NAIROBI, June 16 -- With his towering height, eloquence and social skills, Karungo wa Thangwa has won admiration in his native Kiambu county in central Kenya, where he fearlessly advocates for the rights of a predominantly farming community.

Both detractors and admirers are in agreement the 35-year-old father of two has pioneered a new brand of politics after he became a member of Kiambu County Assembly in 2013.

During an interview with Xinhua, Thangwa narrated his life journey from a village boy, a globe trotter and currently a popular county lawmaker and beyond.

"I grew up in a small village where I schooled and later proceeded for secondary education in Kenya's north rift. Passion for education lingered and I enrolled for a diploma in radio production in a prestigious Nairobi-based college," said Thangwa.

At the age of 21, Thangwa was recruited by a new vernacular radio station where he doubled as a music producer and news presenter.

Thangwa worked at the vernacular radio station for seven years, before he had brief interludes with his visit to China.

His maiden visit to China in 2002 to study the Chinese language and culture marked a critical milestone in his life.

"My sojourn in China to pursue further studies marked a turning point in my life. In a strange twist of fate, my proficiency in English opened a flood gate of opportunities. I ended up lecturing English in a college located in Inner Mongolia," Thangwa told Xinhua.