I met Jacob Juma in November of 2007 when he was leading a panel conducting interviews for a Marketing Executive. To this day, I always remember that as the most nerve wracking interview I have ever attended. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to sing, I do it everywhere but only subconsciously and never in public. Unfortunately for me, I had indicated that it was a hobby, “I love to sing” in my CV and Mr. Juma made me sing during the interview. I must have sung “It is well” its usually my fall back song for when my mind goes blank. Needless to say, I got the job and he gave me more than double my then salary.
As I reflect upon him now, the word generous comes to mind. I joined employment that December and oddly enough, he gave me a bonus alongside the rest of the staff, I was really shocked. As we progressed his generosity continued to show, he was very fond of taking the office team to lunch either at Allan Bobbes or at Osteria Del Chianti, he must have enjoyed sharing those experiences that we otherwise would not have had since we could not afford them. The most remarkable thing he did in his generosity was to take us to the Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge. He actually took the entire office and accommodated a plus one for each of us. He hired a bus and catered for all our expenses to and fro. This was not a team building exercise and he really did not have to do it. He just gave us a holiday because he could.
In his usual way of putting me in uncomfortable situations, he made me sing during one of the dinners, I recall pleading with Mary whom I met at work, to assist as my nerves couldn’t handle it and she did. Hers is also a friendship I owe to the opportunity that he gave me. A friendship that lasts through the years. I cannot forget that he also gave me the opportunity to board a plane for the first time and leave our country for the first time. I was excited to board Kenya Airways to Uganda to attend the Amakula Film Festival. When I look back at my life today and how many planes I have boarded and countries visited, I cannot help but be grateful to him for showing me this potential.
He was also the first employer to give me real responsibility. He promoted me to a Marketing Manager when I was only just 26. I remember the experience as very stressful and I made a lot of mistakes with friendships at work. One time, during a monthly meeting, he point blank asked me who in the team I would fire as we were not faring well. I tried to skirt around the issue but he needed a name. I named someone to their face and it cost me that friendship. She was the strongest in the team and I knew there would be no repercussions but in retrospect, I should have named myself as that’s what leaders do, he taught me that lesson. Leaders are ultimately responsible and do not throw people under the bus. To this day, I believe that he launched my career in leadership roles because from that time, my career kept growing to what it is today. I will always be grateful to him for seeing the potential in me to lead even when I didn’t see it. I left the company shortly after that meeting as I couldn’t handle the emotional drama it had created. That was a weakness on my part and I have since learnt from it.
While I worked for him for almost two years, the company did not make money, we were initially trying to launch a digital Pay TV station but it was the time when we were expecting the digital migration and that future was so uncertain. I often wonder why he kept us, he must have had about 10 employees or so. I believe that his generosity speared him on, he seems to me the kind of person that felt a responsibility to give the youth employment and the testament of this is his willingness to keep us and help us despite our failure to give back.
No one person is just one thing, I do recall that he came across as intelligent, arrogant and boisterous and also was often in the company of political personalities. He could tell grand stories of corruption even then, he didn’t just start online. I would not have wished death on anyone let alone him for I know that there are numerous persons that he was supporting that will now suffer. It was just his style to carry burdens of others, and even though we didn’t keep in touch, I don’t think he changed.
In his death, I find myself grateful. Over 8 years ago, he met a young, unexposed and eager me and changed my life for the better, propelling my life to the greater pa
th it is on now. My life was only made better by having met him and I thank God for him. I pray that the Lord comforts his family at this time. Rest in Peace Mr. Jacob Juma.
Matthew 12:34 – For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Megs' 