The world is still reeling in shock at the death of Reginald Mengi, Tanzanian media mogul, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who passed away on Thursday, May 2, 2019 in Dubai.

Born in 1944 in Kilimanjaro to extremely impoverished parents, he rose above arduous circumstances to become one of Tanzania’s most accomplished and wealthiest businessmen. FORBES estimated his net worth at $560 million in 2014.

Dr. Mengi owned the IPP Media Group, one of the largest media conglomerates in Africa. Operating 11 newspapers, radio and television stations and Internet properties, he also had a huge stake in Tanzania’s gold, uranium, copper, chrome and coal mines.

But even as his wealth grew, Mengi never forgot his humble beginnings. Considered Tanzania’s pioneer in corporate social responsibility in Tanzania, the devout philanthropist sent hundreds of Tanzanian children with heart ailments to India for treatments. He started The Rodney Mutie Mengi Foundation following the demise of his own son in 2005.

Dr. Mengi philanthropic efforts focused on financing youth and women based economic groups and community development projects through various grassroots programmes. He also awarded scholarships to encourage students to do well in their studies and to assist those who do well, but are unable to pursue further studies due to financial constraints.

Dr. Mengi’s initiatives in the area of conservation have included initiating and funding a campaign to reforest Mount Kilimanjaro in order to reserve the melting of its famous snowcap due to global warming and deforestation. This campaign which Dr Mengi was funding since it started in 1987, has led to over twenty -seven million trees being planted, with a target of one hundred million trees by the end of 2019.

Mengi was a mentor to the Tanzanian youth. They drew inspiration from his business acumen; his kindness and his devotion from his mentorship seminars, with the most memorable being his roundtable contribution during the Microsoft Thought Leadership conference held in 2016.

According to 23-year old Ali Khatau, founder of Elimu Tanzania, an online platform that helps increase Tanzanian students’ pass rates, as well as improve their IT literacy, “I always tell myself if Dr. Mengi could go from such poverty to the very top and impact all those people, then life is limitless; then I could also go from what I was to the very top with hard work, ambition and a huge amount of persistence”. Elimu Tanzania currently has over 50,000 users and has donated hundreds of books that have gone on to help thousands of people read and learn.

ALSO READ: Online Fundraising: Lessons from Notre Dame

Admittedly, there are very few such individuals in Kenya’s philanthropy scene who can achieve such fetes as Dr. Mengi. One will have to look hard for the few charities and foundations that have a multi-thronged approach to address society’s problems through self-funding initiatives.

The late Mengi will be remembered by many for his tireless efforts to help the needy, not only because he gave generously, but also, because he popularized causes that had not been talked about before. His legacy lives on through his philanthropic work that has transformed more than 10,000 lives.

While there are many people who can be said to be richer than Dr. Mengi, their presence in the philanthropic scene is obscure to say the least.

It is likely that East Africa will remember this soft-spoken man, not for the amount of money he gave to charity, but for the rich heart that made him give gladly. Let’s all fete him, for Reginald Abraham Mengi was a true hero in corporate philanthropy.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The recent Notre Dame Cathedral fire disaster revealed the extent of how philanthropy plays a vital role in humanity when such crises occur.

The determined efforts by the French government and donors around the world saw almost a billion euros pledged within hours to restore the centuries-old building to its former glory.

People, corporations and foundations rushed in with donations to restore the cathedral, despite the fact that humanitarian crises, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other such calamities are as pressing as ever. 

Yet, unlike other previous global disasters, the cathedral fire recorded virtually no human casualties.

So what motivates such an instant outpouring of donations? Why do we feel compelled to respond to some causes more than others?

More importantly, why has so much been committed for the cathedral, while other calamities such as ongoing starvation tend to receive less attention? Has the way we give evolved

Most people, like you and I, are driven to donate in support of important causes in our community because we are invested emotionally to whatever influences our lives.  However, the bulk of the donations are primarily an emotional reaction to a tragic circumstance, usually involving a large number of casualties and destruction of property.

So it comes as no surprise that the magnitude of the Notre Dame fire attracted a lot of attention within the donor and philanthropic community due to the aesthetic value attached to the cathedral and the widespread destruction witnessed in the wake of the inferno.

As the world stopped and watched the fire ravage the globally recognized iconic landmark, so did the donor and philanthropy community.

A quick look at the faces behind the Notre Dame donations reveals powerful brand names such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, L’Oreal, and French oil producer Total SA just to highlight a few.

Certainly, media of both the news and social variety influenced the response to the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, but more importantly, how the donations are being made. Indeed, the nature and extent of media coverage of the disaster affected the response.

When it comes to giving money, donors and philanthropists are increasingly connecting with their beneficiaries online and online giving is becoming more important. Giving online has become much more common over the past few years, especially among millenials who are younger, educated and those with higher incomes.

ALSO READ: Central Office Givers Lend a Hand during Ngong Medical Camp

Over the past decade and a half, Internet access has become universal and internet-based communications platforms have boomed. This has seen the rise of various fundraising platforms designed to cater to virtually any cause, with the most popular being crowdfunding, a revolutionary online practice of funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people through websites such as Kiskstarter or GoFundMe.

Granted, traditional donor organizations are skeptical of crowdfunding though admitting that it is a simpler way to raise money than getting a loan or a grant.

Nowadays, donors want to be more involved and meaningfully engaged and crowd giving helps them feel more connected to the causes and other supporters. An online donation is like a vote of support, useful to the beneficiary on a financial level and to the donor on a psychological level.

Other donor organizations are increasingly turning to the creation of online donation tools for transparency and monitoring of funds and activities. Nonprofits stand to benefit because their funding sources will become more diverse and accessible. And donors will get the satisfaction of seeing their money going toward the specific causes they choose.

Results are important too, with donors seeking to see the biggest possible impact from their donations and to see problems permanently solved. While most development organizations are prone to putting a ‘spin’ on the facts to show them in the best possible light while reporting to donors, online crowdfunding is transparent and the impacts are instantly seen by all the stakeholders.

Surprisingly, Facebook arguably one of the most popular social media sites has already introduced fundraising tools on their sites. It launched a donate button on its social-networking site in 2015 and later added tools that make it easy for people to raise money for their favorite causes.

If you feel like you’ve seen more notifications in your Facebook feed that someone is raising money for a good cause to celebrate a birthday or other milestone, you’re probably right. On Giving Tuesday in November, nonprofits raised $125 million with Facebook tools.

Facebook’s photo-sharing app, Instagram, is also developing a tool for nonprofits to collect donations. The new feature will allow charities and their supporters to include a donate button in their posts. When users click on it, they will go directly to a donation form.

Facebook expects to share details on ways charities and their supporters can use the tool, which is still being developed, in the next few months.

While the Instagram donation button will open a new fundraising opportunity to charities, it’s unclear how much overlap there is between Instagram and Facebook users.

We may think we know the motivation of the French billionaires who donated to the cathedral. Perhaps we do. And perhaps we don’t.

Donors today increasingly see the appeal of putting their money into a firm or a fund that will give them a return while affirming their values or supporting a cause they believe in. Impact investing is one such notion that one can make a difference by investing in a company that has a social mission.

By making philanthropy easy and accessible, digital tools such as online fundraising platforms have encouraged a tremendous surge in giving by individuals and donor organizations. This shift presents opportunities for stakeholders with the resources and capabilities to take advantage of new digital channels, particularly online fundraising, which offers significant room for growth.

It is also an opportunity for industry leaders to start conversations geared towards embracing conventional fundraising on how to leverage digital infrastructure to maximize donor engagements; donation options and other services for the digital platforms; improvement of internal operations by leveraging new digital tools and capabilities; analytics to measure and track key activities, and how can we apply digital tools to manage them; and how to tailor operating models to cater to digital needs.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The dawn of the morning sun to many people is a sign of new beginnings, and a chance to achieve botched dreams of yesterday. To one Henry Ithiami, each ray of light is a stuck reminder of his self-bred responsibility to humanity.  

Having grown up through a series of difficulties as a child and forced to seek hard manual labour at an early age just to get money for basic needs including school uniform, books and pocket money, he knows first-hand how tough it can be for those from poor backgrounds. So while most look up to organisations to help the needy, he and many others have a different idea. 

Today, Mr. Ithiami is the Quality and Safety Manager at the Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) – East Africa’s largest power producer but that has not made him forget his humble roots. 

Lucky for him, KenGen through its philanthropy arm the KenGen Foundation introduced a model in the year 2015 which gives employees an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the less fortunate in society through their generous donations. Giving a new meaning to CSR!

This is not far removed from Michael Porter and Mark Kramer’s notion of ‘shared value’, which was introduced to the global corporate scene in the year 2006 through an article, titled “Strategy and Society: The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility,” whose entry shifted the view of CSR in business for good.

READ: Business Value of KenGen’s CSI

Interestingly, when this idea was being introduced, the discussion around Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – which many today prefer to replace the ‘R’ with ‘Investment’ – was mostly about the economic benefits of CSR. Around the same time, Mr. Ithiami was working at Sameer Africa, where his resolve to help was crystallised.

He says he was greatly influenced by the then CEO of the tyre company Eric Kimani who started small while still in employment but went on to be one of Kenya’s most influential entrepreneurs and philanthropists. His ventures are today not only profitable but also address some of the most urgent sustainability needs in the society.   

But as the debate about economic benefits of CSR rages on, KenGen has chosen to take the concept of shared values in a more practical way – looking not outwards to the communities but inwards – towards building a sustainable relationship that is a win-win for both the organisation and communities.

READ MORE: Corporate Partnerships Best for Implementing CSI Activities

 “We launched the KenGen Employee Giver Initiative program specifically to turn all employees into philanthropists by making either monetary donations or using their professional skills to donate their time to help address a number of challenges in our society,” said Anthony Igecha, KenGen Foundation’s Ag. Managing Trustee. This was three years ago. 

And as sure as the first African sun hits the geothermal-active fields of Olkaria from the east, so did the team from the KenGen Foundation led by its founding CEO Mike Njeru who has since retired. They arrived in Naivasha one morning to a welcome of over 1,000 employees. This would be the first of a series of meetings with staff to sell the novel concept of the ‘Employee Giver Initiative’.

READ ALSO: New Strategies During Foundation 2018 Team Building

At first the team was met with scepticism as many received this new trend in CSR with disbelief, perhaps because they were being asked to donate part of their salaries towards a worthy cause. But who would blame them for doubting, our society is rife with stories of people being conned in broad daylight in the name of charity!

“We faced some challenges initially but eventually many joined us after we earned their trust,” said Mr. Igecha adding, “Who better to implement an organization’s philanthropic endeavors than the people who work there? After all, employees represent their organizations both at formal forums and at home.”

Today, over 1,000 members of staff like Mr. Ithiami have joined the initiative and are fondly referred to among their peers as ‘Givers’. They commit to a monthly or one-off financial contribution or other voluntary services utilizing their time and skill to create a better society. KenGen Givers assist to spearhead and implement the company’s CSR projects at each power station in line with KenGen’s overall sustainability agenda.

“My childhood was interesting and had to go through challenges that taught me great lessons in life particularly on the benefits of helping, a small act can make a huge difference in how a child’s life turns out to be,” intones Mr. Ithiami adding, “I really enjoyed school despite the hardships, it opened up my mind to a fascinating new world beyond the daily hustles.”

Mr. Ithiami owes his success to a number of people who helped him through school and has decided to join hands with other like-minded employees to give back.

He renders: “Givers helped me during my school days, and even when I was in college, I don’t think I would have made it without the generous support I received.”

Other than making monetary contributions, about 25 of KenGen Givers are committed as mentors for students under the KenGen Education Scholarships program to ensure their good performance and also offer counseling and career guidance.

According to Mr. Ithiami, the one thing that makes the Employee Giver Initiative attractive is the fact that, “You know very well that the resources will be used diligently for stated purposes since the fund is being managed by colleagues who are people you know and trust.”

Thanks to this kitty, KenGen Givers are today able to plant over 6,000 trees every year in various locations around the country including the Nairobi National Park, Western, Eastern, Rift Valley and Coastal regions. According to Cathy Kwena, KenGen Foundation’s Senior Fundraising Officer, the Giver initiative has so far collected close to 10 million shillings in a span of just about three years. This fund has also helped educate eight students through secondary school. 

“There is great joy in knowing that you have touched a life positively through the simple act of sharing,” says Mr. Ithiami. To him, the act of giving, in itself irrespective of the amount is a great source of satisfaction.

His advice to other organization who would want to implement the same model is to do it in an organized manner and allow employees to channel their donations through check-off, standing order and so on as KenGen does. 

“It is easier that way,” he says in a rather reflective tone before his face beams with excitement as he adds, “You can also give in kind including skills and time spent helping others in the community. Giving opens up joy and blessings of being a vessel for uplifting humanity.”

Going forward KenGen intends to enlist up to 70% of its 2,500 strong staff complement into the Employee Giver Initiative as one of its Foundation’s revenue streams towards making it self-reliant. 

Governed by a Board of Trustees, the KenGen Foundation focuses its CSR efforts around three key pillars of sustainability namely; Education, Environment, and Water and Sanitation in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals which aims at ending extreme poverty, providing educational and entrepreneurial opportunities, and addressing climate change.

Frank D. Ochieng, Chief Communications Officer – KenGen.

Four retirees from Kipevu Power Plant joined their colleagues and staff from the KenGen Foundation in a tree planting exercise to mark their last day at KenGen PLC on 8 November at Eng. Alfred Obiero’s Environment Corner within the station. The tree planting exercise was part of the KenGen Foundation’s Corporate Social Investment activities in-line with the Company’s Employee Giver Initiative objectives.

Ag. Regional Manager – Thermal Reuben Wekesa, and his counterpart Eng. Salim Omar plants a tree at Eng. Obiero’s corner.

Led by the Foundation’s Ag. Managing Trustee Anthony Igecha, and Ag. Regional Manager Reuben Wekesa – Thermal; North Konzi, Benson Musembi, John Mwanzia, and Peter Marube joined more than eighty Kipevu staff in planting 320 tree seedlings as a way of “greening” the power plant’s environment.

Ngong Hills Environmental Cleanup Kicks Off Giving Season

Speaking during the event, Eng. Wekesa encouraged Kipevu staff to continue planting trees as a way of mitigating the effects of adverse climate changes affecting the country. He appealed to the participants to uphold retired Eng. Alfred Obiero’s vision of greening Kipevu Power Plant and nurture the seedlings planted.

Echoing the manager’s sentiment, Anthony Igecha lauded the impressive turnout and was grateful that the Foundation was involved in the tree planting exercise.

“As a Foundation, we are proud to be associated with this activity as it aligns with our environment pillar and our flagship environmental program the Schools Green Initiative Challenge”, he said.

“As an organization, we hope that Kipevu will be involved in the program as we expand to schools in Kilifi, Kwale, and Mombasa counties”, he added.

Benson Musembi during the tree planting exercise. Benson has served KenGen for more than 20 years.

Benson Musembi retires from the Company’s Administration Department, while North Konzi worked in Finance. Both John Mwanzia and Peter Marube were in Operations.

During the luncheon held in their honor, the retirees thanked the Company for the opportunity and advised the rest to stay focused and committed in their work.

Business Value of KenGen’s CSI

Expressing sincere gratitude for their service, Salim Omar, Chief Engineer – Thermal, praised their commitment and dedication to KenGen and wished them the best in their sunset years. His counterpart Oswlad Ngeti -Union Representative praised the work ethics that saw them devote more than twenty years of service to the Company.

Organized by the KenGen Foundation, the Kipevu tree planting exercise follows an earlier environmental cleanup carried out at Ngong Hills Power Station. It is part of KenGen Employee Giver Initiative activities aimed at involving KenGen staff in the company’s CSI.

Similar activities will be rolled out at other KenGen regions over the next few weeks.

The KenGen Foundation wishes the retirees all the best in their future endeavors.

SCROLL THROUGH THE PICS TO SEE HOW THE TREE PLANTING EXERCISE HAPPENED

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

For Martin Gitonga Njuki, Dominic Kereya Kaleke, Juliana Njeri Mbugua, and Midan Hussein, being awarded the KenGen Education Scholarships was not only an honor but also a relief.

The four qualified for the university scholarships after attaining straight As in their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations, and have done KenGen proud by graduating with First Class Honors from their various universities.

KenGen Foundation’s Acting Managing Trustee Anthony Igecha praised their efforts and said, “The Foundation is proud of their achievements, as this reflects the company’s expectations”.

“Their accomplishments are a testament that the investment made to our scholarship beneficiaries is truly worth it”, he added.

“The four will automatically join the KenGen Alumni Club and engage with the rest in promoting and supporting the Education Pillar of the organization”, the Ag. Managing Trustee further said.

Martin Njuki

Martin Njuki, a native of Mbeere South Sub-county and the second born in a family of six, graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) degree from University of Kabianga.

His academic journey saw him sit the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations twice to enable him to proceed to Kathiani Boys High School where he passed the national examinations with a B+, and qualify for the KenGen Education Scholarship.

Currently working as a medical representative in a pharmaceutical firm, Martin shares the following:

“To my loving family at KenGen Foundation, asanteni sana. For real, you’re touching lives, enabling our communities. Thank you for your all-round mentorship. I’m morally shaped courtesy of your investment in me. You helped me out of an otherwise pre-determined path of poverty and ignorance. Asanteni saaaana”.

Juliana Njeri

Juliana Njeri Mbugua is currently pursuing a professional course as an accountant (CPA – Section 6). Juliana, from Naivasha Sub-county, graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology with a bachelor of Commerce degree (Finance), having previously completed her secondary education at Maai Mahiu (Girls’) Secondary School with an A-.

Of the scholarship opportunity from KenGen, Juliana “is grateful to KenGen, through the KenGen Foundation, for the abundant support throughout my university education. I am, and will always remain very grateful for the immeasurable generosity of KenGen. This rare philanthropy has increased my desire to achieve more and contribute positively to my community, our nation and the world at large”.

Dominic Kaleke from Naivasha is an alumnus of the KenGen’s Education Scholarships programme. The former Narok High School student of 2012, he was awarded a full University scholarship after qualifying to join Chuka University.

There, he pursued a degree in Bachelor of Science (biochemistry) of which he graduated with First Class Honors.

The last-born son in a family of eleven has just started his career at Hot Springs Girls High School as a laboratory technologist and tells us the following: “I want to pass my sincere gratitude to KenGen Foundation and to KenGen fraternity for coming into my life and enable me to achieve my academic goals. Surely you have been more than a father and mother in my life. May God bless KenGen Foundation, may God bless KenGen. Once again thank you”.

Mwidani Hassan

Mwidani Hussein Hassan from Kilifi County is a former student at Tudor Day Secondary School, class of 2012. KenGen awarded him a full university scholarship after qualifying to join Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, where he pursued a degree in Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering of which he graduated with First Class Honors.

The second born son in a family of two, he was the top student at Tudor Day Secondary School, scoring an A.

He’s currently doing his internship at Kenya Power and Lighting Company, and sends us the following heartfelt thank you note:

“KenGen has and always will be my ‘heaven-sent’ life changer. Coming at a time when my hopes of joining the university, let alone pursuing my dream course, were clouded with uncertainty, the KenGen Foundation not only ensured I got into a lecture room but also had the smoothest campus life any student would hope for. The Foundation catered for all my fees, upkeep finances and psychological needs that enabled me to fully concentrate on my studies and achieve my goals.

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the KenGen Company, the KenGen Foundation fraternity and more specifically to Sir Anthony Igecha and Ms. Dorcas Arama for their priceless care, guidance, and mentorship. May the Almighty reward them all with goodness“.

The KenGen Education Scholarship program has, since 2005, helped more than 600 bright but needy students from marginalized areas achieve their dream in education. Many have gone on to prominence.

They have made – and continue to make – their marks and achieve excellence in a variety of fields such as engineering, business, arts, and the government.

Our prominent alumni are a diverse group of individuals who cover the whole country, innovating, changing lives, and making history.

Congratulations to the new alumni!

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The KenGen Foundation, in partnership with Better Globe Forestry and Bamburi Cement Ltd., recently conducted a workshop to review the progress of the Schools Green Initiative Challenge at various centers in Embu, Kitui and Machakos counties.

200 principals and ‘green’ teachers from the schools participating in the tree-planting competition attended the capacity building sessions held from September 26 – 28.

The Foundation’s Ag. Managing Trustee addressing the green teachers during the 3-day capacity building.

READ MORE: Surprise Win for GIC during KenGen’s 2018 G2G

Acting Managing Trustee, KenGen Foundation, Anthony Igecha lauded the schools for their progress in nurturing the tree seedlings and reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment and support in ensuring that Phase IV of the GIC is a success.

“Despite the severe environmental conditions in the three semi-arid counties, the Foundation and partners pledge to replace the lost seedlings distributed earlier”, he said.
“We hope that the schools’ administration and students involved in the project take good care of the seedlings. Head teachers should ensure that the woodlots are looked after even when the schools close for the December holidays”, he added.

Green teachers interact with the presenters during the 2nd GIC IV tree-planting workshop.

During the workshop, participants were taken through the benefits of planting Senna siamea, Terminalia brownii, and Melia volkensii, as a way of mitigating climate change, providing wood fuel, and alternative income opportunities in the timber industry.

The project’s Monitoring and Evaluation officers also advised the participants on how to identify and handle tree diseases. The KenGen Foundation team demonstrated to the participants the monetary value of planting the trees, while Better Globe Forestry encouraged the teachers to embrace the project in their individual households.

ALSO READ: Exciting Mombasa Tour for GIC Phase II Winners

In a separate presentation, the teachers were trained on how to use social media in communicating their progress and innovations with their peers and project partners. Teachers from the 3 counties set up WhatsApp groups to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and information on the GIC.

A green teacher refers to the GIC Technical Manual, courtesy of project partners KenGen Foundation, Better Globe Forestry, and Bamburi Cement.

The GIC is a 10-year project funded by the partners at a cost of Ksh. 120 million and is an upscale of the successful Phase I pilot project that initially involved 81 schools within the counties of Embu and Machakos.

RELATED: GIC II Runners-Up Fun at Olkaria

The project is designed as a challenge to participating schools, mainly due to the dry weather conditions in the areas. Prizes are awarded based on the highest survival rate of seedlings and use of innovation in growing the trees.

Monitoring & Evaluation Officer January Muthoka takes the participants through the technicalities of nurturing the Mukau tree.

The GIC targets to reach 140,000 school children by 2018, with the schools being used as channels to reach out to the wider community members and encourage tree planting and nurturing.

SEE MORE HERE: [metaslider id=3837]

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

For Megawatt Café’s Head Chef, cooking is more than just a passion for culinary prowess. It’s a way of life and a chance to experiment with modern techniques and ingredients, traditional methods, and a bit of something personal.

Chef Anthony doing his thing at Megawatt Cafe.

Anthony Kiarie has been the Head Chef of Megawatt Café since it opened its doors to the public 1-year ago. The café, a social investment of the KenGen Foundation, initially started with ten staff and over the past twelve months, the team has grown to fifteen.

READ MORE: Team Building Retreat Cooks New Roadmap for Megawatt Cafe.

Anthony’s passion for fresh ingredients and culinary excellence are the cornerstones of Megawatt’s success. This is reflected in the café’s efforts in offering the best in-house and outside catering services for the Company and its staff.

Driven by an unyielding dedication to providing memorable experiences, Chef Anthony has been instrumental in expanding the café’s services to cater for personal and corporate events outside Stima Plaza. Bookings are made earlier to allow for planning and logistics.

I recently sat down briefly with Anthony (between his hectic daily schedule) to find out more about his passion AND THIS IS WHAT HE SHARED:

Ever since I was young, I have always had a passion for cooking. I’ve never really considered following another career path other than being a chef.

My career began in Nakuru where I was born. I attended Lake Nakuru Hotel and Tourism Management College (Egerton University) and during my free time, I cooked and served at social events such as weddings. Later, I eventually landed a part-time job as a commie at Summit Resort even as I continued with my studies.

Always ready to serve! Chef Anthony at Megawatt Cafe.

After graduation, I worked at Lake Nakuru Lodge at Lake Nakuru National Park as an Assistant Cook. I was lucky to be under the tutelage of a foreign trained Executive Chef. Following that, I moved to Nairobi and where I joined NAS Airport Services as a cook working at Simba Restaurant, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

ALSO READ: Megawatt Café First outing Leaves Olkaria Givers Craving for more.

I gained my first real experience at running a busy in-house restaurant at the Standard Group at the age of 26 where I was promoted from Assistant Head Cook to Senior Head Cook. I once featured in a T.V. advert in KTN’s Life & Style, but my biggest achievement at the time was featured on the weekly Radio Maisha cooking show Twende Jikoni, hosted by Ann Njogu between 12.00 p.m. and 12.30.p.m. every Friday. This really gave me the platform to showcase my skills and gain a few minutes of fame every week for close to six months.

Anyway, I’m glad to be at Megawatt Café. I guess it’s a privilege to be able to cater to the nutritional needs of the staff of the leading power generator in Kenya!

One of my favorite recipes for you to try at home is…

Spicy Chicken Nuggets

Ingredients

5 chicken breast halves, skinned boned and cut into 11/2 inch pieces

11/2 cups buttermilk

2 eggs beaten

11/2 cups all-purpose flour

11/4 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon dried whole thyme

¼ teaspoon paprika

Vegetable oil

Preparation

STEP 1

Place chicken pieces in mixing bowl. Combine buttermilk and eggs, and pour over chicken, cover and refrigerate for several hours

STEP 2

Combine flour, salt, pepper garlic powder, chili powder, thyme, and Spanish paprika in mixing bowl; stir well

Drain chicken and dredge each piece in flour mixture

STEP 3

Heat 1 inch of oil in a pan to until hot, add chicken in several batches and fry for 3 minutes or until golden brown, turning frequently. Drain well on a pepper towels

Serve spicy chicken nuggets with French fries (hot and sweet sauce).

Bon appetite!

So what is the secret to really great food, I ask?

“The chef must know the tradition and history of the food he’s working with. There are so many ways to combine ingredients for different reactions to the taste buds, and also personal preferences…”, says Anthony.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The Technical Committee of the Schools Green Initiative Challenge is glad to announce the appointment of Samuel Kariuki as the new Monitoring and Evaluation Officers for Phase IV of the Schools Green Initiative Challenge. He joins Daniel Ndolo and January Muthoka from Better Globe Forestry at Eastern Hydros.

READ MORE: New M&E Officers for Phase IV of Schools Tree-planting Competition

Samuel, who started planting Mangifera indica at his uncle’s farm at age of 11 years, was an attachee at KenGen’s Gitaru before joining Better Globe Forestry. Samuel holds BSc.in Environmental Science from Chuka University, and is a qualified Natural Resource Management specialist, registered at NEMA as an associate lead expert in environmental assessment and audit.

Samuel Kariuki (far R) with colleagues January Muthoka and Daniel Ndolo at KenGen Kipevu Power Station.

Samuel will play a crucial role in monitoring the success of Phase IV of the GIC project, a unique partnership between the champions of dry-land forestry – Better Globe Forestry; the experts of habitat restoration – Bamburi Cement Ltd; Africa’s biggest geothermal energy producer – KenGen; and the KenGen Foundation.

The project, designed as a competition between participating schools, aims at greening over 500 acres of the semi-arid counties of Embu, Meru, and Machakos with drought-resistant Terminalia brownie, Senna siamea and Melia volkensi tree species.

ALSO READ: Schools Green Initiative Challenge Welcomes 100 New Schools as Phase II Winners Recognized.

The project is gearing for the next teachers’ capacity building workshop for the current100 schools in Phase IV that are competing for the top prize in Phase IV of the afforestation competition. The winning school stands to win a fully paid trip to Mombasa, scholarships, and water tanks among others, based on the tree seedlings survival rates and innovations.

The new M&E officer is also charged with seedlings distribution, replacement, and keeping track of the project’s development within the 100 new schools participating on Phase IV.

Karibu Samuel!

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

The persistent heat and dry air of the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary welcomed the KenGen Foundation team on 4^th September during day one of a four-day team-building excursion. Checking in at the Sarova Salt Lick Lodge, we eagerly receive glasses of chilled juices to quench our thirsts. Immediately, our attention is drawn to the herds of animals lazing around the nearby waterhole. Several zebras, buffalo, gazelles, and antelopes have strings of water dripping from their snouts, each facing a different direction as if anticipating a lion attack (we hoped!). Thrilled, we head for a much-needed siesta.

Later in the evening, we were rested enough to marvel at our surroundings during the 2-hour game drive. Herds of elephants, eland antelopes, and impalas fascinate us, with a few giraffes and ostriches capping the day. Still no lions! But at least, we got to enjoy a specular view of the fiery orange sun setting in the evening. The sanctuary is located in the vicinity of a World War I battle between the British and the German’s from neighboring Tanganyika, our driver-guide informs us.

READ MORE: Surprise Win for GIC during KenGen’s 2018 G2G

After an early morning game drive around the sanctuary on day 2, the team settles down for business and we set the ground rules. The Acting Managing Trustee took us through the Foundation’s Strategic Plan and set the theme and agenda for the team building.

The team went ahead to explore various strategies of sustainably expanding the Foundation’s CSI projects, and streamlining its operations and engagements with stakeholders for greater impacts. After a brief question – and – answer session, and goal setting concludes the first part of the team building.

ALSO READ: Corporate Partnerships Best for Implementing CSI Activities

In the afternoon, we split into two teams for some grueling tasks aimed at building communication and teamwork. The Foundation ladies prove to be quite resilient, more often than not outperforming their male counterparts!

The next day we leave Taita Hills and take the SGR to Mombasa for Phase II of the team building. In the evening, we go out to dinner at the Tamarind Dhow, a traditional Arabic trading sailboat converted into a floating restaurant.

MORE ABOUT: Business Value of KenGen’s CSI

Measuring 23 by 8 meters with a 14-meter mast, the dhow is decked with an assortment of sizzling seafood and nyamachoma. The huge boat took us around the channel under a semi-clear grey sky, with the captain Omar allowing some of us to try our hands in steering the craft. A truly humbling experience.

Day 3 found us at Wild Waters for the last round of physical activities. After a brief stretching session the team splits (yet again) into two and challenge each other on several activities. We wind up the day with a surprise birthday cake for our Admin. Officer Lydia Mbaka!

The invigorated Foundation’s staff returned to Nairobi with fond memories of the retreat and better understanding of each other.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer

By recording 77% survival rates after 2 years of joining Phase II of the Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge, Mashamba Primary School got a chance to visit Olkaria geothermal power plant on 16 August.

Peter Karuria, Olkaria’s safety officer engages the students during the tour.                  Pic.|E. Nyamasyo

This was part of their reward for emerging position 2 in the tree growing competition implemented by KenGen Foundation in partnership with Bamburi Cement and Better Globe Forestry.

Accompanied by the Embu CSO David Kithaka, their head teacher John Muringo,

and green teachers Josphat Kyule and Martha Mwangangi, the students and were all eager to catch every word from Peter Karuria, Olkaria’s safety officer, amid the din from the power house, as he explained the process of geothermal power production. This was the group’s first visit to a KenGen power plant.

Enjoying the warm waters of Olkaria Spa.

READ MORE: Exciting Mombasa Tour for GIC Phase II Winners

Mashamba Primary School is one in 120 schools that participated in Phase II of the GIC from 2016 – 2018. Located in Embu County, one of the driest areas in the country, the schools employed several innovative tree nursery management techniques to ensure the seedlings survival. Apart from mulching and drip irrigation, the students also adopted individual trees and nurtured them to maturity.

After lunch, the students couldn’t wait to take a dip in the spa, surprised at the warmth of the water, their excited laughter echoing across the pool.

 

On a game drive at Hell’s Gate National Park thereafter, the GIC champions marvelled at herds of buffalo and zebra, and found the warthog quite a comical creature that they couldn’t stop talking about!

Early morning camp breakfast at Fisherman’s Camp, Naivasha

Apart from educational trips, the GIC rewards for the top three performing schools also include scholarships, water tanks, gift vouchers and certificates. The GIC is unique in that it incentivizes young minds to be proactive in environmental conservation through tree planting. The project also incorporates the setting up of communal woodlots through a Farmer’s Outreach program, managed by project partner Better Globe Forestry.

The students spent the night camping at Fisherman’s Camp, a first time experience for all of them including the teachers that will forever remain etched in their memories.

Check out the slideshow for more pics.

Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.

–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer