It happened back when Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was still the man on the throne and as usual, he expected to receive a briefing on the state of the country and the progress of his ministers.
On this day, the meeting was to be held at the Nakuru State Lodge that morning and it was then Defence Minister James Gichuru's turn and with him was his second in command, Permanent Secretary Jeremiah Kiereini and Deputy Secretary Phillip Gitonga.
Gitonga, in his book 'Kitchen Toto To Ambassador', inspired by his elevation to the Kenyan envoy to several countries later, recalls how Gichuru then decided to have beer as he waited for the President to arrive.
Gichuru was even known within the cabinet as a beer lover and when asked what he would take by the then First Lady, Mama Ngina, he asked for the bottle.
''Then First Lady Mama Ngina welcomed the guests and asked them what they would like to drink. They all settled for tea apart from Gichuru who asked for a beer!'' says Gitonga as quoted by a Daily Nation publication dated September, 26, 2015.
When Mzee arrived, he was shocked and inquired why the minister was taking beer in the morning.
''What did you want me to drink and we have been waiting for you for so long?'' answered Gichuru, ''Can’t you take tea like the others?'' Wondered the President.
''Who, me? Drink tea? No!, Came Gichuru's answer, in Kikuyu.
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