
MS. ANGELA NJERI MUATHE
Ms. Angela is a former teacher with a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree from Kenyatta University and Master of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Nairobi. Based in Nairobi, Angela is the Communications and Advocacy Manager at WACI Health. She has a wealth of experience in Teaching, Communication and Advocacy having worked for St Elizabeth Academy, UNICEF, UNAIDS, IFRC and UN Women in various roles. At WACI Health, she implements the communication strategy, manages the production and dissemination of publications, organizes events and ensures visibility of the WACI Health brand through all possible communication channels. Additionally, she coordinates GFAN Africa, an Africa wide movement hosted by WACI Health, that brings together partners who work towards successful replenishments of the Global Fund; and to mobilize implementing countries to allocate increased domestic resources for health for sustainable health financing.
She is a members’ representative on the Board, and is passionate about education and is particularly interested in the empowerment of girls and women through quality education. She looks forward to a time when all girls, everywhere, will overcome barriers and access life changing, quality education. This is a prerequisite to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Quality Education and Goal 5 on Gender Equality by 2030.
MS. ANGELA NJERI MUATHE
MEMBER'S REPRESENTATIVE
DR. RUBAI MANDELA
Dr. Rubai Mandela is the Co-Chairperson of WERK. She holds a PhD in Sociology of Education and is a senior lecturer at the Department of Educational Foundations, Kenyatta University. Dr. Mandela has over 16 years of experience in educational research, university teaching and active community service. Her areas of research interest include HIV/AIDS and Education, Sexuality Education, Education for refugees and girls in marginalized communities as well as gender and education. Dr. Mandela has worked as a consultant and/or senior researcher on various projects including GEC Wasichana Wote Wasome, Open Space Literacy, MAP survey and Value Based Education. She is currently a member of the technical committee for UNESCO (KNATCOM) on a study on FGM/C and Education of girls in Kajiado and Narok Counties in Kenya. She has published widely and presented numerous papers in both local and international conferences. Dr. Mandela runs a mentorship and scholarship programme for vulnerable girls in a secondary school in western Kenya.
DR. RUBAI MANDELA
CO-CHAIRPERSON
DR. FRANCIS KARIMI
Dr. Kirimi joined WERK in 2015, and currently serves as one of three Members’ Representatives to the Board. He is a lecturer in Kenyatta University’s School of Education, Department of Educational Foundation. He is a research methodologist in Education, and his areas of focus include Health Education [Lifestyle diseases], Teacher Education, Gender in Education, M/E, and learning outcomes in Education. Dr. Kirimi has been involved and featured prominently in several research initiatives in Education. He is a Trainer of Trainers who has positively impacted the technical skills of numerous young researchers, tutees and mentees in different aspects in Education and Social Sciences. He is a seasoned educationalist who has worked in education sectors as a classroom teacher, education manager and as education officer. He has worked as a contracted professional with Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development and Kenya National Examinations Council. He has high versatility, moral character, professionalism and integrity.
DR. FRANCIS KARIMI
MEMBER'S REPRESENTATIVE
MRS. SOPHIA YIEGA
Mrs. Sophia Yiega holds a B.ED Degree (Geography, History and Education) and M.ED (Psychology) from Kenyatta University. Currently, she is undertaking Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PHD) in Educational Psychology at Mount Kenya University. She is a Council Member of the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (Government appointment as per the Kenya Gazette Vol. CXV NO 8 dated 18th January, 2013, Gazette Notice No, 472). She has over twenty years of experience in education sector in Kenya, ten of which with the Government and the others with International NGOs. 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 and as a graduate teacher in Secondary Schools. Sophia has several publications with international journals in her name.
MRS. SOPHIA YIEGA
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
MS. MARY CHEPKEMOI
Ms. Mary Chepkemoi is a Tutorial Fellow and a PhD. student in the Department of Educational Foundations at the School of Education, Kenyatta University, Nairobi. She has six years’ work experience teaching History of Education and Comparative Education & International Studies. She is passionate about mentoring young university students and facilitates the Growing Leaders’ Certificate Programme. Chepkemoi has supported WERK projects as a Researcher and Trainer, including the Girls Education Challenge (GEC): Wasichana Wote Wasome (WWW) – Let all girls Learn – from 2013 to 2018, the Value Based Education (VbE) Project and as a Trainer with Uwezo Kenya from 2013-2016. She has attended and participated in various international research and educational conferences. Previously, she was the project coordinator in the “Child Friendly Schools (CFS) Shule Safi Project” in consultation with UNICEF in Turkana and Garissa counties. Her current research interests include the history of girls’ education, education of marginalised girls, education for minorities (ethnic minorities and refugees) and issues of National Quality Education.
MS. MARY CHEPKEMOI
YOUNG WOMEN'S REPRESENTATIVE
MS. WINNY CHEROTICH
Winny is one of three Members’ Representative to the WERK Board. She is a Senior Program Officer at the People’s Action for Learning (PAL) Network where she is responsible for supporting the growth of the network. She is also responsible for supporting the growth of citizen-led assessments and actions aimed at improving learning outcomes. Winny previously worked with Twaweza East Africa as a Program Officer in Uwezo Kenya, where she was responsible for planning for the national assessments, test development, monitoring of the assessment processes, supporting data entry, analysis and report writing. Winny holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Needs Education from Kenyatta University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Education Administration from the same university. She has been an active WERK member since 2011.
MS. WINNY CHEROTICH
MEMBER'S REPRESENTATIVEFormer Chairs
Dr. Sheila Wamahiu – Founding Chair (2002-2006)
Prof. Grace Bunyi
Dr. Sara Ruto
Dr. Joyce Kinyanjui (2012)
Dr. Charity Limboro (2012 – 2016)
Dr. Felicita Njuguna (2019 – )
Founding members
1. Dr. Sheila Wamahiu —Founding Chair 2000 – 2002, Coordinator since 1995 -2000, initiating member
2. Prof. Fatuma Chege —Co-coordinator, initiating member
3. Dr. Anna Obura
4. Dr. Margaret Ngau
5. Ms. Zipporah Rimbui
6. Dr. Jane Chege
7. Dr. Theodora Ayot
8. Dr. Mary Getui
9. Dr. Shashi Bali (deceased)
10. Dr. Leah Wanjama
11. Ms. Nyakwea Wai
12. Ms. Edith Mururu
14. Ms. Sophia Ayoo
15. Dr. Okwach Abagi
16. Dr. Ted Groenewegen
17. Ms Jane Mbagi (pioneering student member) – since 1995
18. Ms. Jennifer Wasianga (pioneering student member) – since 1995
19. Prof Bennaars (deceased) – since 1995
20. Ms Margaret Morumbasi – since 1995
21. Ms Freda Nturibi