Kimotsuki Kanehiro served as a bushō during the Sengoku period.  He was a retainer of the Shimazu clan and served as the lord of Kajiki Castle in Ōsumi Province.

In 1558, Kanehiro was born as the lineal heir of Kimotsuki Kanemori of an illegitimate branch of the Kimotsuki clan.  Kanehiro was known for being skilled in the sport known as inuōmono by which archers riding on horses would shoot at dogs running around an enclosed area.  On 3/16 of Tenshō 3 (1575), he is said to have shot four dogs and, on on the following day, five dogs.  On 4/21, he further served as an archer.

Kanehiro also excelled as a bushō.  In 1578, at the Battle of Mimikawa, he accompanied his lord, Shimazu Yoshihisa, and served meritoriously.  In 1580, during an assault against Yazaki Castle in Higo Province, he killed numerous enemy troops.  He further participated in an assault of Minamata Castle in Higo in 1582, at the Battle of Okitanawate in 1584, and in an assault of Katashida Castle in 1585.  In 1586, Kanehiro contributed to the assault of Iwaya Castle as well as when withdrawing from Bungo Province during the Subjugation of Kyūshū by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.  In 1590, he died at the age of thirty-three.

Kanehiro did not have an heir so Kimotsuki Kanehiro (written with a different character), the third son of Ijūin Tadamune, was adopted to become his heir.