Kenyans Thirst for Education, Professional and Personal Growth

A few years ago, I brought to your attention the story of the now late Kimani Nga’ang’a Murage, a Kenyan who at 82 enrolled as a First Grader soon after the Kenya government made elementary education free. The thirst for education, professional and personal growth in Kenya is astonishing, and inspirational.

Now, Mr. Rufinus Arap Taa  is a fresh man in high school at 75.

What you will not read or hear from the media is the unequaled desire, commitment and sacrifice professionals invest in pursuit for education, professional and personal growth.

In my recent visit, I was privileged to visit and speak all four Toastmasters clubs (open to any one who wants to better his/her public speaking skills. What I observed and experienced is beyond description even though I have been an active member and financial sponsor of new members for almost two decades and I have visited over 100 Toastmasters clubs. Here is the evidence:

• A normal weekly meeting attended by more than 50 individuals
• All attendees staying in a meeting until the end
• Guests paying to attend a meeting (in some places, guests have to be given incentives or members “treated” in order to invite guests)
• Consistency among all clubs in Nairobi
• Detailed evaluations
• A speaker being recommended to repeat their speech

What happened during my seminar on How to Speak and Get Paid was moving. The seminar was scheduled to end at 3:30 p.m. on the second day but only one participant had left by 6:00 p.m. and the reason was to pick up her child. The seriousness of their desire to learn was evident from the depth of questions they asked and the ferocious taking of notes. For a week and a half after the seminar, I was either conducting face to face or phone consultations daily.

Anthony Gitonga, author and one of Kenya’s amazing speakers booked not only for consulting time when he learned I was to be there but also invited and made arrangements for me to spend a night at his house, even though we had never met or known of each other.

It has been said that, “The road to success is always under construction.” To grow and remain relevant in what you do and/or as a person, you have to continue “constructing” your professional and personal dreams.