Riva Petroleum Celebrates 30-Year Partnership with Vivo Energy Kenya

Riva Petroleum Dealers Limited has marked three decades of partnership with Vivo Energy Kenya, an alliance that demonstrated company’s commitment to being a single-brand lubricants distributor even with difficult economic landscapes.

What began as a small Shell lubricants reseller has evolved into a major distribution operation, reflecting the power of vision, passion, and purpose. Riva Petroleum’s journey from humble beginnings to a 200-employee enterprise with a presence in 28 counties demonstrates what can be achieved through determination and strong partnerships.

Speaking during the 30th anniversary celebrations, Vivo Energy Kenya Managing Director Peter Murungi praised the partnership, noting that the lubricants business is highly competitive. He said the two organisations have worked side by side, navigating changing market dynamics with determination and confidence.

“This is the longest-standing distributor partnership Shell has had in Kenya. It has been a great journey with a man of real passion, who has also helped other distributors to grow,” Murungi stated.

He highlighted trust as one of the greatest assets any business can possess, noting that Riva Petroleum was awarded the ELNET Mark of Ethics in 2012, recognising its exceptional ethical leadership and governance.

Riva Petroleum Founder and Managing Director, Eng. Peter Njeru Njagi, described the company’s story as one of resilience, strong partnership, and doing business with integrity. He acknowledged the support of financial institutions, business partners, and suppliers, saying the growth of Riva has taught him that nothing is impossible.

Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, affirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting businesses to scale from SMEs into large, competitive enterprises. He noted that the success of companies like Riva demonstrates the potential of homegrown enterprises to drive industrialisation and create jobs.

KCB Group CEO Paul Russo, EBS, described the partnership as a testament to the value of collaboration, noting that sustainable growth is built through innovation and a shared commitment to creating value for customers.

Riva Petroleum, an abbreviation of Rift Valley Petroleum, was founded in Nakuru in 1996 by Eng. Peter Njeru Njagi, a civil engineer who left the Ministry of Works to enter the fuel business.

Today, the company distributes to more than 4,000 retail and trade outlets nationwide, with warehouses in Nakuru, Nairobi, and Embu. In 28 counties, it is the sole Shell-branded lubricants distributor of record, with a last-mile delivery footprint extending to Moyale on the Ethiopian border.

Both companies have identified digital transformation, new last-mile delivery models, and growing demand for cleaner energy products as key areas of opportunity. The next chapter for Riva Petroleum also involves a generational transition, with younger family members beginning to seek roles in the business.