Welcome to the new issue of WHOLE, the KamiLimu magazine! On the cover is Bridgette Musango, a soon-to-be JKUAT graduate, on becoming a holistic engineer. Inside, three alumni carving their place in the world, identical twins who mentored our Software Eng. track, and introducing the new Cohort 10. Also, you will find three games we've created ourselves: a crossword, Connections, and a jigsaw to play. Experience the interactive magazine best using a laptop/tablet. Read, play, and share. Link: whole.kamilimu.org/V2_issue1

Mentee of the Day: Day 17 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Mercy Mawia: Mercy is that friend you probably shouldn’t sit next to during serious moments. She has a gift for turning the most ordinary thing into a joke. But it’s not even her jokes that will leave you in tears. Oh no. It’s her laughter. That infectious laugh that bubbles out of her and somehow makes an already silly joke ten times funnier. Have one conversation with Mercy and chances are, what you’ll remember most is how hard you laughed. A few months ago, Mercy got her first degree. She probably left campus with a few not-so-fond memories, questionable sleep schedules, and stories best left untold. What she did not leave with, unfortunately, is the excuse we all use to escape that dreaded question: “So, why don’t you have a job?” Then there’s the Mercy you can spot across a room. Her height makes her an easy target for jokes, her locks look like they were made for her, and the spectacles somehow complete the picture of someone perfectly comfortable being a backbencher. It’s hard not to notice Mercy in person. Online, though? You might completely miss her. Maybe that’s part of her charm. Quiet on the screen, unforgettable in the room. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 16 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Joylynn Njeri: Joylynn is one of the most hardworking, adorable people I know. What I admire most about her is not just her drive to keep levelling up her skills, but how that same hunger shows up outside tech too, in the way she carries herself through life. Every time we talk about where we’re headed and how we’re going to get there, something in her lights up. The ideas just keep coming, and honestly, it moves me a little. You can tell this is someone who is going to succeed, not because things have always come easy, but because she refuses to stop growing. Beyond tech, she has a real eye for photography. The kind where she notices something ordinary, captures it, and suddenly you’re wondering how you missed it. But what I love most about Joylynn is that she doesn’t just chase her own growth. Somehow, she pulls the people around her forward too, whether she realises it or not. I don’t say this enough, but I’m genuinely proud to know her. And knowing Joylynn, this is only the beginning of everything she is capable of becoming. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 15 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Albert Ng’ang’a: Albert Ng’ang’a is popularly known as the Master of Sidequests, and honestly, the name fits. Albert is the kind of person who can casually record a 17-kilometre run before some of us have properly started our day. Add hiking to the list and you quickly realise this man genuinely enjoys choosing the longer route. But I admire his consistency. He reminds me that the things you love deserve time too. Then one random day, I’m in Nakuru heading to one of my favourite places, the National Library, and who do I find there? Albert. Apparently, his latest sidequest was teaching college students about digital safety through American Spaces. As a cybersecurity mentee, he wasn’t just learning. He was already sharing what he knew. And community seems to follow him everywhere. He leads the ISACA student group at Tharaka University and recently joined the Membership and Communication Committee at ISACA Kenya. Somehow, Albert keeps finding ways to serve. My favourite sidequest, though, might be the time he wrote an entire Substack article about being a timer at the Mozilla x KamiLimu Hackathon. A timer. Most of us would have gone home. Albert went home with lessons about pitching and a story to tell. Maybe that’s what I admire most about him. Albert rarely just does things. He pays attention, learns something, and carries it into the next adventure. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 14 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Christine Wangui: If I had to describe Christine in one word, I’d say connector.She has this habit of finding an opportunity and immediately thinking, “Who can I plug into this?” That’s actually how Christine became part of my KamiLimu story. She heard about KamiLimu, told me to apply, I did, and I got in. So technically, I have Christine to thank for one of the best things that has happened to me this year. But that’s just who she is. Christine genuinely enjoys seeing other people win. She doesn’t find opportunities and keep them to herself. She shares them, opens doors, and brings people along. And then there’s her laugh. You cannot miss it. Once Christine starts laughing, there’s a good chance you’ll start laughing too, even if you have absolutely no idea what the joke was. I’ll always remember Christine as someone who found an opportunity and thought, “I know someone who should know about this.” Lucky for me, that someone was me. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 13 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Faith Mutheu: Whenever you walk into the room on the first floor of iHub, one of the first things you’ll notice is Faith’s bright smile. Then comes the giggle. And somehow, the room already feels warmer. Faith is one of the most genuinely bubbly people in our cohort, but there’s also a quiet, reflective side to her. She almost always has a book nearby, and while she may seem reserved, give her a stage and something she believes in and she’ll speak her heart out. She loves thrifting, AIESEC, and food. Especially ice cream. Mention a good dessert spot and you have her attention.But please don’t let the calmness fool you. Faith can dance and deliver one heck of a pitch. Also, texting her requires patience. She might reply eventually. Or she might just continue the conversation in person the next time she sees you because she was busy somewhere geeking out over Zenitsu from Demon Slayer. Faith has this way of bringing warmth into a room without trying too hard. Maybe it’s the smile. Maybe it’s the giggle. Probably both. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 12 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet George Mark: I have never been more delighted to talk about someone than I was when I saw the name George Okumu. George is the quiet guy in the room you might barely notice until he speaks. And when he does, please have an answer ready. George does not enjoy ambiguity. He can be a little strict, yes, but underneath all that seriousness is someone incredibly gentle and considerate. He can sound like he’s issuing a presidential directive while genuinely trying to help you. Get to know him and you’ll also discover that George is surprisingly funny and wonderfully random. He listens properly too. He remembers the little things you tell him, asks questions, and actually cares about the answer. Conversations with him leave you thinking differently because George seems to know a little bit about everything. Then there’s adventurous George. He loves new places, good food and new experiences. He also runs actual distances for fun, which I personally have questions about. And if you ever complain that somewhere is too far, expect his favourite response: “It ain’t that far.” Knowing George has taught me that sometimes the quietest person in the room has an entire world behind them. You just have to get close enough to discover it. Hot take: everyone deserves a George in their life. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 11 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Joan Akello: I met Joan on my very first day at KamiLimu, on the ground floor of the Hub. She was sitting with Albert when I walked over and asked, “Can I join you?” “Yes, come sit next to me.” And just like that, I had a friend. Joan can be quiet and reserved when you first meet her. Give her time. Soon you’ll discover a laughing machine. She talks, jokes, brings the energy, and if she has something to say, you’re getting it exactly as it is. But it’s the small things that tell you who Joan really is. After our sessions, she stays with me at the Easy Coach waiting zone until my bus leaves, even when it means she’ll get home late herself. We’ve also made some questionable transport decisions together. Once, heading to Rongai, we followed other mentees thinking we’d catch a matatu somewhere ahead. After walking for what felt like forever, we realised we could have just gone straight to CBD, boarded there, and paid the exact same fare. At that point, all we could do was laugh at ourselves. That’s most days with Joan. Lots of laughter, but behind it is someone hardworking and determined. She dreams of landing an internship abroad, and she isn’t just talking about it. She’s putting in the work. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 10 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Addy Mutuiri: If you’ve met Addy, you already know he dreams big and actually does the work to get there. At 18, he had already made it through ALX’s Software Engineering programme, one of the hardest seasons of his life. He’s been coding since before he finished high school, guided by his brother, who is still his biggest inspiration. And when he became the only person on our Software Engineering track to land an internship at Savannah Informatics, honestly, it tracked. Addy has this quiet discipline about him. He’s a self-confessed workaholic who occasionally needs reminding that there’s a world outside his laptop 😂. Usually, a trip to the cinema or a good playlist does the trick. But what I’ll remember most about Addy is how generous he is with what he knows. As I’ve been finding my footing, he’s been there sending resources, checking in and helping whenever he can. There’s something special about someone being a few steps ahead and still reaching back for you. That’s Addy. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 9 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Catherine Atieno: Picture this: someone casually mentions they’ve met the President of Kenya. You’d expect a whole story, right? Not with Catherine. You get maybe half a sentence before she’s asking about your day instead. That’s Catherine. She won Huawei’s Global ICT Competition in the Cloud track, competing on an international stage against people from around the world. That win eventually led to her meeting President William Ruto. The kind of stories most people would find a way to bring up at every dinner party. Catherine tells them like she’s reading off a grocery list. Spend enough time with her, though, and you discover there’s a lot more going on. Joke with Catherine and she won’t just laugh, she’ll take the joke and somehow make it funnier. Then give it a few minutes and the conversation might turn to investments, an idea she’s thinking about, or the next opportunity to build something. She has done some pretty remarkable things. You just might have to ask her twice to hear about them. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 8 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Newton Murianki: You’ll probably hear Newton before you properly meet him. He’s never afraid to join a conversation, share what he thinks, or throw in a completely random joke. But underneath all that energy is someone who cares deeply about his people. Family means everything to Newton, and if he cares about you, he shows up. I admire that he rarely counts himself out. He’ll take the chance, challenge himself and find out what he’s capable of before deciding something can’t be done. Then there’s a side of Newton you might not expect: he is incredibly meticulous. He likes things done properly, down to the smallest detail. Even his handwriting is ridiculously good. It deserves its own mention. Newton is bold, loyal, funny and always willing to give life a go. And somehow, there’s always another side of him waiting to surprise you. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 7 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Eleanora Matalanga: Eleanora and I are both future electrical engineers, and we have one important thing in common: our passion for electrical engineering. Although she is three years ahead of me, I look up to her as a mentor in some ways. She has given me valuable advice about coursework and shared how she navigated campus life, which has helped me think about my own journey a little differently. Apart from academics, one thing you’ll definitely notice about Eleanora is her sense of style. She always shows up to our in-person sessions looking classy and confident. And the confidence doesn’t stop at how she dresses. In almost every session, you can count on her to volunteer to speak. She expresses herself confidently, throws in her sense of humour, and naturally gets people listening. What I also appreciate about Eleanora is how welcoming she is. She was actually the first person to approach me and start a proper conversation. We talked for quite a while, and that small moment told me a lot about her. She is open to meeting people, genuinely curious about them, and makes you feel comfortable around her. She also knows how to listen. She gives people room to share their views without making them feel judged, and despite having her own experiences to share, she is always willing to learn from someone else too. I admire Eleanora for many things, her confidence, her kindness, her openness and her determination. But as someone walking a path she is already a few steps ahead on, I’m especially grateful that she is willing to look back and share what she has learnt along the way. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 6 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Bernadette Wambui: Meet Bernadette. Books might be the first clue to who Bernadette is, but they definitely don’t prepare you for the rest of her. Spend a little time with her and you’ll quickly discover that she is a certified yapper. In the best possible way 😂 She can take the most random story and somehow turn it into an entire event. There’s always a detail, a side story, a dramatic pause. You don’t just hear the story. You experience it. The second time we ever hung out, she somehow roped me into helping her pull off a prank. Mind you, we barely knew each other. But there I was, fully committed to a plan I probably should have asked more questions about. The prank was executed. Successfully, I might add. And I think that tells you almost everything you need to know about Bernadette. A book nerd, a storyteller, a little unhinged 👀, and an absolute joy to have in the room. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 5 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet David Mungai: David is the kind of person who is really quiet and reserved at first. Then you have one proper conversation with him and suddenly there’s this whole other person. He is thoughtful, fun, and armed with jokes you absolutely did not see coming. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, but what stands out to me is how much he genuinely loves Electrical Engineering. When we were given the nLine Energy Systems case study, David was one of the first people to step up and take the lead. Watching him work on it, you could tell this wasn’t just something he was good at. He actually enjoys it. Outside engineering, you’ll probably find him playing football, crushing someone at chess, or somehow dressed like he has somewhere important to be 😂. But I think the best thing about David is how intentional he is with people. He listens. He’ll take his time to explain something until you understand it. And when you need him, he shows up. I remember him taking the time to give me feedback on a competition speech even when he wasn’t feeling well himself. That’s just the kind of person he is. Quiet at first? Definitely. Get to know David and you’ll find someone thoughtful, hilarious, dependable, and genuinely good to have in your corner. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 4 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Tabitha Margaret: Whoever gets Tabitha an F1 paddock pass for just one race weekend might have made her life complete. That’s how much she loves Formula 1. She’ll happily stay up all night watching a race in Mexico City and somehow still find the energy to organise tech community events. Just one warning, don’t let her sleep late and then ask her to get something done early the next morning. If you ever get the chance to work with Tabitha, you’re in safe hands. Or should I say, let her take control of the wheel. She’s organised, dependable, and not afraid to share what she thinks. She’ll ask the questions others might avoid and start conversations people would rather leave untouched. And while she takes her work seriously, Tabitha herself is anything but serious all the time. She’s funny, full of personality, and brings an energy that makes working with her just as enjoyable as it is reassuring. Just get her that paddock pass already. 🏎️ #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 3 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Edwin Mwangi: Some people fill a room with their voice. Edwin fills it with his presence. He’s not usually the loudest person in the room, and he doesn’t need to be. There’s something about his quiet confidence that makes you pay attention when he speaks. Behind that reserved nature is someone warm, thoughtful, and incredibly easy to talk to. With Edwin, you can say what’s on your mind without worrying about being judged. He listens, understands, and somehow makes even ordinary conversations meaningful. What I admire most about Edwin is how he shows up for people. Even with a lot on his own plate, he always finds room for his friends. He’s hardworking and resilient, but never lets his achievements make him feel bigger than anyone else. In fact, he has this remarkable ability to do great things and make them look like no big deal. He’s also the kind of person who sees more in you than you sometimes see in yourself. He pushes his friends to grow, encourages them when things get difficult, and genuinely celebrates their progress. Edwin is organised, grounded, smart, and above all, genuine. He may not say the most, but somehow, when Edwin is around, you always feel his presence. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

Mentee of the Day: Day 2 👋🏾 We’re meeting another KamiLimu Mentee through someone else’s eyes. Meet Mercyline Nyaboke: Everyone deserves an M in their life, but you cannot have mine 😂. Meet Mercyline, my day one. From the very first day we stepped into KamiLimu, our souls somehow found each other, and we’ve been friends ever since. She is that bold girl whose speeches I genuinely admire. She expresses herself so freely that, in many ways, she taught me to find that part of myself again. I still remember our first joint peer mentorship meeting. She was so loud and unfiltered that I worried she would take up my space while I was still learning to take up mine. Instead, her energy gave me the courage to slowly bring back my old, louder and happier self. In a life full of pressure, Mercyline is a reminder that not everything has to be serious. This journey has been more fun and worth showing up for because of her. When I failed my first pitch, she bought me a gift to celebrate the effort I had made when I couldn’t see it myself. She checks in, gives me a shoulder in the low moments, and helps without holding back. I thought I just needed to adapt. Turns out, I just needed my M. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees

KamiLimu Mentees Vol. 3 is back, and this time, we’re doing things a little differently. Instead of writing their own bios, our mentees will be introducing one another, sharing the stories and personalities they’ve come to know. It’s a chance to see each mentee through the eyes of someone else. Let’s meet our first mentee 👋🏾 She is mostly quiet and reserved, but when she talks, there is usually some wisdom tucked in there. What I find interesting is how intentional she is about the things that matter to her. I once met her in Nakuru while she was heading to the library to work on the Mozilla Buildathon, and from the small talk we had, I could tell she was genuinely invested in it. She is also big on building communities. She is part of the She Code Africa Chuka team and has been doing some great work there. She writes too, and her article, Beyond the Classroom Walls, gives a glimpse into how much KamiLimu has shaped her journey. One thing I really admire is her mindset. She sees almost everything as a learning curve. She asks thoughtful questions and pays attention to the tiny details. During one public speaking feedback session, she noticed that our document was a PDF and could not be edited. It was a small detail, but she caught it. Honestly, I think she is destined for greatness. Maybe I am biased because we share the same mentor, Sherry Obare, but I know she is putting in the work to prove me right. Hey, Nancy Wangare. #Menteeoftheday #KamilimuMentees