Award-winning actor and revered media personality Jimmy Gathu on Friday, July 18 sat down for a candid one-on-one conversation with TV47’s Betty Kyallo on This Friday With Betty, marking 35 years in the media and entertainment industry.
Surprisingly, Gathu revealed that he never studied mass communication, as many would assume. Instead, he pursued interior design and graphic arts.
Yet, despite this academic background, he carved an iconic path in television, radio, and acting—purely through grit, charm, and talent.
“I worked for six years before I even realized I was famous,” Gathu recalled with a laugh. “A mzungu actually told me I was famous when they offered me an ambassadorship.”
The sting of ‘betrayal’
But even a household name is not immune to hardship. Gathu opened up about the toughest season of his life—being fired in 2016.
After 26 years of uninterrupted employment, it was a jarring experience. “My phone stopped ringing. Even people I paid debts and school fees for went silent,” he said.
“At one point I was so low, I asked a friend for just KSh1,000. He kept calling me every 30 minutes to ask for his money back. This is someone I had helped with over KSh300,000, maybe even KSh400,000.”
It was a humbling chapter that taught Gathu that fame and generosity don’t always guarantee loyalty or kindness in return.
Unexpected generosity from strangers
Though his journey included dark times, Gathu also shared heartwarming moments when strangers recognized his legacy.
“There are places I go and I don’t pay. People just volunteer to pay for me because they grew up watching me, or they respect what I’ve done. That makes all the difference,” he noted.
This form of unexpected gratitude reminded him that while some “friends” disappeared when he needed them most, admiration from the public remained alive and strong.
From actor to mentor: A legacy of wisdom
Gathu, who began acting in 1989, is now seen as a father figure in the industry—both literally and figuratively.
As a father himself, he shared a powerful parenting philosophy: “Never ever say, ‘I’ll give my kids what I didn’t have’. Instead, take the good things you experienced growing up, replicate them, and leave out the bad ones.”
It’s this blend of personal experience, hard-won insight, and authentic storytelling that continues to make Jimmy Gathu a respected voice in the Kenyan entertainment scene.
