Hesbon Imbwaka, who recently retired as the chief gardener with the German Embassy in Nairobi during the interview at Nation Centre, Nairobi, on September 2, 2025.
After 34 years of tending to plants at the German ambassador’s premises, 60-year-old Hesbon Imbwaka is retiring and heading to his rural home in Kakamega.
His journey from Nairobi to Western Kenya begins today, and among the items he will be travelling with are five chickens gifted to him by Mr Sebastian Groth, the German Ambassador to Kenya, Somalia and the Seychelles.
“I will start a poultry project separate from the one my wife runs,” he said.
A tuft of white is spreading where black used to dominate on his head, and it is time for the former footballer to slow down and enjoy his sunset years.
He has the embassy to thank for many things, among them a chance to serve with a medical cover, learning how to handle high-profile guests and allowing him to do what he loves most – nurturing plants.
But did Mr Imbwaka turn down a gift of German-made cars, opting for five hens instead? That is what was implied in an X post by the ambassador on August 29.
German Ambassador to Kenya, H.E Sebastian Groth.
“I wanted to hand him the 68 German machines. He opted for some kuku instead to start a poultry farm. That’s the real Luhya spirit,” Mr Groth posted.
The clue perhaps lay in a wink emoji after the word “machines”.
The car issue arose on August 1 when Mr Groth posted for the first time that Mr Imbwaka was retiring. An X user then asked if the embassy was seeing him off with just a certificate.
In a tongue-in-cheek fashion, Mr Groth posted: “He’ll get one Mercedes and one BMW for every year in service.”
That would be 34 Mercedes Benz and and 34 BMW cars.
When Mr Groth tweeted 28 days later that Mr Imbwaka “opted for” chickens, some people had questions for the retiree.
“Luhyas were offended to hear that their fellow Luhya had taken chickens instead of cars,” he said.
“Let people know that I couldn’t have made such a decision. I know the value of a car and chickens,” he said.
To the father of four, it was a joke that many missed. The news that he would receive cars spread fast. Villagers in Kakamega started preparing a homecoming to usher him in with the pricey gifts.
The true picture is now emerging after the gift of the hens, chicken feed and a feeder.
Hesbon Imbwaka and his wife Nancy Malesi in Nairobi on September 3, 2025
“I did not take it negatively. I received them and now have chickens,” Mr Imbwaka said.
“It will remind me that out of a joke, it grew to great heights,” he says.
He leaves employment with a financial package from the embassy, which was created by deducting his salary and contributions by the employer.
“Kenya Revenue Authority has taken theirs and I have taken mine,” he said.
He was at the National Social Security Fund offices on Tuesday to finalise on his dues.
“I will be largely in Kakamega but will be coming to Nairobi occasionally,” he said.
Mr Imbwaka was born in Eastleigh. His family then moved to Kariobangi and later Huruma. He attended primary school in the city and secondary school in Western province. He went into football after secondary school.
“I have played for Fine Spinners, Orbit Chemicals, Imara and Carnivore FC. It was at Carnivore that Reunion FC spotted me,” he said, adding that he played as a left back.
By the time he was joining Reunion to play in the National Super League – now the Kenya Premier League – Mr Imbwaka had been recruited by the embassy in 1991.
He was treasured at the embassy because he was a footballer. Germany had beaten Argentina in the World Cup final the previous year.
“They were excited to learn that a player in the national league was working with them,” he said.
He retired from football in 1993, shifting all his energy on the gardening job at the German ambassador’s residence in Muthaiga. His responsibilities would later be expanded to the ambassador’s office at Riverside Drive.
He lived at the ambassador’s servant quarters for months but shifted to Gachie when he married Nancy Malesi in 1995.
“That is where I raised my family. I would report to work at 7am and leave at 4pm,” he said.
Irrigation, pruning, replacing old plants and catering to potted varieties were among his roles in the team of four.
“We improved the look of the office. The sections that appeared bushy were cleared. We also paid attention to the grass because of what we wanted visitors to see,” he said.
“We considered potted plants because of their location. We didn’t want defaced flowers at the embassy doors.”
The secret of serving for all those years, Mr Imbwaka believes, is being an open person.
“I complain to you and listen to what you say. I openly articulate my issues and I’m trustworthy,” he said.
“Above all, I loved my job. Even when not at the embassy, I am happy to see healthy plants.”
He plans to be a full-time crop and animal producer.
“I thank the embassy for giving an opportunity to work there. I have learnt a lot, including receiving high-profile guests. We received German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011,” he said.
“I have learnt how to interact with kinds of people – ministers, envoys and others. During visits by German ministers, for instance, we were usually the first to attend to them.”
Mr Imbwaka said he has served at the embassy’s bar too.
His wife said it has not always been easy.
“He has been through a lot. Last year, he had a back problem but was treated. The embassy had insurance for my husband and they attended to him till he recovered. We thank God for that,” she said.
The couple’s youngest child turned 18 in March, and so they enter the next phase of their lives with a nest that has four adults.
