Acumen Fund | Meet the East Africa Fellows

Acumen Fund East Africa Fellows - Class of 2011-12

	Edward Agaba - Technoserve, Uganda Edward is a Senior Business Advisor at TechnoServe Uganda, where he is leading the “Consolidating The Gains” project, which aims to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in southwestern Uganda by reducing the transaction costs along the banana value chain. The project has reached 26,000 farmers in the districts of Mbarara, Isingiro and Ntungamo in south western Uganda. Edward has experience in economic development, microfinance, banking, and as a high school economics teacher. He holds an MSc in Development Economics from Uganda Martyrs University and a BA in Economics from Makerere University.
	Julio De Souza - Nuru Energy, Rwanda Julio is the Chief Operating Officer of Nuru Energy, a social enterprise that produces and distributes low-cost lanterns that are rechargeable through pedal generators. Nuru Energy has 12,000 light units sold in East Africa, and aims to reach five million lights sold by 2015. Julio has worked a Program Manager with the UNDP in Kenya on private sector development. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Development from the University of Oslo, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and Economics from California State University.
	Soiya Gecaga - "We the Change" Foundation, Kenya Soiya is the Founder and Executive Director of “We The Change” Foundation, which seeks to provide early childhood education and care to children in marginalized communities. “We The Change” aims to reach 500 children by year five and develop a model of holistic education to be replicated in government schools across Kenya. Soiya has served as Solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Bates Wells & Braithwaite, and as the Executive Director of the Global Tribe Network (now the Global Youth Fund). She holds an MA in Modern History from the University of St. Andrews and holds a Diploma of Law and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law in London.
	Rachel Gichinga - Kuweni Serious, Kenya Rachel is the Co-Founder of Kuweni Serious, which is an online platform that focuses on creating a corps of everyday changemakers among young, educated, middle class Kenyans. Rachel has experience as the Project Manager of Penya Africa Ltd, and also as the Program Coordinator/Producer at Rainmaker Ltd. Rachel holds a BA in International Relations from the United States International University.
	Patricia Leila Jumi - GrowthAfrica, Kenya Patricia is the Managing Director of GrowthAfrica Capital, which assists small business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses into strong and profitable companies through mentorship, training, and patient capital. GrowthAfrica has helped over 1,500 clients, and hopes to expand their training-of-trainers program across East Africa to reach 5,000 entrepreneurs annually. Patricia has worked at Metrocomia International and also as the Vice President of AIESEC Uganda. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Makerere University and an MBA from Copenhagen Business School.
	Charles Kalama - EcoPost, Kenya Charles is the Founder & Director of EcoPost, an integrated waste management company that utilizes waste plastic as a resource to manufacture aesthetic, durable and environmentally friendly fencing posts. EcoPost is curbing deforestation by providing an alternative to timber, recycling waste plastic, and creating jobs for the unemployed. Charles has experience as the Founder & Director of FinAfrika Web Creations and as an Account Manager with Advanced Solutions International. He holds an MEng in Biochemical Engineering and Bioprocess Management from University College London, and was named “Innovator of the Year” by IChemE in 2010.
	Joan Wangui Karanja - Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa (COFTA), Kenya Joan is the Regional Director for the COFTA, which uses Fair Trade principles to promote the sustainable development of African producers into successful businesses. COFTA has registered 172 Fair Trade produces in 24 countries across Africa, and hopes to expand their capacity building, market access and advocacy programs to reach even more producers. She has experience in marketing, public relations, strategic planning, and fair trade, and is the Founder of both Orchid Media Ltd and Sueno Associates. She holds an MBA and an MSc in Strategic Planning from Edinburgh Business School and a BA in Communications from Daystar University.
	Irfan Keshavjee - Karibu Homes, Kenya Irfan is the Founder & Lead Partner of Karibu Homes, a social enterprise that brings home ownership along with a secure, sanitary, and progressive community to low-income families. Karibu Homes hopes to build 10,000 homes and house 50,000 people per year. Irfan also co-founded Honey Care Africa, a social enterprise that has impacted over 10,000 lives. Irfan is also the Director of the East Africa Film Academy, Co-Founder of Galu Beach Retreat, and Managing Director of White Rose Services. Irfan holds a BSc-Eng in Civil Environmental Engineering from Queen’s University and an MBA from the University of Oxford.
	Johnson Kithendu - Milango, Kenya Johnson is the Managing Director of Milango Financial Services, which is a microfinance institution that provides one stop servicing for various financial and training needs. Milango has reached over 10,000 clients and given over 13,000 loans valued at $4.5 million. Johnson has worked in microfinance at the Center for International Development and Research, Faulu Kenya, and Focus Kenya. He holds a Bachelor’s of Education from Maseno University.
	Wagikuyu Miring'u - Kickstart International, Kenya Wangikuyu is the Marketing Coordinator for Kickstart International, which aims to transform Africa from subsistence to commercial agriculture through low-cost capital equipment. Wangikuyu’s role at Kickstart is to promote the “Farming is my Business” campaign, which promotes the aims to lift up the image of the farmer to be a legitimate and proud businessman. She holds a BA in Communications from Daystar University.
	Abubaker Musuuza - Village Energy, Uganda Abubaker is the Co-Founder and Director of Village Energy, which runs energy micro-factories that utilize solar power to meet the energy needs of those without access to electricity. Currently, over 150 households use Village Energy’s solar system, providing an alternative to kerosene and saving families 15-20% of their household income. Abubaker has experience as the East Africa Representative of Ashoka, as well as the National President for AIESEC Uganda. He holds a Bachelor’s of Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University.
	Stephen Mutai - Juhudi Kilimo, Kenya Stephen is the Chief Accountant at Juhudi Kilimo, which provides financial services to rural smallholder farmers by micro-leasing wealth generating assets, like a dairy cow. Juhudi Kilimo currently has 7,000 borrowers and hopes to reach 50,000. Stephen has held various finance and accounting positions at K-Rep Bank. He holds a BBA in Accounting from Maseno University and an MBA from the University of Nairobi.
	Boniface Mwangi - Picha Mtaani, Kenya Boniface is the Project Director of Picha Mtaani, which is a mobile photo exhibition held in towns across Kenya, showcasing photographs of the post-election violence that rocked various parts of the country in 2007/08. Picha Mtaani has reached over 500,000 individuals and plans to develop an online platform that will use photography as a catalyst for social change across East Africa. Boniface has worked as a photojournalist for the Standard, and has worked as a freelancer for Bloomberg, the AFP, Reuters, the Boston Globe, as well as a number of other media outlets. He holds a Diploma in Print Journalism from the East African School of Journalism, and has been recognized as a TED Fellow and twice as the CNN Multichoice Africa Photojournalist of the Year.
	Joseph Nganga - Renewable Energy Ventures, Kenya Joseph is the CEO of Renewable Energy Ventures, which produces and distributes affordable solar lanterns. Renewable Energy Ventures has distributed over 4,000 solar lanterns and has created over 500 micro-enterprises through their retail network. Joseph has worked as a banking analyst at Bank of America, as an energy consultant at various organizations, and is Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Caroline for Kibera and a Consultant at InfoDev at the World Bank. He holds a BA in Finance and Marketing from Queens University of Charlotte.
	Ramadhan Obiero - "We Are Watching You," Kenya Ramadhan is the Director of the “We Are Watching You” project which engages communities through music and performances to create a culture of vigilance and political accountability. Ramadhan has experience as the Coordinator for the Vumilia Youth Group, the Stage Manager for musician Eric Wainaina, the leader of the Kale Leo Band, and the Chairman of the African Cultural Research and Education Foundation. He holds a Diploma Certificate in Community Development from the Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development.
	David Okello - Coast Coconut Farms, Kenya David Okello is the General Manager of Coast Coconut Farms, which is a social enterprise providing sustainable employment in the coastal rural areas to alleviate poverty through coconuts based businesses. Coast Coconut Farms has reached over 1,200 people and hopes to establish market linkages with over 3,000 coconut farmers in the coast province of Kenya. David has experience as an Audit Assistant at Ernst & Young International, and as the Director of Finance at the Moi University Students Organization. He holds a Bachelor’s of Business Management from Moi University.
	Abraham Temu - KiBO Foundation, Uganda Abraham is the Founder & Managing Director of KiBO Foundation, which delivers applied ICT and leadership training programs to youth with a focus on creating work and entrepreneurial opportunities. Over 250 youth have undergone KiBO’s 15 week intensive training program, and they hope to reach 200 more each year. Abraham has worked as an Associate at Toronto Dominion Asset Management, as an Associate Vice President PricewaterhouseCoopers, and as a Senior Manager at Aexsys Corporation. He holds a BSc in Quantitative Methods and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
	John Wali - Junior Achievement, Kenya John is the Executive Director of Junior Achievement in Kenya, which empowers youth through hands-on programs on how to start and manage their own enterprises making them self sufficient and economically stable. Junior Achievement in Kenya has reached over 175,000 youth and aims to deliver programs in all 7,000 public secondary schools across Kenya. John has been involved at Junior Achievement since 2004, and holds a BA in Economics from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and an Executive MBA from Moi University.
	Pauline Wanja - LIST (Living In Shanty Towns) Initiative, Kenya Pauline is the Co- Founder & Executive Director of the LIST (Living In Shanty Towns) Initiative, which aims to unify young people living in informal settlements and prepare them for a productive and dignified adulthood and together work toward personal, social, economic and political justice. Pauline has worked at the World Youth Alliance, Kibera Community Development Agenda, and at the Kenya Human Rights Commission. She moderated the Global Youth Against Corruption Network (GYACN) for a year, and she is also currently working as a Youth Empowerment Program Assistant & Activista Coordinator at ActionAid Kenya. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Moi University and studied Accounts at Strathmore University.