15 Young Kenyans Picked For Entrepreneurship And Leadership Fellowship

• MLIFE Foundation has picked 15 young Kenyans to join its entrepreneurship and leadership fellowship
• The fellowship will equip them with skills to become NextGen Leaders
• The Fellows will be allowed to participate to pitch their entrepreneurial ideas, with the best business ideas getting funding

The fellowship dubbed MLOVE is a transformative 12-month experiential leadership program that provides young leaders a vulnerable and safe space to be human, collaborate and partner with others, learn from world-class faculty, and become future leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs.

MLIFE Foundation President and Founder Mwangi Mukami say MLOVE Fellows receive a financial stipend, mentorship and coaching, and other tools they need to ideate, define, and execute a strategy that gives them an advantage in a complex and changing world.

“Sub-Saharan Africa has the youngest population globally, with 70 percent of its population under 30. Almost 2/3 of this population are underemployed and from an economically disadvantaged background. It is Africa's most tremendous potential lying in waste. We build a better world by providing the NextGen leaders with a platform to learn, innovate, and connect with others to realize goals that matter to them,” Mukami noted.

Among the MLOVE Fellows, 24 include Philly Achieng, a passionate journalist and advocate of human rights, Risper Kengere, a radical feminist who advocates for gender equality, economic justice, and sexual reproductive health, Silvia Wanja, a youth empowerment and development specialist, Stacey Wakesho a digital activist representing the queer community, and Tuta Mang’eli a human rights defender in the coast region.

Others include Tech expert Valary Vusaka, aspiring entrepreneur VIncent Kipkorir Mental Health Advocate Patricia Chebet, social work enthusiast Mariam Komora, Human Rights Defender Kelvin Njeri, and psychologist Ismael Michael Kiboro.

“Women represent 60 percent of our fellows; empowering women is essential to the health, economic, and social development of families, communities, and countries. When women live safe, fulfilled, and productive lives, they can reach their full potential,” he explained.

Following the announcement, the cohort will convene at the three-day annual leadership conference in Nairobi dubbed “The Future is Human Summit set for July 31 - August 2, 2023.

“During the summit, the MLOVE fellows will be trained on communication skills, leadership and entrepreneurship. However, it does not end there, the 12 month programme will also include one on one coaching sessions, bi weekly mentorship sessions, training on Fundraising among other skills,” said Mwangi Ndegwa MLOVE Programme Director.

Following the 12-month program, the Fellows will be given a chance to participate to pitch their entrepreneurial ideas, with the best business ideas getting funding.

“Over 10 entrepreneurs in Africa have benefited from the program; we have spent about Sh10 million in supporting startups that emanate from the program. We have also set aside Sh10 Million this year to fund bannable ideas,” Ndegwa added.

Instituted in 2017 as Summer Leaders’ Summit & Retreat, MLOVE is a premier multidisciplinary and multicultural fellowship for under-resourced, high-impacting, high-potential NextGen leaders.

Applications for the next class of MLOVE Fellows will be open from January 1 through March 31, 2024.