Director of SALO, Professor David Sperling (right) talks to an alumnus at the reunion

Want to be immortal? Then be generous

Those who give of themselves immortalize themselves - they live lives that are far longer and fulfilling than their physical years, says Mr Eric Kimani, the Chief Executive Officer of Sameer Group.

Mr Kimani said this while addressing a reunion of School of Accountancy (SOA) classes of 1988-1998 on Friday, 13th July 2007 at The Stanley hotel ballroom. The reunion was organized by Strathmore Alumni Liaison Office (SALO). Mr Kimani, an alumnus of SOA was the guest speaker.

Mr Kimani's speech was titled 'Living by conscience'. He described human conscience as the small voice that tells us that what we have done or want to do is wrong.

"Human conscience is higher than any written law. It is the one gift that every normal human being has in equal measure. All thieves, rapists, corrupt men, etc have it in equal measure to all good men," he said.

He extolled those assembled to form their conscience properly. He also gave examples of the wisdom of following conscience and folly of ignoring it. Concluding the speech, he remarked, "If I were sitting where you sit tonight, what would I do differently?"

"I would do four things differently. One, I would follow my conscience more than any written law or any preacher."

"Two, I would banish fear, worry and anxiety more. Unfounded fear and worry kept me far too long chained to procrastination. It has been conclusively established that 95% of our fears are unfounded. With hindsight, I think 99% of my fears were unfounded!"

"Thirdly, I would reach out more. I would give out more of myself- my talents, my wealth to all! I have learnt this immense secret rather late in life: that those who give of themselves immortalize themselves- they live lives that are far longer and fulfilling than their physical years. This is man's greatest yearning. I would be a little Mother Teresa in my community and within my capability."

"Finally, I would endeavour to live life more abundantly. Believing in myself more. Believing in the world more. Believing that there is more good in the word than we care to acknowledge. Believing that the world is truly a catalogue for me to place an order for my life. I would follow my dreams more no matter how lofty."

"If I were sitting where you sit tonight I would believe in my unlimited ability to achieve my dreams. I would take life less seriously. I would play more. I would act like a kid more. I now truly know that we human beings are supernatural beings in human form," he concluded.

Fielding questions after the address, Mr Kimani said corporates in Kenya are responding to philanthropic requests.

He also said all jobs are important and revealed he considers his job as important as that of the cleaner. He said attitude to work is important. "I don't consider myself an employee. I work for my employer," he said.

"Life is a journey, not a race. Do the best with your time," he said.

He also urged those assembled to provide leadership to youth. "The youth need to be provided with leadership. The current youth have grown up with the wrong idea that what matters is how much material wealth one accumulates. They need to be inspired to strive to better themselves as people. Thus the need for creation of new aspirations in the country's psyche," he observed

Kimani considers himself a wealthy man. "I am a rich man of God. I try to walk the talk. I am of the few who accept they are rich," he said.

Giving the closing remarks after the main speech Dr James McFie, a lecturer at Strathmore University who did his A levels at Strathmore in 1963-64 and studied accountancy at Strathmore in 1968-70, said SOA alumni are his joy, happiness and pride.

"I am nothing and you are everything. My love is teaching and I don't want even death to take that away from me," he said light heartedly.

Dr McFie said Kenyans who go to work abroad make IT right to the top in their firms. This is a statement of their quality. For example, Mrs Elizabeth Njai-Karenge who left KPMG Kenya to work for KPMG in Washington DC was named the best KPMG employee in the world in the year 2005.

"Their leaving Kenya is also a blessing because they leave jobs that other Kenyans take up. But whenever I meet them, I always remind them they can't run away from Kenya," he said.

Professor David Sperling, the Director of SALO, thanked the guest speaker for a sincere, forthright and humble presentation. Mr George Kairu, Director SOA, presented Mr Kimani with a gift on behalf of the School and the Alumni.

Mr Kairu also thanked the alumni for turning up in large numbers. He also thanked the organizers: Marcos Migeri, Pauline Kuria, Moses Mwariri, James Thiongo, David Ndolo, Elizabeth Gachenga, John Olukuru, Edward Kariuki, Geoffrey Injeni, Mugumo Kiragu, and David Owino for their work which had made the evening a success.

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