Don’t wait until you graduate to start searching for a job

Describe yourself in three words

Optimistic. Determined. Hardworking.

I believe in a better tomorrow.

How do you strike a balance between your many roles?

A day has got 24 hours, eight hours to sleep, eight hours to work and another free eight hours. With this, you can strike a balance, and do everything and anything that you want.

A car or a house. Which came first?

A car. A very useless two-door car. The owner was struggling to maintain it. I bought in 1999, a Mazda KAD. The doors had no locks, and it had no radio. Even worse, I had neither a driving license nor the money to fuel the car. It was agonising taking a matatu to work yet I owned a car.

Which is the one mistake you made in your youth that you regret most?

That first car I bought. I have never gotten over my foolishness. I bought it with my first salary. I was involved in a big malaria campaign at the time, a one-week project. I was paid Sh180, 000 in cash. I paid rent for a year and then bought the car using the remaining Sh150, 000. It was the biggest mistake that I have ever made in my life. Two months later, I returned the car to the friend who had sold it to me. He is still paying back that money. Whenever we meet and he buys me lunch, he says, “Kata ile mahali…” (This is part of the payment)

Which attributes do you owe your success to?

Discipline. Discipline. Discipline. You may be talented, but without discipline, you will miss out on your purpose. Discipline drives my purpose.

Your career, did you see it coming or did you just find yourself in it?

It just came. God directed me this way. I had a great interest in acting and comedy. As soon as I completed college, I joined theatre. At the time, I didn’t see television opening in that direction. Today there are many opportunities on TV, radio and the digital space. 

What’s your education background?

I went to Machakos Township Primary School and then Mumbuni High School. After high school I studied theology at Word of Life in Kabete. I am now a student at Daystar University studying mass communication. 

Why should graduates consider entrepreneurship?

The world today expects a graduate to come up with an idea that can support them and employ their peers even before they complete school. Your four years at university should not be focused on education alone, you can volunteer somewhere or start a small business. Ask yourself what else you can do apart from studying. If you wait until graduate to start searching, you will be frustrated. 

Who is your role model/mentor?

Bob Nyanja. He is the guy who put together Churchill Live. He is the guy who started Redykyulass. He rebranded comedy into what it is today and gave it value. 

Your advice to that young person who looks up to you?

Do not want to be like Churchill. Be the best you can be, in fact, you must aspire to be better than I am. Become a brand on your own. Invest in creating value in yourself by venturing in a field that you are passionate about, going back to school and spending time with the right people. That way, you will become a market leader. 

Most interesting book you read lately? Movie?

The Bible. I find the Bible to be more current than tomorrow’s paper. It talks about the future, while the newspaper will be talking about yesterday.

As for movies, I enjoy real life stories, for instance Not Without My Daughter, comedies and cartoons. 

What is the most important lesson you have learnt about money?

Money comes and goes. If you take good care of money, it will take good care of you. However, if you misuse it, it will teach you a hard lesson. Invest and become wealthy, not rich. Save and enjoy later.