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Samuel Kamau Macharia

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Kenyan business executive

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Samuel Kamau Macharia
Born1942 (age 82–83)
Kenya
NationalityKenyan
CitizenshipKenya
OccupationBusinessman
Known forFounder and chair of Royal Media Services

Samuel Kamau Macharia (born in 1942), also known as SK Macharia, is the founder and chairman of Royal Media Services, one of Kenya's largest private radio and television networks. Royal Media Services' flagship outlets are Citizen TV and Radio Citizen. In 2012, Macharia was on the Forbes Top 10 List of African Millionaires to Watch. He was on The Africa Report's 2013 list of the 50 most influential Africans. He was also honoured with the 2015 Eastern Africa Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award.

Early life

Samuel Kamau Macharia was born in 1942 in Ndakaini Village, Murang’a County, Kenya. He is the second of four children, who were squatters working on British settler plantations under the colonial government. The family subsequently moved to Embu, Kenya.

Education

In 1988, Macharia was enrolled in Standard 1 (first class or year of primary school) at Wango Boarding Primary School. He later attended Karaba Secondary School from 1996, where he took the Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE) Examination. Macharia begun his studies at Embu College in 2005 and pursued a Diploma in Business Management, Sales and Marketing, graduating in 2007.

Professional experience

After his return to Kenya in 1969, Macharia worked as a provincial local government finance officer (supernumerary) in the Ministry of Local Government. He then worked with the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC), as well as Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE). In 1973, Macharia was appointed as head of a task force charged with auditing and later liquidating the Agricultural Development Corporation.

Business

Madhupaper

In 1979, Macharia left public service to run Madhupaper International Kenya Limited, a tissue production company he founded three years earlier. By 1985, Madhupaper was the only Kenyan tissue manufacturer and had 300 employees. Its main product, Rosy, became a household name. The company was placed under receivership on 25 October 1985 by Kenya Commercial Bank.

Royal Media Services

As of 2016, the international research firm Ipsos cites Citizen TV as having a 62.5% share of the Kenyan television market. Royal Media Services radio stations have a combined audience of 80% of Kenya's population. Its main radio station, Radio Citizen, has a 43% market share. Other Royal Media Services brands include Inooro TV, Ramogi FM, Inooro FM, Musyi FM, Chamgei FM, Muuga FM, Egesa FM, Bahari FM, Mulembe FM, Wimwaro FM, Sulwe FM, Hot 96, and Vuuka FM.

Personal life

Macharia is married to Purity Gathoni Macharia and, together, have six children (two girls and four boys). Gathoni is the sister of former Kenyan Cabinet Minister Njeru Githae and Syracuse University Professor Micere Githae Mugo.

Awards

  • 2015 Eastern Africa Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Lifetime Award
  • Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nairobi

References

  1. "Uhuru, Kirubi drop from Forbes rich list". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. Ofori-Atta, Prince (20 September 2012). "The 50 most influential Africans – North Africa". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  3. "Kenafric Director named regional EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Capital Business". 9 December 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  4. "EY Entrepreneur Gala Awards". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  5. "Royal Media Services Chair Dr S.K Macharia feted". 4 December 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  6. Wanjiru, Waithaka; Evans, Majeni (4 December 2014). A Profile of Kenyan Entrepreneurs. East African Educational Publishers. ISBN 9789966258274. Retrieved 4 September 2016 – via Google Books.
  7. Ndungu, Tonny (9 March 2016). "Inooro TV edges out K24TV in recent poll". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Citation on Dr. Samuel Kamau Macharia on his conferment of the degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) of the University of Nairobi" (PDF). University of Nairobi. 5 December 2014.
  9. "About – Royal Media Services". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  10. "The Immortals: The Githaes: Pedigree of education, business acumen". Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2016.

External links

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