Our Speakers
Speakers' Profiles
H.E HON Wavinya Ndeti, EGH,
GOVERNOR MACHAKOS COUNTY
Governor Wavinya Ndeti won the Machakos Governership on a campaign anchored on the clarion call Chakula Mezani, Pesa Mfukoni and The Three Pillar Manifesto: Food Security, Socio-Economic Empowerment and Infrastructure Development. Her
biggest motivation was to turnaround the economic, socio-cultural and infrastructural fortunes of the people of Machakos County. Governor Wavinya’s election was the culmination of resilience, humility, honesty, hard work and an unwavering passion to serve the people of Machakos.
In the period Governor Wavinya has been office, she has initiated and completed over one thousand projects spanning all spheres. In order to drive the agenda of food security, she has invested heavily in water with a focus on harvesting surface water using dams, weirs, pans and sand dams. This coupled with distribution of certified seeds and other agricultural input to farmers, reviving agricultural extension services has taken the County closer to actualizing food security. Noting the power of enablers such as road network and provision of energy, Governor Wavinya has tarmacked and graded
hundreds of Kilometers of roads in addition to getting many households connected to the power grid. Recognizing the fact that a healthy population is a requisite condition
for economic transformation, Governor Wavinya has invested not only in health
infrastructure but has also put a lot of emphasis on other determinants of quality healthcare such as health personnel, drugs and systems. In education, her Maziwa ya Mama milk and school feeding program continues to nourish ECDE children in the
county. Many ECDE classes have been constructed not forgetting the novel Daycare centers in Urban areas. Governor Wavinya appreciates that empowerment is critical to accelerated socio economic transformation. She has initiated empowerment initiatives
such as giving tents and seats for events, car wash machines, energy saving jikos, mini home solar systems and water tanks, utensils among others to groups. The iconic Machakos Youth Service which is training youth in the model of the NYS is promising
to be a game changer in empowering the youth.
Previously, Governor Wavinya Ndeti served as Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, State Department of Public Works, Shipping and Maritime. During her tenure, mega infrastructural development projects
were achieved key among them the express way and the Lamu Port. This appointment was preceded by her appointment as the Chairperson of the Governing Council of Kenya Water Institute. Governor Wavinya served in the 10th Parliament as the first woman to represent the larger Kathiani Constituency as Member of Parliament before it was split into two – Kathiani and Mavoko. In the period she served as a Member of Parliament, various tangible projects in healthcare, agriculture and water conservation
were delivered. One of Governor Wavinya’s outstanding achievements was being voted the best overall MP in the country in the utilization of Constituency Development Funds
(CDF) countrywide. Between September 2008 and August 2012, as the Assistant
minister for Youth and Sports she led the Kenya Paralympics team to Beijing, China and the United Kingdom respectively. The Governor is also credited with steering the National Youth Service and the construction of numerous Centres of Excellence for
Vocational training across the country during her tenure as Assistant Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports. She is the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of her outstanding performance in aspects such as public participation, budget transparency
and prudence in utilization of public resources. Governor Wavinya is the sitting Chair of SEKEB, an economic bloc that brings together the counties in Lower Eastern region, Kitui, Machakos and Makueni.
Governor Wavinya is a businessperson of no mean repute. Her vast business interests span various sectors such as Agriculture, ICT and Real estate. She was the pioneer of computer training in primary and secondary schools in the year 1998 (Computer Project for Schools in Kenya) an initiative that changed the ICT landscape in the country.
Governor Wavinya Ndeti is a philanthropist whose areas of interest include supporting education of children from underprivileged families, religious, women, and youth
groups. Children’s homes have also been beneficiaries of her philanthropic activities. Despite her busy schedule, the Governor finds time to guide and encourage upcoming women leaders and to inspire and urge-on those already in leadership positions.
Dr. Susan Koech
Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya
Dr. Susan Koech is the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, and has served since March 10, 2023.
Prior to that she was the Principal Secretary, State Department of Wildlife. She also served as the Principal Secretary for East African Community and at the State Department for Regional Development. Dr. Koech has over 20 years distinguished career in the Banking industry having served in various senior leadership positions before transitioning into the public sector.
During her tenure as a Principal Secretary, Dr. Koech is accredited with establishing and negotiating for trade and investment country positions at the Regional level and strengthening bilateral relations and engagements across the East African Community (EAC) Member States.
She ensured that sound country positions were pursued, a complex and dynamic process that called for consensus building in a competing interest environment in a bid to support regional
integration and shared prosperity. She was instrumental in advocating for the establishment of the East African Monetary Union as a way of strengthening Intra-EAC trade and investments.She developed the Jumuiya Market concept that creates common markets at the border points to
spur economic activity for women and youth. As PS Wildlife she developed innovative sustainable financial and economic models to achieve best practices in wildlife conservation.
During her time in banking, she championed innovation as a way of improving compliance and
driving performance, endearing her to peak performance for all the teams she mentored over the years. She acquired invaluable expertise in Monetary & Financial Management, Governance,
People Management and Development, Strategic Management & strong interpersonal skills.
She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management & a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management from Moi University.
DR. Jacqueline W. Kitulu, MBS, OGW
A distinguished Healthcare Leader with more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu stands out as an Influential, Transformative, and Purpose driven
leader whose influence has shaped healthcare in Kenya, across Africa, and globally.
Incoming President-elect of the World Medical Association (WMA), Dr. Kitulu’s reputation is one of transforming healthcare organizations, health systems, healthcare
quality and access, and advancing efforts towards global resilient health systems, medical ethics, and improced welfare for healthcare practitioners. Dr. Kitulu also
practices as a Medical Doctor at Jamko Health Services (a private practice in Nairobi) and Clinic Partner at Karen Surgery, a multi-disciplinary practice she co-founded.
Working at the intersection of Healthcare Management, Global Health Advocacy, Health Systems Strengthening, Health Policy Formulation, Health Financing, and Stakeholder Relations, Dr. Kitulu brings a strong footprint in championing Universal Health Coverage, ethical medical practices by physicians, robust health systems and corporate governance
structures for healthcare facilities and organizations, and effectively managing global medical emergencies and pandemics.
She previously served as Vice-President, National Vice-Chair, and first female President of the Kenya Medical Association (KMA), Treasurer and National Chair of Kenya Medical Women’s Association, Director of Kenya Healthcare Federation, Secretary of the Kenya Association of Physicians, Vice-Chair of the National Resuscitation Council of Kenya, and Council
Member of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), where she played an instrumental role in the inspection of Medical Training Institutions in Kenya and across East Africa.
Dr. Kitulu has helped instil professionalism and quality in healthcare delivery in Kenya, East Africa, and beyond, advanced the welfare of doctors, and served as key partner at national and global-level policy discussions on healthcare excellence.During her tenure as President, the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) engaged incrucial national policy-making and secured a US$800,000 grant to support frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has shaped the Kenyan health care system under Government appointment and nomination to key public service positions – such as Presidential Appointee to the National Economic and Social Council, Finance Committee Chair of the National Health Insurance Fund,
Deputy Governor of the Kenya Red Cross Society, and Vice-Chair of the Kenya Consumer Protection Advisory Committee, her catalytic interventions earning her the Moran of the Order of Burning Spear (MBS) and Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) Awards, presented by the President of the Republic of Kenya.
On a global scale, Dr. Kitulu has served as a Communication and Advocacy Panel Member at the World Medical Association (WMA) and as Global Advisory Board member at Tech Care for All, influencing digital health and advocating for medical ethics and professional independence of physicians globally. A Graduate of Strathmore University, Dr. Kitulu holds an MBA in Healthcare Management and aBachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from the University of Nairobi.
Core Qualifications:
- Board Leadership
- Organizational Leadership
- Corporate Governance
- Primary Health Care
- Health System Strengthening
- Health Policy Formulation
- Global Health Advocacy
Select Awards & Recognitions:
- Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear by the President of the Republic of Kenya
- Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) of Kenya by the President of the Republic of Kenya
- Distinguished Service Award from the Kenya Medical Association (KMA)
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kenya Association of Family Physicians (KAPS)
- Fellow of the Commonwealth Medical Association (FCMA)
Donald Bosire
Co-Founder, Engage Kenya
Meet Donald Bosire, a skilled corporate storyteller and executive coach.
With extensive experience in government administration, Donald has mastered the art of navigating & managing change and risk. As a Strategic Planning & Project Management professional, Donald simplifies and brings complex concepts to life through storytelling.
Prof. Fred Ogola
Professor of Strategy and Corporate Governance Expert
Fred Ogola is a Professor of Strategy and Corporate Governance Expert. He is also a community development and Civil Society leader in Kenya, Leader of Operation Linda Jamii - the Umbrella
Body of most Civil Society Organizations in Kenya.
He obtained his PhD from ESADE Business School, Barcelona Spain. He has two Master's degrees an
MBA from CUEA, and a Master of Research from ESADE Business School.
He has 5 Undergraduate Degrees-
Psychology, Philosophy, Theology, Economics, Urban Planning and City
policy.
He has formulated and advised over 1231 Strategic plans.
Trained over 5, 000 companies average of 200 staff = 1, 000, 000 executives trained
Fred is a renowned Economist that has advised the Reserve Bank of India on economic modelling on assignment by the European Central Bank.
He also helped turn around the economies of the PIIGS(Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Spain) States on assignment by the European Central Bank.
Fred has also advised different government organizations in Kenya such as Kenya National Highways
Authority, Athi Waterworks Development Agency, Vision 2030 and others.
He has appeared on 208 TV interviews on Matters Economics and Governance, an average of 4 TV interviews per week.
Author of two best Sellers books in Africa- Strategic Thinking, published over 50 articles in Refereed journals, over 3,000 Articles in Daily Newspapers and written over 483 curriculums.
Author of Bestseller book- Strategic Thinking Series- 13,458 Copies as of the end of February 2023.
Waceke Nduati
CENTONOMY
Waceke Nduati is the Founder of Centonomy Ltd (which she started in 2009 in Kenya), an
Author and Entrepreneurship Coach. She is driven by her passion for teaching people how
to create wealth and Centonomy under her leadership, has been able to significantly
change the lives of people in the East African Region. This has been done through the
various Financial Literacy as well as Entrepreneurship coaching programs which have
reached over 500,000 people. The impact has been seen as people who have gone through
the programs get the confidence to pursue their dreams, overcome financial challenges,
create wealth, start and grow sustainable businesses, employ people and become
solution providers in their unique ways.
Waceke is a renowned thought leader and popular for her ability to break down and
demystify money & entrepreneurship in a way that is relevant for all. This combined with
her own practical experience in starting and growing a business that has the kind of impact
Centonomy enjoys, has made her the go to expert in matters of Financial Literacy and
Entrepreneurship for most media outlets and organisations in Kenya. Waceke has been a
financial columnist for the top daily newspaper in the country (the Daily Nation) publishing
over 500 articles. She published her first book Making Cents in March 2019 which is being
distributed across the region and has sold over 10,000 copies.
She has been called on to speak and train at various forums, seminars and conferences.
This includes on several occasions being a panelist/speaker in various regions for UN Women
on Economic/Financial Empowerment for Women. She has given key note addresses at
various forums including at the Central Bank of Kenya, Safaricom, various banks,
universities, churches, media organisations, numerous private organisations and NGO’s. She
has also worked with governments and parastatals. She is a board member at Old Mutual
Investment Group and has also sat on a bank board . Apart from her work with empowering
over 2,000 entrepreneurs through Centonomy, she teaches on Money & Entrepreneurship
at Babson College (Massachusetts, USA); mentors other entrepreneurs in partnership with
the Stanford Seed program (run by Stanford University) and has been an adjunct faculty
member of Strathmore Business School (Nairobi, Kenya.) She has received a lot of
recognition for her work including being nominated as amongst the top 50 Women to Watch
in the country by the Business Daily. In 2021 she received the Builders of Africa Award by
the African Diaspora Network in partnership with the United States African Development
Foundation. Waceke has also been named among the 50 Most Influential Women In Kenya
in 2024 by Africapitol.
Waceke holds Masters Degrees in Banking & Finance, Professional Accounting. She also has
had advanced entrepreneurship training from Babson College (USA), Stanford Seed
Transformation Program (run by Stanford University) and the Owner-Manager Program at
Strathmore Business school. Prior to starting Centonomy she had ten years’ experience in
the investment industry locally as well as internationally in Australia.
You can find more on Waceke at https://www.linkedin.com/in/wacekenduati/ and Centonomy on www.centonomy.com
Dr. Vincent Ogutu
Vice Chancellor Strathmore University in Kenya
Dr. Vincent Ogutu is the Vice Chancellor of Strathmore University in Kenya. An Organizational Behavior scholar,
Dr. Ogutu specialized in the Psychology of Meaningful Work while studying at Rutgers University. He investigated
how social entrepreneurs come to see their work as a calling. Not content with studying how meaning is constructed, Dr. Ogutu tries some of the best theory out
when helping individuals and organizations find or create
meaning, including at Strathmore itself. He has been invited to give keynote addresses on the subject at IESE
Business School, Spain and also in Ireland, Nigeria,
Uganda, Germany and Uruguay including a TEDx talk in Barcelona.
While studying entrepreneurs in New York, he was drawn by them into the field of innovation, presenting his own
tech innovation at Google in New York and creating The Innovation Algorithm in the process. He has since taught
this new system of innovating on three continents and is regularly invited to train innovation teams in companies in Kenya.
A passionate educator, Dr. Ogutu dedicates himself to inspiring people and organisations to live a life of purpose,
transforming the communities around them using business and innovation as a force for good.
Dr. Monica Kerretts-Makau
Professor of Practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University
Dr. Monica Kerretts-Makau
Professor of Practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University
Dr. Monica Kerretts-Makau is Professor of Practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State
University. She has deep experience with both multilateral institutions and the business world with a strong bias
for Policy and Leadership interventions in her areas of passion: Policy & Governance, ICT4D and Climate
Sustainability. She works with the Executive Education team across global companies supporting their leadership
and governance initiatives and teaches in the Global Consulting Program as well as in the master’s and Undergrad programs. In the area of Sustainability, she is currently one of the coordinating Lead Author authors for the UNEP GEO-7 Global outlook 2026 chapter on Transformation. Dr. Kerretts-Makau was also part of the peer review team for the Global Sustainable Report 2023 (GSDR) under the International Science Council based in Paris as one of the two representatives from Africa. In the area of ICTD her recent work includes lead
researcher for Understanding and Improving Women's Work in Digital Spaces in Kenya in partnership with the
International Labor Organization (ILO) (2023). She was also lead researcher for the Kenya E-readiness Report (2023) under UNCTAD. And was also part of the E-strategy Rwanda team under UNCTAD. And has also served in the Advisory Team to the World Digital Dividends Report of the World Bank chaired by the President of Estonia.
In the area of Governance and Policy Dr. Kerretts-Makau has held the position of Change Advisor to the Judiciary
Transformation under Justice Joel Ngugi and Willy Mutunga. She has also worked on several policy governance
initiatives as a consultant with Women Judges Association and FIDA and has trained several boards and is a Certified Board Trainer under the IFC. She currently serves as Board Member to the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) and to the International Public Management Network (IPMN) and is member of the UN OSAA STEM Working Group. She is a big champion of women sitting at the table and has previously served in several boards, chairing different board committees. Some of the boards she has served in, include: SAHAM, Bank of Africa, CCK now CAK, Kenya Society for the Blind and Research ICT Africa.
She is very well travelled and is a speaker at several international events. Some of her other accomplishments
include being nominated as the top 100 Reputational Africans 2018 and Top 100 influential Africans 2017; Founding Co-Director of iLab Africa, a Centre of Excellence in ICT Innovation and Development at Strathmore University; Top 20 women influencing ICT in Kenya in 2015 and an author on critical and applied thinking in education. Apart from an extensive consulting portfolio of work, she previously worked with Strathmore Business School teaching in the MBA program and the Executive Education programs (whilst undertaking
several consulting assignments for the World Bank) and also worked with KPMG as Regional Knowledge
Management Manager and in Standard Chartered Bank as Manager. She is a passionate environmentalist and is council member of the Kenya Horticultural Society and Chairs the Lower Eastern Chapter in a volunteer
capacity. She earned her PhD from the University of New South Wales, Australia in 2006 focusing on Governance and Regulation and her master’s from Salford University, Greater Manchester UK.
Mary Mulili
CEO, UBA
Mary Mulili draws on her over 20 years of banking experience. The breadth of her experience includes Corporate, Commercial, Public sector, SME and digital banking, offering business advisory and key solutions to customers and other key stakeholders.
Currently, Mary is the MD/CEO for UBA Bank Kenya, a subsidiary of the UBA Bank Group -The Africa’s Global Bank.
She has also served as commissioner with the Kenya Meat Commission Chairing the Audit Committee, Board Member (KAWBO -Kenya Association of Women Business Owners), Vice Chair of the ICC Kenya -Banking Commission.
In recent years, Mary held Executive and Senior roles in Commercial banking with Bank Of Africa -BMCE Group, GTBank and KCB.
Mary has been conferred with the Head of State’s Commendation for her service to the nation and Angaza Award 2024, women to watch in Banking,Finance and Investment.
Mary holds an MBA Finance, Bachelors in Education -Accounting and Economics and a diploma in Business Management. She is also an Alumni of the Graca Machel Trust Leadership program.
She undertakes various charitable missions in Rotary, TCM Foundation, WECREATE and Junior Achievement.
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