Mutheu Mulinge
Life Journeys - Seeking Destiny is a collection of about 70 profiles of Kenyan women who have distinguished themselves in their various professional fields. First-time author Susan Wakhungu–Githuku celebrates women’s success and resilience. She profiles women from the arts, activism, athletics, media, the sciences and environmental conservation, as well as women who have made their mark in the corporate landscape.
These women started like everyone else, were shaped by various experiences, and transformed their lives into inspirational triumphs. This inspiration is captured in this refreshing, if heavy, coffee-table book.
The compilation could be described as a power bible or a case study catalogue for the ambitious Kenyan woman. The reader will learn what inspires and drives the women who have made it to the top. Photographer Bobby Pall adds depth to the text with images that capture the women’s inner vulnerability, revealing www.footprintspress.com faces you have never seen before.
Among the women profiled are radio queen Caroline Mutoko, politician Lina Kilimo, musicians Amani and Nyota Ndogo, as well as industry legends like Wanjiku Mugane, who was the first female non-executive director of East African Breweries Ltd, and conservationist Dame Daphne Sheldrick.
There are neat little surprises in the book too: profiles of ‘unknown’ women who have had an amazing impact on their own little corner of the world. These include Wairimu Nyoike, a career nurse who is passionate about empowering boys to grow up as confident men through mentorship and giving them access to character-building activities.
Other pieces you should definitely make a point of reading include the profiles of Dr. Helen Wanjiru Gichohi, a philanthropic conservationist who has dedicated her life’s work to the preservation of wildlife, and Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Professor Olive Mugenda. Also featured are women on the rise, such as award-winning film director Wanuri Kahiu.
The book also showcases the talent of the new, young writers who contributed to the profiles, such as Liz Lenjo, Diana Ngaira and Rose Kwamboka.
Life Journeys – Seeking Destiny is well laid out, engaging and easy to read. It will inspire readers to excel and make the most of their situation. In the words of Professor Mugenda, “I am an average schoolgirl who got to the top. Everyone can make it; you just have to go for it.”
The book is available at Savanis Book Store-Westgate and selected bookstores.
