Staff - Women Educational Researchers of Kenya

Our Staff

Mrs. Sophia Yega

Executive Officer

Sophia Yiega is the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Women Educational Researchers of Kenya (WERK) since 2015. She is a Council Member of the Tom Mboya University. Has served in similar capacity in Taita Taveta and Dedan Kimathi Universities. She has over twenty five years of experience in the education sector in Kenya, ten of which with the Government and the others with International NGOs. She is undertaking Doctor of Philosophy

Degree (PHD) in Educational Psychology at Mount Kenya University, she holds a B.ED Degree (Geography and History). and M.ED (Psychology) from Kenyatta University.

Sophia has held several positions in different International organizations; an Education Advisor for SNV Netherlands Development organization, Education Coordinator with Care International at Daadab Refugee Camp, Capacity Building facilitator for Concern Worldwide and a Community Development Facilitator for Action Aid International. Mrs. Yiega once served as a Zonal Inspector of Schools for the Ministry of Education based in Thika division. She taught as a graduate teacher in Secondary Schools. Sophia has several publications with international journals in her name.

Elizabeth Owiti

Program Manager

Elizabeth Owiti

Program Manager

Ms. Elizabeth is an educationist with over 12 years’ experience in project cycle management and advocacy. She is passionate about protecting the wellbeing of children, marginalized and disadvantaged groups. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree from Kenyatta University and currently pursuing Master of Education degree in Education Administration and planning, specializing in Education in Emergencies at the University of Nairobi. Prior to her current assignment, Elizabeth headed the advocacy and campaigns department at Elimu Yetu Coalition where she led policy engagements with key education stakeholders at County and national levels and participated in several international education policy forums. Elizabeth also served as the Programmes Manager at Daraja Civic Initiatives forum and as a graduate teacher. Currently, Elizabeth is the Program Manager responsible for overseeing the effective implementation of the Out of School Children (OOSC) program.

Dina Ogolla

Human Resource & Administrative Assistant

Dina Ogolla

Human Resource & Administrative Assistant

Dina Ogolla serves as the Human Resource and Administration Assistant. She ensures that the passionate multicultural team of professionals at WERK strive to deliver with dedicated hearts and minds by ensuring that their wellbeing needs are met in a timely manner. She is the face of the organization amongst our partners, members, staff and potential hires. Dina holds a B.A Degree in Communication from Daystar University. She is inspired to work with WERK because she prides herself in impacting lives of people. She is also passionate about education for all children.

Emma Kirigo

Administrative Assistant

Emma Kirigo

Administrative Assistant

Emma joined WERK team in October, 2018 as the Administrative Assistant. She has a varied background in Information Communication Technology. She finds Administrative and Communication industry quite interesting and she looks forward to helping WERK bring out the best in her clients and partners. She primarily handles Administrative and procurement, scheduling and travel, session set-up details, and other administrative tasks. She is the friendly voice that will most likely greet you when you call the WERK offices! She can be reached at +254 722 888 919 / +254 732 888 919 or emma.kirigo@werk.co.ke

Consolata Otondi

Finance Officer

Consolata Otondi

Finance Officer

Consolata Otondi is an experienced finance and administration professional with a strong background in driving organizational growth through the development and implementation of effective financial strategies. With over 10 years of experience in the field, she has a proven track record of success in financial management, including budget development, financial analysis, and the supervision of payroll and employee benefits. Consolata is skilled in team leadership, communication, and problem-solving, and has a successful track record of managing grants and ensuring that reporting procedures meet donor requirements. In her current role as Finance Officer at Women Educational Researchers of Kenya (WERK), she is responsible for developing and maintaining budgets, preparing financial reports, advising departments on budget expenditure, supporting the development of financial policies and procedures, and ensuring the accurate implementation of financial transactions and data. Overall, Consolata is a valuable asset to any organization seeking to optimize its financial management and grow its business.

Francis Muniu

Accounts Assistant

Francis Muniu

Accounts Assistant

Francis Njoroge is an experienced Accountant with a demonstrated 12 years’ history of working in the NGO sector. Francis is skilled in financial reporting, budgeting, payroll preparation, auditing, taxation, consolidation, donor accounting & reporting. He holds with CPA Part II from Egerton University SCE. Francis has an interest in data analytics.

Juma Mwakulola

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer

Juma Mwakulola

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer

Juma Mwakulola holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics. He is also a certified Monitoring and Evaluation & Result based management expert. Juma is an enthusiastic and innovative professional with four-year successful monitoring & evaluation, project planning and management, qualitative and quantitative research, and data management. He has proven ability to design, coordinate, and implement monitoring and evaluation and research frameworks to achieve project deliverables. Demonstrated expertise in engaging clients in conversation to decipher their eligibility for community services. Prior to joining WERK, he worked with Aga Khan Foundation and the Monitoring and Evaluation officer and KWETU Training Centre as the Project Officer.

Kassim Gasambi

County Officer

Kassim Gasambi

County Officer

Gasambi Masudi Kassim is an Educationist and a Professional Development trainer with experience in Classroom teaching and implementation of Educational projects through a full project cycle. He holds a Bachelors of Education from Kenyatta University and currently pursuing a Masters in science Project Management at Mt Kenya University. He recently worked as an Assistant Project Officer for Foundation for Learning project on the Pre implementation phase with Aga Khan Education Service. Previously, he worked with RTI International as an Educational Program Assistant in Implementing the Tusome project at Eldoret region and Women Educational Researchers of Kenya as an Instructional Coach in Mombasa. He has great experience in data collection, data analysis, training, planning and report writing. He is a good team player and a negotiator. He is motivated by working with people from different communities and cultures in improving lives through education.

Emmanuel Disii Maitha

County Officer

Emmanuel Disii Maitha

County Officer

He is a bachelor of Arts in Anthropology graduate from the university of Nairobi. He is a projects and administration management professional with excellent knowledge in planning, executing, and finalizing projects according to deadlines and within budget. He has over 15 years’ experience working in Community mobilization and engagement programs along the themes of Women and girls’ empowerment, Child protection and safeguarding, Education equity and access, Climate change resilience and adaptation and Countering violence extremism in the Coast Region of Kenya. He is also well versed in designing and implementing rights based advocacy and policy reform projects aimed at improving the wellbeing of marginalized communities in Kenya. Prior to joining WERK, he worked with Action aid Kenya, British Council Kenya, Girl Child network, and most recently Kesho Kenya organization.

Hernest Ondigo

County Officer

Hernest Ondigo

County Officer

I am a Social Scientist graduate, with 10 years’ experience as a development practitioner with significant knowledge and experience in right based programing and management, advocacy and policy influencing. Mutuality in articulation of rights, obligations and mediation of differences, remain key in my zeal for promoting constitutional mechanisms, processes and institutions for the same. I have passion for learning and appreciating communities’ comparative advantages that when enhanced, stand a chance to unlock their potentials. BA: Sociology -Moi University MA: Social Development and Management -student Maseno University

Debora Nyambane

County Officer

Debora Nyambane

County Officer

Debora Nyambane supports the implementation of WERK Out of School Children Program (OOSC) in Kajiado County as a County officer, where she is responsible for driving the mission of the organization through program implementation. Debora believes in building confidence of an individual through providing opportunities for self-discovery and its ripple effects. Prior to joining WERK team, she worked with USAID and Changing the Way We Care (CTWWC) programs on care reform, Violence Against Children and Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Programs. Debra has a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Education, Early Childhood Education and Development from Kenyatta University and earned a fellowship in Gender Responsive and Social Inclusive Programming at Africa Development and Strategy Centre. “WERK illuminates my desire to offer equal opportunities to all children to attain their full potential in education and informs evidence-based strategies to empower the community through research.”

Salim Ali

County Officer

Salim Ali

County Officer

A Community Development Practitioner with an Educational background of Bachelors Degree in Community Development and Masters of Arts in Monitoring and Evaluation. Salim has over 4 years managing projects working with children, adolescents and youth. He has a lot of experience in project management, research and data management, resource mobilization, training and coaching, and report writing. His aspiration is to be more skillful and resourceful in community work and nurture other people on the same scope of work.

Brian Tsuma

Field Officer

Brian Tsuma

Field Officer

Am a dynamic and strong team player towards social activities, case management, data collection surveys, monitoring & evaluation, teen counseling, capacity building and can easily work with minimal or no supervision at all to serve in any relevant community activities in making the difference through possible solutions or application of appropriate technology in both rural communities and urban areas in creating a sustainable development. To add value to the WERK organization am determined and self-motivated to apply all my relevant skills and experience towards putting hope to the children’s from the most vulnerable position to that of capability and resourceful to the community.

Numious Kiti

Field Officer

Numious Kiti

Field Officer

Numious is a graduate of Maseno University. I have a wealth of experience in project implementation, community work and mentorship. I am passionate about helping communities to improve their lives through education and training. When not at work, I am an avid reader and seeker of knowledge and spend most of my time nourishing my mind with new information or strengthening the existing knowledge through different reading materials.

Hanley Otieno

Field Officer

Hanley Otieno

Field Officer

Ms. Hanly Wynnette Otieno holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Strathmore University. She is an experienced and a dedicated professional with a proven track record of successfully executing projects in the fields of health, education, and humanitarianism. She demonstrates a proactive and meticulous approach, consistently delivering projects on time and within budget while upholding the highest standards of quality. She adepts at fostering collaborative environments that promote teamwork and drive project success. Prior to Joining WERK she worked with Child Fund Kenya as a sponsor relations assistant where she supported in administrating, monitoring and implementing sponsor relations activities. Hanly also worked with AMREF Health Africa as a programs Intern where she supported the implementation of Covid 19 response project in Kirinyaga, Taita Taveta and Vihiga Counties.

Janet Kilelo

Field Officer

Janet Kilelo

Field Officer

Janet is a passionate social worker with 8 years’ experience in engaging and empowering youth, women and men through financial literacy training and formation of table banking groups which has increased the self-esteem and meeting domestic basic needs for groups. Janet has also engaged with school communities in mentorship, monitoring learners progress which has led to positive impact i.e. registering significant reduction of early pregnancy, child marriage and high retention rate in school in Kajiado County. Over the 8 years Janet has got opportunity to serve as Field Officer for Social Protection and Finance Literacy, and Communication Officer for Mentorship Programs, opportunities merited on academics and experience i.e. degree in development studies, diploma in community development and a certificate in community development at Mount Kenya University. In meeting the aforementioned, working in teams, upholding honesty and excessing integrity proved valuable.

Catherine Egunza

Field Officer

Catherine Egunza

Field Officer

Catherine has over 10 years of experience in community mobilization, training, qualitative and quantitate research. She has worked for several organizations such as Zizi Afrique, I Choose Life (ICL), Africa Youth Trust(AYT), Usawa Agenda, FoVet Organization, Sauti Ya Wanawake Pwani(SYWP), Action Aid International Kenya and Trace Kenya among others. Catherine is an expert in Community Development and Counseling.

Gladys Malika

Intern

Gladys Malika

Intern

Ms. Gladys Malika holds a Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Development studies from Kenyatta University and a Diploma in social work and community development She has a wealth of experience in project implementation and community work, having worked as a community extension service provider at TechnoServe Kenya, and at the National Council for Persons with disabilities. She is passionate about Gender and community development through capacity building and skills development. She believes that Gender mainstreaming can improve the quality of public policies, programmes and projects, ensuring a more efficient allocation of resources for increased well-being for both women and men, hence the creation of a more socially just and sustainable society.

Said Hamad Madzambo

Intern

Said Hamad Madzambo

Intern

Said is an International Development practitioner, with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations &Diplomacy. He is well conversant with program management from Programs Development to Monitoring and Evaluation with two years’ experience in Programs. Said is also a passionate mentor and he believes through his wisdom and his story he can have an impact to the young people in one way or another. In addition, Said is an advocate and champion of the boy child and always creating safe spaces for boys to interact and share their experiences. Working at WERK has been a dream come true and I believe with the skills I have then we will have positive results.

Purity Kiponda

Intern

Purity Kiponda

Intern

Purity is a teacher by profession, with a Bachelor's degree in Special Needs Education (Visual Impairment). She has gained experience with non-governmental organizations as a volunteer. She also has attended some seminars on life skills, entrepreneurship, report writing and did some research work. The passion she has for talking with young people is as a result of her education journey all through and all the challenges she has encountered. Working with WERK is a great opportunity, as it will help me improve my skills as well as making sure that the organization meets its objective.

Roseline Moraa

Intern

Roseline Moraa

Intern

Roseline holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (Accounting option) from Technical University of Mombasa and CPA 11 from ACK Bishop Hanningtone Institute. Roseline has experience in quickbooks gained from Powerlife global. Currently at WERK, Roseline is responsible for assisting the finance and administration department with various duties. Roseline is ambitious, responsible, and detail-oriented accountant.

Lencer Owuoth

Intern

Lencer Owuoth

Intern

Lencer is a development-oriented person both in academic and practice as a researcher on human development initiatives. Lencer find satisfaction in observing, engaging and empowering the underserved community through building empirical case studies. I realized this through teamwork. The three years of my experience in the field after my graduation with Degree in Development studies from Maseno University, has made me yearn for more in learning and impacting.

Patrick Nthenge

Intern

Patrick Nthenge

Intern

I am a holder of a bachelor’s degree of Arts (Social Sciences) from Kenyatta University. I am more focused and passionate about social work and community development. I am experienced in data collection in research projects, evaluation and monitoring and surveys. Am resilient and flexible to capacity building and skills development.

Our Staff

Mrs. Sophia Yega

Executive Officer

Elizabeth Owiti

Dina Ogolla

Emma Kirigo

Consolata Otondi

Francis Muniu

Juma Mwakulola

Kassim Gasambi

Emmanuel Disii Maitha

Hernest Ondigo

Debora Nyambane

Salim Ali

Brian Tsuma

Numious Kiti

Hanley Otieno

Janet Kilelo

Catherine Egunza

Gladys Malika

Said Hamad Madzambo

Purity Kiponda

Roseline Moraa

Lencer Owuoth

Patrick Nthenge

WERK

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