Speaking for a living, and getting paid for it

By FERDINAND MWONGELA

Seated across the table at Fairview Hotel in Nairobi, Dr Vincent Muli Kituku easily stands out, what with his infectious laughter and oozing confidence.

This is as it should be, for the man earns a living through speaking as a motivational speaker, author and trainer.

The US-based Kenyan belongs to the elite club of handful individuals who have achieved the coveted Certified Speaking Professional award, which is offered by the International Federation of Speaking Professionals, also based in the US.

Dr Vincent Kituku: "I did not know people get paid to speak," says the man who now earns a living from giving motivational speeches, commanding up to $5000 (Sh400,000) per hour. [PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE)

So selective is the body, less than 700 people in the world have achieved that distinction and, according to Kituku, only two of these are from Africa – himself and another person from Ghana.

A graduate of Tala High School in Kangundo and Shimo La Tewa in Mombasa, where he took his ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels exams, respectively, Kituku started off in a completely different field.

Accidental Foray

After his A-Levels, he proceeded to the University of Nairobi for a Bachelor’s degree in Range Management at Kabete campus. After graduation, he worked briefly as a Range Planner in Isiolo District with the Ministry of Livestock Development, before securing admission at the University of Wyoming for a Master’s degree in Range Management and later, a doctorate in the same area.

He says that his foray into public speaking was almost accidental. Presentations usually gave him the jitters. In a bid to better deliver his presentations, he joined Toastmasters International, only six months after completing his studies.

Toastmasters, he says, is a worldwide organisation that helps people become better public speakers. He joined the National Speakers Association and has never looked back.

For Kituku, this was the turning point in his life and vividly remembers the dates of this discovery. "I heard about it (Toastmasters) on August 23, 1995 and I joined on September 1, 1995," he recalls.

Toastmasters International, however, was just a stepping-stone and Kituku had to do a lot more to get to where he is. He points out that approximately only one person out of every 10000 who join the programme qualifies as a motivational speaker.

In 2004, he achieved that rare feat and received the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) award, redirecting his life in a very different direction.

Certification process

"I did not know people get paid to speak," he chuckles, adding that before the economic downturn in the US, a CSP certified speaker commanded a fee of $5,000 (Sh400,000) per hour.

Kituku says achieving the CSP award is an uphill task that requires one to go full-time into motivational speaking.

"No part-time motivational speaker has achieved a CSP award," he says, explaining that for one to get accepted, one has to prove that he makes money out of public speaking.

But this is only the first step as the certification process takes five years, during which time one must prove themselves in the field of motivational speaking.

Among the things that help towards the CSP certification is the basic requirement of being a good speaker. During this period, one must also make an effort to grow. At the same time one’s clients have to vouch for him or her, with a committee interviewing them.

Kituku says he is the current the vice chairman of that committee. He also runs a company that he founded in 1995.

Modest Success

"We inspire employees and leaders to increase productivity," he says. His clients in the US include Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, CISCO, United States Air Force and Tektronix.

In Kenya, he co-founded the Platinum Speakers Bureau with Anne Muchiri, also a motivational speaker and trainer. Kituku adds he also holds the distinction of being the first black person to address both the House of Representatives and the Senate in US’s Idaho state, where he is based.

The first born in a large family of 12, Kituku was born and bred in Kangundo. From his humble roots, has succeeded to be what he wanted to be, even after his modest success in range management.

He has had speaking engagements spanning more than 40 states in the US, as well as Britain, Canada and France. Married with four children, Kituku clarifies that his work has not kept him away from his family, saying he spares time for his family and is rarely away from home in Idaho, where he resides with his family, for an extended period of time.

Kituku also runs a charity that he founded, Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope Inc. that supports destitute children in Kenya.

He says the foundation supports about 156 children under the foundation. His future aspiration, he says, is to support at least a child from every district in Kenya.

Looking back, he does not regret ditching the career he trained in, but says he keeps up to date with the developments in that field.