While interacting with a few teens, we found out that their one wish is to have someone who could hold hands with them through their most crucial of years. For some, these years may be their primary school years, and for others it may be during their secondary school years, or beyond. Nonetheless, a mentor, in any point of someone's life is necessary, but better earlier than later. Unfortunately we don't have enough of them. You can do good things, but a great person influences lives for the better. Take a look at those statistics again, look at what's trending in the world around you - right in-front of you - and ask yourself how you can be an asset to society. Do something, life is not always about YOU!
This week's "Kenya's Women and Men of the Week" are: Former Olympic Athlete and Philanthropist, Ruth Waithera; Writer, Yvonne Owuor; Entrepreneur and Marketer, Susan Omanga; Actor, Ian Mbugua; Regional Chief Executive, Jeremy Awori; and Chief Executive, Jonathan Ciano.
Ruth Waithera is the epitome of a champion. She studied at the University of Arizona, where she also competed in Track and Field. While there, she won the 400 meters at the 1984 NCAA Division 1 Women's Indoor Championship. Two decades down the road, in 2004, she won Gold Medals in the 100, 200, and 400 meters at Kenya Championships. She still holds the Women's 400 meters Kenyan record.
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I was the first female to run in the army and was in the running team for eight years. I was the only female on the team, with fifty male teammates and they were all respectful towards me. I learned so much during that time from my coaches and colleagues and I would not change a thing about my experiences there.
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In my experience, I have found that life is sometimes difficult but it is how you decide to live your life that can change the kind of person you are. It is important to do your best and live your life happily. When I am by myself and away from everything, I enjoy jogging. It keeps me healthy, which is very important to me ant that is why I always exercise and keep fit.
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I would like to be remembered just as I am; a sportswoman who represented her country and as a sports hero in Kenya."
Yvonne Owuor has had several pieces both fiction and non-fiction, published in publications worldwide. In 2003, she won the Caine Prize for African Writing for her book "Weight of Whispers", and she was awarded Eve Woman of the Year in 2005.
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I cannot pinpoint the moment when I discovered my talent for the written word. I penned my first piece on my mother's wall: 'The fat black cat sat on a mat'. I used crayons and markers ant it was crafted onto a newly painted white wall. My mother was not amused but I remained fascinated that what was inside me could have a physical manifestation.
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There are many joys I get from writing. The discovery and the sensation of being is almost as if one is stapled to the creative pulse of God. There is real wonder in words that express feelings and in words that are strung together to create a phrase or a sentence that points towards meaning, argument, question, colour.
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I still get surprised by how much I do not know. The immensity of the human experience and the unending tale of life remain breathtaking. The more I am immersed in my writing, the more I become aware of what I do not know and what I do not control. I do know that if I do not write, I am not alive.
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A great marketing strategy leads to profits, and this lady knows all about that. Susan Omanga is the CEO of Exclamation Marketing Limited. She had headed marketing departments of international companies like Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays Bank. Internationally, she has been recognized, including being awarded the International Leadership in Quality Service Award, in Paris, 2007.
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We are on this earth for a purpose so you cannot sit back and achieve nothing! You need to map out what you want to achieve then put it to good use. We should not moan and tack a back seat because God gives us so many opportunities to exploit. If we were all busy doing something positive for our country we would not be where we are today.
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I thrive in that sort of an environment, and do not believe in 'relaxing' in front of the television or on the couch. When I need to relax, I rearrange the furniture in my house, write or read and article, walk, cook, or exercise. Life is a chance to experience the beautiful world around us. When you have a bad day and reality hits you, take a moment, sit back and take stock. Life is short, do as much as you can while still alive.
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Kenya needs a serious cultural change to sustain the new disciplines. I am glad that we have overcome the various quagmires since the inception of multiparty politics and that everyone can now vote, but we still have a long way to go. The seemingly 'small' issue of matatu madness shows that Kenya is slackening in law enforcement. Perhaps when the new highways are built, those matatus will be sorted out!
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Ian Mbugua is a determined thespian who has starred in the South African acclaimed drama ‘Egoli’ and is currently on the MNET series ‘Changes’. As ‘Judge Ian’ on Tusker Project Fame (TPF) Show since it began four years ago, he is known to be tough and sometimes give mean remarks on the ongoing music reality show.
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I consider myself a self-taught thespian-cum-singer as I identified my singing and acting talent then developed it by watching others and taking part. During the early years I lived a double life balancing my teaching duties during the day with my acting/directing duties at night.
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I am excited by the vibrant and young people of Kenya who are extremely talented in the arts. I believe they can achieve more with equipment and professional training. When I got an opportunity to star in ‘Egoli’, an international South African production, I was impressed by their studios, which can be converted into any sort of set or background at the drop of a hat. In Kenya we have to scout for real locations, which costs time and money. We can only develop to international standards once we have good leadership.
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I would like to have a positive impact on the boy child. Our society has focused on the girl child for a long time resulting in good girls’ school while the facilities and the educational standards in all the great boys’ schools of the past have deteriorated. Boys lack positive mentors as their fathers are absent from their lives. Fathers are no longer playing their parenting role, leaving their sons to be raised by mothers and house-helps. Boys need hands-on fathers and not just providers. I foresee a future with strong, mature ladies and mediocre, docile men. I would like to come up with some mentorship programmes.
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Jeremy Awori is the current CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), Tanzania. Jeremy is a world class consumer banking expert who is a self-assured high achiever. His impressive banking career with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) spans more than a decade in various countries from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the East Africa Region.
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I believe that a person with a positive state of mind and clarity of purpose attracts opportunities and fortunately, I have always been blessed with the right opportunities (aka The Secret). I believe one should avoid complacency and strive for new challenges and adventures. There will always be that degree of nervousness and often fear when moving out of your comfort zone but these feelings can be channelled to create the buzz of excitement, contribution and achievement.
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I am inspired by many people both famous and relatively unknown - Leaders like Nelson Mandela who overcame adversity with such a positive spirit stand out. As a sports enthusiast I was influenced by people like Sergio Bubka one of the world’s greatest pole vaulters and tennis phenomenon Roger Federer. They both lifted their games to an extraordinary level at the pinnacle of their careers. Jahangir Khan, a legend in the squash world was so tough and physically fit at the height of his career that he would literally thrash his competition with his excellence and that was achieved through the most rigorous training ever done by a squash player.
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My life journey is guided by the Napoleon Hill quote, 'You can be anything you want to be, if only you believe with sufficient conviction and act in accordance with your faith; for whatever the mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve.'"
Jonathan Ciano is currently the CEO of Uchumi Supermarkets and has become a leading name in all aspects of organizational turnarounds. He has successfully pulled Uchumi out of receivership and overseen the supermarket’s relisting on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Prior to Uchumi Mr Ciano was instrumental in facilitating positive changes at Kenya Petroleum Refinery Limited (KPRL), and Kenya Power & Lightning Company (KPLC).
"If I were to ever write my autobiography, the title would read, ‘Turning the Tide’ because that has been my life pattern as far back as I can remember. I was born in Murang’a a few years before independence. My parents were peasant farmers who doubled up as active Mau Mau fighters during the emergency period with their legitimate lives intermittently interrupted by detentions and harassments by the colonial rulers. After independence they worked as farm hands in the neighbouring coffee farms to provide for and educate their three children.
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‘Turning the Tide’ is my code name for the Uchumi Challenge. The rescue plan turned out to be exciting because as the team leader, I was able to touch the minds and hearts of various stakeholders thereby recording a turnaround. Uchumi has left an indelible mark on my career and character and it is my personal pride to see this giant rise again.
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The words of Galatians 6:9, 'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up' guide my life."
Read more of these stories and others in "Life Journeys: Seeking Destiny,"(Women achievers) and "Life Journeys: Scaling Heights," (Male achievers) two ground breaking coffee-table books that present written vignettes of high-achieving women and men in Kenya.
Each Woman and Man was interviewed by a young and talented Footprints Press collaborator who indulged in the mentoring moment as they sat at the foot of the hero before them. The idea was to evoke a symbolic passing of the baton.
The women and men profiled include writers, musicians, politicians, corporate global players, professors, scientists, sportswomen, judges, artists, actors, clergymen, and more. All are accomplished leading professional in their chosen fields and all have an option on the journey they have travelled and the wisdom they have gathered along the way.
The women and men profiled include writers, musicians, politicians, corporate global players, professors, scientists, sportswomen, judges, artists, actors, clergymen, and more. All are accomplished leading professional in their chosen fields and all have an option on the journey they have travelled and the wisdom they have gathered along the way.
Accompanying each narrative are resonating photographs which tell their own story and complete each vignette.
These books will surprise and inspire.
These books will surprise and inspire.
Both "Life Journeys: Seeking Destiny," and "Life Journeys: Scaling Heights" are available at Bookstop in Yaya, Text Book Center in Sarit Centre and Junction, Savanis Bookstore in Westgate, Prestige next to 20th Century, African Book Service off Koinange Street, and Lisa's at Muthaiga Shopping Centre.
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