Wanjiru Gikonyo – National Coordinator
Wanjiru Gikonyo has engaged in social advocacy since the early 90’s when she worked as a radio presenter and producer with FM media in Kenya. In 1997 she established Mediactive Consultants which saw her produce radio and video campaigns on diverse issues such as gender violence, youth and family, governance, constitution reform, anti-corruption, leadership and so forth.
It was while working on an anti corruption campaign for Transparency International Kenya in 2004 that she first came across decentralised funds. Her interest in this line of governance lead her to a brief stint with the Hanns Seidel Foundation Kenya office as Media and Governance officer (2006-2007), where she embarked on what has become a long quest for the reform of Kenya’s local governance sector with the encouragement of Wolf Krugg, the then HSF Regional Representative.
With support from Binaifer Nowrojee of Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA) Wanjiru was able to establish The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), which was incubated by the Centre for African Governance (AfriCOG) through the support of Gladwell Otieno until it attained registration in 2008.
To date TISA has established itself as a serious player in the sector, under the stewardship of an able Board of Trustees and with Wanjiru playing the role of National Coordinator/CEO of the institution.
TISA now employs eight staff and has been able to influence the design of Kenya’s devolved governance structure through active and informed input in the policy and legislative process. TISA’s submissions drew extensively from its social audit experiences, a program which TISA has been able to popularise nationwide.
Wanjiru is married with two children and holds a BA in Business Organisation from Herriot Watt University in Edinburgh, where she graduated with Distinction second highest in her year, and is in the final stages of completing her MA in Sociology in Rural Societies and Community Development at the University of Nairobi.
She developed The CDF Social Audit Guide-A Hand Book for Communities (2008) for Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA). Wanjiru also prepared a Working Paper on Decentralized Funds in Kenya in 2006 for the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
Elias Wakhisi – Program Officer (Local Governance)
Wakhisi is the Program officer managing governance issues at TISA responsible for Social Audit Capacity Building Components; He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (HONS) in Public Admin/Political Science And Economics from University of Nairobi. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Economic Policy Management at The University of Nairobi.
Previously, he worked as a Program Associate, Civic Education Program, Kenya Human Rights Commission [KHRC] and as an Education consultant, Overseas Education Advisory Centre.
Pascaline Mulwa – Program Officer
She holds a Bachelors Degree in Communication from The University of Nairobi.
Calvin Muga – Program Assistant
Holds a Diploma in Community Development from Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development.
Has experience in working with the community groups, Social Audit Capacity Building Components, Curriculum development, Experience in training on social development issues, community development methods.
Franc Mwangi – Media & Communication
Franc Coordinates Media and Communications at TISA
He holds a Diploma in Project Management from the Kenya Institute of Management(KIM), Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication from Shang Tao Media Arts College, and Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies from Institute of Commercial Management(ICM). Currently, Franc is studying Bachelor of Arts Degree in Development Communication at St. Pauls University.
He is passionate about social justice and has previously worked with The Kenya Human Rights Commission and South Consulting as a programme associate and media consultant respectively.
Martha Adundo Wanjala – Production Assistant
Martha Wanjala is the Media & Production Assistant at TISA. She is responsible for scripting, programme researching, developing media engagement strategies and coordination of all the production Programmes at TISA.
She studied Mass Communication at Multimedia University. Her best strengths are in video production, Editing, Scripting, Public Relations, Project management and Communication skills.
She has previously worked at Multi- Options as a Producer.
Bilha Wairimu – Finance Officer
Bilha is the TISA’s Finance officer.
She holds a CPA K and currently pursuing a Bachelors of Business Management at Moi University.
Paul Kimanzi – Office Assistant.
Paul is the office assistant at TISA
