Eugene Mbuguais an entrepreneur and founder of Documentary and Reality Television Limited (D&R). Eugene was the youngest producer with a show on Kenyan national television when at 22. His first TV show Young Rich premiered on one of Kenya’s top TV stations, K24.
How Did He Start Film Production?
Mbugua joined the film world after his cousin took him to a set, where he was an extra. He got very interested and immediately started practicing how to make short films.
This new passion led him to pursue a course in TV production at university. Meanwhile, he was engaged with his small businesses and exploring various job opportunities in the field.
“This whole time I pitched to several different TV stations. Eventually, about a month before my graduation, our first show Young Rich was bought by a local station,” he told Forbes.
Early Life and Education
Mbugua attended Upper Hill Boys High School, which ushered him into the business world by joining a student-owned canteen. The canteen that offered break snacks. This experience lit the entrepreneurship flames within him.
Eugene’s entrepreneurial spirit continued all through university, where owned a bunch of businesses. Back at United States International University, he had a video game arcade, a movie shop, a tour company (failed), and was a part-time teacher at Makini school.
Fun Facts About Eugene
- Eugene Mbugua became a millionaire at 22 when he sold his first TV show during his days on campus.
- He created Kenya’s first-ever celebrity reality show – Being Bahati – that aired on national TV.
- His company D&R Studio stands for documentaries and reality. He is not into movie-making and has always made it clear.
- Eugene is also the founder of Number7, a popular cocktail bar in the CBD. He also founded Bullocks Farm, a feedlot that purchases bulls and fattens them for 12 weeks to become premium beef.
- He recently launched a cosmetic line called Unapologetic with media personality and entrepreneur Betty Kyallo.
- Eugene is such an avid reader (he shares his reads on his social media) and now learning to play the saxophone, he finds inspiration in books.
- Mbugua, an alumnus of the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list.
Eugene Mbugua TV Portfolio
Through his company, he has produced over 20 TV shows for major local and international broadcasters.
Eugene has created and produced many television shows including Get in The Kitchen, Our Perfect Wedding, Stori Yangu, My Friend, Being Bahati, Foods of Kenya, The Best of, Concert Nyumbani, and Sol Family.
The shows have been aired on K24, KTN, NTV, Maisha Magic East, Showmax, Iflix, Kwese, Startimes, Trigger (South Africa), and Kirk TV. Concert Nyumbani was the biggest entertainment event in Kenya’s TV history, it aired simultaneously on 12 stations.
“Creativity comes easily to me. I’m very curious; I watch a lot of stuff, consume a lot of content, and read heavily. My mind wanders and I daydream a lot. My mind is constantly churning with creativity. If anything, what I have trouble with now is controlling it, because I could be working on one thing and three other ideas pop up, then now I have to abandon the first one and develop these others. So my creative process is a bit here and there, but it’s inspired by many things,” he says.
Scaling Heights
Mbugua’s journey is fascinating because of his ability to adapt and innovate. In 2020-2021, D&R Studios attracted investment and established a governing board, where he answers to as CEO.
The board’s input has helped them expand their view of what the business is capable of and also helped them put together governing structures.
Kimani Mageria is his business partner at D&R. He started as the talent on his first show while Eugene was the producer. They went on to become partners. He has known Mbugua for over 10 years now. Mbugua incorporated him into the business and they have never looked back.
Challenges and Parting Shot
For him, challenges in the film and TV industry include the rapid growth of digital media and technological advancements like AI, rendering some job roles obsolete.
Their latest sensation, The Real Housewives of Nairobi, is capturing audiences’ attention not just in Kenya but on an international scale, thanks to collaborations with platforms like Showmax and NBCUniversal.
“Start where you are with what you have and embrace new technology quickly. In a rapidly-changing media landscape, early adopters are handsomely rewarded.”
