Kevin Otiende

I don't know if there's a group of people anywhere in the world more convincing than Kenyan Hawkers. Today one just approached me on Uhuru Highway selling axes 🪓 and I tell him at the moment I have nothing for it. He tells me “That's where you go wrong. World War 3 is coming!“ Now I have an axe guys, what remains is World War 3.

Someone has taken over my office and looks like she has one or two things to add to our strategic plan 2023-2025.

I travelled 400kms to congratulate this young man after he successfully completed training that has seen him join our gallant Men and Women in Uniform who protect our country. I cannot compare his spirit and attitude to another. Whenever I visited his town for overnight stay at a local hotel, I always found my car clean in the morning. Upon enquiry, I was told that he's the one who did it. This went on for about 3 years and last year, an opportunity arose and what happened happened and now we are here. I only had 3 pieces of advice for him - Don't forget your faith, Don't forget to serve equally and to treat each citizen as your customer, and don't forget your family.

I also put on notice all those Kenyans who have been saying I can’t dance. If they continue I will form a dance group. Na nilikuwa nimewawuon.

Recently a friend with a major construction project called me to ask if I can refer a good project implementer. I called someone who once did some work for me. They met, discussed and he got the job immediately. I didn't even know its worth, but later found out it's the deal of a lifetime. So my contact came back to me with a small cash package to appreciate. I honestly turned it down. I turned it down because we go through this as entrepreneurs too often, where we are expected to part with a certain percentage because they believe they facilitated it for us. I personally believe in clean deals. Give someone a clean through-pass and genuinely expect no cut. Let everybody earn their keep in full.

I am profusely saddened that we had to get here as a Nation - that women have to protest for their right to life. What we have seen almost every two days for the past couple of months - young women getting murdered in Kenya has been depressing. I do not know how we got here but this cannot be allowed to continue. And no there’s nothing like teach girls to protect themselves, the system should be built to make every man think twice and thrice before laying his hand on any woman. We must not be forced to live in fear. I therefore unreservedly stand in solidarity with all women in Kenya. No words can be enough or even reassuring, but I am terribly sorry to all those families who have lost their daughters in this manner. I am sorry!

There's something my one time boss taught me. I went to her office concerned that we had too many resignations. She told me, “Kevin. A company is like a forest. Every day, monkeys come in, and go out, but the forest remains.“ It doesn't matter how talented you are, how big your idea is, if you don't have the right attitude, you will go home. Yesterday I was with someone who was the highest revenue earner for his organisation in 2021. The same day the announcement was made at a townhall to thunderous applause, is the same day he was given his sacking letter to the shock of colleagues. Interestingly he confessed he had a bad attitude at the time. It doesn't even matter how much money you make for your company, when you have the wrong mindset, tough choices will be made.

Ponder that.

Not me walking into buildings in Estonia and wondering how do all these people know me??? Hi Kevin Hi Kevin Good afternoon Kevin everywhere. Only to realize later Estonians don’t like to waste time with introduction so they put stickers with our names on our shirts so we go straight to the point. And there I was thinking Mama I made it! 😂