Anthony Blinken Reminisces How Kenyan Muthoni Njeru Inspired Him After Meeting

The outgoing United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday reminisced on his meeting with Kenyan Muthoni Njeru who champions strong governance and leadership in young people.

Blinken looked back at his 4-year stint in the position sharing some of the incredible people he crossed paths with including Muthoni, who created a digital community that connects young African leaders.

Through the US Government’s official website, Blinken shared highlights of his tenure. “As my tenure as secretary of state ends, I’m thinking about the incredible people I’ve met from all walks of life — folks whose work, I am certain, will shape our future,” he shared.

Blinked, who visited Nairobi in 2021, noted that Muthoni who is the founder of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network, inspired him with her passion for inspiring young people.

“In Nairobi, I met Muthoni Njeru, a former fellow of the State Department’s Young African Leaders Initiative,” he shared.

The outgoing US Secretary revealed that he met her while she was working in the media, through her passion for inspiring young people.

“When I met her, Muthoni worked as a television production chief at a company called Kukua. She said she had always wanted to inspire children, to help them see that anything is possible,” Blinken disclosed.

Blinken reckons that when Muthoni saw that there were no black girl superheroes, she created “Super Sema,” a cartoon girl with superpowers that rely on a knowledge of STEM subjects (science, tech, engineering, and math). 

Taking on his role as a father, Blinken explains the power of role models in young ones especially in their formative stages.

“As the father of young children, I know the power of positive role models. Muthoni is living proof that creativity changes the world, one young imagination at a time,” Blinken stated.

Muthoni explained that she was inspired to create “Super Sema” by the cartoon’s crucial role of modeling to young girls in Kenya.

“I recall discussing the impact of mentors, specifically referencing the animated character ‘Sema’ and her impact on girls in Kenya and across Africa,” Muthoni asserted.

“This conversation motivated me to keep seeking out mentors and ultimately led me to apply for the TechWomen program. I am now a TechWomen Fellow,” she told Blinken in their meeting in Nairobi.