Businessman and politician Jimmy Wanjigi has explained why he chose to venture into politics despite his successes in business.

Speaking during an interview on his YouTube channel on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Wanjigi stated that politics and business are two entirely different entities and that his decision to enter politics was driven by a desire to help the people.

Also Watch: Jimi Wanjigi: Every shilling spent on debt repayment robs Kenya’s future.

He said that there is a perception that people enter politics to do business, which he described as the most unfortunate misconception.

According to Wanjigi, politics is about serving the people, while business is about generating profit by providing goods or services, making the two fundamentally different.

Wanjigi added that over the last ten years or so, there has been a growing belief that people join politics to become rich from public resources, which he said is a wrong perception. He explained that one should enter politics to serve the people and work for their betterment, with any personal benefit coming only as a consequence — politicians are part of the people but the last to benefit.

“Business is about profiteering for yourself by giving goods or services to the people. There are two different things. But what has happened is that over the last maybe ten years or so, maybe a bit more, there is this belief that you enter politics to become rich on the poor people’s money.” Wanjigi said

He compared politicians to the captain of a sinking ship, saying that they should prioritise others first.

 Wanjigi cited former President Mwai Kibaki, noting that he was recognised for what he did for Kenyans rather than for benefiting financially from politics.

Difference between politics and business

He emphasised that business experience does not automatically translate into political expertise. Wanjigi said that politics requires a clear understanding of one’s purpose, which is to lead the people of a country toward prosperity and shared ideology.

Wanjigi further stated that business is only one part of a country’s structure, pointing out that there is also religion, generations, the people, and the land, making business just one small aspect among many.

He explained that he entered politics because he felt a calling to serve the people of Kenya and that he believes he has clear strategies to help the nation overcome its current challenges. Wanjigi noted that Kenya is going through one of the worst economic periods in its history, which he described as far worse than the difficult days during the Moi era.

He concluded by stressing that if the economy is not addressed, efforts in politics are wasted, and he believes he has the solutions needed for the country’s economic liberation.

The remarks were made days after Wanjigi took over the leadership of the Safina Party from Paul Muite, who had led the party for over 30 years since 1995, with Willis Otieno set to serve as his deputy party leader should Wanjigi pursue his presidential ambitions.