Administration

Founder & President- Kajira (K.K.) Mugambi
Kajira was born in Chogoria and moved to the United States at age 16. He graduated from UCLA for college and law school. He established Village Hopecore in 1982 and began operations in Chogoria in 2000. After living for forty years in the United States, he now lives full time in Chogoria managing the operations of the organization.

Financial Manager – Albert Juma Wafula
Wafula is married with two children. He is a Kenyan Certified Public Accountant Level 1 and is working towards his Level 2 certification. He has worked at Hopecore since 2006 and is responsible for all financial record keeping at the organization. He is an elder in his church, Faith Celebration. We are lucky to have such a kind, hard working and dedicated member on the Hopecore staff.

Financial Department Assistant- Martin Kimathi Kirimi
Martin holds a B.A. in Commerce and is working towards becoming a Certified Professional Accountant. He is proficient in QuickBooks and other accounting software and assists Albert with financial data entry and analysis. Martin joined HopeCore in 2011.

Receptionist- Christine Mwende
Christine joined HopeCore in 2011. She studied at Kianjagi Secondary School, not far from the HopeCore offices. Christine oversees basic day-to-day office operations.

Micro Enterprise Team

Micro Enterprise Program Coordinator- Charity Nyakio
Charity joined HopeCore in 2012 as the Micro Enterprise Assistant Coordinator and became the Coordinator six months later. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics and is studying to become a Certified Professional Accountant. Before coming to HopeCore, Charity worked as a mathematics and business studies teacher and an economics tutor. She currently oversees the entire Micro Enterprise Department.

Micro Enterprise Assistant Coordinator- Gerrard Murithi 
Gerrard holds a B.A, in Economics. A local community member, he joined HopeCore in April 2012. Previously, he worked in banking and human resources.  Gerrard’s primary duty is to work with defaulting loan clients to implement strategies that increase timely repayment.

Microtenterprise Program Assistant – Humphrey Micheni
Humphrey Micheni is 56 years old and married with three grown children and one grandchild. He is very active in the Chogoria community, serving on several education, medical dispensary and cooperative boards. Before becoming the Head Teacher of a local secondary school he taught English and Science at schools throughout the area. He is also a member of the local Council of Elders and is respected throughout the community as a trustworthy and dedicated leader.

Business Advisor - Peace Corps Volunteer- Carlo Abuyan
Carlo is from Nothern California and attended University of California, San Diego. He worked for a non-profit refugee re-settlement organization in Sacramento before joining the Peace Corp. He was placed in Niger and then was evacuated and placed at Hopecore. He brings extensive experience with diverse populations and office/financial management.

Microenterprise Fellow - Caroline Gimmillaro 
Caroline graduated from The Pennsylvania State University in 2012 with a B.S. in Community, Environment, and Development. She specialized in economics, microfinance, and environmental and economic policy. Her work in Kenya began two years ago, in Nyeri, where she developed a microfinance plan for The Children and Youth Empowerment Centre (CYEC); a residential and educational program designed to support and empower former street children, orphans, and other vulnerable Kenyan youth. Caroline also developed a mural arts project for the CYEC aimed at utilizing the artistic talents of the Centre’s older youth to teach the children how express themselves through art. Caroline joined the VHI team in September as the nonprofit’s first Micro Enterprise Global Fellow. She is developing a creating database of loan clients and is developing a greenhouse-lending program.

Public Health Team

Acting Public Health Coordinator- Lenah Mwende
Lenah holds three certifications: teaching, accounting and computer studies. Before coming to HopeCore, she worked as a teacher at Kairuni Primary School and Sweet Angels Academy. Lenah joined HopeCore in May 2012 as the Public Health Program Assistant Coordinator. She is now the Acting Coordinator and manages the Mobile Health Clinic program as well as all other aspects of the Public Health Department.

Community Health Nurse- Winjoy Ruguru Micheni
Winjoy was born on August 31st, 1978. After graduating from secondary school, she entered Clive Irvine College in Chogoria to pursue nursing and graduated in 2003. She is married to Kenneth Micheni, blessed with two sons, Victor and Camey. She worked with an NGO as a Community Health Nurse for many years in Western Kenya before returning to her home town of Chogoria.  She joined Village Hopecore in November, 2010 and has been contributing to the community ever since.

Community Health Worker- Stella  Kagendo
Stella has been working with Hopecore since 2010. She graduated from Maua girls secorndary school in 1992. She lives with her parents and siblings and enjoys going to church with family, singing and visiting friends.