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The Sponsor
Mzee Ajabu has built a multi-billion-shilling corporation. He also has a wife, three kids, and two glamorous lovers. He thinks he is at the height of his life but his corporation is at the brink of sinking, his wife loathes him, his kids are spiraling out of control and it’s all coming undone.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2021
8 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Kariuki Kimuyu
4 books26 followersKariuki Kimuyu is a writer based in Nairobi, where he is currently working on his fifth book. Kesho & Malkia. When he is not whacking away at the keyboard, you can find him taking long walks or stopping to buy anything consumable by the roadside.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 20, 2025
The Sponsor caught me off guard in the best way. I went in expecting a typical sponsor romance, but K. Kimuyu gave me something much deeper — something raw, emotional, and painfully real. This story doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of relationships, the blurred lines, or the choices we make when life backs us into a corner.
What really stuck with me is how human these characters felt. Their flaws, their longing, their mistakes… it all felt believable, almost uncomfortably honest at times. I found myself rooting for them even when I questioned their decisions, and that emotional tug-of-war is exactly what makes this book so good.
It’s not a sweet or soft love story — it’s one that hits where it hurts first, then lets the tenderness slip in slowly. And that’s what made it stay with me. If you’ve ever loved a story because of its emotional complexity rather than perfection, then you’ll understand why The Sponsor left an impression on me.
I also loved how the book doesn’t try to glamorize the sponsor dynamic. Instead, it digs into what pulls someone into that kind of relationship — loneliness, financial strain, the need for belonging — without judging the characters.
What really stuck with me is how human these characters felt. Their flaws, their longing, their mistakes… it all felt believable, almost uncomfortably honest at times. I found myself rooting for them even when I questioned their decisions, and that emotional tug-of-war is exactly what makes this book so good.
It’s not a sweet or soft love story — it’s one that hits where it hurts first, then lets the tenderness slip in slowly. And that’s what made it stay with me. If you’ve ever loved a story because of its emotional complexity rather than perfection, then you’ll understand why The Sponsor left an impression on me.
I also loved how the book doesn’t try to glamorize the sponsor dynamic. Instead, it digs into what pulls someone into that kind of relationship — loneliness, financial strain, the need for belonging — without judging the characters.
November 9, 2021
I loved loved looooved the book! Somehow revived my dream of owning a multimedia agency through Ajabu digital. Oh And the plot twist?! Shook!!!
Can we get a part two please!!
Can we get a part two please!!
May 26, 2024
I was very angry with Mr Ajabu at first, for his passive parenting and how badly he treated his wife. He was very oblivious as the lives of his children were flowing on a steady decline.
And then I was angry at Mrs Ajabu. Her bad parenting, her favoritism with Fred. She was actively enabling the inevitable.
And with Fred, for how much he just didn’t seem to care about his life trajectory.
But not Wairimu. She was a rebel, flashing tits in protests and dressing however she pleased. She intrigued me. I like my female characters loud and unruly with cigarettes and whiskey bottles and she was that, at least at first -before she transformed her life to save her fathers’ multibillion worth company - or so I thought because nothing would have prepared me for the end.
And then there is poor Olivia. She is a walking pair of bones.
I was looking for an easy read and this was it. Very simply written and the story flowed seamlessly.
I also enjoyed how the writer uses actual places, actual buildings, I could identify with real places in Nairobi.
Besides that, I did not enjoy the female stereotypes depicted in the book. Dianas’ captions for instance felt very shallow and repetitive and Olivias’ hallucinations got very tiring to read about.
It would have been nice to have a strong independent female character not just there to aid the ambition of the man. It is often missed but writers possess great responsibility in shaping how people view things and form opinions. It therefore saddens me when the role of women is reduced to sexual politics and drama and with no depth or ambition whatsoever. I would have enjoyed to identify with at least one female character emotionally if not intellectually.
While the writer reserves to write his story however he deems fit I am left to wonder is it just another typical book written by a man in his own view about women or would the story would have been portrayed differently had it been female authored.
3/5✨
And then I was angry at Mrs Ajabu. Her bad parenting, her favoritism with Fred. She was actively enabling the inevitable.
And with Fred, for how much he just didn’t seem to care about his life trajectory.
But not Wairimu. She was a rebel, flashing tits in protests and dressing however she pleased. She intrigued me. I like my female characters loud and unruly with cigarettes and whiskey bottles and she was that, at least at first -before she transformed her life to save her fathers’ multibillion worth company - or so I thought because nothing would have prepared me for the end.
And then there is poor Olivia. She is a walking pair of bones.
I was looking for an easy read and this was it. Very simply written and the story flowed seamlessly.
I also enjoyed how the writer uses actual places, actual buildings, I could identify with real places in Nairobi.
Besides that, I did not enjoy the female stereotypes depicted in the book. Dianas’ captions for instance felt very shallow and repetitive and Olivias’ hallucinations got very tiring to read about.
It would have been nice to have a strong independent female character not just there to aid the ambition of the man. It is often missed but writers possess great responsibility in shaping how people view things and form opinions. It therefore saddens me when the role of women is reduced to sexual politics and drama and with no depth or ambition whatsoever. I would have enjoyed to identify with at least one female character emotionally if not intellectually.
While the writer reserves to write his story however he deems fit I am left to wonder is it just another typical book written by a man in his own view about women or would the story would have been portrayed differently had it been female authored.
3/5✨
September 18, 2023
Looooooooooooved this book!! ❤️🙌👌😊
From the first introductory sentence about Nairobi....
Honestly it does match up to what goes on in the dark pages of Nairobi with the young girls and older men and families lurking in the back. It's not your unheard of story, really, not only in Nairobi but other places too. Not saying that Nairobi is such a place, neither isn't any other city without its troubles.
Adultery isn't new under the sun of any city.
It's a good read. Quick read. Keeps you on the pages. Enticing. I loved how we were taken through every character's story page by page.
What's a good "drama" book without a cliff hanger? A good one at that?? No spoilers.
It's like Empire but based in Nairobi, actually. 😅
I know its fictional but I wouldn't be shocked if it were based on a few true stories, and for that, some people are sleeping on money in Nairobi.👌
Glad to have another author to read from Nairobi.
He has 3 other books. Be sure to grab them. Follow Kimuyu on Instagram to learn more.
Not in Kenya? He can arrange delivery for you!! 🤞
Amazing book. Truly. Keep it up. 👌
From the first introductory sentence about Nairobi....
Honestly it does match up to what goes on in the dark pages of Nairobi with the young girls and older men and families lurking in the back. It's not your unheard of story, really, not only in Nairobi but other places too. Not saying that Nairobi is such a place, neither isn't any other city without its troubles.
Adultery isn't new under the sun of any city.
It's a good read. Quick read. Keeps you on the pages. Enticing. I loved how we were taken through every character's story page by page.
What's a good "drama" book without a cliff hanger? A good one at that?? No spoilers.
It's like Empire but based in Nairobi, actually. 😅
I know its fictional but I wouldn't be shocked if it were based on a few true stories, and for that, some people are sleeping on money in Nairobi.👌
Glad to have another author to read from Nairobi.
He has 3 other books. Be sure to grab them. Follow Kimuyu on Instagram to learn more.
Not in Kenya? He can arrange delivery for you!! 🤞
Amazing book. Truly. Keep it up. 👌
July 28, 2024
No family is perfect, no matter how much love there is. But was there any shared by Ajabu's family? This book brought out a mixture of emotions from me, anger, sadness, pity, happiness (for Wairimu), empathy. People are flowed, but Mrs. Ajabu and her henchmen had me really vexed, she made her kids situation worse if not worst. The way she handled Olivia, poor Olivia and Fred's lives was completely out of character especially coming from a mother. I really hoped for a good end for Olivia, she was the most likeable Ajabus. As for Mzee Ajabu, well he had it coming considering how dysfunctional his family was. His big reveal of his supposed heir spiraling into abyss came albeit too late for him. Kariuki Kimuyu did very well with Wairimu's character, she saved the empire. But who did it to Mzee?? What a cliff hanger.
Overall, this is a magnificent book which deserves positive reviews, just read it.
Overall, this is a magnificent book which deserves positive reviews, just read it.
August 18, 2023
Wueh I have just Completed reading this book and am awed.
The characters and the storyline is just amazing.
Did Oliva Recover
Did Wairimu kill the Dad since she did hate him
Diana and Helena decided to take their Business to church, serving tea then later do other things but hey we are allowed to judge....Lol
How Monica Transformed and decided that she was going to take care of others was the game changer, when she Told Fred I have seen it all and this is what I want to do.
Mrs.Ajab wanted everything that The Husband and built only to end up in Prison
All the book has done is leaving me with a smile and imaginations plus questions too and was unable to put it down
The Author has done a Fantastic Job and cannot wait to read more from him
The characters and the storyline is just amazing.
Did Oliva Recover
Did Wairimu kill the Dad since she did hate him
Diana and Helena decided to take their Business to church, serving tea then later do other things but hey we are allowed to judge....Lol
How Monica Transformed and decided that she was going to take care of others was the game changer, when she Told Fred I have seen it all and this is what I want to do.
Mrs.Ajab wanted everything that The Husband and built only to end up in Prison
All the book has done is leaving me with a smile and imaginations plus questions too and was unable to put it down
The Author has done a Fantastic Job and cannot wait to read more from him
October 20, 2024
This book had everybody's POV. It was nice to be in everyone's mind except Olivia's. I just couldn't stand her suffering from the onset. Diana almost had me looking at the suggar daddy websites 🤣
The writer has a way to clearly tackle topics on drugs, crime, power and cheating.
I love how the book addresses very many issues in our current economy. The who's and who's running everything and their secret lives full of emptiness.
The writer has a way to clearly tackle topics on drugs, crime, power and cheating.
I love how the book addresses very many issues in our current economy. The who's and who's running everything and their secret lives full of emptiness.
April 9, 2024
I thoroughly loved the book and the way characters lives are interwoven.
It's like a movie where you blink and you've missed the plot.
It took me forever to figure out some of the character, but eventually you have this "no way!" moments that bring everything together.
I really enjoyed the storytelling and it left me curios all through.
It's like a movie where you blink and you've missed the plot.
It took me forever to figure out some of the character, but eventually you have this "no way!" moments that bring everything together.
I really enjoyed the storytelling and it left me curios all through.
November 13, 2023
This book is a mirror of what our country's going through and that makes it exceptionally good. From the first chapters, to the last, it keeps you entranced and the end has a bit of suspense.
Generally good job to the team behind this mastepiece
Generally good job to the team behind this mastepiece
October 13, 2023
Captivating read thoroughly enjoyed the book it took me to the Nairobi of yester years.
July 24, 2025
I really enjoyed the story flow to a point I didn’t want it to end… I’m still curious about what happen to Wairimu, Olivia , Fred??? I feel there would be a season 2 to this
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews