The People Driving Change in Okana

Dr. James Otieno Jowi is the Founder of SRI. He established SRI out of the desire to give back to his rural community and use the potentials of knowledge and skills in societal transformation. Dr. Jowi grew up and still lives in Okana village where SRI is located. He currently works at the East African Community where he has been heading the education sector and currently is the Deputy Executive Secretary of the East African Kiswahili Commission, located in Zanzibar. He is also the founder of the African Network for Internationalization of Education (ANIE) and was a Senior Lecturer of Comparative and International Education at the School of Education, Moi University, Kenya. He holds PhD in Higher Education Policy Studies (University of Twente, Netherlands) a Masters in Comparative and International Education (University of Oslo, Norway), a Masters in Linguistics and Bachelor of Education (Moi University, Kenya). He was a student leader at the University of Oslo, Norway, and Moi University, Kenya. He has published extensively on higher education in Africa and sits in the boards of several organizations.

Ms. Vera Atieno Owiti is the Executive Director of SRI. As CEO, she provides leadership and strategic direction for the organization, ensures the implementation of activities and is responsible for the daily management of the organization. She currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology of Education at Moi University, Kenya. She holds a Masters in Philosophy in Education from NLA University College, Bergen, Norway and a Bachelor of Education from Moi University, Kenya. Prior to this, she was a secondary school teacher for over 5 years.

Mr. Martin Obiende Owidi has worked in health services management for over twenty years, currently at Maseno University Health Services. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Maseno University, a Diploma in Health Care Management from Kenya Institute of Management, Certificate in Health Records and Information Technology from Kenya Medical Training College. He has held the position of the National Vice Chairman of the Kenya Universities Staff Union and is currently the Board Chairman of Nyakakana Secondary School. At SRI he heads the Youth in Action subcommittee. Mr. Owidi is a Human rights crusader, a believer in Gender Mainstreaming, and likes to help the underprivileged in our Society. At the local level, he has initiated and participated in various development issues.

Mr. John Oriwa Otura is the Treasurer and is responsible for oversight of resource allocation, budgeting, management of finances and the prudent utilization of funds for the implementation of activities. He holds a Post-graduate Diploma in Education from Maseno University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nairobi. He has been a secondary school teacher for the past twenty years and is involved in several community educational projects.

Mr. Richard Olewe Kameda is currently a private healthcare practitioner and consultant in Health System Management. He has vast experience in public health management spanning more than 30 years. He has worked in both public and private sectors in Kenya. He served in the Ministry of Health (Kenya) for over sixteen (16) years. International NGO (IRC) as primary health care adviser and trainer. Kenyan NGO (MSI) as Regional manager and national innovative project manager. He is a scholar of Public Health and Development (Management of Health Systems option). A holder of a higher Diploma in Medical Training, Research and Education, Diploma in Kenya Registered Nursing (KRN), Kenya Registered Mental Health (KRMN), and Kenya Registered Obstetrics and Midwifery (KRM).

John Otieno Odhiambo is a former international footballer and Kenya Premier League veteran with extensive top-flight playing experience. He currently serves as the Assistant Coach for Kisumu All Stars FC in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Super League. Driven by a passion for grassroots development, John is also the Founder and Director of Ranjira All Stars Football Academy in Rabuor, Kisumu—one of the Nyanza region’s premier youth academies.

Marlies, a Dutch national, lives in Breda in the Southern part of the Netherlands. She has worked for 25 years as a furniture maker in the workshop that she started 25 years ago. She had her education in skill-related studies especially related to furniture-making, design, and entrepreneurship. She has visited and stayed for some time in Okana village with the founders of SRI. She has previously volunteered and worked with carpenters in the village and also visited departments of Wood Science and Environmental Studies at Moi University. Her dream is to help establish two small polytechnic schools in the village. This would enable her and others engaged in skills development to share their knowledge and create new possibilities.

Irena Kuzmanoska is a Macedonian national. She is an Education Specialist and Analyst providing high-level strategic advice to policymakers on the improvement of education policies and implementing system-wide education reforms. In the capacity of Lead Education Specialist, she is responsible for education projects analytical work and intellectual services on education sector programmes. She previously lectured in scientific research methods. Her research interest focuses on education management and leadership, institutional governance, education policy. She is a doctoral student at the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies – CHEPS, University of Twente, Netherlands. She has been involved in various international partnership projects, among which for the National Government(s), the Commission of the European Union, the World Bank.

Andrea Kocsis graduated from Nipissing University, North Bay, Canada, where she received an opportunity to travel to Kenya in 2012, for a Students for Development Project. This experience enlightened Andrea and her sister, Julie Kocsis, about the importance for rural children to obtain an education to improve their futures. Through this experience they formed PowerEd International Foundation which is a key partner of SRI Andrea has always had a strong passion for education, resulting in her obtaining her Bachelor of Education, and starting her master of Education in the fall.

From 2008, Kari has been the Director of Hei Verden (Human Education International) a non-governmental organization located in Satavanger, Norway and which promotes and supports education in developing countries by involving school children in Norway. Prior to this, she was a Coordination Specialist with UNDP in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Project Manager, Save the Children, Norway. She undertook her masters research in Uganda and has severally visited Okana village where the SRI project is initiated. Kari has a Masters in Development Education from University of Olso, Norway and a degree in Social Anthropology, History and Sociology. She brings in experience and practice into the organization.