Jimmy Gathu is a renowned Kenyan media personality, actor, producer, director, content creator, corporate master of ceremonies, and media strategist.
Gathu is among the pioneers of modern Kenyan entertainment broadcasting and has spent more than three decades in radio, television, music, and creative industries.
Over the years, Gathu has become a household name through popular programs such as Club Kiboko, People’s Parliament, Power Breakfast, and Alfajiri.
In his interviews, Gathu advises people that when faced with challenges, it is best to accept and choose the next step to better the current situation.
“The most important thing I tell people is that they need to accept that they have hit rock bottom. For me, there came a time when I accepted it. Now, I either stay down or rise again,” Gathu explained.
Early Life and Family
Jimmy Gathu was born on 11 February 1970 at Pumwani Maternity Hospital in Nairobi and was raised in Kariokor Flats, one of Nairobi’s historic residential estates.
He is the seventh child in a family of eight children.
During his childhood, his family enjoyed a relatively comfortable lifestyle as his father, Jonah Gathu, held a senior position at the then Kenya Breweries.
However, Gathu’s life changed dramatically when his father was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 1978, when Jimmy was eight years old.
Following the death of Jimmy’s father, his mother brought up the children without getting remarried.
While praising his mother’s dedication, Gathu revealed that her strict parenting style had long-lasting effects on him, resulting in him seeking professional therapy.
Jimmy Gathu is married to Cathy Gathu, whom he met in the mid-1990s, and the couple has three children: Chantal Gathu, Jasmine Gathu, and Wambui Gathu.
According to Gathu, he is a proud grandfather and describes fatherhood and family as his greatest achievements.
Educational Background
Gathu attended St. George’s Primary School in Nairobi during the former 7-4-2 education system.
After completing his secondary education, he joined the Kenya Polytechnic (where he studied Graphic Arts and Design, with training in Graphic Design, Fine Art, Interior Design and Visual Communication.
Jimmy Gathu’s TV Career and Achievements
Gathu entered the media industry in 1990 after participating in a public awareness campaign and later joined KTN as a continuity announcer.
At KTN, Gathu hosted several programs, including Club Kiboko, Show Time, Rap Em’, Kass Kass, Rastrut, Rhythmix, Niaje, and What It Takes.
Later, Gathu joined KBC, where he presented Hatua and Mambo Leo.
Between 2010 and 2013, Gathu hosted Power Breakfast at Citizen TV, and between 2013 and 2014, he worked as a creator, producer, and host of Alfajiri, a breakfast show at K24.
Radio Career
Gathu has worked at several radio stations, including the KBC Radio, where he hosted the Café Culture breakfast show.
He has also worked as a presenter, program controller, and host of the Hits Not Homework at Capital FM.
Additionally, Gathu hosted the People’s Parliament program at KISS 100 and served as an afternoon presenter and program controller at Classic 105.
At Hot 96, Jimmy Gathu served as the Head of Radio before joining the Nation FM between 2015 and 2016.
In 2016, Gathu left or was retrenched from Nation Media Group, an event that affected the media personality.
Speaking during an interview with news anchor Betty Kyallo in June 2025, Gathu recounted that after his retrenchment, people who were close to him stopped interacting with him.
“When I got fired, my phone stopped ringing. Even the people I used to help pay off their debts vanished. If it weren’t for my kids, I would have sunk into depression,” Jimmy Gathu stated.
In his broadcast career, Jimmy joined Spice FM after his retrenchment from Nation Media Group.
Acting Career
Gathu is also an actor in Kenya’s film and television industry.
He has featured in productions including Saikati 2 (1995), Changes, Nairobi Half Life (2012), State House (2013), Rafiki (2018), Kina, Single Kiasi, and Chocolate Empire (2025)
In his acting career, his most prominent performances came in the Showmax series Chocolate Empire, where he played JB Mauzo.
Beyond broadcasting and acting, Gathu has also worked as a Coca-Cola Youth Ambassador, Nokia Brand Personality, Corporate Events Moderator, and Commercial Voice Talent.
He also became famous through the widely discussed “Fanya Hesabu” campaign associated with the “Mpango wa Kando” advertisements.
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