Mwangi Mukami was labeled a failure by Kenyan society as a youngster fresh out of high school after receiving a D+ on his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
Given the restricted prospects accessible to anyone without a university degree in Kenya, his future looked grim.
Their “failure” had left them vulnerable to fate.
“Over 20 years ago, Kenya’s educational system wrote me off as a failure because I had a D+. I remember vividly saying to my peers that I wanted to be a policymaker or an attorney. Their response was a burst of collective laughter and sneer,” he said.
Mwangi also possesses a magna cum laude double major in Political Science and International Relations from San Francisco State University, as well as two associate degrees from City College of San Francisco in arts and humanities and behavioral science, all with honors.
Mwangi believes that rather than academic prowess, his success stems from his commitment to humanity.
He said in an interview, “My interest in my educatįon was to help create social change.”
Mwangi served as the first male president of the Kenyan Children’s Cabinet in 2003, making history as the only kid to participate in the Bomas Constitutional Process in its entirety, which concluded in the approval of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
He also founded and served as the National Youth Parliament’s youth president, as well as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Africa Foundation’s Chair of Africa.
Mukami claimed his move from Kenya to the United States enabled him to pursue his dream of obtaining a university education in a Facebook post after receiving his fifth degree. He also credits his success to his single mother, who raised him and his six siblings while selling fruits and vegetables like oranges and tomatoes in Kawangware.
“Congratulations to my mom. The degree is a reflection of her tenacity. I am grateful and honored to have wonderful brothers and sisters who support and trust my ability to achieve,” he added.
Mwangi’s initiative, Mwangi Mukami Low Revenue Families Endowment, currently dedicates 10% of his annual income to empowering Kenyan children and youth (MLIFE).
“I want my accomplishment in educatįon to reflect in the legacy I leave behind for other children,” he said.
Mwangi’s alma mater, Kawangware Primary School, collaborates with the Foundation to provide educational tools for children.
MLIFE donated funds and established the LEAP Tech Center to enhance e-learning at Kawangware in response to the COVID-19.
In an annual report to donors, Mwangi stated, “This important resource helps 471 pupils and 26 teachers, allowing learning to continue despite COViD-19 disruption.”
MLIFE not only provides opportunities for its learners to thrive, but also empowers them to help those who come after them, creating a philanthropic model focused on paying it forward.
The current MLIFE school program aims to assist pupils in reading critically, thinking creatively, writing clearly, and speaking eloquently.
