Samuel Kamau Macharia is a Kenyan entrepreneur and founder of Royal Media Services, Kenya’s largest private broadcaster. Born in 1942, he has significantly influenced the media industry. He also founded Madhupaper International and has received multiple business accolades.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Kamau Macharia, popularly known as SK Macharia, was born in 1942 in Ndakaini Village, Murang’a County, Kenya. Coming from a humble background, he grew up in a family of squatters working on British colonial plantations. Later, his family relocated to Embu, Kenya, where he spent his early years.
Education
Macharia began his formal education at Wango Boarding Primary School in 1988. He later attended Karaba Secondary School, where he sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). In 2005, he joined Embu College and pursued a Diploma in Business Management, Sales, and Marketing, graduating in 2007.
Professional Career
After returning to Kenya in 1969, Macharia secured a position as a finance officer in the Ministry of Local Government. He later joined the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC) and Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE), contributing to Kenya’s economic development. In 1973, he led a task force responsible for auditing and later liquidating the Agricultural Development Corporation.
Entrepreneurial Journey
- Madhupaper International
In 1979, Macharia left public service to focus on his entrepreneurial ventures. He founded Madhupaper International Kenya Limited, a tissue paper manufacturing company. By 1985, it had become Kenya’s leading tissue manufacturer with 300 employees. However, in October 1985, Kenya Commercial Bank placed the company under receivership, leading to its eventual collapse. - Royal Media Services
Undeterred by business setbacks, Macharia ventured into the media industry, establishing Royal Media Services, one of Kenya’s largest private broadcasting networks. The company owns Citizen TV, which dominates the Kenyan television market with a 62.5% share, as per a 2016 Ipsos report. Additionally, Royal Media Services operates over 12 radio stations, including the widely popular Radio Citizen, which holds a 43% market share. The company’s radio stations collectively reach 80% of Kenya’s population.
Awards and Recognition
Macharia’s influence in business and media has earned him numerous accolades. In 2012, he was featured on Forbes’ “Top 10 African Millionaires to Watch” list. The Africa Report also named him among the 50 most influential Africans in 2013. In 2015, he received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award for Eastern Africa.
Personal Life
Macharia is married to Purity Gathoni Macharia, and they have six children. His wife, Gathoni, is the sister of former Kenyan Cabinet Minister Njeru Githae and academician Micere Githae Mugo, a professor at Syracuse University.
Conclusion
Samuel Kamau Macharia’s journey from a humble beginning to becoming one of Kenya’s most influential media moguls is a testament to his resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. As the founder of Royal Media Services, he has significantly shaped Kenya’s media landscape, making Citizen TV and Radio Citizen household names. His contributions to business, media, and economic development continue to leave a lasting impact in Kenya.
