“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” – Lao Tzu
Having shifted gears from a highly promising career in Luxury PR, Ngugi made the decision to chart a new path for himself in the less glamorous world of Civil Service. Little did he know where that detour would eventually land him.
Diplomacy had always fascinated him; however the Ministry of Mining called first, and he answered. It was during a posting to Voi, that the idea first emerged: why not meld his experience in luxury, with his interest in gemstones – one that had grown further since his move closer to the location of some of Kenya’s biggest mines?
Taking on further studies in his thirties would involve a little sacrifice, but he was convinced that this path would lead to a destination that made more sense to him. “Whilst in Voi, the decision to do gemology was because I wanted to do something that would bring me back to a place of joy- gemstones and jewellery tie back heavily into the lifestyle sector which I loved.”
He shared his ideas with friends and family and the reaction was positive. He moved to Thailand for the course within months, and the rest is history.
The move was a whirlwind, and studies were challenging, but he learned quite a bit about himself at this time: “You can start over at any point in your life, and more importantly, when you put your mind to something, you can achieve so much more than you are capable of.”
And it’s been quite the journey so far.
Tsavorite remains Ngugi’s favourite because of its connection to his homeland: “I’m so proud to be a Kenyan and tell the story of the gemstones that people don’t really know about. Also, green happens to be my favourite colour!”
Gemstones have the ability to connect people from different walks of life, and this is something that he’s laid witness to first-hand: “Even while dealing with clients from different parts of the world, it’s the emotions that they evoke in people. A present for a loved one or an anniversary, jewellery carries stories from one generation to another, and brings so much happiness.”
Ngugi’s been exploring East and Southern Africa through his work, recently visiting the Cape Town Diamond Museum. He envisions a similar attraction in Kenya—a mockup mine—that could educate and attract tourists, potentially revitalizing the local tourism scene.
So what are some of the “gems” Ngugi sees in travel?
South Africa has been one of his favourite destinations, and he’s recently had the opportunity to spend time in both Cape Town as well as Johannesburg, exploring cafes, art galleries and the great outdoors – “the beauty of the wineries in the western cape and the affordability of good wine…it’s great to see how the country has been able to market itself and attract international tourists.”
Within Kenya, he notes that the sunrise and bush breakfast atop the Chyulu Hills is one of his favourite location memories. The solitude, the expanse and the connection with nature have made safari vacations an easy choice for him.
And then there’s Lake Turkana, or the “Jade Sea”, because of its vibrant green waters caused by a high algae content. This is a top destination on Ngugi’s bucket list… after all, it is named after a gemstone… But it’s also its remote beauty, the fact that it’s the world’s largest desert lake, and the wild beauty depicted in pictures of flamingos, volcanoes and lava flows, ancient fossils and strange, seldom documented nomadic tribes.
So, where next? The aim for the coming months and years is to explore unexpected destinations within Asia – singling out both Japan and South Korea for their technological advancements as well as their cultural and fashion outlooks. South America is another continent that he hopes to get a chance to visit, with Peru and Colombia as compelling stops.
Everyone needs a bucketlist!
As for the next step in his career? He is open to the world, as long as travel is involved. Travel is like a good book. Every turn of the page offers something new. We are definitely excited to see what’s coming up in the next chapter of his life.
Ngugi Muthoni IG: www.instagram.com/ngugimuthoniofficial/
Della Mbaya IG: www.instagram.com/dellambaya/