At only 26 years old, Nestaselasie Wanje has already built a reputation as one of Mombasa’s most passionate young community servants, dedicating his time, energy and skills to improving the lives of vulnerable people across the Coast region.
Known to many of his colleagues simply as “Nesta,” the soft-spoken youth leader has quietly transformed personal struggles into a life devoted to service, volunteering and community empowerment.
Nesta’s story is shaped by two completely different worlds.
Born into a relatively stable background, life later took a difficult turn that forced him and his mother into a humble life within Bombolulu area in Nyali Sub County. At one point, the house they lived in leaked heavily whenever it rained.
But instead of allowing hardship to define him, Nesta says the experience helped him understand both privilege and struggle, shaping the compassionate person he would later become.
The journey
His passion for humanitarian work became evident in 2022 when he joined the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) Mombasa Branch as a volunteer intern.
What started as a three-month volunteer opportunity quickly turned into something bigger.
Through discipline, punctuality and tireless dedication, Nesta impressed his supervisors and fellow volunteers. His commitment eventually earned him a place in the Kenya Red Cross Mombasa Youth Board in 2023, a leadership position tasked with overseeing youth affairs within the organisation.
Between 2023 and 2024, he became actively involved in numerous community-based initiatives targeting young people and vulnerable groups across Mombasa County.
He organised sensitization forums on HIV/AIDS, drug and substance abuse, mental health awareness and peer-to-peer psychosocial support. He also participated in tree-planting activities, community clean-up campaigns and beach sanitation exercises aimed at reducing environmental pollution and disease outbreaks caused by poor waste management.
Beyond public health campaigns, Nesta also dedicated time to visiting orphanages and mentoring young people, especially those struggling with social and emotional challenges.
Service for humanity
For him, volunteering was never about financial reward.
“Serving the community gave me peace of mind and purpose,” he says.
His selfless efforts did not go unnoticed.
In December 2024, Nesta was recognised during the Kenya Red Cross National Volunteer Awards, where he emerged as a winner in the Community Service of the Year category, a recognition he describes as both humbling and motivating.
[Mr. Nestaselasie Wanje, celebrating his efforts after he was declared the Community Service of the Year category Winner by Kenya Red Cross Society in 2024. Photo/Ahmed Omar/May, 21, 2026].
“To me, the award was not just recognition, it was a reminder that the community still needs my service, that I should not tire,” he says.
His growing influence in community work also saw him involved in youth empowerment programmes focusing on advocacy, proposal writing and life skills training, particularly in Kisauni and Likoni sub-counties.
In 2023, he was further co-opted into the Monitoring and Evaluation Department at the Global Fund Coast Regional Office, where he gained valuable experience in data management and programme monitoring while still serving on a volunteer basis.
The reward
His dedication would later open another major chapter in his journey.
In 2024, Nesta successfully secured a position at an anti-drug lobby, Reachout Centre Trust as a Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant Officer, where he now supports programmes focusing on harm reduction, public health and support services for recovering drug users.
Even with formal employment, those close to him say his heart remains rooted in community service.
Whether participating in outreach programmes, youth mentorship or public health advocacy, Nesta continues to embody the spirit of volunteerism and servant leadership.
For many young people in Mombasa, his journey stands as proof that difficult beginnings do not define a person’s future and that genuine service to humanity still has the power to transform lives and communities.
