Dinah Chienjo – Project Director 

Holds a Bachelor of Education degree from Kenyatta University (1984) and a post graduate Diploma in Project Management – DALC 2005.

Was a teacher and teacher trainer in various Secondary Schools and teacher training colleges between 1984 and 1996. (Shanzu Teacher’s Training College,   Machakos Teachers Training College, Alliance High School, and Highridge Teachers Training College). Worked with British American Insurance company as a sales executive.

She then joined the NGO world where she has stayed to date. In 2002 to 2007, worked as the Project Officer for Solar Cookers International (SCI) an American based Solar Cooking project working in Nyakach, Kenya. (Sunny Solutions Project)  and from 2007 to 2008 worked as the Programs Coordinator, in charge of the Sunny Solutions, Nyanza Project.

Worked diligently as a Project Manager in Sunny Solutions Nyakach Project and went on to roll out Sunny Solutions Project to the whole of Nyanza region. As a manager was able to network extensively to bring on board major organizations to adopt solar cooking.

Following her dream, she has to date seen FOTO grow from a self help village group to a CBO serving the whole of Lower Nyakach Division and with great impacts.

Has been appointed to several school boards and  committees.

GEORGE P.A OMUNDO – BOARD CHAIRMAN

George comes from North Nyakach Location, North Nyakach Ward, Nyakach Sub- County, Kisumu County, Kenya. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting option) degree from Makerere University, Uganda. He is a member of Kenya Institute of Management (KIM).

George is a retired Financial Audit and Business Management consultant based at Katito town, Kisumu County.

Retired in 2007 after 33 years of practical working experience with Kenyan Government, Government state Corporations and Canadian International Development Agency(CIDA)

He has been the FOTO Board chairman  since 2013 and steers the board. He is a church elder and a local community resource professional. He is a business management trainer.

CALEB OMONDI SAMSON – Vice Chair

Holder of Msc in Agricultural and Rural Development (Kenya Methodist University, 2013), Bsc in Agriculture (University of Nairobi, 1989), and Diploma in Farm Management (Egerton College, 1984).

Caleb worked for the Government of Kenya in the Ministry of Agriculture for 34 years where he served in various capacities before retiring in March 2018 as an Assistant Director of Agriculture.  Positions held over the period were:

• Divisional Land and Farm Management Officer – Ndhiwa (2 years)
• Divisional Agricultural Extension Officer – Rangwe (1 year)
• Project Manager – On farm Grain Storage Project ( 3 years)
• Provincial Farm Management Officer – Nyanza ( 2 years)
• District Extension Coordinator/Deputy District Agricultural Officer – Siaya (5 years)
• Provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Officer – Nyanza (1 year) and
• District Agricultural Officer for close to 18 years in the following districts; Nyando and Kisumu (Nyanza), Kaloleni and Kilifi (Coast), Teso South and Nambale (Western).

Duties assigned to him over the period were mainly,

• Agricultural extension services,
• Administrative and management related such as coordination of all projects and programs of the Ministry,
• Custodian of all resources belonging to the Ministry in the District/Sub-County which included among others; funds, vehicles, buildings, personnel, equipments and other store,
• Coordination of preparation of work plans and budgets,
• Coordination of the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects/programs among many others.

Joseph Onyango Abende

Is a holder of Master’s Degree in Community Health and Development (MCHD) from Great Lakes University and a Holder of Higher National Diploma in Community Health and Development from Great Lakes University of Kisumu.  Has done Post Graduate Diploma in International Humanitarian Assistance (IDHA) from the University of Geneva Switzerland. Has also been trained in Logistic and Management in Netherlands and attained certificates in project planning and management and a certificate in Epidemiology in Melun Paris France.

Joseph Abende has worked in the field of Humanitarian assistance as coordinator for over 15 years.  Worked in Sudan as the program coordinator, Somalia as the coordinator and Log/admin, Nigeria – Lagos as the Head of Mission.

Currently working with Friends of the Old (FOTO) as the Project Coordinator with main focus to eliminate waterborne diseases and supporting vulnerable elderly persons living with their orphaned grandchildren.

Over the years he has acquired the following professional Skills; advocacy and networking, negotiation and conflict resolution, coordination and liaising, cross cultural communication, interpersonal communication skills, effective communication ability and effective on data analysis using SSPS package.

MAREN OMONDI 

She is a holder of Bachelor of Education (University of Eastern Africa – Baraton), Master of Education  – Guidance and Counseling (Egerton University), Diploma in Business Management (Kenya Institute of Management) and currently studying for her PhD in Educational Psychology at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.

She has wide experience in financial and human resource management having been a Principal of TVET institutions from 2009 to date . She has headed the following institutions 1992 to 2009:

• Trainer at Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology
• Principal,  Moi Institute of Technology,
• Principal, Baringo Technical College,
• Principal, Shamberere Technical Training Institute,
• 2019 to date: Principal at Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology. She has also completed Senior Leadership Development Program (Kenya School of Government) and has held key leadership positions in Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI).

She has  participated in several workshops and seminars in auditing,  financial management, procurement, governance, and management of institutions among others, and also in international workshops on TVET issues.

Member of Kenya Guidance/Counseling and Psychological Association.

She brings to FOTO a wealth of experience on management and Human Resource.

JOSEPH ODHIAMBO OGWANG 

Joseph trained as a mason in 1992  and worked in various establishments including Kisumu Terraso Works and Singh Construction Company as a Foreman until 2004 when he applied for the post of Assistant Chief and was selected as the Assistant Chief of Jimo West Sub Location in Nyakach Sub County.

From 2013 to date he has worked in the Office of the President as the Chief 1 of Kandaria West Location. He attended the orientation of Chiefs course at Ahero Multi Purpose Training Centre in July 2004.

JANE FLORENCE OBEDE

Having married in Nyakach, she trained as a social worker and worked as the Social Development Assistant, Lower Nyakach Division for over 10 years. During her work within Lower Nyakach she got to know the area extensively and developed a personal touch with the community. She enjoys meeting with them and discussing community issues and they also like her a lot.

She is a Church Elder (Urudi SDA) and the Treasurer,  also the Children Ministry Director (Urudi SDA )at the church.

She is also the Chairperson of KATINDA WIDOWS & ORPHANS Group and a Mentor of the girl child. Apart from being a widows champion as a designator, she does small scale business in homemade soap , tailor in kitenge bags.

She has had  training in Social Development, Child rights, paralegal, Community Development, Community Health Work, TB Ambassador, Legal rights to widows and orphans, abstinence and behavior change for youths,  counseling, PRA in water and sanitation, Mentor level 1, Christian ministries, Master guide and is also an evangelist

PERPETUA AKUNO

A graduate of Maseno University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology currently undertaking  post graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management.

Has vast experience of working in the NGO sector spanning over a period of 16 years, designing, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Child Protection and Inclusion projects within the communities in Kisumu and Homa Bay Counties.

She is a Community Development Worker with a flair for facilitating active participation of girls, boys, young citizens (youth), women, men, the entire community, stakeholders and partners in community development initiatives.

An advocate in children matters, a gender champion having worked for Plan International Kenya as a Project Officer managing and implementing projects that address Children’s Rights, Gender Based Violence and the economic exclusion of girls and young women.

PAUL OCHOLA OCHIEL

He is from Asawo Location, North  Ward, Nyakach Sub County, Kisumu County, Kenya. He attended Caren Bible School in Nairobi where he graduated with a Certificate in Theology.

Has been a Pastor for the last ten years with the Free Pentecostal Churches Of Kenya (FPFK).

His main duties as a Pastor include:

• Nurturing
• Spiritual nourishment and
• coordination of Church activities.