These days, men just don’t get celebrated the way women do.

After focusing on the girl-child for the past couple of decades, it seems that the boys have been left behind, with their pool of adult role models becoming shallower by the day.

But Susan Wakhungu-Gituku hopes that her new coffee-table book Life Journeys: Scaling Heights will fill that gap, as it traces the life paths of 85 inspiring, top-achieving men in Kenya—their struggles, successes and failures.

As women take on more responsibility outside the home, Wakhungu-Gituku observes, “Boys are suffering from mixed messages, conflicting expectations and increasingly complex demands from our evolving society.”
Traditional roles in society dictate that the man is typically the head of the home, the provider of the family and the source of authority. But gender relations have evolved, and men are now also required to adapt to new demands, new expectations, and new roles.

Life Journeys: Scaling Heights chronicles the stories of some familiar faces, such as Michael Joseph, former CEO of Safaricom, Frank Njenga, Nairobi psychiatrist and anti-drugs crusader, and John Githongo, famed whistleblower and social activist.

There is also a refreshing look into some faces that are not typically in the news, such as Bharat Thakrar, CEO of Scangroup; and Juvenal Shiundu, Kenya’s first naval architect and head of the Africa Division of the International Maritime Organisation.

Photographs are the essence of any coffee-table book, and this one does not disappoint — the glossy pages are brought to life by the skilful photography of Bobby Pall.

Putting together any compilation of high-achieving individuals is not an easy task, as every other person thinks they deserve to be included. Wakhungu-Gituku’s list is heavy on the corporate elite, especially those in finance and banking, with a smattering of artists, musicians, actors and conservationists.

But it is those that she left out that are the most conspicuous — the compilation is almost completely devoid of politicians, except former nominated MP Richard Leakey.

This omission speaks volumes on the cynicism of the Kenyan society if not a single sitting or former elected MP has the qualities to be considered a role model.

Wakhungu-Gituku has no athletes included either, even after Kenya’s decades-long domination in the middle distance and long-distance races.

One could argue that there is more value in the cerebral achievements of professionals like investment bankers and lawyers, but the truth is that besides winning a lot of money, Kenya’s athletes have put the country on the global map — and few things can bring Kenya together like the thrill of watching one of your own athletes cross the finish line in a 1-2-3 sweep.

Written in the first-person, the bulk of the stories follow one of two narratives — he was born in a humble village and attended the local primary school, where he was always top of the class, and gained admission to a competitive high school, such as Alliance, Starehe or Mang’u, and he continued to excel, which opened doors to his dream career.

Or he was born in Nairobi to fairly affluent parents and attended the prestigious St Mary’s School, a former Whites-only boys school that was the institution of choice for the upper-middle class of the 1970s and 1980s, before proceeding for further studies abroad, again opening doors to his dream career.

But a number of life stories stand out for their sheer grit.

One is Michael Joseph, who narrates how he wanted to join university but was unsuccessful in his bursary application because a chief consideration for the financial support was a strong track record in academic performance.

“Mine had not always been stellar,” he says.

Joseph emigrated to the US in 1986.

“Although I had no acquaintances in America, I had great aspirations. Unfortunately, things did not work out as planned.” His start-up business failed because he did not have enough capital, and he did not know his business partners well enough.

Joseph counts it as an invaluable experience.

“If I had not gone to America and lost all my money, I would not be where I am today. Life really is peculiar,” he says.
Life Journeys: Scaling Heights is intended to give young men the inspirational stories of the role models they so desperately need.

Life Journeys: Scaling Heights follows in the footsteps of her first book, Life Journeys: Seeking Destiny which traced the life paths of some of Kenya’s avant-garde women.

Veteran thespian Ian Mbugua agrees that our society has neglected the boy-child for too long.

“Boys lack positive mentors as their fathers are absent from their lives. Fathers are no longer playing their parenting role, leaving their sons to be raised by mothers and househelps… I foresee a future with strong, mature ladies and mediocre docile men.”

Life Journeys: Scaling Heights follows in the footsteps of her first book, Life Journeys: Seeking Destiny which traced the life paths of some of Kenya’s avant-garde women.