Irene Mukii steps down as Miss Universe Kenya 2024

Miss Universe Kenya 2024 Irene Mukii.

Irene Mukii has officially resigned as Miss Universe Kenya 2024, citing her commitment to community service and leadership through her Inspireine Revolution platform.

In a statement, Mukii spoke of her dedication to serving marginalised communities and aligning with environments that reflect her values.

“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 explained.

She added, “After careful consideration, I have decided to send in my termination notice to the Miss Universe Kenya Organisation.”

Expressing gratitude to her supporters, Mukii reassured them that her focus remains on transformational leadership.

“Thank you to all of you who have shown support. Let us continue working together for the good of our people,” she concluded.

The Miss Universe Kenya Organisation responded with a statement acknowledging Mukii’s resignation. While expressing regret, the organisation praised Mukii’s achievements and wished her success in her future endeavours.

“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.

They reaffirmed their mission of empowering Kenyan women, saying, “Miss Universe Kenya is proud to lead the way in raising the bar for pageantry both in Kenya and across the region. We remain true to our core values of integrity, professionalism, and humanity. The brand stands supreme.”

The organisation also highlighted its ongoing commitment to providing platforms for young women to grow and contribute to their communities.

“In our guiding ‘Beyond Beauty’ spirit, we continue to create and expand opportunities for young women to use our platform to grow, shatter glass ceilings, and make meaningful contributions to their communities and our country.”

In 2020, Mukii was crowned Miss Grand Kenya and represented the country at Miss Grand International in Bangkok, Thailand, where she placed in the Top 20.

On August 16, 2024, she won the Miss Universe Kenya title at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi, emerging as the top contestant among 15 finalists.

Her journey to the 2024 Miss Universe competition also saw her rank among the top seven contestants from Africa and Oceania in the first week.

However, Mukii faced criticism over some of her costume choices during the competition. In response, she defended her designs, highlighting their cultural significance.

“Through my national costume, I wanted to honour Kenya’s global legacy of marathon greatness and our rich running culture,” Mukii explained on Instagram.

She added, “As the finals are upon us, let’s rally behind @irene_mukii and show the world the unbreakable spirit of Kenya.”