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

Who is you master? Whom do you serve on a daily basis? It's important for us to ask ourselves these questions, for our actions dictate whom we are accountable to.

"Control your destiny or somebody else will."
Jack Welsh

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

This weeks "Kenya's Women and Men of the Week" are: Writer, Former Broadcater, and Social Activist, Muthoni Likimani; Politician, Entrepreneur, and former Beauty Queen, Orie Manduli; Banker and former Corporate Executive, Susan Mudhune

Muthoni Likimani is Kenya's oldest female author at 85 years old. Her first book was published in 1969, and she has published numerous titles hitherto. She began her professional career as a Tutor at Kahuhia Women Teacher's College, and went on to work as a Programme Producer for the Voice of Kenya. Her involvement in the media world became more diverse as she went on to work as a Freelance Broadcaster for BBC - UK. In 2007, she was the recipient of The World YWCA Council Award in recognition of dedicated leadership for her active social involvement as a Women's Rights Activist.

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I am a Kikuyu woman who married a Maasai doctor, the late Dr. Jason Likimani. I moved from my home and lived with the Maasai people. I speak the Maa language. I am a mother of three daughters: Sopiato Likimani, a doctor; Soila Likimani, a pharmacist; and Jane Nkini Likimani who studied Business Administration and Economics and works with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). My eldest grandchild works in Britain, another second is studying law, another is a musician, while the rest are still in school.

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I am inspired by successful women who do things that were previously only done by men; women who can create and succeed and who are confident. If you do not have confidence you might as well be dead. I have no fear. True, I fear God, but I do not fear what people will say. My success has been driven by my confidence and lack of fear. I believe that I can do what others can.

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Throughout my life's journey as a strong woman, I have enjoyed the support of many. At the same time, I have suffered because I am a woman. I never forget that after being declared the best creative writer and best producer at Voice of Kenya, I was not recommended for promotion. Another person was appointed above me and I was expected to be his assistant.

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Though she didn't hold any official political seats, this vibrant achiever's passion of making a change in the country, made her strive indefatigably for a seat. Orie Manduli has been everything from a Beauty Queen, to the Marketing and Public Relations Manager for Metal Box Company, where she was the first African woman to hold such a position. Her dedication to socioeconomic change led her to become chairperson of the National Council of Non-Governmental Organisations, and Permanent Representative of the United Nations Environmental Programme for the Global International Council of Women.

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I did not consider myself beautiful when I was young but one day I keenly stared in the mirror and loved what stared back. That is when I knew! At fourteen I entered the Miss Lux East Africa beauty pageant, along with thousands of girls who sent in their photos and I emerged the winner and became an instant celebrity.

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I struggled to give my four Children the best broad-based education as I also continued to educate myself. I worked while studying in Canada to ensure I had enough money for school fees for us all and in the end, we all made it. My children have been the greatest support in my life. There is no greater joy or satisfaction for a mother, than her children. Elizabeth and Katyana are respectively Oil/Gas and Computer Engineers. Alison is a Human Resources Consultant while Janice serves as an Administrator - wonderful kids. Now I have a lovely daughter-in-law, Sarah, Katyana's wife.

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I am a political bird. My first quest in elective politics was in 1992 under Ford Kenya Party. I was a parliamentary candidate for Starehe Constituency and one of only three women to have ever vied for a constituency in Nairobi. My desire to reach, touch and be in a position to change people's lives guide my initial and subsequent attempts to get into Parliament. I admire the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. She has transformed the image of Liberia in just a few years. The world would be incomplete without Mother Theresa for nurturing and working in areas of the most abject poverty. Above all, I salute the African woman. After all she has gone through, she should be extinct by now - but against all odds sh has survived. I am so proud of her, that I wear my headscarf in her honour.

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Susan Mudhune defines "Corporate Executive" in style. She was the Director of Kenya Commercial Bank from 01' - '09, and she was the First Woman to Chair the KCB Board. She is currently the Director of Eveready East Africa, Director of Pan Africa Insurance Holdings Limited, and Non-Executive Director of Safaricom. Her current Chairmanships include the Board of Savings and Loan Kenya Ltd and KCB Tanzania Ltd., subsidiaries of Kenya Commercial Bank Ltd.

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My mother is a great example. In her own humble way, she complemented my father's income to send us all to school. She is about 90 years old now and still goes to the shamba (small farm), although she is very frail. She is truly amazing because, even with her modest education, she understands what goes on in the world and is concerned with the needs of young girls. Right now she is involved in a project where mothers are putting up a hostel for disadvantaged girls who have nowhere to live while in school. She is a real champion and anchor and she made us realise the need to work for what we wanted.

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The highlight of my career was definitely when I was elected as Chairperson of Kenya Commercial Bank Group. At the time of my election, the Bank was almost on its knees with bad debts. The image of the bank was at its lowest and it desperately needed a makeover. Although mine was not an executive job, I felt that I was ultimately responsible for overseeing the bank's transformation.

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I admire Pheobe Asiyo. She is a leader who remains consistent and concerned about others, especially the girl child. She is also level headed. When you talk, she listens and understands. She has served others for many years right from the time she was head of the Women's Prisons to Maendeleo ya Wanawake and when she was in Parliament. I first heard of her when I was young and my mother was involved with Maendeleo ya Wanawake in Nyanza. Phoebe was the leader at the time and my mother was the treasurer so we would hear about her quite a bit. She is currently involved in championing women's leadership training. I find her graceful and have always looked up to her.

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Michael Joseph has become a household name in Kenya after the success he enjoyed in managing and growing the biggest telecommunications company in the region – Safaricom Limited where he served for ten years as the Chief Executive Officer. With extensive international experience in the implementation and operation of large mobile and fixed-line networks, including operations he has worked in Hungary, Spain, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Korea, United States, Australia and the Middle East. He is the recipient of several awards, including CEO of the year awarded by the Kenya Institute of Management and the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (OBS).

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I first visited Kenya in May 2000 and my orders at the time, was to set-up a mobile phone company. During my first weeks, I met with our advertising agents who presented several charts, spreadsheets, triangles and circles that I could not interpret. “What are you trying to tell me, what is all this?” I asked.
“What are you going to call this company?” they asked.
“Safaricom of course—why not? It has always been Safaricom!”

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Ten years ago, I was a different person. My only objective was to build a successful mobile phone company. I did not envision that I would one day build and head the largest company in East Africa – arguably the most profitable and one that has had great impact on people’s lives. Or even that I would become an iconic figure worldwide. An opportunity presented itself and we ran with it. We drove right into success not by luck but by sheer determination.

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I want to be a successful leader and make the world a better place. I believe that one cannot change the world but you can leave your mark. We should find the purpose to our lives because one is only guaranteed seventy years of life. There must be a reason why we were born - so focus on your contribution. If everything were to be taken away from me today, I would like to keep the achievement that I have made in making my people, the team I work with better people today. I have been fortunate to inspire others to do greater things. Nothing else is as important.

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A leading businessman, entrepreneur and director of several companies including Brookside Dairy Ltd., Heritage Holdings Ltd., Kenya Dairy Board and Timsales Holding Ltd. Mr Muhoho Kenyatta is also the youngest son of the first president of the Republic of Kenya, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

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I started my primary education at the age of four and half years. As the last born of four brothers and four sisters, my mother decided to send me to school early to avoid my staying home alone. I attended my primary and secondary education at St. Mary’s School in Nairobi. It was a challenge being the youngest in class all through school. One of the ways that I compensated for the age difference was to always challenge myself by trying harder.

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I have witnessed phenomenal changes and progress in Kenya during the past 26 years since I graduated. The change may be slow at times but the opportunities are always available as the environment is opening up. If we give up and focus on restrictions and the negatives then we stop being dynamic. Instead of giving up, we must find alternative routes or similar projects because ultimately, situations will change. We should never view hurdles negatively but as opportunities that open new doors. I prefer to emphasize on the positive aspects that we can build on instead of dwelling on the negative.

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As I look back I realize that the best business decision I ever made was to concentrate on one core business. My business succeeded because I chose to divest from all other businesses and focus on my dairy business. I am a persistent and competitive person. I believe in being reliable and consistent; that patience is a key ingredient for success; and that life is not about you but others. Kuuga na Gwika (speak and act), is perhaps the simplest quote that I live by. Unfortunately, a many talk without action so seize the moment and run with it.

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A former Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya, Ahmednasir Abdullahi has been involved in a number of bold, land mark court cases across a broad range of legal matters in Kenya. This former lecturer of law at the University of Nairobi has also held distinguished positions in key organs of the country notably, Chairman and later as Chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya, Chairperson of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Advisory Board, and Kenya Law Review Commission where he served as a Commissioner.

"As we say in Law, I am an adult male of sound mind residing and working for gain. Aside from several other pastimes, I enjoy juggling issues that pertain to the media and of course all aspects of the law. A native of Mandera County where I was born and raised, I left after completing my O-Level education in 1984.

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As I look back at my professional career, I must admit that I have had several satisfying professional experiences. When I served as a Law Reform Commissioner in the ‘90’s, I was motivated by a need to establish and sustain an improved judiciary. At that time, none dared to question the status quo and as such, sticking my neck out was not an easy decision and led to an epic struggle. As Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya, I also contributed to what I can only term as a radical surgery that saw the expulsion of 26 judges of the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Weeding corruption and inept practices out of the justice system is one of my biggest callings in life.

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I do not believe in role models because the idea of trying to conform or imitate others is not appealing to me. However I must confess that I do have admiration for certain outstanding individuals, such as the late John Garang of Southern Sudan and the late Jonathan Savimbi leader of the UNITA party in Angola who rallied against the MPLA. I admire their courage as they fought against a status quo that did not benefit the masses. Within the character and history of these two men, I see elements of myself albeit, dormant for the time being.

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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.