Dr. James Kimathi has achieved what any architect would probably aim to achieve in life – monumental projects at home and beyond, awards of honour and accomplishment, a loving family and spiritual fulfillment.
Like other children born upcountry, Arch. James Kimathi had a typical upbringing and start to his educational journey. He was born in 1946 in Meru and attended Githongo Primary School. In 1963, he sat for the Kenya African Preliminary Examination (KAPE) exams. He joined Nkubu Boys High School where he sat for his Cambridge School Certificate in 1967.
Kimathi then joined Medical Training College (MTC) in 1968, in what could have led him in a totally different professional trajectory. He pursued a Diploma in Public Health which was offered by The Royal Society of Health. It was while at MTC that he enrolled for a Building Construction Course which was offered by City and Guilds of London Institute but taught at the Kenya Polytechnic (now Technical University of Kenya). As a Public Health Inspector, a course in Building and Construction, was very useful then, earlier in his career and later on in life when he decided to pursue architecture. This course was going to equip him for a career as a Public Health Inspector since inspecting buildings for hygiene was going to be part and parcel of his anticipated career. At MTC, he won the coveted award of BEST ALL ROUND STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD in 1971.
Upon leaving MTC, Kimathi joined the University of Nairobi to study Architecture. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture in 1974, and in 1976 a Masters degree in Architecture from the same University.
From 1976-1978, he worked as a Graduate Intern in Ministry of Works and was registered as an Architect in 1978 after which he started his own architectural firm. He is currently the Managing Director, K & M Archplans.
He is a member of the Royal Society of Health and a lead expert on Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Audit.
Architect Kimathi has served in different capacities as a leader in the building industry in Kenya and the region. He served as one of the Directors of the Kenya National Housing Corporation from 1998-1999. He also served as chairman of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Architects Chapter) in 1989 and is currently a Fellow of the Architectural Association of Kenya. He has been an oral examiner of professional exams at the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors in Kenya.
Achievements
Kimathi has been a Lead Consultant in design and project management of architectural projects. He has been able to contribute immensely to East Africa’s architectural landscape through his iconic and sustainable works. His most notable works are seen through the Parliaments of Kenya and Tanzania. In the year 2000, he was awarded the first prize for the design of the new Parliament building in Dodoma, Tanzania. This architectural icon is the epitome of national heritage and sovereignty of the people of Tanzania. This project saw Kimathi embark on a whirlwind global tour of developed countries to carry out benchmarking among the best legislative buildings in the world.
In 2004, he also won the first prize for the modernization of the Kenya National Assembly Debating Chamber. It was necessary to upgrade the Debating chamber in order to accommodate a new seating arrangement, introduce modern technology and incorporate state-of- the-art interiors.
Kimathi has also undertaken modernization of the Meru, Laikipia and Machakos County Assembly Chambers. It is for these reasons that he has become an expert on Parliaments and their Architecture.
Kimathi’s experience in high rise commercial projects saw him him design the 35-floor award winning Tanzania Ports Authority Headquarters. The high rise building in Dar es Salaam is iconic and defines the city’s skyline as one of the tallest buildings in East Africa.
The ultra-modern Rock City Shopping Mall in Mwanza, Tanzania, covering about 50,000m² is another of his iconic buildings. This modern mall has been designed along the global emerging trends of shopping malls. The Mall houses state-of-the-art cinema halls, anchor shops, food courts as well as surface and basement parking.
Many other projects have been designed and implemented under Architect Kimathi. Over time he has developed his own architectural style with which he can be identified. His contribution to the regional architecture has been captured in three books – Parliaments and their Architecture (published by Images of Australia), The Journey and The Sketching Architect (published by Timely Printers).
Besides giving overall direction to his firm, Architect Kimathi is now largely involved in mentorship of young professionals. His premises, Marbella Karen Park, has hosted such mentorship programs.
On 16th December 2016, Arch. James Kimathi was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts in Architecture by Meru University of Science & Technology in recognition of his enormous contribution to the built environment. This text is largely a citation from the conferment.
