Born in 1962, Jimi Richard Wanjigi is a Kenyan businessman and political strategist.
He first came to the public light in 2017 with his role as a key political strategist for Raila Odinga’s election campaigns. Wanjigi grew up around politics.
His interest in politics was through following in his father’s footsteps. His father, Maina Wanjigi, served as a Member of Parliament (Kamukunji) and Cabinet Minister in Kenya’s first two cabinets.
Education
Jimmy went to school with the who is who. His alumni at the St. Mary’s School include former president Uhuru Kenyatta, celebrated journalist Jeff Koinange, COTU Sec Gen Francis Atwoli, and son of Kenya’s second president, Gideon Moi.
In 1992, he joined York University for business studies and later came back to start multiple businesses. It is not clear if he graduated. In 2022, IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, rejected his application citing that he didn’t produce an undergraduate university degree required to clear presidential aspirants.
He enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Security Studies at Daystar University and was to graduate in December 2022.
He is married to Irene Nzisa and the couple have two children.
His Business Ventures
Jimi is a serial entrepreneur whose formal career in business began in his early twenties. After finishing university, he co-founded Kenya’s first private garbage collection company, BINS Limited.
He is the CEO of Kwacha Group of Companies, which has interests in various sectors of the Kenyan economy including agri-business, financial services, industrials, and real estate. According to Business Daily, Kwacha has shares in several Kenyan companies, including Carbacid Investments, East Africa Cables, Kenya Airways (KQ), TotalEnergies Kenya, and ABSA Group Limited.
The group has invested in the real estate sector with housing projects in Ridgeways, Karen, and Nakuru. He also owns homes, in wealthy suburbs, around the world including Zurich, London, and UAE.
His Cars Collections & Properties
The infamous home raid that accompanied the Uhuru Park drama gave Kenyans a glimpse into Wanjigi’s garage. The foreign cars are from as many continents as you can count.
Mercedes-Benz S500 2016
This iconic piece of German engineering has blind spot monitoring, rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers, a heated steering wheel, linguatronic voice recognition, thermotronic auto climate control, and adaptive headlights with auto leveling & cornering, to name but a few features.
Rolls-Royce Provenance Phantom Coupe 2017
This 6.6 liter, V12, 550 break horsepower machine is a sight to behold. The English-made machine attracts the attention of the public each time it pulls up.
Toyota Land Cruiser V8 2015
It weighs at least 2.7 tonnes and is fitted with an intimidating front grille. The gigantic Japanese-made car boasts enviable off-road capabilities with its 4.5-liter V8 engine. It will set you back at least Ksh12 million for the 2018/2019 and 2020 models.
Porsche Cayenne 2018
It’s described as one of the best SUVs in the world. It retails between Ksh 9 to 12 million depending on the level of customization. Sprinting from 0-100km/h takes 6.2 seconds while the top speed stands at 245km/h.
Apart from his many toys, Wanjigi also owns a Eurocopter EC130 5YJWJ. During the many government raids, Kenyans noticed Wanjigi’s helipad. His chopper is estimated to be at least Ksh168 million.
Wanjigi’s entire fleet of vehicles poses a unique challenge as he moves around in different machines on most days.
Wanjigi owns a 5-acre partial mansion in Muthaiga, Nairobi county. It sits next to the US Ambassador’s residence along 44 Muthaiga Road. The mansion has a heated swimming pool, a bunker, and a helipad fit for a king.
Wanjigi’s gift to Eric Omondi
After publicly endorsing Jimmy in his presidential ambition in 2022, Eric Omondi was all smiles after he was gifted a Chrysler Crossfire.
Expressing his shock, Omondi said he was beyond words since Wanjigi had just invited him for tea.
Wanjigi is considered by some factions as a shrewd political strategist. He is credited with being the quiet force behind Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto’s accession to power in 2013.
Also, he was behind Raila’s “People’s President” swearing-in ceremony at Uhuru Park in 2017.
His estimated net worth is around Kshs 5 billion ($38M). Wanjigi’s business acumen and connections have made him a key figure in Kenya’s political history. He played a crucial role in the late former President Mwai Kibaki’s campaign in 2002.
