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A defiant child who became peace proponent – Antony Manyara

Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 00:00 | By
A defiant child who became peace proponent - Antony Manyara.

When Antony Manyara was sworn in as the University of Nairobi Student Association chairman last year, many students didn’t hide their disappointment to the election board.

This is because the then third-year architectural student was sworn in without any elections, since he contested unopposed. 

This was after the university struck other candidates off the list, citing indiscipline and other academic-related malpractices. However, he dismissed the allegations that he was imposed on the students by the university administration. 

He had his vision for the institution and this is what kept him going despite the entire negative attitude towards him. Also, the mantra that “the supreme quality for leadership is unquestionable integrity,” kept him going.

 The second born in a family of three, who hails from Tigania East, Meru county, says growing up, he never harboured thoughts of becoming a leader. 

“When I was growing up, I was a rebellious person. Because of this, I went to six different primary schools. Not even my parents who are teachers could understand me.

I used to be caned daily, but even after all the disciplinary actions meted out on me, I never changed,” says the 25-year-old student, also in real estate.

However, when he got to Class Seven, he was appointed a dining hall captain, a responsibility, which led to his reform.

This is because he was supposed to be a role model to the students. Before completing his primary education in 2010 at St Aloysius Boarding Primary School, Meru, he had risen to become the school captain.

Unleashing potential

From this experience, he realised he had the potential of becoming a leader. To him, leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. He has held leadership position in different organisations, associations and unions, and political parties.

He has also founded different unions and programmes meant to bring students and communities together and empower them. “I am the founder and chairman of Kenya Ameru Student Union.

I also founded Mantox Meru Theatre, a youth empowerment programme in Meru county whose main role is to help the youth realise their potential and rekindle their abilities,” says Manyara.

As a Kenyan with a keen interest in leadership, sound governance and a firm believer in the power of the youth being the initiators and movers of change, he says he ran for University of Nairobi leadership position so as to bring change in the institution, always perceived to be full of goons.

To achieve this, he successfully implemented the Change the Narrative campaign. The campaign has rebranded the University of Nairobi’s students’ general image and cooperation with the general public as peaceful and law-abiding students; a clear divorce from the previously infamous senseless and frequent destructive demonstrations. He concentrated on impactful, time-conscious and achievable goals.

Certificate of recognition

“I used to like Univerity of Nairobi politics and surprisingly, I got involved in their campaigns way before I joined the institution. I remember I campaigned for Babu Owino in April 2015, yet I hadn’t joined the institution. But this happened through the help of my friends who were already admitted,” Manyara recalls.

 His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed and in February this year, he was awarded a certificate of recognition by Raila Odinga for his outstanding and exemplary skills in student leadership, his immense contribution in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) - by spearheading the Change the Narrative campaign nationally. He was also recognised for his zealous effort in restoring sobriety in youth leadership as well as advocating for justice in Kenya.

Future endeavours

Now that he is about to graduate, he didn’t vie for any position in the institution this year. Ann Mvurya, a third-year law student, who became the first woman to hold such a position, succeeded him.

Manyara is now eyeing the Kasarani constituency Member of Parliament position though he says his community has endorsed him for Meru county senatorial position.

“I know many would wonder why Kasarani. I am focusing on this area because this is one of the constituencies that hosts a big percentage of students and I want to uplift their lives,” he says.

When not in class or going about his business, he is always busy back home in Meru where he is a miraa farmer with about 388 acres land. “My parents gave me 188 acres land while the rest, I bought it with proceeds from my business,” he says..

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