About

Samuel Kibaara Kaunga (aka Uncle Sam) is an accomplished leadership trainer and seasoned development practitioner with wide-ranging experience working with children and youth across Kenya, the African region, the USA, Europe, Asia, and South America. He specializes in empowering young people in colleges, universities, and the early job market to grow into responsible, service-driven leaders anchored in integrity, hard work, and presence.

With a strong background in international NGO work, Sammy has contributed to youth empowerment, program development, and multi-country initiatives that strengthen communities and foster leadership excellence. His commitment to mentorship has enabled him to guide and connect emerging leaders across diverse professional fields.

Sammy also brings significant governance experience, serving on various local and international NGO boards. He is the USA-Africa Representative on the Governance Committee of Christ’s Hope International, the Chairman of Rehema Foundation (USA) which supports work in Kenya, and boards Chair in several high schools in the country.

A born-again Christian and deeply rooted in community development, Sammy has sourced for funds and initiated impactful projects such as an irrigation water system in his community, and a primary school for children aged 3 to 15—initiatives that have greatly improved the well-being and resilience of local communities.

As a board member, Sammy offers strategic insight, governance expertise, and a lifelong commitment to strengthening youth-focused and community-driven initiatives.

Wanjiru is a senior executive with over 17 years of experience leading strategy, programmes, and institutions across Africa. Her work sits at the intersection of governance, systems building, and social impact, with a strong focus on gender equality, youth economic participation, and digital inclusion.

She has held country director and senior leadership roles, with accountability for multi million dollar portfolios, organisational strategy, financial oversight, and partnerships with governments, foundations, multilaterals, and the private sector. She has led complex organisations through growth, restructuring, and increased scrutiny, strengthening operating models, controls, and delivery discipline.

Her experience includes advisory and programme leadership in fragile and displacement affected contexts, including refugee hosting areas in East Africa. She has worked closely with local organisations, implementing partners, and funders to translate strategy into delivery while maintaining accountability and learning.

She brings a calm, independent voice to boards, with strong judgement on risk, operations, sustainability, leadership, and mission integrity. She has a Masters in Banking and Finance from Moi University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Nairobi. She is based in Nairobi and has deep regional experience across East and Southern Africa.

Dr. Faith Simiyu is a co-founding partner in the law firm ofSimiyu, Opondo, Kiranga & Company Advocates (SOKLAW)and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She is also aCommonwealth PhD alumna of Cardiff University’s School of Law and Politics, where she conducted doctoral research—funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID)—focusing onhealth and human rights.

Her academic qualifications include:
(i) aMaster of Laws (LL.M.) in Commercial Lawfrom Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands;
(ii) aBachelor of Laws (LL.B.)from the University of Nairobi; and
(iii) aBachelor of Education (Arts)in English and History from Kenyatta University, Kenya.

Dr. Simiyu has overfifteen (15) years of experiencein legal practice, regulatory compliance, governance, policy development, and institutional strengthening. A key professional milestone is her establishment of AfricaHealth Lawwhere she serves as Founding Director. Through Africa Health Law, she leads theTRAM initiatives—Training, Research, Advocacy, and Mentorship—which advance health and medical law, human rights, governance, and strategic and public interest litigation across Africa.

She has consulted extensively for local, regional, and international organizations, including theWorld Health Organization (WHO), Network for Adolescents and Youth of Africa,African Council for Distance Education,Privatization Commission of Kenya, Law Society of Kenya, and theWater Services Regulatory Authority, among others. Her consultancy portfolio encompasses legal and governance audits, policy and legislative drafting, capacity building, professional training, field-based evidence generation, and policy advocacy, all aimed at advancing health and human rights outcomes.

In academia, Dr. Simiyu lectures at higher education institutions in Kenya and internationally, specializing inhealth law, human rights, and commercial law. This includes teaching at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom as well as Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). Her pedagogy integrates moot courts, role plays, and practitioner-led seminars to cultivate practice-ready graduates. She has served as theFounding Chairperson of the Department of Private Law at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), where she co-pioneered the establishment of theJKUAT Law Journal, theJKUAT Law Student Newsletter, and theAnnual JKUAT Law Student Mentorship Forum. Through these initiatives, she has mentoredhundreds of young lawyers, facilitating access to internships, externships, and broader professional development opportunities.

Overall, Dr. Simiyu’s professional journey reflects a steadfast commitment toaccess to justice, philanthropy, the promotion of health and human rights, and the mentorship of the next generation of African legal professionals. She aspires to further strengthen collaborative research, teaching, and capacity-building initiatives that integrate rigorous scholarship with practical engagement, with the ultimate goal of creating sustainable, grassroots-level impact for future generation.

Dr. Wambua Kituku holds a PhD in environmental law from the University of Nairobi, is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a registered environmental impacts assessment expert. Dr. Kituku has a long consulting experience with UN bodies, NGOs, public and private sector bodies spanning for over 20 years in such areas as human rights, environmental and climate law & policy, democratic governance and organizational development. He has previously served as Capacity Building Specialist and Programme Manager of UNDP Kenya’s Amkeni Wakenya project and therefore is well versed with funding and civic space issues facing Kenya’s civil society. He has more than 10 years of experience in legal education and training and is currently teaching environmental law courses at the Faculty of Law, University of Nairobi.