A 36-year-old Tanzanian businessman, Isaya Yunge, got engaged to President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, in a colourful traditional ceremony held in Kilgoris, Narok County, on August 8.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Yunge is the Chief Executive Officer of SomaApps Technologies, a company behind SomaApp, a scholarship-matching platform that connects African students with educational opportunities.

The platform has helped more than 7,000 young Africans access educational opportunities, earning Yunge recognition for using technology to address barriers to education.

His work earned him the Queen’s Young Leader Award in 2018, making him one of only two Tanzanians to receive the award that year.

📌 What You Need to Know

Yunge’s leadership journey began as a teenager when he served as Chairperson of Tanzania’s Junior Council between 2006 and 2007, representing children in national and international forums.

He later served as a UNICEF African Youth Ambassador between 2007 and 2008, advocating for children's rights, climate change initiatives and greater youth participation in decision-making.

In 2007, Yunge gained international recognition after he became the first African youth leader to speak at the G8 Summit, representing the views and interests of young people.

Besides SomaApp, Yunge has also served as Director and CEO of SPEKI Technologies from January 2022 to July 2023, focusing on business growth, innovation and organisational transformation.

His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Insurance and Risk Management from the Institute of Finance Management.

Yunge also undertook studies in Economic Diplomacy and Digital Money, and later studied Leading Change in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Cambridge.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke