Meet The Team

MAGGIE WANJA

Executive Director

Margaret Wanja is a Co-founding member of YSD. She serves as the Executive Director where she specialises in resource mobilisation, grants management, donor relations, and organisational development. Wanja is also the Program Manager for the Youth-Led Social Accountability in Sexual Health/Family Planning project and the Youth Resilience and Belonging Project. She is an Enthusiastic and innovative professional with a 7-plus-year experience in youth livelihoods programming and implementation. She is a valuable team member and a pillar of the organization. Wanja values discipline and consistency and is methodical in executing all tasks and targets.

NYAWIRA KIRORI

Operations Director

Edith Nyawira Kirori, Co-founder of YSD, serves as the Operations Director overseeing grant administration and managing operational functions in all projects. With a background in community development, she specialises in Youth resilience, livelihoods, partnerships, and Organisation Capacity development. Additionally, she is a Co-founder of the Machakos County Youth Assembly and serves as a mentor for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. Edith also works as the Projects Administrator for YSD’s initiatives in Youth-Led Social Accountability, Sexual Reproductive health, Family Planning, and Youth Resilience and Belonging.

BROWN ONDENG’

Finance Officer

Brown Ondeng’ is an enthusiastic volunteer and member of YSD alongside other pole positions in various organisations. He is a young man with much zeal to be part of the statistics as an agent of change in youth matters. Having a solid background in finance, he seeks spaces to incorporate youth affairs in the larger Global Economy space. He is passionate about charismatic leadership as he has exercised the attribute in various localised setups in his community.  

CLARIES KWAYA

Project Officer

Claries Kwaya, a passionate youth advocate and Project Officer at YSD, is committed to fostering meaningful youth engagement and inclusion. As the focal person for the Youth Resilience and Belonging Project and Youth Led Social Accountability at YSD, Claries empowers adolescents through peer mentorship. She strives to create a supportive community that values diversity and encourages individual expression, aiming to equip the younger generation with skills and confidence for positive contributions to society.

GILBERT MOMANYI

Chairperson
Gilbert M. Momanyi serves as the Chair of the Board of Advisors, bringing over 17 years of expertise in Project/Programme Management, particularly in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning. His motivation stems from a deep-seated desire to contribute to society and serve as a role model for the next generation. Gilbert is committed to sharing his wealth of experiences and the lessons he has gathered over time. His ultimate goal is to inspire the incoming generation to surpass previous achievements and learn from past mistakes, fostering a positive trajectory of growth and improvement.

BERNARD MUNG’ATA

Board Member
Hon. Benard Muteti Mung’ata, a seasoned Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, brings 31+ years of legal experience. As Managing Partner at B.M. Mung’ata & Co. Advocates, he is also a Certified Mediator, Arbitrator, Industrialist, Politician, and Philanthropist. A University of Nairobi graduate and Master’s candidate in International Investment Law, he served as Machakos County Assembly’s First Speaker (2013–2017) and ICDC Chairman (2018–2021). A 2022 Machakos Senatorial candidate, his expertise and dedication to youth development make him a valuable advisor to YSD Machakos Chapter.

NICOLE B-ROBINSON

Board Member
With 8+ years of national and international development experience, Nicole is a seasoned expert who has been instrumental in reshaping YSD’s organisational identity. Her innovative and collaborative approach, rooted in delivering tangible results, ensures tailored solutions for clients in areas such as strategic planning, project management, marketing, and evaluation. Specialising in charities, small businesses, start-ups, and social entrepreneurship, Nicole offers concise and effective strategies with practical implementation support. Her ultimate goal is to guide organisations towards achieving their objectives, fostering a positive societal impact.