Samuel Kamau Macharia
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Samuel Kamau Macharia | |
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| Born | 1942 (age 82–83) Ndakaini Village, Murang'a County, Kenya |
| Education | Embu College |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founder and chair of Royal Media Services |
Samuel Kamau Macharia (born 1942), also known as S.K. Macharia, is the founder and chairman of Royal Media Services, one of Kenya's largest private radio and television networks. Its flagship outlets include Citizen TV and Radio Citizen.
In 2012, Macharia was featured on the Forbes Top 10 List of African Millionaires to Watch.[1] In 2013, he appeared on The Africa Report's list of the 50 most influential Africans.[2] He was also honoured with the 2015 Eastern Africa Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award.[3][4]
Early life
[edit]Macharia was born in 1942 in Ndakaini Village, Murang'a County, Kenya. He is the second of four children, born into a squatter family that worked on British settler plantations under the colonial government.[5][6][7][8] The family later relocated to Embu, Kenya.[citation needed]
Education
[edit]In 1948, Macharia enrolled in Standard 1 at Wango Boarding Primary School. He later attended Karaba Secondary School in the early 1960s and completed the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.[citation needed]
He joined Embu College in 1965 and pursued a Diploma in Business Management, Sales, and Marketing, graduating in 1967.[citation needed]
Professional experience
[edit]After returning to Kenya in 1969, Macharia worked as a provincial local government finance officer in the Ministry of Local Government. He later held positions at the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC) and Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE).
In 1973, he was appointed head of a task force charged with auditing and later liquidating the Agricultural Development Corporation.[9]
Business
[edit]Madhupaper
[edit]In 1979, Macharia resigned from public service to focus on Madhupaper International Kenya Limited, a tissue manufacturing company he had founded in 1976. The company produced the "Rosy" brand of tissue paper and, by 1985, was the only tissue manufacturer in Kenya, employing approximately 300 people. It was placed under receivership on 25 October 1985, by Kenya Commercial Bank.[10][11]
Royal Media Services
[edit]As of 2016, the international research firm, Ipsos reported that Citizen TV held a 62.5% share of the Kenyan television market.[12] Royal Media Services’ radio stations reached approximately 80% of Kenya's population, with Radio Citizen alone accounting for 43% of the radio market share.[13] The company also operates over 12 local radio stations across Kenya.
Personal life
[edit]Macharia is married to Purity Gathoni Macharia. They have six children. Gathoni is the sister of Njeru Githae, a former Kenyan Cabinet Minister.[14]
Awards
[edit]- 2015 Eastern Africa Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Lifetime Award
- Honorary Doctorate, University of Nairobi[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Uhuru, Kirubi drop from Forbes rich list". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ Ofori-Atta, Prince (20 September 2012). "The 50 most influential Africans – North Africa". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Kenafric Director named regional EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Capital Business". 9 December 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "EY Entrepreneur Gala Awards". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "SK Macharia: Billionaire Who Rose From A P3 Teacher". whownskenya.com. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
Samuel Kamau Macharia was born in 1942 in Ndakaini village, Murang'a county... His parents were squatters on British settler plantations in Sabatia.
- ^ Dr. Samuel Kamau Macharia Citation (PDF) (Report). University of Nairobi. 5 December 2014. p. 1.
Born in 1942 in Ndakaini Village, Murang'a County to parents working as squatters on settler plantations.
- ^ "Royal Media Services owner SK Macharia Biography". Venas News. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
Dr. Samuel Kamau Macharia was born in 1942 in Ndakaini Village... His parents worked as squatters on colonial-era plantations.
- ^ "SAMUEL KAMAU MACHARIA: A MEDIA MAGNATE". Africa Intelligence. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
Born between 1942-1944 in Ndakaini village... His family were Kikuyu squatters on British-owned land.
- ^ "Agricultural Development Corporation". Agricultural Development Corporation. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ "Royal Media Services Chair Dr S.K Macharia feted". 4 December 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ndungu, Tonny (9 March 2016). "Inooro TV edges out K24TV in recent poll". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "The Immortals: The Githaes: Pedigree of education, business acumen". Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2016.