Jimi Wanjigi

Jimi Richard Wanjigi is a Kenyan businessman and political strategist, born in Nairobi in 1962, who has long been influential in the country’s political and economic spheres. He is the CEO of Kwacha Group of Companies, a family-owned conglomerate with interests in agribusiness, real estate, and finance. Wanjigi first entered politics in the early 1990s, supporting Kenneth Matiba during Kenya’s transition to multi-party democracy, and later became a behind-the-scenes power broker. He played a key role in forging the alliance between Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto that led to Jubilee’s 2013 victory, before switching allegiance to Raila Odinga in 2017. In 2022, he declared his own presidential ambitions under the Safina Party, though unsuccessfully. His career has been marked by controversy, including accusations linked to the Anglo-Leasing scandal, police raids over alleged illegal firearms, and a high-profile defamation case involving a fake obituary. Despite these challenges, Wanjigi remains a prominent figure, combining business acumen with political influence, and continues to position himself as a vocal critic of government policies.