Our team – Kijabe Environment Volunteers

Board Members

Joseph Ruhiu

Board member, Chairman

Joseph Ruhiu is the Chairman of KENVO Board of Management since February 2019 when he was elected to that position. His key responsibilities are to provide leadership to the board including ensuring the board performs its oversight role as encapsulated in the board charter and to monitor implementation of KENVO’s strategic plan (2019-2023).

Joseph Ruhiu holds a MSc. degree in Natural Resource Management, specialization in Land and Water Management, Environmental Conservation and Applied Ecology from Leicester University, United Kingdom. He has BSc degree in Botany & Zoology, from Nairobi University, and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management from Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI), Israel. He holds several certificates including one in Corporate Governance for Directors, from Centre for Corporate Governance.

He has over 20 years’ experience in natural resource management and a specialist in projects development and management. He has over 15 years’ experience in programmes/projects development and management including community led programmes/projects linking environment and poverty. His experience covers identification, planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, learning, reporting and phase out.

His work experience covers 13 years with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) as Warden, Senior Scientist and National Rhino Programme Coordinator. He has also worked with Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF) for 15 years, 11 years as programme manager and four years as technical officer where he coordinated development and implementation of over 200 community led integrated environment projects. He is currently working as an independent Consultant in NRM, policy and community development.

Leah Mwangi

Board member, HR

Ms. Leah Mwangi is a conservationist with 15 years in community-based conservation using integrated approaches. Leah has worked with Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO www.kenvo.org) in Kijabe landscape leading programs that aim at addressing both conservation and livelihood issues.

She has coordinated the policy dialogue meetings in the landscape as well as the multistakeholder forums that resulted to landscape action plan.

Currently Leah is working as a Programs Manager with Eden Environmental Association (www.edenadventures.or g) where she is overseeing the development of a Landscape Restoration Program in Malewa West Ward, Gilgil in Nakuru County. She is replicating experiences and lessons learned in Kijabe landscape. Despite this Leah is a Board Member at KENVO where her main focus is conservation and community programs.

When not working in conservation matters, Leah spends time with young people mentoring and empowering them to become responsible global citizens.

Peter Ndung’u

Board member, Accounts and Admin

Peter Ndung’u accepted to be a board member of KENVO following a request from KENVO membership in February 2019. He is mandated with finance procedures advisory and control. Further he helps KENVO in adhering to, improving and maintaining good governance and laid down internal systems.

Peter Ndung’u holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, Finance from Strathmore University and is Certified Public Accountant of Kenya, CPA (K). In addition he holds a Diploma in Business Management from the Kenya Institute of Management. Further, he is member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). He has background training in facilitation and advisory skills. He is also trained in safety and security management. In the last 15 year, Peter Ndung’u has gained experience having worked in various roles in finance and operations. He worked as District (now County) Coordinator of Finance in Kajiado for Semi-arid Rural Development Programme (SARDEP), a project funded by The Royal Netherlands Embassy. He then worked as Project Finance Administrator and later as Financial Advisor in Nairobi for SNV and subsequently Country Operations Manager for the same organisation. Before then, he worked for Aga Khan Hospital, Uchumi Supermarkets, Kenya Duty Free Complex and Thethy Associates Auditors, in various finance positions. In the social world Peter Ndung’u is a family man, loves nature and art. He is a community leader and Chairman of Kereita Catholic Church. He is a strict adherent to order and transparency.

Executive Members

Kenny Nwangi Njagi

Executive Chairman

Mr. Kenny Njagi has a Bachelor Degree in Development studies from Mount Kenya University and holds a diploma in Community Development and social work with excellent qualifications. He is a youth with eleven years of active volunteerism in holistic development and more so in youth matters, Kenny has a proven leadership record

in local community development, religious arena, youth leadership amongst many. In the last ten years has represented KENVO in both local and international arenas in matters of youth development and empowerment. Kenny Njagi have served the KENVO membership as the Chairman from 2017 and serves as treasurer as well as members’ representative to the board from 2019. Currently works with Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) as project sociologist.

Rahab Njeri Mwaniki

Executive Secretary

Njeri has been a dedicated KENVO member since 2001, very passionate about environment, specifically trees, birds and bees. She is a seasoned apiarist who advises farmers on apiary projects (Beekeeping). Njeri is a Secondary School teacher, currently teaching English Grammar and Literature at Kinale Girls High School. She is a graduate from

The University of Nairobi and she holds a Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management among many other short courses.

She has served KENVO at different capacities, previously as a Project Officer, Project Manager and currently she is the secretary to KENVO's Executive Committee.

Mary Wairimu Karanja

Executive Vice–Secretary

I am an O Level Kenyan with great experience in Community Health. I have worked as a Community Volunteer from 2011 to date. I am also working with the NARIGP program in Nyanduma Ward since 2018. I engage in home Technologies and baking as a TOT from the year 2008 to date as well as being engaged in agri-business for 15 years. I am the Executive Vice – Secretary for KENVO.

Secretariat

Nelson N Muiru

Director

Great experience in Community Based Development Projects’ Management, report writing, work-plans and schedules, general supervision and coordination, community resource mobilization, youth mentorship among others.

Formerly working as a Case Manager at CHEER UP for a USAID project supporting Vulnerable and Orphaned Children (CASE-OVC) 2018-2020. A volunteer with Education is Power (www.educationispower.org) as a Youth Empowerment Officer. Have worked with IEBC (www.iebc.or.ke) as a Voter Educator for two months (Lari/ Kirenga Ward) for the August 2017 General Elections. Deputy Project Coordinator for more than four (4) years -2011 to 2015- at KENVO (www.kenvo.org). Headed the Forest Rehabilitation Department, the Interns Program as well as worked as a Project Officer for the Landscapes for People Food and Nature (LPFN) joint project by KENVO, ICRAF (www.worldagroforestry.org) and Eco Agriculture Partners, (ecoagriculture.org). Have also worked as a Director doubling as a Consultant with Green Global Consortium (GGC LTD) for two (2) years, 2012 to 2015. I was a lead consultant on Natural Resources Management and also managed the Consortium’s database and records/ reports. I volunteered as a Supervisor (2008 to 2011) for an International Youth Exchange Program (Canada World Youth) (canadaworldyouth.org) between Kenya and Canada. I worked as a Research Assistant with notable organizations such Centre for Training and Integrated Research and Arid and Semi-Arid Development (CETRAD) (www.cetrad.org) - two (2) months Center For Agro Forestry Research (ICRAF) for four (4) Months in 2007.

Staff Members

Meet The Team – Listed alphabetically

Anne Wangari Kamanu

Project Officer, Environmental Conservation

Am a conservationist who loves to add value to the nature through tree planting. I believe that every tree I plant I plant HOPE for the future generation. Also am a disciple of the Late Wangari Maathai and KENVO is the place to be in conserving Kereita Forest and other forest block.

Francis Kamau Gicheche

Logistics officer

He is the logistics officer and the driver of the institution. Francis developed a special interest in environmental conservation and joined KENVO as a member and later employed. He has been actively been coordinating and participating in forest restoration program within the organization.

James Kamau Manyara

Environmental Education Officer

Am KENVO environmental officer with the following qualifications: certificate in Fundamental of ornithology from national museum of Kenya, certificate in Hospitality and tourism management.

From ZETECH University, Bronze level in tour guiding from Kenya professional safari guide association . I have 8 years of tour guiding experiences especially for bird’s clients, hikers and camping. 15 years working as KENVO tree nursery manager. Am a former officer at Center for environmental action where I was in Charge of Barclays Eco-champ program (a program that I was training schools environmental clubs on environmental conservation country wide –where each former provinces I had two schools) in KENVO am currently in charge of School Program.

Joel Mwaniki Ndung’u

Project Officer Youth Department

He is a Youth mentor and supervisor working with KENVO for over 15yrs in youth exchange programs and youth empowerment activities. He is an enthusiastic and professional guide, and loves adventure, hiking, mountaineering and safaris. See more Joel developed his hiking interests in high school after joining the Kijabe Environment Volunteers and participated in the establishment of hiking trails in the kikuyu escarpment forests, particularly the Kereita forest. He is motivated by outdoor activities and driven by a passion for environmental conservation as well as community-based tourism. Currently working with KENVO as a project officer youth department.

Martin Karega Miringu

Project Officer, Income Generating Activities

I am KENVO bee keeping project officer with the following qualifications: certificate in bee keeping, diploma in accounting, See more certificate in office management, certificate in finance and grant management, certificate in natural resource management and business development, certificate in conservation farming technology for improved agricultural productivity and sustainable land management. I have 8 years of bee keeping experiences especially on apiary site management and training.

Regina Waita

Project Officer; Front office

Am KENVO front office officer with the following qualifications: certificate in social work. I have 8 years working as KENVO front office officer.

Grace Wacu Nding’uri

KENVO Front Office and Membership Officer

Great experience in environmental resource management, report writing, planning and front office management. I am also well versed with review of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports.

I have been an attaché at Kenya Wildlife Service (Nairobi Headquarters) for five months, I have volunteered at Forest Mist water bottling company based at Kereita, have worked for more than two months in a cyber as a Cyber Assistant (Esco Cyber, Kiserian). I have also been involved in the Government Youth cushion initiatives – kazi mtaani where I was involved in drainage maintenances.

Students/Interns/Volunteers

Michael Kimani

Intern

Bsc. Statistics - MKU University

Simon Kamau

Student

KWS Institute - Diploma Wildlfie Management

Keziah Njenga

Student

Egerton University - Bsc. Education