Jimmy Wanjigi is a Kenyan businessman and political strategist.
He was known for his unwavering support of ODM Leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid in 2017 and was also a force in the election of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto in 2013.
Wanjigi is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kwacha Group of Companies, a private company with vast interests cutting across various sectors of the economy including agri-business, financial services, industrials and real estate.
Some of its offices are located on General Mathenge Drive, Westlands, Nairobi Caramel, the high end club at ABC Place, also in Westlands.
Background & Education
Wanjigi is the son of former Kamukunji Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister James Maina Wanjigi and his wife, Mary Wanjigi.
He was born on November 17,1962 in Nyeri County. His parents were, however, from Mathioya Constituency in Murang’a County, a place Wanjigi now calls home.
He attended St. Mary’s School in Nairobi for his primary and secondary education where President Kenyatta and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi were his schoolmates.
Wanjigi joined the University of New York, USA in 1982 and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business in 1986.
Following his graduation, he returned to Kenya, where he pursued a career in business
Marriage
Wanjigi is married to Irene Nzisa and together they have two children.
Politics
He grew up in politics, as his father was an MP and a Cabinet Minister in Kenya’s first two cabinets.
He debuted into the political arena in 1992 where at a young age, he was among the campaigners for Kenneth Matiba in Kenya’s first multi Party elecetions.
Wanjigi maintained a quite profile, choosing to be a financier from the sidelines but remained a close friend to former Vice President and Cabinet Minister George Saitoti, until his death in 2012.
In 2013, he supported the President Kenyatta and DP Ruto’s run to State House. He is believed to have brokered the deal between United Republican Party (URP) and The National Alliance (TNA) lading to a unified ticket.
He is also believed to have brokered a truce between President Kenyatta and Raila Odinga in the aftermath of the 2013 general elections, and in 2017 shifted allegiance to support the National Super Alliance (NASA).
Arrest
The presidential hopeful on an ODM ticket has found himself in trouble with authorities on numerous occasions with the latest being on January 18, 2022. Police officers drawn from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) were dispatched to his premises to effect the arrest on allegations that he was in possession of another firearm.
The tycoon found himself in an almost similar predicament in 2017 when police stormed his Muthaiga home and carted away guns. Wanjigi went on to win a court case and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation boss George Kinoti was ordered to return firearms that had been confiscated from the billionaires home.
He failed to do so. Justice Mrima handed Kinoti a four month sentence at the Kamiti Maximum Prison.
Presidential Bid
On Wednesday, June 16, 2021, Wanjigi announced he will vie for the presidency in the 2022 general election. A section of Kenyans have linked his current woes to his attempts to dislodge ODM leader Raila Odinga as the party’s flagbearer.
“It’s very obvious that Jimi Wanjigi is being harassed by the police in order to allow Hon Raila to have a free run in the ODM Presidential nominations,” Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi stated.
Also Read: Businesses and Properties Owned by Jimmy Wanjigi
Houses
He owns a palatial home resting on five acres in the posh Muthaiga estate. His mansion was at the center of national headlines during a police raid in 2017.
On Saturday, February 8, 2020 entrepreneur Oscar Kinoti, shared a manuscript of house the house was designed and built.
The construction of the house cost approximately $10 million (Ksh1 billion) and was designed by Perla Lichi (a luxury interior design for both residential and commercials) based in the US.
The billionaire is also reported to own houses in Malindi, Mombasa, Zurich, Switzerland and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Cars
Wanjigi owns a fleet of luxurious cars. During the raid on his house, Kenyans got a sneak peak at his parking lot and the high-end cars in the lot.
Among the cars he owns is a Mercedes Benz S500 2016. The car is reported to cost in excess of Ksh15 million with a second hand going for Ksh10 million.
He also owns a Rolls-Royce Provenance Phantom Coupe that went viral when it was pictured at the Galleria Mall in Nairobi. This 6.6 liter, V12, 550 break horsepower machine is estimated at a cost in excess of Ksh45 million.
Other cars owned by the billionaire include: a Toyota Landcruiser V8 2015, Porsche Cayenne 2018, Land Rover TDV6, a BMW 7-Series and a Mercedes Benz E350 2018 model.
Chopper
He also owns a Eurocopter EC130 5YJWJ. The chopper is estimated to have set him back at least Ksh168 million.
