He herded his family's goats protecting them from lions and other animals as well as thieves, from about age 5-9. At that point his family was sent to live in a prison camp for 4 years during the Kenyan war for independence. At about age 13 he began school and was very eager to get an education so that he could live a better life than herding goats. After college he began working for Kenya Brewery
making the tasty national beer of Kenya, Tusker. This was the Bush Baby's first time to leave Kenya and to see snow! He loved the experience, but was happy to return to the warmer climate of Kenya and serve as Brewmaster of Kenya's only commercial brewery. Shortly after I was born we moved to Austin, Texas. When I was 22 I went to visit my relatives in Kenya and had the time of my life! My father's family is very large and very loving. My cousins and I traveled across the bush seeing wild animals, visiting relatives and sharing stories of our lives. It was while visiting my relatives who live the traditional Maasai lifestyle that I saw first-hand their struggle for survival. I was most shocked and enlightened when I went with my little cousins to gather water from a dirty contaminated pond. It was then that I learned what their reality is: a daily fight to survive. Surviving on or dying because of disease filled water, competing with wild animals for this scarce resource and trying to provide for their families. This was my father's life and experience, but by the grace of God he was able to provide a better life for me. I am so grateful and because of that I must do what I can to help those less fortunate to have a better life and that starts with clean water! Clean water elimates death due to water borne disease allowing children to flourish and giving them the opportunity to go to school instead of looking for water. My first venture was the creation of Well Aware, a non-profit dedicated to bringing clean water to those in need, and now, with the help of my father and our friends, the first craft brewery dedicated to turning beer back into water! Drink beer and by doing so give water to people in need. So, get involved! Come to a tasting, buy a shirt and tell your friends about us! It takes a village.
