SK Macharia: I swept floors to pay my fees

The journey of the Media mogul Dr.SK Macharia, the chairman of Royal Media Services, to greatness, was not a walk in the park as many might imagine.

Like a child of a common family, he faced ups and down on his way to establishing citadels of fortune to his name.

Having been lucky to receive a scholarship from the Kennedy Airlifts Scholarship to study in the US, the joy that comes with such offer was not long lasting. His needs came calling and financial constraint was his utmost undoing.

But how he overcame the hardship is definitely an inspiration he will live to tell.

When addressing students of Kahuhia Girls Highschool, during a prize-giving ceremony, he revealed that before his star shone, he lived by menial jobs to support his fees and other personal needs.

“When I was in the US, I worked at night and went to school during the day. Do you know a company called Boeing that makes big planes in Seattle? I swept their floors for eight years,” said Macharia.

“I paid my school fees by working at night and going to school during the day, so there’s nothing that you cannot achieve,” he added.

Having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at Seattle Pacific University and later Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Washington.

Macharia has built a conglomerate consisting of the media industry, hospitality and real estate becoming one of the few self-made billionaires in Kenya.