Irene Mukii has officially resigned from her position as Miss Universe Kenya 2024, citing a desire to stay true to her values and commitment to community service.
Mukii, who was crowned in August 2024 at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi, made the decision after reflecting on her leadership platform, Inspireine Revolution, which focuses on empowering marginalized communities.
In her resignation statement, Mukii explained:
“I stay committed to the impact agenda of community service through my platform, Inspireine Revolution, towards my generation and can therefore only align with environments with values and work ethic that can help in achieving the agenda.”
Mukii’s decision comes after a period of reflection, where she explained that her focus remains on transformational leadership and creating positive change.
She expressed deep gratitude for the support she received during her reign and assured her followers:
“Thank you to all of you who have shown support. Let us continue working together for the good of our people.”
The Miss Universe Kenya Organisation responded promptly to Mukii’s resignation, expressing regret while acknowledging her accomplishments during her brief tenure. In their statement, they praised Mukii’s leadership and wished her success in her future endeavors.
“We are pleased to have met all our obligations to Ms Mukii to the highest standards, in line with international best practices,” the organisation stated.
Despite the departure, the organisation reaffirmed its mission of empowering young women and encouraging them to make meaningful contributions to society.
They highlighted their ongoing efforts to provide platforms for women to excel and shatter glass ceilings through their “Beyond Beauty” spirit, which aims to create opportunities for women to grow and lead.
Mukii’s resignation comes after a successful journey in the Miss Universe Kenya competition, where she emerged as the top contestant among 15 finalists.
Prior to this, Mukii had represented Kenya at Miss Grand International in 2020, where she placed in the Top 20. Her run in the 2024 Miss Universe competition saw her rank among the top seven contestants from Africa and Oceania in the first week, though she faced some criticism over her costume choices.
In response, Mukii defended her national costume, emphasizing its cultural significance and connection to Kenya’s marathon legacy.
“Through my national costume, I wanted to honour Kenya’s global legacy of marathon greatness and our rich running culture,” Mukii said.
