Eugene Mbugua

Eugene Mbugua (born 5 June 1986) is a Kenyan television producer. He is known for creating the shows Young Rich and producing reality shows like Sol Family, Being Bahati and The Real Housewives of Nairobi.

Early Life
Mbugua attended Upper Hill Boys High school in Nairobi, Kenya. In high school he was part of a student-owned canteen, which offered break snacks. After high school, Mbugua was an extra on the local television show Inspekta Mwala, which aired on Citizen TV. He was also a boom-swinger on local television shows Makutano Junction which aired on NTV station and Machachari on Citizen TV. He attended the United States International University-Africa (USIU), Nairobi where he pursued a Bachelor's in Television Production and Print Media.

Television producer
Through his company, Documentary & Reality Television Limited, Mbugua has produced several television shows in Kenya. The company's first show, Young Rich, was bought by the Kenyan local television station, K24. The show premiered in 2013. Mbugua became the youngest producer with a television show in Kenya. He also produced the show Food of Kenya, which aired on KTN. The show showcased Kenyan local foods and traditions as well as dance, culture and traditions. In 2016, Mbugua produced the show Our Perfect Wedding which aired on Showmax. The show showcased weddings in Kenya. In 2018, Mbugua produced Being Bahati, a reality show on Kenya musician Bahati and his family. It was the first Kenyan celebrity reality show. In 2020, Mbugua also produced the reality show Sol Family. The show followed the lives of Kenya's boy band Sauti Sol and the members of their record label Sol Generation Records. In 2020, in collaboration with the Kenya Film Association, Mbugua produced Concert Nyumbani. The televised event showcased performances of different Kenyan artists during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aired on different local TV stations including K24, KTN, NTV, KBC and Switch TV. Mbugua also produced the reality show Our Love, based on Kenyan musicians Nameless and Wahu. The show aired on Showmax on 24 May 2021. He also produced Kyallo Culture, which aired in 2022. Eugene also produced The Real Housewives of Nairobi, an international installment of The Real Housewives, which aired in 2023.

Other Business Ventures
Mbugua also owns Number 7, a nightclub in Nairobi.

Awards and Recognitions

 * In 2014, Business Daily listed Eugene Mbugua in the Top 40 Men Under 40 2014.
 * In 2014, he won a Kalasha Award in the best editor category for the film Child Hire
 * In 2016, Forbes Africa, listed him in the 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs In Africa
 * In 2017, he was listed in Forbes Africa 2017's class of 30 under 30.
 * In 2024, Africapitol named him as one of the 50 most influential executive leaders in Kenya.