Donald Trump’s apprentice comes home
Elvis Ogina | NATION
Kenya’s Liza Mucheru-Wisner, a candidate on the NBC’s ‘The Apprentice’ season 10, with pupils from Anajali Primary School in Kibera, Nairobi on Monday. She is one of the final four candidates in the competition.
What you need to know:
- Show that had 16 contestants at the start now has only four left, including Liza
At the primary school in Kibera, the pupils sang; “Ebenezer what a wonder you’re… my commander…”
Though there was a wonder in their midst, there was no commander, but a Kenyan from US to share the secrets of technology.
Kibera has previously played host to several US dignitaries, but yesterday was their very own — Liza Mucheru-Wisner — the Kenyan face in Donald Trump’s Apprentice reality TV show.
The pupils of Anajali Primary School in Raila estate had every reason to smile as they came face-to-face with Liza, widely reported about since the 10th Season of Apprentice premiered on September 16.
Touched by children
Liza, who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas, US, on Friday made it to the final four and arrived on Saturday night on a family visit. When it started, the show had 16 contestants.
“I’m excited. I was really touched by the children who sang,” she said.
Liza presented a cash donation towards a girls’ toilet after she learned that girls and boys shared a toilet block. Craft Silicon, Nestlé, Chandaria, Marvel Five, Variety, Oshwal Education Relief, BooksFirst and Kabianga Diary made donations too.
Walking up the dusty path alongside family, friends and sponsors, Liza made her way past the iron container classes and climbed up the Craft Silicon bus together with 24 pupils.
Guests included nominated MP Millie Odhiambo and Mrs Wisner’s elder brother Joe Mucheru, the Google head of sub-Sahara Africa.
In the bus, pupils took positions in front of the 12 computers perched on a work-station.
Liza met Persie Ambani, a Standard Seven pupil. “The cameras are following her, you see, she is a celebrity,” said Persie, amid peals of laughter.
“Most of these children have never used a computer. I have met only one gone to a cyber café where he only spends 10 minutes because of cost,” said the alumna of Brookhouse School in Nairobi.
An entrepreneur who started, Texas Techies, Liza creates technology that inspires pupils. “ICT has to be part of education. When you sabotage ICT, you’re holding the community back,” said the A&M Texas University alumna.
Wellingtone Nabwoka, the founder and headteacher of the school with 450 pupils said: “Our pupils have felt motivated.”
He started the school in 2000 with three street children and three of his children.
On Monday, Mrs Wisner also visited Mlolongo Water Treatment Plant, and on Tuesday will visit the maternity ward at Kenyatta National Hospital.
The golf enthusiast will also visit Muthaiga Golf Course, Brookhouse School and Ongata Rongai Primary School on Wednesday and Thursday. She will have a forum at the Westgate Mall on Saturday before leaving for the US.
If Liza makes it to the boardroom on December 16 for the Apprentice finale in New York and avoids Mr Trumps ringing declaration, “You’re fired!”, it will be a first for Kenya, a first for Africa.
