Passionate People Driving ARA's Impact

Our Team

Dr. Samson Gwer

Executive Director

Dr. Moses Ndiritu

Director, STONE - HMIS

Elizabeth Ombech

Director, Programs and Operations

Paul Onam

Finance Officer

Dorcas Pacho

Procurement Officer

Enock Oloo

STONE-HMIS Officer

Rogers Omondi

Project Associate

Rose Mitevan

Admin Assistant

Esther Abonyo

Project Associate

Vanessa Akoth

Communications Associate

Charity Adhiambo

Project Officer - Makeway

Board of Directors

Dr. Lee Ngugi Kigera

Chairperson

Anesthesiologist & Pain Specialist, AC Health Specialist Clinic

Dr. Samson Gwer

Secretary

Executive Director and Co-Founder, Afya Research Africa (ARA)

Geoffrey Awiti

Treasurer

Patricia Griffin

Member

Continuous Improvement Coach at Kellanova

Silvana Wanjiru

Member

Legal and Compliance Practitioner at Silvana & Associates Advocates and Founder, Plant One Million Trees Initiative

Dr. Moses Ndiritu

Member

Director STONE-HMIS®, at ARA

Lauren Rosapep

Member

Associate Director, Evaluation and Adaptive Learning at Results for Development

Dr. Samson Gwer

Executive Director

Sam serves as Afya Research Africa’s Executive Director and directly oversees the Ubuntu Afya Medical Centre network and the Research and Evidence Programme. He is a Member of the Royal College of Paediatrics in Child Health (UK) and has a PhD from the University of Amsterdam in child neurology. Sam has over 14 years of experience testing and implementing innovative healthcare solutions to strengthen health systems and promote access to sustainable quality healthcare in Kenya.

He has extensive experience in childhood coma and epilepsy programmes and research and is a recipient of several awards. His mix of entrepreneurial, clinical, and research experience instills in him the ability to design and deploy innovative healthcare solutions that promote system-wide change.

Dr. Moses Ndiritu

Director, Stone - HMIS

Moses leads the development and deployment of our electronic health management information system, STONE HMIS®. He is also involved in the provision of clincial services at our medical centres, offering a deep understanding of how electronic applications and processes interface with clinical practice. Moses has over 15 years of clinical experience and holds a Master’s of Philosophy Degree in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Cambridge. He has experience in paediatrics and child health research and has been involved in clinical and epidemiological studies evaluating the effectiveness of vaccines against severe bacterial infections in children. His unique set of skills and experiences set him apart as a practical clinician, epidemiologist, and health informatician.

Elizabeth Ombech

Director, Programs and Operations

Elizabeth leads ARA’s Programs and Operations within the Ubuntu-Afya network, leading the implementation of the organization’s programs, monitoring and evaluation strategy. Elizabeth excels in forging partnerships with community groups, county governments, and other stakeholders, while also overseeing program implementation and operations across multiple medical centers. Her expertise extends to program design, research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as data management and analysis. She has over a decade of experience in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health programming including health programs implementation in primary healthcare settings. Elizabeth holds a Masters in Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Microbiology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. She is also an accredited trainer for the Joanna Briggs Institute, the University of Adelaide’s comprehensive systematic review training program.

Paul Onam

Finance Officer

CPA Paul is responsible for leading ARA’s Finance and Human Resource. He joined the organization in 2016 as accounts assistant and has risen through the ladder to the current position. Prior to this, he has held similar positions in other service enterprises including Real Estate. With extensive experience in managing accounts, budgeting, financial reporting, human resources and statutory compliance for enterprises and non-profits, Paul ensures compliance with financial and HR regulations, and supports ARA’s overall mission. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from KCA University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K).

Dorcas Pacho

Procurement Officer

Dorcas leads procurement for Afya Research Africa and the Ubuntu-Afya Kiosk network. She heads pharmaceutical procurement and manages drug stock at all medical centre sites. Dorcas has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Supplies and Logistics from KCA University in Nairobi and a Diploma in Library Science from the University of Nairobi. She has more than 8 years experience in administration positions at various organizations in Kenya.

Enock Oloo

STONE-HMIS Officer

Enock is primarily responsible for the programming and maintaining of the in-house digital health information system (STONE-HMIS). Through his innovative problem-solving skills and knowledge of the design and implementation of scalable systems, he has developed sophisticated solutions that not only work flawlessly but also support users in achieving better patient outcomes and efficiency in the operations. In addition to programming, he oversees and plans the strategic development of our centres’ IT infrastructure, which includes electronic health records (EHR), cybersecurity, hardware, software, network systems, and technology-related regulations. Enock holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Nairobi.

Rogers Omondi

Project Associate

Rogers is a programme coordinator at Afya Research Africa, and leads engagement with health workers and target communities across ARA’s Ubuntu-Afya Kiosk network. He has extensive experience in deploying community programs and has more than eight years experience working with rural health, HIV and education programmes. He has diploma in community development.

Rose Mitevan

Admin Assistant

Rose manages our reception and other administrative duties.

Vanessa Akoth

Communications Associate

Vanessa serves as the Communications Associate, driving the development and execution of internal and external communication strategies. She excels at crafting and sharing captivating content across various platforms, managing the organization’s vibrant social media presence, and devising strategies that elevate the organization’s mission.

With a robust background in journalism and social media management, Vanessa has spearheaded numerous successful campaigns that have boosted brand visibility and community engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics, Media, and Communication from Moi University.

Charity Adhiambo

Project officer-Makeway

Charity serves as the Project Officer for the Make Way Programme, a Sexual and Reproductive Health initiative implemented in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia.

Through this program, she addresses the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) concerns of young people, helping to tackle the compounding factors that interfere with their SRHR. Charity leads the program in Nairobi’s informal settlements in partnership with Cheshire Disability Services Kenya (CDSK), targeting young people with disabilities in Kibera and Mukuru Kwa Reuben.

Prior to joining the Make Way Programme, Charity gained extensive experience in clinical practice, leadership, and project coordination. She holds a degree in Clinical Medicine and Community Health and has over four years of experience in her field.