I don’t want to be Murang’a Governor - Stanley Kamau

 Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria and Ahadi Trust Executive Director Dr Stanley Kamau [Photo:Boniface Gikandi]

Stanley Kamau made a name for himself by making jiggers a national health issue. He spoke to Cheptoek Boyo about his 50 kids, having no regrets for being born in a humble family and why he is not interested in being Murang’a Governor.

If you were in high school today, what would you do differently?

I would keep track of my schoolmates. Today, I sometimes try to recall some names and hit a blank and that makes me sad.

From personal experience, is midlife crisis real?

It is real! I lost a couple of years fooling around in midlife crisis. My only advantage is that I was brought up in the village so I was not badly affected.

You grew up in poverty. Do you sometimes wish your parents were wealthy?

No. I think poverty is a state of mind and I don’t like saying I grew up in poverty. I just grew up where I belonged. It is people outside the family who see poverty, but the people living it don’t. I don’t think there is a day we sat and thought we were poor.

No regrets?

None at all. If I could turn back the clock, I would want to be born in the same family.  People should stop looking at humble backgrounds as a disease. Had I been in a wealthy Nairobi family, I probably would not have started the anti-jigger campaign.

 Stanley Kamau [Photo:Courtesy]

So, in your view, poverty makes one a better person?

Not necessarily. The environment where one is born and raised impacts them in one way or other. I think even those who were raised in Lavington will find that something is not right in their hoods and they should go back home and fix it. There is always a problem regardless of where you are born.

You just turned 50. How do you think Kenya will look like in the next 50 years?

When I look back to my childhood days, and compare it to where we are now, it is obvious that we have grown technologically. Our education system and job market have changed. In the future, the backbone of this economy will be technical skills. There will be fewer people working in offices and some courses will be redundant.

How did you celebrate the 50-year milestone? 

I raised money to help my local primary school and church to build a library and dispensary respectively.

Your campaign against jiggers has been described as a PR stunt... We have many problems in this country because we love to cover up and pretend everything is okay. Also, as a people, we need to stop talking ill of those who try to help the needy. Calling them illuminati, thieves, ‘wash-wash,’ or drug peddlers doesn’t help. People don’t give because they have excess, they give because they have access.

Jiggers are a manifestation of poverty. Should we deal with poverty or continue treating the symptoms?

If we empower the community economically, their standards of living will improve to a point where jiggers become history. We should work towards ensuring families have decent housing, access to water, that our children wear shoes and learn in permanent structures. But if we keep on focusing on fighting jiggers, then in 50 years, there will still be some organisations fighting jiggers.

Will you run for the governor’s office in Murang’a?

I am not interested in elective politics because it will limit me to a particular constituency, yet right now, my work involves helping people all over Kenya - from Kwale to Lamu to Busia.

I don’t want to localise my campaign. If I were to run for an elective position, it would be the presidency. Right now, I am committed to uplifting Kenyans, not just folks from one county.

 Stanley Kamau being honoured by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta [Photo: Courtesy]

When will you retire from fighting jiggers?

Very soon. In fact before 2022, because I feel there are so many other people who can take over and push this campaign forward. It is also good to let younger people take over. I want to set up my own foundation which will tackle health and education issues.   You adopt a kid each year. Why?

I pick a child every year whom I educate from secondary school to university. This year, I picked my 50th child for my 50th birthday. I have never met some of these children, but I receive report cards of their results each term and speak consistently with their head teachers and relatives.

There are thousands of bright kids who miss out on education because their folks are poor. How can we as a country avoid this?

We have too many people giving out government bursaries - governors, MPs, MCAs...everyone wants a piece of the action. We should put all this money in two kitties; one corporate and the other government. We will touch more children as opposed to politicians favouring their strongholds and offering them to supporters who may not even be needy.

You launched the Ambulance Mashinani initiative. What does it entail?

Ambulance Mashinani is my innovation to provide accessibility to health centres in rural areas. During the anti-jigger project, I discovered so many expectant mothers infested with jiggers and others living with disability, who were unable to walk or afford transport to hospital.

The mashinani ambulance is simply a trolley that is pulled by a motorcycle that can access any terrain. It is fitted with a bed, a seat, first-aid kit and a siren. We have also fitted some with ultra-sound machines to test mothers at home. In partnership with Beyond Zero, we have distributed them in all the 47 counties.

What’s your advice to youths who want to take up community service? There are many challenges. You must be passionate about what you want to do because it takes a lot of sacrifice. You must also be able to absorb criticism and always keep your eyes on the ball. Most people will always say they are behind you, but when you look back, you only see your shadow. Walk with your shadow.

Why have you refused to marry? I don’t like commenting about my family. But I haven’t refused to marry. What I can say is I am a father and a family man.