Isaya Yunge, the Tanzanian technology entrepreneur who has emerged as the groom of President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, has suddenly become a subject of intense public interest following the couple’s traditional wedding ceremony in Narok.
Unlike Charlene, who has lived much of her adult life in the public eye as the daughter of Kenya’s president, Yunge has largely maintained a lower profile.
His career, however, stretches back more than a decade and includes youth leadership, technology entrepreneurship, international advocacy and several major awards.
Here is what is publicly known about the Tanzanian businessman and his relationship with Charlene.
Who is Isaya Yunge?
Isaya Yunge was born on March 23, 1990, in Tanzania and is 36 years old as of 2026. He is an entrepreneur, technology innovator and social-impact advocate whose work has focused heavily on using technology to expand educational opportunities for young Africans.
Yunge’s childhood was reportedly far from conventional.
According to his profile published by Ashoka, he was born and raised in Mwanza, a city on the shores of Lake Victoria in northern Tanzania.
His parents separated when he was young, after which he moved between different homes and experienced difficult circumstances growing up.
His early life included herding animals and living for periods in difficult circumstances.
Despite these challenges, Yunge developed a strong interest in education and community service.
Ashoka says he began helping street children while still a student, teaching them basic English and mathematics.
At about 16, he convinced Radio Free Africa to create a programme that allowed street children to speak about their experiences.
The initiative attracted UNICEF support and helped propel him into youth advocacy.
His early rise as a youth leader
Yunge’s public profile began growing while he was still a teenager.
He served as chairperson of Tanzania’s Junior Council between 2006 and 2007 and became involved in international youth advocacy.
He was subsequently selected as a UNICEF African Youth Ambassador.
One of the most notable milestones in his early career came in 2007, when, at just 17, he addressed the G8 Summit in Berlin, Germany, representing the interests of young people.
His participation at the international summit placed him among a generation of African youth advocates who were increasingly being given platforms to speak about education, development and the future of the continent.
The idea behind SomaApp
Yunge later turned his attention to technology and entrepreneurship.
He is the founder and CEO of Somaapps Technologies, the company behind SomaApp, a digital platform designed to connect students with scholarship opportunities.
The idea reportedly emerged after Yunge noticed that many students struggled to find information about scholarships even when opportunities were available.
During his university years, he began sharing information about international conferences, scholarships and other educational opportunities with fellow students.
That experience eventually inspired him to develop a technology-based solution.
SomaApp allows students to search for scholarship opportunities and identify programmes for which they may qualify.
According to profiles of Yunge, the platform has helped thousands of young Africans access educational opportunities.
Yunge’s wider ambition has been to use mobile technology, artificial intelligence and other digital tools to address social and economic challenges across Africa.
Education and professional career
Yunge studied at Tanzania’s Institute of Finance Management, where he earned a degree in Insurance and Risk Management, according to Kenyan media reports.
He has also undertaken additional studies in areas including economic diplomacy, digital money, entrepreneurship and innovation.
He has also been associated with the University of Cambridge through studies in leading change, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Professionally, his career has extended beyond SomaApps.
He served as Director and CEO of SPEKI Technologies between January 2022 and July 2023, where his work involved business development, innovation and organisational transformation.
His professional profile also identifies him with other technology and innovation ventures.
International recognition and awards
Yunge’s work has earned him recognition beyond Tanzania.
In 2018, he received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award for his work using technology to create opportunities for young people.
He was one of two Tanzanians to receive the honour that year, according to Kenyan media reports and Ashoka.
He was also recognised by Forbes Africa among its 30 Under 30 changemakers.
Ashoka describes him as a social entrepreneur and technology-focused changemaker whose work has centred on education and digital opportunities for young Africans.
Other profiles credit him with recognition at technology and entrepreneurship competitions, including the GSMA Mobile Money Hackathon and Startup Turkey.
His achievements have therefore given him a public profile in Tanzania’s technology and entrepreneurship circles long before his relationship with Charlene became known.
His relationship with Charlene Ruto
Despite the public attention surrounding the couple today, very little is known about how or when Charlene and Yunge first met.
The couple reportedly kept their relationship away from the public eye for an extended period.
Kenyan media reports indicate that their relationship only became widely known as preparations for their traditional wedding began to emerge.
There has been no detailed public account from either Charlene or Yunge explaining when they started dating, how they met or how long they have been together.
That relative secrecy is notable because Charlene herself has been a prominent public figure since her father’s rise to the presidency.
Charlene is the daughter of President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto.
She has built her own public profile around youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, agriculture and climate action.
She founded the SMACHS Foundation and has been involved in initiatives targeting young people and sustainable development.
She also holds a degree in Communications from Daystar University and an MBA from the Swiss-based Crans-Montana Institute, according to her public profiles.
The traditional wedding
The relationship moved firmly into the public spotlight on Saturday, August 8, 2026, when Charlene and Yunge held a traditional Koito ceremony at President Ruto’s Intona Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County.
The ceremony brought together members of the Ruto family, relatives and numerous prominent Kenyan political and public figures.
Among those reported to have attended were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Mama Ida Odinga, Oburu Odinga, Karen Nyamu, Esther Passaris, Kipchumba Murkomen, Chris Kiptoo, Johnson Sakaja and Aden Duale.
Charlene and Yunge were photographed participating in traditional celebrations, with Yunge wearing a brown suit while Charlene appeared in a brown traditional outfit.
The event was distinctly Kenyan in its cultural character, with traditional Kalenjin dancing forming part of the celebrations.
A Tanzanian joining the Ruto family
Yunge’s background makes the union particularly notable.
While Charlene comes from one of Kenya’s most politically prominent families, Yunge comes from Tanzania’s technology and social-entrepreneurship community.
His career has been built largely around education, youth empowerment and technology rather than politics.
His involvement with international youth programmes from an early age also means that he had established his own public identity before becoming connected to the Kenyan presidential family.
The marriage therefore brings together two individuals whose public profiles developed in very different environments: Charlene through her family background and youth-focused initiatives in Kenya, and Yunge through entrepreneurship and technology in Tanzania.
What remains unknown
Although considerable information is now available about Yunge’s career, many aspects of his private life remain undisclosed.
There is currently limited reliable public information about his parents, siblings, detailed family background, private residences, personal finances or exactly when his relationship with Charlene began.
Likewise, neither Yunge nor Charlene has publicly provided an extensive account of their courtship.
For that reason, claims circulating online about the couple’s private relationship should be treated cautiously unless confirmed by the couple themselves or credible reporting.
What is established is that Yunge is a 36-year-old Tanzanian entrepreneur with a long record in youth leadership and technology, while Charlene is a Kenyan entrepreneur and youth advocate who has grown into a public figure in her own right.
Their August 8, 2026 traditional ceremony has now formally placed Yunge in the spotlight as the man set to join the Ruto family, transforming a previously private relationship into one of Kenya’s most closely watched high-profile unions.
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