Gerald Kyalo. (geraldbway).
From Kisii School Captain to Congo’s Fuel Tycoon: How Duncan Mogire Built Jambo Energy from Scratch
How a Kenyan Entrepreneur Conquered the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Petroleum Market
While most Kenyan entrepreneurs shy away from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Duncan Mogire chose to dive in headfirst. Today, the Kisii School alumnus is the founder and CEO of Jambo Energy SARL, a petroleum distribution powerhouse making waves in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.
Duncan began by supplying diesel door-to-door to businesses struggling with Kinshasa’s erratic power grid. From these humble beginnings, he has scaled the business into a massive operation that now employs over 70 people and manages a fuel storage capacity of 1.4 million litres across an impressive client portfolio. With plans to expand his fleet of trucks and river barges, Duncan is set to dominate the Congo River transport corridor.
Duncan shares his journey from corporate employee to sole proprietor, the challenges of operating in the Congolese market, and why he believes Kenyan youth should focus on mastering their craft rather than chasing quick money.
From Kisii School to International Business
“I was born in 1985 in Kisii,” Duncan begins. “I went to primary school in Nairobi and later joined Kisii School for my secondary education, where I served as school captain. I hold a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Nairobi and an Executive MBA in Finance and Management from Frankfurt School of Management.”
Despite the risks many Kenyans perceive in doing business in DRC, Duncan saw opportunity. He first traveled to DRC in 2015 through Dalbit Group, where he led sales and marketing in Lubumbashi and focused on fuel distribution to mining companies in the Copper Belt region. He left Dalbit in 2023 to start Jambo Energy in Kinshasa.
Starting Small, Scaling Big
“I started Jambo Energy in 2023 after quitting employment. Initially, we distributed fuel using mobile bowsers to supermarkets, offices, and residential buildings. With Kinshasa’s unreliable electricity, businesses rely heavily on diesel generators, and we filled that gap professionally and efficiently,” Duncan explains.
When asked about funding, he emphasizes resourcefulness. “Necessity is the mother of invention. I started with my own savings and, over time, built strong relationships with suppliers and banks. Scaling without that support is very difficult.”
Interestingly, Duncan prefers to remain the sole proprietor. “I don’t like partnerships—they can slow growth, especially when starting from scratch,” he says.
Navigating the Congolese Business Landscape
Regarding legal requirements, Duncan points out that starting a business in DRC is surprisingly straightforward for foreigners. “Business registration takes less than five days if you have all the necessary documents, the most important being an establishment visa. Compared to Kenya, the process is simpler, with fewer bureaucratic hurdles,” he notes.
Duncan believes Kenya could learn from this streamlined approach, saying, “Kenya, as an economic powerhouse, should make starting a business easier, reducing the bureaucracy that slows entrepreneurship.”
From a school captain in Kisii to a petroleum tycoon in Congo, Duncan Mogire’s story is a testament to vision, courage, and the power of seizing opportunity where others see risk.
