This archive report was first published on 18 November 2019.
Ndung'u Nyoro: The Brother's Keeper ¶
November 18, 2019
Ndung'u Nyoro is a Kenyan social media influencer who has made a name for himself by using his platform to raise funds for people in need. He has been active online for several years and has gained a large following.
Mr. Nyoro's passion for charity led him to found Affecto, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to combat poverty through education. The organisation provides mentorship programmes, health services, and community development initiatives to support young people.
Mr. Nyoro spoke to myNetwork about his passion for charity and shared his experiences with the Q&A below.
When asked if he considers himself an influencer, Mr. Nyoro replied, 'I have been active online for quite a number of years, but I only got to know about that word last year. I just like meeting new people, putting effort into whatever I am doing and sharing knowledge. Social media provides an ideal platform where people can exchange valuable ideas.'
Mr. Nyoro's upbringing in a humble rural home in Molo, Nakuru County, had a significant impact on his life. He witnessed post-election violence in 1992 and 1997 and saw people suffering. His parents accommodated and fed internally displaced people, and he learned the importance of helping those in need.
Mr. Nyoro's Facebook page gained a large following, and he started receiving appeals to help those in need. He realised that this method of raising funds was not sustainable and came up with an initiative to help needy students complete their education. He resigned from his formal employment in 2017 to focus on his charity work.
Mr. Nyoro's organisation, Affecto, has helped more than 70 teenagers join secondary school. He believes that Kenyans are generous people but lack credible platforms to channel their contributions. He founded Affecto Foundation in 2018 to provide a platform for people to support his charity work.
When asked about moments when he felt like giving up, Mr. Nyoro replied, 'There are days that I am so emotionally and spiritually drained that I start wondering if I’m doing something useful. Sometimes people commit to pay tuition fees for some of the students, then they don’t fulfil their promises.'
However, seeing his beneficiaries succeed keeps him going. He receives letters from his beneficiaries and impressive report forms that make him happy.
Mr. Nyoro's advice to his younger self is to know his passion and pursue it. He believes that volunteering time and resources is fulfilling, even if it's not rewarded in monetary terms.
When asked which animal he identifies with, Mr. Nyoro replied, 'An elephant. These big mammals always look out for one another, and that is what I endeavour to do.'
Mr. Nyoro wishes to be remembered as someone who heeded to his calling, had a family beyond his blood relatives, and one who resonated with the kindness of Kenyans.
