Pradeep Paunrana (born 1959) is a businessman, entrepreneur, industrialist and philanthropist in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community.
His father, the late Harjivandas J. Paunrana, who had dropped out of school at age 13, made sure his son received a good solid education.
He returned to Kenya in 1984, at the age of 24 at the request of his father who handed him the keys to the business in exchange for a percentage ownership, but no salary.
In 1994, the company which started with manufacturing fertilizer, animal feeds, ceramics, glass and plastics, began making cement for the first time.
Over the years, the company has grown into the largest manufacturer of cement in East Africa, producing 2.6 million tonnes annually.