One on one with Mutahi Kagwe and , giving a perspective on his personal tastes, his childhood, and accomplishments. He has had a long eventful career in politics and business. Hon. Mutahi Kagwe (born January, 1958), the former Minister for Information and Communications and the fifth Member of Parliament for Mukurweini Constituency.

He has had a stint at the helm of the Kenyan Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Trade, Tourism and Planning. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Nairobi, and an MBA from the United States International University (USIU) of Nairobi.

In his career Mutahi has been the advertising manager, Mashambani Magazine, and the group- advertising manager, commercial manager and commercial operations director of the Standard Group Limited between 1987 and 1994. He is currently the chairman of Research International, East Africa and the group-managing director of Tell- em Public Relations (E.A) Ltd

He has many professional memberships including the Marketing Society of Kenya, the Kenya Institute of Management, the parliamentarian network of the World Bank, and the commonwealth parliamentary association.

He attended Kihate Primary School (1965- 1971), Kagumo High School- both O levels and A levels (1972- 1977), Nairobi University (1978- 1981), United States International University- USIU (1988- 1992).

He is married to Mrs. Ann Wanjiku Mutahi and they have four children.

Ten Minutes with….. Mutahi Kagwe

What is do you do for exercise?

I have gym membership but I love to walk when the weather allows it I simply take long walks. I think walking keeps me fit and it combines my need for exercise with my passion for the outdoors. I love trees, I plant trees everywhere I can it gives a deep sense of satisfaction when I plant trees

What is your favorite pastime?

I love to read, I can read more than two books at a time.   I have always had a fascination with the fusion of economics and politics and I read The Economist, often however I also read a variety of novels, autobiographies. I surround myself with books they keep my mind alive and alert. I enjoy it immensely.

If you were stranded on an Island what would you take with you?

1. My phone if possible

2. My books

I think the goal for me would be to keep my mind alive in such as situation and the Books would keep me active, mentally.

What book are you currently reading?

Am reading Joe Hamisi’s, The politics of betrayal: Diary of a Kenyan Legislator,

From Third World to First: The Singapore Story: 1965-2000 by Lee Kuan Yew

If you were to experience a place for the first time who would you take and why?

My family, if it is a holiday then I would like to spend some quality time with my family. Just relax.

What is your most memorable childhood memory? And how did it influence you

There are several but the one that influenced me to be who I am today was the fact that I was the Bell ringer for the school.

That meant that I kept the school bell on my desk with a small clock to keep time. I had to learn how to multi task by keeping time for the whole school as well as pay attention in class.

This taught me to be punctual to this day I keep time and try to ensure people around me do the same

It also gave me a sense of responsibility. Every time I rang that bell the whole school was on the move; teachers went on break, or classes came to an end, teachers moved from one class to another, students went from one place to the next. That simple task shaped my respect for power and how to handle its influence on those around you.

I also remember that as a young boy I read a book by James Hadley Chase that had someone poisoned using ice-cream and I had never tasted ice-cream. It wasn’t until I was older I was able to taste and experience ice-cream.  Most people might take such trivial things for granted today but for me it fascinates me that some of these things I experienced as a grown up.

What makes you angry on a personal level?

I rarely lose my temper, I however know that am impatient especially when people repeat themselves or don’t get to the point, I get irritated. I am aware of this and am learning to keep my impatience in check.

What sport do you play or enjoy?

I rarely have time for sports but I do play golf occasionally, it is a sport I play with my friends from time to time as we socialize.

On a personal level what responsibility do you take to conserve the environment?

I plant trees. Lots of them, I strongly feel that trees make a difference in the environment. On my farm in Kieni I have planted trees and when I get an opportunity to plant a tree I do it without hesitation. Like I said earlier I love to walk and I think the environment is beautiful with fresh air and trees.

What do you admire most about the people of Nyeri?

I admire our tenacity, determination and work ethic. I think the people of Nyeri County are the most hardworking Kenyans. Just looking at what they produce on small scale farms is amazing. They effectively feed themselves and even sell at the market. Most people in Nyeri don’t have large plantations to plant large quantities of food.  However they make an effort to work with what they have. And with this kind of attitude towards their work the sky is the limit. I believe given an opportunity, the right kind of economic environment, and the effective leadership the people of Nyeri County will capitalize on the fortunes of the county and make it the envy of other counties.

Story By  Lydiah Nyawira  of The Highland Tribune in conjunction with Nyeri online.com

The Highland Tribune editor Lydiah Nyawira in conjunction with Nyeri online.com goes one on one with Sami Gathii, Executive director of YADEN, East Africa, giving a perspective on his personal tastes, his childhood, accomplishments, and His perception of Nyeri County and its people

Ten Minutes with….. Sami Gathii

YADEN was founded in 2003 by Sami Gathii and works in an innovative, inclusive and participatory Arts and Sports based method targeting marginalized and disfranchised young people as an entry to the wider community. Sami after graduating from Nairobi Theater Academy realized there was a need for three vital components in the arts, packaging art into a  income generating activity, secondly new ways of presenting Arts, Thirdly more vital a concept that cultivated presenting relevant art.

What success has YADEN had in the theatre industry in Kenya?

In his initial attempts there were various success stories with the theatre group They were the first to package set books  and cut in schools and make it income generating

It was the firsts Outfit to market Kenyan artists abroad, and it was made up entirely of young Kenyan artists.

Do you ever have stage fright?

I have lived in Holland for about 15 years during this time I had such a busy theatre career that I had 150 shows a year at an average of 3 shows per day. The tension and anxiety is the same and the dynamics are also the same because every show has its uniqueness. It’s not so much fright but rather anxiety.

What is your favorite past time?

I love to read; actually I read the whole newspaper literally. Every segment from the front to the back. Adverts, classifieds, the obituaries, sports to news, everything. All the details fascinate me hence I read it all.

If you were deserted on an abandoned island, what 3 things would I want to have?

A current newspaper

A never ending supply of beans and rice

My phone

Do you love cars if so which one…?

I love vintage cars. I think old is gold. The Datsun 160J… that car has character.

What was your most memorable performance?

“Stop Looking At Me” it was factually a One man show. I did everything myself. I toured Europe with it and it gained me recognition as a performer. I enjoyed it and it turned out to be one of my greatest ventures

Why? When I did it many artists could not do more than discipline they weren’t multi faceted in terms of performance. Mixing acting, singing, dancing, stage managing, characters roles. And Stop Looking at me allowed me to do this and show it could be done. It was such a success that it is used as a teaching tool for artists who want to be part of interdisciplinary arts.

Do you like sports? Which one?

Am not necessary interested in just one sport but rather in all off them. I like the qualities that are cultivated by all sports. I am currently conducting research into the role of sports in improving the quality of the sportsman. Like for instance a systematic game like Golf cultivates, precisions, stamina, posture, patience, etc all qualities that improve us as individuals. The research will allow me to develop a program called ‘sportstastic.’

What is your most memorable Childhood memory?

When I was a young boy I often spent time in Mukurwe-ini and one of my chores was herding cows. Its was a very lonely job, I would take the herd out in the morning and to keep myself busy and pass time I would make up conversations and talk to the cows, I gave them characters and entire scripts came to life in those long hours. Looking back this made me so creative and expressive and allowed me to let my imagination grow in leaps and bounds.

What do you admire about Nyerians?

Honestly I envy the governor of Nyeri; it is like He/ She has been presented with clay to mould into whatever he pleases. There is so much potential in this place especially with the people. They have roots, they are calm, progressive and comfortable with whom they are.

I have traveled this country and lived abroad, and when you meet other people they think they know they are sure about the answers. But Nyeri people are Honest about who they are and what they know.

Nyerians when they start something they make concrete steps each step is calculated; hence they go to the top and never look back. So those who will have the privileged to lead this county have a task to envision a concrete future for the people.

Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya on April 1st 1940.In 1960, she won a Kennedy scholarship to study in America and earned a master’s degree in biology from the University of Pittsburgh and became the first woman in East Africa to earn a Ph.D.

Returning to Kenya in 1966, Wangari Maathai was shocked at the degradation of the forests and the farmland caused by deforestation. Heavy rains had washed away much of the topsoil, silt was clogging the rivers, and fertilizers were depriving the soil of nutrients. Wangari decided to solve the problem by planting trees.

Under the auspices of the National Council of Women of Kenya, of which she was chairwoman from 1981 to 1987, she introduced the idea of planting trees through citizen foresters in 1976, and called this new organization the Green Belt Movement (GBM). She continued to develop GBM into broad-based, grassroots organization whose focus was women’s groups planting of trees in order to conserve the environment and improve their quality of life. Through the Green Belt Movement, Wangari Maathai has assisted women in planting more than 20 million trees on their farms and on schools and church compounds in Kenya and all over East Africa.

In Africa, as in many parts of the world, women are responsible for meals and collecting firewood. Increasing deforestation has not only meant increasing desertification, but it has also meant that women have had to travel further and further afield in order to collect the firewood. This in turn has led to women spending less time around the home, tending to crops, and looking after their children. By staying closer to home, earning income from sustainably harvesting the fruit and timber from trees, women not only can be more productive, they can provide stability in the home. They can also create time for education opportunities—whether for themselves or their children.

This virtuous circle of empowerment through conservation is serving as a model throughout the world, where women both individually and collectively are entrusted with money and material to invest it in ways that make a difference to their daily lives. Wangari Maathai’s Green Belt Movement is a great example of how one person can turn around the lives of thousands, if not millions of others, by empowering others to change their situation.

Wangari’s road to success was by no means easy. During the 1970s and 1980s, she came under increasing scrutiny from the government of Daniel arap Moi. She was frequently the target of vilification from the government, as well as subject to outright attacks and imprisonment. She refused to compromise her belief that the people were best trusted to look after their natural resources, as opposed to the corrupt cronies of the government, who were given whole swathes of public land, which they then despoiled.

In January 2003, Wangari Maathai was elected by an overwhelming margin to Parliament, where she is the Assistant Secretary for Environnment, Wildlife, and Natural Resources in the democratically elected Kibaki government. Even though she is now being protected by the very same soldiers who once arrested her, her voice on behalf of the environment is still strong and determined.

In The Green Belt Movement, founder Wangari Maathai tells its story: why it started, how it operates, and where it is going. She includes the philosophy behind it, its challenges and objectives, and the specific steps involved in starting a similar grassroots environmental and social justice organization. The Green Belt Movement is the inspiring story of people working at the grassroots level to improve their environment and their country. Their story offers ideas about a new and hopeful future for Africa and the rest of the world.

Wangari Maathai is the founder of the Green Belt Movement and the first woman to earn a doctorate in biology in East Africa. A recipient of numerous awards for her work on environmental and social issues, she was elected to Parliament by an overwhelming majority in 2003 and is currently the Assistant Secretary for Environment, Wildlife, and Natural Resources in the new democratically elected Kenyan government. In 2004, she was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. She lives in Nairobi, Kenya. Vist Wangari's website at www.wangarimaathai.or.ke

The Highland Tribune reporter Lydiah Nyawira in conjunction with Nyeri online goes one on one with Cindy of Tahidi High giving a perspective on her career as a an actor,  her business as an events organizer and promoter from Nyeri.

Ten Minutes with….. Cindy

For many Central county residents few women venture into events organization and promotion, especially so for young women. But Cindy of Tahidi High as she is popularly known has bravely taken the step to start her business Timemate Company to organize and promote events in the region

The Highland Tribune and Nyeri Online radio got a chance to interview the Multi talented Promoter on her Professional life and journey in the industry.

What are your names?

Am Cindy from Tahidi High but my real names are Lina Wanja Mureithi

Tell us about your profession;

I have been in acting for some time and dancing chakacha But this year I decided to do something different and started doing events like the Kidum event in Nyeri. It basically entails I get the venue negotiate with the owners and the artists and then you put together the show.

So how long have you been acting?

For about 5 years, I was on Tahidi high part of the cast; I was on Makutano Junction but as an extra on Makutano Junction. I have also been in several Riverwood movies an last year I was nominated for best supporting actress by the Kalasha awards for one of my roles in a movie.

How many events have you successfully organized in this region (central Kenya)?

Four of them, 3 in Nanyuki, for the Sportsman Alms in Nanyuki for the Tahidi cast, over Christmas and Easter.

We had Kidum in Nanyuki and the same venue and now we are here in Nyeri. And on 7^th May we will be at Kitengela with Kidum.

So do you work exclusively with Kidum or do have other artists who you planning to work with to organize events and promote for?

There are so many in mind, there are Kikuyu artists, Like Timona Mburu, Salim Junior, Kidum, Wyre, Matonya, Ali Kiba, TID

What are the challenges   that you face in organizing a show of this magnitude?

The challenges are many but I pray and put God first, the owners of the pub are very shrewd they ask for percentages, they fail to provide the necessary hospitality, posters, transport.

According to you how successful was the event?

It was very successful through challenging; it has really put a strain on me personally. Am running around and also planning to perform my dance which is very physically exhausting am very tired. But I would definitely rate the Kidum performance in Nyeri a success.

How do you balance your roles as a performer Organizer, business lady with being a wife and mother?

Am very assertive, manage my time efficiently, and above all I Put God first is also a perfectionist

How do you ensure that each role is played to the best of your ability?

I insist on making sure I do my best in every task I have to accomplish. It’s very simple but also takes a great deal of discipline.

Do you know any other women in the industry who are promoters in the entertainment industry?

No! Am not aware of any in this region, I can not say for sure but I think am the first to do this.

To balance family and business how do you work to ensure the two complement each other?

My family travels with me some the times, when am performing at a show I leave my baby at home and Mureithi My husband accompanies me to help me with a few details in the business.