Why family comes first for Jimi Kariuki

One thing is evident; Jimi is a snazzy dresser.

But if you had the responsibility of “selling” eight hotels and lodges, you would know that image is not only everything, but the only thing. He likes his suits and looks dapper in them.

He has held his current portfolio for 20 years and he – like his father who co-owns the hotel chain and who, in his late 70s, still comes to the office from 8am to 5pm – expresses great enthusiasm and passion for the tourism industry.

Behind his desk – pinned on a soft board – is a shrine of his children’s artwork; sketchy, crayoned drawings of cards telling him he is a great father.

On one side of his office wall are pictures of his family.

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I‘m assuming that the gorgeous lady on your arms in that picture is your wife. Good catch, Jimi! How long have you been married?

(Smiles politely) Yes. That’s my wife and we have known each other for 13 years now, 10 of which we were dating.

She waited for 10 years? How did you keep her interest steadfast?

Actually, I waited. (Laughs) We met at a party in London in 1997, but our fathers have always been good friends and we have always been close friends, her and me.

In fact, the theme for our wedding was “10 years of Friendship.”

You are quite the dresser. Who among your peers in the industry do you think can hold a candle to your dressing? Someone you admire in terms of his taste in clothes?

(Thinks) Well, there was one guy but unfortunately, he passed on - Sandy Vohra.

He was a great dresser and I will admit that he inspired some of my dress sense.

But in the industry now… (Thinks) I don’t know, I mean there are tons of guys who dress well, but I can’t think of a name I can drop right this moment…

What timepiece is that, incidentally?

A Tissot.

You have a teenage daughter, who has clearly taken after her mother’s fetching looks. Have you devised a watertight plan on how you will be taking out guys who try to be fresh with her?

(Laughs) Well, not quite. My daughter is now 14 and our strategy of parenting at this interesting time is to interact with her a lot.

In fact, we try to spend as much time with all the kids as we can and basically be there for them.

Is fatherhood fulfilling to you?

Absolutely. Yes it is. The other weekend, I attended my son’s concert in school - he’s 10 – and it was a moment of beauty watching him play the drums.

He was very impressive at it and I remember looking forward to going back home to tell him how good I thought he was!

Praise, I have learnt, raises the level of confidence in children.

Discipline is important and for me, it’s about being firm, not strict.

You strike me as a guy who is so put together, Jimi. You have no hair out of place. Every guy has one sin, what is yours?

(Chuckles then thinks) Mmm…my sin? Uhm... well, whenever I switch from whatever, I’m drinking and things go downhill very fast from there. I can sit in a bar until very late without noticing.

Any personal preferences of whisky?

Well, Oban is a fine single malt. So is Taliska. I wouldn’t also mind some Jameson on any day.

What does a guy like you do on a loose Friday evening?

Hang out with my wife at Mercury at ABC. And now, next to Mercury is the Sevens Seafood and Grill where we can always have a bite.

Great restaurant. We love dancing and we used to do the whole Rock and Soul nights in Carnivore and also Visions a long time ago. Remember Visions?

I do, blast from the past. You are a golf enthusiast, what handicap are you?

At Karen Country Club where I play, I’m a 15. Thing with golf is that if you aren’t having a great round, it isn’t fun (chuckles).

What do you spend most on?

Suits and shoes and shirts. Look, how you dress says a lot about you, but I will also admit that I’m not wild about fashion trends.

I’m lucky that I travel a lot for business and overseas, there is a wider variety for good suits, which I try to mix between, conservative and chic.

What’s the ceiling you can spend on a suit?

None. No ceiling. If it’s good, I will buy it.

What car do you drive?

A Toyota Prado, it’s one of the family cars we have.

Why do you like the Prado?

It’s solid and great for on and off road.

What’s your greatest fear?

(Thinks) Hmm. I don’t have any that comes to mind other than the fears that revolve around the business.

The tourism industry is sensitive, as you are aware and you know this is not just a job to me given that my family owns part of it.

Given that I’m the family representative here (his only other sibling, his sister, just got back from Tanzania, and is busy pursuing her doctorate) I’m keen to make it work.

What’s your character trait that you dislike the most?

I’m irritable. That’s perhaps because I’m impatient with people who don’t keep time or don’t come through when they promise to.

I’m very particular; I like my things done in a particular way.

If you opened your wardrobe and found some hangers facing the wrong side, are you the kind of guy who would change them?

(Laughs) Yes. I’m very regimental. Here is the thing, I always remove the clothes I will wear the night before.

It doesn’t matter if the next day is not a working day. And I think my son is taking after me.

My word! How does your wife handle that?

(Laughs) She laughs about it. I think she is used to it by now.

Hey, when you hit mid-life crisis, what crazy thing do you think you will do?
(Grins) I won’t hit mid-life crisis.