Dr. Manu Chandaria was at Strathmore University on August 18, 2025, for a Fireside Chat with Dr. Vincent Ogutu, the Vice Chancellor, in a session themed Purpose, Leadership, and Legacy. At 97 years old, the celebrated industrialist and philanthropist brought the hall to a standstill as he shared stories that blended wisdom, humility, and conviction.

He began with his roots. Born to illiterate parents in Nairobi, Dr. Chandaria recalled how his family’s determination and sacrifice were anchored in one unwavering belief that education could change a person’s destiny. Their vision carried him first to India and later to the United States, where he earned a master’s degree in engineering at just 21 from the University of Oklahoma. His voice, steady but animated, underscored the lesson. “My parents were not educated, but they wanted me to be better.”

His years in India, he told the audience, shaped him as a person. Living among millions struggling to rise above poverty, he came to realize that nothing was impossible if approached with determination and grit. “To lead, you must show your mettle,” he declared. It was in India, too, that the stark gap between rich and poor became impossible for him to ignore, a gap he would later dedicate his life to narrowing in Kenya and beyond.

The conversation with Dr. Ogutu moved seamlessly between personal anecdotes and universal truths. He urged the audience to cultivate humility by seeking knowledge endlessly and rejecting the dangerous mindset of “knowing it all.” He spoke candidly about the core values that guided his journey. Hard work, honesty, and integrity. “It is not easy to achieve anything without them,” he emphasized, his words ringing with the authority of lived experience.

But Dr. Chandaria’s story is not merely about business acumen or personal success. It is about service. He explained his enduring commitment to giving back. “If you create wealth, you should also give back to society,” he said, tracing the origins of the Chandaria Foundation. What began decades ago with one scholarship has blossomed into a global philanthropic endeavor supporting education, healthcare, environmental stewardship, and people with disabilities. To date, the foundation has donated millions of dollars and transformed countless lives, embodying his conviction that prosperity is meaningless if it is not shared.

He also reminded the audience that noble intention without action leads to nothing. Legacy, in his view, is forged through consistent deeds, not lofty words. “Good relationships give you returns,” he said, “but you have to work for them.” That work, he explained, is done in everyday choices from building trust, extending kindness, to embracing togetherness.

For many in attendance, like me, the encounter was not just with a titan of industry but with a man who has lived nearly a century by principles that remain timeless. Purpose, leadership, and legacy are not abstract ideals for Dr. Manu Chandaria. They are his life’s work and his enduring gift to the world. And in true Chandaria fashion, even when reflecting on the weightiest matters, he left the audience bursting out in laughter, reminding us that he has been “married twice, to the same woman,” a playful testament to his enduring commitment and love.

Article written by Stephen Wakhu.