SportPesa’s Ronald Karauri to Run for Kasarani Parliamentary Seat

SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri has announced his decision to join Nairobi politics by running for the Kasarani parliamentary seat in the August 9 General Election. 

Karauri made the announcement on Wednesday, February 9, while addressing his supporters in the Kasarani constituency. 

He explained that constituents had been urging him to join politics and that he had heeded their call and was ready to battle it out with other politicians seeking the seat.

He noted that the populous constituency needed change and he was ready to be the person who would spearhead development in the area.

However, the SportPesa boss did not reveal which political party he will use to seek the seat currently occupied by Mercy Gakuya. 

Karauri had hinted that he will join active politics like his father, former Tigania Member of Parliament Mathew Adams Karauri.

“I have political blood in me but the time is not right. The change can only come with us participating and not always complaining. If things go well in the future I will join politics,” the SportPesa CEO stated during an interview in 2020.

He was born in Meru and moved to Nairobi due to his father’s political ambitions and eventually joined Harambee primary school in Buruburu. 

Karauri would later join Mang’u High School where he scored top grades in KCSE. Later the businessman and retired pilot enrolled at the University of Nairobi, pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

During this time, an opportunity presented itself for Karauri to join Kenya Airways and he took it. He revealed during a past media interview that he dropped out in his third year in University in order to become a trained pilot.

After working at KQ for 11 years, he later took over the management of Sportpesa as CEO.

Karauri credits his father for his success in business and career.

Sportpesa CEO Ronald Karauri in one of Narok NYC’s designs addresses the press in June 2019. On his left is Sports CS Amina Mohammed.

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