The media industry in Kenya is very vibrant thanks to the liberalisation of the airwaves that allowed private investors to run media houses. The country has over 100 radio stations broadcasting mainly in English, Swahili and vernacular languages. According to a report by BBC, the industry in Kenya is “diverse, sophisticated and well-financed.”
In this article, WoK takes a look at the tycoons behind popular radio stations in Kenya.
Kevin Mulei – NRG Radio
Kevin Mulei is the Founder and Owner of NRG Radio – a radio station that is quite popular with millennials. Mulei began his career as a Deejay (DJ Kev) before quitting to establish Groove Awards which became a major success.
Groove awards was a platform that promoted, supported and celebrated talented gospel musicians in the country. After the closure of Groove awards, he established MO Sound – a creative and media company that organizes events, provides production services and entertainment equipment with operations in the East and Central African countries.
He later established NRG radio which first went on air on 1st March 2018 and became the first visual radio station in Kenya. He also owns Choice Radio – 87.7 FM and Fun X Radio – 91.3 FM.
Patrick Quarcoo – Radio Africa Group.
Patrick Quarcoo, popularly known as PQ, is a Ghanian Kenyan-based entrepreneur who has heavily invested in the media industry. He is the founder and CEO of Radio Africa Group, headquartered at Lion Place in Westlands, Nairobi.
Some of the radio stations operated by the Radio Africa Group include KISS 100, Classic 105, Radio Jambo, East FM and Smooth FM. He also owns the Star Newspaper as well as KISS TV. Together with his friend William Pike, they own two radio stations in Uganda – Capital Radio and Beat FM.
Mike, Alph and John Rabar – Homeboyz Radio
Mike, Alph and John Rabar are the founders of Homeboyz radio – a radio station that mainly plays urban music and targets young people in major towns in the country.
The three brothers started off as Deejays before later venturing into the events organizing space through Homeboyz entertainment which they founded in 1995. The company specializes in events management, sound hire, events décor, event lighting, set design, public relations and digital communication.
The company is currently worth over Sh 300 million. In 2017, they established Homeboyz Radio which eventually became a major success with its worth placed at Ksh294.5 million.
In 2020 during the pandemic, Homeboyz Radio went public in the Nairobi Securities Exchange whereby Patrick Quarcoo through the Radio Africa Group bought a controlling 51 percent of the stake at the radio station.
Rodgers Kipembe Mpuru – Theuri FM
Rodgers Kipembe is the son of the former Tigania East Member of Parliament Lawrence Aburi. The 33 year old who is known to live a flamboyant lifestyle is the owner of Theuri FM – a radio station that broadcasts in the Meru vernacular language.
He is also the owner of Meru TV as well as Secretary General of National Ordinary People Empowerment Party (NOPEU) political party. He owns a number of car wash and garages spread out in different parts of Nairobi.
He is also the owner of a salvage car yard in South B known as Rodgers Place and holds a total of 200 wrecked vehicles.
Dr. Samuel Kamau Macharia – Royal Media Services
Dr. Samuel Kamau Macharia, famously known as SK Macharia, is the founder and chairman of the Royal Media Services. The 80 year old started off by establishing a tissue company known as Madhupaper which he later sold in 1989 for Ksh 250 million.
He later established Royal Media Services with Radio Citizen and Citizen TV being the flagship channels. The company has grown to become the biggest and most successful media company in the country. It operates a number of Radio stations including Inooro FM, Vuuka FM, Chamgei FM, Bahari FM, Mulembe FM, Ramogi FM, Musyi FM, Egesa FM and Hot 96 FM.
Joshua Chepkwony – KASS FM
Joshua Chepkwony, popularly known as CK Joshua, is the founder of Kass Media International. The media company operates KASS FM and KASS TV – a radio and TV channel that broadcasts in the Kalenjin vernacular language.
The billionaire is also the founder of Jamii Telecommunications – a company that specializes in offering reliable internet connection to residential places, offices and corporate companies. It is the pioneer of fibre optic internet in the country under the brand name ‘Faiba.’
He also owns Jamii Milling Company – a company that produces the Jamii maize flour brand. He is also behind Sergoit Holdings Limited – a company that is constructing a Ksh 40 billion city in Eldoret dubbed ‘Sergoit Golf and Wildlife Resort.’
John Marete – Weru FM
The story of John Marete is a resilient one – from being fired at Royal Media Services where he worked as a cameraman for Citizen TV to owning a media group. In 2016 after he lost his job he established Weru TV and Weru FM – stations that broadcast in the Ameru vernacular language. He later established Mutongoi TV and Mutongoi FM – stations that broadcasts in the Kamba vernacular language
