KEY was inspired by a 14-year-old refugee in Kenya who discovered through books that her life held possibilities. That discovery led her to become a lawyer and one of the world’s leading thinkers. We believe everyone deserves that same chance.
The more you read, the more things you will know. The more things you learn, the more places you will go. — Dr. Seuss
Our mission is to create turnkey, high-quality, inclusive school libraries that close critical gaps in education systems and empower children with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and compete both nationally and globally.
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A world where every child, everywhere, has the power of a school library to discover, thrive and dream big.
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 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.
As Programs 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 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.
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 libraries have been consecutive winners of the Maktaba Kenya Library of the Year Award, which recognizes the best public and private school libraries nationwide. The award is presented annually by the Goethe Institute, Kenya Library Association and Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.
KEY recognized by the U.S. Library of Congress for its innovating methods and effective practices to promote literacy.
