Today toilet paper would still be a privilege of few moneyed Kenyans were it not for an investment the tycoon Samuel Kamau (SK) Macharia made back in late 1970s.
Many would be still using leaves and old newspapers after a long call.
Macharia, the founder and chairman of Royal Media Services is credited for making a bold move that made many homesteads shift from the not-so friendly leaves to tissue papers.
Back in 1970s toilet paper was for the rich but a visit the tycoon made to Europe changed this and today toilet paper is common in many Kenyan homes.
Then Macharia was financial controller for the Agriculture Development Corporation and in 1976 while touring Italy he saw a simple industry manufacturing tissue paper from waste papers.
According to the book “A Profile of Kenyan Entrepreneurs” by Wanjiru Waithaka and Evans Majeni, Macharia was enthralled by the idea and he took a roll to Kenya.
He approached the Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) to research it and then produce it in mass quantities but KIE declined to invest Sh3 million in the idea.
He decided to it himself but then National Bank of Kenya (NBK) boss a Mr RS Atwood refused to give him a loan.
He got a loan of Sh7 million months later when Stanley Githunguri (late Kiambaa MP) became the NBK boss.
Macharia established Madhupaper in Nairobi’s industrial area and in 1977 started producing ‘Rosy’ toilet paper that he supplied locally, to Uganda and Tanzania.
Rosy became a household brand in the region but in 1985 Madhupaper was placed under receivership by Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) over Sh50 million loan.
The move was politically motivated.
He lost the case and his company was sold by the bank to Chandaria Industries Limited.
To date Rosy tissue is common in supermarkets and retail shops across Kenya.
