Ciiru Waweru Waithaka

Ciiru Waweru Waithaka is a Kenyan serial entrepreneur who co-founded and is the CEO of FunKidz. She has been recognised as a role model as her company recycles timber in Kenya for school furniture. Her company empowers women and manufactures sustainable products.

Life Waithaka was educated at the University of Glasgow and graduated in interior architecture. She spent ten years selling designed furniture in East Africa as "Amber Africa" to hotels and corporates.

In 2015 she attended events in Ireland, France and South Africa having been selected as a role model by Facebook, UNESCO and UN Women. She was frequently the only Kenyan invited to these international events.

In 2016 she was invited to attend the United State of Women Summit at the White House where Michelle Obama recognised their common ancestry and said "You Go Girl". Obama noted that Waithaka had doubled her production thanks to a loan from the Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Women campaign. Obama recognised her as a woman who was helping other women and families to follow her lead.

In 2019 she received recognition from both the Government of Kenya's Ministry of Environment and from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers. They recognised that she was encouraging women in manufacturing as well and producing goods sustainably.

In 2023 she provided a location for an evening for visiting US actress Salma Hayek with Kennedy Odede, Jessica Odede, Kirinyaga County's Governor Anne Waiguru and Minister for Health Hon. Susan Nakhumicha Wafula.

Awards a 2016 award from Goldman Sachs for her work in Kidz Go Tech