Meet the Nairobi Shamba Boy Who Rose to Own 3 TV Stations and 1 Radio Station in Kenya

James Mburu has turned a difficult childhood into a remarkable business success story.

Having grown up in poverty and earned just KSh 20 weekly as a shamba boy in Nairobi, he has built a media business featuring three television stations and one radio station.Mburu was raised in Karangatha, Nyandarua County, where his parents depended on small-scale farming to provide for their family.

Money was scarce, making it difficult to meet basic needs and keep him in school.

According to his account, his family faced such hardship that villagers often suspected them whenever property went missing.

However, Mburu remained determined to find a way out of poverty and create a better future.

His journey towards success began with his singing talent.

While tending to his grandfather’s livestock, a well-wisher heard him singing and was impressed by his voice.

The individual offered to help him record songs in a studio, giving him an opportunity to turn his talent into income.

Mburu subsequently started selling music cassettes, using the money he earned to support his parents and save for his education.

After finishing high school, he relocated to Nairobi and secured employment as a shamba boy.

Despite earning a reported KSh 20 per week, he continued working towards his ambitions rather than abandoning them.

He later enrolled in nursing school and secured a job at a hospital in Nyandarua, where he worked for three years.

He subsequently attended a herbal school in Limuru, gaining experience that helped him venture into the healthcare business.

Mburu later established Mukeu Herbal Clinic, which he says has expanded to 47 branches in Kenya and three in Tanzania. The enterprise reportedly employs more than 50 people.

In 2018, he ventured into broadcasting by launching Jambu TV.

His media business later expanded to include Mukeu TV, Karindi TV and Jambu FM, as well as the J Mburu Official YouTube channel.

Beyond broadcasting, Mburu is involved in music and film production. He has reportedly recorded more than 100 songs and written over 300 films aired on his television network.

His story also attracted attention online after a humorous post portrayed him as handling almost every responsibility at his station, from presenting news and filming to producing programmes and appearing as a guest.

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