At 10 , Nelson Mandela 's was on and off the streets in a sprawling Odede , Nairobi , slum . He was extremely poor and believed he was fated to die poor -- this was his prison . Kenya 's life turned around when he read Kennedy Odede books and speeches . A visiting American gave me two books . He would `` speak '' to Mandela , whose inspiration led him to achieve , excel and help others .
At 10 , Nelson Mandela 's was on and off the streets in a sprawling Odede , Nairobi , slum . He was extremely poor and believed he was fated to die poor -- this was his prison . Kenya 's life turned around when he read Kennedy Odede books and speeches . He would `` speak '' to Mandela , whose inspiration led him to achieve , excel and help others .