James Odongo, the CEO of the Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organisation (Kepro), likes to think of himself as a handyman.
He carries out his own electrical repairs. He rides a motorbike. Well, he used to. He also thrives off-road, packing his 4x4 wheeler to a wilderness somewhere, adrenaline throbbing through his veins.
He seems to have swathes of time devoted to his hobbies, which also include swimming, where, as he says, “I can swim long distance underwater.” Nonstop? “Nonstop.”
Now, he is planning a 15-day journey through sub-Saharan Africa. It has been gnawing at the fringes of his mind — this wandering man who travels wherever he can, goes where he is allowed, and where he isn’t.
He maps his life according to the places he hasn’t driven to, or things he hasn’t yet done, like playing golf, which, as he says, “is just not my vibe.” Golf, to him, is the kind of thing whose absence you feel for a little while and then easily let go of.
Tell me something cool about yourself.
Would the fact that I enjoy off-roading be a cool thing about me? Yes, I love being in the wilderness and on the road with a four-wheel drive.
How did you get into off-roading?
It’s been a childhood dream and passion that I’ve always had. And when I acquired an off-roading vehicle, it pushed me to get into that space. I do it for fun, not really competitively.
What has being on your off-road quests revealed to you about yourself?
I think it’s made me realise that I can be fairly impatient. But such journeys have a way of grounding you. You might have an itinerary and want to arrive at a certain time, but then things happen, and you have to find a way to be patient. Over time, I’ve learnt that I’m also fairly resilient – I just keep going.
What’s a must-have for you when you’re off-roading?
Drinking water.
Do you go alone?
Most of the time, I go alone or with friends – it depends on the timing.
What’s a memorable off-roading experience that has stayed with you throughout the years?
It must have been around 2013. I had gone to Samburu, and the route between Nanyuki and Maralal was still very rough. Being in that environment and appreciating what you might see as the bare minimum was a luxury experience for the people in those areas. They have this joke that if I ever complain, God, please remind me of such experiences. That grounded me to appreciate some of these basic things that we have.
What’s the hardest part about returning to Nairobi’s traffic jams after a month-long adventure?
Coming back to work on Monday [chuckles]. The hustle and bustle can be a bit overwhelming after that relaxed experience, and the tight schedules that we are used to in Nairobi can be a bit depressing.
Where do you still dream of going?What is that one place that is thumbtacked on your calendar?
So this was an experience that I watched from another group of off-road enthusiasts, but it’s a journey to Zimbabwe. A round trip through the sub-Saharan sphere, Nairobi, through to Tanzania, all the way down, and then come back through Uganda. It takes almost 14-15 days, but it’s never really about the days, but the experience.
Do you have any collectables?
If I could afford it, I’d be collecting cars. I’m not yet there. But I have a pet peeve for classic vehicles, especially the old-style BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes.
Where does your love of cars stem from?
My dad, right from when I was young and couldn’t see the windscreen from my seat, would teach us how to steer the car. By the time I was finishing primary school, I could easily drive through town.
How are you different from your father?
He’s too patient. I can be a bit impatient. He’s also an extrovert. My dad would walk into this office, and within five minutes, he’d have two friends. I am the opposite.
Where do you go when you want to be with yourself?
I enjoy swimming when I need to decompress. I feel like I’m in another world when I’m in the swimming pool.
How do you find the time?
I don’t know if this would qualify as a weird thing that I know, but most people are surprised to learn that I used to commute by motorbike for up to four years. This was because I lived somewhere with a lot of traffic. I stopped because riding in Kenya is a gamble in itself.
Back to swimming, what do you know about swimming that most people don’t?
How to breathe underwater. I think my peers never understand how I can swim underwater for long distances. Perhaps it’s something unique to me.
What do you think your swimming style says about your personality?
I can be resistant to change sometimes. For a long time, I only swam the breaststroke and freestyle. They are my go-to swimming styles, even though I have ventured to other styles.
What are you really secretly good at?
The motorbike. I think I’m good at it. Would basic electrical repairs qualify? Before I invite an electrician, I would have fumbled with everything. So, if you see me inviting an electrician, it means that it is a major electrical work that needs to be done. That always catches people by surprise. I can repair my shower head in the house, change sockets, and switches. Like my dad, I’m very handy.
What’s an unusual habit you have?
Unlike you or anyone else who drives to work with loud music on, I prefer silence. I won’t answer calls or do anything else. I use this time for myself. I have been doing this for the last three years.
Have you noticed any changes in your life?
I have become increasingly patient. So, not allowing myself to panic, but instead using this time to plan my day and stave off any negative thoughts, has helped me to manage my anxiety about what might go wrong during the day.
What tests your patience?
I’m a stickler for timekeeping. If I say it is 2 pm, at 2.10 pm I’m almost panting. My daughter has been testing my patience for years. She’s still young, but she’s already fairly opinionated. You have to then come down to her level.
What tips do you have for surviving fatherhood?
Don’t try to heal your childhood trauma through your children. If something was done to you, don’t project it on them.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about you?
That I’m not actually a snob. It’s more to do with me being an introverted ambivert than being a snob. Over the years, I’ve learned not to let it affect me.
What would I not believe about you?
I actually hate fish, ever since I was a child, in Nakuru, where I was born. And I know people will assume I like fish because of my last name.
What meal then best describes you?
Ugali na nyama choma haha! Na kachumbari and pilipili. No doctor can stop me from eating meat, haha!
What’s the most absurd thing you’ve bought?
A wireless charger in Europe. To date, I’ve never used it. It was an impulse purchase.
What is an item you’ve bought for less than Sh10,000 that you use often?
My watch. It’s waterproof.
If you had four months to live, what would you do that you’ve been postponing?
I would take a long trip to Zimbabwe. That would be the first thing that I would do. In recent months, I have really been big on appreciating my parents. So I think I would curate a nice holiday for them just to say thank you.
What’s stopping you now?
Money [chuckles] and time. I think in four months, I would probably not care about rent, and I would take the rent money and take them on holiday.
What is something you long believed to be true, but realised over time it’s not?
That every other person has it figured out. Especially for the big guys like the CEOs. Everyone is just winging it in life. There is no playbook. I think it’s all about learning as you go.
What surprised you when you became CEO?
That you can never please everyone. Every decision will always be questioned.
What did you exchange success for?
First, a disclaimer: I am not yet successful. I think I’ve lived, and I think there was somebody who was teaching me where they said, ‘live as if today is your very last day.’ So, I think for me, I’ve been very deliberate in trying to find a balance, and I also ride on the philosophy that there is no work-life balance. It is really more of a work-life synergy. Even as you are at work, you are also allowing yourself to have your own life.
What do you fail at?
Pleasing everyone. I wouldn’t describe this as a failure, but I do struggle to find enough time for my family. The 8-to-5 work dynamic can be overwhelming, leaving families with less time together.
How do you reward yourself?
I’ve never really sat down and said, ‘Now I’m going for dinner to reward myself’ because I’ve been able to do something. I think that’s a challenge. Maybe it’s a conversation that men need to have. For us, I think we’re so focused on taking care of bills and everything that we never think about rewarding ourselves.
What matters more than you thought it would?
Family. While chasing the titles and the money, every other day, I’m reminded of the fact that this can disappear in a flash. But family will always be constant.
Do you have a family ritual?
Apart from going upcountry for Christmas? That’s another challenge I will take up, haha! But every Sunday, my daughter and I go to the car wash.
What’s your superpower?
I can quickly scan for a document and spot mistakes. But a superpower I would like to possess is the ability to know when someone is lying to you.
What is the toughest conversation you’ve had either with yourself or with someone else?
A friend lost their dad three years ago. I didn’t know what to say, but I had to say something, and it was quite tough for my pal. This is barely a month ago, by the way.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Any song by Fally Ipupa.
What comes to mind when you think about the weekend?
Family.
What’s an unpopular opinion that you hold?
That you need a side hustle. And that you have to purchase land in Kamulu, Joska, or Chokaa. I don’t like that.
What never fails to make you laugh?
This comedian, called Tom Dakatari, especially when he performs in corporate settings and complains about salaries and reporting times. That always gets me.
What is the last book you read that shifted the way you think or challenged your perspectives?
“The 5am Club”. It’s helped me recognise the power of morning hours and that sets the tone for everything.
What have you finally come to terms with?
That I hate cooking [chuckles]. And perhaps golf is not my thing. I have tried it and it’s just not my thing.
