EXCLUSIVE:
Miss Kenya UK’s Vision for Africa

 The newly crowned Miss Kenya UK 2006 Carolina Akinyi  Nyakila  has vowed to use her new title to fight for equality, justice and bring awareness on issues affecting the   developing world.

Speaking for the first time in public since she was won the new title  on December  12th   Carolina said: “ All of us  have  at least  one intimate  wish  in their  lives and mine  has  always been  bringing happiness  to as  many desolate souls  as possible.”

 Miss  Akinyi (26) who won the title  after a stiff competition from tens of  fellow  Kenya  contestants based in the UK  said  winning the title had given her  the opportunity to make  her dreams come true and appealed  to  all her supporters  and fans to  give support  to  her  future  events scheduled from March  this year.

She said: “  Since I became the  Miss Kenya UK, I have  had  so many  people  sending  messages of  congratulations  and  every public event I go I get  a lot of  warm reception”
“I am sure this can be transformed to something more than just a winning and dinning and instead make it a forum for change.” She added.

 Carolina is sixth born in a family of seven.  She was born to a business family in Musoma Tanzania to Kenyan parents who had migrated to Musoma, Tanzania where they run a business.  Carolina currently works as a sales assistant in a central London shop.

Carolina became  the  sixth  Miss  Kenya UK  on 12th December  last year  during an annual  ceremony  organised by Kenyans  living in the UK .

The Independence  day  popularly known as Jamuhuri  day  is celebrated by Kenyans  all over the world  marks the  day Kenyan people  finally liberated  their  country  from their  colonial masters  after  four  years of  intense fighting  under  the  Mau Mau rebel  movement – an underground movement. The country had been colonised since 1890.

Speaking to one of the organisers  of the event Sam Ochieng of  Sahara Communities  Abroad  he said: “ Living away from  our  mother  country can make people forget  about their history, in  this regard  bringing  Kenyans  together  in any event  like  Jamuhuri day  keeps them  reminded about their  true  roots,  identity  and history.

The  SACOMA  Director  said : “ There is  no better way  to remind  people about their roots than making them  aware of what is happening with  their less privileged  brothers  and sisters back home.” 
“This why the Miss Kenya project became part of this celebration” He added.

Mr Ochieng  said  Miss Kenya UK  helps  to create awareness among the  UK Kenyan Diaspora community  on the  problems   affecting  the developing  world particularly  Kenya  and thereby   generating  ideas and  resources  on how to  tackle  such  problems.

He said  one of the roles of the  Miss Kenya UK is  working jointly with SACOMA to represent UK  Kenyan community in different  forums  around the world, making public appearances   and  attending fund-raising, visiting  different under-privileged   communities in Africa  and   giving  out handouts  to them.