Movement history · Since 2010
A story Worth Telling - The Unstoppable Rise of SET KENYA
Every enduring movement traces back to an unremarkable moment of clarity. For SET KENYA—originally founded as WESET (Western Set the Pace)—that moment occurred around 2010 beneath the broad shade of a tree in Nairobi, Kenya. What began as a spontaneous conversation among JKUAT Christian Union finalists Tobias Mukhongo, Simon Musawa, Irene Kavere, and their peers Dan Nyongesa and Simiyu Machani transformed into a dynamic movement that would shape thousands of lives across Kenya.
Driven by a simple, deeply personal question—"How would our Christian journey and career paths have looked if someone had talked to us back then?"—the five founders set out to provide younger secondary school students in Bungoma with the guidance, faith, and direction they themselves had lacked. What they intended as a one-off outreach rapidly evolved into an explosive institutional success. Raising over KES 70,000 within three months, their inaugural mission deployed 21 mentors across 16 schools, completely exceeding expectations and generating a staggering surplus of KES 37,000—a portion of which they tithed to honor their parent fellowship, WESO.
The journey · 2010–2026
SET KENYA’s growth trajectory
~2010
A conversation beneath a tree
Conceived under a tree in Nairobi as a regional outreach: WESET — Western Set the Pace.
Year 1
The first Bungoma mission
21 mentors reach 16+ schools. A one-off outreach becomes the beginning of something enduring.
2013
A home at JKUAT
Official University Club status registered at JKUAT, creating structured leadership pipelines and ongoing campus mentorship.
2017
A national mandate
Rebranded to SET KENYA and registered as a Community-Based Organisation (CBO). The vision grows beyond its regional beginnings.
2026
Sixteen years. A wider horizon.
16+ years strong: a national movement expanding toward an international future.
Over the past sixteen years, the movement’s trajectory has been defined by rapid, deliberate scaling:
- Grassroots Powerhouse (2010): Sparked by former Christian Union student leaders whose integrity and vision immediately mobilized financial and human capital.
- Campus Institutionalization (2013): Formally registered as a recognized student club at JKUAT, establishing structured leadership pipelines and ongoing campus mentorship.
- National CBO Mandate (2017): Shedding the regional "WE-" prefix to become SET KENYA, the movement registered as a Community-Based Organisation (CBO), expanding its legal and operational footprint nationwide.
- 16-Year Legacy (Present Day): A resilient organization rooted in its founding philosophy—serving as a grand shelter where younger generations find direction and thrive.
Reflecting on sixteen years of sustained impact, co-founder Tobias envisions an even broader horizon, declaring: "That tree planted 16 years ago is still withstanding the test of time. And I pray that one day, we go international." Built on persistence, selfless mentorship, and an unyielding mission to set the pace, SET KENYA continues to expand its shade across the nation and beyond.
The Previous SET Kenya Leadership · Chairpersons
The visionaries who kept the ball rolling
Each chapter was carried by leaders who kept the ball rolling and made the vision broader. We honour the chairpersons who sustained the movement, year after year.
- 01
Tobias Mukhongo
2010–2011
- 02
Simiyu Machani
2011–2012
- 03
Akula Dennis
2012–2013
- 04
Hellen Mong’are
2013–2014
- 05
Wafula Amos
2014–2015
- 06
Matthew Lunani
2015–2016
- 07
Herbert Wanjala
2016–2017
- 08
Jairus Buluma
2017–2018
- 09
Martin Mutoro
2018–2019
- 10
Ronald Nyawade
2019–2020
- 11
Hezron Simiyu
2020–2021
- 12
Ruth Osapir
2021–2022
- 13
Silas Wanjala
2022–2023
- 14
Scovia Wandera
2023–2024
- 15
Brian Omukaga
2024–2025
- 16
Victor Frankline
2025–2026