Countless studies reveal that a sweeping majority of Kenyans hate their jobs, but John Nyagwencha is the exception. He doesn’t just love his work – he lives for it. He doesn’t have enough words to describe the depth of his passion, but everything about him tells the tale of a man who has poured his heart and soul into a career that could, at any moment, be taken away.
A conversation with him stirs an irresistible urge to ask the obvious question: how much does he earn? But that’s beside the point. For John, it’s never been about the money. It’s about the lives his organisation transforms, the communities it uplifts, and the fulfilment that comes from making a real difference.
John, 37, is the CEO of Aqua Clara Kenya, a not-for-profit company that assembles and distributes affordable water filters in the region. It’s a position he has held since the remarkable age of 27, resisting even the most tempting job offers.
“I can’t imagine myself doing any other job,” he asserts. “I’ve had opportunities. Every year, people try to headhunt me, and I’ve always said no, even without knowing how much they’re offering. That’s how much I’m into it.”
"Put in the work! It’s a lot of work, a lot of patience, a lot of persistence, a lot of sacrifice for you to get to whatever destination you want to get to."
John has worked at Aqua Clara for the past 14 years, climbing from an intern to CEO in a record four years – a meteoric rise fuelled by his burning desire to craft environmental solutions.
His dedication has propelled Aqua Clara through milestones, including achieving independence from its American founders and launching a commercial arm to expand access to the much-needed water filters across Africa.
A biological scientist by training, John closed his own environmental consultancy and took a 50 percent pay cut when he joined the organisation in 2010, but he has never looked back.
His commitment has made him indispensable, helping the organisation to weather challenges such as limited funding, waning partner support, and resistance from communities unfamiliar with clean water benefits.
Today, Aqua Clara boasts an impressive legacy: many completed projects across Kenya and East Africa; a robust network of partners; and, a growing number of communities that value safe drinking water.
“Over the last 14 years, Aqua Clara Kenya has enabled 300,000 people to access clean drinking water,” he says.
To John, however, these aren’t just statistics, they’re lives saved. They’re children spared from waterborne diseases, parents given more time to work and support their families, and communities with brighter futures. For him, it’s personal. Fifteen years ago, he nearly died of typhoid, an experience that waters his mission to ensure no one else endures what he did.
To young men hoping to follow in his footsteps, the CEO has one key piece of advice: “Put in the work! It’s a lot of work, a lot of patience, a lot of persistence, a lot of sacrifice for you to get to whatever destination you want to get to.”
-Vincent Owino