Royal Media Services Chair Dr S.K Macharia feted

East Africa’s towering entrepreneurs were on Thursday feted during the annual Ernst and Young entrepreneur of the year awards in Nairobi.

Among the entrepreneurs that were recognised for their hard work, achievement and impact on the society was royal media services chairman, Dr S.K. Macharia.

Dr. Macharia received the lifetime achievement award in recognition of his enduring legacy as a business leader and entrepreneur.
After years of hard work, endurance and never ending challenges, the region’s top entrepreneurs got a chance to be recognised in an annual entrepreneurship awards ceremony organised by professional services firm, Ernst and Young and Standard Chartered Bank.

This year saw six finalists shortlisted for the 2015 Eastern Africa Ernest and Young entrepreneur award.

The finalists were drawn from various economic sectors which include communication and advertising, consumer and retail, information technology and agriculture.

Mayur Shah of Kenafric industries limited emerged the winner in the master category.

Gaster Lule the founder of Uganda-based Ntake bakery won in the emerging category.

And Royal Media Services chairman Dr S.K. Macharia scooped the lifetime achievement award in recognition of his endurance and positive contribution as a business leader and entrepreneur.

Dr. Macharia’s decision to venture into business also a daunting one as access to start-up finance was initially hard to come by.

His early business ventures were madhupaper, a paper manufacturing company and royal card.

“You know there is no miracle to success you have to work hard. I did not have any money we used to be paid Sh.1000. I went to National Bank and Githunguri was there I told him I want 6 million to start making tissues papers in Kenya. That’s how madhupaper was started,” said Dr Macharia.

Stiff resistance from officials within the then government also posed major stumbling blocks to his progress.

“KCB was ordered to take over madhupaper. I was thrown out and it was taken away and I wasn’t paid a single cent. I went to the street,” said Dr. Macharia.

But his unrelenting spirit as an entrepreneur eventually bore fruit, laying the foundation for Kenya’s leading media company, the royal media services, that now boasts the number one TV station, a leading vernacular TV station and over ten radio stations.

“Each of us as individuals must utilise what God gave us, for yourself, your family and obviously your family. Whatever I do everyday, I do for myself, my family and my country,” stated Dr Macharia.

The EY entrepreneur of the year awards will culminate in an annual gala banquet in Monte Carlo in June 2016.