Jimmy Wanjigi


Jimi Richard Wanjigi is a Kenyan businessman and political strategist.
He is the CEO 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.

Political History

Wanjigi grew up around politics. His father, Maina Wanjigi served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister in Kenya's first two cabinets. Jimi Wanjigi's dalliance 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. 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 and Kenyatta's The National Alliance in 2012, leading to a joint ticket under what is now the Jubilee Party. He reportedly brokered the peace between Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta in the aftermath of the 2013 Kenyan general election.;
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. . In February 2018, a fake obituary of Wanjigi ran in the Daily Nation, in what was viewed as a politically motivated death threat. He sued the media house and was awarded Shs. 8million in damages.

Personal life

Jimi 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 After leaving school he matriculated at York University where he studied business from 1982 - 1986. Following his graduation he returned to Kenya to pursue a career in business. Jimi is married to Irene Nzisa, and their two children study at Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland.