The word ‘passion’ is derived from the Latin patior, meaning “suffering”. For Albert Mandela, 39, passion has been the tabernacle on which his faith in entrepreneurship expresses itself.
Entrepreneurship, he says, is going into areas you are not necessarily familiar with and thriving, like setting up something that can provide proper healthcare.
That “something” is the 40-bed Luton Hospital off the busy Ngong Road in Nairobi. “We opened Luton on November 1, 2021 and had our first patient on December 1, a month later. Today, in 2024, we are on course to attending to 12,000 patients,” says Albert.
If you’re a superstitious person, then it won’t be surprising to note that perhaps all this was fated, written in the stars, or meant to be. He grew up a sickly child.
"Every day is a success if you achieve what you set out to do."
“I used to convulse and spent a lot of time in hospital. At eight years old I had an accident and broke my leg and ruptured my spleen, spending about a year in hospital. I stayed in Kisumu, meaning I had a lot of malaria problems, too. Somewhat my childhood is against a backdrop of hospitals. I wanted to be a doctor but could not qualify. My dad is a public health official (PhD) who influenced me quite a bit.”
Fate, those who say things say, is like a sword. Useful only to those who wield it. That’s why he is sharpening his blade with an undergraduate in Global Healthcare Systems at Frankfurt University, to complement his Executive Education in Healthcare Administration and Management from Yale School of Management.
In his crystal ball, he sees Luton as the biggest healthcare provider in the country, with an eye on Africa, while bridging medicine and technology.
What’s the hardest part of running a hospital? “You are managing many industries in one — a laundry system, kitchen department, hospitality, a whole banking system with fees and debts et al. You have to be quite intelligent to remain ahead of the curve.”
He attributes his success to consistency, demanding more from himself than he could possibly offer in return. He has not missed a gym session for the last 10 years. He drops his three boys to school every morning when he is in the country.
“Leadership is a bravery thing”, he says. You have to accept and work on the role. It is a matter of mindset and where you are at a particular time. Alexander the Great was young but he did great things, so did Jesus. What level have you put yourself on? For Albert, if he can’t be brilliantly consistent, then he can at least be consistently brilliant.
There are setbacks, he says, but failure is not an option. “I prefer solutions to lamentations.” Healthcare, he adds, is costly, and there are very few tax breaks. To give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, he has had to postpone other things—buying cars and houses—because all the money is reinvested in the hospital.
He is happy with his lot. Accepted his destiny. Where his fate colludes with his faith, and his passion becomes a pay cheque. “Every day is a success if you achieve what you set out to do.”
-Eddy Ashioya