What does adventure mean to you right now? For me, adventure is not just about seeing new places, but about seeing different perspectives in life and understanding how people look at things differently when you are out there, which opens up your mind and contextualises what you actually do.
It’s about trying to connect the dots in the world. It might take a lifetime to connect all the dots, and you might never connect them all, but the dots you do connect add value to your mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being.
What is it about being outdoors that makes you feel more like yourself? It’s the interaction. You tend to learn more when you’re out there. You have a space where you are not judged. If you are in a crowd of a thousand people outdoors, the chance that someone knows you is far rarer than in a closed space. Being out there gives you the opportunity to learn about life from a raw concept and raw nature.
What is your top travel tip? Be intentional about where you want to go and why, because if you are not intentional, you tend not to achieve much. My other travel tip is not to be too rigid. Typically, I never travel with an agent because I like to remain flexible. I don’t want a situation where I have to wake up at 6am to follow a set schedule. I want to tour and adventure at my own pace.
What is a decision you made that changed your life? That’s a tough one because life is made up of daily decisions. Looking back, a few monumental decisions stand out. First, in high school, I changed my circle of friends. That was monumental because shifting away from a crowd mentality helped me focus in a different direction.
Second, I decided to form a covenant with God: trusting Him, believing in Him, and committing to that relationship. Looking back at where I’ve come from and what I’ve done, it hasn’t just been my own doing. Things have worked out in a way that points to a Superior Being directing my path.
What is a habit you are trying to kick? [chuckles] Getting overly involved in trying to fix things for people. I naturally want people to enjoy life and have as few problems as possible, so I tend to get personally attached when someone faces an issue.
How do you protect yourself from being taken advantage of? It comes back to being intentional. It’s true that genuine situations can be rare, but whether you are helping one person or 100, it’s about finding the right balance. It’s what we say in Kiswahili: Tenda wema, nenda zako. Do good and be on your way.
What has become easier with age? Appreciating life and knowing that nobody owes you anything. It has also become easier to let go, to change what you can change, and move on when you can’t do anything about it.
When we were younger, we tried to fix everything. As I’ve grown older, I realise that sometimes you just have to plug into the system and let things flow. Even experienced swimmers know when to let the current carry them along until the right moment to start swimming again.
What do you wish you’d spent less time worrying about? I wanted to say money, but while money can’t buy you some things, it can make the ride worthwhile [chuckles]. What I thought mattered that doesn’t matter to me is status, and it’s something I’ve gladly let go of. There’s that freedom in walking down the street, buying street food, and enjoying simple things. I was born in the village, and status is just something I’ve been happy to leave behind.
What do you think most people misunderstand about successful people? People often assume you must have done something unconventional or shady to get where you are. People also often assume successful people don’t have a strong relationship with God simply because it isn’t explicitly displayed in a religious sense.
Taking God as your foundation, working hard, and doing things the right way-without seeking unfair advantages-will bring success. Decide where you want to go and how you want to go about it. Some people rely on godfathers, but having God the Father is the true game-changer.
What are you not willing to do for success? Corruption, ill dealings, and sucking up to authority. You don’t have to achieve success through wrong means or by bowing down to authority just to get ahead because then it is not sustainable.
When was the last time you did something for the first time? Last week, I went to Lamu for the first time. It was different from how I had envisioned it, but the potential in terms of business, investment, and future growth is immense.
What is the first thing you do when you arrive in a new place? Locate where the nearest supermarket is. If I’m staying at a hotel, I like to walk around the immediate neighbourhood within a two- to five-kilometre radius. I’ve learned that small details matter. For instance, knowing the local layout prevents people from taking advantage of you, like knowing what a fair taxi fare should be rather than being overcharged. I tend to be the old-fashioned, hands-on guy, unlike my daughter, who orders everything via her phone: I like to know where to buy my own water, coffee, or food.
What has fatherhood forced you to confront? What still surprises me is that every day brings a completely new dynamic.
When my children were born, after the initial days, the crying started, and I thought, “My sleep is gone!” Then they started school, and you worried about homework. Now, we are at a stage where we negotiate and compromise.
I had everything planned out in my head regarding how my children would grow up, but fatherhood is a day-to-day journey. I decided early on not to read parenting books; I wanted to experience it directly. Every age stage-whether 5, 10, or 13-presents unique situations you can’t read in a book. Recently, my daughter told me that now that she is a teen, we need to agree on what she can and cannot do. You can’t read that in the books.
What have you come to understand about the choices your parents made? I grew up in an era where parents believed the best education meant sending children to boarding school. At 10 years old, I was already independent when I went to boarding school.
As a result, my relationship with my parents became more transactional, not in a bad way, focusing mainly on school requirements and essentials. The relationship I have with my children is different. Our generation missed out on certain aspects of parental closeness due to that setup. The generational contrast in how we interact with our children today is quite remarkable.
What is one piece of parenting advice you’ve heard that you think does more harm than good? Ignore the advice that tells you to parent strictly based on someone else’s experience. Experience is individual, not universal. While some general principles apply, trying to copy someone else’s exact formula or book for raising your child isn’t practical. You have to run your own journey with your children.
Is there something you wish your father knew about the man you became? I wish he knew that I was as honest as they saw me. The perception my parents had of me was based more on the group collective- the boys I played with- so even during punishments, it was extrapolated thinking, based on collective assumptions about how boys behave, rather than evaluating individual actions. I wish they knew that even at an early age, I had already set my mind firmly on certain values.
After years of managing money, what have you learnt about human nature? First, people primarily look out for their own well-being. Second, people can be very manipulative. Third, it is critical to listen and observe as much as possible before making judgements or reaching conclusions. People have varied motives and underlying needs.
When managing people, take your time making decisions. Gather data, evaluate facts, and assess characteristics carefully before acting.
What do you wish people asked you more often? How can we make our community and the world better? I am really passionate about improving my immediate community. My personal well-being is directly tied to the well-being of those around me.
What is your guilty pleasure? Haha! I love music! As long as it is good, uplifting music that isn’t offensive, I enjoy it immensely. My wife isn’t as big on playing music constantly, so whenever she’s out, I like to play music loudly.
If we pressed play on your life today, what would we hear? I don’t restrict myself to a single genre. I appreciate spiritual music that elevates the soul, as well as classical African music-like Lingala and Rhumba-that we grew up listening to through our uncles. Well-composed music with good rhythm and melody brings me great joy. I should go to DRC and stay there, listening to them speak Lingala.
What have you finally come to terms with? I’ve come to terms with my height-my son is already taller than me! He asks me what happened? [chuckles] I’ve also come to terms with my age. I’m 52 now, with over 30 years of work experience. I told a young person that I have been working for 30 years, and they said, ‘What! And you are still working?’ Haha! Height and age are two things you cannot change, so you learn to appreciate them fully.
Who do you know that I should know? God. Beyond everything else, waking up each morning knowing there is a Superior Power in control gives true peace. I’ve been in situations-like surviving a late-night car accident stranded in a dangerous area for hours unharmed-where divine protection was the only explanation. Knowing God makes all the difference.