Jimmy narrates how dad, Mwai Kibaki, killed his wild partying days

• Jimmy Kibaki said, "My whole life, I think, with my dad has been a game of cat and mouse, my dad wanted me to pursue a life of excellence as he did and in many instances, he felt that I fell short of that.

• One instance is when I was in form 2, my academic grades were not representative of a son of Mwai Kibaki, the form one grades were quite terrible and form 2 grades were quite abysmal.

Jimmy Kibaki eulogises his late dad, President Mwai Kibaki
Jimmy Kibaki eulogises his late dad, President Mwai Kibaki
Image: EZEKEIL AMIN'GA

Jimmy Kibaki, the late president's eldest son has paid tribute by remembering his dad, not as the leader of the country but as a man who shaped who he is, a mentor.

Speaking at the state burial ceremony at Othaya Approved School, Jimmy said "I would like to give an insight into the more relaxed life of Mwai Kibaki the tributes have been there they are basically focused on his tenure as a president.

My whole life, I think, with my dad has been a game of cat and mouse, my dad wanted me to pursue a life of excellence as he did and in many instances, he felt that I fell short of that. One instance is when I was in form 2, my academic grades were not representative of a son of Mwai Kibaki, the form one grades were quite terrible and form 2 grades were quite abysmal."

He continued, "We got our grades and we each would take them to him in his sitting room, he had his own sitting room and we would sit with him and gave the report, Judy had her report. She was a straight-A student, and then we had David, who was an academic genius.

My mother made it a point that I was the last one to give my report. Mzee looked at my report and I remember him going up back to the report where the name was because he thought it was a mistake, this cannot be my son, Then he asked my mother, these grades are out of what? Is it out of 50 or out of what?

My mother said it is per cent."

Kibaki was unimpressed and very disappointed at the low marks Jimmy had received.

"Mzee gave me one of those looks when he is very angry, those piercing looks because he doesn't shout."

He said, "Jimmy, let's do this, forget about this school business, let me take you to  our farm at Naro there you can look after my cows and I will pay you a small wage it won't be for free."

I think when he saw me contemplating that, he told my mother, 'You know, Mathare hospital is not far away from Muthaiga, shall we take this boy there to get his head examined so that we can determine it is not his brain that has a problem and that he is just lazy!'

arrives at Parliament Buildings to view Mwai Kibaki's remains
Jimmy Kibaki arrives at Parliament Buildings to view Mwai Kibaki's remains
Image: EZEKIEL AMINGA

He was quite annoyed and he told me we will talk to the principal and you are going to repeat form 2.

This threat was enough to make Jimmy work hard to avoid repeating the class.

Jimmy also shared another memory where his father told him, sherehe and hanging out all night is not productive at all.

"I respect my father, at one point he told me, 'You Jimmy, you like going out and coming home, at 2 or 3 am in the morning, why can't you come home at a respectable time. Respectable people are home by midnight it is only crooks and vagabonds that go out parading at all hours of the night'."

Jimmy promised to adhere to the curfew set by his dad but come the following weekend, he thought since his dad will be away in Othaya he is free to come home late.

"That day I was walking into the house I saw through the curtains at 3 am, he was seated in the house before I knew it he had gone and opened the front door he told me, 'Jimmy, remember what I told you? Get into the house'.

I looked at Mzee, he was standing on the doorway, I called my mother,  because there is no way I was going near him."

This time round the warning was headed by Jimmy and that was the last day he went home late.

Watch: President Mwai Kibaki's funeral proceedings

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