Ruiying Wang: Chinese Businesswoman at Centre of Mitumba Scam Draining Millions from Kenyan Traders

A Chinese businesswoman, Ruiying Wang, has been thrust into the spotlight over explosive allegations that she is secretly controlling and profiting from Kenya’s multi-billion-shilling mitumba trade while using Kenyan nationals as disposable fronts to shield herself from tax, labour, and criminal liability.

At the centre of the controversy is Beauty Mitumba, a brand that presents itself as a proudly Kenyan enterprise but which insiders now claim is part of a wider network engineered to siphon profits out of the country. Multiple sources familiar with the operations allege that while Kenyan names appear on company documents, the real power — and money — flows back to businesses linked to Wang overseas.

The mitumba trade, reserved by law for Kenyans, is a lifeline for millions of households and a backbone of the informal economy. But investigators say the sector has been quietly captured through proxy companies, fake local ownership, and financial tricks that allow foreign players to reap enormous rewards while locals carry all the risk.

Kenyans as Fronts, Foreigners Take the Cash

On paper, companies operating under the Beauty Mitumba banner are owned and run by Kenyans. In reality, sources say these “directors” are little more than names on forms — employees, associates, or vulnerable individuals with no control over finances or strategy.

Behind the scenes, Ruiying Wang is alleged to exercise decisive control over procurement, pricing, and cash flow through a web of import-export firms supplying mitumba bales from China and other markets. Profits from high-volume sales in hubs such as Gikomba are allegedly spirited out of Kenya through over-invoiced imports, under-declared revenues, and shadowy personal accounts.

“The whole structure is designed to evade the law,” said one trader familiar with the scheme. “Kenyans are used to bypass ownership rules, then dumped when the taxman comes knocking.”
Industry insiders estimate that tens of millions of shillings — possibly billions — are being siphoned out of Kenya every year, starving the economy while enriching foreign interests.

Tax Traps, Harassment and Broken Lives

As scrutiny from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) tightens, the alleged foreign controllers reportedly vanish, leaving Kenyan-listed directors facing massive tax bills, frozen bank accounts, and legal ruin.

Even more disturbing are claims of labour abuse and intimidation. The company is facing multiple complaints ranging from underpayment and harassment of workers to violations of employment laws. One Kenyan woman, listed as a company director, was reportedly injured in an accident during working hours and then abandoned.

Despite being used as a legal shield, she alleges she has been denied compensation and subjected to sustained harassment and intimidation after demanding accountability from the alleged beneficial owners, whom she insists include Ruiying Wang.

Mitumba Leaders Cry Foul
The Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK) has warned that foreign capture of the sector through proxies is destroying livelihoods and defeating the very laws meant to protect Kenyan traders.

In a recent statement, MCAK said it plans to petition the government to deport any Chinese nationals illegally conducting mitumba business. Chairperson Teresia Wairimu Njenga has called for urgent enforcement of existing laws to prevent further exploitation and capital flight.

Wang Silent as Pressure Mounts

Repeated attempts to reach Ruiying Wang and representatives of the implicated companies for comment were unsuccessful. Requests for financial records, ownership documents, and explanations over cross-border transfers went unanswered by the time of publication.

As outrage grows, pressure is mounting on the KRA, the Ministry of Trade, and immigration authorities to move swiftly. For many traders, the question is no longer whether the system has been abused — but how long Kenyan hustlers will be sacrificed to build foreign fortunes under fake local flags.