From Mathematics to writing: The journey of Samuel Kanja

By Wanderi Kamau

Would you leave a career you studied for to pursue an entirely new path with an uncertain future? For Samuel Kanja, this was the bold decision he made.

Despite being a highly trained mathematician with a master’s degree, Kanja chose to venture into book writing and community counseling, addressing various aspects of life.

In his mid-thirties, Kanja is an exceptional scholar. His brilliance in academics was evident early on.

In his 2006 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, he scored an impressive ‘A’ grade (83 points) while studying at St. Mary’s Boys High School in Nyeri County.

Following his excellent performance, he was admitted to the University of Nairobi, where he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Statistics, graduating in 2012.

In 2017, he returned to the same university to pursue a Master’s degree in Science, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation.

Leaving a high-paying job for a passion

Kanja secured jobs with prestigious firms such as Ernst & Young, KPMG, Citi Bank, and British American Tobacco (BAT) as an accountant. However, despite his professional success, he felt a strong calling to become a writer and mentor.

“Even though I had excelled academically, I still had a deep passion for writing books that would help students succeed in their studies while also advising society on various life issues,” Kanja shared in an interview with Newsflash.

His passion led him to be invited to schools across the country to give motivational talks and mentorship sessions.

However, he realized that to be taken seriously as a professional counselor, he needed formal training.

To build credibility, he pursued a Diploma in Counseling from the Kenya Institute of Business and Counseling Studies (KIBCS) in Nairobi between 2019 and 2022.

“While still studying, I continued receiving invitations to offer counseling services in both academic and non-academic institutions,” he said.

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Eventually, Kanja made the bold decision to resign from his prestigious accounting job at Ernst & Young and commit himself fully to counseling.

“This was my calling. I had already made up my mind,” he affirmed.

A prolific writer

In addition to his counseling career, Kanja decided to establish himself as an author to broaden his impact. His first book, Fashioned for Life, was well received, particularly by students, motivating him to write more.

He followed it up with Ultimate Recipe for a Wholesome Student, which provides strategies for academic and personal success.

Encouraged by the positive reception of his books, he went on to write The Career Decoder, a guide on professional growth and self-improvement. He later authored My Values: My Identity, a book that offers insights into self-awareness and personal development.

Samuel Kanja’s new book: ‘Intentional Parenting: How to Effectively Raise Strong, Responsible Children’

In January 2024, Kanja launched his fifth book, Money Matters, which provides financial management guidance.

“I realized that many people struggle with managing their finances. As a mathematician and a financial expert with a master’s degree, writing this book was not a challenge. It is a compilation of the financial advice I have been sharing in various forums,” he said.

Kanja has a new ‘baby’—a book on parenting.

New book: Intentional Parenting

Published less than a month ago, the book is titled Intentional Parenting: How to Effectively Raise Strong, Responsible Children.

What is the core subject addressed by the book?

“I have been writing this book for quite some time with a lot of energy and research. I have included 200 case studies about the real lives of parents and children. This is a very holistic book because it talks about parenting in various stages—for young children, adolescents or teenagers, and also for adult children. The book also talks about the parent. It delves into contemporary issues on parenting like co-parenting, single parenting, how to handle divorce, addiction, loss, and grief, among many other parenting challenges,” he says.

The 320-page book has 31 chapters full of candid and progressive parenting conversations. It is available at Nuria Bookstore for KSh1,500.

Through his books and counseling sessions, Kanja continues to inspire and guide individuals across different fields, proving that sometimes, following one’s passion can be more fulfilling than staying on a conventional career path.