Nick Mwendwa, born Nicholas Kithuku Mwendwa is a Kenyan businessman, tech entrepreneur, and former president of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). Born in 1979, he founded Kariobangi Sharks football club in 2000 and multiple tech firms, including Riverbank Solutions in 2009.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Nicholas Nick Kithuku Mwendwa |
| Date of birth | 29 December 1979 |
| Place of birth | Makueni County, Kenya |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| State of Origin | Makueni |
| Partner | Married (name not publicly specified) |
| Children | 2 (one boy, one girl) |
| Occupations | Businessman, Tech entrepreneur, Former FKF President, Football club owner |
| Net worth | Approximately KSh 2 billion (from 75% stake sale in Riverbank Solutions to KCB) |
Early Life and Education
Mwendwa was born in Makueni County and grew up in Nairobi’s Kariobangi slum, playing football in local tournaments.
He attended Makindu ‘A’ Primary School, Kiserian Junior Seminary, and Thomeandu Secondary School, then earned a Diploma in IT from Kenya College of Accountancy in 1997, followed by a BSc in Business Management/Leadership from Bottega University in 2023.
Career
Mwendwa began his professional journey in IT at Uchumi supermarkets before launching his own ventures. He established Riverbank Solutions in 2009, specializing in payment solutions, along with Swiggo Ltd for e-commerce and other companies like Swerri and Zed Payments.
In football administration, he managed FIFA’s Transfer Matching System from 2011 to 2014, chaired the FKF Premier League in 2015, and was elected FKF president in 2016 with 50 out of 77 votes, securing re-election in 2020.
Most recently, on March 24, 2025, KCB Group signed a binding agreement to acquire up to a 75% stake in Riverbank Solutions to enhance its digital payments ecosystem, with the deal receiving conditional approval from Kenya’s Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) on January 26, 2026, subject to data safeguards and regulatory conditions from the Central Bank of Kenya. Valued at approximately KSh 2 billion (about $15 million), this transaction positions Riverbank as KCB’s 13th subsidiary, expanding its reach in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.
Personal Life
Mwendwa is married with two children, a boy and a girl, and keeps family details private. He grew up in Kariobangi, fostering his love for football through community programs.
Controversies
Mwendwa faced arrests in 2021 for alleged fund misappropriation (Sh430 million), but charges were dismissed in 2023 as unlawful.
Auditor queries arose over payments like Sh11 million to him and Afcon funds; he was also linked to a 2018 auctioneer death (denied) and secret accounts.
Net Worth
Nick Mwendwa’s net worth is estimated at KSh 2 billion ($15.5 million USD at current exchange rates), primarily from the recent sale of a 75% controlling stake in his fintech firm Riverbank Solutions to KCB Group. This deal, approved by CAK on January 26, 2026, reflects his 25% retained stake and other business interests like Kariobangi Sharks.
Awards and Recognitions
Under Mwendwa, Harambee Starlets won the 2019 Cecafa Senior Women title, and FKF rolled out coaching courses. He unveiled a $50,000 gold league trophy in 2021 with KSh 5 million prizes. No personal awards noted; he pursued (but withdrew from) FIFA Council seats.
