If people’s circumstances in life determine where their chips fall, Samuel would be as anonymous as an individual can be.
The managing director of Pathcare Kenya attended a nondescript day school in Nyeri with the least of facilities. His life was destined for what little village life could offer.
He scored an A in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination to join the University of Nairobi, where his life took a different turn.
"Until you have started at the bottom of the pyramid, it is difficult to visualise the circumstances of people down there. I wanted to be impactful in my work."
“Education is an equaliser. It does not matter where you come from,” he says.
“People close to me know I am extremely hardworking. I am also self-driven and ever ready for change.’’
Starting small has been his motivation.
“Until you have started at the bottom of the pyramid, it is difficult to visualise the circumstances of people down there. I wanted to be impactful in my work.” Mentorship, he says, has transformed him.
“Good mentors opened doors for me.”
The father of two says fatherhood has taught him patience. “I was a different person before. I am now very patient.”
He says he lives for when medical diagnosis services and treatment will reach the remotest parts of Kenya. “Our people deserve to get a medical diagnosis on time. These critical services should be as accessible and as close to the people as possible.’’
Samuel cut his leadership in finance working at Equity Bank, Diageo, Vivo and PwC before moving to business leadership.
“A leader whose heart is not in the right place cannot be a serious leader. They can also not make any difference in the country.”
James Kahongeh