Nerima Wako-Ojiwa (née Nerima Wako), is a Kenyan
political analyst
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
, who serves as the
executive director
Executive director is commonly the title of the chief executive officer of a non-profit organization, government agency or international organization.
The title is widely used in North American and European not-for-profit organizations, though ...
of Siasa Place, an organization, led by young people that engages young Kenyans,
educating them about the constitution, governance and electoral processes, through community engagements and
social media
Social media are interactive media technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. While challenges to the definition of ''social medi ...
.
Background and education
Nerima was born in
Nairobi
Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ha ...
, Kenya's capital, circa 1989, the third-born in a family of four children. She attended St. Nicholas Primary School, before finishing her high school at Aga Khan Academy, both in Nairobi.
After high school, she secured a scholarship to study at
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University (JSU) is a public university in Jacksonville, Alabama. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in six academic schools leading to bachelor's degree, bachelor's, master's degree, master's, educati ...
, in
Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
,
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
in the United States. She graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...
degree in
Journalism
Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (profes ...
and
Sociology
Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of Empirical ...
. Later, she was awarded a
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration (M.P.Adm., M.P.A., or MPA) is a specialized higher professional post graduate degree in public administration, similar/ equivalent to the Master of Business Administration but with an emphasis on the issues of ...
degree, also by Jacksonville State University.
Career
While at university, Nerima participated in
campus politics
Student activism or campus activism is work by students to cause political, environmental, economic, or social change. Although often focused on schools, curriculum, and educational funding, student groups have influenced greater political e ...
and was elected president of the International Student's Organization. This allowed her to receive a solid grounding in her political attributes and weaknesses.
In 2015, she together with other young people started a youth-led organization called Siasa Place.
For the first year, they funded the organization's operations out of their own pockets, before they received any outside funding. Nerima serves as the executive director.
Family
Nerima is married to Billian Ojiwa, who is also involved in politics.
She is a niece to Senator
Amos Wako
Amos Wako (born 31 July 1945) is a former Attorney General of Kenya and the first senator for Busia County from 2013 to 2017. Wako won the senatorial seat after defeating former minister of finance Chris Okemo. He won the senator seat on an Or ...
who represents
Busia County
Busia is a county in the former Western Province of Kenya. It borders Kakamega County to the east, Bungoma County to the north, Lake Victoria and Siaya County to the south and Busia District, Uganda to the west. The county has about 893,000 pe ...
in the
Kenyan Senate
The Senate of the Republic of Kenya is one of the two Houses of the Parliament of Kenya, along with the National Assembly. The Senate was first established as part of Kenya's 1963 Constitution.
After being abolished in 1966, the Senate was ...
, (2013–2017) and (2017–2022).
See also
*
Susan Oguya
Susan Eve Oguya Kutalek, commonly known as Susan Oguya, is a businesswoman, designer and entrepreneur in Kenya. She is the co-founder and former chief operating officer of ''MFarm Kenya Limited'', an internet-based company that facilitates farmer ...
*
Borna Nyaoke-Anoke
Borna Nyaoke is a Kenyan physician and clinical researcher, who took over as Head of Mycetoma Research in 2023 from her previous position as Manager of Clinical Trials at Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative/ Global Antibiotic Research and De ...
References
External links
Cost of living: Ok, it's officially time to panic (or go get at least three jobs)As of 13 September 2018.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wako-Ojiwa, Nerima
1989 births
Living people
Jackson State University alumni
People from Nairobi
21st-century Kenyan women politicians
21st-century Kenyan politicians