ORANGE THE WORLD

We are in the season of sixteen days of enlightenment of Gender Based Violence (GBV), of which women are the most affected, with the perpetrators being men. Orange the world campaign seeks to enlighten the world about the challenges affecting women specifically, so we the men need to stand with them. The colour orange is a symbol of  a brighter future, that is free of violence. It is the solidarity to end violence against women and girls worldwide. This is regardless of who they are, or what they dress in, for we have seen over time that all those are excuses by deranged men; who took advantage of women, from those who are days old to even grandmothers.

The cases of violence against women and children has also risen in this period of the pandemic, and shows there is little safety in homes, as the perpetrators are even relatives. Cases of FGM is creeping in slowly, and we are going back to the dark ages regardless of our societal standing, with the bases being archaic beliefs. It is happening as the cases have increased irrespective of the culprits’ societal standing. There is something very wrong, that needs to be addressed by society, no matter how we pretend to avoid it.

The launch of the event of Rising Gardens Kenya  raised the need for men to be part of this cause, as the whole society is affected. It is a global call for one billion people to rise against GBV, and just like a garden to sprout and grow to its fullest capacity, spreading the beauty of the cause. Men also get affected but do not talk about it, and they end up suffering in silence to their own detriment. We are all affected by this topic, so let us just talk in this safe space my PH mbogi, where we get to introspect ourselves, and give up some of the beliefs we have grown up with. They are simply that, conditions we have grown up believing they are factual, whereas they are opinions.

A man’s identity has been linked to what he owns rather than who he is. We have been confused with the external trappings of power, rather than the internal capabilities one is born with, that make up a man. This has created a false narrative that you need to really look like you have made it externally, to be seen as a successful man, and those who have failed to do so have been branded as losers, and not who they are as people. Brute strength is used to demand for acknowledgement or submission of a man, showing the weakness rather than power of the culprit involved in battering or raping the person they see as an object.

Ego has been the trait we run to in order to be seen as manly, which shows the opposite; as someone is enslaved by praises rather than themselves, without which they are a shell. Narcissism is where everything is about them, and it has added to a god like mentality, where they are to be served without question, rather than being leaders through servanthood. Men of nyadhi of who stand by what they believe in, do what they say, are few and far between. Role models have become rare, and as a result a generation is growing by what they see on social media as the truth, instead of the reality on the ground.

How to be a man is a course we were not taught hence learning by observation, and listening to the wrong places we emerged with a warped mentality of what a real man should be, and do. The protectors we are expected to be has been thrown out, and that trait being used to demand submission to those who are weaker than us. Our superheroes were the likes of Maradona and ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, men who demonstrated raw power and talent that was above the normal man. From the stories of their lives we can also learn the challenges they went through despite the glorification we gave them.

They struggled with their manhood, and it was fodder for the news. Our heroes bled, yet we wanted to be like them. As they have aged they discovered themselves truly. They had some form of peace in their lives. Vanity all is vanity is what the richest man in the world Solomon said, yet he himself fell into challenges, showing that we are weak, and that should be addressed instead of hidden. In the right environment men need to talk. The softness we grew up and told that it was not a man’s DNA should be demystified.

Mentorship is the secret weapon the changes the narratives we have. As self-awareness emerges from it all, a human being comes to their understanding of who they are in this world. All of this based on what they stand for and not the externalities of where they come from, and how they were raised. Self-confidence is an internal game that needs consistent exercise, as it is a mental and emotional muscle. The most important areas of emotional intelligence, and mental wellness have been neglected as we learn on the job. The ones ahead of us are also lost, in cultural beliefs that are detrimental to the society.

Men also need support groups to help them deal with anxiety, stigma and triggers that they have gone through in GBV. The need to see a man in totality is crucial, or else the narrative of a man will still be in positions rather than their persona. Love should reign supreme, as it is the greatest tool to use in life, hate is too expensive and destructive. Let’s Talk, Let’s Love.

The Unemployment Brand…and Dream Brand

How many of you have seen the stories of the youth holding placards by roadsides pleading for work? Or the guy who was found at Uhuru Park all disheveled by life as we know it, and only his alumni came to sort him out. Did it gnaw at your conscience at how deep we are at unemployment? These examples are but a tip of the iceberg. So many people have not been so lucky to have received their dues through the public eye. As we await the political sector to sort itself out, will we keep on complaining? Times are so harsh, that even the superheroes are out of work.

The Vision 2030 secretariat had a high-end meeting last week with Dr. Victor Koh to explain to us how Singapore managed to transform itself in a generation. How many of us know the role we play in this vision?  We are 13 years away from its intended completion and maybe, just maybe you should be aware of what are the KPIs at your level.

Side hustles abroad are the real hustle that have opened up industries. The wealthiest men, and women on this planet list came out a few weeks ago on Forbes. Check out among the top 10, people who stepped out to follow their dreams, and create hundreds of jobs. The environment was right, and they had to have grit to persevere so that their dreams would convert to visions; which through actions became realities.

Remembering the age bracket breakdown story, unemployment rains in all stages. From the boomers who are now facing retirement and are unsure about where to go to next; to the X generation whose career progress seems to be fading, as digital disruption does its thing in different industries. The XY generation is also being caught flatfoot by the speed life is hitting them, and expenses swelling with the job security they thought they had now looking like a looming executioner. Then we get to the millennials, YOLOing amidst all this, but also under threats even before they realize their dreams.

We are rumbling about this because too much talk has taken place, with very little walk to step up to the plate. The informal sector like we said carries a huge number who decided they will do whatever it takes to live. The only way we can get through this time in our generation is partnership as much as possible. Hook up with someone you know is good at what they do, and reciprocate by giving out your strength as well. They symbiosis garnered would assist in shortening the growth curve, and perfecting one’s strengths, while minimizing their weakness. The SWOT analysis comes in handy, as even opportunities and threats can be met better through teamwork.

The IPs story is also a bit scary, how your dreams can be taken under your nose. The funny thing about this life is that your dream can be imitated but never duplicated; because there is that stamp of your uniqueness that cannot be replicated. You remember the days someone dubbed your assignment, and failed to change even your name, just presenting it as it was? Not putting in the sweat does that.

Mentorship to the current and the next generation in your field will not make you shine less. If anything you will be held in higher admiration, as they will have stood on your shoulders to reach as far as they envisioned.

To all those who are hustling, live your dream by being strategic about it. Write it down, break it to manageable pieces, and use what you have to get what you want. There is nothing that tastes better than you own sweat. Hustle the right way and believe you me every cent you worked for will be accounted for, as you know the pain.

Surround yourself with thinkers who visualize like you, because dream killers also exist. Use the same strength to be positive that is spent on tearing down others. Applaud those you see succeeding, as their lane is not yours. Invest in the pavement of your lane. Be so busy working on your craft, that you do not notice other factors which do not add to it.

Put on blinkers, you may hear the footsteps approaching, but you are focused on your race. You know your SWOT analysis and those are the variables you need to take care of.  Some you can manage others depend on the weather; just make sure you are at the top of your own self that the unmanageable do not destabilize you. This is what we call personal branding. Be so good at being you, it would still be desirable to be you in another life.

We are living in a time where so much knowledge is accessible through technology, but less wisdom applied to these outlets. Let us stand up for what is right and restore the faith that seems to be lost. For that which is unseen, but to behave as if it exists. There might be so much despair about unemployment, but let us be the creators, managers, leaders of dealing with it in our areas of influence.

Look at how our sports people did us proud in athletics, golf and football over the weekend. Sweat was literally put on the line for all who brought us the victories, and participated as well. This country has too much to offer!

Let us collaborate…grow together…celebrate together…let us change the scarcity mentality theory that has been part and parcel of who we claim to be…. than who we actually are…It is brand perception versus its actual value….there is simply enough for all of us if we got rid of the greed gene.

Ni sisi mnasema hatujaandika for this long?

It has been a longtime since we interacted. Memes, GIFs, and Trends have come and gone, but Brand Strategy foundations are still the same. The world of marketing and communications changes like the weather and if you are not careful, you will be blown away literally when caught standing on this fast lane. Traditional marketing has met with digital marketing, and the field is as lively as we Brand lovers dream of!

This was the most popular meme last week and some companies hit it spot-on to their core values, while others blundered themselves through the razzmatazz. We are having awesome adverts on telly this first quarter, and some which make one squirm as it passes by. Awesome local and international shows have come through, in both theatre and movies. Songs have been made which make you laugh, or cry. We will discuss anything that is something in our daily life because you know what? Your life is a brand, and is surrounded by brands….and that is why we love this BrandLyf to the fullest…sisi tuko ndani…ndani…. ndaaani…! We love this Country, our Brands, our People, and our life. We will discuss country brand, corporate brand, personal brand, and whatever makes us passionate, as Brand Strategy is supposed to!

We were quite shocked to find ourselves labelled as Millennial, is there really an exact definition, and does it really matter? Most products coming out are for this bracket, and why not? They comprise over 51% of the population. Some companies are pulling it so well, makes us wish we are the intended client. BOYB Tv Show hats off to you, we learn so much from each show, even us who linger on the periphery of your target audience. We all have our opinions on these topics, and that is the beauty of freedom of expression. Unemployment is only gonna go down through such initiatives. Like someone said, the government job is to create the environment, for the private sector to thrive and solve this giant load on our backs. Lions’ den had a different strategy, still effective in getting both sides benefit from such a partnership. We will discuss these powerful brand initiatives as we walk through this BrandLyf lane.

Has anyone noticed the 90’s is back! Shows, events, personalities that we looked up to when growing up can now be observed by hindsight lenses and understood. They look like fiction now, the likes of Pablo Escobar’s, OJ Simpson’s Series and The New Edition Story, to name but just a few. Tupac Shakur’s movie is out soon also. A quick question, where are our Kenyan stories? Who is writing, and producing such Brand Kenya memories that those who are not there will get to experience them in books, and hopefully plays and movies? We would love to see Wangari Maathai’s biography as a movie. She is a Legend in this world, and our next generation needs to made aware that she changed the world in her own way; by standing firm for her beliefs. The 60’s was a time of upheaval, and movies like Hidden Figures remind us how ladies succeeded in the weirdest environments, and shone for their talents. The likes of Jackie, Selma gave us glimpses of the lives of people who changed the world at certain points in time. We have our Kenyan stories, and we need to tell them. How will our generation be remembered?

We pray that the Arts are given the importance they deserve, as this is where the majority of youth will get opportunities for a livelihood. The informal sector is huge, through guys hustling in one way or another in crafts that they are good at. The sciences really come through for us. To have the best doctors, engineers, scientists on one side changing the world, and musicians, sports people, poets showing you the soul of the world, in its beauty and horror; giving you memories that take you back to a certain period of your life, when that is all that you have to cling to at certain periods of time. That is the best cocktail of professionals we should claim, and let us learn to love our own. We shall go through Unemployment, and how we can relate industries to this issue; as we inform, look for solutions and brand the SME sector holders to optimize their talents.

It is encouraging that we have 8 full buses going to Uganda over this weekend to support our biggest Brand Ambassadors, the athletes. Harambee Stars is playing at Machakos a friendly match against Uganda. That is local sports tourism right there. What are we doing to optimize such events and package them to have long-term effects? Kabaddii is in Mauritius representing us after a tale to tell of begging for funds. We will engage in Sports Branding, and how we can raise our brands to the levels they so deserve.

Do you have a squad? We will discuss the best social and brand squads we would love to have. An awesome social brand squad is like that of Billy Graham, with his two best friends, over 50 years of friendship…through life in its way as it always is. We will engage in such personal brands, and what they have taught us. We need Kenyan stories to tell too, we will get them and celebrate them.

We have touched on a lot of stuff today, but we will sift through topical issues as we wind down with the first quarter of this year. Have you met your personal KPIs by the way? Analyze yourself and begin again later in April after Fools’ Day…au sio?

Remember at the end of the day…. all these topics are through Brand Strategists’ eyes…. let us engage…learn…laugh…and impact our generations. We are Wale Wasee that make your dreams actualize, because we walk through them together, and provide the best brains to implement and change Brands. Let’s do this thing…

A BRAND STORY: Entrepreneurship Vs. Intrapreneurship

Where were we? Oh the WhatsApp buyout. Brian Acton like earlier stated had tried securing employment at both Yahoo and Facebook; losing out on both. We know the story by know. Many people are employed, yet few are intrapreneurs. An intrapreneur, according to my layman definition, is one who is under employment; but works having the mindset of a business owner. How many of us employed can claim to own their jobs? We work at jobs we do not like for different reasons; the pay, because we have to, lack of choice, fear of venturing out with our ideas, and many more. Few are the guys iHave met who genuinely love what they do, how they do it, and where they do it. Many are the hair-raising stories iHave personally been part of, and witnessed; of Horrible Bosses (remember the movie?)

An entrepreneur on the other hand, takes a risk, and ventures into the shark-infested world of business with nothing more than an idea; and the belief they can impact society in one way or another. Acton was benched from the school of intrapreneurship, and thrust into the entrepreneurship field. His partner Jan Koum hates the word entrepreneur by the way; going as far as saying his bodyguard will punch anyone who calls him that, hehe. My thinking is this, were Acton and Koum your average employees who clock in from nine to five, it would not have made any difference to the success of their venture when they started out. They would have fizzled out as many who have not defined their WHY do. However, they had a burning desire, a common trait amongst all game-changers; to see their idea to fruition. Your success as an individual is not dependent on your boss, your colleagues, or your work environment. Personal branding dictates that you set your personal standards. The bar that you alone know you can reach in relation to your capabilities, resources at hand, and the limitless power of imagination. The twist is your success as an employer is dependent on your employees. Your vision has to be internalized by those you hire, for it to have optimal impact to your target clientele.

Scarcity mentality dictates that there is a small piece of the pie for us, so we must fight to get the crumbs. We backbite, malign, falsify, to get ahead of those we deem our competition; at work, business and in life. iRead somewhere “iDo not want a piece of the pie, iWant the recipe”. This mindset is rare. Who said we cannot have all that we desire, or achieve our full potential in whichever endeavor we set to pursue? The dreams, goals, passion you experience are true to only you. Wow, iAm preaching here! My point is, regardless of whether you are an intrapreneur or entrpreneuer; your perspective will determine your output. Many have made it in life being career civil servants/ employees. Others have never been employed a day in their lives. Your ability to re-invent yourself no matter the curveballs life throws at you, will determine your finish line. Acton’s crystal ball would never have predicted the irony that his rejection would be a stepping stone to his joining the $ billionaire ranks.

Back to horrible bosses. iHave had the pleasure of working for the most, for lack of a better word, disturbed entrepreneurs. There was this lady who found fault with everyone, everyone! The tales of the people who have quit/ been fired on her account could fill a small novel. iHad a run in with her, reason why, to this date iHave no idea. iThink the shape of my nose must have rattled her, like Flynn rider in Tangled, the animation classic of Rapunzel. Let’s just say she was the earthly depiction of the white witch we read about in fables, cold, conniving, and downright nasty. The positive from this? She inadvertently fired the burners in my entrepreneurship journey, where iSwore before God and man; that no one would ever make me feel inferior ever again, without my consent (thank you Eleanor Roosevelt for that apt quote).

Tales to tell. iWonder why entrepreneurs in Kenya start businesses, yet treat their employees like mops. These are the first touch points the customer encounter. They are the face of the brand at that moment in time. Any outcome, be it positive, lies squarely in this employee. The Kenyan way of employee management is threats. The popular one is as there is a high rate of employment; you have been done for a favor by being hired. What happened to HR professionals actually doing their work? Very few companies in Kenya, multinationals included, can dare do an internal brand audit; where employees freely express themselves in matters related to the organization. We are stuck in a time warp, a master-slave relationship where the carrot and stick approach is favored. Brand identity and Brand image are miles apart. Who you say you are, versus who you actually are, is crater-wide.

iSpeak from experience, and did warn you earlier that Brand is extremely emotive. Allow me to vent because the theory of mentorship in SMEs in Kenya is simply that, a theory! Maybe it is in our nature, maybe we are not so sure of ourselves that we think our employees will steal our ideas (which they usually do!); but something has got to give. Employers cannot afford to be two-faced. It does not make business sense, is highly unethical, and unbiblical. Charity begins at home. You either walk the talk in your own enterprise, or suffer the consequences of employee turnover, together with client hijacks; and subsequent costs of re-hiring, then firing (an endless cycle). The consumer gets short-changed when your ego is in the way of service/ product delivery. Let’s call a spade a spade. We have become too comfortable with mediocre services, where we resort to PR and marketing gimmicks to stay relevant, at the expense of creativity and differentiation; yet the underlying cobwebs are not dealt with. The public sector is no different, ego-play between our ‘leaders’ on who has bigger guns.

The solution is simple. Let us all collectively step up to the plate, and be counted. Employee or employer, are you worthy being emulated? Are you who you say you are? When the chickens come home to roost, will you be left with an egg on your face, or will they nest on your head? Tafakari hayo. Let us deal with horrible bosses next time; we have barely scratched their surface….

BRAND: It’s Business…and very Personal

The news is awash with the sale of WhatsApp to Facebook. For some, it signals impending doom, as they believe our privacy will be compromised. Others see it as a conspiracy theory by the NSA to further probe into the lives of the global publics. iChoose to see the human element of it; Brian Acton. Together with Jack Koum, they have become the newest billionaires in town, according to Forbes. The classic story of rejection ,from shame to fame;  from ashy to classy, as the Notorious B.I.G. told us eons ago rings true. He was denied a position at both Facebook, and Twitter. Four years later, $19 billion is proof of his tenacity, ingenuity, and fruit of his labor. Where am i going with this?

Too often, we have been told the infamous adage, ‘It’s not personal, it’s just business’.  this usually happens when you are getting the sack, or being let down ‘gently’. ibeg to differ. The business of Brand is very emotive. It is extremely personal, why? As we said previously , or wrote last time; the consumer decision-making behavior is largely driven by perceptions, which emanate from feelings. It is purely an experiential process, after which the informed consumer makes rational decision on the product/ service purchased. What the heart wants, it wants. There are no two ways about it. Try prying away from a lady’s hand a pair of shoes that ‘were just  made for her’. Or from a man a gadget that simply calls out  to him. iSpeak from experience. There is small, square music device known as The Music Angel. The first time a colleague showed it to me, iHad no idea how it worked. So after fiddling with this device, instead of reading the manual (all men don’t! Who reads those things anyway?), iWas in love. Let’s just say we are now celebrating our 2^nd month anniversary. In order to maintain proper relationships with you-know-who, a plan was hatched to get her a pink one. Crisis averted.

Aha, back to topic. Business is personal. The passion that drove the formation of any enterprise, the big WHY?, the reason for existence; is derived from an innate desire to solve a prevailing need, a core purpose. Let no one lie to you that the purpose of business is to make profit. Such ventures are the fads that disappear like Usain Bolt, here today, gone tomorrow. Were Acton et al not passionate about his vision, talents,  and put his sweat where his mouth was; we would not even know about him today. The reason we have countless tales of pathetic customer service permeating all industries in Kenya, is the lack of heart in the owners, translated to the employees. The actualization of the triple bottom line of Planet, people, and Profit, is the reason we have the newsmakers, and lack of is why we vumilia the noisemakers (another story for another day, hehe).

Anyone who has played sports competitively knows that even a practice session is a dress rehearsal to the weekend game; and it is very easy to pick out the joy riders from the focused. iHave had, and heard three stories of the appalling cases of lack of decorum by  makangas (touts). A pal was nearly drugged, another almost accosted; and iAlmost had fist conversation with a member of this league of extraordinary gentlemen. Sadly, they are just a reflection of what we have condoned as normal behavior and standard of service; from people we actually pay a premium for shoddy services rendered. The public sector is rife with mismanagement of time, and infrastructure simply because of lack of passion for the job, resulting in disgruntled, foul-mouthed public servants who deem it fit to share their frustrations with those who pay them, the general public. iStill blame their leadership, they are a reflection of their superiors, a spitting image.

Branson said, “iRun all my homes like businesses, and all my businesses like homes”. He says this is because both have to be shared, and neither one works as well if one tries to go it alone. You want a solution to the lack of of decorum by product/ service providers? Look at the leadership. Change begins with you and me (story for another day). Simply put to all intrapreneurs, and budding entrepreneurs, your WHY? Should be the most compelling reason you wake up each morning. You have to be in love with what you do (remember Love and Brand?), and grind it out, regardless of present circumstances; for you to live to your full potential in business, and life. Acton has reinforced the ideology of Mvumilivu hula Mbivu, do your part, and let God do his bit.

iAm passionate about what iDo, are you? It is your business to be offended by poor service, and to break the cycle by offering the best of you in whatever you do, to your target audience. It’s not personal…it’s personal to business, and life.

LOVE AND BRAND

The leader shall be the servant of all. That is where we left off. Market leaders in the corporate world have one thing in common; they pay attention to their customers. They understand that the reason they are in business, and making super normal profits; is because of that one person in that remote location, who always uses their product/ service. Love and Brand sounds like an odd couple, who isn’t? How many times have you asked yourself how those two people you know ended up together? Yes. iWrote a similar article six years ago, aaahhh nostalgia. this piece is more relevant today, now more than ever. iWas a fresh-faced soon-to-be graduate on internship; excited about the world of employment, naïve and ambitious. A hopeless romantic, full of youthful exuberance. Good times. Back to topic!

The greatest commandment of all is love. You can have everything in this world, but if you have no love, you have nothing. Any functional business is formed on the basis of a ‘Why’; that innate desire to fulfill a gap, a need, to the best of its ability. Competition is a non-entity to the truly successful brands. They swim in their own oceans, leaving the piranha to feast on the morsels in the pool. The big fish in a small pond analogy is apt for the majority of businesses in Kenya. In a ‘me too’ culture, predatory instincts take over strategic thought. Niche positioning is forgotten as SME’s, and even corporates, go after each other’s jugular. iHave digressed, we were meant to be in the lovey dovey state. Apologies. Where was i? oh, Love, and Brand.

It is said working backwards gives a clearer picture of where one is headed. Covey called it beginning with the end in mind (Habit 2). The overriding purpose in today’s business world should be to satisfy the customer needs, exceedingly, abundantly, beyond their wildest expectations. Top of mind, how many global brands do this? African? Regional? Closer home…Kenyan? Even closer…County? The county of Machakos emerges heads and shoulders above the 46 others 9a story for another day, (County, and Country Branding). A public park has been opened today, the 14^th; when the romantic at heart are looking to connect with loved ones. Call it corny to take your date to Uhuru, Central, City, or Luna Parks; but we all know that love is indeed corny. It has no mind of its own, always putting the brain in hot soup. Love is blind. Consumers are blind to your marketing gimmicks, if you do not appeal to their base desires, instincts; felt and unfelt needs. It is your prerogative as a business owner/ worker to know your clients better than they know themselves.

Blue Ocean Strategy dictates that you go where no other business has gone, the proverbial uncontested market space. Apple did it as the world watched. From a computer hardware business, Steve Jobs et al dove into the music business, and telecommunication business. iTunes, iPods, iPhones, iPads…name it. The core of all these revolutionary initiatives was attention to detail, providing a quality product to the discerning customer; who did not even know that they needed these products before they heard of them! Safaricom and M-pesa have gone where no financial institution even dared to dream. They are not stopping; M-shwari is recording over six million customers and Kshs. 64 billion in deposits, in a calendar year! It is the 2^nd largest lender, and it is a virtual bank! How?

Their core competence (in my opinion) of the above, is the ability to delve into their customers’ lives, and extract the unknown. Superior products and services, exceptional consumer insight and experience; have driven Apple to the apex as one of the world’s most valuable brands. Safaricom has mined Kenyans’ ‘peculiar habits’, made a fortune with it, and become a global case study; despite having higher call rates than its competitors. Once consumer love becomes the engine that drives business, then superior return on investment is the natural response, not reaction to market forces as many do. Consumers are more inclined to follow their hearts, than mere logic. The heart may not be so smart, but it knows what it wants, and gets it regardless! Appeal to the emotions, fulfill them, and get their feedback on how to do it better next time. You are assured of a lifetime consumer if you do. Are your customers in love with you? Do you even love them? It takes two to tango. Love, and Brand…not Love and Basketball…makes the world go round…

Are you like the guy below, leaving your queen to get all dirty on her big day? Crown Your Customer, as Sunny Bindra puts it, and they will fall for you, every time…

Alma Mater Brand Identity Crisis

It has been a while since iPut finger to keyboard on this platform. They call it the hustle and bustle of life; we call it ‘kusaka tuvitu twa dunia’. Now to catch up with you on matters  #Brand;  in Kenya, Africa, and the world in general. Now, my alma mater is in the news for all the wrong reasons. The better part of last year, it was all over radio and TV, announcing to all and sundry on the caliber of ‘celebs’ it had groomed to greatness. This infomercial rubbed some people the wrong way, as they claimed were they to ‘floss’ their alumni like the above; then it would be nigh impossible to enumerate them.  The other commercial highlighted the international composition of the student population. The diversity of the populace was screened in full colour. Thus, if you are new to this country, you would be thoroughly enthralled by the impression created. Then, early this year, the chicken came home to roost, dirty linen got its full aeration in the same spotlight that the glory had been transmitted. Social media was rampant with staff salary details, and the discrepancies in them. Hot on the heels was the closure last week of a section of the institution over student unrest.

Now, to demystify the myths. Swahili sayings have a way of telling it as it is, no holds barred. iWill use two proverbs to underline my point. The first is Mgalla muue na haki mpe. Loosely translated, it is a similar analogy to giving unto Caesar what is Caesar’s; regardless of his ills. My university is truly renowned for churning out the best journalists in the business. Name any media station, and iWill show you five people in each who are making headlines, literally! The thing is, this fame is slowly waning. Other colleges and universities have upped their game. It is no longer the preserve of my dearly beloved Uni to chest-thump as the only university with a difference. Competitive advantage and market forces have deemed it necessary to innovate, or die. Sadly, my people are still relying on manna, rather than crossing over to the promised land of milk and honey. Granted, if you boast of an international clientele, then you should similarly deliver on the same standards. However, the converse is true.  Systems, structures, processes, and culture are still analogue. Customer service is only in the marketing books.

A brand is a promise kept. Period. Simple. iWill hold you accountable for false advertising, if the product you claim can solve my needs does not live up to its hype. Uzuri wa makakasi ndani kipande cha mti. This means no matter how glossy or polished a piece of furniture is, the composition is still wood/ timber. All that glitters is not gold. With the closure of a branch of the Uni, the worms have come out of the woodwork. The polished image is starting to crack in the public eye. Perception and Experience are vital components in consumer behavior. They inform the customer purchase decisions and behavior;, as well as subsequent brand loyalty. Google any global brand you know of; none has been successful by chance. It is the deliberate cultivation of relationships with their  stakeholders; as well as seamless execution of strategic objectives; using relevant resources, that has brought about the success.

iHave major, major issues with Kenyan brands, if iCan call them that. That is a story for another day, but we will touch a bit on it. There is no way you can be competitive, if you have absolutely no inkling of your customer experience, and its manifestations to your core purpose. In our context, it is claimed the university management is aloof, and dictatorial. Unilateral decisions that directly affect the welfare of the students are ridden roughshod, and passed. Analogue is the management, and communication, that even the faimba guy would really be perplexed, and say “Mbossiwe!”. This blog is aimed at providing solutions to Kenyan, African, and Global problems, so enough with ranting.

Simply put, communication is everything. Be it in relationships, work or personal. The Bible puts it simply, ‘Come let us reason together’ (Isaiah 1:18). Display of wrangles in public is no no. It is neither Biblical, nor is it African to display nakedness hadharani. Let us put this matter to rest, for the betterment of all parties concerned; and the great heritage of this institution. History will judge all stakeholders harshly, if they just sit back and take photos as it crashes; as our generation is wont to do (The witnessors, ni kama ndrama, ni kama findeo!).

Brand identity and Brand image are directly correlated. If you claim to be the best, it is only in order for you to deliver; by having in place all that is required to fulfill that promise. Mediocrity has no place in the path of excellence. Brandlyf addresses very emotive issues, as anything that is close to one’s heart is bound to be. It is high time we deliver on these emotions by consciously engaging the consumer at their basic level. The Leader shall be the Servant of all…Let us Live The Brand

Let’s pick up from here soonest…

NAIROBI HALF-LIFE: THE CITY BRAND

The Other Half…

This is a movie about some young men struggling in the streets of Nairobi to hustle for their daily bread. A young man left the countryside with high hopes of being an actor. He landed in Machakos Airport to a rude reception of having everything he had dispossessed by the nimble Kenyans; who can spot a ‘foreigner’ from a mile away. Having nothing but the clothes on his back, he finds himself in prison, where he meets his eventual benefactor, a thug by the name Oti. The rest of the movie highlights their life in the dingy outskirts of Nairobi, punctuated by spates of crime as source of livelihood.

I tell this story because it is a moving depiction of one half of Nairobi. Kenya has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world today, at 65%. Today morning, I came across two bullet-riddled vehicles at the heart of the city center. They had apparently been involved in a bank heist in the wee hours of the morning, when the devil and his accomplices roam our streets. A casualty of the incident was an innocent, who had emerged from a night out; his only crime was resisting a carjacking attempt from the thugs. He met his demise at their hands, which in a strange twist of fate, was what led the long arm of the law to the scene, where they generously sprayed the outlaws with ‘fire’. It comes close to another attack some two days ago on an Mpesa shop by thugs. That brazen attack was captured on CCTV cameras, and is just disturbing. The sheer display of arrogance and ruthlessness is worrying. Let us not even talk about to the moral decadence that hits our screens daily in form of ‘News’.

This brings me back to that statistic of youth unemployment. There is a part of our country, and City, that is thriving tremendously under the recently promulgated constitution. They portray a country that is vibrant, growing and pulsating with energy. The other half is despondent, hopeless and lackluster in their outlook on life. This is the lot that is wrecking havoc on our beautiful city, and country. There is a need to bridge the gap between these two city inhabitants, if we are to have the Metropolis we desire. In branding terms, a country/city image is directly related to the efforts put in implementing values that profess its identity. Nairobi can only claim to be safe when all its constituents feel and experience safety in the hustle and bustle of their lives. We each have an obligation to hold our institutions accountable to their mandate, be it in security, service provision, or even accountability in their use of our hard-earned taxes.

The issue of job creation is a pertinent issue that requires all of us to actively participate in. Entrepreneurial initiatives should be lauded, with polytechnics and youth centers properly living up to their core mandate. Proper implementation of resources disbursed under the Youth and Sports Ministry should go towards improving livelihoods of those it is required to assist. I know this sounds like a pipe dream, but I would rather dream than wallow in the mud of despondence and disillusion. Let us not give up, but strive to improve ourselves, and others, by fighting tooth and nail for what is right, working for the betterment of our city, and nation in general.

Who is a True Kenyan?

I watched the recent documentary on Conjestina Achieng’ and felt a twinge of despair at her plight. It is a real shame for our collective conscience as Kenyans, to let one of our celebrated heroines wallow in a world of dire poverty, helplessness and ill-health. What happened to our collective pride of being our brother’s keeper, the African way? This is just but a reflection of the unenviable position our moral compass has declined to. I will not mention the alarming spate of strikes that has ambushed our daily lives, the forgotten children and patients who are most affected by the standoff between the powers that be. I choose to focus on the HOPE that we sorely need, that which makes us wake up every morning with the belief that things will get better.

Bleed Black, White, Red, and Green…

The strength of a society is defined by how it defines its weakest members. How have as Kenyans treated those who are weaker than us? Our true character is mostly revealed in the ever-present traffic, where might is right, and everyone is a Schumacher in their quest to outdo the other to get to a non-existent destination. I believe the National Values of Kenya as defined by Article 10 of the Constitution still ring true. To refresh your memory on Civics, these values include Patriotism, Human Dignity, Good governance, and Sustainable Development. I strongly believe the youth of this country are conscious of the immense potential within them, and are aware of the huge responsibility that awaits them in actualizing Vision 2030. The great infrastructural developments taking place in the country are to be commended, but this is purely hardware. The software that will propel this Vision is ingrained in our collective consciousness. Integrity, morality call it what you may, is the software that will drive the dreams of the nation.

I challenge each and every one to introspect themselves, search deep within ourselves and pose this hard-hitting question, am I a true Kenyan? Am I living the dream I would desire for my future generation? Then, and only then , can we learn to accord those who have bled for this country, the respect and gratitude they deserve for serving and representing the black, white, red and green that reflect our values. It is only then that we will realize that Leadership is not a position, but a responsibility. We would conduct ourselves with decorum that is due to the offices that we occupy. The likes of Joe Kadenge would not have to languish in need, after exemplary service to our nation. We would then not be required to pull them out of the woodwork during festivities to showcase them, then promptly forget about them the second the event ends. I dream of a Kenya that will embrace its heroes, both known and unknown, do you?

The Goldmine that is Sports Branding

The recently held London Olympics captivated a global audience for some two weeks. The EPL has now taken over till May 2013. The Marketing gurus of brands like Samsung, P&G, Coca Cola and others must be taking stock of the impact their association with the just-concluded Games have had on their corporate agenda, and bottom lines as a result. Closer home, Team Kenya posted mixed results, with the exception of an outstanding performance from Captain Fantastic, David Lekuta Rudisha; whose incredible achievement was an oasis in the desert of unrealized expectations. P&G capitalized on the Games to localize their marketing content to tug at the core of Kenyans’ spirit, and attachment to mums. The likes of Catherine ‘The Great’ Ndereba were used to bring home the point of Ariel, of how much colors mean to us, and their role in keeping those colors clean. The incredible roles mums play in the making of an athlete also came out, as part of the company’s global strategy to also celebrate mums.

The 1st edition of the Masaku 7s was one of the best organized rugby-related tournaments that I have attended. The atmosphere was electric, Machakos Town was invaded by Nairobians, and Kambas from Diaspora (read Nai). Service centers sold food and drinks at competitive rates. The merchandising was superb, as the venue was flooded by black and yellow t-shirts, and hats; the event’s theme colors. Spectator stands were well-built, the pitch was in prim condition, and teams exhibited a passionate brand of running 7s rugby. Contrast this with the more established Christie 7s, which had little, if any hype, and the resultant low crowd was proof of the same.

The New Kid in Town…

The sports industry is a potential gold mine in Kenya for corporate, federations, sports tourism, and even individuals who excel in their respective sports. The impact sports has on an economy are exponential. Take the case of Machakos.The Town experienced an influx of about 3 000 local tourists over the two days, who almost brought it to a standstill. Petrol stations were full, Hotel and Lodges fully booked, clubs packed to capacity, and local businesses flourished as a result. Local politicians had no choice but to grace the event, lest they lose the mileage that came with such a tournament.

The whole event was the think-tank of a few sons of the land, who teamed up with the local investors, celebrities who hailed from Ukambani, and a few professionals of the beautiful game of Rugby, and voila! We had an awesome experience. Some of us had never before set foot in Mayakos, and really marveled at the cleanliness of the Town, and development opportunities in the offing.

The 3 pillars of the Vision 2030 were actualized in one weekend! Socially, Economically, and Politically, Kenyans got to interact with one another for the betterment of the Game, and Country. The local economy flourished, and politicians, incumbent and aspiring, all were present to meet their voters in a relaxed setting. The dream is for such a venture to be replicated in all the Counties in Kenya. The amount of talent that will be availed from the grassroots will be phenomenal, and the economy of these regions will be exposed to citizens, and potential investors.