At the Lone Tree meadow in Rosslyn Estate, George Kebaso Mokogi’s terrier dog, Snowy, named so because he is white as, er, snow, stares you down menacingly.
Snowy keeps watch here, where Kebaso, Managing Director, East Africa at YaFibr, has become a kind of master builder, showing his hand in the wooden finishings and old colonial-style relic housing. “I get my style from my dad,” he says, “He made clothes look good.”
This house is his personal project, set catercorner to his neighbour’s, and a swaddling silvan silence settles upon it, lending credence to the term ‘tucked away.’ Yet the city is fast encroaching this way, and he knows it’s only a matter of time.
This is important because, earlier in his career, he “lived on the plane.” Now, he seeks ‘smart travelling’, he wants to plant his roots, and claw back some of the hours strangled by airports and queues, particularly with his eldest daughter.
“Only that she pencils me in to her schedule, never the other way round,” he says.
Not so for his lastborn, 16-month-old Kemunto, who perches on his knee like a pint-sized personal bodyguard. She straddles the conversation with proprietary interest and a disapproving nod, as if deciding how much longer she’ll allow anyone to borrow her father.
How did you develop your eye for style?
I think it's from my parents. Dad was very stylish. I was looking at a picture of him the other day with my eldest brother-in-law's dad, a senior chief. He used to even wear his blazers [shows me pictures]. But he passed away in 2018. I have nine sisters, I'm the last born and the only boy. We lost two sisters, however.
Were you a spoiled lastborn?
No. If anything, I was put under pressure. The sister that I follow will say I'm spoilt because she used to be told to leave the sausages for the child [chuckles]. My sisters and I grew up in two shifts, for we were many.
When I was born, I really didn't know my elder sisters. I got to know them later. My eldest sister is one of my best friends, because she sort of raised me more than my mom, and we just get each other.
When you guys meet, do you still feel like the lastborn?
No, because they treat me with respect. Thankfully, mum is still around; she is 93 this year and lives in Runda, across the road. Mum was a sharpshooter. The best sharpshooter in Kenya when she was in Kenya Prisons.
What's one thing you kept here that reminds you of your upbringing?
In my office, I have one of dad's awards that he was given posthumously for a hospital that was being constructed upcountry. Growing up, he always told me to be patient, don't take shortcuts.
That's why I even got a tattoo to mark the same. And family—you always have to care for family; if you don't, they'll still become your problem. So, best you take care of them before they become your problem [chuckles].
What's your design guilty pleasure—that thing that you added just because?
The bedroom patio. My wife probably will end up using it more than I do. I set it up because I felt, you know, sometimes you wake up and don't want to come and deal with the rest of the world. It’s nice and has birds, Therem, you can just be one with nature. I know it is for a limited time because the city is coming this way [chuckles].
Are you a golf-playing executive?
Golf is a very interesting game. It tortures you, but you still keep going back. Then you have those two or three nice holes, which make you want to go back. I go back for the two holes. So it's more social and fun. It's a brotherhood. If something happens to one of us, we try to support each other. But we also talk.
We have our golf tours, local and international. We have one president of the group and he's also the only admin [chuckles]. It's a good brotherhood. You enjoy it, and it also enhances your network. As you see, a lot of business is done on the course. If you enjoy it, even better.
What is the one quality that you bring to your friendships?
Honesty and empathy. Sometimes it's good, sometimes the delivery might not be so smooth. And then of course, integrity is important too.
Do you still see your friends as those teenagers you met in high school?
Yes. So my best man was my locker mate in Mang’u High School. He has had the same behaviours since high school—during visiting day, he’d eat all the meat and bring me the chapatis and starch, haha! We went to the US and still kept in touch. He's the only guy who can walk into my office and call me names and get away with it [chuckles]. It's important because such friends keep you grounded.
Your daughter seems to like you quite a bit. Do you see parts of yourself in her when you were that age?
Yes. Because of just being free. You know, going to the neighbourhood, playing with the other children, and she's the one who really enjoyed it. My eldest daughter did not enjoy this as much since I lived on the plane.
What's your favourite part about being a father?
The birthdays and putting them to bed. My son will always reminds me to do the night prayers before we sleep. But I'm pretty sure when he becomes a teenager, like his sister, he will disappear. But at least with her, the good thing is we have lunches, anakupanga [fits me in her schedule]. Don't mess with her schedule. I am also an active parent in school.
Is there guilt for that missed opportunity?
Yes, I wish I could have been there more feel for my eldest daughter. But for these ones, I'm still there, and I'm making the best of the time.
Now I'm conscious. You see, before I was in a position, and this is the beauty about maybe doing this later, you have a little leeway and can balance some elements of economics and quality time.
We have travelled quite a bit, creating experiences and memories with them, and my dad tried to do that too. He worked more, but the little time that we spent together, I treasured it. My dad was actually my roommate back in the US, and I would cook for him, print him the Daily Nation newspapers, watch TV et al.
What's a fatherhood hack that you know?
That's a tough one. But I think fairness. Every child responds differently and if you get to know how to connect or engage with each child, then you're home and free. And every child has a different language of love; your job is to find it.
What role does travelling play in your life?
Travelling now is one, more of experience, and then two for business and refreshing the networks. We are building infrastructure here, which is a heavy investment, but travelling means I have to get the users on my infrastructure. But it has to be smart travelling. Over the years, I've learned, you should not overstretch yourself.
What's your top travelling tip?
First, comfort wear. If you can wear, you know, your tracksuits or whatever that's comfortable, and t-shirts and sneakers. Secondly, home food is always the best. I try to have my meal before I leave, the plane is just for dessert or good wine [chuckles].
What's the one place you've gone to that shifted your perspective either for good or bad?
That's a good one. Toulouse in France. It's a multifaceted view because the food and cooking are different. It's heavy. That's where the rugby players come from. So, the food is nice and rich and heavy. And then I like the friendliness of the city, and Airbus and all these other tech companies are there too. And then of course you can also get good wine.
As a foodie, what is the one ingredient that never misses on your plate?
I would say between black pepper, paprika, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. I'm addicted to garlic. It opens up the food.
What will surprise people about how you spend your weekend?
I actually have a very good balance of family time and me time. I'll find time to go play golf and have a bottle of wine, or whisky on my whisky days. And there are times that it’s just family like for the last few weekends, we've been going to the new organic farmers market in Tigoni. My wife is trying her hand in farming, no chemicals, just organic.
In your me time, what is your sacred ritual?
It's got to have an element of sport. Either hours of basketball or golf. And then of course, the social element. But it has to have a sport. Because not only do I enjoy it, but it keeps me healthy. This year was a special year because I turned 50…at a Coldplay concert, haha!
Are you a sore loser when you are playing?
No, it's never that serious [chuckles]. For basketball, I am. I picked basketball in high school because my dad scared me out of rugby because of the injuries. The knees are holding up okay [chuckles].
Have sports given you any clues to human behaviour?
It helps me read people very quickly. I think I'm a very good judge of somebody's character in the first 10, 15 minutes. And I also read energy, and I don’t like being around bad energy. I am a big Dallas Mavericks fan too and I spend a lot of time watching American football.
What cheers you up the most?
When the home is happy I am happy. Seeing my basketball teams and my American football teams win make my week.
Can one have it all?
You can, yes. And all is defined in your head. The thing is, you have to adjust all in your head to fit within whatever you're trying to do. But I believe you can have it all.
What do you splurge your money on?
Mostly family and family experiences. I enjoy that. Because those are memories, and they are priceless
If there were a sandwich named after you, what would be in it?
Haha! Tomatoes. That's a good one. Definitely sun-dried tomatoes. Some crispy bacon. Some meat with a hint of garlic. And some creamy, nice, rich cheese. Here’s the hack: good bread is everything.
If you could do it all again, what would you do more?
What would I do more? I think I would start investing at a much younger age. I did a few things in college, but I also wasted some money.
I also chair one of the biggest mergers and acquisitions companies in East Africa, Horizon Capital, and that gives me a vantage point where I'm able to see trends. I am learning a lot and enjoy this journey. I sit on the board of Nairobi Primary, not for the money but impact, to see how we can transform an old institution that has a lot of legacy, to see how I can impact.
Are you happy?
I'm very happy. Especially with the wine in my hand [chuckles].
