OUR STAFF

Victoria Gichuhi

Executive Director

Victoria Gichuhi is a highly respected educator, strategist, and visionary. She believes in core values that impact positive change for social justice. Victoria has a Master’s in Business Administration and Strategic Management, and a Bachelor’s in Education and Secondary Education. This background has helped her nurture Daraja to become an institution of excellence. Victoria is a co-author of Daraja’s published empowerment and leadership curriculum- W.I.S.H.. and a member of the Laikipia County Education Board.

Victoria believes that every girl has the right to an education. Her commitment and experience led her to partner with Daraja Founders, Jenni, and Jason, in 2008 and create Daraja. Victoria is passionate about empowering girls who have grown up in difficult circumstances.

Her great leadership of the institution’s vision and mission over the years has ensured the great success of all programs and led to Daraja’s recognition by the Ministry of Education, KICD, and UNESCO, among other institutions.

Hellen Ngunjiri

Director of Operations

Following a degree in commerce, Hellen Ngunjiri has practiced accounting and finance for over 15yrs. She worked for Make A Difference Consultants for 7yrs a path that lead her to Daraja. Early in her career, her empathy and belief in people’s abilities interested her a lot and she pursued a Diploma in HR Management. Her recent certification in Monitoring and Evaluation will help her analyze the impact of the systems and processes in place.

Passionate about being part of the change, Daraja is the perfect place to be. Investing in Girls’ education brings change to generations across the world. Hellen loves spending time with her family and friends, hosting gives her joy, and reading calms her soul.

Caroline Mwangi

Director of Special Programming

Caroline holds a certificate in education and a B.A. in project management. As special programs director at Daraja, Caroline is responsible for planning and executing campus programs, including W.I.S.H. (Women of Integrity, Strength, and Hope), the Transition Program, and the alumna program. 

Before taking over the special programs, Caroline was an English and literature teacher, head of the language department, mentor for the grassroots club, and a facilitator of W.I.S.H. classes. Caroline believes in creating a movement of changemakers. 

Chris Letting

Administration

Chris has worked at Daraja Academy since its inception in 2009. He started as a groundsman before becoming Daraja’s Head Gardener, Head Of Security, and is currently Facilities Manager, overseeing the previous two departments together with Kitchen and Maintenance.

Chris feels it is a privilege and honor to be a member of the Daraja Administration team and a member of the Kangaroo Family in Daraja’s family tree. He loves working with and mentoring young people. Chris is passionate about girls’ education. His greatest joy is seeing them come to Daraja, go through W.I.S.H. and eventually graduate and leave Daraja ready for university or college, and become changemakers. 

Sarah Muthoni

Administration

Sarah is a Kenyan, born and raised in Nyeri, central Kenya. She is responsible, hardworking, and self-driven. She holds a Bachelor’s of Commerce degree (majoring in Finance) from Kenyatta University. Sarah joined Daraja in September 2012 as an administrative assistant. Her integrity, hard work, and passion for what she does has helped her grow from that position to achieve her current position as the business manager. As the business manager, Sarah is responsible for the finances of Daraja Academy ensuring that money donated is used efficiently and for the intended purpose. She is a believer in gender equality and hence a champion of girls’ and women’s empowerment.

Mercy Gichohi

Principal of Academics

Mercy believes that education is a tool that breaks down all barriers and lays a foundation for progress and growth in individuals as well as the society at large. As a passionate teacher, she endeavors to create a conducive environment for teaching and learning that will guarantee quality education for Daraja girls which ensures the attainment of a future that every one of them hopes for.

Mercy is a trainer of Science who has supported girls to grow their talents and has won a national award through the Young Scientists Kenya competition held in 2019 in which her students finished as first runners-up. She has also authored a revision book in Biology hence guiding students on how to write accurate responses to various questions in this subject. Mercy holds a Higher National Diploma in Applied Biology and has trained for pedagogy in education at Kenya Technical Trainers College. She is also a community-minded person who reaches out to people in need through various programs organized by friends in her networks.

Caroline Muraya

Principal of Welfare and Administration

Caroline is a reliable, resourceful, outgoing, and responsible woman with 15 years of progressive experience in teaching. She has excellent interpersonal and communication skills and relates well with people. Caroline is a strong believer in being positive in life and developing other people to make the world a better place. 

Caroline is a graduate teacher from Moi University with a Bachelor’s of Education. Her favorite subjects include Mathematics and Geography. She joined Daraja in 2013 and says her life has never been the same since meeting girls whom she could identify with. Caroline developed an interest in supporting their psychological needs and thus enrolled for a Master’s in Psychological Counselling.  

Her educational philosophy is based on my uncompromising belief that all students can learn, given a positive learning environment, strong and knowledgeable leadership, a committed and focused educational team, an encouraging community, and a supportive family.

DKI BOARD

Joan Mworia, Board Chair

Masters of Science in Engineering

Joan holds a Masters of Science in Engineering Mathematics with a specialization in Optimization from the prestigious Chalmers University of Technology Sweden. During her career she has led successful million-dollar projects with Kenya Airways and has worked as the Head Coach for the Princess Princessa program by Alabastron Network Trust, co-authoring the manual Girls New Cool; Confident, Focused, Beautiful, and Fun. She is passionate about the development of inspirational programs for young women and girls and believes in coaching them with enthusiasm and joy to make responsible and discerning decisions. Joan is currently a growing entrepreneur in the hospitality industry as she runs the Maiyan (luxury homes within a country resort) and the Falcon Heights Hotel, both located in Nanyuki.

Brian Muriuki, Treasurer

Managing Director and Country Chair for Shell in Ghana

Brian Muriuki is an energy and oil and gas executive with over 18 years’ experience leading global and joint venture businesses. Prior was the Country Manager and Country Chair for Shell in East Africa, and served as an Advisor to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining in Kenya. His career has spanned various areas including Venture Management, Government Advisory, Field Operations, Commercial, Economics, Strategy, and Corporate Planning in West and East Africa, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Norway.

He currently provides governance in various entities including the Skills for Oil and Gas Africa (SOGA) Steering Board, Board Director – British Chamber of Commerce Kenya, Advisory Board Member – Open for Business

Latifah Ngunjiri

Group Production Director at Royal Media Services Limited

Latifah Ngunjiri is Group Production Director at Royal Media Services Limited and has been with the company nearly 20 years. She Founder and Director of Africa Film & TV Talent Training Institute that offers training in production, cinematography, scripting, acting, post-production, and graphic design since 2015. She is currently the Executive Director of Triple Edge Media, Ltd., an integrated communication, marketing, and advertising company. But her passion is girls’ education. She’s supported Daraja Academy since its inception from donating biscuits and sanitary towels to school to chairing the fundraising committee. She exemplifies the quote, “She believed she could, so she did!”

Dan Karuga

General Manager for Branch International Ltd

Dan is the East Africa General Manager for Branch International Ltd, a Silicon Valley-based Series C (growth phase) Fintech company operating in United States, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, and India. Branch’s mission is to deliver world-class financial services to the mobile generation. By leveraging the power of machine learning, Branch is building a modern full-service digital bank for emerging markets. Since its founding in 2015, Branch has raised US$250M in debt and equity capital from leading global institutional investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, IFC, Visa, Foundation Capital, B Capital, Formation 8, and Trinity Ventures. Prior to joining Branch, Dan had a 10-year international career with PwC (Kenya and USA) where he gained deep experience leading teams, managing complex multi-country projects, working with different stakeholders, and identifying and leveraging multimillion-dollar opportunities for top or bottom-line improvements for companies. His industry experience includes serving top-tier rated global organizations operating in financial services, technology, telecommunications, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and media and entertainment. Dan holds an MBA degree from the University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business, and a BA from Kenyatta University. He is a Certified Director with the Center for Corporate Governance (CCG), a member of CCG Alumni Network, Institute of Directors (Kenya), and Rotary Club of Hurlingham. Dan’s key competencies include C-Level Management, Strategy & Operations, Budgeting, P&L Management, Fundraising, Team Leadership & Management, Business Development, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Reorganization, Financial Management & Control, Tax Planning & Structuring, and Relationship Management.

Angela Gachui

Head of Transformation and Inclusion at Girl Effect

Angela is a Coach and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion specialist who works to support organizations, leaders, and individuals on the journey to build more inclusive societies.

Currently, Angela is the Head of Transformation and Inclusion at Girl Effect where she leads the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) agenda and activities, facilitating discussions and interventions from a Governance, Leadership, Project, Employee and External Stakeholder perspective. She is also the Founder and Lead Consultant at Triple Bottom Line Associates, a boutique coaching, talent strategy, and DEI Advisory firm. Previously, she served as the Africa Talent Manager at Dalberg Advisors, Chief Talent Officer at Seven Seas Technologies (Kenya), People & Change Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (Kenya). Angela is an ICF Certified Professional Coach and a Genos Emotional Intelligence Certified Practitioner. She is a Board Member of InAble – an NGO that exists to empower the blind and visually impaired students in Africa through assistive computer technology; and is a New Faces New Voices Champion– a network established by the Graca Machel Trust to expand the representation and participation of women in various corporate spaces. Angel holds a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) with a focus on International Policy and Management, from New York University – Wagner School of Public Service; and a BA-Hons in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Western Ontario (Canada).

Patrick Ngugi Karanja

Lawyer

Patrick is a commercial lawyer and an international development consultant with more than 15 years of experience. He is the Managing Partner and Head of Strategy and Consulting at PKC Advocates, serving as the General Counsel for various companies and nonprofits. Patrick also serves as the Consultant Project Lead – Africa heading the Eastern Africa operations of UK-based global charity, Advocates for International Development (A4ID). He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree, Master of Science in Management and Organizational Development, and postgraduate legal practice, leadership, and corporate governance qualifications. Patrick is passionate about promoting responsible business and sustainable development in Africa with a particular interest in SDGs 4, 5, and 10 which seek to promote inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, promote gender equality, and empower all women and girls, and reducing inequalities towards ensuring no one is left behind.

Dr. Sylvia Vito

Business Executive

I am a seasoned business executive with a medical professional background and over 16 years of experience bringing extensive executive Leadership for various Multinational Pharmaceutical companies in Africa serving South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, French Speaking Africa, and Indian Ocean island cluster countries. I consider myself a transformational and versatile leader who effectively manages cross-cultural teams, oversees multiple workstreams, businesses and creates a holistic working environment. I have in-depth experience in driving AFRICA acceleration focus that looks beyond access to quality innovative biotechnologies of novel medicines on to positioning AFRICA as a manufacturing HUB and the next frontier for emerging markets. The access to innovative medicines and gaining full government reimbursement for cancer care, Inflammatory & Metabolic diseases, and vaccines to the public patients across many countries is a highlight in my career. I consider myself a highly self-driven leader with in-depth competence, high learning agility, passion to create impact, a strong proven track record of performance, total commitment to developing the people I serve, and deploy resources with solid governance & compliance processes for sustainable success.

John Gichanga

Head of Business Development

John is passionate about wealth creation and risk management within emerging markets. With over 15 years of experience in the regional investment space, John has developed key strengths in the trade. His vast expertise includes spotting and developing opportunities, distribution, channel engagement activities, sales & customer services support, provision of advanced investment product training to distribution channels and investors, channel marketing strategies, and sales methodologies.

John is the current Chairman of Change a Life Ministry located in Kenya’s largest slum called Mathare. John takes pride in the associations he is involved in and is a beneficiary of similar programs. John is a happy father of two. He enjoys traveling, fitness, and mentoring the current and next generations of financial advisors. John is an alumnus of Strathmore University and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA from Copenhagen Business School.



Monicah W. Kamandau

Learning Specialist

Monicah is a results-oriented professional with skills and experience in training, Climate Campaign project planning, and advocacy. She is a strong advocate for social justice. With a bachelor’s degree in Education, she enjoys training and learning. Monicah has previously worked as a trainer with Global Platform Kenya and with Action Aid Zimbabwe in conjunction with the Youth Community of Interest (YCOI) as a project lead for the Global Youth-Led Climate Campaign implemented in eight countries. She currently works as a Learning Specialist at MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MS TCDC) in Arusha, Tanzania.

Monicah is passionate about education, equality, feminism, movement building, youth, and women empowerment. She hopes we can one day have enlightened citizens who take action to change the societies they live in. When not working she enjoys traveling and reading and is part of a book club where they explore political and feminist books.