Isaya Yunge is a Tanzanian technology entrepreneur, social innovator, and youth leadership advocate who rose from a difficult, impoverished childhood to international recognition through his work in education technology.
Best known as the founder of SomaApp, a scholarship-matching platform for African students, Yunge became a major subject of public interest in August 2026 following his marriage to Charlene Ruto, daughter of Kenyan President William Ruto.
This biography covers his early life, education, career, and rise to prominence.
Profile
| Full Name | Isaya Yunge |
| Born | March 23, 1990 |
| Age | 36 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Mwanza, Tanzania |
| Nationality | Tanzanian |
| Occupation | Technology Entrepreneur, Social Innovator, Youth Leadership Advocate |
| Education | Taqwa High School, Mwanza; Institute of Finance Management, Tanzania (Bachelor’s degree); University of Cambridge (Leading Change programme) |
| Languages | Fluent in Chinese, among others |
| Spouse | Charlene Ruto (married August 2026) |
| Known For | Founder of SomaApp; Queen’s Young Leaders Award recipient; Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 |
Early Life
Isaya Yunge was born on March 23, 1990, and grew up in Mwanza, Tanzania, near the shores of Lake Victoria. His early life was marked by significant hardship, his parents separated when he was young, and he spent much of his childhood moving between foster homes, ultimately being raised largely by his grandmother. Growing up in a small, modest household, he watched his mother sell vegetables by the roadside to support him and his two siblings, while his father worked intermittently as a casual farm laborer. As a child, Yunge herded goats and cattle and worked around rice plantations, walking barefoot to primary school in the years before his life would take a dramatically different path.
Education
Despite the challenges of his upbringing, Yunge showed strong leadership qualities from an early age, serving as head prefect at Taqwa High School in Mwanza. He went on to study at the Institute of Finance Management in Tanzania, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and later pursued further studies at the University of Cambridge through its Leading Change programme. He was also trained by the Swedish Institute on sustainable business models, further building his expertise in entrepreneurship and social innovation.
Career
Isaya Yunge’s involvement in youth advocacy began early, in 2006, he was elected chairperson of the Junior Council of the United Republic of Tanzania. The following year, in 2007, he was selected by UNICEF to serve as UNICEF Africa Youth Ambassador at just 17 years old, and became the first African J8 delegate to speak at the G8 Summit that same year. During his university years at the Institute of Finance Management, he began organizing fully funded opportunities for fellow students to attend international conferences and workshops, helping expose young Tanzanians to global networks and knowledge-sharing platforms.
Yunge’s interest in technology intensified in 2014 after attending a talk by American economist Jeremy Rifkin on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the sharing economy, an experience that helped shape his later entrepreneurial direction. He went on to co-found SomaApp, a mobile application that enables African students to search for and access scholarship opportunities, addressing the widespread problem of unclaimed scholarships due to lack of awareness among eligible students. The platform has since helped more than 7,000 young Africans progress in their education. He currently serves as co-founder and Chief Executive of SomaApps Technologies, the company behind the app, and has chaired the SOMAPP Foundation since 2020.
Beyond SomaApp, Yunge has founded several other technology ventures, including Smart Kaya, a smart-home and AI-powered speaker technology designed to collect Africa-related data, and SomaFit, a wearable smartwatch device capable of measuring blood pressure and heart rate in real time. He has also served as Chief Entrepreneur at Goodsam Technologies since 2019, overseeing business and product development.
Yunge’s achievements have earned him significant international recognition. In 2018, he was one of two Tanzanians awarded the prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award, presented in recognition of his work using SomaApp to expand educational access for young Africans; the award was presented by the late Queen Elizabeth II. That same year, he was named to Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list. In 2019, he was recognized among Tanzania’s 50 most influential young people. He has also been noted for accompanying Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on international state visits, reflecting his growing profile within Tanzanian public life.
Awards & Recognition
- UNICEF Africa Youth Ambassador (2007)
- First African J8 delegate to speak at the G8 Summit (2007)
- Queen’s Young Leaders Award (2018)
- Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 (2018)
- Named among Tanzania’s 50 Most Influential Young People (2019)
Personal Life
On August 8, 2026, Isaya Yunge married Charlene Ruto, daughter of Kenyan President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, in a traditional engagement and farewell ceremony (Koito) held at Intonna Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County, Kenya. The event drew a number of prominent guests, including several senior Kenyan government officials and members of parliament. The couple had previously been seen together publicly, including at Charlene Ruto’s university graduation in September 2023. Their relationship and subsequent marriage significantly elevated Yunge’s public profile, particularly in Kenya, though his career achievements had already been well established across Tanzania and international development circles long before the relationship became public.
Net Worth
Isaya Yunge’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed, but as the founder and CEO of a growing technology company with multiple product lines and significant international recognition, including a spot on Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list, he is regarded as one of Tanzania’s promising young entrepreneurs.
FAQs
Who is Isaya Yunge?
Isaya Yunge is a Tanzanian technology entrepreneur best known as the founder of SomaApp, a scholarship-matching platform for African students.
How old is Isaya Yunge?
He was born on March 23, 1990, making him 36 years old as of 2026.
Who is Isaya Yunge married to?
He married Charlene Ruto, daughter of Kenyan President William Ruto, in August 2026.
What is SomaApp?
SomaApp is a mobile application co-founded by Yunge that helps African students search for and access scholarship opportunities, having assisted more than 7,000 young people so far.
What awards has Isaya Yunge received?
He has received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award (2018) and was named to Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list the same year.
Conclusion
From herding cattle and walking barefoot to school in rural Tanzania to founding a technology company recognized on the global stage, Isaya Yunge’s journey embodies resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for young Africans.
With his marriage to Charlene Ruto bringing him even greater public attention, Isaya Yunge’s story continues to inspire as a testament to what determination and technology-driven purpose can achieve.