially President William Ruto—have drawn admiration and scrutiny alike. In 2023, Ruto personally launched Devki’s KSh11 billion Iron Ore Pelletization Plant in Taita-Taveta, the first in East and Central Africa.
He’s accompanied Ruto on state visits and regularly appears in industrial policy discussions.
Critics cite his proximity to power as bordering on state capture, pointing to tax incentives and policy favoritism. But supporters argue he’s a key driver of Kenya’s economic independence.
“Without manufacturing, there is no economic freedom,” Raval often says.
Controversies and Corporate Advantage
Raval has largely kept a low public profile. But in 2021, when National Cement won a government tender for public housing, industry players alleged a lack of transparency. No formal allegations have ever been proven, but whispers of preferential treatment persist—particularly on land acquisition and regulatory speed.
Still, his philanthropy has kept him in the public’s good books.
The Humble Billionaire
Despite his billions, Raval lives modestly. He owns just one pair of shoes (worth KSh6,000), avoids ATMs and credit cards, and uses a basic mobile phone.
“I don’t carry a wallet,” he once said. “I have four suits and six ties—that’s enough for business.”
Often seen hopping onto boda-bodas in Nairobi traffic, he has become a symbol of humility for many Kenyans.
His autobiography, “Guru: A Long Walk to Success”, has raised over KSh100 million for charity, with every shilling accounted for.
Philanthropy with Purpose
Dr. Raval supports orphanages, government schools, and medical camps. In 2020, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Devki halted steel production and donated oxygen worth KSh100 million to public hospitals in Nairobi, Mombasa, Ruiru, and Athi River.
He’s been honoured with numerous awards, including:
- Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS) – Government of Kenya, 2009
- Melvin Jones Fellowship Award – Lions Club Nakuru, 2012
- British Government Recognition Award – For supporting widows, 2012
- Pride of India Award – Feelings Multimedia, India, 2016
- Doctorate of Divinity – Champions Covenant Church, USA, 2007
- Guru of Entrepreneurs Award – Lions Club International, Mumbai, 2015
Family, Faith, and the Future
Married to Dr. Neeta Raval, they have two sons and a daughter—and are now proud grandparents.
“The beauty of marriage,” he says, “is that whatever problems I have, I always know they will be shared and halved.”
He sees God in every person, a worldview that informs his philanthropy. He has pledged to give 50% of his wealth to charity, with the remaining half going to his children.
He’s also instilling his values in his family. “I teach my children and grandchildren the value of money, not just how to earn it.”
The Devki Doctrine: Future-Facing Industrialism
Looking ahead, Devki is betting big on green cement, steel exports, aviation, and mining, aligning with the government’s target of raising manufacturing’s contribution to GDP to 20% by 2030.
In Narendra Raval, Kenya has not just an industrialist, but a paradoxical icon—a former monk turned mogul, a billionaire who rides motorbikes, and a political insider who donates oxygen and shoes.
He is, undeniably, Kenya’s industrial whisperer—with steel in his hands and charity in his heart.
