When Emmanuel talks about hospitality, his eyes light up in that unmistakable way people have when they’ve found their place in the world. His journey began in 2018, just as he was about to start Form One, when he received news that changed the entire trajectory of his life: he had been selected to join Moja Tu.
For Emmanuel, Moja Tu wasn’t just a sponsor; it was the quiet engine behind everything that would follow. It provided the stability, possibility, and breathing room to dream—the fees paid on time, the shopping done, the transport covered, and even the medical bills handled during the tough seasons. And he chose to dream in the world of hospitality.
It was the simple joy of serving people that drew him to this world. “Helping someone feel welcome gives me happiness,” he says. Hospitality, for him, is empathy wearing a uniform.
He recently received confirmation that he had been selected for an internship at Sarova Hotel (one of the leading hotel chains in the country) and felt a rush of excitement and responsibility all at once. This wasn’t just any hotel; Sarova is where standards are set, where professionals move with quiet precision, and where guests come from every corner of the world. He stepped in ready to learn. And Sarova didn’t disappoint.
They rotated him through every major department: Front Office, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, and the Kitchen. Emmanuel notes: “With a dream of being a hotel owner in the future, I learned a lot. Checking in guests, taking drink orders, cleaning rooms to standard, preparing cocktails and mocktails, learning cooking techniques, and mastering the art of presenting food well enough to please a chef with decades of experience. Every department added a new piece to the bigger picture I envision.”
Lessons That Tested His Grit
His internship wasn’t a walk in the park. There were days he woke up at dawn, stepped into the cold, and wouldn’t lie down again until 3 a.m. There were moments when he was assigned tasks that felt overwhelming, but he carried himself with discipline. He didn’t break. He learned the kind of endurance that builds leaders.
One of Emmanuel’s most memorable moments came in the Food and Beverage department. He made a major wine sale, something trainees don’t typically handle, and the team awarded him a token of appreciation. It was a small gesture, but to him, it felt like a small whisper that said, “You belong here.”
The same joy fills him when he cooks dinner for Moja Tu sponsors during their visits to Kenya. “Their happiness has always been my priority,” he says—and you can tell he means it.
At Sarova, Emmanuel wasn’t just representing himself. He was carrying Moja Tu’s name in every corridor, every shift, and every conversation. He showed it through teamwork, helping colleagues even when it wasn’t his duty; through respect, obeying instructions, listening carefully, and learning quickly; and through kindness, creating a warm atmosphere around him even on the hardest days. These values made him stand out.
The Mentor Who Left a Mark
In every story of growth, there’s someone who nudges the hero forward. For Emmanuel, it was his training supervisor, James Mushimba. James checked on him often, spoke kindly, and made sure he felt seen. That warmth is something Emmanuel carries with him, hoping to lead in the same spirit one day.
With his diploma complete and his degree starting in January 2026, Emmanuel is now walking with the confidence that comes from hard-earned experience. The Sarova internship did not just teach him skills; it broadened his world, sharpened his ambition, and confirmed his belief that he can become a dependable, professional hospitality leader.
For Emmanuel, the future is now unfolding, one opportunity at a time.