In Kenya, renowned media personalities, particularly those with extensive experience, are handsomely remunerated and granted various benefits.
Their lifestyle is characterized by luxurious vehicles, trendy attire, and elegant homes. They do not hesitate to splurge on themselves and indulge in the best life has to offer.
Former Citizen TV anchor, Julie Gichuru, is not an exception to the list of wealthy media luminaries who have proven to showcase their financial prowess.
Julie is a savvy entrepreneur with a diversified portfolio of investments in the media, fashion, and entertainment sectors, which have yielded substantial wealth.
Additionally, she is married to Anthony Gichuru, an entrepreneur and son of the ex-Kenya Power boss, Samuel Gichuru.
Despite their affluence, the couple prefers to keep a low profile and stay away from the public eye. They live a lavish lifestyle, indulging in the finest luxuries that money can buy.
At the age of 49, she possesses an LLB and an MBA from Cardiff Law School and Cardiff Business School, respectively.
Her breakthrough in the Kenyan media industry came when she landed a job at Capital FM and later at KTN as a news anchor and correspondent.
She has spearheaded numerous TV shows across different local stations. At KTN, she was featured in the groundbreaking program Inside Story. She later moved to NTV to host political shows before landing at Citizen TV, where she pioneered the famous Sunday Live.
In 2015, she made the decision to leave her role at Citizen TV to concentrate on pursuing other ventures.
Her first role after RMS exit was at Mastercard Foundation as the Head of Public Affairs and Communications.
Here is a list of properties and businesses that Julie Gichuru owns:
1. Arimus Media
As the CEO of Arimus Media, Julie Gichuru is at the helm of a company that’s passionate about promoting African content to inspire future generations.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Arimus Media is committed to empowering people through thought-provoking programming.
Under Julie’s leadership, Arimus Media has launched initiatives such as the Great Debaters Contest, a competition that provides a platform for high school students to showcase their debate skills.
She’s also the brains behind Africa Leadership Dialogue, a forum for discussing key issues affecting the continent.
2. Multi-million Mansion
The mother of four and her husband enjoy a luxurious abode, residing in a magnificent mansion located in Nairobi’s affluent neighbourhood. The house’s estimated worth ranges from Sh. 200 million to Sh. 300 million.
To radiate its extravagance to outsiders, it has a towering perimeter wall equipped with an electric fence and a black gate.
The property boasts 4 opulent bedrooms, meticulously crafted lawns, and a basketball court within the compound.
A car shade has also been set up to house her expensive machines while the servant’s quarters have been designed with a high-end touch.
3. Mimi Online Shop
Julie Gichuru and her husband Anthony Gichuru established Mimi Online Shop in 2012 to provide high-quality, trendy, affordable clothing.
According to its website, the online store offers a wide range of youthful designs.
“As a TV anchor, I struggled to find affordable, quality, trendy clothing. Several suppliers reached out to me, and I decided to take it to the next level by setting up the business in partnership with my husband, Anthony Gichuru,” she stated in the past.
“The next step was sales; we looked into shops and found limited space in big malls and exorbitant prices on available space. Toy and I considered the option of going online and decided to give it a go,” she added.
4. mCHEZA
Julie Gichuru and her husband Anthony Gichuru are among the key investors in the sports betting company mCHEZA, which was launched in December 2015 through a deal between Intralot and Acumen Communication Ltd valued at Sh. 1 billion.
Notably, Julie holds a position as an independent director at Acumen Communication Limited.
At the launch of mCHEZA, she expressed her commitment to using the proceeds from the company to support and develop grassroots sports talent.
“We have invested in the lottery. Gaming is the newest passion in local sports. It is interesting to bet, but you shouldn’t be addicted,” she said.
John Manase Buko won the first jackpot of Sh. 24.8 million at mCHEZA, becoming an instant millionaire. Julie Gichuru praised Buko for his patience and reminded customers to gamble responsibly.
