Gilbert Shanga Marava is the statistician and former party leader of The Equitable Party (TEP) who handed over the leadership of the party to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Education and Early Life
Gilbert Marava Shanga grew up in Vihiga County, where he began his education at Muhudu Primary School.
He sat his primary school examination in 1985.
In 1986, he was admitted to Senende High School, but he could not join because his parents could not raise the required school fees.
He then spent a year out of school before resuming his education at the newly established Muhudu Secondary School.
His secondary education was later disrupted when the other students in his class transferred to different schools, leaving Shanga as the only student in Form Two.
He subsequently moved in with a relative and joined Kaimosi Mixed Secondary School, where he completed his secondary education and sat his final examination in 1990.
Shanga then joined the University of Nairobi, where he studied Statistics.
After completing his undergraduate studies, he moved to the United States with assistance from a cousin and pursued further studies.
He later joined Kansas State University, where he earned a PhD in Statistics in 2003.
His doctoral thesis was titled Analysis of Crossover Designs When Treatment Means Have Unequal Variances.
Gilbert Shanga’s Professional Career
After completing his studies, Shanga built a career in statistics, research and data analysis in the United States.
He worked at Oklahoma State University before moving into the private sector, where he held research and statistical roles at major companies including Unilever and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
At GSK Consumer Healthcare, Shanga worked as a statistician involved in clinical research and data analysis.
He was also listed as a co-author of scientific studies published in medical journals, including research on nasal dilator strips and their effect on sleep-related measures among people with chronic nighttime nasal congestion.
Entry Into Politics and The Equitable Party
Shanga later ventured into Kenyan politics through The Equitable Party (TEP), a political party registered by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties on March 25, 2022.
The party was formed around principles including equity, social justice, equal opportunity and fair access to public resources.
Shanga became the party’s leader, while Kerry Karani served as national chairman.
The party adopted the slogan “Tusawazishe”, meaning “Let us equalise,” and used a weighing scale as its symbol.
TEP was initially a relatively low-profile political party, with Shanga serving as its main public face.
His background as a statistician and his experience supporting education initiatives closely aligned with the party’s emphasis on equal opportunity and equitable access to resources.
The party remained under Shanga’s leadership until October 2026, when it became the political vehicle for Edwin Sifuna’s 2027 presidential bid.
Family and Net Worth
Gilbert Marava Shanga is married to Florence Shanga. The couple held their wedding on December 23, 2017.
The couple have also been involved in business in the United States. Florence Shanga is a registered nurse, while Gilbert Shanga oversees administrative, compliance and finance functions at Florence Precious Home Care, a family-owned home-care business in New Jersey.
There is no reliable public figure for Shanga’s net worth.
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