MISS UNIVERSE KENYA IRENE MUKII CALLS OUT ORGANISATION FOR MISMANAGEMENT

Reigning Miss Universe Kenya, Irene Mukii has revealed the reasons behind her decision to step down, citing significant challenges and a lack of support from the Miss Universe Kenya organisation. “With family, friends, legal team, and professionals, I have finally decided to release this video. It is intended to provide clarity, dispel misinformation, and present facts with evidence,” she began. 

She shared her initial joy at winning the title but detailed a series of shortcomings and mismanagement issues by the organisation that led to her resignation. Despite promises of extensive preparation, the organization failed to deliver on key training areas such as media management, and wardrobe preparation. 

She disclosed that of the 53 outfits recommended by the international competition, only 12 were provided without accessories or styling. “one designer sent over the clothes she was tasked with, seven clothes we brought two days to the scheduled departure on 29th October, five more clothes were sent to me one day to the scheduled departure.”

There was a late visa application process that led to her arriving at the Miss Universe international boot camp on the fourth day, missing crucial sessions. She stated, “I finally got the visa two days after my scheduled departure. I arrived on day four evening in preparation for day five of Miss Universe boot camp. Despite the visa applications process being complicated, all this could have been avoided if the organization started and followed through the processes earlier.”

Mukii further revealed she was forced to sign a new contract weeks before departure. The were attempts to coerce her into signing by withholding payments and gown approvals further eroded trust. “All the Miss Universe Kenya contestants signed a contract stating their responsibilities and expectations to agree to should a contestant win the pageant in October. A new contract, three weeks to my departure, was shared. I found it unusual that a new contract was introduced at this point. I found it unprofessional that the creative director tried multiple times to coerce me into signing it by implying that I would not get my monthly payments, and that they would not pay for my preliminary and final night gowns until I signed the contract.”

On the national costume controversy, Irene said there were miscommunication and last-minute changes in the national costume design which forced her to use a backup option. Despite her proactive efforts, the organization failed to meet deadlines. She disclosed the organization distanced itself from her after the competition, ignoring public concerns and leaving her unsupported amid online criticism. 

“After the backlash from Kenyans, they requested to remove me from the group so I could not see the negativity. This was the last time that the team, apart from the National Director, spoke to me. The National Director spoke to me after the final competition to congratulate me, and no one has spoken to me since then. It is very unfortunate that someone from the organization came forward to lie, stating that I informed them two days before the preliminaries that the costume had not arrived.”

Miss Universe Kenya believes the organisation failed to prioritise pageantry stands, “I would like to make one thing clear, I was okay with making all these investments to cover for their shortcomings with the thought that this is the first time they are running a pageant, but my final straws was when the organisation chose to stay silent and indifferent towards me after the competition, when the organisation fails to address public concerns. Showing a lack of accountability and professionalism.”