Anyone who has gone through the 8-4-4 education system in Kenya may be familiar with the name JESMA, a brand synonymous with examinations founded by the late Jesse Waweru.
Waweru, a veteran primary school teacher, died at the age of 72 after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer and was buried on Tuesday, August 27.
He was celebrated for revolutionizing the educational materials industry and encouraged many of his employees to start their own publishing companies.
Known for his extensive expertise in building an extensive client network in regions such as Meru, Mombasa and Nakuru, Waweru was dedicated to the growth of JESMA and the entrepreneurial success of its employees.
The family business is managed by his son Peter Waweru, who began his career at JESMA as a technician when he was still in second grade.
Reflecting on their shared career path, Peter noted: “He was the first person to take me to Dubai when I was a technician at the company and show me how to do business.”
This formative experience paved the way for a successful handover and the continuation of Jesse’s visionary work.
Waweru was born in Nakuru in 1952 and qualified as a primary school teacher in 1974. His colleagues and students often called him “Mr. Young”, a testament to his youthful spirit and distinctive afro hairstyle.
In 1988, he decided to move to Nairobi and make the transition from teaching to entrepreneurship. He first founded Musomesha, which focused on educational work programs.
This company later became JESMA Publishers & Education Boosters Limited, which significantly expanded its offering to include textbooks, exam papers and various learning materials.
Waweru was buried in Engineer, North Kinangop.
