Jacqueline Mathenge is a programme management expert with over 8 years’ experience in the non-profit sector across national and international organizations. She has expertise in governance and human rights programming and international development projects. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in Peace Studies and International Relations from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from the United States International University – Africa and currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning & Management from the Kenya Institute of Management. Jacqueline is the current Board Chair of Youth Alive! Kenya, a position she has held for 4 years now.

Freddy is an inspirational leader with a relentless desire to build value-driven relationships, tell stories that connect and inspire action. Currently, as an advertising professional that specializes in digital marketing, Freddy has been integral in shaping and telling the stories of brands and institutions such as Kenya Tourism Board, Mastercard Foundation, Blaze by Safaricom, Adebisi Babatunde Thomas Entrepreneurship Institute, WPP Scangroup and British Council to name a few.
He co-founded Youth+ Africa in 2016 and served as the Team Lead for 3 years, leading a team of 19 people in 2 countries (Kenya & Uganda) and playing a pivotal role in the curation of the organization’s corporate strategy and brand development.
He is also served on the Next Generation Kenya Youth Task Force between June 2017 and June 2018 as part of a 15-member team of young leaders that presented youth policy recommendations to the Government of Kenya through the Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Youth. Freddy is also an alum of the Inuka Leadership Program, the Global Changemakers Program, the Ashoka Changemaker Xchange Program, an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society and a TEDx Speakers with talks on leadership and behaviour change.
Freddy continues to be fuelled by a passion to link youth with opportunity through the exchange of information, transfer of skills and integration of ideas. He believes strongly in working with like-minded people to create youth-driven solutions to challenges facing his generation, and is committed to effecting sustainable change & progress among Kenya’s most promising demographic; its youth.

Mr Dennis Mungo is currently the Executive Director of Youth Alive! Kenya (YAK). In his role, he steers YAK’s vision of a society where young people are empowered to realize their full potential. In particular, he works to break the self-perpetuating cycle of exclusion of young people so that they may actively chart and address issues affecting their well-being and development by empowering and providing a platform for them to amplify their voice in the development discourse and emerging realities that they face through robust youth engagement. He has over a decade’s experience and passion working on human rights programming, governance and access to justice having previously worked with the Kenyan Correctional Services. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of London, and another Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems and Technology from United States International University. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration. Dennis has a strong passion for his work as well as to share knowledge, skill and experience geared towards empowering the young people in Kenya and beyond.

Rita Karau is currently a Senior Associate with Kaplan & Stratton Advocates, responsible for joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, privatizations, capital markets, intellectual property, international & cross-border transactions. Rita holds Kenya School of Law, bar qualifications, an LLB degree from the University of Nairobi and is a Certified Public Secretary. She is a member of the Law Society of Kenya, International Bar Association, Law Society of England & Wales and the International Trade Mark Association.

Nelson is a seasoned professional with eight years of post-qualification experience as a chartered accountant (ACCA). He previously worked at KPMG Kenya within the Audit and Tax functions.
He is the Founder of Niall and King Consultants, a specialized tax and corporate finance firm based in Nairobi.
Nelson also serves on the Board of Youth Alive! Kenya, a youth-led organization that promotes the wellbeing and inclusion of Kenyan youth in development through partnerships, capacity building and advocacy.

You can reach him by email at nelson.gacheru@nk.co.ke

What excites Mordecai Odera?
I am excited about stewarding programming strategically, driving innovation and learning,
and leading the creation of the systems, teams, and culture needed to achieve organizational
and programming impact at scale. It is rewarding to contribute to an empowered community
where everyone has the power and ability to make choices that positively impact their health
and lives.

My professional background.
I consider myself a change management leader with over 17 years of experience
conceptualizing and executing programs and projects, managing complex milestones while
adapting to changes in the philanthropy space. For 11 years, I served in the humanitarian
sector, empowering refugees and migrants to realize their rights and attain resilience despite
displacement. In previous roles, I led partnerships and fundraising for human rights programming
covering Eastern and Southern Africa. I am creative, doubling up as a strategist in
communications in various leadership roles I have occupied over the years.