Profiler
Profiler
But accidents are to be expected , and so are promotions . After three years at the pool hall , Davies was promoted to bowling cashier . His IT skills and natural PR ability would prove to be a plus at a busy desk . Here , Davies got to interact with both individual and corporate clients and after another three years he was asked to handle the events section within the Recreation Department .
Since then , Davies has been involved in organising birthday parties , corporate product launches and charity events . Among the most memorable events that Davies helped put together was National Bank ’ s Vision Account third anniversary party .
One may wonder what happened to the rest of his life . Well , Davies had to stop playing rugby ; not because of the demands of his cool job , but because of an accident . During a rugby match he sustained an eye injury .
“ Doctors told me that it could be surgically corrected but that it wasn ’ t necessary . So I chose to live with it instead . However , I decided to quit rugby altogether .”
Opportunity knocks
Not one to sit still in the face of opportunity , Davies developed a love for theatre .
“ I hated theatre for as long as I could remember ,” says Davies . “ Even when I was in high school , theatre didn ’ t interest me .”
But that would all change when he joined college . Word went round that his college drama club would be going to the National Championships to a place that Davies had never been , Nyeri .
“ I had always heard about Nyeri , but I had never been there before . I figured that this would be my opportunity to visit the place .”
There was only one problem : Davies was not a member of the theatre troupe . How would he get on the college bus ? Well , he didn ’ t . Instead , he put his pocket money together and boarded a matatu , making sure it left at approximately the same time the college bus left , and followed his fellow students .
Once he got to Nyeri with no accommodation or meals planned , he approached the drama teacher , Alex Kimani , and offered his services as a troupe handler in exchange for a bed and food for the week . Davies didn ’ t know that his services would be so demanding and that his plans for exploring Nyeri would have to
be put aside . “ Mr Kimani had told me from the onset that he would teach me how to handle these people ,” Davies recalls . And handle them he did , fetching timetables , props and making sure the troupe was where it needed to be at the assigned time .
New talents
“ It was all worth it , though , because in the end we won the competition – okay , they won ,” Davies admits , while laughing and choosing not to take the troupe ’ s glory .
Having earned a ride back to Nairobi on the college bus , Davies returned with the victorious troupe carrying a large trophy , much to the excitement of the institution ’ s principal .
Today , Davies is CEO and producer of Friends Ensemble , a theatre troupe focused on developing Kenyan theatre and arts . He works alongside famous names in the industry such as Ellis Otieno and Vincent Zicoh . Together they have produced more than 50 plays .
As if that weren ’ t enough , Davies is also an events MC – a talent he discovered during a friend ’ s wedding when the hired MC got lost trying to find his way to the ceremony . Davies has since perfected the art and now presides over various functions including staff fun days and end-of-year parties .
Davies is also a family man , having married
Davies has been involved in organising birthday parties , corporate product launches and charity events
the love of his life two years ago . His wife and eight-month-old son live in Mombasa , where Davies spends most of his time when he is not at work at the theatre or filling in for lost MCs .
Back at the ranch , he continues to oversee his tasks like only a concert master would .
Davies appreciates and acknowledges all the people who inspire him :
“ I thank The Village Market management for giving me the opportunity to be here and for my friends and colleagues for believing in me . I also thank my family for giving me the reason to wake up every day to go fend for them . You all are the reason I enjoy what I do .”
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