- Kirubi, a billionaire businessman and an alumnus of Friends School Kamusinga in Bungoma County, is associated with some of Kenya’s leading corporates, among them Centum Investments, Haco Industries and Capital Group.
- President Kenyatta stated that Kirubi was the most accessible corporate leader Kenya has ever produced. He was a great inspiration to many and even during his last hours on earth he sent an inspirational tweet.
By Mical Imbukwa
“Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to failure. Every great success has always been achieved by fight. Every winner has scars. The men who succeed are the efficient few. They are the few who have the ambition and will-power to develop themselves. So choose to be among the few today.” Chris Kirubi
Chris Kirubi and Centum Investments CEO James Mworia
Chris, through fight and strife, chose to be among the efficient few. He drew out his goal and focused on his success path. Not even his wife could come in the way of his goal. He divorced her after coming to the realization that they were of distinct personalities. He chose to stay single until his demise.
“I was outgoing. I wanted freedom. But my wife was conservative. People are born different, maybe we were not two of a kind. One has to be happy and enjoy it. It was too restrictive for me, going home at particular times. I now work until midnight and there are no questions asked,” Kirubi said during one of his interviews.
Though dead, his name lives on as “The African Business Mogul,” and so does his controversial thoughts on marriage. “Marriage is enslavement and you have to be careful. You have to agree to go into slavery and into jail,” he said on Churchill Show.
President Uhuru Kenyatta describes Kirubi as a patriot whose entrepreneurial spirit, hard work and determination saw him create some of the country’s largest enterprises, which offer employment to thousands of the Kenyan population.
“Besides his celebrated business acumen, Kenya will remember Chris as a great coach and business mentor who raised some of our country’s best businessmen and corporate leaders,” President Kenyatta said.
President Kenyatta stated that Kirubi was the most accessible corporate leader Kenya has ever produced. He was a great inspiration to many and even during his last hours on earth he sent an inspirational tweet.
“Each day, remember to involve yourself in tasks that add value to your life. Spare some time working on improving your future. Your future is created by what you do now, not tomorrow,” Mr. Kirubi tweeted at 10.01am, Monday 14, 2021
Kirubi, a billionaire businessman and an alumnus of Friends School Kamusinga in Bungoma County, is associated with some of Kenya’s leading corporates, among them Centum Investments, Haco Industries and Capital Group.
The business mogul leaves behind a son and a daughter. Robert Kirubi declined to join the family business and works at DHL in Belgium. MarryAnne Musangi Kirubi on the other hand is the Chief Executive Officer at Haco Industries.
Chris has rested rightly as he said during an interview with Business Daily.
“Death is rest. A rest from daily hustles. This is something that is irreversible. You’re born, you grow, you die. In the end, it doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter the age or what you do to try and elongate your life. But at the same time, nobody wants to die.”
In his life spanning eight decades, he worked these wisdom nuggets, rules, and lessons essential to success.
Success and Failure
Getting a University Degree does not result in success. The same way the lack of having one doesn’t qualify for failure. It’s what you do with the knowledge and life skills you have that will make you successful.
Hire people with the right Mindset and Skills
I employ mostly for attitude and train for skill. If you have a guy without the right attitude, their skill will not help you because they are irrelevant to your business.
If we strip you of the various certificates, degrees, and accolades that you hold, what are you worth?
Don’t just sit back and complain. Take action.
You need to identify your most valuable and profitable activities that will help you achieve your goals. Don’t just sit and borrow money, let your money work for you. Look for various avenues to invest and grow your cash.
Have positive attitude
Nothing can stop a man with a positive attitude from achieving his goal, while nothing on earth can help a man with a negative attitude. Being positive gets you to work hard, achieve your goals and stay encouraged when times get tough. What you believe, you receive.
Keep learning and innovating
One of the most important lessons I have come to learn over the years is that you cannot do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow. You must keep learning new methods and ways of doing things to keep abreast with the world’s ever-changing trends.
Hangout with people who challenge you
Network and meet professionals and mentors in your area of specialization. Create cordial business partnerships that will challenge you intellectually and build you.
Surround yourself with the most skilled, intelligent, and knowledgeable people. They edify you, challenge your decisions, brainstorm with you, hold intellectual discussions and are great to learn from. Associate yourself with greatness if you want to achieve success.
Make partnerships with like-minded people
Africa has numerous opportunities, but remember, you can’t thrive alone. If you stand alone, you stand little or no chance of survival. Partner and merge your resources with other like-minded people to enable you to attract bigger opportunities and investment you need.
Be optimistic and focus on your vision
Being optimistic and realistic at the same time trains you to search and work for that which you don’t have. Don’t be distracted from your vision by anyone. If you think it and believe it then it is up to you to do it and to be it.
Don’t spend time, energy, and resources on ventures, not in line with your aspirations. Know what you want and work towards that purpose.
Never Quit
Quitting sometimes is a daily occurrence when you meet challenges that want to throw you off the course. But with inbuilt aggressiveness and commitment and trust in yourself, you will find a way out of any predicament.
One cause for abandoned goals is lack of upfront appreciation of price to be paid. It involves more than financial considerations.
Take responsibility for your life and future
Remember the world is yours for the taking and you are fully responsible for the great future you so desire. Your past does not define your future, but your present actions and decisions will definitely affect your future. Choose your future today.
Each day remember to involve yourself in tasks that add value to your life. Spare some time working on improving your future.
Be the Leader and vision bearer of your business
As the leader of your business the transformation begins with you. You drive the vision and success of the business. Do things right.
As you shape your future be very tactful. Let your decisions add up to the final goal. Save time by knowing what you want to achieve.
