Our Leadership Team
Abdulahi Abdi Ibrahim
Sh. Abdullahi Abdi Ibrahim Chairman, Kurudy Kwetu Afrika Initiative Sh. Abdullahi Abdi Ibrahim is a Kenyan leader, peace advocate, and community mobilizer with decades of service in governance, human rights, and interfaith dialogue. He has worked extensively to promote peace, justice, and development, particularly among marginalized communities in northern Kenya. He has served as Director of the NGO Coordination Board of Kenya, Chairman of the UNICEF Culture of Peace Network, and Ambassador of Peace with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission. He was also Chairman of the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)/NEPAD, Kenya Chapter, Chairman of the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), and a member of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya. Sh. Abdullahi has chaired CEDMAC, a consortium advocating for minority rights, and served as Trustee of Uraia Trust, Rainbo Trust UK, and the Culture & Health Programme supported by the Ford Foundation and PATH. In the private sector, he has been Managing Director of Zonal Freights Kenya Limited, Chairman of Aspire Energy Limited, and founder of Gerenuk Development Limited. He is recognized for his pioneering stand against female circumcision, becoming the first Muslim leader in Kenya to publicly confront the practice. His advocacy opened dialogue within conservative communities and advanced the protection of women and girls. Internationally, Sh. Abdullahi has represented Kenya at forums on women’s empowerment in Egypt, NEPAD in Rwanda, economic development in New York, refugee rights in Addis Ababa, and rural development in Berlin. These engagements reflect his active role in shaping governance, social justice, and development debates. A lifelong community worker, Sh. Abdullahi remains committed to peacebuilding, mediation, and civic empowerment. He is a father of nine and grandfather of many, dedicated to inspiring future generations with his vision for a peaceful and inclusive Kenya.
Abdirahman Ismail, OGW
Abdirahman Ismail, OGW is a distinguished International Independent Consultant who works both individually and as a key associate with leading international organizations, foundations, high-end consulting firms, blue-chip corporations, and renowned think tanks. With extensive expertise and a strong global network, he has successfully organized, facilitated, and coordinated international business linkages between Africa, Europe, and the United States, connecting African policy leaders and entrepreneurs with corporate entities in Europe and America. He provides expert advisory services on prospective joint ventures, while also assisting in the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of joint venture agreements. Abdirahman’s expertise extends to legal and legislative drafting, where he has played a significant role in crafting national laws, policies, regulations, and frameworks, particularly in the energy and extractive sectors, including oil, gas, and minerals. He is also highly experienced in institutional capacity development, having designed and implemented programs aimed at strengthening institutional frameworks and governance structures. Recognized for his excellence, Abdirahman Ismail brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in driving impactful global initiatives, fostering strategic partnerships, and advancing sustainable economic development
Dr. Grace Ongile, OGW
Dr. Grace Ongile, Ph.D. in Economics, brings over 28 years of distinguished experience in regional strategy development, policy formulation, project management, and policy analysis. She is a recognized expert in designing and reviewing strategic frameworks for regional organizations, particularly in sustainable development, peace building, and economic integration. She has successfully aligned regional policies with global development agendas—most notably the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her strengths lie in integrating innovation for sustainability, fostering regional cohesion, and ensuring strategic plans are both inclusive and actionable across diverse stakeholder groups at the national, regional, and international levels. Dr. Ongile excels in rigorous empirical analysis, monitoring, and evaluation, producing high-impact research and policy advocacy in areas including economic development, international trade, agriculture and food security, gender equity, and public governance. Her published articles have contributed meaningfully to professional discourse. Renowned for her intellectual leadership and strategic vision, she has led administration, program design, and financial oversight at senior levels within the UN, AU-NEPAD-APRM, and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). She is also celebrated for her interpersonal and team‐leadership skills, consistently fostering collaboration in multicultural settings. A distinguished member of the Panel of Eminent Women Leaders for Peaceful Elections in Africa, Dr. Ongile coordinated Kenya’s inaugural African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and played a central role in the Nigeria Presidential Elections (2015) through a non-partisan initiative addressing violence against women, the Women Situation Room (WSR). Building on this, she has served as an eminent observer during presidential elections in Uganda (2016, 2021), Kenya (2022), and Liberia (2017, 2023). Dr. Ongile is adept at resource mobilization and forging strategic partnerships with governments, academia, civil society, and international donors. Fluent in English, she exhibits exceptional communication, report-writing, and presentation skills. As a dedicated team player with strong problem-solving abilities, she thrives in environments that respect multiculturalism and gender diversity.
Dr. Shem Ochuodho
Dr Ochuodho is Co-President, Africa Diaspora Alliance (AfDA), and Global Chairperson, Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA), a Federation of over 60 registered diaspora organizations with a nominal membership of over 300,000 Kenyans across the globe. He has been Project Leader for the revolutionary, innovative GIZ/KDA/WIDU.Africa Project for the past 2 years. He is Senior Telecom Advisor, Republic of South Sudan on sabbatical leave. He previously served as Special ICT Advisor, Government of Rwanda, Executive Director of the Rwanda Information Technology Authority and Managing Director, Kenya Pipeline Company. He has served before as Senior Lecturer in various top universities (Kenya) and External Examiner in Zimbabwe. He has received many global, regional and national awards in ICT, innovation & business, among them African Internaut Award from the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (London), Africa Online’s Industry Pioneer, and Computer Society of Kenya (CSK’s) Father of Internet1 in Kenya, and ICT Hall of Fame. He has supervised one or more ICT projects in over 40 African countries, as well as several other overseas countries world-wide. Dr Ochuodho, who is a Former Member of Parliament and an Author holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nairobi, a PhD in Software Engineering from the University of York, UK, and a Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from Marlboro College, Vermont, USA.
Col. (Rtd) Musa Noor
Col. (Rtd) Musa Noor is a seasoned leader with over three decades of experience in military command, governance, and strategic leadership. His distinguished career in the Kenya Defence Forces (1982–2012) saw him rise through progressively senior appointments, where he oversaw personnel administration, operational command, and international peacekeeping missions. He served as Liaison Officer with the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia, Commanding Officer of both the Recruit Training School and the 77th Battalion in Mariakani, and later as Commander of the Kenya Battalion in Sierra Leone, where he led 850 troops in peacekeeping operations and election supervision under the UN mandate. As Senior Instructor at the School of Combat, Col. Noor trained senior officers in strategy, conflict resolution, and resource management. At Defence Headquarters, he managed humanitarian aid programs and the activities of Kenyan peacekeepers abroad. In his final years of service, he held the senior appointments of Colonel Training & Doctrine and Colonel Personnel, where he was responsible for army training standards, doctrine development, career progression, discipline, recruitment, and operational deployments, including Operation Linda Nchi in Somalia. After retiring from active service, Col. Noor transitioned into governance, community service, and the private sector. He served as an advisor to the Northern Counties Government (2013–2017), chaired the Marhab Foundation (2016–2018) to advance peacebuilding and development initiatives, and led Magnetic Security Consultants (2018–2021) as CEO, providing security and organizational risk solutions. Since 2022, he has served as Chairman of Kenya Fisheries Services, offering governance, strategic oversight, and institutional leadership in the sector. He has represented Kenya in multiple international forums across Africa, North America, and Europe, and was Chairperson of the Leadership & Governance Conference in Nairobi (2024). Recognized for his service with the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS), he continues to contribute his expertise in leadership, governance, and security to both public and private institutions.
Mohamed Abdullahi
Mohamed Abdullahi is a seasoned consultant, trainer, and senior manager with over 15 years of experience working with governments, commissions, and non-profit organizations across Kenya and internationally. He has built a distinguished career in governance, institutional strengthening, strategic planning, and program evaluation, offering advisory and capacity-building services to both local and global institutions. He holds a Master of Arts in Regional Economic and Social Development from the University of Massachusetts, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His expertise spans conflict resolution, peace mediation, organizational development, transaction advisory services, and policy formulation. Mohamed has served as a senior consultant with Resource Development Associates, where he contributed to major assignments for UN Agencies, IGAD, NEPAD, and several African governments. He has worked extensively on policy development in Somalia and Somaliland, particularly in the water, energy, mining, and mineral sectors. In Kenya, he played a pivotal role in supporting the Transitional Authority in assessing county readiness after devolution and in the development of the first-generation County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs). At the national government level, he participated in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the rollout of Vision 2030, ensuring effective public participation. He also supported the domestication of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), strengthening governance monitoring systems in line with NEPAD principles. In addition, Mohamed has served as a trainer and advisor for civil society organizations, community-based organizations, and international NGOs, focusing on leadership development, peacebuilding, and resource mobilization. His ability to connect stakeholders, enhance collaboration, and promote innovation has positioned him as a trusted advisor in governance and development initiatives. Mohamed has also contributed to academia and policy research, having worked with the National Science Foundation at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell, USA, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to hazard assessment and policy integration.
Lucy Wagoro
Lucy Wagoro is an accomplished ICT professional and international program leader with extensive experience in technology, governance, and cross-cultural engagement. As Executive Secretary of Kurudy Kwetu Afrika, she provides strategic leadership in administration, program management, and partnerships, advancing the organization’s mission to empower communities and strengthen diaspora engagement. Lucy has also served as the International Program Coordinator at the Civilizations Exchange & Cooperation Foundation (CECF), where for several years she has led initiatives across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States to promote interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, and democratic governance. She has played a pivotal role in program design, proposal development, and building international partnerships that connect diverse stakeholders. She holds a First-Class Honors degree in Computer Technology from the Technical University of Kenya, with expertise in software development, ICT systems design, and digital transformation. Previously, she served as Assistant Dean of Students at the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT) and as Program Manager at Ngamia Haulers Afrika, where she directed software development projects and strengthened digital infrastructure. Her unique ability to bridge technology, governance, and social impact positions her as a versatile leader committed to innovation, community empowerment, and fostering global collaboration.