The War Between Jimi Wanjigi and President William Ruto: A Tale of Power, Wealth, and Scandal

Jimi Wanjigi, a name synonymous with political power and financial influence in Kenya, has had a long and tumultuous journey from the garbage collection business to becoming one of the most powerful oligarchs in the country.

His rise to power is as controversial as it is inspiring, with numerous scandals marking his path to the top.

Today, Wanjigi finds himself at war with President William Ruto, a conflict that has captured the attention of the nation and beyond.

How Jimi Wanjigi Rose From ‘Garbage Collection’ to Power

Wanjigi’s story begins in the unglamorous world of garbage collection. In an exclusive interview with Royal Media Services in 2021, Wanjigi recounted how he started out in the garbage collection business in Nairobi during the late President Daniel Moi’s tenure.

The city’s waste management was in disarray, and Wanjigi saw an opportunity to make a difference while also making a name for himself.

“My first business was garbage collection. I pioneered private garbage collection in this country. There was a time during the Moi administration that garbage in this city, when we had a city commission headed by Fred Gumo, was a nightmare. Everywhere you went, garbage was not being collected,” Wanjigi explained. His efforts to clean up the capital marked the beginning of his journey into the world of business and politics.

Wanjigi’s success in garbage collection was just the start. His entrepreneurial spirit and keen eye for opportunity led him to expand his business empire into various sectors, including agribusiness, financial services, industrials, and real estate.

Today, he is the chief executive officer of Kwacha Group of Companies, a privately held family office with significant interests in the Kenyan economy.

The Scandalous Path to Oligarchy

Wanjigi’s rise to power was not without controversy. His name first gained national prominence during the Anglo Leasing scandal, a government procurement corruption scandal that rocked Kenya in the early 2000s.

The scandal involved the awarding of inflated government contracts to fictitious and briefcase companies, one of which was Anglo Leasing Finance, a British firm that was awarded a contract to supply passport printing equipment to Kenya.

The Anglo Leasing scandal was one of the many corrupt deals inherited from the KANU government, which had ruled Kenya for 24 years.

Despite promises from the new NARC government to fight corruption, the magnitude of the Anglo Leasing scandal proved too great to overcome.

Wanjigi, along with several other high-profile figures, was implicated in the scandal, which involved the siphoning of millions of euros from the Kenyan government.

Despite the scandal, Wanjigi’s influence continued to grow. Over the years, he has been linked to various other controversial deals and has financed several prominent politicians in exchange for lucrative government tenders.

His financial backing of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and then Deputy President William Ruto in the 2013 elections is well-documented. However, his relationship with the duo soured after they took office, leading to a dramatic fallout.

The Fallout with Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto

After helping to finance their successful election campaign, Wanjigi’s relationship with Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto deteriorated to the point where Kenyatta ordered a raid on Wanjigi’s posh home in Muthaiga.

The raid, conducted by anti-terror police, was a clear signal that Wanjigi was no longer in favor with the government he had helped to install.

The raid, however, did little to diminish Wanjigi’s influence. In fact, it seemed to embolden him.

Wanjigi continued to speak out against the government, often criticizing their policies and actions. His words, always sharp and calculated, have a way of rattling those in power.

The Current War with President William Ruto

Today, Wanjigi finds himself in direct conflict with President William Ruto.

The latest chapter in this ongoing saga began with Ruto accusing Wanjigi of funding the recent Gen Z protests, which called for the resignation of Ruto’s government over allegations of corruption and incompetence.

The protests, which saw young Kenyans taking to the streets in large numbers, were met with a heavy-handed response from the government.

In response to the protests, Ruto once again deployed anti-terror police to raid Wanjigi’s home in Muthaiga.

This time, however, Wanjigi was prepared. Despite the police’s best efforts, they were unable to locate him. Wanjigi later claimed that he was inside his home the entire time, watching as the police raided his property.

“Yes, I was inside my home, but beyond that, I will not tell you where and how and what there is in my home,” Wanjigi said during an interview with Citizen TV. He accused the police of committing crimes at his home in the name of looking for him and vowed that they would never find him if they continued to raid his property.

Wanjigi also denied owning the vehicle in which the police claimed to have recovered tear gas canisters. He obtained a court order barring the police from arresting him or restricting his movement, further escalating the standoff between him and the government.

Jimi Wanjigi and His Battle for the Future

The war between Jimi Wanjigi and President William Ruto is far from over. Wanjigi, ever the strategist, continues to play his cards carefully, using his wealth and influence to challenge the government’s actions.

His denial of involvement in the Gen Z protests and his claims of being unfairly targeted by the police have resonated with many Kenyans, who are increasingly disillusioned with Ruto’s administration.

Wanjigi’s story is one of power, wealth, and scandal. From his humble beginnings in garbage collection to becoming one of Kenya’s most powerful oligarchs, Wanjigi has navigated the murky waters of Kenyan politics with skill and determination.

Now, as he battles President Ruto, the outcome of this conflict could have significant implications for the future of Kenya.

Whether Wanjigi will emerge victorious in his war with Ruto remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Jimi Wanjigi is a force to be reckoned with, and his influence on Kenya’s political landscape is unlikely to diminish anytime soon.