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Kivutha Kibwana, the former Governor of Makueni, has revealed his previous battle with alcohol during his early days as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi. Kibwana disclosed that he first tried beer in form six but did not initially enjoy it. Upon becoming a lecturer at 23, he and his friends developed a routine of regular drinking, taking advantage of their newfound financial stability.
Speaking on Shared Moments with Justus, Kibwana recounted his initiation into alcohol during form six in 1972, describing it as a way to assert one’s manhood at 18.
“In 1972, when I was in form six, I had my first taste of alcohol. At 18 years old, it was seen as a rite of passage into manhood. Although I didn’t find it pleasant, I questioned why people consumed it. However, that marked my introduction to alcohol,” Kibwana shared during an episode of Shared Moments with Justus.
Despite not liking the taste initially, he and his friends frequented various locations in town, such as the senior common room at the University of Nairobi, where they indulged in beer. Each friend maintained a book to record bills, later deducted from their salaries.
Kibwana highlighted the financial strain caused by excessive drinking, sharing an incident where a friend tried to evade deductions by taking the book, but the amount was still deducted. He strategically scheduled his classes on Mondays and Tuesdays to enjoy extended weekends of drinking until Saturday. However, the drinking habit negatively impacted his life and that of his friends.
The former governor admitted facing no disciplinary action but acknowledged the concern of friends, including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga. Despite this, Kibwana continued drinking, even causing a car accident while driving home drunk, falling asleep at the GPO roundabout.
After going abroad on a scholarship, Kibwana recognized the need for lifestyle changes. Although his family had urged him to quit drinking, he emphasized that the decision was personal. The drinking spanned from 1979 to 1983, and Kibwana’s transformation came from a personal realization that he no longer wanted to continue down that path.
“Later, as a lecturer with financial means, we would frequent various places in town to indulge in drinking and paint the town red. The senior common room at the University of Nairobi was just one of the many places where we would gather to enjoy our beer.”
