Having grown up in rural Tharaka Nithi County, Muchunku Kawira describes herself as a “village girl.” However, unlike any other village girl, she is at the forefront of nurturing the next generation of tech leaders. Her dedication to education and mentorship is evident in her work, where she not only imparts knowledge but also challenges the narrative around women in STEM fields. With over a decade of experience establishing vital programs, Muchunku is committed to breaking barriers and forging pathways for women and youth in STEM.

As a passionate advocate for women and youth, Muchunku is a community leader in Kenya. She founded organizations like Dada STEM, which promotes gender inclusivity in STEM fields in rural Kenya by providing targeted support and resources to underrepresented groups. She also founded the Brighten A Soul Foundation, which impacted over 9,000 Kenyans in need of basic needs. Although she took a break from the foundation in 2023 to focus on expanding Dada STEM, Muchunku resumed her work in providing basic necessities and did her first donation batch in April 2025 that impacted over 350 Kenyans.

Her influence extends beyond her own initiatives. Muchunku played a key role in organizing the first community dialogue in Tharaka Nithi County, runs teen programs, and serves as a mentor at Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) with the Kibera School for Girls. She is also a trainer with Women in Digital Business, where she teaches the Foundations Programme on Digital Skills. This initiative, supported by Microsoft, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Training Centre (ITC), equips women aged 18 and above with essential digital business skills, empowering them to thrive in the digital economy.

Muchunku’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2023 Zuri Awards in the STEM category. She was nominated for the Africa Women Changemaker/Impact Award for Empowering Girls in Tech, recognized by Akili Dada in 2019 as one of Kenya’s top community leaders, and became the WOMAN Africa Ambassador in Kenya. Additionally, she was named the Face of Women in Leadership Africa in 2021 and appointed as one of the youngest chairpersons on the Justice, Peace & Reconciliation Creation (JPRC) committee in East Africa. Between 2022 and 2023, she served as Secretary to both the Advisory Board and the Women in Leadership Scholarship Board at The Learnaholics Academy Africa. She has also been a board director at the Third Hand Initiative.

Muchunku’s leadership and passion have led her to becoming a Ms President Top 10 Finalist in Season 2 and the Ms President for Tharaka Nithi County in both Seasons 1 and 2. She has spoken at global conferences and platforms, further solidifying her influence and commitment to change.

In her professional career, Muchunku is a Computer Scientist with expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. She has been a University Computer Science lecturer since January 2021 and has led tech projects for both local and global companies in the corporate world.