It is that time yet again when billionaires and close associates to Presidential candidates put their best foot forward in oiling political campaigns.
Just two days ago, friends of Jubilee Foundation-a clique consisting affluent personalities from the business, banking and other sectors held a gala dinner for President Uhuru Kenyatta re-election at Safari Park in Nairobi.
The stakes were so high that anyone seeking to sit at the high table with Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto, had to cough up sh10 million.
In Uhuru’s circle according to the Standard, there are wealthy people including lawyers, bank owners, insurance magnates and billionaire businessmen known in the country’s political and business circles.
An insider in the Friends of Jubilee Foundation revealed that they have so far gotten overwhelming support.
“We have come together as friends of Jubilee but you need to understand that we are not the only ones supporting the party. For your information, there are so many groups that have come together to support the JP campaigns, the majority of which the President does not even know exists. For example, our pay-bill number has received support from many people — some are sending Sh50 and Sh100 and we really appreciate it because this is a significant expression of goodwill,” he said.
Friends of Jubilee Foundation lobby is made up of seven prominent personalities.
They are: Business magnate and prominent advocate John PN Simba (chairman), Titus Ibui (secretary), SportPesa architect Paul Ndung’u (treasurer), Equity Bank founder Peter Munga (member), CMC director Joel Kibe (member), business mogul Peter Muthoka (member) and Pius Ngugi (member).
Ngugi is Kenya’s largest producer of processed macadamia nuts which he exports to foreign markets.
But the lobby still has other affluent personalities who have not been listed.
They include billionaire Mary Wambui Mungai, a business woman with massive interests across Africa, ICT guru and Karachuonyo MP James Rege, Antony Mwaura, an engineer with massive influence in the construction industry, and Mombasa-based billionaire Suleiman Shabbhal.
Mombasa-based billionaire Sam Kairu, events management guru Maina Wandere of Wonderjoy and his advertising counterpart Stanly Kinyanjui of Magnet Ventures are also among those who play a cardinal role in resource mobilization for Jubilee.
For NASA which has organized its fundraiser dinner on June 19, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and billionaire businessman Jimmy Wanjigi lead he list of the coalition’s financiers.
Other Key financiers for NASA are Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and former Kenya Ports boss Brown Ondego.