By Prudence Minayo
Wachira Waruru is one man whose midas touch has changed and re-shaped the face of the media industry in Kenya. In 2020, the Royal Media Services Managing Director, Waruru, was conferred The Presidential Order of Service, Uzalendo Award. The president said the award is in recognition of the distinguished and outstanding service to Kenya in helping steer the country through the coronavirus pandemic.
Born to the late former Nyeri member of parliament Waruru Kanja, the RMS MD picked valuable lessons on building a successful empire from his father. His father nearly lost his life in the fight for Kenya’s independence after the colonial government sentenced him to death. However, he escaped the execution and continued to support Kenya’s founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. He had a tumultuous relationship with the late former president Moi but at one point worked in the cabinet as the Minister for Communication, not knowing that his son would play an important role in the country’s communication industry.
Education
A brilliant student, Waruru joined Lenana High School and was a brilliant athlete who loved rugby and was the school’s 100m race champion. He later joined Kenyatta University where he pursued a Bachelor of Education Degree.
Also Read: Lenana High School Principal, Board Of Management And Performance Since 1993
Career
After University, rather than join the teaching profession, he joined the world of media and started working for the Nairobi Times which was then owned by Hilary Ngweno. His focus was on business related topics and so informative were his pieces that he got hired on a full time basis within a short time. His successful career with Nairobi Times was cut short after the newspaper was sold to KANU, the ruling party then that had no desire to work with a journalist they considered an anti-establishment radical.
Hilary gave him a job at his other publication known as Weekly News Magazine where he began as a reporter and rose through the ranks to become the managing editor.
As he advanced and succeeded in the media field, he created his own PR and media consultancy firm. He successfully ran the firm and it helped him land a top position with Standard Newspapers (he was appointed Group Editorial Director).
After the end of his contract with Standard Media Group, the NARC government appointed him Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
Joining RMS
In 2007, he joined Royal Media Services, a brand that at the time was struggling to keep up with other media giants like the Standard and Nation Media Groups. Shortly after joining the station, he revolutionized Citizen TV by investing in high quality local drama programs that elevated the station to greater heights. The restructuring of Citizen TV and coming up with insightful news bulletins and stories produced and executed with efficiency made the channel the power house it is today. A number of journalists have even given him credit for either helping them launch or propel their careers among them Felix Odiwuor (Jalang’o) and Terry Anne Chebet.
TV and Radio stations under Royal Media Services (RMS)
RMS Has two TV stations-Citizen TV and Inooro TV.
It has a total of 14 radio stations with twelve being in vernacular. Here is the list of all the radio stations that Waruru manages:
Radio Citizen, 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.
