Palatial Homes Owned by Top Media Personalities [PHOTOS]

Photo collage of Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang'o, Julie Gichuru and Linus Kaikai.
Photo collage of Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang'o, Julie Gichuru and Linus Kaikai.

Kenyan media personalities, especially those who have been around for a long time, earn good salaries and allowances.

Their hefty perks is evidenced by the pristine cars they drive, fashionable clothes they wear and exquisite houses they own and live in. They spare no cost when it comes to rewarding themselves.

Over the few years, a number of journalists have stopped living in rented houses and built or bought homes in some of the most prime estates in the country.

Kenyans.co.ke takes a look at local media personalities who own palatial homes in different parts of the country. 

Oga Obinna

Former Churchill Show comedian, renowned emcee and Kiss FM presenter Oga Obinna, owns a two-bedroom house on the outskirts of Kisumu town.

He began putting up the house in 2017 and completed it in December 2019. He then held a house-warming party to celebrate the opening.

In June 2021, Obinna reportedly acquired a piece of land in Kitengela and started constructing another house. He plans to relocate to the house later this year when the construction work is done.

Nation FM presenter Oga Obinna poses for a photo in front of his house in Maseno, Kisumu County.
Nation FM presenter Oga Obinna poses for a photo in front of his house in Maseno, Kisumu County.

Linus Kaikai

Citizen TV's Director of Strategy and Innovation, Linus Kaikai, owns a lavish two-storey mansion in Rongai, Kajiado County. 

Kaikai's homestead has a well-manicured lawn, a gatekeeper's court and a vegetable farm within the compound. 

Kaikai, who served as the General Manager at NTV until February 2018, has another house in the countryside that he put up in 2010.

An undated image of Linus Kaikai's house in Rongai, Kajiado County.
An undated image of Linus Kaikai's house in Rongai, Kajiado County.

Massawe Jappani

Radio Jambo presenter Massawe Jappani has a beautiful home in Kitengela, Kajiado County where she lives with her husband and children.

Massawe, who has previously worked for Q FM and Milele FM, is arguably one of the most sought after Swahili presenters in the country.

As such, it does not come as a surprise that she owns a palatial two-storey mansion with her husband Tom Jappani, who is the head of Radio Maisha.

She moved into the house in 2015 and has been staying there since then. According to reports, the couple has another house in the countryside.

An undated image of Massawe Jappani's house in Kitengela, Kajiadi County.
An undated image of Massawe Jappani's house in Kitengela, Kajiadi County.

Jalang'o

Kiss FM presenter Felix Odiwuor, alias Jalang'o, who has announced his intention to vie for the Lang'ata parliamentary seat, has more than three houses.

Jalang'o, who is one of the, if not the, leading breakfast show radio hosts in Kenya, has houses in Siaya, Kitengela, Kisumu and Nairobi.

During a recent interview, the media personality revealed that he spent more than Ksh5 million to build the magnificent house in his Saiya rural home.

Jalang'o and his wife Amina Chao pose for a photo in front of their Siaya home.
Jalang'o and his wife Amina Chao pose for a photo in front of their Siaya home.

Alex Mwakideu

Just like his friend Jalang'o, Alex Mwakideu, Head of Radio at Milele FM, owns several homes across the country and this does not come as a surprise since he has been a presenter for more than a decade.

He also has another house in Kitengela, Kajiado County. He has been documenting the progress on a show dubbed #JengaNa AlexNaJalas which aired on YouTube.

The radio presenter later gave his fans an update on the house in August 2021 and at the time, it was nearing completion with only final touches remaining.

An undated image of Alex Mwakideu posing for a photo in front of his house.
An undated image of Alex Mwakideu posing for a photo in front of his house.

Janet Mbugua

Former Citizen TV news anchor, Janet Mbugua, owns a house in one of Nairobi's leafy suburbs where she resides with her family. 

Her fans got a rare chance to see her elegant mansion after Betty Kyallo featured her in an episode of the Up Close With Betty show.

Janet, a mother of two, has a beautiful home that complements her status as a media personality who has made significant achievements over the years, including working for an international media house.

Betty Kyallo interviewing former Citizen TV anchor Janet Mbugua on her porch in 2019.
Betty Kyallo interviewing former Citizen TV anchor Janet Mbugua on her porch in 2019.

Julie Gichuru

Former Citizen TV anchor Julie Gichuru and her husband Sam have a beautiful home in one of Nairobi's posh estates.

The house, which was built in 2013, reportedly has four bedrooms, a vibrantly green lawn, and a servants' quarters. 

After resigning from Royal Media Services (RMS), Julie took up a job at Mastercard Foundation where she serves as the Head of Public Affairs and Communications.

An undated image of Julie Gichuru's house.
An undated image of Julie Gichuru's house.