Our Team
Embracing diversity in its truest form, the Youth Alive! Kenya team represents a spectrum of socio-cultural and professional diversity and gender parity. The organisation struggles to maintain gender parity, cultural responsiveness and demographic relevance without compromising on technical competence. As per this, we seek to provide opportunities for qualified young people to apply their technical skills and personal abilities in development work.
Youth Alive! Kenya secretariat is a multidisciplinary team of radiant, dynamic and highly talented young people. Displaying diversity in interest and skill, the team boasts an array of professionals from sociologists, to psychologists, accountants, lawyers, IT and development specialists. Read profiles of individuals currently comprising the Youth Alive! Kenya team.
Stephen Gichohi, Acting Executive Director and Programme Officer, Democracy & Governance- 23
Stephen is an outgoing 23 year-old gentleman, Political Science and Public Administration degree holder from the University of Nairobi. Imbued with all the qualities of a brilliant leader, Steve as he is popularly known at Youth Alive! Kenya, is proactive, ambitious with a strong bias to leadership and development. Steve has been able to revolutionise the approaches of Youth Alive! Kenya to Democracy & Governance and the role of young people. Steve loves interacting and synergizing efforts towards bringing change in the community and in particular through young people from diverse backgrounds. Politics is deep in his heart and looks forward to his career in public policy making processes. He believes in giving back to the society the skills he has that they may require and states ‘if it is to be , its us to make it be.”
Chris Muthuri ,Partnerships and Institutional Development Assistant-22
Chris is an ambitious and outgoing young person who believes in the enormous potential of young people in Kenya and the rest of Africa. Passing as quiet in initial interactions, Chris is an outspoken and sharp-minded young man with a vast knowledge on the political as well as economic processes of Kenya and the world.
Currently in his third year for a Bachelor of Commerce Degree at the Strathmore University, Nairobi, Chris enjoys the challenge of juggling his studies with his duties at Youth Alive! Kenya. Chris who originally started out in YAK as an intern in June 2008 assisting in implementation of the Uongozi Project in the Democracy & Governance programme has since moved on to the Partnerships and Institutional Development Department.
Mukami Kowino, Programme Officer,Justice and Human Rights – 27
"The test for the morality of a society is what it does for its children"-Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer
With integrity and ethical practice, care and attention to detail at her core, Mukami employs an extremely refined, minimalist formal vocabulary in her fight for the rights of the child. An advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a PGD in Law from the Kenya School of Law and an LLB from the University of Nairobi, Mukami has been in the Children’s sector for 5 years. Rather than hope in the tedious sermonizing of a 'few dried old men' within the political class driven by rapaciousness and decayed priorities, Mukami sought to become the change she desired by championing the cause of children, inspired by the words of Alexander Becker in that "Whatever seems impossible is just not yet important enough."
My values include ethical practice, integrity, responsibility and accountability, decisiveness, striving for efficiency and effectiveness, adventure and most importantly, faith.
Purity Kiguatha, Programme Assistant Justice & Human Rights- 25
A graduate of Economics from Moi University, Purity is a 25 year-old small framed lady with immense intellectual prowess. Passionate about development issues, she strongly believes that young people have the potential to turn the country around but have had this potential tapped for all the wrong purposes. 'In her won words” the time for young people to realise the power within them is now and the way to exercise this power is not in political rallies but it begins with small initiatives for business and community work right at home...one step at a tim’.' As the newest member of staff at Youth Alive! Kenya, Purity has been able to settle into the world of Justice and Human rights and believes her experience in running programme work has provided her a good head start. Purè as the rest of YAK is trying to get used to calling her, loves the expression on people’s faces when they meet the small lady behind the deep voice.
Reuben Muriuki , Project Assistant, Health-22
Reuben, the “baby” of the organisation, as he is fondly referred to, is a humble and warm young man with a passion for children, youth and justice. Coming to Youth Alive! Kenya in mid 2008, Reuben is currently engaged as the Administrative Assistant while providing programme support to the Democracy & Governance Programme. In his own words “What gives me satisfaction in being at Youth Alive! Kenya is the realisation that everyone has a contribution to make and when we all work together bringing in our unique contributions we are able to make big things happen”. With an interest in justice and human rights, Reuben has just enrolled for a Bachelor’s Degree in Laws at the Pioneer International College, Nairobi with the dream of being one of Kenya’s top human rights lawyers. Reuben believes that making the world better starts at the individual level which collectively makes the big difference. He enjoys taking part in community development activities and seeing the impacts these activities have on communities. “I am proud of the fact that the organisation is able to change the lives of the youth and give hope for a better tomorrow through its educative and social empowerment initiatives”.
Julian Simiyu, 26 – Field Officer, Kisumu
Naturally disposed to humanitarian service, Julian is the epitome of a passionate social worker. Julian does not shy away from helping someone in need, in most cases stepping out of out of her comfort zone. With a Diploma in Social Work and Social Development from the University of Nairobi, Julian brings the compassion and sensitivity that is needed to provide quality service to people in need. Quiet and reserved, she speaks of herself as: “I am known to be polite, child-friendly and passionate on issues concerning youngsters. My vision is to see that all children’s rights are respected in every aspect of their lives. While at Youth Alive! Kenya I am determined to explore my potential and sharpen my skills as a social worker in helping create a better world for children”.
Lydia Kerubo , Project Assistant-Democracy and Governance- 25
Lydia is a Bachelor of Arts Degree graduate from the University of Nairobi, where she double majored in Sociology and Geography. Behind the quiet personality lies a passion for community development, research and working with young people. Her knowledge and experience in research, sales and working with children has enabled her to assist in co-ordinating project activities in both the Democracy and Governance and Justice and Human Rights programs. For me success is when I see a project successfully take off from start to finish but most of all seeing people’s lives changed and being able to realise their goals in life. This is especially so because, so many young people give excuses as to why they haven’t achieved what they set out to accomplish in life. I believe the youth have a lot of potential to create the future they would want to see. Being at Youth Alive! Kenya gives me a chance to work with talented people and it has opened doors for me to interact with people from all walks of life.
Maureen Njuguna, Finance and Admin Assistant, 23.
Maureen is a pragmatic, dynamic, young lady who believes that young people need to change their attitude first, so that they reach the heights they dream of. In the words of her favourite poet, “if you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” With a degree in finance and currently pursuing an MBA at Daystar University, her passion for charity work is what brought her to Youth Alive! Kenya. “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal, instead, pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” Maya Angelou
Joshua Sepipe,Administrative Assistant - 21
Roy Ashoya, IT Officer, 25.
“Bill Gates the 2nd” as the office ‘girls’ call him is this guy; he has adopted a 24-7-365 lifestyle in balancing his demanding external IT engagements with his responsibilities at Youth Alive! Kenya. Talking is not in his strength but behind a computer miracles happen, seeing information technologies facilitating human life and human advancement is his passion. Asked to describe himself, he came out like this “An IMIS Higher Diploma holder and BBIT (Bachelor of Business Information Technology) graduate from Strathmore University, Nairobi, I am a 24 year-old quiet, intelligent, sharp and open-minded individual with deep interests in aviation and computer technology, travelling and reading. I also love taking risks and quite ambitious, seeing today as a tomorrow that should have been felt yesterday”.
