The Team

  • Rita Field-Marsham

    Founder & CEO

    Rita is a board director of the Kenya Scholar Access Program (KenSAP), the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation and a Board Governor of the MPESA Foundation Academy.

    Before moving to Canada in 2004, Rita was a lawyer in private practice in Kenya and provided pro bono legal services to the High Court, Court of Appeal, and FIDA-Kenya for litigants unable to afford the services of a lawyer.

  • Nyakundi James Nyambane

    Head Librarian

    Nyakundi oversees all operational aspects and audits of our libraries ensuring the fulfillment of KEY’s mission, values and strategic priorities. Highly organized, detailed-oriented and friendly, he is always on hand to help KEY libraries’ teachers, students and librarians with queries and recommendations as needed.

    Nyakundi received a bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science, and has over eight years of experience as a User Services Librarian at United States International University Africa (USIU). He is a member of the Kenya Library Association (KLA), American Library Association (ALA) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Standing Committee member for (CPDWL) 2019-2023.

  • Gladys Kerich

    Programs manager

    As Project Manager at KEY, Gladys leads the design and implementation of complex school library and reading programs across Kenya. She oversees project planning, coordination, and delivery, ensuring that each initiative meets its goals, stays on budget, and creates lasting impact in the communities KEY serves.

    A PMP-certified professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Gladys brings nearly a decade of experience to her role. She is known for her collaborative leadership, strong partnerships with local governments and nonprofits, and commitment to expanding access to quality learning environments for children

  • Christine Simani

    Project coordinator

    Christine joined us after completing her internship with KEY, following her Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing Management from the University of Pretoria. As Project Coordinator, she oversees the collection, organization, and cataloguing of books, and supports the setup of school libraries across our programs.

    Known for her strong attention to detail, Christine ensures every bookcase is thoughtfully arranged to invite curiosity and make children want to read. Her commitment to excellence makes us proud each time we see a library come to life—spaces that truly reflect our passion for literacy and learning.

Board & Advisors

BOARD & ADVISORS

KEY would like to recognize our well informed, trained and experienced board members and advisors, who hold us accountable and treat no subject as undiscussable.

Wandia Gichuru Founder and CEO Shop Zetu, Co-founder and Executive Director Vivo Activewear. Trustee Zeitz Foundation, Mpesa Foundation Academy, KenSAP, and Field-Marsham Foundation. Cohort 1 Stanford Seed Transformation Program. Previously, Governance Advisor Department of International Development (DIFID), Policy Advisor UNDP, Operations Analyst World Bank, Public Relations Citi, Project Coordinator Kenya Wildlife Service.

Charles Field-Marsham Founder and Chairman Kestrel Capital Management Corp Canada, Kestrel Capital (East Africa), and Panafrican Group. Investor and board member of Slingshot Sports LLC. Board Chair and sponsor of Kenya Scholar Access Program (KenSAP). Previously, board member of AMREF Canada, Grand Challenges Canada, SickKids Hospital Foundation, and NEXT Canada.

Niccola Milnes M&E Advisor at USAID and Principal NVM Consulting. As KEY’s first hire, Niccola helped build our award winning library models over 7 years as Programs Manager (2011-2018).

Our Partners & Supporters

KEY is extremely grateful for the continued work of our consultants, volunteers & communities, who offer their help from around the world.

Publishers

Donors

  • Jordan Banks
  • Joe and Larissa Canavan
  • Amoryn Engel & Kevin Warn-Schindel
  • Shaun & Stacy Francis
  • Tomasso Giulini & Ilaria Nardi
  • Scott and Magda Jeffery
  • Jay Kellerman
  • Dougal & Barbara Macdonald
  • Walter and Diana Maughan
  • Anthony Munk and Amie Rocket-Munk
  • Reza Satchu and Marion Annau
  • Branksome Hall
  • Sauti Sol Band
  • Kenyan Boys Choir
  • Champion Taekwondo
  • Cossette
    creative marketing and communications agency
  • Susie Kacaba
  • Lewis Mudge

Cosponsors

Consultants

  • Braeburn Schools
  • Cossette
    creative marketing and communications agency
  • Chapi Chapo
    Design firm in Toronto
  • Kit Milnes
    Environmental Consultant
  • Japhet Otike
    Librarian and Lecturer at Moi University
  • Dr. Kinya
    Librarian and Lecturer at Nazarene University, Nairobi
  • Dean Rousseau
    Librarian Technician
  • Vida Juozaitis
    International Librarian Consultant

Interns

  • Karen Nyokabi

    Karen Nyokabi graduated from Precious Blood Riruta in 2015. She is currently an intern at the KEY foundation. She plans to study finance at university. Reading is one of her favorite hobbies.

  • Kate Omao

    Kate Omao graduated from Starehe Girls’ Centre, the class of 2015. She aspires to pursue Law and marketing in university. She is currently an intern at KEY Trust. She loves to enlighten different people in the society on the importance of reading. Through the KEY Trust Foundation, this hobby has been developed.

  • Ombati Mabera

    Ombati Mabera graduated from Precious Blood Secondary School in 2015. She is currently an intern at the Knowledge Empowering Youth Foundation. She aspires to become an electrical engineer.

  • Lencer Ogutu

    Lencer Ogutu graduated from Precious Blood Riruta in 2014 with an A of 84 points. Afterwards, she joined KenSAP and got admission into Princeton University, New Jersey. She plans to join the school of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Lencer is currently an intern at the Knowledge Empowering Youth Foundation. She loves learning foreign languages and reading novels as a pass time.

  • Jimmy Otieno

    Jimmy Otieno graduated from Maseno School in 2014 with an A of 84 points. He worked as a volunteer teaching assistant for PACEmaker International after high school. He thereafter joined Kenya Scholar-Athlete Project (KenSAP) and successfully applied for admission to Stanford University where he will be pursuing Computer Science and Economics. He is passionate about social entrepreneurship and problem solving and aspires to build his own fortune 500 company in the future. He is currently an intern at KEY Trust.

  • Precious Jebet
    First Library Captain of a KEY library

    Precious Blood Secondary School graduate. Enrolled at Dartmouth University.

  • Stephanie Maloba
    Student

    Stephanie Maloba graduated from Precious Blood Riruta in 2014. She is currently an intern at the Knowledge Empowering Youth Foundation. She aspires to become a Corporate Lawyer, a profession she learned about through the library donated by KEY to Precious Blood in 2012. 

  • Angela Moturi
    Student

    Angela Moturi graduated from Precious Blood High School in 2014. She plans to study Literature at university. She is currently serving as an intern at Knowledge Empowering Youth.

  • Judith Musangi
    Student

    Judith Musangi graduated in 2014 from Precious Blood Riruta, the best performing girls school in Kenya. She is currently an intern at KEY Trust. She aspires to study cinematography at university. Reading is her favourite pastime.