Joshua Kipchumba Chepkwony, popularly known as CK Joshua, is the founder and chairman of Kass Media Group that runs Kass FM radio and Kass TV.
The billionaire also manages Jamii Telecommunications, which offers Faiba services, and Jamii Millings, a new entrant into the cereals milling sector.
The Citizen reported Chepkwony is a moneyed figure who has been bankrolling Rift Valley politicians behind the scenes.
According to Kalenjin Culture, Sayings, History, Language and Folklore, Chepkwony started business early by buying goats and chicken in the village and reselling them for a profit.
Chepkwony’s accumulation of wealth started with the ‘simu ya jamii’ project that led to the provision of communication infrastructure.
Here’s CK Joshua’s companies:
1. Jamii Telecommunications
Joshua is the proprietor and chief executive officer of Jamii Telecommunications Ltd (JTL), which offers broadband and mobile services under the Faiba brand.
The company was established in 2016 and paid KSh 5 billion to secure a license to install undersea fiber optic cable.
JTL, according to data on its website, was the first company in Kenya to:
Deploy a 700MHZ mobile network in Kenya.
First VOLTE mobile service provider in Kenya.
First 100% free on-net voice service for life in Kenya.
First to deploy 100% fiber-optic network infrastructure in Kenya
Deliver 1000mbps capacity network to both Home or business in Kenya.
Deliver 1mbps broadband internet for KSh 1000 in Kenya.
Others services it offers include Faiba mobile, Faiba fixed, Faiba SD WAN and Faiba Konnect.
Dun & Bradstreet, an American company that provides commercial data, analytics, and insights for businesses, reports that JTL generates approximately $1.26 million (KSh 143 million) in sales.
It has over 300 employees.
2. Sergoit Holdings Limited
Chepkwony serves as the chairman of Sergoit Holdings Limited where he is the majority shareholder.
The company made headlines when it began construction of the KSh 40 billion Sergoit Golf and Wildlife resort in the outskirts of Eldoret.
The multi-billion project sits on 3,100 acres of land, involves the construction of 2000 luxury villas, three golf courses, a shopping mall, a five-star hotel, a private hospital and an airstrip.
“The property is a sprawling ranch that serves also as a wildlife sanctuary and is home to the Rothschild Giraffe – one of a priority species in wildlife conservation. Other animals include antelopes, duikers and a large variety of birds. On a clear day, you can see Mt Kenya to the East and Mt Elgon to the West,” a statement on its Facebook page read.
3. Jamii Milling
The KSh 1 billion Jamii Milling company based in Uasin Gishu county was launched on May 11, 2015.
The miller has the capacity to process 3,000 bags of maize into flour daily.
It also manufactures wheat flour, poultry, animal and fish feeds.
Jamii Milling produces the Jamii maize flour brand sold across Kenyan towns.
4. Kass Media Group
Chepkwony is the chairman of Kass Media Group which runs Kass FM radio and Kass TV.
Kass FM was launched in 2005 and airs programmes in the Kalenjin language.
