Retired German Embassy gardener Hesbon Imbwaka has denied reports stating that he rejected Mercedes and BMW cars in favour of chickens from the German Embassy in Kenya.
In an interview with the Nation, Hesbon Imbwaka clarified that, contrary to claims sparked by a social media post from German Ambassador to Kenya Sebastian Groth, the statement on the ‘rejected Mercedes and BMW cars’ was only a joke.
He added that villagers in Kakamega had even started preparing for his return, believing he would be driving home a fleet of luxury cars.
“Let people know that I couldn’t have made such a decision. I know the value of a car and chickens,” Imbwaka said.
Imbwaka retired after 34 years of service at the German Ambassador’s residence and offices in Nairobi.
Hesbon Imbwaka Speaks on Claims of Rejecting Cars
German Ambassador to Kenya, Sebastian Groth, had on August 1 promised to gift Imbwaka German machines after sharing a photo of the gardener holding a certificate—a gesture that sparked widespread reactions online.
However, in a post on Friday, August 29, Groth revealed that he had initially intended to hand over the luxury cars, but Hesbon opted instead to be gifted chickens to start a poultry farm.
“Hey guys — I noticed that you followed the retirement of our Chief Gardener Hesbon with big interest. Today was his very last day. I wanted to hand him over the 68 German machine,” Groth wrote.
“He opted for some kuku instead to start off a poultry farm. That’s the real Luhya spirit.”
Also Read: Reactions as German Embassy Offers ‘Mercedes and BMW’ to Retiring Gardener
What He Was Gifted
In reality, the 60-year-old retiree travelled home with a more modest but symbolic gift: five hens, chicken feed, and a feeder from Ambassador Groth.
He said he accepted the gift gladly, noting that he planned to start a small poultry project separate from his wife’s.
“It will remind me that out of a joke, it grew to great heights,” he remarked.
Additionally, he left the embassy with a financial package, memories of dignitaries he met, and, most famously, the five chickens that became the subject of a national debate.
Also Read: Retiring Gardener Offered Mercedes and BMW by German Embassy Opts for Chicken
Imbwaka Was a Former Footballer
Born in Eastleigh, Nairobi, Hesbon is a father of four and a former footballer.
Hesbon Imbwaka’s story began on the football pitch long before he became a gardener at the German Embassy in 1991.
He played as a left back and turned out for several teams, including Fine Spinners, Orbit Chemicals, Imara, and Carnivore FC.
His talent was later spotted by Re-Union FC, a club competing in the National Super League, which is now known as the Kenya Premier League.
It was while playing in the top league that he was recruited by the German Embassy.
By 1993, Imbwaka retired from football to fully dedicate himself to his gardening job at the embassy — a career that would span over three decades.
He was known for his dedication to nurturing plants, handling high-profile guests—including German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011—and transforming the ambassador’s grounds with his gardening expertise.
Now retired, he looks forward to a quieter life in Kakamega, focusing on farming and family.
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