Her name is synonymous with success. She is a former radio presenter, TV Host and business woman. And 2016 has been a significant year for Kalekye Mumo in more ways than one. "I think the most amazing thing I set out to achieve this year was really the celebration of my 40th birthday, which incidentally has given me a new lease on life," she says.
In addition, Kalekye had started a journey to shed some of her weight, which was a slow but progressive endeavour. "In the first two weeks when I saw some kilos and inches drop, I knew I was headed in the right direction. It stopped being a hard task to achieve once I began seeing the results; I began to sleep better and I had more energy. I knew that pursuing a healthy life would give me the opportunity to do more and therefore it was a worthy pursuit."
By the time she was turning the big 'four-oh' in March, Kalekye had successfully lost 40kgs just in time to host an all-white, exclusive 'rebirth' party where she invited her family and close friends to the unveiling of a smaller, more petite woman.
For many women, losing weight requires a certain amount of discipline and for Kalekye it was no different. "Distractions were real when I travelled, especially when I went to Brazil where it was difficult to get what you need to eat and in the right portions," she says. Fortunately for Kalekye, she was already two months into her weight loss programme and the changes she had begun to see in herself were enough to keep her going. "The excitement of seeing my clothes getting bigger was motivation galore!" says an enthusiastic Kalekye.
Now she advocates for healthy living and encourages women to follow suit, no matter how big or small the effort. "Nothing should stop others from yearning to live a long and healthy life. I tell those who have challenges that they first need to pick a goal and focus on it, understand that nothing comes easy. If the progress is slow, don't give up, put in more effort because once the results start to show you will love the feeling," she says.
To encourage others, Kalekye has begun her very own online channel where she walks with women on the journey to living and loving a healthier lifestyle. After 10 years at KISS FM, she left the popular morning show to pursue her own business ventures, a pursuit she had not anticipated at the beginning of the year. "I had thought about leaving radio but I wasn't sure how soon it would happen. I knew that I needed to try something new and it just so happened that I had to make the decision sooner," she says.
Transitioning from job security to the unknown isn't for the faint-hearted and she has had to learn patience and to become more attentive and observant. But she remains confident in the path she is now travelling. So what is next for this 40-year-old dynamo? Kalekye says she still has a deep love for media and hints that something big is in the pipeline.
