Transcending Boundaries: In conversation with the Founder & CEO of SHOFCO, Kennedy Odede

[Music] Poverty for my mom was mindset. You have

your hand, you have your community, you have your family, why are you poor?

Okay. So, poverty for mom was a concept, right? And I think that's something that

right? And I think that's something that I really took that has been really really driving driving driving me and her leadership skills. Yeah. She also

very careful [Music] [Music]

man. Hello there. Welcome to

man. Hello there. Welcome to

Transcending Boundaries. I'm Rita Roy.

Today we're honored to host a visionary social entrepreneur and an advocate and champion for the transformation of urban

informal settlements. He has spearheaded

informal settlements. He has spearheaded initiatives that have brought education, health care, clean water, and economic

empowerment to millions of people in informal communities across Kenya. He

has also co-authored several books including Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss,

and Hope in an African slum, providing a deeper look into his life and work. I am

thrilled to welcome the founder and CEO of Schoffco, a true champion of communitydriven change, Kennedy Odin.

Kennedy, welcome and thank you so much for making the time to be here. We're

just going to start by learning more about you and your childhood. I know and I think our our listeners know that you grew up in Kbera in Nairobi. It's one of

the largest informal settlements in the world. Tell us a little bit about that

world. Tell us a little bit about that childhood and tell us about how you experienced um perhaps important moments in your life during your childhood. Yes.

So, thank you. So I see myself as uh my family moved from western part of Kenya looking for opportunity when they were

young and they end up in Kika slums in settlement and it was uh tough right so

is for me is a very I see myself as a Kera is part of me because that for me that's what really kind of grew me right

I saw so much love in Kera I saw so much community. I saw so much oneness,

community. I saw so much oneness, togetherness. At the same time, I saw so

togetherness. At the same time, I saw so much hardship, right? So going there, I learned a lot about creativity, right?

Because as a kid, nobody could buy me toys. So we go take mud and make our own

toys. So we go take mud and make our own cars and it was just amazing knowing your neighbors. But at the same time,

your neighbors. But at the same time, poor sanitation. You get sick quickly,

poor sanitation. You get sick quickly, right? You live in we used to live in a

right? You live in we used to live in a 10 by 10 outside there is a sewage running seage right there is no toilets people are struggling to to get

job there is violence with the police you know death is common you know you lose your friends you don't know if you leave your house you are not sure going

to make it back and it also really make you Yeah. So it also make you feel like

you Yeah. So it also make you feel like there is there is there's no there's no future. So when enough was enough that's

future. So when enough was enough that's when I ran away and I became a street boy right and I was looking for escape

right. So being on the street was also

right. So being on the street was also tough but it gave me more independent right. Yeah. So I see myself as someone

right. Yeah. So I see myself as someone who has been really build really and feeling really kera is part of my DNA

right there. So

right there. So I I used to be really sad and asking myself why am I here? Why am I in this poverty you know and it was really it was it was a tough thing growing up that

hardship. It sounds incredibly tough in

hardship. It sounds incredibly tough in so many ways and yet you spoke about love. Yes. Love around you. And I know

love. Yes. Love around you. And I know they always are in moments in our lives, people who are there, who are present, uh who come at the right moment. Will

you talk about a couple of them? Uh

please do. Yes. So honestly,

[Music] so my time living in better community I many people inspired me. I will not lie

about that because the one thing that I really admire so much it's I went to America, New York but something powerful that I saw in like you are a

child of so and so you are a child of everyone in the community for me that's love if you do something they're like you know it was not about your only

child in your family is the the Ubuntu spirit was in my community so you felt a little bit there's there was a So that was really really powerful just knowing

that even though we have less even though people look down on us but there was something we had that you couldn't take away which is love. Okay. And then

this love goes deeper to someone who really inspire me mostly is my mother.

Mhm. My mom is she's just an amazing woman. Never went to school. Hard me

woman. Never went to school. Hard me

when she was 15 years old. But never give up. And a couple of

old. But never give up. And a couple of stories I learned from her even before I became a organizer. She was the one doing organizing with women. Mary go

around you know her money was being stolen. Sometimes she'll never tell the

stolen. Sometimes she'll never tell the group. She will go wash clothes you know

group. She will go wash clothes you know and bring back the money again. Nobody

will know right that the money was taken away. And then uh she told me that if

away. And then uh she told me that if you see a snake you don't have to wait to look for something to beat the snake.

She said that whatever you have beat the snake for her that any problem you face in your life. You don't have to wait. If

you want to help, you don't have to wait to be rich. Okay? Oh, one day I'll be rich and I'll help people. Mom says no.

If you kill people with what you have now, no way. So for me, I I learned that values from her. Another thing is that as kids, neighbors could have some nice

food cooked there because we live in a congested place, live in small places.

So we were not allowed to eat at that house, which I found weird because we were hungry. We haven't never had food.

were hungry. We haven't never had food.

So mom will be like go in the go there in the house put the cooking oil in your lips to look like you've eaten. I'm

like so I call that dignity of dignity.

So I'll be hungry and like mom you have to survive, right? So yeah, so was really young. So I learned those

really young. So I learned those qualities of leadership from from her, right? Not giving up.

right? Not giving up.

And she never believe you are poor. You

said, "Mom, you're poor. You're going to fight." Poverty for my mom was mindset.

fight." Poverty for my mom was mindset.

You have your hand, you have your community, you have your family. Why are

you poor? Okay. So poverty for mom was a concept, right? And I think that's

concept, right? And I think that's something that I really took that has been really driving driving me and her leadership skills. Yeah. She was also a

leadership skills. Yeah. She was also a very tough woman. You know they say they say that. Yeah.

say that. Yeah.

So those are kind of the lessons I learned from from mom. Yeah. I remember

reading the book that mom mom has some amazing quotes in in your book and some amazing sayings that and she must have been a and still is a woman of great

faith. Yeah. Uh but she has a wonderful

faith. Yeah. Uh but she has a wonderful quote to say that God's really busy.

God's very busy looking after big problems and that uh so you also have to help yourself. Yes. To look after other

help yourself. Yes. To look after other problems and that yes which is a phenomenal thing about self-reliance and taking your own agency and and applying

your your creativity. Now there's also another woman who is important in your life and that's your partner and your wife uh Jessica and together both of you have really grown Shoffco your

organization. How has she also shaped

organization. How has she also shaped your outlook? What have you learned from

your outlook? What have you learned from Jess? Wow. Yes. This is very

Jess? Wow. Yes. This is very interesting. So

interesting. So I I was what 23 when I when I met Jess.

Now she came to be your intern. Yes. Now

I'm I'm 40 now. Yeah. So many years ago.

So what happened was that I was a community organizer. I say what I took

community organizer. I say what I took from my mother. So I organized community with shco was a tiny youth group in the in the community and I used to have one

email that I checked once after month cuz I have to walk from Kira to the city. So one day I got an email from

city. So one day I got an email from this lady who want to come to be with work with Sho. shared about Shko and I said no we don't want people coming to

help us we're helping ourselves helping ourselves believe that yeah but she keep on insisting so I have to go back something else I learned is that you

cannot just make decisions I went back to our our group there's this person keep disturbing me she has done theater in America you know we used to do a lot

of performing art so the the committee relation committee of Shokco by then we were 20 20 something years old 23 some of them were 19 it was amazing structure

we had okay say oh she can come then to teach us and write our so we can write our stories so that's how Jessica was able to come to to to to Kenya through

study abroad programs and yeah we start working together but I also feel like I learned that we all human we might come from different background

grounds but we if we really open our heart if we really we can learn a lot from each other so without Jessica has

changed me as a person you know I'm somebody who had issues with trust yes we've been uh abused now and then right

with the system right so we and uh I used to just that I used to didn't like anybody from elite I know that's weird right I like nobody care about us in the

poverty here. we live by ourel we don't

poverty here. we live by ourel we don't want anybody from outside you know but here there's this American lady here right yeah that was an eye opening and

she was able to listen a lot to understand us she really listened okay and I love that she also told us how much she was learning from us and that

made us survive with us because she this is somebody who go come from a very good university coming to our community and telling that I'm learning I'm learning

so much on leadership M organizing you know that are so good and Jessica and I work together I am

more people grants she is really detail oriented some dress crazy because yeah it's true it's interesting because the way

started it was not that thinking of we don't want to think about the details because the details will remind you there is no donor okay you don't know

how to write proposals how can you sustain your organization right so for me was like this is a movement we're doing now but Jessica really concern was

so make us think that way so her coming into our life into really changed things a lot and we ended up marrying each

other from friendship yes yes a wonderful story amazing story actually beautiful one that no that's Great. So

what you're really talking about is how much all of us have to learn from each other what we can teach each other and what we can do together. Yes. And also

have to change our religious you know even me I was the person like what she come to do here right I had also to relax you know and learn. Yeah. Yeah. So

when you when you start seeing each other as human being everything start changing right. It does because all these things

right. It does because all these things is what I believe that nobody care about us. We in Islam, we in poverty, right?

us. We in Islam, we in poverty, right?

But really, you see, so but some I never want to understand the other side of the story. When I when I started growing up

story. When I when I started growing up and meeting some Kenyans are doing well in life, they're telling me but we were scared. How do we come to we wanted to

scared. How do we come to we wanted to come to right? So you see so there's a lot of things that we assume. So this is about just listening and understanding and understanding. That was Jessica to

and understanding. That was Jessica to me. That's that's wonderful. I want to

me. That's that's wonderful. I want to go back for just a moment to the beginnings actually of Shcokco. You made

a comment a moment ago that when we where you were a little boy there's no one to buy you toys. And yet the beginning of Shco was with a toy. Was

with a ball. Yes. A soccer ball. Yes.

Which wasn't a real soccer ball but a homegrown me. It's a soccer ball. Talk

homegrown me. It's a soccer ball. Talk

about that beginning. Why a soccer ball?

Ah, this is interesting. So, my life is complicated

interesting. So, my life is complicated and it's been a journey of optimistic and hope. So, this is a young boy who

and hope. So, this is a young boy who was into drugs. Mhm.

Useless. Did not care about being killed or dying because poverty was so much painful. You talking about yourself?

painful. You talking about yourself?

Yes. Okay. Yeah. Yeah.

So comes a comes a time that everyone in our life I'm sure comes a time whereby we all ask ourel how are we living our

life and I feel lucky I asked myself when I was 15 years old but this is this is too much right and we are all escaping I was on drugs for escape it

was tough I was escaping every time I was on my drugs I was feeling like woo I don't feel until you know but the reality keeps

hitting me. So when I start reforming

hitting me. So when I start reforming myself because I believe that you will and this is a challenge. We have leaders who want to be leaders and yet they have

not transformed themselves. Mhm. If you

don't work on yourself, you can't support other people. Okay? You need to deal with your demons. So my demons a lot. So now as I as a 15 years old I

lot. So now as I as a 15 years old I stopped and I knew it was hard for me to leave these addictions. So what I did I fell in love with books. And how did you

get the books? So I got this from our parish. There's a man from Ohio gave me

parish. There's a man from Ohio gave me these books. Then I even have any any

these books. Then I even have any any money I'll go to town and just buy books. It has to be a book that is

books. It has to be a book that is inspiring. So I fell in love with Dr.

inspiring. So I fell in love with Dr. King. Right. So Dr. King really ah I

King. Right. So Dr. King really ah I talked to them. This is the crazy part of me too. We didn't have mentors around, right? So for me, I read these

around, right? So for me, I read these books. I'm like, "Wow, what could Dr.

books. I'm like, "Wow, what could Dr. King Dr. King was born in Kera? What

could he do?" So I realized that Dr. King came from a a small church in Alabama. I love that part. And then by

Alabama. I love that part. And then by that time, everybody, people people of color really like going to church and being together cuz they felt at home. Kenned, what about you in

Kira? What do we love? We love soccer

Kira? What do we love? We love soccer the football that's our our thing that's how Dr. K from a church and something

became beyond the church. So my dream was can we start what we love already the youth love playing soccer or football or whatever right so that's how

I started this football but listen guys this is just a way for because we love this we'll do tournaments but we have a bigger deal bigger thing the future is

this ball will be something bigger so that's how we started and then we could talk about our issues we could do our own therapy I realiz that because of

life of hustling. Every young person was busy searching searching for job. So

nobody and I also lost my friend. Yes. From

suicide and be he was been looking for me. I also

busy hustling. So we never met. Then

he's gone.

So that was powerful. That was really devastating for me. And I'm like okay not just playing. We sit on the circle.

We share. We are here for each other.

That's how shed and then there's where I'm working there's a space for job or where I'm doing this you know. So we became a place where you get information and you know that you are seen. You are seen and you're not alone. Whatever happened to

our friend will not happen to us cuz our friend has no one to talk to. So he took this life on himself. Right. So that's

how Shko started and that's why you see that up to now our ingredients is community community listening and being there for

each other right and that sense of hope and that's why Shcokco is really about shining and hope yes and I was looking for this so we are in struggle because

some people to call it Kera stars Ka what I don't know I don't know if we can see the future without knowing but I had a I had a prediction and I remember this

so funny. They say why all these

so funny. They say why all these organizations coming here in Cuba? We also one day have an office in

Cuba? We also one day have an office in New York. Why not? Why not? Why not? And

New York. Why not? Why not? Why not? And

now you do. And like we don't have from Kera to New York office and we will maintain our Ka to the headquarter like so we can't call it Kera something because it's going to be bigger than

Ker. So that's how I love the word hope.

Ker. So that's how I love the word hope.

Shining hope for communities. We are the hope. Okay. And then I believe that from

hope. Okay. And then I believe that from my mother again let's not worry too much of resources let's worry about trust with the

community let's worry about being positive and I believed okay if there is universe if there is God whatever is there we'll be like they're doing

something good something good must happen to them right yes that's right that's right wow your mom is wise yes Yeah. And what you're giving us a sense

Yeah. And what you're giving us a sense of is that there's hope, there's trust, there's love, there's seeing each other in this. So, let's fast forward a little

in this. So, let's fast forward a little bit to the present. Today, Shoffco is well known. You're well known. Yeah. You

well known. You're well known. Yeah. You

have more awards than I can remember.

Whether it's World Economic Forum, Time magazine, Forbes, you're everywhere. And

Shoffco is seen and is admired. And

people want to learn and to think about what they can do elsewhere in their own community and achieve and serve and

still stay grounded, connected. What's

your plan, your dream now for Shcokco?

So let's go let's go back a little bit awards and all those things that we have we have won. So something that I really try to keep up to

now it's been helping me a lot to ground myself and I think for me is the most important thing. So growing up in

important thing. So growing up in Kera there's magic. I saw a woman who was going the

magic. I saw a woman who was going the children's homes and giving food.

Uh-huh. This woman had nothing. I saw people

nothing. I saw people helping. Someone one day I stole uh I

helping. Someone one day I stole uh I was I was stole a mango and I was being And you were a little kid at that time.

Little kid. I was not now. Okay. Not

now. You steal mango. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I

was a little kid. I don't know 10 or what. And I was beaten and somebody came

what. And I was beaten and somebody came to stop them and paid for my mango and did me a shopping. I don't know that. Pastor who

shopping. I don't know that. Pastor who

who are you say guru Samaritan they left. So this is the stories that

they left. So this is the stories that people were doing things in the committees and their name will never appear on the newspapers. They will

never get these awards. But for me what was powerful was their actions are written in the people they are working with or

supporting in their heart. Wow.

So whatever we are doing people who receive it and say that's the word.

Yes. Yes. That's the word. Okay. That is

the real one. Somebody say like wow I didn't have I finished my school. I

couldn't go anywhere but I went to a TV training. I went to college because of

training. I went to college because of so and so or because this for me it is written. They will even you have one

written. They will even you have one story where you will talk about somebody will many many years ago is there what has written in your heart. Yes. That you

walk with. So for me that really keep me moving and I keep telling people like focus on kindness on doing good to whoever you can do good to. That's your

word. That's the most important one. You

can have this big one and deep down you in sadness. Yes. Yeah. So and I also try

in sadness. Yes. Yeah. So and I also try to encourage young people that uh yes we got awards but uh sugar be there for a

while okay a long journey start with a single step and don't focus on what the

world want to say about you focus on the impact that you can have on the people the rest the rest will happen when you are sleeping

yeah rest will But focus on what's so important. Boy,

the way you're talking about this, it sounds like there are thousands of acts of kindness. Yes. That happen every day

of kindness. Yes. That happen every day but anonymously that happen anom. Yeah.

That for me is the most important reader. People who are helping the

reader. People who are helping the widows, people who are helping the youth, people who are helping the neighbors just be hey my neighbor he left your door not closed. I close it for you. There's this kindness that we

for you. There's this kindness that we we forgot and that's how the world become better. And I also learned

become better. And I also learned something interesting later that when you do good, there's a chemical that comes back. I'm like,

"Wow, I think that's why it makes you feel good." Yeah. You feel good, right?

feel good." Yeah. You feel good, right?

It makes you feel good. Let's keep doing good then. Yeah. Why not? Why not? That

good then. Yeah. Why not? Why not? That

that's the the feelood drug that we need to learn by doing good. But come back to Shcokco. Yes. At the heart is a school

Shcokco. Yes. At the heart is a school for girls and uh and connected to that school is healthc care for women. It's

uh computer literacy for young men in the community and young and young women in the community. Talk more about this whole organization is powered by young

people. It's for young people by young

people. It's for young people by young people and you've come to an amazing place where you are spreading beyond Kera and across many many different

settlements providing hope but also enabling young leaders in those communities to learn but to take charge and to look at what their communities

need and to solve problems. Talk more about where you're going with this movement.

So this very person that to share with you quickly no don't be quick take your time my mother no matter how much smart she

was she never got opportunity we started a school for girls I don't think I told police but I was seeing my mom you know these children what will

happen to my little moms here who are being given opport opportunity. Mhm. And

this is going to be the leaders. So that

really became really personal because I felt the way women were treated in my community was unfair.

The way early child marriage, you know, I mean you the if you have boys, you want to invest in a boy more than a girl in those times when I was there, right?

And it was Yeah, it was really it was common. Just beat a woman. Just beat a

common. Just beat a woman. Just beat a woman. And people like I remember

woman. And people like I remember neighbors going say hey stop we want to sleep man saying it's not bad to beat but we want to sleep when we going for work right so this is really traumatized

me like why people behave like this you know but you beat a man people like are you crazy why are you beating your husband right totally different right so part of my

life and that's why I thank the universe that I went through this life because make me see things in a different with feelings with connection Right. So a

school where around women and then I don't forget the boys. I also love the boys so much. Right. We have you see love we have

libraries. We have clean water for boy

libraries. We have clean water for boy and girl can drink. We have the social economic activities. Mhm. But change

economic activities. Mhm. But change

when you touched a woman's life in any community you are touching the entire village. When you touch the entire

village. When you touch the entire village, you are touching the entire country. You see? So that's all my

country. You see? So that's all my concept. But from the western way of

concept. But from the western way of thinking women women women they cannot work for my community. No way. We

have to move as a community. A school

for girls, but also supports men and the boys. So nobody can attack the school.

boys. So nobody can attack the school.

Up to now, nobody ever put fire or destroy that school because everyone feels part of it. Yes. Okay. And we what

if for me for me is what is real way of doing things in Africa. Sho is what people our

Africa. Sho is what people our grandfathers used to sit under the tree and find the solutions. We just took it to the next level. There's nothing

unique. Our cran fathers used to listen, used to solve problem. They used to care about dignity. Mhm. Right. It's about

about dignity. Mhm. Right. It's about

trust. You can't work in my if you don't trust me, I won't I won't work with you.

That is our that is our foundations network. What happened in

foundations network. What happened in Kera is all the same in Mombasa is all the same in Kisumu. But we have to work with the locals. They have to organize

themselves. What do you need? For

themselves. What do you need? For

example, I love this story. So when I go to in Kisumu, we like I don't know which what to do here. They tell me that event is bad. You see that? No, no, no, no.

is bad. You see that? No, no, no, no.

Don't take our kids there. But I say what's the solution? There's one that's the only good one is this one. Because

you listen, but you come from leadership of top down. Yes. Doesn't work.

Everything. You see this TV, this TV doesn't work. So I've been really

doesn't work. So I've been really loving. But people think you negative.

loving. But people think you negative.

No, this African. This is the way of our tradition. This how we used to lead.

tradition. This how we used to lead.

This is how we used to work. In our

leadership, there was no lead. A leader

used to be behind.

Seriously, a leaders. Yeah. Go back to your grandfathers, the Kenyans and Africa knows this. They used to be like they they spoke last. They knew is called service. I love their stories. It

called service. I love their stories. It

is about service. Okay. And they have to get the list and they will take everything and summarize and everyone will feel there was no signing

agreement. People were shaking hands and

agreement. People were shaking hands and that was their word and they were heard.

Yeah. Oh, this is fantastic.

[Music] [Music] So when you advise other young leaders

who come whether they're in Kisumu or Mombasa or any other or Matare when they come and say Kennedy we want to do something similar how can we learn where

do we start what do you tell them?

Yes. So we have grown by working with these leaders. If you go to Mombasa, if

these leaders. If you go to Mombasa, if you go to Kakamega, you'll see that in other places you see that the difference the sun right call them. You have to start from somewhere and I say them and I love this

because this is a thing that is in Quran is in the Bible.

Whoever has nothing whatever they have will be taken away.

Okay? You ever have something they'll be added on? What do you have? I had a

added on? What do you have? I had a soccer ball. I have a

soccer ball. I have a ball. Then they start thinking, oh, you

ball. Then they start thinking, oh, you know, so I want them to know they have something. Build on what you have. Don't

something. Build on what you have. Don't

go search. If you are a work in your community, you are a leader, whatever you're doing, what do you have? You are

a CEO of a company, what do you have? If

you are running institution, what do you have? People always forget that. Mhm.

have? People always forget that. Mhm.

Because for me is to build on what you have. You cannot build from zero, right?

have. You cannot build from zero, right?

If you want to find Yeah. So, and young people start like, "Oh, wow." And

honestly, they do it. They do it.

Because we have been we have been we're in the world whereby we see social media. Mhm. We see the new Shcoko now,

media. Mhm. We see the new Shcoko now, right? And like, "Oh my god, look at

right? And like, "Oh my god, look at Sho. Wow." But you forget it started in

Sho. Wow." But you forget it started in the slums with nothing in the middle of Kirlam. But the what was there was hope

Kirlam. But the what was there was hope and hope is built on what you have and then you dream for tomorrow.

That's powerful. Yes, that's powerful. I

was going to ask you how do you stay grounded as a as a leader and how do you ensure that your organization stays grounded when people come saying you're wonderful you're fantastic we want to

give you another award we want to do another show we want you to write a book and yet the truth is staying grounded how do you tell that there's a there's a

there's a couple of things that happening that uh again that I took from our Ubuntu speech which you know Ubuntu

is Mhm. is that uh you don't have to

is Mhm. is that uh you don't have to fight for leadership. Leadership is not about

leadership. Leadership is not about fighting.

Leadership is something you earn. I'm a leader. Ah my friend, you're

earn. I'm a leader. Ah my friend, you're not a leader.

Leadership is trust.

The way you move, the way you do your things, people has to be like, but what I've learned is that you have to be conscious, be aware. I see myself as a

founder. I see myself as someone who be

founder. I see myself as someone who be lucky to go to study abroad. So I have to give so much. So which mean my team I

have to make sure my team is pushed my team also get the light but I have to every time I got this award I have to go back to my team and tell them it's you

without you which is true I couldn't get this. So just remember

this. So just remember that I know he's about to say this but it's good to remember that you are not that special or Kennedy right we are

not that special cuz in that we're not that special but somehow there are people who have worked hard to make us where we are if they

stop what they're doing we fall yes so to remember them right so for me I I put myself grounded by just reminding myself. It's easy. I won't lie to you. I

myself. It's easy. I won't lie to you. I

go and meet with this famous. Oh, wow.

I'm a Kennedy. Remember why you started?

Okay, I got it now. Okay. So, let's go back. It's good to walk forward, but

back. It's good to walk forward, but take our step back and think why did we start? Why did you put our first step,

start? Why did you put our first step, second step? It's very interesting. It

second step? It's very interesting. It

will take you somewhere interesting because the more you go, you achieving.

The more you achieve, you'll forgot where you started. Yes. Every time I remember Kennedy, why did start? Was it

for glamour? Was it for you to get awards?

glamour? Was it for you to get awards?

And then that takes you back and then knowing that you are not building anything for yourself. This is for future generation because you are just passing by. So how do you make sure you

passing by. So how do you make sure you create the leaders who will continue? So

for me, I ground myself by remembering you are a street boy.

You had nothing to eat. You were beaten for stealing mango. So you did not work hard to be this. So remember and are you fulfilling

what you started? So that really makes me humble. And then of course my mom and

me humble. And then of course my mom and my wife they would allow me this. My mom is like don't have a big

me this. My mom is like don't have a big head. And I said mom why what's the

head. And I said mom why what's the problem with big head? You have a big head too heavy and you'll fall.

Very practical. Very

practical. That Oh, that that's fantastic. Kennedy, you know, we were

fantastic. Kennedy, you know, we were talking about how busy you are now and how much there's so much work to be done, so much more to be accomplished.

And of course, you don't do it alone.

Yes. But how do you find those small quiet moments within yourself?

And uh how do you find a way that works for you to have that balance, you know, in the busyiness and yet the quiet to see where you're going to make sure that

Kennedy is still grounded? How do you do that?

grounded? How do you do that?

So right right now I have uh three children under the age of what six and it is a lot a lot of joy and they also realize that if you just keep work work

you will lose time with them. Mhm. So

you have to do all these things together you know the holistic and I think you and I having the coffee we discuss that and I agree it is

about finding peace wherever you are right in my office have a small picture of my children all right so I'll be in a

zoom but I feel connected okay so I'll be in a holiday but I can still do some work so I think you got it so it's all

about uh knowing that the work will always get heavy and heavy and heavy.

The age does not wait for Kennedy. Yes.

Right. Remember that. I remember that. I

try to remember that all the time. So,

do I want to leave Sho and then be like, oh, when I'm done with Sho in the next years, whatever, then I will have peace of life. And so, right now, I am working

of life. And so, right now, I am working and it's a step by step. It's not easy.

And every day I think I'm getting better. And our work is we're in the

better. And our work is we're in the ocean. Are we together? We're in the

ocean. Are we together? We're in the ocean. We're together. Ocean and there's

ocean. We're together. Ocean and there's a wave.

Okay. Can we just stand still in that boat or ship and just and let we go with the work, but we still enjoy.

Incredible. I feel like I've been in a master class on leadership, on life, on on how to think about balance. Yeah. And

think about service and what it means to lead, which is leading from behind, letting others shine and let their work speak for themselves. That's phenomenal.

And something else that's interesting, reading from behind is people I feel bad for people. People don't get secret.

for people. People don't get secret.

There's more you get than people think.

You know what? Jealousy goes down. Jealousy goes

what? Jealousy goes down. Jealousy goes

down. Yes. Why is jealousy? Oh, Kennedy,

I'm cool. I'm cool. Okay.

If you're humble, humility, okay, more people try to connect with you. Even

your team, jealousy starts coming. If

you start thinking you're important, you attract that negativity. The more you are humbled. I remember I was somebody I

are humbled. I remember I was somebody I think I was with you somewhere in a conference. Oh my god, I can't believe

conference. Oh my god, I can't believe you're written. You see in their head be

you're written. You see in their head be like they see you like oh what I can't believe. So that happened to me also

believe. So that happened to me also with me. People come and say I can't

with me. People come and say I can't believe the guy who was on the tiles.

I'm like you see because that was jealousy already being bu okay but if you are really grounded you attract less negative energy because

you are we are walking together together together together. I love your book and I love uh

together. I love your book and I love uh the storytelling and of course you have a chapter then Jessica has a chapter and you go and along you go. Talk about the

process of writing and what it took to reflect on your stories and maybe it came easy because that you have all these amazing things which your mom taught you but talk about that process

and what it what what it did for you. So

the book I was 25 or 26. So now I don't know

26. So now I don't know what that wrote the book. I wrote the book and why was the book? The book for

me was a story of hope to other people who are going through something life to learn from that you never know the future. Don't give up in life and then

future. Don't give up in life and then use your life and don't say as my mom say don't be like I'm going to be rich to educated to do something start doing something you we are get the chemistry

of doing good kindness we talk about that right so the book two things for the book for me one was that another one it was my therapy

because when whatever I went through in life I blocked I blocked it was too painful some of them right so when I read the books. There was a moment I was

crying. Yeah. The moment I cried a lot

crying. Yeah. The moment I cried a lot and then I thought about myself. I said,

"Okay, you know what I'm going to do?"

My this book is not about telling people this leadership what the book for my perspective. It's a

movie. I'm taking you to my life. So

don't judge me. You walk with me later.

Come going. So you can see even my what I

going. So you can see even my what I used to think of is there. So the book was more like walk with me. I show you my journey. Not that my journey is the

my journey. Not that my journey is the best. No. Think about that again. My

best. No. Think about that again. My

journey is not the best. But this is my journey. So you just sit down and watch

journey. So you just sit down and watch and walk with Kennedy. Okay. That was

the book. So I I need to take you again to the gray hair now. Yes. Yes. Youthful

as ever though. Youthful. Yeah. So and

and then writing a book is difficult.

Whoever want to write a book, my piece of advice, don't wait to get agent to get people to help you. They can't help

you enough. I was lucky in university. I

you enough. I was lucky in university. I

wrote took English classes for me. So I

compiled things. So every day you wake up, every day you're free, a notebook and a pen, write something, write something. Then one day who knows take

something. Then one day who knows take those pieces but if you are waiting one day to start writing a book my friends

I'm sorry for you okay just just start writing things slowly by slowly because things new things are happening every day right so anything you feel is important for you write it down so I

think for me that was really powerful so then you just find out to compile those moments into a book yeah but the moment the moments take you you're right the moment take you to your life, accompany

your life, and they also probably when you read them again, you see something new. You see, you see see something new.

new. You see, you see see something new.

Yes. All all the time. It's wonderful.

Wonderful. Kennedy, if there's there's so many messages just from our conversation here, but if there's one thing you would

love someone to hold on to, Wow. who's

listening, uh, who or who may watch this, what would it be? somebody who

maybe they're struggling, maybe they're in a different part of their journey, maybe they're doubting their own leadership, maybe they just want to begin to be in

service. What's one thing you'd advise

service. What's one thing you'd advise them to do? I think this is interesting

do? I think this is interesting because people are all

looking for solution from outside.

No, I'm sorry. Doesn't work. Go deep

inside yourself. Talk to yourself. Talk

to your soul. It is in you. Whatever

you're going through, whatever you're thinking of, whatever you see as a struggle, it is in you. It is in you.

What I ask them to do, take your moment, go deep. Cuz most of the time, Rita, we

go deep. Cuz most of the time, Rita, we know we have the answer. We know we have the way. So, we have the solution, but

the way. So, we have the solution, but we are scared. So I will look for this person. I will look for example when I

person. I will look for example when I was when I was on stress with drugs right I could go to a therapist or a friend or a priest right but we do that

because we are not ready also. So when

you then when you took the next steps it has to start from you first the rest will follow.

Yes, even to say that you are going through something, you want to make something already some there's a seed because you can't think about it if you're just living. So for you to

identify that there's something in me, there's something I'm going through, there's something this that tell that there is a seed in you inside go back to it again and if you go

back deep you will see the light.

Kennedy, one of the most powerful things you said was the spirit of Ubuntu that it has been present from time memorial.

Yes. Across this amazing continent of Africa. Yes. That is how communities

Africa. Yes. That is how communities came together try to solve problems and sometimes we need to return to those

values to those principles. So when you think about you know you're in Kbera you're in Kenya you're you're all over the place actually you're all over this

world what would people or what should leaders big leaders small leaders all of us call upon when we think about what this

continent can do for herself and what we can share with others in terms of changing our conditions improving our lives improving the lives of

others. How do we go back to think about

others. How do we go back to think about what what is here for us as leaders? So,

so we we are I'm really what really gives me happy when I think about my our home the African continent is to be

alive in this moment because I read books. I love history and Africa has

books. I love history and Africa has been portrayed negatively right

is the Africa of today.

Wow. Wow. Just to see I traveled there will be no economic discussion even your New York London that will not mention Africa.

Young population Mhm.

smart who are saying they're coming in with a new way of thinking. Look at the startups that are coming in Africa and look even at how people view Africa now.

It's really changing. Okay. Why the

youth the youth of ah the youth of Africa? I look at Seline, right? I'm

Africa? I look at Seline, right? I'm

like wow what's happening? I look at Kenya when the the youths feel that this is their country, right?

So in the years to come I think Africa is for power already with the resources

knowledge and what is already happening right the innovators going in Africa. So

I think that with our with the hope of these young leaders coming in as you can see Mhm. everywhere. Yes. Everywhere.

see Mhm. everywhere. Yes. Everywhere.

Right. We are heading somewhere. We're

heading somewhere. And I love it. You

know why? Again, we they also realize that we can't go with the old way of thinking.

That's right. Say more about that. Yes.

Say more about that. Is no longer about charity. Mhm. Is no longer about

charity. Mhm. Is no longer about starving Africans. Is now business.

Africans. Is now business.

Okay. Is no longer about dictatorship. Is no longer about few

dictatorship. Is no longer about few people calling Africa. Is now Africa for all of us. The youth, everyone part of it, you know. So I see the way it done in Africa before is

shifting. Time is changing and this

shifting. Time is changing and this generation they have taken over social media. They have totally totally they

media. They have totally totally they have taken over technology. So the way they communicate you know so I I I I see that we're going to see a lot of things

happening in the continent you know and I want to thank our youth honestly is our this generation of young people.

They are the one driving it and even the labor the work. Yeah. So I have a prediction. Tell tell us tell us what is

prediction. Tell tell us tell us what is prediction.

It will be hard to get to Africa.

It'll be hard. Yes. Right

now they say it's hard to go to I don't know America. Believe me I think in our

know America. Believe me I think in our of our lifetime it'll be hard to come here.

To come here that's that's good. I can

see because what's happening in Africa is magical. There is a wind of change.

is magical. There is a wind of change.

There are things happening that Africa is a place to be. That's right. That's

right. That that's wonderful. That's a

wonderful image. And in that same spirit, yes. Where is Shoffco going?

spirit, yes. Where is Shoffco going?

Where Shcoko going? Yeah. So Shcoko now talk about the youth, you know, we are really working to really partner with the government to ensure also we have these voices.

of the youth of the people to be on the table. That's what we're working on. So

table. That's what we're working on. So

right now in county, Nairobi County, we work with this county government to ensure they listen to the people. Okay.

I know they want it, but they don't know how. So our job is to bring these voices

how. So our job is to bring these voices to them, right? To make sure which TV doesn't work. Why? Okay. Work on the

doesn't work. Why? Okay. Work on the policies, right? and uh and I see you're

policies, right? and uh and I see you're going to have leaders in the country who are more aware, who are more engaging, who talk to the government in a way that

uh they feel listened, right? Yes. And

the and the and and the African youth again as I work with Shu around the country, they they want to be listened.

They have a lot to do for the country, but they want to be listened. Yes. And

we are working on that, too. That's

fantastic. Yeah. being at the table, your voices heard, but most importantly action. Action. Action that follows.

action. Action. Action that follows.

Yeah, that is terrific. Thank you. Thank

you, Kennedy, for your leadership, for your inspiration, for your energy, your good humor, you know, the wise things that you share with us from your mom.

Thank you. From street child to multiple time 100 award winner. From community

leader to global advocate for change.

From personal struggles to family success. From kera to the world stage.

success. From kera to the world stage.

Kennedy Odere's life reads like a remarkable narrative of rising from the most challenging beginnings to becoming

a beacon of hope and change for millions. His journey is not just a

millions. His journey is not just a personal triumph but a powerful testament to the impact of community

local solutions and resilience in the face of adversity. Indeed, Kennedy OD is truly transcending boundaries.

[Music]