Early in the 1940s, Mr. Rambhai emigrated to Kenya from the Indian state of Gujarat. In 1948, he opened a tiny hardware store in the heart of Nairobi, marking the modest beginnings of the Ramco Group. After finishing their educations, his three sons Kirit, Mahendra, and Chandrakant joined the family firm. Based on these close family ties, the organisation established a strong basis upon which it could develop and prosper.

The family's familiar hardware and construction supply industries were the focus of Ramco Group's initial expansion. However, the brothers expanded their businesses in 1986 by buying ASL Steel and Polythene Industries, respectively, into stainless steel and printing. These investments paved the way for entry into other industries, which followed