Nine Moments of Serendipity: A Memoir at 39

There’s a Swahili saying that goes, ‘Aliye na bahati kama mtoto aliyezaliwa Ijumaa’ — as lucky as  the child born on a Friday. Well, lucky me, I arrived on a Friday, November 22, 1985. Serendipitously, my 39th birthday this year also landed on a Friday. As I marked another trip around the sun, the symmetry felt poetic, almost scripted.

Like most people edging towards forty, I found myself teetering on the brink of philosophizing, tempted to dispense wisdom earned through life’s twists and turns. But I resisted. Instead, I chose to reflect, meditating on the serendipitous moments that have shaped me into the man I am today.

These serendipitous moments, these lucky breaks, have been nothing short of divine interventions.

Here are nine of them.

1. Lucky to Be Alive

When my parents brought me into this world, they were barely out of their teens. I was the result of a whirlwind romance, one that dissolved as quickly as the consequences of their union dawned upon them. I often wonder about the conversations they must have had. Were there moments of doubt about whether I’d be carried to term? The fact that I’m here, that my life even began, feels like the first great stroke of luck.

2. Raised by Grandparents, Steeped in Wisdom

With my mother resuming her studies and my father charting his own path, a family decision placed me under the care of my paternal grandparents in Vihiga. What a decision that turned out to be! My grandmother’s wisdom molded me, her storytelling filled my world with wonder, and my grandfather became the father figure who anchored my formative years. I couldn’t have asked for a better foundation. It was unconventional, yes, but oh so perfect.

3. A Teacher’s Belief

In my early years at Lwombei Primary School, I wasn’t a standout student. Averagely mediocre at best. But my prep teacher, Madam Abwunza saw something in me I hadn’t yet seen in myself. Her relentless encouragement transformed me. By the time I reached upper primary, I was consistently topping my class. She didn’t just teach me—she saw me. Without her, I might have faded into the background, another unremarkable name in a sea of pupils. Instead, she polished the rough edges of a diamond she insisted was there, and found it.

4. A Gamble on Change

By Class 6, I was too comfortable. Three years as the top student in my class had dulled the edge of competition. My grandfather, ever the visionary, decided it was time to shake things up. He orchestrated my transfer to Gidimo Primary, the most disciplined and academically rigorous school in the Gisambai area, then.

It was a gamble. Mr. Gunyugu, the headmaster, even promised to waive my fees if I cracked the top 10. I didn’t just make the top 10; I claimed the top spot and kept it for the two remaining years. That gamble paid off when I became the first student from Gidimo to join Lenana School, a national institution. The transfer was a masterstroke.

5. The Lenana Effect

Lenana School, affectionately called ‘Changez,’ transformed me. It wasn’t just an education; it was an awakening. I entered as a rough-edged village boy and emerged a gentleman—poised, articulate, and confident. The friendships I forged there remain my bedrock. Changez wasn’t just a school; it was a crucible that refined my character. It’s hard to imagine who I’d be without it.

6. Falling into Mathematics

If you know me, you know I’m a man of letters, not numbers. So how, you ask, did I end up pursuing a Mathematics degree at the University of Nairobi? Bureaucracy, plain and simple. An oversight in my KCSE subject combination forced my hand. I was denied the chance to study humanities despite excelling in them. Mathematics was the closest option that didn’t make my stomach churn (yes, I was good at it, but I wasn’t in love with it).

Here’s the twist: that unplanned detour became a gift. Mathematics honed my analytical mind, gave me a unique lens through which to view the world, and balanced my love for words with a precision of thought. In hindsight, it was a serendipitous detour.

7. A Sober Revelation

Alcohol entered my life innocuously enough: a glass here, a bottle there, holiday indulgences with family. But by university, it had morphed into a problem. Blackouts became routine. One particularly harrowing incident—a blackout after crossing Uhuru Highway—led my friends to stage an intervention. That intervention sent me to the countryside, where a heart-to-heart with my grandfather changed everything. Sixteen years later, I’m still sober. That singular serendipitous moment saved my life.

8. Campus Love, Lifelong Partner

Shortly after quitting alcohol, I met her. A first-year student with a spark I couldn’t ignore. Sixteen years of marriage and two boys later, Diana remains my rock. They say the right partner makes or breaks your life. I hit the jackpot.

9. From MSCG to 360 Group

When I founded my first company, Marvin Sissey Consulting Group,in 2014, I thought I’d stick to management and communications consulting. But the entrepreneur in me had bigger dreams. A year later, I rebranded to 360 Group, a decision that unlocked boundless potential. Today, 360 Group, at 10, houses diverse ventures: PR, fitness, digital marketing, interior design, and more. The pivot wasn’t just a business move; it was a leap into my destiny.

Heading to 40

As I stand on the cusp of 40, it would be tempting to summarise  up my journey to grit, talent, or sheer willpower. But that would be a lie. My life has been a series of lucky breaks, moments where the universe conspired to nudge me in the right direction. 

Serendipity has been my silent companion.

Here’s to the next chapter—and to the twists and turns still to come.

I write this, in my personal capacity as, simply me. Marvin Sissey. 22.11.1985 . sissey@360group.co.ke