THE FUNNY SIDE OF JAMES GICHURU AS FINANCE MINISTER.

 

James Gichuru, Kenya's First Finance Minister from 1963-1969

James Gichuru, Kenya's first celebrated Finance Minister was a funny man. He served from 1963 to 1969 as Finance Minister.  He served under Mzee Jomo Kenyatta regime at the time when Kenya was setting foundation for its economic take off after the independence. He was among the ministers that Kenyatta feared and couldn't fire. Gichuru used to run Finance Ministry casually and even made his budgets in a bar. Duncan Ndegwa, Former CBK governor in his 2006 bio, Walking in Kenyatta Struggles: My Story, that Gichuru's drinking problem was such that government documents would be found under the tables at Karai Bar. In fact he had delegated most of his office work to secretaries. 

On 14 September, 1966 Gichuru missed the official opening of the Central Bank of Kenya officiated by the head of state then Mzee Jomo Kenyatta due to drinking problem.

Kenya's First President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta opening Central Bank Of Kenya on 14 Sep,1966. 
Photo courtesy of Standard Media.

Ndegwa further says Gichuru had " good sense but lacked focus" that is why he died at 68 in 1982. He used to believe that " I work very hard, so I must drink."

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