Kenya's first finance Minister James Gichuru was also known as the man who stepped down twice from his political sits to pave way for Jomo Kenyatta. Gichuru, a close ally of the founding father was KANU’s first Chairman in an acting capacity from its inception in 1961.
In his autobiography, former Central Bank Governor Duncan Ndegwa narrates how Gichuru’s love for the bottle drove a wedge between the Limuru MP and his official duties as a minister in Kenyatta's cabinet.
In the run-up to Kenya’s independence, Tom Mboya’s friendship with Gichuru was un-welcomed by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who was aware that his political ambitions could be scuttled by the two.
Mboya through his access to American scholarships and funds had wooed Gichuru to his side even enabling the latter's children to get an American education. Njoki Gichuru studied in Rutland Massachusetts while Gitau Gichuru attended Concord High School and Goddard College.
Mboya and Gichuru maintained a welcoming policy within KANU that guaranteed immigrant races hospitality after independence. The two opposed nationalization of land on the grounds that it would drive away investors.
In their overseas tours especially in Europe the two courted foreign businessmen in pursuit of foreign capital to further development back home.
This, in turn, infuriated Jaramogi who described the duo as foreign stooges who had sold their souls to the imperialists.
However, the British saw Gichuru as a solid candidate and the best replacement for Kenyatta who was in prison. Gichuru had joined 26 Kikuyu elders in disowning the mau-mau as an extremist ethnic movement.
The Colonial Secretary after meeting Mboya and Gichuru in London wrote: “I liked him a good deal and he seems to be the most hopeful African leader in Kenya I have met.”
The meetings between the duo and the colonial secretary led Jaramogi into accusing them of conspiring with the Colonial Secretary to have Kenyatta detained indefinitely.
Jaramogi’s allegations led to the formation of a smear campaign where Munyua Waiyaki, Dr Gikonyo Kiano and Dr Njoroge Mungai took an issue against the two just before the 1961 elections.
Gichuru responded by suspending Jaramogi from Kanu, accusing him of trying to wreck the party by carrying out a smear campaign and sabotaging official party candidates in his open support for rival candidates.
The Kanu Governing Council in a desperate attempt to maintain unity summoned all the parties concerned to a meeting.
Gichuru accused Jaramogi of releasing statements which showed that KANU was driving towards a communist direction without his approval. In response, Jaramogi stated that his suspension was unconstitutional and denied being a communist.
After hours of accusations, retractions and denial Mboya, Jaramogi and Gichuru were ordered to leave the meeting as the council deliberated on the rift.
When they were summoned back Gichuru was too drunk to speak. Jaramogi’s suspension was thrown out.
In another instance, while reading the budget before members of parliament, dignitaries and Jomo Kenyatta, Gichuru fumbled because he had not had a drink. According to the autobiography, Gichuru was allowed to ‘recharge’ before continuing with reading the budget.
