Riva Petroleum Marks 30 Years of Partnership With Vivo Energy Kenya

Riva Petroleum Dealers Limited has achieved 30 years of partnership with Vivo Energy Kenya, an achievement which marks one of the most enduring distributor partnerships in the lubricants industry in the country.

This partnership marks 30 years of partnership, which has seen the company grow from a three-person company to become a nationwide distributor that has grown to employ 200 people across 28 of the 47 counties in Kenya through over 4,000 retail and trade outlets.

From being a distributor for Shell lubricants, the partnership has become a strategic business relationship between the two companies based on innovations, operational excellence and market expansion.

According to the company, this relationship has made it possible for Riva Petroleum to remain as a single-brand lubricant distributor despite changes in the market situation.

The companies stated that through the partnership, there have been several achievements, including becoming a Shell Lubricants Distributor in 2012, lubricants distribution network expansion in 2016, and the first ever distributor in 2025 to utilize VERA, the end to end order to cash process of the company.

Growth and Innovation Over Three Decades

In his remarks during the 30th anniversary celebrations, Managing Director of Vivo Energy Kenya Peter Murungi celebrated the relationship between the two companies.

“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,” Murungi stated.

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He noted that the partnership has been one of the unique success stories among the Shell lubricants distributorship partnerships.

“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 noted.

Further, he explained the success of the company through integrity and ethical leadership.

“One of the greatest assets any business can possess is trust. In 2012, Riva was awarded the ELNET Mark of Ethics by the Ethical Leadership Network, recognizing organizations that demonstrate exceptional ethical leadership and governance. This recognition speaks volumes about the values that have guided the business and the culture that extends from its leadership to every part of the organization,” the Vivo Energy MD added.

Riva Petroleum Founder Credits Resilience and Strong Partnerships

Riva Petroleum Founder and Managing Director Peter Njeru Njagi said the company’s journey demonstrates the importance of resilience, integrity and long-term partnerships in building a successful enterprise.

“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. Thirty years can feel like just another year, but this milestone reflects the contribution of many: support from financial institutions such as KCB Bank, our business partners and our suppliers. The growth of Riva has taught us that nothing is impossible,” Peter Njeru said.

The Government also used the occasion to highlight its commitment to supporting local businesses as engines of economic growth.

Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui said creating an enabling business environment remains critical for helping family-owned enterprises expand into competitive corporations.

“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 homegrown enterprises to drive industrialisation, create jobs and contribute to Kenya’s economic growth,” the CS trade Lee Kinyanjui stated.

Also Read:KCB Facilitates Ksh1.07 Trillion Fuel Imports Under Kenya’s G-to-G Deal

Technology and Future Development

According to KCB Group CEO Paul Russo, technology and people will continue to shape the future of business partnerships.

“No organization succeeds in isolation. Sustainable growth is built through collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to creating value for customers and communities,” Paul Russo said.

Founded in 1996 in Nakuru, Riva Petroleum is now one of the largest distributors of Shell-branded lubricants in Kenya, having been founded by engineer Peter Njeru Njagi, who was formerly in the Road Department of the Ministry of Works.

Riva Petroleum has warehouses located in Nakuru, Nairobi and Embu and has lubricant distribution channels that cover 28 counties and reach as far as Moyale, which is the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

Another area of development that the two companies have adopted for their future development is digitalization.

Both Vivo Energy Kenya and Riva Petroleum have listed digital technologies, enhanced last-mile delivery services and increased demand for clean energy products as some of the biggest opportunities for the coming phase of their collaboration.

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A shell petrol station outlet in Nairobi. PHOTO/Vivo Energy