I only have two options, to either make it, or make it!- Jimmy Gait

Unless you have been living under a rock, Jimmy Gait needs no introduction and for that reason we will dive right in and get to know the real person behind the brand, away from the cameras and the exuberance.

Meet James Ngaita Ngigi who grew up in Limuru, in a place called Escarpment. "I was born and raised in the village. It was not easy because I wasn't born into a well-to-do family.

We were brought up with many challenges," he says. Jimmy has one brother and two sisters.

As a fashion conscious kid who didn't have much growing up, he was nothing like the dapper gentleman he is now. As a family they went hungry sometimes. "We would struggle with the usual things that the other village families faced.

I had to walk 20km every day to and from school and many times I would go without lunch. It was tough getting good clothes then but I really thank God that now I really shine," he says.

Unable to afford boarding school, his parents took him to day school until he completed his high school exams. He could not wait to leave the village.

"Immediately I finished with Form Four I just wanted to get out of the village so I could work towards a better life," he says. Unfortunately, the road to success was rocky.

A young man then, he set out for the Kijabe Mission Station where he did casual jobs to survive. From slashing grass, kazi ya mjengo (construction work), cleaning, to peeling potatoes in a small kiosk - he did it all. "It was a very difficult time in my life because I wasn't making much.

 Once I was kicked out of my house for failing to pay my rent of Sh150. I slept outside for a few days until I found someone who could host me for some time," Jimmy says. Back then not having a roof over his head was nothing new.

"After that, being kicked out of rental houses became the norm. It happened seven times and I had to look for shelter from some of my friends. Eventually I went back to the village for nine months," he shares.

But Jimmy refused to give up. Deep down he knew things would work out. "I continued working and hustling because I believed that I had to make it in life.

 There are so many days I slept hungry with no food to eat and not even a glass of water to drink.

 But all along, I was so determined to make it in life so I kept forging forward," the gospel artist says.
Because he didn't have enough money to join the university he enrolled instead for a theology course at Moffat Bible College.

But he had a song in his heart. Armed with passion and a dream, he decided to pursue music but even that wouldn't come easy. To finance the dream, he tried to secure loans from banks but was rejected by all of them.

"Banks rejected me saying that I didn't have security plus my account balance was not good so they didn't believe I would be able to repay the loan," he recalls.

Going back to the drawing board, he decided to begin saving. After a while, he approached a bank again, hoping that his balance was healthy enough this time around. "Equity Bank believed in me and agreed to give me a loan to record the song Muhadhara and I also shot the video.

 I produced a VCD that included Muhadhara and two older songs. Within two weeks of its release, my life had completely changed. I was able to repay the loan and from there I was able to stabilize," he says of his breakthrough.

And just like that his life changed. Were it not for Equity Bank, Esther Wahome and Princecam Media, James Ngaita Ngigi would have lived out his life as a hustler.

"I must say that Esther Wahome was such an inspiration. She helped me when I needed it most. She was there for me and supported my career.

She mentored me and showed me how to make it in music. Princecam Media also really helped me. From providing me with a place to sleep and food to eat, they even sponsored my music production," he says.

"I always believed that I would be where I am and even further. I always worked towards making it and I wouldn't settle for failure no matter what.

 I have developed with time a very positive attitude that enables me to stay on top of challenges and to see the best side of things even when they are at their worst."

Living by those positive words he encourages young people who have nothing to fight for something. And to all those who thought he had left the scene, think again.

 "I won't quit until I'm done with my assignment. In music and in ministry I only have two options. I either make it or make it!"