Jogoo Kimakia: The Making of a Kenyan Entrepreneur

Abstract

Some people silently pass through this small planet unnoticed. Even the most sensitive radars do not notice their presence. Others, make a bang, and everyone notice them, admires them, envy them or at times hate them. The most noticeable ones are usually leaders, not just in politics but in their chosen area of endeavor. A few are noticed long after they have made their pilgrimage across this lonely planet. Jogoo Kimakia (Dedan Nduati Njoroge) made a mark when alive, and long after his departure. He made his mark in post independent Kenya through entrepreneurship targeting transport business, his legend has outlived him. In his hey days, it is joked banks in Thika town, the epicenter of his business had to close to give cashiers time to count his money. Though truthfully, it probably involved getting into one of the bank rooms to count money or carry out other bank transactions. It is also rumored that he gave every son-in-law a bus! One neighbor independently confirmed that. His fame was not localized in Thika, his hometown; some even suggest that the British firm Leyland Motors set up a plant in Thika to satisfy the demand for his buses! Jogoo Kimakia was the trade name for a firm owned by Dedan Nduati Njoroge (1926-2008). The name originated from Kimakia forest where he burned charcoal as a young entrepreneur. His success in burning charcoal earned him the name Jogoo (cockerel) which in local language means a star. In his hey days, he owned 113 buses that plied different routes from Central Kenya to Rift Valley and beyond. Jogoo Kimakia is an example of a family owned business that made a great contribution to the Kenyan economy. This is in line with such businesses elsewhere. In the US for example it has been estimated that family businesses contribute 40-60% of the GDP and create over half of the new jobs (Shanker and Astrachan, 1996).