Samuel Kamau Macharia (S.K Macharia) is a Kenyan and founder of the largest private radio and television network in Eastern Africa, known as Royal Media Services.
Samuel Macharia has used his wealth to influence the media space in Kenya so much so that he purchased a lot of frequencies and so anyone who wants to open a radio station in Kenya has to consult him.
Samuel Macharia was born in Ndakaini Village, Murang’a County in 1942.
At a young age, Samuel Macharia joined the Maasai Herd Boys, travelling long distances with them so as to make ends meet.
Controversy
SK Macharia in 2021 lost control of his late son’s Sh. 1.2 billion estate to his grandson.
This was after the High Court issued orders revoking the letters that had given SK the right to manage the estate in 2019.
“The circumstances dictate that this court re-looks the issues of representation in this estate afresh and make appropriate orders after hearing the parties. It is also clear to me that as at the time the two grants were issued, the sole beneficiary was a minor,” Justice Stella Mutuku had ruled.
SK Macharia and his grandson Adam Kamau Macharia had been engaged in a bitter fight over Sh. 1.2 billion property.
The disputed estate comprised of shares in more than six companies that have investments in insurance, communications and real estate.
These are Directline Insurance, Serenity Media Productions Ltd, Big Five Conservancy, Bushfire Media Distributors, Toi Redevelopment and Harbour Capital Ltd.
Other disputed properties are nine vehicles – two Range Rover cars, Land Rover, Jaguar, Jeep, Porsche 911, BMW, Trailer and Land Rover Discovery — four motorbikes and five residential houses in Nanyuki, Loresho (Nairobi), Kyuna crescent (Nairobi), Kibarage (Nairobi) and Mugumo crescent (Nairobi).
In court papers, Kamau had said that he is the only grandson of Macharia’s son, John Gichia Macharia, who died in a road accident in 2018.
Gichia was until his death the Executive Director of Direct Line, an insurance company. He succumbed to injuries sustained from a road accident along the Southern bypass. Gichia passed on at the Karen Hospital in Nairobi where he had been rushed to.
Kamau claimed that SK Macharia had taken full control of the business and all the affairs of the entities without consulting or informing him or any family members.
Samuel Kamau Macharia Net Worth
In 2012, Samuel Macharia was on the top-10 list in Forbes magazine of African millionaires to watch. Macharia was on the 2013 Africa Report of the 50 most influential Africans.
In 2016, Samuel Macharia’s television station, Citizen TV has a 62.5% share of the Kenyan television market.
Samuel Macharia’s Royal Media Services radio stations have a combined audience of 80% of Kenya’s population (the main radio station Radio Citizen has a 43% market share).
Other brands in the Royal Media Services 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.
Samuel Macharia Past ventures:
1. Madhupaper
It was in 1976 that the renowned businessman SK Macharia started Madhupaper International Company. Three years later, the business mogul would push aside his job in an attempt to fully oversee the operations of his tissue production company.
The Rosy Tissue would, later on, become a household name, with its shortcomings being viewed as little to none.
On 25 October 1985, his company was pushed to receivership thanks to Kenya Commercial Bank. Speaking emphatically, SK Macharia claimed that the Moi government had a hand in his company being placed under receivership.
Other publications have described him as a rude opulent personality who relies on emotional overreactions.
2. Royal Travel
SK Macharia owns the Royal Travel, a travel agency that once boomed during the period of early 2000.
3. Ribshack Restaurant
The billionaire once owned the ornate restaurant which stood erect on Kiambu road. The restaurant was a rejuvenating space that treated customers to a delicious menu. According to sources, the Restaurant stopped its operations.
Despite many of his business endeavors stalling, his flourishing media house displays his success. The uncovered important truth is that SK Macharia is an intelligent fellow whose intellect weaved together a successful business plan that would channel millions into his Bank account.
In 2013, Forbes magazine recognized him as the African millionaire to watch.
His Education Background
University of Washington-Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting
Certified as a Certified Accountant
Seattle Pacific University-Bachelors of Arts degree in political science
Masters of Arts in Accounting
Masters of Science in Accounting/Finance
SK Macharia estimated net worth is around kes40 billion.
Networth
His net worth is estimated to be North of Kes 40 billion.
