BOARD MEMBER
Nerima Wako-Ojiwa
Executive Director of ‘Siasa Place’ – which is a youth organization established in 2015, dedicated to collaboratively creating an environment that enables the youth of Kenya to engage with the political mainstream in a meaningful way directly. Siasa Place educates youth on electoral processes, constitution, government institutions, and functions. Siasa Place currently works in 10 counties and has 250 registered members. She attained her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Sociology from Jacksonville State University in 2010 and her Master's in Public Administration in 2012. Additionally, a columnist with ‘The East African’ and a 2018 Obama Leaders Fellow.
Stephen Obuogo
Previously the Business Development Manager and Ag Chief Operating Officer for Meyous Networking Solutions Ltd. He also worked with Africa Talentbank as the Client Liaison, Steve is a Continental corporate event host, Life Coach, Mentor, and Public Image consultant but an educationist by profession. Steve is a BCOM graduate from Kenyatta University, class of 2014. Steve is passionate about mentorship because he attributes most of his achievements and growth to progressive mentorship.
BOARD MEMBER
BOARD MEMBER
Nkatha Mercy
With over a decade of international, regional, and local work experience, Nkatha Mercy is a VLIR-UOS Scholar, an Erasmus Lifelong Fellow, and a semi–finalist for President Obama’s flagship YALI Initiative – Civic Leadership. She holds an Advanced Master of Science in Governance and Development from the Institute of Development Policy and Management, Antwerp University Belgium, a post-graduate certificate in the Politics and Economics of Aid awarded by a consortium of six European universities, and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies. Mercy trains and facilitates learning for development practitioners globally in Governance and Development, Shrinking Civic and Political Space, Gender and Environment, women and youth voice and representation. She also facilitates a Bachelor of Arts program at MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation – ActionAid Denmark.
James Smart
Mr. James Smart is an experienced journalist, prime-time television anchor, and talk-show host based in Nairobi. He has worked with the BBC to produce its “Focus on Africa” broadcast, a flagship TV news program highlighting stories from across the African continent. He has also worked extensively with Kenya’s leading TV stations, including Kenyan Television Network and Nation Television (NTV). Most notably, he successfully launched two of the country’s top television shows, #TheTrend and #KTNLivewire, which integrate social media platforms such as Twitter to enable viewers to engage directly with the hosts of each program. Most recently, Mr. Smart conceptualized #Newssources for KTNNEWS during the run-up to the 2017 elections; he co-hosted #Afropolitico, a program designed for pure online consumption with economics and political content. As part of his media work, Mr. Smart focuses on public opinion in government and politics, youth inclusion into participatory governance, social audits, and minorities representation in media. James Smart holds a Masters of International Journalism degree from Cardiff University, he is also a NED (National Endowment on Democracy) fellow.
BOARD MEMBER
