Billionaire Jimmy Wanjigi has joined the succession race to succeed President Kenyatta in 2022.
Wanjigi revealed to The Standard that he won’t play the kingmaker role this time around, Insisting that his name will be on the ballot one year from now.
“Let me confirm that I shall be in active politics and will not be playing my previous role as a kingmaker,” said Wanjigi.
He added: “I shall address the rest of your questions at the appropriate juncture.”
The tycoon is quite possibly the most persuasive power brokers in the country and is credited for formulating the alliance between President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto in the 2013 general elections. He was additionally a vital agent 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 after his Muthaiga home was raided by police in 2017.
Wanjigi fell out with the govt before 2017 and joined ODM chief Raila Odinga’s team. He is said to have bankrolled the National Super Alliance (Nasa) 2017 campaigns.
He is the child of Maina Wanjigi, an affluent politician who served in the late President Daniel Moi regim.
While he might not have the political clout of other official hopefuls like William Ruto, Raila Odinga, and Musalia Mudavadi, he surely has the monetary muscle to coordinate with any of them.
