Everyday Heroes, Vol. 1: The Spark
Amoh Stanley: The Spark That Hungers For More
Every story has a starting point. Ours began with an ending.
Earlier this year, my #UncleSam—Our family patriarch and banking industry titan—took his rest at the ripe old age of #96. They used to call him #SOJA, an acronym for all his names, and what an apt one it turned out to be. My task was to design his final goodbye, the funeral program. For me, that’s never just paper and ink. It’s the last word. It has to say something about the legacy. To tell #SOJA’s story, I needed an artist who could look at a shadow and see a man.
A mutual friend pointed me to a name: Amoh Stanley.
I sent him a brief and some old passport photos. What he sent back was breathtaking. He didn't just draw a face; he pulled a soul from the past. A friendship sparked, and we began talking—not about jobs, but about purpose. That conversation has brought us here.
On the surface, we’re an odd pairing. Amoh didn't grow up in the lap of luxury; he had a modest upbringing in Murang'a, with loving folks who offered him a disciplined but caring home. My Father is a retired #General. His father is an active #Gardener, but life would have it that our paths must cross. Our partnership thrives not because of our backgrounds but more so because of the giving spirit we both share. He brings the uninhibited exuberance of youth, and I the temperance of maturity, like a good wine, well kept. We may be polar opposites in age, but you would be hard-pressed to say who the child was if you found us speaking about our craft in our animated, artistic jive.
I interviewed him the second time we met, and I knew instantly that ours was a match made in heaven. Now, we journey into the unknown like the fictional #StarTrek voyagers, seeking to explore the labyrinth of unknown worlds with our words and pictures. The future is out there for us to find - and I can feel that the force is strong with this one.
So, before we start searching for heroes out on the streets, I have to start with the one sitting right next to me. Our new series, "Everyday Heroes - Often Unseen," has to begin with him. He doesn't know this is coming, so this is between us for now... Shhhh!
Our first Everyday Hero is Amoh Stanley. The best way to introduce him is to let the man speak for himself.
Six years ago, Amoh was just, in his own words, “a young artist with passion and a pencil. No experience, no clear path — just the hunger to create.” That hunger is the starting point for every hero’s journey. For years, he wrestled with his craft, turning a challenge into a strength.
Every journey has a #NorthStar. For Amoh, it was an artist named Collins Omondi. He says, “I just went back to Collins Omondi’s profile — the artist who once inspired me so much that I’d try to draw just like him.”
But here’s where the story turns. Recently, Amoh told me, “I got emotional after reviewing his work… because I realized how far I’ve come. I’m not just trying anymore — I’ve become a master at what I once struggled with. The same pencil I held with unsure hands is now my weapon of expression.”
Built In The Quiet, Fueled By A Dream
This is why we’re starting here. Amoh’s story is the blueprint for this entire series. He didn't wait for applause. He built his skill in the quiet, fueled by a dream, and one day looked up to realize he had become the artist he always hoped to be. He is the first exhibit.
And now, to complete this profile, I leave you with the tribute that accompanies the self-portrait of a man who captured my attention. It’s the creative stimulus that sparked our collaboration. Amoh has this to say…
This self-portrait isn’t just a drawing; it’s a glimpse into my journey.
A young artist, pencil between my teeth, smiling—not because it’s easy, but because I’m hungry. Hungry for growth. Hungry for greatness.
Every stroke carries a dream. Every detail speaks of the hours no one sees. And this smile? It’s quiet confidence. My way of saying: “I’m coming.”
Art isn’t just what I do—it’s the path I’ve chosen. And I’m walking it, drawing it, and living it—one piece at a time.
This isn’t the finish line. It’s just the spark.
— Amoh Stanley
And there you have it. The first layer of this onion has been peeled back. Meet the boy who became a man through his craft. Meet the creative spirit who pours his soul into his work, leaving an indelible mark, like DNA. Meet the son who wants to make his father proud and who will one day be a father himself. May these life lessons prove useful for such a time as that. I leave you now with the words of a great Renaissance artist…
Youth has no age. Pablo Picasso