Charlene Ruto is set to marry Tanzanian technology entrepreneur Isaya Yunge in a high-profile traditional wedding that has attracted significant attention in Kenya and Tanzania.
Yunge has built a reputation through technology, entrepreneurship, education and youth empowerment. His journey from a difficult childhood to international recognition has also drawn attention as details about his relationship with Charlene emerge.
Born on March 23, 1990, in Mwanza, Tanzania, Yunge experienced a challenging childhood after his parents divorced.
He moved between foster homes and spent part of his early years herding animals before starting primary school at the age of seven.
Despite his difficult circumstances, Yunge developed a passion for helping young people. While in secondary school, he organised informal lessons for street children.
He later secured airtime on Radio Free Africa through a programme linked to the Sauti ya Watoto Club, giving children an opportunity to share their experiences.
His community work eventually attracted the attention of UNICEF. He was selected as a UNICEF Africa Youth Ambassador and, at just 17, addressed world leaders at the 2007 G8 Summit in Berlin.
Yunge later ventured into technology and entrepreneurship, where he gained wider recognition after co-founding SomaApp.
The mobile application was designed to connect African students with scholarship opportunities. The platform has reportedly helped more than 7,000 young people access higher education opportunities across the continent.
His achievements earned him the Queen’s Young Leader Award in 2018, making him one of only two Tanzanians to receive the honour.
Forbes also recognised Yunge among young African entrepreneurs. He attended the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit in Boston, where he spoke about opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs.
His business interests extend beyond SomaApp. Yunge founded KAYA, an artificial intelligence-powered smart speaker designed to collect African data.
He also developed Somafit, a smartwatch designed to monitor measurements including blood pressure and heart rate.
Yunge’s achievements include winning the 2017 Mobile Money Hackathon in Dar es Salaam and finishing among the top three startups globally at the Start-up Turkey Awards.
In 2019, Avance Media named him among Tanzania’s 50 most influential young people.
As preparations for his reported marriage to Charlene Ruto continue, public interest in Yunge has grown beyond his relationship with Kenya’s First Daughter.
His background in technology, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment has established him as a notable figure in his own right.