Love for life and music that made DJ Chris Kirubi buy station

Tycoon Chris Kirubi, the country’s dollar billionaire, would often drop his corporate seriousness for youthful gigs earning him the nickname DJ CK.

DJ CK died yesterday at the age of 80 after a long battle with cancer at his home in Nairobi, leaving behind two adult children and a huge fortune going by his Forbes’ 2011 listing as the second richest man in the country after the Kenyatta family with a then net worth of USD 500 million (Sh54 billion).

Unlike his uptight mates, DJ CK would make time for comic television shows and respond to questions about his life and fun side, engage young people on Twitter and DJ for fun all of which endeared him to many young people.

While appearing on the Churchill Show eight months ago, a rather weak DJ CK attributed his success in business to hard work.

“I never give up. I never regret that I reached the top because the mountain top is still there to climb. If you want to be successful, never feel you have reached the top and continue climbing the mountain because that is the way you can keep your talent and opportunities growing,” said Kirubi.

Roger Whitaker

Mr Kirubi grew up listening to Roger Whitaker and Cliff Richard and his love for music saw him buy Capital FM.

“While others were bargaining, I went in and paid the full amount and became the owner,” he said.

DJ CK immediately changed Capital FM’s music genre to suit the taste of the young to the chagrin of old ladies from Karen who did not like the shift.

Despite his old age, the businessman kept his family life private but openly shared wild views on family like his preference for polygamy.

“This issue of marrying one wife is a missionary thing and is really not our way to handle the population. The population of women is bigger than that of men and we don’t like our ladies just going anywhere and nobody taking care of them,” he said.

He said he viewed marriage as enslavement that one has to agree to before committing to but for those that get lucky, its pure bliss.

Expensive girlfriend

“It is a permanent affair, you are jailed for life. If you marry a good woman, it is such a pleasure but there are some women who it’s like they first went to the army before marriage because they are always fighting.

“If you’re lucky you will enjoy it, if you are not, Jesus! you will regret and you will be in jail,” he said.

In a TV interview with NTV’s The Wicked Edition four years ago, the businessman cautioned Kenyans against spending more than they earn.

“You must put aside some savings of what you earn for a rainy day. If you have an expensive girlfriend, tell her goodbye, look for a cheaper one.”

“If the girl has a boyfriend who is a pauper, I say leave him. Look for a better one,” he advised. To others he was a mentor and a boss.

“You fought a good fight Sir. Rest with the angels. I will always cherish the moments we had a sit down and instilled wisdom about life. You were a mentor. It is a sad, sad day. My deepest condolences to family and friends. We have lost a gem. #ripboss,” Mwalimu Churchill wrote on Instagram.