NAIROBI, Kenya- Long before he became known in Kenya as Charlene Ruto’s fiancé, Tanzanian entrepreneur Isaya Yunge had already built a profile through youth advocacy, technology and education.
Yunge, now 36, was born and raised in Mwanza, Tanzania.
His early life was marked by hardship, including periods in foster care and exposure to the struggles faced by children living on the streets.
His experiences later inspired him to advocate for vulnerable children.
At the age of 16, Yunge helped establish a radio programme on Radio Free Africa that gave street-connected children an opportunity to speak about their lives.
His work attracted the attention of UNICEF, which later selected him as a UNICEF African Youth Ambassador.
That role took him onto the international stage.
In 2007, Yunge was among young people who participated in the Junior 8 (J8) Summit in Germany, held alongside the G8 summit in Heiligendamm.
The programme, supported by UNICEF and the Morgan Stanley Foundation, was designed to give young people from G8 countries and developing nations an opportunity to engage directly with world leaders.
During the meeting, Yunge made a direct appeal for developed countries to invest in education in Africa.
He argued that education was critical to tackling wider challenges, including HIV/AIDS and malaria. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was among the G8 leaders who met the young delegates.
His interest in education later influenced his entrepreneurial career.
While at university, Yunge began sharing information about scholarships and international opportunities with other students.
He eventually developed SomaApp, a platform designed to connect African students with scholarship and educational opportunities.
His work in youth empowerment and technology later earned him international recognition, including the Queen’s Young Leaders Award in 2018.
His Link to Charlene Ruto
Yunge’s profile has now taken on a new dimension in Kenya after his engagement to Charlene Ruto, the daughter of President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto.
The couple held their traditional Koito engagement ceremony on August 8, 2026, at the Ruto family’s Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County.
President Ruto and Rachel Ruto hosted the ceremony, which brought together family members and prominent guests.
President Ruto later referred to Yunge as his daughter’s fiancé in a message celebrating the occasion, while the ceremony placed the Tanzanian entrepreneur firmly in the Kenyan public spotlight.
For Yunge, the journey from advocating for street-connected children in Mwanza, to addressing world leaders as a teenager, and later building education-focused technology ventures has now led to another highly public chapter, becoming part of Kenya’s First Family through his relationship with Charlene Ruto.
