Ngina Kenyatta's Transformation Since 25th Birthday [PHOTOS]

Ngina Kenyatta.
Ngina Kenyatta.
File

Ngina Kenyatta's public appearances are so rare and in between that since she turned 25 back in 2015, she has been spotted in public only nine times.

However, her transformation from the free-spirited birthday girl to a director at the Kenyatta Trust has been remarkable.

Over the last five years, the first daughter has steadily been cultivating her image with appearances at functions that could imply her intent to walk in her father's footsteps.

It all started in June 2015, when she attended the African Women of Excellence Awards dinner party held in Johannesburg, South Africa, alongside her mum, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.

Ngina Kenyatta follows proceedings at the African Women of Excellence Awards dinner party held in South Africa. June 2015.
Ngina Kenyatta follows proceedings at the African Women of Excellence Awards dinner party held in South Africa. June 2015.
File

She was spotted alongside current sports CS Amina Mohammed and other distinguished women leaders from Africa, which was interpreted as her coming of age and inclination towards taking up a leadership role.

True to her private nature, Ngina was not seen again until Valentine's day in 2016 when she was handed out roses, shoes and helped treat jigger infected orphans in Murang'a County.

Accompanied by the Ahadi Kenya boss Stanley Kamau, she handed out red roses to the orphans and later hosted them for breakfast at the New Stanleys Haven, where young people came out to show their love for the President’s daughter.

She then went on a two-year break from the public limelight, and only came out in 2018, for the Lewa Marathon.

Hawk-eyed Kenyans were quick to spot a new tattoo on her right wrist which reads “In God’s hands”.

The social teetotaller was spotted alongside her mother at the Lewa conservancy as they mingled with admiring fans as well as renowned environmentalists.

The First Daughter Ngina Kenyatta during Lewa Marathon in 2018.
Former First Daughter Ngina Kenyatta during Lewa Marathon in 2018.
Photo
Ministry of Sports

2018 proved to be her most active year to date, in terms of public appearances, as she was spotted at least 3 other times in the same year.

First, she got pundits talking about her potential career in politics when she attended an Uwezo Funds function in Gatundu alongside vocal legislator Moses Kuria.

She then went on to hold private talks with former US President Barack Obama, during his visit in July 2018. By this time she had already been named as a director at the Kenyatta Trust - the family's charity organisation. 

To close out the year, the First Daughter attended the Nelson Mandela party in South Africa whose theme was to tackle poverty, child malnutrition and boost gender equality.

Notably, on May 5, 2018,  she joined the list of young entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry, in the country when she launched her very own, posh and exclusive restaurant christened the Green Experience which is located at the family's tea estate in Lari, Kiambu county.

This was, reportedly, President Uhuru Kenyatta's residential home in the '80s.

As is her nature, she took a backseat from the public eye for another year before making her famous youth empowerment speech in November 2019, which left both her parents in total admiration.

”There is a saying; give a man a fish and feed him for one day but show him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” she quoted Lao Tsu.

"We come from a continent of immense greatness and it is now our time as the youth to address and find solutions to the issue of unemployment by going into new and innovative fields. I believe through partnerships we have an opportunity to make real progress in realizing these gems,” she added.

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She cited the example of a student from Turkana who was sponsored by the Kenyatta Trust for his high school studies and is now studying Petroleum Engineering in China.

Her proud parents looked on as she addressed philanthropists from the African continent as wells as government officials and other delegates.

2020, has been a year of unexpected events and Ngina's last noted appearance was at the UB40 concert in February, where she tugged at the heartstrings of most Kenyans when she was spotted dancing with her father.

Her transformation over the last 5 years has had several pundits pointing to a significant role in youth and women leadership roles somewhere down the line.

See more photos from Ngina's rare public appearances below:

Ngina Kenyatta in Murang'a county over Valentine's Day 2016
Ngina Kenyatta in Murang'a county over Valentine's Day 2016.
File

 

Ngina Kenyatta (Second from Left).
Ngina Kenyatta (Second from Left).
File
Gatundu North MP Moses Kuria with Ngina Kenyatta.
Gatundu North MP Moses Kuria with Ngina Kenyatta.
File
Ngina with her brothers.
Ngina Kenyatta with her siblings.

 

Ngina Kenyatta goofing around with family.
Ngina Kenyatta goofing around with family.
File