ACTOR JIMMI GATHU REVEALS HOW HE MADE HIS FIRST MILLION

Renowned media personality Jimmi Gathu has opened up about his early career struggles and the unexpected turn that led him to make his first million.

Speaking at a recent Engage Talk event, Gathu recounted the challenging four-year period after he began hosting shows on KTN in the early 1990s. Despite his growing presence on television, his letters to the editor was filled not with fan mail, but with criticism.

“There used to be this thing called ‘letters to the editor’… and for four years, I dominated it. It was criticism and hate, you name it. Every other day, there were complaints. It was the most depressing four years of my life,” Gathu revealed.

Trained as a graphic designer and actively seeking a job in that field, Gathu’s fortunes changed dramatically with a single phone call from Martin Kairuki of Coca-Cola. In a meeting, Martin said, “Do you not know you are the most popular young man in Kenya?” Coca-Cola presented him with market research from the previous four years that, contrary to the hate mail, confirmed his influence among the youth. 

This data led to his appointment as the first-ever youth ambassador for Coca-Cola in Kenya in 1995. “That’s how I made my first million,” Gathu stated. “A boy from Kariokor, my life changed like that overnight.”