Businessman Jimi Wanjigi to Run for the Presidency as He Receives Blessings from His Dad

Businessman Jimi Wanjigi has received blessings from his father as he prepares to run for the presidency next year.

The tycoon received blessings from his dad Maina Wanjigi, a former Cabinet Minister, in a traditional ceremony held in Central Kenya last week. Through Twitter, Wanjigi shared photos of the ceremony attended by a few family members and friends.

“Amûkîra kîrathimo gía thoguo níguo útuíke mûthamaki, gîtonga, mûrathi, mûndû mûgo na njamba,” Wanjigi captioned the photos, with a translation: “Seek blessings from your father that you may be brave and wealthy: a seer, warrior, healer, and leader.”

Wanjigi has been crisscrossing the country in the last few months to popularize his presidential bid and has vowed to dislodge Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga as the party’s flagbearer in the forthcoming nominations.

In June, Wanjigi told The Standard that he will not play the kingmaker role this time round, and declared that his name will be on the ballot next year.

“Let me confirm that I shall be in active politics and will not be playing my previous role as a kingmaker,” said Wanjigi.

The tycoon is perceived to be of the most influential power brokers in the country and is credited for devising the alliance between President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto in the run-up to the 2013 general election. He was also a key financier of the UhuRuto campaigns.

“This current regime of Uhuru Kenyatta, this is a home they know. It is a home they have visited. It is a home they have eaten with my family. In fact, their government was formed in this home,” Wanjigi told journalists in 2017.

He fell out with the Jubilee government before the 2017 elections and joined Raila Odinga’s team. He is said to have bankrolled the National Super Alliance (Nasa) 2017 campaigns.