Jimi Richard Wanjigi (born in 1962) is a Kenyan businessman and political strategist. [1]
Jimi Wanjigi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 September 1962 |
| Citizenship | Kenyan |
| Political party | Safina party leader from March 2022 |
| Father | Maina Wanjigi |
He is the chief executive officer of Kwacha Group of Companies, a privately held family office with interests in various sectors of the Kenyan economy including agri-business, financial services, industrials and real estate. He is however best known for being the key political strategist for Raila Odinga's 2017 election campaigns and the quiet force behind Uhuru Kenyatta's 2013 election victory.
Early life and education
editWanjigi grew up around politics. His father, Maina Wanjigi served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister in Kenya's first two cabinets.
Career
editBusiness
editHe is currently the chief executive officer of Penter Group of Companies, a privately held family office with interests in various sectors of the Kenyan economy including agri-business, financial services, industrials and real estate. Jimi is a serial entrepreneur whose formal career in business begun in his early twenties when, after returning from University, he co-founded Kenya's first private garbage collection company, BINS Limited.
Political history
editJimi Wanjigi's alliance with politics started in 1992 during Kenya's first multi-party elections, where at a relatively young age, he got involved in Kenneth Matiba's election campaign. Wanjigi remained actively in politics behind the scenes during the years to come. He maintained a close friendship with the former vice president of Kenya George Saitoti until his death in June 2012.[2][3] Following the death of Professor Saitoti in 2012, Jimmy moved his support to Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto for the presidency during the 2013 Kenyan general election. He played a pivotal role in brokering the alliance between Ruto's United Republican Party (Kenya) and Kenyatta's The National Alliance in 2012, leading to a joint ticket under what is now the Jubilee Party.[4][5][6] He reportedly brokered the peace between Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta in the aftermath of the 2013 Kenyan general election.[7][8]
In 2017, he shifted his political support to Raila Odinga, causing a public fall out between Wanjigi and President Uhuru Kenyatta. This led to severe backlash against Wanjigi from the state including a travel blockade, a dramatic 3 day assault by the Kenyan police on his Muthaiga home and politically motivated charges being brought against him and his octogenarian father. The charges were eventually thrown out by the courts.[9][10][11][12][13] In February 2018, a fake obituary of Wanjigi ran in the Daily Nation, in what was viewed as a politically motivated death threat.[14][15] He sued the media house and was awarded Shs. 8million in damages.[16]
Personal life
editJimi is a son to former Kamukunji MP, and Cabinet Minister Maina Wanjigi. He's an alumnus of St. Mary's School, Nairobi where his schoolmates included Uhuru Kenyatta and Gideon Moi[17][18] Following his NON-graduation he returned to Kenya to pursue a career in business. He studied business from 1982-1986. Jimi is married to Irene Nzisa, and their two children study at Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland.[19][20][21]
Political Ambitions
editIn mid 2021 Wanjigi announced that he would seek the Orange Democratic Movement's ticket to run for the Presidency of Kenya at the 2022 general election. His announcement is viewed as a challenge of party leader Raila Odinga's perceived automatic nomination to run on the Orange Democratic Movement's ticket, who has officially declared his 5th attempt to run for presidency.[22] Wanjigi on the other hand who is running on a platform of bringing about an economic revolution, is a newcomer to elective politics and his candidature is likely to excite the Mount Kenya region. Currently his political party is Safina party.
References
edit- ^ "Who is Jimi Wanjigi?". Briceka.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ^ App, Daily Nation. "Inside Saitoti's mysterious life". mobile.nation.co.ke. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ Reporter, Nairobian. "Who secretly wired out George Saitoti's billions?". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "Puzzle of Wanjigi at Ruto lunch meeting". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "Why Jimi Wanjigi fell out with Uhuru". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ Reporter, Nairobian. "Why Jubilee, Nasa were dying for a piece of 'James Wanjigi Bond'". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ Oluoch, Derrick. "Uhuru Kenyatta's government was formed in this house- Jimi Wanjigi explodes after raid in palatial home". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- ^ Exposed: Uhuru-Raila deal at Wanjigi home - VIDEO, retrieved 2019-11-25
- ^ "Kenya allows opposition figures to travel after barring them overnight". Reuters. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "Kenya crackdown on media, opposition attracts heavy criticism". Reuters. 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "Kenyan election head: No guarantee vote will be free and fair". Reuters. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ Titus, Waweru. "Police raid Jimmy Wanjigi's Muthaiga home (Photos)". The Standard. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "High Court quashes gun charges against businessman Jimi Wanjigi".
- ^ "Man behind Jimmy Wanjigi death announcement exposed". Citizentv.co.ke. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- ^ Briana Duggan and Stephanie Busari (7 February 2018). "Kenyan newspaper publishes obituary for opposition figure -- who isn't dead". CNN. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- ^ Muthoni, Kamau. "Wanjigi, wife get Sh8m for obituary". The Standard. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
- ^ Kimanzi, Michael Chepkwony and Diana. "Uhuru and Gideon join alumni as St Mary's marks 8 decades". The Standard. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "Uhuru dons full St Mary's uniform to mark 80th anniversary". Nairobi News. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "Inside the multi-billion school where Jimmy Wanjigi's children study (Photos)". Pulselive Kenya. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- ^ "Here's the swanky school that Jimi Wanjigi's children attend -PHOTOS". Nairobi News. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- ^ "The covert life of Jimi Wanjigi". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- ^ "Kenyan opposition leader Odinga announces fifth bid for president". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-12-14.