Kenneth Mwiti

From Violin Strings to Startup Systems: Crafting a Future for Classical Music in Kenya

I’m Kenneth Mwiti, a violinist, educator, and co-founder of Chamber Music Kenya, based in Nairobi. Though I trained as a civil engineer, my heart has always belonged to music. I picked up the violin at 16, and over the years, it led me from local orchestras to international stages and ultimately, to entrepreneurship.

After several years of teaching and performing, I co-founded Chamber Music Kenya to make classical music a viable career path in the country. But as a first-time entrepreneur without a business background, I knew I needed more structure. That’s when a friend recommended the Global Leaders Institute, and through them, I enrolled in an MBA program with Woolf.

The experience was deeply energizing. Despite my classes taking place at midnight (Kenya time!), the quality of the lessons, resources, and assignments activated the “nerdy” side of me. I thrived on the intellectual challenge and I appreciated how practical the learning was. Each session gave me tools I could apply directly to Chamber Music Kenya.

The program helped me build systems that keep our work running even when I’m not hands-on. It also sharpened my time management and team collaboration skills — I had to master quickly to juggle 12 a.m. classes with a dynamic daily schedule. More than anything, I learned how to listen better, think ahead, and solve problems with empathy and structure.

My advice to future students? If the program is well-designed (like this one), it doesn’t just teach you something new, it builds a foundation for your future.

Today, I’m focused on expanding Chamber Music Kenya and envision a future where I get to collaborate with my Woolf classmates to create real, lasting opportunities for classical musicians across the country.