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Our Journey Towards Tangazoletu 2.0

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DEMYSTIFYING “JISHINDE-USHINDE”

The Board of Directors of Mang’u High School, Principal, Deputy Principal, Teachers and Staff of Mang’u High School, Parents of Mang’u High School, Alumni and friends of Mang’u High School, Students…

Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon!

Today it gives me great pleasure to have this chance to preside over the prize giving event for this prestigious institution. It is a great honor and I am greatly humbled to be selected for this great role; a role that I accept with humility and joy.

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Introduction

My names are Chris Gathingu, CEO and Founder of Tangazoletu Limited. I am 32 years old, married and a father of one girl whom we named Janice. I schooled here in Mang’u High School, Proceeded to pursue Computer Technology, I have a Masters degree in Management Information Systems from University of Sunderland and I am currently in Strathmore University currently studying an Executive course for entrepreneurs known as Owner Manager Program. My company, Tangazoletu Limited is responsible for national systems like, SpotCash Mobile Banking, Lipa na M-Pesa and TIBU.

 

1998 – 2001

I joined Mang’u High School 17 years ago, in 1998 but I remember it like it was just yesterday. I remember WALKING THROUGH THE GATES of this prestigious institution and having so much JOY IN MY HEART as I knew that I had a CHANCE TO FULFILL MY DREAMS. Here in Mang’u I stayed in RONALD NGALA HOUSE in Form 1 and 2 and crossed the Berlin wall later on to stay in SCHNEIDER HOUSE over form 3 and 4.

 

When we joined Mang’u we were unclear about many things and sometimes we did not know what to expect, but one thing that we was more than clear was the main reason that brought us to Mang’u; to pursue our dreams of a bright future. To date, i thank the then teaching fraternity as they took time to demystify the “JISHINDE USHINDE” motto. They imprinted in our minds that there were only 2 SCHOOLS IN KENYA; MANG’U AND THE REST. I was also involved with extracurricular activities; I played rugby as a hooker in form 3 and 4. Some of my friends also played Rugby, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Volley ball, Hand ball etc. I know what it takes and I appreciate the teams at Alliance representing Mang’u today in sports. I also participated in mathematics & science contest. Friends when we joined Mang’u, we quickly realized that we were admitted into a center of merit and excellence. There was no room for being average. We weren’t going to get average grades, lead an average life, get an average job, and average wife, average kids…NO. That was not the MANG’U WAY. We had to excel and we excelled in Academics, Sports, music festivals and all co-curriculum activities. We excelled! I graduated in 2001 with an A- (77 points).

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2003 – 2007:

When I left Mang’u, my parents had wished that I would study medicine but to their disappointment, I missed the course with just 1 point. I was instead admitted into JKUAT to study Computer Technology. Notice I said MY PARENTS were disappointed, I wasn’t. I then took a bold step and talked to my parents informing them that medicine was a fantastic career that people loved but maybe it was not for me. I took them through the memories of how far they had to run after me each time I went to hospital and was informed that I needed to be prepared for an injection, I would actually be caught at the gate running. They later understood, supported me and went further to allow me to make decisions. It dawned on me that I enjoyed working and playing with computers ever since I was a child and it’s then that I realized that my passion was actually in computers. In JKUAT, I carried on the discipline of JISHINDE USHINDE and purposed to excel. I later on graduated in 2007 with first class honors. In the same year, in 2007, I went ahead to register Tangazoletu Limited, the business I run to date as we develop Computer software, Mobile financial solutions and other ICT solutions.

 

2009-2010:

I joined University of Sunderland to pursue a Masters degree in Management Information Systems.

 

2015:

I joined Strathmore University and currently studying an Executive course for entrepreneurs known as Owner Manager Program.

 

I am still a student.

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Tangazoletu, the organization that I run has had its fair share of challenges as well as successes. Since inception, we have employed up to 120 staff members and we currently employ 32 people. We have extended the business to the whole country, the continent and are working on an expansion plan to the USA.

 

Although the journey has not been easy, I have learned several values which have guided me and I would like to share them with you today;

 

  1. SELF DISCIPLINE – the spirit of JISHINDE USHINDE

“The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline.” –Bum Phillips

This involves;

  • Time management – If you still wake up because the alarm rang, you are doing it wrong. The alarm should just be a facilitator.
  • Doing the right thing at the right time at the right place

 

  1. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

“If you believe in yourself anything is possible.” – Miley Cyrus

  1. EDUCATION IS CRITICAL

Make every day a learning opportunity.

  1. BE ALL ROUNDED –

Support your life with co-curricular activities – be admirable, JISHINDE USHINDE.

  1. Merit and excellence

There are 3 kinds of people….

  • Make things happen
  • Watch things happen
  • Wonder what happened

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We are all a work in progress and you have the privilege of being the driver of your own progress, you choose the direction you want to take. It does not matter where you are coming from, what matters is knowing where you are and where you want to go. We must uphold the great legacy of Mang’u as a center for excellence and Merit in academics and co curriculum activities. Remember that Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world. Friends, when we came into Mang’u High School, we made a decision to excel.

 

Let’s celebrate the 90 students who scored plain A’s. This is testament that time has changed and when time changes; you must change with the time. During our time at Mang’u High School, we scored a Mean grade of B+, If 2014 students scored a B+, we won’t be here. A B+ doesn’t cut it for your time. 2015 student’s, you must work harder than the 2014 students and score higher!

 

We made a decision that we were going to be the category of people who make things happen through the self-discipline of JISHINDE USHINDE. That decision was the most critical decision we ever made with our lives to date. Today, we continue to make that same decision with our lives every day. That decision has got us to where we are now. The question is, “have you made your decision? Do you want to embrace JISHINDE USHINDE and make things happen or do you want to watch things happen or worse still, wondering what just happened?” Let us all choose wisely to have a great future. Choose the path of JISHINDE USHINDE!

 

Thank you very much, God bless us all and God Bless Mang’u High School!

2015 Opening Remarks from our CEO