• Throughout his 43 years as an aide to successive presidents, Njiru learned an unexpected skill. “Pretending to be foolish—that is how you live longer,” he remarked, revealing a wisdom shaped by experience.

“I am very humble, because humility is my strength,” says Lee Njiru, the former Presidential Press Secretary. He describes this as his secret talent, a quality often overlooked.

However, based on my own judgment, this is not a secret; it is simply his personality. A trip to his Cherrynam resort in Ngata, Nakuru, awakened me to this truth.

Njiru, who served as Press Secretary for both Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi, now spends his retirement years in his multimillion resort. Yet, he denies the perception of wealth. Contrary to popular belief, he states that he has just enough to avoid starvation.

Throughout his 43 years as an aide to successive presidents, Njiru learned an unexpected skill. “Pretending to be foolish—that is how you live longer,” he remarked, revealing a wisdom shaped by experience.

The year 1981 holds special significance for him. “I was sent by the President to New York to take credentials to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, enabling Professor Julia Odhiambo to participate in the 34th United Nations General Assembly,” he recalled.

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He summarizes his career as one filled with interesting highs and lows, acknowledging that challenges shape a person. “Life without challenges is like playing football against a team without a goalkeeper—where you’re just scoring. That is not interesting. Challenges are the flavor of life,” he reflected.

Now at 75, Njiru focuses on healthy eating to manage his weight. “My favorite food is chicken, managu, and matoke for lunch. In the evening, I eat fruit because I have to keep my weight manageable. In the morning, I have two fried eggs and some fruit. Yes, I look younger now,” he added with a smile.

People often perceive personal aides to the President as proud, aristocratic, and unreachable.

“Most don’t know that I am a humble person. I’m not filthy rich, though I don’t starve. I am reachable; I don’t travel with bodyguards pushing people around. When I retired, people approached me cautiously, but over time, they realized that I am indeed humble,” he said.

Lee Njiru embodies a different narrative, one that challenges the stereotypes associated with power and prestige. His humility stands as a testament to his character, resonating long after his days in the spotlight.