"Life Journeys": Conversations with High Achieving Men and Women of Kenya

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." - Plato

A quote from the great Philosopher, Plato, seemed like the best way to start off this week.

Is it not fascinating to watch people, in a densely populated area, move? They all have a mission. Some not as important as others, or so we think. People move at different paces. When you watch people walking, some seem to have more of a sense of urgency than others. But, does that mean that one's pace dictates the extent or importance of his/her journey? It may, but only to you. Hence, our inclination to disregard the person next to us, and carry-on with our journey, with our eyes on the prize, at whatever cost. So, before you embark on whichever mission, be it a short-term one, or the long-term mission called life, please keep in mind that you are not the only one on the road. Better yet, assume that "...everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle".

Have a great week, and enjoy this week's "Kenya's Women and Men of the Week".

This week's "Kenya's Women and Men of the Week" are: Nurse and Administrator, Eunice Kiereini; Entrepreneur and Marketer, Eva Muraya; Judge, H.E. Joyce Aluoch; Political Analyst, Mutahi Ngunyi; Painter/Artist, Peter Elungat; and Renowned Palaeontologist, Dr. Richard Leakey.

Nurse and Administrator Eunice Kiereini was the former Chief Nursing Officer of Kenya. This achiever has been involved in all things health, including memberships in various medical and health boards globally, such as: the World Health Organisation - where she was the first African woman on the Global Commision of AIDS; the Flying Doctors Society; African Medical Research Foundation; and the International Council of Nurses - where she was the first member form the third world to be elected President.

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I had always been interested in nursing because I was attracted to the idea of helping the sick and helpless. This interest increased after a conversations with one of my teachers whose niece was a nurse. My teacher knew of a good school in Southampton, England and we contacted them. They showed great interest in a student from Kenya and I was soon enrolled. That is how I got into nursing and I have never looked back and have really enjoyed my time in medicine.

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I had the rare privilege of being the appointed nurse to the first President of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta. When I moved on to other responsibilities, I retained responsibility for appointing the nurses who cared for the President.

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When I think about fulfilment in careers, I must confess that the support of a family is vital. One should always discuss the pros and cons of taking up any position with all those concerned before making a commitment. I always discuss my work with my husband, so if I am going on a trip, I explain its importance to him. That free-flow of communication is important in any relationship. One must also ensure that you spend quality time with the family while at home so as to compensate for lost time.

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She is one of the top women entrepreneurs and marketers in Africa. In 2009, Eva Muraya was recognized as one of the Top Women in Business (Medium-sized) by the United Nations Development Programme, and in the same year she was also awarded the Warrior Award by the Marketing Society of Kenya. A year prior to that, in 2008, she was the Co-recipient of the prestigious international Goldman Sachs Fortune Global Leaders Awards. She is the current CEO of Color Creations Limited, and Brand, Strategy and Design Limited.

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I learnt to fend for myself early. By the time I was eleven, I could comfortably run most domestic chores, adequately take care of younger children within the extended family, help my grandmother in tiling the land, harvesting crops and preparing meals. This work ethic greatly contributed to the person I am today.

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No experience can ever prepare you for the loss of a loved one. Within a relatively short time, I lost three pillars of my life, my husband, my mother in a tragic motor accident and my grandmother. In my deep loss and pain, I constantly remembered that mourning lasts bur for a night and joy comes in the morning. The Lord has healed me and helped me move on. My family, close friends and church community have continued to surround me with much love and support.

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I would love to see more women getting involved in rebuilding our beautiful country and continent. The African woman is amazingly talented. She needs courage and confidence in her unique gifts to leverage the opportunities that are fast unfolding. Through her we can influence the status of family, community and society. Unfortunately, there are many unsung heroes and heroines in our midst. We need to tell their stories to inspire people.

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You better be on your best behavior, and observe court-etiquette when walking into this judge's court room. She is regarded as one of the toughest judge's, yet fair, in the history of this country. From being a magistrate for twenty years, this lady has ascended to one of the highest seats of the judicial ladder. H.E. Judge Joyce Aluoch now sits on the International Criminal Court, at The Hague, as a Trial Judge.

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I remember going to the river with my siblings to collect water and walking in the bushes with other girls of my age to collect firewood. When I think back today, I see how dangerous this must have been, as we had no adult women with us and therefore no protection. Yet, somehow, as little girls, we remained safe through the years of collecting firewood.

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My legal career was not my choice, but that of my late father, Ezekiel Othieno Josiah. He physically took me to the Kenya School of Law after I had completed my high school certificate at Limuru Girls' School. He introduced me to the Principal, Tudor Jackson and asked him to consider admitting me to the school if I was sufficiently qualified. I was subsequently admitted.

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To date, being elected as a Judge at the International Criminal Court is my life's greatest achievement. I was elected on 20 January 2009 by the highest number of votes - 100 from the 108 countries, voted by secret ballot at the General Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute in New York. I am now happy in my new position as a judge in the world's premier court, the first permanent international court based in The Hague. I listen to cases of those who commit crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes that fall within the jurisdiction of the court.

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Mutahi Ngunyi is a political scientist with The Consulting House, a policy and security think-tank for the Great Lakes Region and West Africa. Mutahi is by any standards Kenya’s finest political scientist, his discussions and analysis of Kenyan politics are not only eye-openers to Kenyans but also entertaining! He might not always be on your political side but his views are quotable!

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Growing up in Maringo Estate in Nairobi’s Eastlands suburb was as challenging as it was thrilling. This part of Nairobi is infamous for violence and one had to have stamina to resist intimidation. I became a ‘gang’ member to survive. Our ‘gang’ was named FFU after the Tanzanian paramilitary group ‘Fanya Fujo Uoone’. But we were flat-chested, skinny chaps who scared no one. Surviving in Eastlands developed in me an aggression that has been invaluable throughout my life and profession.

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Having worked in over 15 countries, some of my colleagues in academia and I decided to set up a policy and security think-tank for the Great Lakes Region and West Africa. We established The Consulting House (TCH) with interests in 18 countries. We have built the TCH brand name as a refereed think-tank internationally. Our clients are mainly drawn from governments and security agencies in the 18 countries.

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The place of the young people is central to the future of this country because over 60 percent of the human capital in Kenya comprises of the youth. This means that any meaningful change will be at their behest. Arising to this reality therefore, my advice to the youth is that they need to stop having the old guard as a reference point to their success. Experience of the older generation is important, but it is only when the youth disentangle themselves and explore their limitless boundaries that they will see potential for leadership in all spheres of the nation. The youth need to celebrate what I call, ‘the stupid things’. Ideas that will transform this country and the world at large are not the orthodox ideas that are already in existence but novel ideas that are time-specific and content-relevant to tackle modern challenges.

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A professional artist who has sold over 500 paintings, Peter Elungat is a young man whose painting style remarkably resembles the style of some of the famed masters in Europe. Using thick oil sometimes straight from the tube and working on canvas he has become famous for the numerous paintings of his muse Angelina - a mystical figure of the magical and spiritual world.

"They say that no man is an island, and in my life I have found this to be true. Looking back I can honestly say that were it not for my parents I would not have made it. My father was a disciplinarian and he did not spare the rod, but the silver lining was that his harsh behaviour contributed to controlling my cheeky and stubborn nature. This strict upbringing was delicately balanced by my mother’s overflowing love as she provided all the care that I needed.

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After completing my high school education, I moved to Eldoret and started working on portraits. A few months later I found my way to Nairobi where a pastor friend introduced me to Kuona Trust. I immediately enrolled in a woodcut workshop and completed my first print there under the capable hands of my good friend Francis Kahuna. It was an exciting experience because I met people that I had only read about. I learned how come up with professional artwork, from the stretching of canvases, to the creation of different styles and the breaking of boundaries.

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As I look around my country, I am excited by the friendly spirit of Kenyans and I love this land because it is mine. Kenya provides me with many sources of inspiration for my art, yet I am concerned because the local artists are not elevated to the level they belong. Sadly we have many talented artists in Kenya who have lived, painted, sold their work, survived, and then died, with nothing to show for the works of their hands. If I were a local leader, I would buy locally produced artwork and put it on display in our public buildings, offices, Parliament. I would also build more art museums, so that tourists can visit and get a chance to appreciate our Kenyan culture in totality. I would support art and the artists.

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Richard Leakey is an internationally renowned palaeontologist and conservationist whose achievements are as remarkable as they are diverse. Formerly the Director of the National Museums of Kenya; Director of Kenya Wildlife Service; Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of Civil Service he is also a formidable fossil expert and was once an opposition MP and co-founder of SAFINA Party. Dr. Leakey has 11 Honorary Doctorates from various universities around the world and has authored various books. He is the recipient of several distinguished international awards of achievement and locally was awarded the Order of the Burning Spear in 1993.

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I did very poorly at school and my report at the end of Form IV at the Duke of York included a comment by the headmaster who noted “this boy has shown no potential nor skill and I fear for his future prospects. The Army may be the best option if they would accept him”. My father was naturally very upset but I was pleased. At least the prospect of two more years doing advanced certificate (’A’ levels) was no longer a possibility and I would have to leave school and find my own way in life. From such a low point, one can only go up!

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The job with wildlife was tremendous experience and great fun. Probably the greatest achievement was to largely stop the illegal ivory trade and to get the Kenya Rhino population adequately protected. The burning of the ivory brought the price of elephant ivory down from about US $300 per kilo in 1989 to $10 per kilo by April 1980. With such low value and the increased risks of being caught by KWS, elephant poaching largely came to an end. Sadly, as time has gone by, things have changed and now, thirty years later the ivory price is again very high and poaching has become a matter of great concern.

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Looking back at my life so far I think I am quite comfortable with the decisions and choices that I made. I enjoy semi-retirement and I am quite content with where I am and who I am."

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.