The Jefferson Way

Kenya

6 min read

Life is Philosophy taught by example. That is getting the benefits of life lessons from people who have been through the trenches without the pain, a superior way of mentoring and teaching others.

NAIROBI, Kenya, February 25, 2024/-- Exactly, a week ago I arrived from my hometown in Meru, having been away for a considerable long time. This short stint at the source of my roots had me thinking about generational succession. (Succession, not the ruthless HBO-type.) Passing the torch of kind and what we leave behind.

I have been very lucky enough to come from a large complex family both on the paternal and maternal side. Many of its members have spent their time and resources to mold the person I am today. I have never taken this for granted!

Today, I choose to single out one family member who persuaded a young me, that there was a career in the architectural world. Jefferson Koome Kirigia, my paternal uncle is the Man who ignited a spark in me of the possibilities Designing could offer. If it wasn’t for his guidance, I would have been a theoretical physicist somewhere in Siberia.

Jefferson

In Kimeru culture and I believe in most African cultures, we don't address our seniors by their first or second name, and in particular if they're parents. (We call them Baba nani or Mama nani). For the purpose of this piece, I have deviated from the norm --a personal reason I will not disclose overtly-- and chosen to call my uncle, Jefferson.

I wish to restate, we come from somewhere and someone is responsible for the path that we are in. My most memorable interaction with Jefferson was as a young child. His first wife (the late Jane) and him ensured that we maintained congenial familial relations with ours, albeit slightly distant.

My sister and I played with his kids and shared birthday parties together. I fondly remember the hospitable nature of his family and the pastries his wife made. Not to forget his insistence on having Christian values at an early age.

A draughtsman illuminates the path

Jefferson got involved in my schooling in an ancillary way. Since, leaving his profession as a draughtsman he started a taxi business in Nairobi’s Dagoretti area. Through it, he diligently ensured my sister and I were ferried on time to boarding school, 200 kilometres away from the capital.

After clearing my primary school and securing admission to the prestigious Lenana School in Dagoretti North, his involvement in my academics intensified. He was present in my first day of admission at the School, and he was registered the second person of contact after my dad. His parting word that day was, “Soma!”

Picking a career

After form two is when we used to chart our career paths. So, like my fellow classmates I went back home during the Holidays to discuss this life-changing issue with my family. My mum suggested simply I pick Medicine (become a medical doctor), since, I topped in Biology and she had worked in the largest referral hospital in East Africa for a large chunk of her lifetime.

My paternal uncle, an electrical engineer by profession who had also driven my pursuit of academic excellence throughout my early school life aptly directed me to the engineering world. For him it was also easy-peasy, “your Physics and Mathematics have always been exceptional, why not become an engineer?”

Then came my father, who took some time and asked me, “why are you looking so far? You have had this hobby of drawing from childhood. You picked Art & Design, elective course at Lenana. You also want to be an engineer. Why not be both. Try architecture.” “You know very well, your uncle, my cousin, Baba Mose was a draughtsman...”

Why had I overlooked this man, who chauffeured the roots of my career path with subtle hints? Jefferson designed my dad's first home back in Meru, which after college I come to appreciate its architectural merit. And villagers far-and-wide come for inspiration when they started building their dream homes in the bundus.(“Wewe fundi, nataka utoe kama ile ya Munene!”)

The convoluted praise continued even after graduating. I oftenly received those finicky project requests from villagers and all of them had the same tagline, “I want something like your father’s house with a few adjustments.” In short, Jefferson give me the first 101 on architecture, its practice, and what the possibilities it offered.

In another day, I will narrate of the other intended trajectories, and toying with the idea of being an autodidact.

Mentors, people who choose to inspire others

A Maryknoll Catholic priest once told me this in 2011, “at any age, at any circumstance, you can inspire someone else.” That has stayed with me since then. And I will briefly say, “a 10 year old can mentor, a 5 year old.” And I will continue reiterating its premise to people I engage with.

As I become everyday, I have come to understand and value the journey of life; which will always present obstacles to overcome, characters to meet and engage, as well as perceptions to have.

I will end this chapter with what the great historian, Thucydides said, “History is Philosophy teaching by example.” I wish to paraphrase it for my message today. Life is Philosophy taught by example. That is getting the benefits of life lessons from people who have been through the trenches without the pain, a superior way of mentoring and teaching others. I have been there and I will teach those who are ready to learn.

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Eulogy virtues

This brings me, at last, to the essence of today's submission; eulogy virtue supreme. As David Brooks, says in his book The Road to Character, which I would highly recommend; we have resume virtues and the eulogy virtues. Eulogy virtues matter more.

And according to my little deduction from my experiences and those of others who have shared theirs with me, the number one virtue is inspiring others, mentoring others, and having been there for someone.

To the agnostic, I will use Marcus Aurelius words to bring you to the fold, “Live a good life. If there are gods and they're just, then they’ll not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you'll be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”

The few burials I have attended that’s the one thing I picked that challenged me to think critically. It's never I did this, was that. My friend you’re dead! Kaput! You're not applying for a job! You’re not vying for a seat! You time is over! The people you touched, inspired, mentored, challenged will dictate the authoring of what you were!

Have a fantastic Sunday!

By Phineahs Munene

email feedback to phineahs [at] wazomoja.com

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