Barack Obama, 44th U.S. President, Mwangi Mukami and James J. Foti.
"An advent of possibility"
Mwangi Mukami was born on November 1, 1984 in Kawangware location, an informal and struggling neighborhood dubbed rurii rwa Sodom (the bush of Sodom),in a disturbingly improvised settlement where single divorced or widowed women brew Changaa (illegal brew) as a mean to elk a living in the sprawling slums of Nairobi, Kenya.
The last son of Veronica Mukami, he was born in a family of four sons and three daughters, his mother was a hawker in Marigiti Market. An icon of struggle and integrity, Veronica Mukami single handedly brought up her children and educated them from her meager earnings.
At the age of 14, he initiated the CETA (Christ End Time Ambassadors) Global Ministry, a network of slum pastors to reach out and rehabilitate drug addicts, street workers, and orphaned children. His leadership role was pivotal in the formation of strong collaborative coalition of local pastors. His passionate advocacy for children and youth issues earned him recognition from the Government of Kenya and International organizations, He was selected a child-anchor of the “Ni Sisi” program an initiative of the Union of National Radio Television Organization of Africa-Program Exchange Center (URTNA-PEC) in Nairobi.
The last son of Veronica Mukami, he was born in a family of four sons and three daughters, his mother was a hawker in Marigiti Market. An icon of struggle and integrity, Veronica Mukami single handedly brought up her children and educated them from her meager earnings.
At the age of 14, he initiated the CETA (Christ End Time Ambassadors) Global Ministry, a network of slum pastors to reach out and rehabilitate drug addicts, street workers, and orphaned children. His leadership role was pivotal in the formation of strong collaborative coalition of local pastors. His passionate advocacy for children and youth issues earned him recognition from the Government of Kenya and International organizations, He was selected a child-anchor of the “Ni Sisi” program an initiative of the Union of National Radio Television Organization of Africa-Program Exchange Center (URTNA-PEC) in Nairobi.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin, U.S. Assistant Majority Leader and Mwangi Mukami at the Russell Senate Building.
Mwangi Mukami with David Norman Dinkins, the First-African American and 106th Mayor of the City of New York.
Mwangi Mukami with Former Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy at the Kenya National Assembly Prayer Breakfast
At age 17, he joined the Children’s Cabinet where he served in different capacities including Spokesperson, Junior Minister for Education, Children’s Vice President and first male President of the Children’s Parliament. He was consequently nominated to the East Africa Children’s Assembly by His Worship the Mayor of Nairobi, Joe Aketch and elected the inaugural Children’s President of the East Africa Children’s Council. When the clamor for the domestication of the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child), had reached its peak, he became the most notable and influential member of Kenya Children’s Parliament due to his continuous advocacy for the enactment of a law to protect vulnerable Children by the National Assembly of Kenya. He was also the only child representative to participate in the entire National Constitutional Conference where he contributed immensely and served as an adjudicator and Co-Chair in various review committees.
Although Mwangi Mukami sat for his high school diploma and performed dismally with a D+, His resilience and drive to outgrow the presumably predestined life of mediocrity and poverty propelled him to institute the National Youth Parliament, a vibrant nationwide youth advocacy agency that mentored young people in parliamentary democracy, rule of law and leadership through dialogue and participatory based engagement with key officials of the Kenya Government. In 2005, he co-founded the National Community-Based Organizations Council where he served in the Board of Directors as an Executive Director. During the same time he founded the African Chapter of the World Teens Federation and was subsequently elected as the President of the World Teens Federation.
Although Mwangi Mukami sat for his high school diploma and performed dismally with a D+, His resilience and drive to outgrow the presumably predestined life of mediocrity and poverty propelled him to institute the National Youth Parliament, a vibrant nationwide youth advocacy agency that mentored young people in parliamentary democracy, rule of law and leadership through dialogue and participatory based engagement with key officials of the Kenya Government. In 2005, he co-founded the National Community-Based Organizations Council where he served in the Board of Directors as an Executive Director. During the same time he founded the African Chapter of the World Teens Federation and was subsequently elected as the President of the World Teens Federation.
Sunny Walker, Former Executive Director of the King Center, Gilbert Young, Mwangi Mukami, Rev.C.T. Vivian, Dr. Stanley Pritchett, President Morris Brown College and Connie E. Cheren, President, Partners for Care Inc.
Mwangi Mukami’s passion for an inclusive, poverty-free, democratic, equitable society led him to institute many respectable youth groups and youth-rights movements in Africa. When the Ministry of Youth Affairs was established in 2006, he served as the Secretary of the Interim Consultative Youth Council and was an advisor to the Ninth Vice President of the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Dr. Moody Awori.
In 2007, He was selected by the United States Embassy in Nairobi to participate in the U.S. Department of State, International Visitors Leadership (IVL) Program, through this program; he met and held discussions with key U.S. Government officials and global leaders including the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. He has also served as the Honorary Chairperson of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Africa Foundation which he founded as an instrument of his philanthropic work in Africa and for Africa.
In 2007, He was selected by the United States Embassy in Nairobi to participate in the U.S. Department of State, International Visitors Leadership (IVL) Program, through this program; he met and held discussions with key U.S. Government officials and global leaders including the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. He has also served as the Honorary Chairperson of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Africa Foundation which he founded as an instrument of his philanthropic work in Africa and for Africa.
The Vice President of the Republic of Kenya, Kalonzo Musyokais introduced to Jacob Kieder, the Israel Ambassador to Kenya and his spouse by Mwangi Mukami
He was appointed the Goodwill Peace Ambassador to Kenya by the Gandhi USA Foundation and served as a member of the Board of the U.S. based Africa Kids in Need Network. In 2008, he was honored by the General Assembly of the State of Georgia, with the Senate Recognition Award for his peace efforts in Kenya and across Africa. His other meritorious international achievements include: the Gandhi Peace Award, the Youth Order of Merit for Advancement of Humanity, the Morris Brown Peace Medal and the East Africa Children Lieutenant of the Year Award. He has appeared as a special guest of Victor Oladokun in Turning Point International, a Program aired in over 170 countries. Currently, Mwangi Mukami serves as the President of the Mwangi Mukami International, an international non-profit private charity he founded on the philosophy of Somewhere to Stand. He is also a motivational speaker, a leadership trainer and the proprietor of the Africa Institute for International Peace (IIP-AFRICA).