Excerpts from the Thought Leader’s Diary — Part 1
Bomas of Kenya: The Crucible of Enduring Dreams enjoy a midweek special excerpt from the biography
“a Voyage of boundless hope”
In the shaded recesses of the Bomas of Kenya, beneath the towering trees and amidst the unsettling mischief of its resident baboons, a tapestry of my life’s most pivotal moments has been woven. This Kenyan cultural melting pot, more than just a tourist attraction in Nairobi, has been a backdrop to the highs and lows that have shaped my character and resolve. It is here where, on a quiet Christmas Day in the pandemic year of 2020, the unexpected agility of a baboon taught me a lesson in the fleeting nature of earthly possessions. As the primate made off with my shopping bag, bought in Germany and endeared with sentimental value, and containing not just grilled chicken packed for home enjoyment but precious electronics, my desperate 200-metre chase culminated in a comical yet humbling fall. Following closely behind were a guard and my younger daughter. The baboon’s triumph in the wild was not just about the spoils it had gained on Christmas Day; it conclusively cemented a poignant truth about life’s vicissitudes and unpredictability.
This same venue has borne witness to the collective breath-holding of Kenyans every five years. The cheers and tears that accompany the announcement of presidential election results resonate through its halls, a testament to the passionate heart of democracy in our nation. Yet, it has also seen its share of sorrow during acrimonious national constitutional transitions, where the price paid for progress sometimes came at the highest costs-echoing the solemnity of change and the weight of loss and history.
Among friends, Bomas has also been the ground where dreams were deferred but not defeated. When a life-transforming dream project was postponed, the news hit us amidst the composure, pragmatism, and hope that come with age and experience, knowing only too well that mature results spring from the seedbed of time — waiting. It was a bitter pill, sweetened by the presence of fellows who shared in the vision and the burden of better futures created from bitter pasts. Not long after, the dream was realised.
From these personal and collective experiences emerges a broader narrative about the nature of dreams and the essence of perseverance. The journey towards realising one’s dreams is fraught with setbacks and victories, each a lesson in patience and resilience. After all, setbacks beckon comebacks. Embracing these moments with humility and a commitment to ethical integrity reflects the Kantian ideal that the morality of process and our actions is as crucial as the outcomes they produce. The end does not necessarily justify the means.
The biblical parable of the Good Samaritan resonates deeply with my experiences at Bomas. This story highlights the virtue of immediate kindness and the limitations of solitary action. While the Samaritan’s grand action of sacrificial rescue was noble, it was but a temporary solution for a street that needed the collective efforts of government and society to make it safe and secure for subsequent travellers. The wisdom herein reflects a country thirsty for more systemic changes. Thirst — yes — not hunger, because my persuasion is that thirst is more specific in its prescription for a cure — only water. Likewise, these experiences remind me that while individual efforts are commendable in a diverse country like ours, transformative change requires collaboration and a supportive framework anchored on shared virtues and national values. This aligns with the idea that true leadership and achievement are inherently tied to community and collective effort.
As my narrative continues to unfold in the vibrant enclave of Bomas, the lessons gleaned are invaluable. The pursuit of dreams is not a sprint but a marathon, often requiring one to rise again, like after a fall in a frantic chase. The real victory lies not in the speed of achievement but in the grace with which one handles the journey and the wisdom to understand that every step forward is part of a larger ballet on the expansive stage of life.
Thus, the essence of Bomas is not merely in its cultural exhibitions or its role in Kenya’s political history. It is in its ability to be a crucible where dreams are tested, deferred, and ultimately remade. You have to be tried, tested, and trusted to be an authentic leader. Here, every laughter-filled reunion, every shared disappointment, and every stride on its grounds contributes to a deeper understanding of what it means to dream, to strive, and to succeed with humility and honour. To me, Bomas of Kenya has not been just where dreams are made-it is where they are patiently and persistently remade, against the backdrop of a nation’s heartbeat.
Originally published at https://impactborderlessdigital.com.
