Kenya’s renown media personality has had quite the career that many would envy and wish to have. His experiences in the industry however are a big mix of bitter- sweet. Having worked for big media houses, Jimmy has seen and done it all. He learned his lessons working for maj0r media companies and some of his experiences have inspired many. You can be fired even at the peak of your career and be replaced immediately. This is what befell Jimmi Gathu in 2016 when he was fired from Nation FM at a time when his show was among the top with impressive numbers. Ever since he joined media in the late 1990s, Gathu had never been kicked out and neither had he looked for a job. Its the stations that came for him. He learnt the harsh realities of life when he lost his job. On the fateful day, he left his house at 4:30AM for his Breakfast Show and, by 8:30am, he was jobless. He saw darkness thereafter. A man who had enjoyed an luxurious career.
Anyway, on the positive side, this is a man that generously and fiercely fought for the local music industry and his friends, for he had a musicial background. His first song was released in 1991 and it’s what propelled him to land a TV gig at KBC and later KTN on inception. He used his influence and power at different media houses to vouch for people he didnt know and to promote local songs. Gathu gave the late Lorna Irungu, Eve D’Souza, Johnston Mwakazi, Mwalimu Kingangi, Muthoni Bwika and Yvonne Okwara their first media gigs by just listening to their voices despite them having no media backgrounds. He believed in them and risked putting them on air, as he wanted a blend of intelligent presenters from diverse professional backgrounds.
While at KTN, he used the company’s equipment to shoot Eric Wainaina’s first song. He would risk his job at Capital FM as the “Hits not Homework” presenter to play Jua Cali and Nonini’s first songs. He recalls how two skinny men had followed him to the lift requesting that he plays their song. The two were Jua Cali and his producer Clemo. Gathu would play the song against the company’s policy that only played Rock Songs. He received a stern warning for this, the second strike, but still insisted on giving local music airplay. He is also the one who discovered Nameless through a Mid morning singing challenge show still at Capital FM.
At one time, while hosting a political talk show at Kiss FM, he says that he had heated discussions and this is where he discovered Hassan Joho, and Kimani Ichungwa who announced their political intentions. He would also host Uhuru Kenyatta, then a nominated MP on the show too. The former IEBC chair Isaak Hassan was also a frequent and regular caller at the show.
Talk of those who mention your name in rooms where you are not part of. Single phone calls would give gigs to his friends after his recommendations. Ted Josiah, Big Ted and Sanaipei Tande are some of the referrals he made to propel them to higher heights. Ted was a bedroom pianist before Gathu introduced him to a recording studio, Tande had no acting intentions until Jimmi referred her while Big Ted would land an MC gig for a TNA party through him and today he is a Kenyan envoy in the United States. Just a phone call away!
These revelations were spilled during a show on a Youtube channel called CLEANING THE AIRWAVES hosted by Richard Njau aka A-Star, who is a former Gospel Musician. You can catch the episodes on the channel. You won’t regret your time. This is one of my best channels that keeps me busy. The show is worth watching as it not only talks about foundational media and music elements, but also teaches about life; rise and fall of a person.
For the longevity trophy, Jimmy Gathu continues to inspire many with his resilience as a many who has fallen and risen again and now we get to see his rebirth and fast ascent once again in the media and entertainment space once again.
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