Daddy spared me the rod

By Kenfrey Kiberenge

President Kibaki and First Lady Lucy Kibaki have never caned their eldest son, Jimmy.

The 46-year-old businessman made the confession last week, adding that teachers at Nairobi’s St Mary’s School where he did his A-levels did that on their behalf. And when he reported to his father (then Vice-President) that he had been spanked, Kibaki did not look shocked or annoyed. Instead, he sided with the teachers, much to Jimmy’s chagrin.

He says with his siblings, David Kagai, Tony Githinji and Judy Wanjiku, they were brought up in a strict Catholic way.

As such, they did not misbehave at home and thought that school was a better place to open up. They were in for a rude shock.

"I was caned thoroughly at St Mary’s," he said.

Jimmy, the man behind Simama Kenya, the organisation that is causing jitters in the political scene, was born on June 30, 1963.

York University

He completed his A-levels at St Mary’s School in 1981, and later went to York University, Canada, for three years.

He then joined Salve Regina University in the United States for a year. He studied political science and business administration and returned to Kenya in 1988, to start a business.

Now a businessman in property development, Jimmy is married to Sheryl and they have a son, Mwai Kibaki Jnr.

A teetotaler, he quit drinking six years ago. Jimmy’s hobbies include reading, playing golf and farming.

Speculation is rife that Simama Kenya, which has been registered as a trust, will be transformed into a political party ahead of the 2012 General Election.

Independent canditates

Jimmy is non-committal whether he will join politics: "If Simama Kenya succeeds, then we don’t need to go into politics."

Jimmy said he would root for the provision of independent candidates in the new constitution.

He said businessmen who felt politicians were dividing the country floated the initiative in February.

Simama Kenya would ensure that the Cabinet comprises people of about 35 years old, like it was in the 1960s.

It is supported by MPs Kambi Kazungu (Kaloleni), Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito), Joshua Kutuny (Cherang’any) and Hassan Abdirahman (Wajir South) and businessmen and professionals.