She is a seasoned and innovative communications consultant who loves playing golf and has a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors in Kenya. Meet Patricia Ndede Odera.
She spent a few years in the newsrooms at Nation Media Group and Capital Group, before she took up a challenge in the public sector, a different world from the private sector environment she was used to.
Ndede joined the Retirement Benefits Authority as the Manager, Corporate Communications where she worked for 10 years, at a time the pension industry was looking to increase its uptake in the formal and informal sectors.
Patricia Ndede invented the Mbao Pension Plan, a first of its kind in the third world pension system.
The innovation proved a stroke of genius for the Retirement Benefits Authority and even got the attention of the World Bank, who sent their team to Kenya to learn how the invention worked.
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Mbao Pension Plan was a turnaround for the informal sector investors.
For a wider-impact, she took the plan to India and it was implemented in the informal settlements in Hyderabad, with the local government pension system in India also taking up the same model.
She didn’t stop there. A South African Private Pension Scheme also came to Kenya to benchmark on the same innovation and named their own, Mbao Pension Plan-South Africa.
“The word Mbao was specific to the Kenyan system as it involved saving at least 20 shillings (Mbao) a day towards their retirement using Mpesa,” Ndede says.
Her innovation’s wide global recognition humbled her because she had initially come up with the idea through a Corporate Social Investment where a corporate entity identifies its hurdles and puts in an investment that will enhance behavioural change, hence reversing the challenge into an opportunity.
Corporate Social Responsibility does not resonate with many in her world, she says, Corporate Social Investment does.
“There’s never free lunch. A corporate has to give and let the end result plough back into the business,” she says.
In 2016, Ndede served as the Director of Communications at Huduma Kenya, a state agency in the Ministry of Public Service, where she oversaw communication channels across the 52 Huduma Centres, and established a stout communication strategy that saw Huduma rated one of the best-performing government projects yet.
“Managing a strong public service brand that enhanced public service delivery to Kenyans was one of the most gratifying achievements in my career.”
One day while in one of the centres, an old man remarked after being served, “If this was a government office, I don’t think I would have received such service.”
She laughed because she knew as a team they had made the much-needed transformation within the Public Service with the services offered at Huduma Centres.
“When you are passionate about what you do, you execute with excellence. On the outside, you may be seen as a perfectionist crossing every T and dotting your every I, but literally, you are passionate about what you do and always want to see things to the end with excellence.”
Ndede’s hard work, dedication and passion for communication saw her appointed the Communications Lead at the State Department of Public Service by then Public Service PS, Lilian Omollo.
Her transformational leadership earned her yet another appointment as Director of Communications at the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs in 2018.
Patricia Ndede played both roles while serving at Huduma Kenya and during her tenure, she worked under many Principal Secretaries and Cabinet Secretaries offering reliable and dependable leadership.
Crisis communication became her second name while in the public service.
“Some days were rough, but the joy of having the work done was priceless! I quickly appreciated my role in all the tasks given to me. There is nothing as comforting as working with a reliable person.”
Described as “Miss Fix-it” by the CSs and PSs she worked with, Ndede served in the public sector with a private sector attitude and approach of getting the job done and doing it with excellence.
“Many a time public sector officers have been known to be very laid back, least motivated and perform their duties to tick the box, calling it a day. I could not relate to this,” she added.
She is grateful that she got to serve in various capacities both in the public and private sectors.
“They say when you get to the top don’t forget to send the lift back down.”
Her servant leadership and empathy saw her open doors and extend a helping hand to many unknown to her who needed internships, placements, networks, just to name a few.
“It always gave me the joy to help in whatever capacity I could, without looking at what I was going to get back. The satisfaction that comes with it is priceless!”
She is now a communications consultant, after amassing a wealth of experience to prepare her for this.
“Among the projects I am handling, which are contracted through development agencies, are Kazi Mtaani; an economic stimulus offering thousands of casual jobs to youth amid the #Covid19 pandemic that led to millions of job losses, Boma Yangu; the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) initiative by the Kenyan Government as one of the pillars under the Big 4 Agenda. Both projects are domiciled at the State Department of Housing and Urban Development.”
So is she all work and no play?
Ndede took up golf for networking purposes, keeping fit and refocusing, strategising, and reenergizing.
She had back to back schedules that could take a toll on her sometimes.
“I needed to have a break when I wasn’t working, but not the kind of break that was an idle break.”
Golfing provided physical fitness and, more importantly, interactions with like-minded professionals in the corporate world.
Her zeal trustable brands saw her serve in Sunset Golfing Society, where she helped develop a brand identity that went a long way in getting sponsorships during various tournaments.
She also remained plugged with fellow professionals at the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), a professional society she subscribes to and is passionate about.
“I have been a member of the society for the past 11 years, and now as the society marks 50 years of existence, I have intentions to vie for the Vice President position.
“I believe I have the potential and capability to serve. I feel that my expertise and net worth will go a long way in delivering important milestones in the pipeline that my colleagues in the profession have put in so much work and dedication to, tirelessly giving their professional input and energy. This will be my way of giving back to society after years of achievement within the industry.”
In 2021, Ndede joined Rotary.
“Having provided service to others both in the private sector and public service, I owed it to myself to continue serving humanity the best way possible. As John Bunyan puts it, ‘You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you’. The mission of Rotary is providing service to others, promoting integrity and advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace through fellowship of business, professional and community leaders. That spoke volumes to me, and I hopped in.”
She was gracious enough to share some of her nuggets of wisdom with us.
• Sometimes what you don’t want is what you need.
• Tomorrow is never promised. Do the best you can right now…it is priceless and can never be bought.
• Do not let the fear of the unknown bring you down. When you are used to having a paycheque for many years, for instance, and you’ve gone through the ranks in your career and look back and are happy with what you have achieved, you probably want to go on and on.
• In the public sector, it gets to the apex, and all that is left is routine. “One day I woke up and told myself, it’s never that serious. Those who have made it walking the tight rope alone are not any special than I am. For once, I, too, I was going to wake up and put in the energy for myself, not for anyone, and that led to the birth of Simori Communications in 2019.
• Do you and don’t ever let anyone dictate what your ideal scenario should be. You are in charge of your own happiness. Focus and make it happen for you.
• Consistency in your delivery and character goes hand in hand with reliability. You are reliable because you are consistent and always meet your end of the bargain.
This is her word of advice to young people:
“As the years go by, I realise fewer people visit libraries, and we struggle with creating a reliable reading culture amongst the younger generation. The internet has changed the world in so many positive ways, but it has also made some people lazy. You will find people using search engines for things you’d never imagine can be searched for.
“Reading books is beautiful. It builds your mind, helps you think constructively and, more so, sharpens your spoken and written word. I encourage all young people to make reading books a daily habit. It makes them one creative thinker. And for those who want to climb the career ladder in Communications, reading and researching is a must skill to have.”
And her final advice to women ahead of the International Women’s Day slated for next week….
“As a woman, you have to work three times as hard as a man because society is too critical of women. I am sure you have seen women who shatter the glass ceiling, and all of a sudden, there are questions and whispers of who her godfather/godmother is?
“The only thing that will save you is merit; what you stand for, and the fact that you are a worker, even if they don’t like you. Work until your work introduces you. At all times, do you, the world will adjust.”
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