Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua is a many who wears many hats. He has recently been on the limelight following his breakup with his wife, Lilian Ng’ang’a after they had been together for more than a decade.
The presidential aspirant is a man known to many for his progressive thinking and advocacy for development in the country.
Though the Machakos governor may be a regular on television panels and a constant crusader on the streets of social media, a section of the public remains unaware of how he got to build a multi-million empire for himself and his family.
Mutua was born on August 22, 1970 and hails from a poor background. His rise to fame and wealth makes for a classic rags to riches story.
He has over the years grown to have major interests in various sectors of the economy ranging from media, hotel industry, aviation, and real estate.
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Background & Education
The presidential hopeful attended Toi Primary school (Kibera), Dagoretti High School for his O’ levels, and Jamhuri High School for his A levels.
According to the Machakos County website, he has studied, lived, and worked in Kenya, United States, Australia, and United Arab Emirates.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from Whitworth College, U.S.A, a Master of Science Degree in Communications from Eastern Washington University, U.S.A, and a Doctorate in Communication and Media from the University of Western Sydney, Australia.
Career
Mutua began his career as a journalist while still in high school, publishing his first story in the daily newspapers at the age of 15.
After high school, he wrote features for The Sunday Nation, Standard Newspaper, and the defunct Kenya Times Newspaper. In 1989, at the age of 19, he registered his first company Golden Dreams Company, and started publishing a newsletter/magazine “Golden Times.
While studying in the US, he published stories for several American newspapers and embarked on video production, producing “An African in America” documentary in 1996.
He worked for several TV stations including PBS in Seattle, Washington. He later worked for Nation Media Group as a reporter and features writer from 1997.
While in Australia, he was published by the Sydney Morning Herald and worked as a foreign correspondent for SBS TV’s international magazine show Dateline.
Mutua also lectured at the University of Western Sydney, Macquarie University and several TAFE colleges in Sydney.
He moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2002 as an Assistant Professor of Communication and Media at the Prestigious Zayed University.
The National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) government under President Mwai Kibaki created the Office of Public Communications Secretary, popularly known as Government Spokesman, and appointed Mutua as its first holder.
He held the office for close to nine years and resigned in September 2012 to contest the Machakos Gubernatorial seat which he won. He is currently serving his second term as governor.
Business Empire
Mutua was the producer of the popular television series Cobra Squad. In a past interview, the governor revealed that he made a total of Ksh36 million from the seasons the show aired for.
“I started my own company at the age of 19 years; where I formed a company then left the country. When I came back I started ‘Cobra Squad’ where the first series earned me Sh25 million and the next film earned me Sh11 million,” Mutua said.
He then revealed that he invested the money into buying apartments in Nairobi and started an aviation company.
Mutua is also the owner of A&L Hotel, a luxurious eatery located a few kilometres from Machakos Town. Its name was derived from the Mutua and Lilian’s first name initials.
It began operations on July 24, 2020. During this Covid-19 period, the hotel operates for 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm.
A&L hotel has a number of amenities including a restaurant, a bar, and a garden. It boasts family rooms that are mounted with television sets. The property also provides guests with a terrace.
Its services, in summary, include: 24-hour front desk, 24-hour security, Bar, Family rooms, Free parking, Free WiFi, Garden, Internet services, Meeting/banquet facilities, Non-smoking rooms, On-site parking, Pets allowed, Private parking, Restaurant, Room service, Terrace, and WiFi available in all areas.
A night at the hotel costs Ksh11,902 per room.
Mutua and his estranged wife, Josephine Thitu owned a vernacular TV station, Woni TV. Its operations were supervised by Lilian but it later shut down.
The Machakos governor also owns a resort at Ngaali village, near the main entrance of Tsavo East National Park in Kitui County.
From the earnings he has accrued over the years, Mutua is said to own a palatial home along Kenya’s coastline, often to which he retreats.
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