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Ronald Karauri: From Quiting campus to KQ pilot to SportPesa CEO & now Kasarani MP, Inside Karauri Embattled Rise

Ronald Karauri, the CEO of Sportpesa, is a true risk-taker. Throughout his life, he has shown a willingness to take chances and it has paid off in a big way. His latest gamble, running for MP in the Kasarani constituency as an independent candidate, has just paid off once again. Despite losing the Jubilee primaries, Karauri decided to soldier on and ultimately won the seat with 32,406 votes, beating out his opponents John Kamau and incumbent MP Mercy Gakuya.

Karauri’s journey to success began with a risky move that paid off handsomely. In the early days of Sportpesa, he sold his land worth Sh25 million to buy a six per cent share of the company. This gamble led to the company attracting top multibillion-shilling sponsorship deals with renowned English Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Southampton, Hull City and Everton.

As the CEO of Sportpesa, Karauri has turned the company into a multi-billion-shilling betting firm and is now considered one of the highest-paid CEOs in Kenya. He is also a successful businessman in other ventures, owning the opulent Skylux Lounge in Westlands, Nairobi and a fleet of top-of-the-range cars.

Karauri’s background is equally impressive. Born in Meru, he later moved to Nairobi to pursue his studies and eventually dropped out of university in his third year to become a pilot. He spent 11 years as a commercial pilot before transitioning into the business world.

In addition to his business acumen and passion for cars, Karauri is also an avid cyclist and enjoys going on riding adventures with his team. He is also a fan of the Range Rover Overfinch model. With his background, experience, and risk-taking attitude, Karauri is sure to continue making a positive impact in both the business world and as an MP.