Kenyan Jewels

Uduak Amimo-London, United Kingdom

Posted in Broadcasting, Journalism by alusainc on February 7, 2010

Uduak Amimo was appointed as the Senior Editorial Advisor, supporting the Director of the BBC World Service. 

Uduak Amimo

Her role is to advise on the editorial leadership and management of the world’s leading international radio broadcaster and its New Media operations,and facilitate editorial collaborations between the World Service and the BBC’s international news services.  

She is an avid journalist who started the first campus newspaper at United States International University in Nairobi.  She then went on to work as Assistant Producer at Reuters Television with Reuters News Agency in Kenya before going on to work with Voice of America (VOA). 

The BBC recruited her in 2002 where she worked as a producer and presenter with the English-language BBC African news and current affairs programmes, Network Africa and Focus on Africa.

Lawrence Olum – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Posted in Soccer, Sports by alusainc on December 30, 2009

Lawrence Olum currently plays for the Minnesota Thunder soccer team.  He transferred to Minnesota Thunder from the Portland Timbers in March 04, 2009. 

Lawrence Olum

Olum started his career with the Portland Timbers in 2007 where he played as a midfielder. He attended college at Missouri Baptist University where he led the Spartans to the conference championship his senior season. He also received three All-American honorable mentions in his career.

He went on to play with the St. Louis Lions in 2006 and led them to a 7-3-6 record in their inaugural season. Olum led the Lions with nine goals.  The Portland Timbers took him on in 2006 and he played 44 games, scored 6 goals, and tallied one assist.

Christine Thaiya – Atlanta, Georgia

Posted in Dentistry, Medicine by alusainc on December 15, 2009

Christine ThaiyaChristine Thaiya attended both college and dental school in the Ukraine, Russia. After graduation from Dental School, Dr. Thaiya had a two year Dental Internship in Nairobi, followed by advanced training in Washington, D.C. at Howard University, and then in Baltimore at the University of Maryland. It was here that she gained considerable experience in both Implant Dentistry and Endodontics.

Dr. Thaiya now lives in Alpharetta with her husband and their two young children (a son and a daughter). In her spare time, Christine enjoys tennis, reading nonfiction biographies, watching movies, travel, and is active in the St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Dr. Thaiya is a member of the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Northern District Dental Society, as well as the Association of Kenyan Professionals, and loves all facets of restorative and surgical dentistry.

She speaks fluent English, Russian, and Swahili.

Sidney K. Gicheru – Dallas, Texas

Posted in Medicine, Ophthamology by alusainc on December 15, 2009

Sidney GicheruSidney Gicheru is an ophthamologist based in Irving, Texas who founded LaserCare Eye Center.  A skilled Board-Certified Ophthalmologist (Eye Physician and Surgeon), Dr. Sidney Gicheru received his undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University (SMU). He obtained his undergraduate degree in both Electrical Engineering and Pre-Medical education. He received his Medical degree from the University of Texas–Southwestern Medical School. Thereafter, he completed a Medical Internship at the prestigious Beth Israel Hospital /Harvard Medical School training program. He then went on to complete a residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Texas – Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He founded LaserCare Eye Center, P.A. in 2000.

As a comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Dr. Gicheru provides a wide range of eye care services including LASIK surgery, No Stitch, No Shot, Small incision Cataract surgery, ReSTOR lens replacement surgery, Laser treatments for Glaucoma and Diabetes, Eyelid Plastic surgery, Comprehensive eye exams and Contact lenses/Glasses exams. With his background in Electrical Engineering, he uses the very latest laser technology, while focusing on patient safety. It is no wonder that he has performed surgeries on numerous area Doctors and their family members.

Dr. Gicheru is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a member of the International Society of Refractive Surgeons and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. He serves on the Executive Council of the Texas Ophthalmological Association. He is affiliated with the area’s leading health facilities and health networks including Irving-Coppell Surgical Hospital, Baylor Health Center at Irving-Coppell, Las Colinas Medical Center, Baylor Medical Center at Irving and other hospitals in the area.

Dr. Gicheru has a real commitment for teaching. In addition to his private practice, he serves as an Associate Clinical Professor at UT-Southwestern Medical School, where he teaches new doctors the latest techniques in Eye Surgery. In 2003 and 2006, the Medical School awarded Dr. Gicheru with an Outstanding Service Award for his work with his students. He has given numerous lectures on such topics as LASIK, Cataract surgery, Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy.

On a personal note, Dr. Gicheru was born in Superior, Wisconsin. He has lived in the DFW metroplex for over 20 years. He is married and has two children. For recreation, he enjoys running, hiking, cycling, world travel, electronic gadgetry and golf.

Source: LaserCare Eye Center

Jeremy Awori – Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Posted in Uncategorized by alusainc on November 29, 2009

Jeremy Awori is the current CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), Tanzania.  He was previously with SCB, United Arab Emirates as the Head of Consumer Banking.

Jeremy Awori He started off at SCB, Kenya and worked as an Area General Manager for the East Africa region; Head of Operations; Head of Service Quality; Executive Director Kenya, and Head of Consumer Banking.

Jeremy Awori holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Manchester, UK, and a Masters of Business Adminstration, from McGill University, Canada.

Jonathan Awori – Murray, Kentucky

Posted in Acting, Education, Theater by alusainc on November 29, 2009

Jonathan Awori pursued his undergraduate education at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He majored in English with a concentration in drama and theatre and then got a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Acting at Illinois State University.

Jonathan Awori

He pursued acting for a while before beginning a teaching career at Lane College, a historically black college in Jackson, Tennessee.

He then taught to  Stillman College, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and is now at Murray State in Kentucky.

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Mueni Mutinga – Riverside, California

Posted in Dentistry, Medicine by alusainc on November 29, 2009

Dr. Mueni Mutinga is a dentist who owns a practice in Riverside, California. A graduate of Loma Linda University where she received her doctorate degree in dental surgery, she also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.

Mueni Mutinga

Dr. Mutinga is an adjunct faculty member at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.  She continues to receive post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. This allows her to create beautiful smiles for her patients while implementing the latest technology.

Dr. Mutinga strives to establish long-term relationships with her patients based on trust, communication, and gentle care.

Source:  Today Dental

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Nzisa Mutinga-Barnes – Columbia, South Carolina

Posted in Medicine by alusainc on November 29, 2009

Nzisa Mutinga-Barnes

Nzisa Mutinga-Barnes is a nephrologist in Columbia, South Carolina. Born to an American mother and Kenyan father, she went to school in Kenya before coming to the United States to get her degree in medicine from the University of Alabama.

She is currently a nephrologist with Columbia Nephrology Associates.

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Mark Ndesandjo – Shenzhen, China

Posted in Business, Writer by alusainc on November 29, 2009

Mark Ndesandjo is gaining noteriety as the half-brother of Barack Obama.  The son from Barack Obama senior’s third wife has written a book that details some of his experiences as the child of a man who has posthumously garnered a lot of attention.

His mother left Barack Obama senior and married his stepfather whose last name he now bears (Ndesandjo).   His mother lives in Nairobi where she runs a school.

Andrew Mwavua – Hanover, Maryland

Posted in Uncategorized by alusainc on October 6, 2009

Andrew Mwavua can be termed a jack of all trades.  He has been touted as a brilliant campaign staffer who run a very effective campaign for Barack Obama in Missouri as a field organizer.  He has also been a licensed real estate agent and realtor in Maryland.

Andrew Mwavua

Andrew Mwavua

His most recent successful event was being picked for an innovative program that had previously successful campaign organizers take a course that showed them how to utilize social media networking to effect real results in everyday situations.

He is currently determined to effect positive change in all his positions and continues to shine in all that he does.  He is truly a Kenyan Jewel.