KENYA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER

Leonard Mbonani Bikanga has been working to defend the rights of children with disabilities in Kenya for more than 40 years. He began his career as a special educator and then a disability assessment officer but 20 years ago transitioned into his current role as the founder and Director of the Kenyan nonprofit organization, Kuhenza for the Children.

Leonard and staff have supported hundreds of thousands of children with disabilities in accessing life-saving medical care, education services, and loving inclusion in their families and communities. As part of this work, Leonard has designed and delivered a suite of disability training programs, tailored to different influential community leader groups including pastors, traditional healers, and government officials. He has also developed these trainings for children with disabilities themselves and their parents. Trainees who complete these workshops go on to advocate for the rights of children with disabilities in their communities by bringing them out of hiding, counseling them, helping them access schools and medical care, and sensitizing their communities on the rights of people with disabilities through public talks and stakeholder meetings. Leonard has also designed and delivered abuse prevention workshops for youth with disabilities, teacher workshops on inclusion, and Disability Awareness Days that sensitize communities through public speeches, performances, and celebrations.

Each year, Leonard and his team train hundreds of community leaders as disability advocates who improve the lives of more than 40,000 children with disabilities. He shares the success of this work in global conferences, technical working groups, and most recently, as the Disability Advocacy and Community Engagement Advisor to Kings College and Aga Khan University’s SPARK Project (Supporting African Communities to Increase Resilience and Mental Health of Kids with Disabilities). Leonard holds a diploma in Learning Difficulties from the Department of Special Education in Denmark and a diploma in Special Education from the Kenyan Institute of Special Education. He also has earned certificates in Primary School Management, Primary Education and Education Assessment and Resource Services. Leonard’s evidence-based disability advocacy approaches are now being used by practitioners in more than 20 countries around the world.

Read more about Leonard’s experience in his LinkedIn profile here. 

CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER

Lucky is a Kenyan lawyer who has devoted her life to advocating for justice, care and inclusion for children with disabilities. Through her law firm, Mbonai and Associates Advocates, and as a Child Protection Officer for the nonprofit, Kuhenza for the Children, Lucky provides legal counsel to families impacted by disability. She also supported Kuhenza in developing a Kenyan Disability Law Guide and a Law Guide Summary and regularly facilitates discussions about these laws during Disability Advocacy Training workshops for families and community leaders. Furthermore, Lucky worked as a volunteer for Humanity and Inclusion in France. In this position she developed a research tool to assess the rate at which different countries are adopting policies to protect girls and women with disability from gender-based violence.

In addition to her nonprofit work, Lucky has also worked as a legal associate for Dennis Kinaro & Co. Advocates in Kenya and as a research assistant at Syracuse University College of Law’s Burton Blatt Institute in New York preparing appellate briefs for clients who were denied social security benefits.

In 2021, Lucky was instrumental in developing Kilifi County’s first Disability Bill and collaborating with local leaders to ensure the views of people with disabilities incorporated into its content. She now serves on the Kilifi Disability Bill Board of Directors to support its implementation.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Moi University and a Master’s degree in International Human Rights and International Disability Law and Policy from Syracuse University College of Law in New York. She also earned a post-graduate diploma in law from Kenya School of Law in Nairobi.

Read more about Lucky’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.

Bookkeeper and Resource Center Manager

James holds a diploma in accounting and a certificate in computer applications from Mombasa Polytechnic University. Before joining Kuhenza, James worked for over three years as a bookkeeper for the Marafa Community Development Programme, managing records for both World Vision and the local government. As Kuhenza’s bookkeeper, James is now responsible for recording Kuhenza’s income and expenses, collecting receipts, developing financial reports and preparing for Kenyan government audits. He also oversees the purchase, cataloging and inventory of all materials in Kuhenza’s Resources Center.

Read more about James’s experience in his LinkedIn profile here.

Project Director

Martha has over 30 years of experience as a teacher for students who are deaf. Until 2017, she was also the head teacher at the Gede Special School, the first special needs school supported by Kupenda. Martha’s work and experience helps Kupenda stay connected to the local education system. Her devotion to children with disabilities is demonstrated by the endless hours she works with the Kuhenza team. As Project Director, Martha co-manages the organization’s Advocacy, Education and Medical activities alongside the Executive Director. She also manages the organization’s Child Sponsorship Program.

Project Officer

Thomas is a Kenyan pastor, nonprofit manager and child advocate who has been a member of our team since 2014. Initially, Thomas worked as Kuhenza’s office manager for several years, which made him sensitive to the situation of families impacted by disabilities. This inspired him to earn an Education degree with a concentration in Special Needs. After completing his studies, Thomas returned to Kuhenza and was hired as a project officer. In this role, Thomas collects information for the child sponsorship program, assesses and monitors children with disabilities, connects children with special needs schools and hospitals, writes reports, and assists the Kenya director, as needed. He recently also earned a diploma in Computer Information System from Kenya Methodist University.

Project Officer

Gertrude has more than 17 years of experience teaching at the Malindi Star Junior School, Kakuyuni Primary School, and the Gede Special School and specializes in working with children with autism. As a project officer for Kuhenza, her dedication and history equip her to assess and monitor children with disabilities in the child sponsorship program and connect them to appropriate educational, medical, and community resources. In addition, Gertrude assists in facilitating disability training workshops that educate community leaders to act as disability advocates. Her efforts equip communities to better understand, support, and include those with disabilities in daily life. Gertrude also holds a teaching degree in early childhood education from the Kilifi District Centre.

Project Officer

Joseph Karisa is an experienced secondary school educator and has earned diplomas in information technology and business English. Since 2017, he has also been a member of the Kilifi County Microfinance Fund Board of Directors. Joseph has certificates in peer guidance and counseling and computer repair and maintenance. In his work with Kupenda he assists our Kenyan team with program implementation, reporting, family counseling and disability advocacy training. As a person living with a disability, Joseph is particularly passionate about serving persons with disabilities and enjoys the time he spends interacting with Kupenda’s child beneficiaries and their parents. Joseph recently completing a bachelor degree in business and information technology at Mount Kenya University in Malindi.

Driver

Kalu is a licensed, professional driver with experience transporting staff and clients and maintaining vehicles for numerous Kenyan nonprofits, schools, and farms. Prior to his driving career, Kalu worked as a mason contractor in the private sector. In recent years, Kalu has developed a passion for disability work; when not driving for Kuhenza, he often volunteers at the local special needs school. He enjoys helping the house parents there and spending time with the children, who are very fond of him.

Mental Health Officer

As the Mental Health Officer for Kuhenza, Martha provides psychological and psychosocial support to our program participants and their families. She also strengthens community awareness and support surrounding disability by training and engaging community leaders and other stakeholders. Martha has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Pwani University. She is experienced with providing psychological and psychosocial support to patients in various health center and hospital environments. She has also provided counseling and educational services to youth with drug addictions and their caregivers. In addition, she has helped to address sexual and gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health concerns among adolescent girls and young women. She is currently the vice-chair for the community-based organization, “Firm Stance,” which counsels, educates, and mentors youth and adolescents on health issues and career development. Martha’s services are a key in enabling our participants to experience the most productive and fulfilling futures possible.

Occupational Therapist

Mwanahawa is an occupational therapist who graduated from the Kenya Medical Training College in 2016 with a diploma in occupational therapy. She provides therapy services to children at Gede Special School, Timboni Special School, Chakama Dispensary, and Kupenda’s Kenya Advocacy Center. Mwanahawa is also actively involved in Kupenda’s mobile therapy clinic, where she supports children with disabilities and their parents and caregivers, equipping them with essential skills to support children with disabilities in their daily lives.

Program Manager

Since 2016, Loice has managed Kuhenza for the Children’s child sponsorship program while also counseling families, facilitating disability trainings, and monitoring the organization’s programs. She regularly advocates for the inclusion and care of children with disabilities at global conferences, community events, and with schools, churches, nonprofits, and health facilities. Loice is currently leading Kuhenza’s work to develop a disability training for interfaith leaders. In addition to her work with Kuhenza, Loice serves on the Board of Directors for Kakayuni Special School and leads the Disability Learning Cluster for Vista Hermosa Foundation’s East African Cohort, which is comprised of seven nonprofit organizations. Loice has 3 years of experience teaching religious education and 2 years of experience as a guest lecturer at Pwani University, Mount Kenya University, and Malindi Institute of Business Studies. She is also the lead researcher and author of “Christian Response to Challenges Faced by Children with Disabilities” a journal article that was published in the Kabarak Journal of Research and Innovation in 2019. Loice holds certificates in Primary Education, Secondary Education, and Computer Basic Skills. She also received a certificate from the World Health Organization for her participation in their Wheelchair Service Training for Managers. Loice holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and a Master’s degree in Religious Studies from Pwani University.

Resource Mobilizer

Karisa Mwakombe is a dedicated professional with over 36 years of expertise in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). With a background in water engineering and community development, he has a proven track record of designing, implementing, and evaluating impactful development projects aimed at fostering self-reliant communities and alleviating poverty.

Karisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from Mount Kenya University and specialized diplomas in Water Engineering and Surface Water Technology. He has spearheaded initiatives that improved water hygiene and sanitation practices, notably enhancing school attendance and health outcomes in Kilifi County during his tenure with Amref Health Africa.

Currently serving as a Resource Mobilizer for Kuhenza for the Children, Karisa continues to leverage his expertise in project planning, resource mobilization, and participatory community engagement to drive sustainable change. He is fluent in both English and Kiswahili and is certified in participatory rural appraisal and NGO management.

Read more about Karisa’s experience in his LinkedIn profile here.