Lenah Wanjiru Muiruri: Putting Kenyan youth on the global map

After graduating in 2018, Lenah Wanjiru Muiruri represented Kenya in the International Young Leaders’ conference in Dubai.

This followed a recommendation from her school given her passion in the area as was evident during her school days.

“It was a two-week-long conference that brought together young people from all walks of life,” she said.

Being her first time outside her home country, it was a bitter-sweet moment as it was coupled with a willingness to learn and the fear of being away from her loved ones.

For the 27-year-old Community Development Graduate, the need to explore youth-oriented opportunities pushed her into venturing into the field.

“I realized there is an experiential gap in my area. Students have requisite theoretical knowledge but lack the experience on the field.”

She added that after identifying this gap, she opted to impart her peers with the knowledge on youth forums.

“Through the youth leadership forums, once is imparted with life skills and entrepreneurial guidance,” Muiruri noted.

Her venture, Lead Yourself Consult-Africa, has seen her impact well over 5000 youth people as of June 2023.

“We have worked with youth in Kenya through university representative conferences, church based youth groups meetings, high school students forums and young entrepreneurs networking events,” she added.

To her peers out there, she says that the biggest lesson so far is that one can never be prepared enough.

“You need to start and learn the lessons as you move. We get stuck in the planning phase where over thinking, self-doubt consumes you.”

Drawing the youth towards their goals, she hopes that the message of youth empowerment will spread far and wide.

“I look forward to connecting youth to opportunities across the world, ranging from economic, social and cultural activities. This will help spark the fire in them!”