From slums to the top: Ex-children's cabinet president Mwangi Mukami's journey

In Nairobi's Kawangware slum, where survival often eclipses dreams, the story of a dreamer emerges. This is where Mwangi Mukami was born in 1984.

A relentless struggle against the constraints of poverty marked Mukami's early years. But against the odds of life, Mukami nurtured a burning desire to rise above his circumstances.

"I always felt that there was something different about me," Mukami told the Nation in an interview when he arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. 

Unable to raise school fees on time, Mukami's absenteeism became chronic, and he ended up with a D+ in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams.

Despite his academic limitations, the obstacles seemed insurmountable. Although higher education felt like a distant fantasy, Mukami's determination was unwavering.

"Failure was never an option," he says. 

Leading figure

The turning point in Mukami's journey came through an unexpected avenue: his voice. He emerged as a powerful advocate for youth rights, co-founding the National Youth Parliament of Kenya. His eloquence and charisma quickly positioned him as a leading figure in Kenya, and he served as an advisor to former Vice President Moody Awori. He also worked closely with Kalonzo Musyoka and was mentored by PLO Lumumba, the former secretary of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission. When political instability engulfed the nation in the 2007/2008 elections, Mukami made a heartbreaking decision to flee for his life, leaving behind everything he had built.

The perilous journey took him to the United States, where his determination turned into action. He attended San Francisco State University, where he earned a double degree, magna cum laude, (with great praise) in Political Science and International Relations, and the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a Master of Public Affairs from the Goldman School of Public Policy. Mukami was elected chair of the Shelter Monitoring Committee, which oversees 23 shelters in San Francisco, and served as a graduate instructor at Berkeley, teaching political science for undergraduate courses and a graduate leadership class.

Driven by a deep-seated mission to give back, Mukami founded the Mwangi Mukami Low-Income Families Endowment Foundation, whose flagship initiative, the Learning Enrichment and Acceleration Program (LEAP), serves as a lifeline for countless children trapped in the cycle of learning poverty. The LEAP programme currently partners with the Nation Media Group to bring learning to schools in Nairobi's slums, including Kawangware and Kibera.

 Powerful weapon

"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world," Mukami insists. "It's the key to unlocking potential and driving transformation. Through LEAP, Mukami is not merely providing knowledge; he's cultivating a sense of agency and critical thinking among children. "We're teaching them to challenge the status quo, lead, and envision a better future," he explains.

The results are profound. Arnold Matiba, a beneficiary of LEAP, embodies the program's transformative power. "LEAP gave me the confidence to dream," Matiba shares. "It showed me that obstacles are meant to be overcome."

Mukami's vision extends far beyond Kenya. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Mukami supports children through a year-long leadership program where they learn about Africa and make a 10-day visit each July. "We must create a world where all children realize their fullest potential," Said Mr Mukami.

Mwangi Mukami's journey is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. From the shadows of Kawangware to the global stage, his story inspires us all to believe in the transformative power of education and the boundless potential of every child.