Kusoma International

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Overview

Kenya identified illiteracy, poverty and disease as its greatest enemies at independence in 1963 and continuously made them integral in the country’s development goals. In education, despite consistently spending a good percentage of the national budget, the country is yet to attain the envisioned achievements close to six decades later. 

Granted, the nation has realized a number of milestones, including: the free primary education programme initiated in 2003; increase in universities and university colleges from one (1) in 1963 to seventy two (72) in 2019, and lately the free and compulsory basic education, accompanied with plans to ensure 100% transition from primary to secondary education. Further, the Government has set aside funds to subsidize secondary education. Equally significant is increased financing of the Technical, Vocational Education Training (TVET) sector. 

However, numerous challenges still abound. These primarily hinge on inadequate financing by Government, calling for contributions from parents and guardians. As such, a big portion of the populace is still unable to provide quality education for their children. As such, access is a big challenge both in terms of availability of space in institutions, and affordability, especially in poor rural communities.

Among other benefits, education gives all, including those from underprivileged backgrounds, a fighting chance in the modern increasingly competitive life. I would not have traveled as I have done, and accomplished whatever I have without education. Because of that, it gives me a lot of pleasure and tremendous satisfaction whenever I am able to contribute, however minimally, in making a poor child afford education.

Sangai Mohochi, PhD

Founder and Chairman, Kusoma International

Kusoma International – Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation

Kusoma International – Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to enable access to quality education for children of impoverished and marginalized communities (particularly in the Kuria District of Kenya).

Inspired by the dedication and tireless efforts of his father, Laurenti Mohochi, to provide his children with an education under extreme conditions, Sangai Mohochi founded the organization in 2008 in his honor.

The vision of Kusoma International – Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation is that all underserved children – regardless of gender – will, through education, have a positive impact on their community and the world.

The mission of Kusoma International – Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation is to empower impoverished and marginalized communities by enabling all children access to quality education, in order to develop their full capabilities and equip them well to fight poverty, ignorance and disease in their communities and the world.

The goals of Kusoma International – Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation include:

  1. To offer scholarships that would enable young boys and girls from poor families to acquire an education and by so doing, to uplift themselves as well as their families.
  2. To offer the youth in poor communities an opportunity to participate in community service through programs that touch on guidance, career, and health education in light of the HIV/AIDS prevalence in the region.
  3. To complete construction of a community library.
  4. To ultimately build a model school that provides affordable and quality education.

How we are Organized

Kusoma International – Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation (Kusoma – LMEF) runs its activities from California USA. It is organized as follows:

Board of Directors (BD)

This is the highest decision making organ of the foundation. The Board is composed of men and women from diverse academic, cultural and professional backgrounds, brought together by their strong commitment to providing access to quality education for poor and marginalized young people. 

Kuria Coordinating Committee (KCC)

The Kuria Coordination Committee serves as the liaison unit between Kusoma – LMEF and its activities in Kenya. 

Kusoma Alumni Association (KAA)

This is an Association that brings together all students who have benefitted from the Kusoma International Scholarship Program. Referred to as Mohochi Scholars, these are young men and women who want to remain connected to the organization by participating in its activities and helping in charting its future. 

Board of Directors

We have a Board of Directors, which is the highest decision making organ of the foundation. The Board is composed of men and women from diverse academic, cultural and professional backgrounds, brought together by their strong commitment to providing access to quality education for poor and marginalized young people.

Sangai Mohochi, Ph.D

Founder and Chairman

Born and brought up in Kuria West District, Migori County in Kenya. He was educated in Kenya, receiving his PhD, MA and BA from Egerton University, in Njoro. Prof. Mohochi currently serves as the Registrar, Academic Affairs at Kibabii University in Bungoma, Kenya.

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Sandra Darrow

Executive Director

A mother of three adult children, Sandra currently works as a Realtor in the San Francisco Bay Area. During the years she was raising her children, she worked in IT at Stanford University, served as a birth doula, and volunteered at a school based non-profit.  

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George Amulele

Chief Financial Officer

He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He has over 15 years’ of experience working as a researcher and has worked at several high education institutions in the U.S. and Australia which include University of Hawaii at Manoa, Stanford, Yale and Macquarie University.

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Advisory Board

Basil Burke

Dr. Basil Burke was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and has over 25 years progressive experience in academia and in the start-up, strategic planning and development of new businesses.

He is currently Principal of the consulting firm ELGAE Associates.

Max Darrow

Max Darrow is a television news reporter in Las Vegas, Nevada. He graduated cum
laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 2016, and is a proud alumnus of Pinewood High School. Max is a firm believer in the power of education, and credits much of his success to having a strong educational foundation.

Holly Durocher

Holly Durocher is owner and principal designer at her San Francisco, CA based interior design firm, Holly Durocher Design. She holds a B.S. in Interior Architecture from the University of California, Davis. While studying for her degree she became deeply passionate about the environment and healthy home interiors.

Isabel Ziz

Ms. Isabel Ziz was born in Nakuru and brought up in Eldoret, Kenya. She obtained a BSc in Communication and Journalism in Rongo University, and is currently pursuing an MSc in Communication Studies. She works in Kibabii University in Bungoma, Kenya as a Snr. Media Technician. 

Mbithi Muthini

Mbithi Muthini is the Senior Director of Quality Assurance at Vertos Medical, Inc.  He has worked in the Medical Device industry for several companies in the SF Bay area including Evera Medical, St. Francis Medical, Kyphon (bought by Medtronics), Novare Surgical Systems and Sterigenics.

Meshack Nyambane Makori

Meshack has more than 10 years active career practice in Marketing and Communications profession. He is a graduate of Bachelor of Business Management (Marketing Option), Master of Business Administration (Marketing Option) an also a PHD student in Marketing Communications.

Our Mission is to empower

impoverished and marginalized communities by enabling all children access to quality education, in order to develop their full capabilities and equip them well to fight poverty, ignorance and disease in their communities and the world.

Everybody deserves an opportunity for Education

Join us in championing for this noble cause
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Kuria Committee

Prof. Sangai Mohochi

KCC Treasurer

Prof. Sangai Mohochi is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Kusoma International – Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation. Sangai was born and brought up in Kuria West District, Migori County in Kenya. He was educated in Kenya, receiving his PhD, MA and BA from Egerton University, in Njoro.

Bernard Makuri

Chairman, KCC

Bernard Makuri

Mr. Makuri holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Udaipur University and a BA (Sociology and Public Administration) From University of Rajasthan, India. Has has 30 years experience working at the National Social Security Fund as a manager. He is currently the chairman of the Board of Management at Gwikonge Secondary school. In addition, he has served as a member of Boards of Management of Ikerege and Kubweye secondary schools in Kuria West.

Bernard is currently retired from formal employment at the National Social Security Fund and is engaged in Agribusiness, specializing in in dairy farming and growing and selling of fodder for domestic animals.

Elizabeth Gati

Vice Chairperson, KCC

Elizabeth

Joyce Nyangi

Secretary, KCC

Joyce Nyangi

Gerard Mang'er

Vice Secretary

Mang’era Gerard is a High school teacher of English and literature. He holds a Bachelor of Education Arts Degree from Kenyatta University, Kenya. Currently, Mang’era is teaching at a public secondary school in Kuria, Migori County in Kenya. He is passionate about literacy and transformative learning.

Auphamia Mohochi

Member, KCC

Auphamia Mohochi

Teresia Robi

Member, KCC

Teresia Robi