Inside Chris Kirubi’s family and connections

Arguably one of Kenya’s leading entrepreneurs, billionaire and media owner Chris Kirubi who died on Monday aged 81 was laid to rest today

Kirubi’s send off at his farm in Thika, Kiambu county was witnessed by his close family members and a section of Kenya’s leaders in the public and private sector.

Eulogised by President Uhuru Kenyatta as a seasoned businessman, entrepreneur and industrialist who founded and successfully ran some of Kenya’s largest corporations, Kirubi boasted of influential connections in and outside government.

During his requiem mass yesterday, David Kibaki euologised Kirubi on behalf of his father Mwai Kibaki.

K24 Digital established that Kirubi and former President Kibaki’s son David both sat on the board of the landmark International House in Nairobi. According to credible sources the Kibakis have a substantial stake at the building owned by DJ CK.

So close was Kirubi with former President Kibaki that the billionaire served on the National Economic and Social Council which was responsible for crafting Kenya’s current blue print for growth, Vision 2030.

In 2013, retired President Mwai Kibaki appointed Professor Richard Musangi the Vice Chancellor of Kabianga University

Prof Musangi is a renowned educationist and a scholar as well as an accomplished Administrator.

Born in April 24th,1934 at Milo, in Bungoma County Prof Musangi is the father Kirubi’s son in-law Andrew Mukite Musangi.

Andrew who married Mary Anne Kirubi in 2009 is a renown Kenyan lawyer.

Andrew formed Mukite Musangi & Company Advocates (MMC) in December 1998 where he is Managing Partner.

Musangi also served as Chair of the Jubilee Party National Executive Board in 2017 where he played a key role in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election.

A powerful figure both in government and in the private sector, Kirubi’s son in-law chairs the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) which is instrumental in overseeing tenders handled by government agencies.

Also notable in the list of Chris Kirubi’s powerful associates is ODM leader Raila Odinga and Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka.

According to the two political principals, Kirubi talked both of them into ceeding ground for the benefit of the country after the 2007 post election violence.

Speaking during the requiem mass yesterday, Kalonzo revealed that Kirubi visted him at his Karen, Nairobi home and asked him not to be ‘stupid’.

It’s then that Kalonzo joined Kibakis’s government from the opposition where he was Raila’s deputy in the CORD political outfit.