Jimmi Gathu is a veteran media personality with experience in the radio and television industries spanning over three decades. He also boasts a career in acting, having featured in some of Kenya’s blockbuster movies.
The renowned media personality has served in some of Kenya’s leading media houses including KBC, Citizen TV, K24, NTV, and Capital FM, among others. He was a pioneer for some of the country’s long-standing shows.
In this article, WoK dissects the veteran media personality’s career among several other interesting aspects of his life and illustrious service in media and entertainment.
Background & Education
Gathu was born on February 11, 1970, and raised in Kariokor Flats named after the famous Carrier Corps.
According to his LinkedIn page, he attended the Kenya Polytechnic (now Technical University of Kenya) between 1990 and 1991 where he attained a Certificate in Graphic Arts. Further information about his education is unavailable.
Career
Gathu boasts an illustrious career in the media industry spanning over 3 decades both in radio and television.
Radio
Gathu worked for KBC as the host of Café Culture (breakfast show) between 1998 and 2002. During the same timeline, he also served at Capital FM as a Host and Programs Controller for hits not homework.
He proceeded to work at KISS 100 as the host of the People’s Parliament from 2002 to 2004. He moved on to Classic 105 where he was the host and Programs Controller for the afternoon drive from 2004 to 2006.
Gathu was also the Concept Creator Maina and King’ang’i in the morning at Classic 105 FM.
He proceeded to Royal Media Services (RMS) owned HOT 96 FM as the Head of radio from 2006 to 2010.
Gathu capped his radio career at Nation FM as the Host of Morning Drive (a breakfast show) between 2015 and 2016.
TV
Gathu worked for KTN on various capacities. These include;
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- Host daily music shows – 1990 to 2001 (Rap Em’, KassKass, Rastrut, Jam-a-Delic, Rhythmix and Club Kiboko)
- Host Niaje – 1999 to 2000
- Host What it takes – 1999 to 2001
- Host Doctor’s Practice – 2022
Gathu then proceeded to KBC where he was the host of Hatua (Teens political talk show) between 2002 and 2006. He also hosted Mambo leo (current affairs) from 2004 to 2006.
From 2010 to 2013, Gathu hosted the Power Breakfast at Citizen TV.
For one year between 2013 and 2014, Gathu was the Creator, Producer and host of Alfajiri breakfast show.
Movies & Film
Gathu has featured in a number of Kenya’s blockbuster movies and screenplays. These include; Saikati 2 in 1995, Changes Season 2 & 3 which aired on MNET between 2010 and 2012. He also featured in Nairobi Half-Life which was released in 2012.
The veteran media personality played President Kijana in State House (2013). He also featured in the 2018 film Rafiki, and is a leading character in Kina which airs on Maisha Magic East.
Brand Endorsement
Gathu was the Coca-Cola youth ambassador from 1995 to 1998, and later a brand partner for Nokia between 2015 and 2016.
Awareness Campaigns
- Matatu menace – 1990
- Mpango wa kando – 2009 to 2012
Family
Gathu married Cathy in 1998, and together they have raised a beautiful family. He is a proud father of 3 girls namely; Chantal, Jasmine and Wambui, a father-in-law and a grandfather of 3.
“What am I passionate about? Well, family life and encouraging young men and women to keep their marriages strong. I’m also keen on changing how media can positively shift social, cultural, economic and political spheres, in an endeavor to get people to make informed life choices. In short, impacting the future generations, mentoring them both in the media industry, as well as positively influencing their perspectives on life’s important choices,” Gathu says on his personal website.
Losing a Ksh30 million deal
In the media and entertainment industry, frustrations and failures are part of the game. In a previous interview with the Standard, Gathu revealed that a Ksh30 million slipped from his hands, but it was nothing he could control.
“The most painful one was coming within a few days of signing a contract of Sh30 million with a betting company and then the betting laws in the country were changed and the company had to pull out,” he revealed.
In yet another deal, his friend, a friend and prominent businessman believed in his vision and wanted to invest in him, but before he could do so, he died unexpectedly.
“When things like that happen, you question everything, doubt everything,” he said.
Getting fired
Gathu was retrenched in 2016 while he was at the height of his career. During a recent interview, the celebrated media personality revealed that friends deserted him after he was fired.
Gathu, currently a radio presenter at Spice FM, adds that one time when things were really bad, he asked his friend for Ksh1000.
“This guy showed his pals in the car and asked them whether he should send me the Ksh1000 or not,” he adds.
“At 4:30 in the morning I kissed my kids goodbye and told my wife I was going to work, at 8:30 am that morning I didn’t have a job.”
He now says people tend to like you owing to what you give them.
“People like you or are drawn to you because of what you can give them,” the radio presenter explained on his show.
“So once whatever you were giving them disappears you don’t have value. I had never been unemployed; I had never even looked for work – people looked for me. But when my contract with Nation Media Group ended, my phone suddenly stopped ringing,” he recounts.
