Among all of President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's ministers, James Gichuru was the most indulgent when it came to alcohol.
Former CBK Governor Duncan Ndegwa in his memoir Walking in Kenyatta's Struggles: My Story, details Gichuru's drunk escapades.
In 1966, during the official opening of the Central Bank of Kenya, Gichuru was nowhere to be found despite being the Finance Minister.
"Four hours before the official opening of the Central Bank of Kenya (in 1966) by the President himself, Gichuru failed to wake up," wrote Ndegwa.
Dr Njoroge Mungai (then Minister for Defence) had to rummage all over for Gichuru’s written speech and read it for him.
His alcoholism betrayed him yet again after he became incoherent when reading the budget in Parliament.
A break had to be allowed for Gichuru to dash and take a sip at his favourite bar along River Road and come back to complete the speech.
The minister himself was not embarrassed about his habits and defended himself every time he got a chance.
“How can anybody say that I err by drinking? I work very hard, so I have to drink. Look, I have been given this beer here, thanks to your hospitality. Could I refuse? Do you think ministers are appointed to play football?” Gichuru once asked Mzee to his face.
Perhaps what made Kenyatta tolerate Gichuru was that when Mzee was in Europe, Gichuru was elected the President of the Kenya African Union but upon his return, he stepped down in 1949 to allow Jomo take over the leadership.
Again, when the state of emergency was declared in 1952, Gichuru kept the banner of nationalism flying until 1957 when constitutional politics resumed.
Ndegwa noted that the finance minister's greatest contribution was to let his PS, John Michuki, and John Butter steer the ministry.
For years, the portrait of Gichuru adorned the wall alongside that of Mzee Kenyatta at Karai Bar along River Road before it was demolished.
