NAIROBI, KENYA: Businessman Jimi Wanjigi has claimed that he midwifed the formation of the Jubilee alliance that united President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto.
Wanjigi said the Jubilee coalition was born in his palatial home in Muthaiga, the same house that police officers held under siege for 72 hours.
He said it was regrettable that the Jubilee regime had opted to ‘desecrate and destroy’ the very house their current marriage was solemnised.
“I want to tell President Uhuru Kenyatta that you know this home very well. You have had meals here with my family several times. The current government was formed in this very house,” Wanjigi said.
The tycoon also said that it was in his house that NASA leader Raila Odinga agreed to concede defeat and shake the President’s hand in 2013 after the decision by the Supreme Court to uphold Jubilee's victory.
"These are the facts. After the 2013 General Election, it was in this home that Baba (Raila) agreed to shake hands with Uhuru Kenyatta after the Supreme Court upheld his victory. It was like 10 million Kenyans had joined hands in my house," he said.
Political persecution
He termed the siege as political persecution for supporting Raila and declared that his support for the Opposition leader would not wane.
"It is an unjustified siege that is premised on nothing else but persecution. I am an innocent man as I stand here; everything that you have seen from police is a complete fabrication. Whatever was found in this home, as they are trying to publicise, are licensed firearms," he said.
Wanjigi added: "It is complete and absolute persecution. If it was not for the will, strength, and prayers of Kenyans, many of us would not be standing here today."
Before Mondays’ operation, Wanjigi's palatial home had been a secret that few people knew anything about, just like his life.
A wealthy businessman by any standard, Wanjigi has maintained a low profile.
He came out after falling out with Jubilee over what is believed to be business deals on which he was shortchanged, including the Sh327 billion Standard Gauge Railway, which he helped to broker.
The businessman is a childhood friend of the President, having been together with Uhuru at St Mary’s School. His father, Maina Wanjigi, was an MP for more than 20 years and served both the regimes of Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi.
"There is a difference between family and politics. In this instance, I didn't see any difference. I hope this is a lesson because this is a show that there are people who are willing to take politics too far," the senior Wanjigi said.
He added; “We thank Raila for supporting us when we were under siege by the Government... it's a shame that the Government would not heed requests to stop the attacks and destruction. Can you imagine a senior lawyer like Orengo was locked out of this house? This is a private house and it’s us who should choose who comes in or not, and not the police."
