He attended St Kizito Seminary, Dedza, and then the University of Malawi, Chancellor College.
In 1995 he obtained an MSc in Environmental Sciences, and became a teacher at Balaka Secondary School.
He operates a hardware shop in Mangochi and is involved in crop produce and transportation.
[1] Kanyumba joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2005, became the Regional Governor for the Eastern Region in July 2008, and in February 2009 became 2nd Deputy National Director for Youth on the DPP National Governing Council.
[4] Later, as Minister of Education, he issued in March 2014 a controversial decision to change the language of instruction policy for Malawian schools to English-only.