The Honorable Chief Justice Emeritus David Kenani Maraga

The Honorable Chief Justice David Maraga (Rtd) was born on January 12, 1951, in Bonyamatuta, Nyamira County. He studied law at the University of Nairobi, earning a Bachelor of Law (LLB) in 1977 and a Master of Law (LLM) in 2011. He also holds a post-graduate diploma awarded by the Kenya School of Law. He was admitted to the Kenya Bar in October 1978.

Justice Maraga is a seasoned lawyer and jurist. He was the 14th  Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya from October 2016 until his retirement in January 2021.  

Prior to his Judgeship, he ran a private law practice for over 25 years in Nakuru, specializing in civil and criminal litigation and conveyancing. During this time, he also served, from 1987 to 1989, as the chairperson of the Rift Valley Law Society.

Justice Maraga joined the bench as a High Court Judge in October 2003, after his appointment by President Mwai Kibaki. Subsequently, he served as a Judge of the High Court in Mombasa (2003–2007), Nakuru (2008–2010), and Nairobi (2010–2011). He also served in various leadership roles, including as the Resident Judge at the High Court of Kenya in Nakuru from May 2009 to August 2010 and as the Presiding Judge of the Family Division of the High Court in Nairobi from April 2010 to December 2011. Justice Maraga served in the Court of Appeal in Nairobi from January 2012 to September 2014 and as the Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeal in Kisumu from October 2014 until he later became Chief Justice after a rigorous vetting process by the Judicial Service Commission and National Assembly, before his confirmation by President Uhuru Kenyatta on October 19, 2016. He was the Second Chief Justice under Kenya's new constitutional dispensation.

Justice Maraga is married to Yucabeth Nyaboke, with whom they have three children; Dr. Edith K. Maraga, Emma I. Maraga-Mangoa, and Moses K. Maraga. He is also a grandfather of two. He is a staunch Seventh-day Adventist and serves as an elder and a Bible study leader in the church. He was a member of the Constitutional Review Task Force of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, East African Union, and the leader of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department Nairobi Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 

Justice Maraga is MINTO'S Finest. He is a statesman, a distinguished legal expert, a role model, a mentor and a servant leader. He is not only the face of our Gusii community but the epitome of justice and fairness in humanity everywhere. 

In recognition of his brave and selfless commitment towards our  Community, Landmark Supreme Court rulings, upholding the constitution and the rule of law by consistently advocating for the independence of the judiciary, emphasizing the importance of judicial impartiality and fairness in upholding justice in Kenya and making efforts to streamline court processes, eliminating corruption, and improving access to justice; By his efforts to introduce Judicial reforms aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness;  championing the use of technology in courts to expedite case management and reduce backlog through advocating for increased budgetary allocation to the judiciary to enhance its capacity and infrastructure; by promoting religious freedom and advocating the importance of upholding religious tolerance in our country, his tenure left a lasting impact on the Kenyan judiciary and Kenyan citizenry.   

Justice David Maraga receives the 2023 MINTO Lifetime Achievement Award for his exemplary leadership in and outside our community, our country  Kenya, and humanity at large!

"The greatness of any nation lies in its fidelity to the Constitution and adherence to the rule of law and, above all, respect to God."

                                                     ~ Justice David Maraga ~

Senator Nyamira County - Kenya

The Hon. Okong'o Omogeni, SC, Senator, is a commissioner with the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) the apex body mandated to run the affairs of the Parliament of Kenya and is serving his second term as the Senator of Nyamira County first elected in 2017.

Commissioner Omogeni is among countable Senior Council (SC) members of the legal practice in the country. This title is conferred upon lawyers who have served both private and or public legal field with impeccable and professional track record.

Commissioner Omogeni has in the past served the public in the following mandates:

• 2010 - 2013: Council of Legal Education (Member) at Kenya School of Law
• 2009 - 2011: Media Council of Kenya (Member)
• 2009 - 2011: Law Society of Kenya (President)
• 2008 - 2011: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Board Chair)
• 2006 - 2008: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Member)
• 2009 – 2010: Co-Chair Judicial Reforms Taskforce

Apart from the above, he also chaired during the 12thparliament as the Chair of the powerful Committee of Justice and Legal Affairs of the Senate of Kenya among other responsibilities and assignments that required his sharp legal skills. During his tenure and leadership he ensured that the revenue sharing formulae of county governments was not only preserved but also that no counties lost any of their budgeted funds. A firm believer in a win-win situation as a policy of all his dealings has made him a preferred mediator and chair of various impeachment cases at the Senate.

Commissioner Omogeni, graduated from The University of Nairobi (UON) school of Law and post Graduate Diploma in law from Kenya School of Law (1990 - 1993). He also holds a Masters degree in Governance & Leadership from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Art and Technology (JKUaT). 

Dorice Aburi, also fondly known as Donya toto or Mama County, is a multi-talented journalist and incumbent Kisii County Women Rep. Her story is inspiring to the people she represents and is also a story of never giving up and never quitting. 

She is a former Egesa FM presenter. She comes from a leadership-destined family and is a celebrated figure in Gusii land. She is a role model to the girl child and a MINTO trailblazer. 

Donya has the community at heart. She walks the community service talk through her Donya Charity Mission. Through this charity,  Donya extends love, care, kindness and compassion to the less fortunate, disabled and vulnerable in Kisii  County and beyond.  She is very involved in FGM, GBV, and water scarcity issues in Kisii County. Her latest milestone was GVRC (Gender Violence Recovery Centre) at the Nairobi Women's Hospital Kisii in collaboration with other stakeholders. 

Mama County has a vision for a better Gusii with equal opportunities for everyone to thrive. She believes this is possible through accession education,  proper healthcare,  clean water, and economic empowerment.

Donya attended St. Anne's Mumias Primary, Kaplong Girls High School, Consolation Institute of mass communication, and Mount Kenya University. In 2018 she was appointed board member of South Nyanza Sugar Company Limited

Born and raised in Kenya, Lyna immigrated to the USA in the mid-90s as a student. Having experienced many struggles, Lyna used these as opportunities to find solutions. She believes that her life-long educational journey has led her into leadership opportunities, such as becoming the first nurse leader of African descent in a level one trauma hospital, the founder of a non-profit that increases the visibility of immigrant and refugee nurses, and becoming the owner and founder of Bold Impact Group. 

Lyna’s story inspires others that they too can overcome. That through service, hard work, faith and determination, a young immigrant girl from Kenya who attended school barefooted in mud-walled classrooms, can rise above her circumstances to be an outstanding student, distinguished alumni, and to serve as leader of many organizations and have many pairs of shoes lol! She is a role model and tireless mentor who believes that sharing knowledge and expertise is the most invaluable way to create positive and leave a mark in this world. She lives by the quote, “If your presence doesn’t create an impact, your absence won’t make a difference.”  

Bina Maseno is the Founder and Executive Director of Badili Africa. She’s a communications specialist, former journalist at K24 Television and political aspirant during the 2013 elections. The challenges of her experience running for political office as a 23 year-old woman inspired the founding of Badili Africa. As a mentor, speaker & moderator, she has been invited to & led global discussions across initiatives like the Obama Africa Leaders Program, the Bill and Melinda Gates Goalkeepers event in New York, USA as a Speaker on the “Power of Women Movements” in a session moderated by Melinda Gates, the African Union regional meetings as a moderator and speaker and the most recent ones by the United Nations Population Fund Africa in Gambia on Governance & Accountability and Women in Dev on Gender and Leadership.

Badili Africa merges beauty with civic dialogues for political awareness and involvement with governance and democratic processes in Africa. Badili nurtures and strengthens the leadership capacities of women and girls in the informal settlements and learning institutions by encouraging and cultivating spaces that enable grassroots women and girls to organize as leaders to influence local development plans, policies and programs in ways that prioritizes the needs of girls and women and those of their communities.

Bina continues to use her voice to encourage and champion women’s participation in politics, leadership and governance as well as actively participate in the broader discourse of governance as active citizens. She envisions a Kenya where the citizens are educated in the tools of civic power, their rights, responsible citizenry and are problem solving contributors. Bina is a facilitator and speaker on matters leadership, governance and gender equality.

Laban Opande is a Kenyan-American lawyer with over 23 years of leadership, management and executive experience in a unique and vast array of fields including law, business, technology, science, agriculture and the environment, as well as community engagement.

Mr. Opande attended his primary and secondary schooling in Nairobi – Kenya, before his admission to college in Texas, where he moved to in 1996. He earned his associate in Applied Science from Houston Community College System in 1999 and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Texas Southern University (TSU) in 2001. In the year 2003, he enrolled in a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program with a concentration in Global Management at the University of Phoenix before earning admission to the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at TSU in the year 2004. He graduated from law school in 2007 and was certified to practice law in Texas by The Supreme Court of Texas in February of 2008. He is also licensed to practice Federal Law in the United States Federal Courts by the United States District Court, Southern District and Northern District of Texas. 

Mr. Opande is the Principal Attorney at The Opande Law Firm PC, a Texas-based legal practice. (www.opandelaw.com). With a team of formidable associate attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants, he has represented thousands of clients. He continues to in business law, civil litigation, immigration law, criminal defense, among others. He is also associated with several organizations in the US, among them:

- Kenya US-Bar Association – President (www.kenyausbar.com) 

- American Bar Association – Member

- African Bar Association – Member

- Texas Young Lawyers Association - Member

- East Africa Chamber of Commerce - Board Member (www.eachamber.org)

- Kenya USA Diaspora Sacco – Board Member (Oversight) (www.kudsonline.com)

- Kenya Houston Community – Advisory Member

- Mashujaa Awards – Legal Adviser (www.mashujaaawards.com) 

- Uhuru Soccer Stars – Director/Founding Member (www.uhurusoccerstars.com) 

As a dynamic and influential speaker, Musi Kiarie is sought after to enrich, equip and establish women and young minds to be esteemed and empowered to maximize their potential and to walk in their purpose.

She is passionate about the things of God. Her mission is: "To be used of Him for His Special and Specific Purpose; To Shine His Light, to Share His Love and to Shape His People".

Musi is the President of Coaches Of Influence Foundation, an international organization which is committed to helping individuals, groups, nations and organizations to pursue and achieve their purpose and meet their ultimate goals through positive influence coaching, teaching and modeling.

She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Destiny Women Capital, an organization that provides strategic oversight and guidance for women entrepreneurs in Kenya in creating value propositions on different socio-economic landscapes. 

Musi was recently recognized and awarded the 2017 Distinguished Leadership Award as a global   

influencer by iChange Nations, an organization whose mission is centered on interfaith peace building initiative and treatment to all humanity to the United Nations.

She is also a recipient of 2016 Golden Rule International World Peace Ambassadors Award and also awarded the 2016 Women Add Value, a leadership and recognition award by Women Add Value International Organization that promotes honor, respect, open dialogue and harmony and whose vision is to honor and highlight the value of Women by iChange Nations.

Musi holds an MBA from LeTourneau University and  is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Policy, Social Policy cognate, addressing a raft of cultural issues and societal challenges - racial inequality gap, economic pressures and long overdue public policies that could help create an inclusive economy, and that positively impacts persons with disabilities. 

Raising a black male with a hidden disability during the pandemic and endemic of social injustice has certainly amplified the need for policies to be re-examined now more than ever. Her mission for her doctoral pursuit is “to make a positive social impact that will influence and effect a global change for the greater good of humanity and to the glory of God.”

She has been married to Eric for 20 years and together they have two boys: Anre' (19) and Amani (17). She is actively engaged in her community in creating awareness and providing support for Kenyan Autism Parents and is intentional in driving disability inclusion globally! 

Hon Wyclliff Siocha, aka Embande, is a celebrated young leader who has risen through the ranks and beaten all the odds to be elected the youngest member of the county assembly in Kisii. Siocha has seen it all! Born in an impoverished family and having lost his dad at two years old, life was really harsh and he recalls the many days they went without food, wore worn out clothes, and rained on in their grass-thatched house, to mention a few. 

Wycliff received his education courtesy of well-wishers and takes pride in being a product of charity. For this reason, since 2012, he has embarked on a mission to serve humanity. He has positively impacted people's lives by building houses for the underprivileged, paying school fees to the less fortunate, participating in community activities and sponsoring charity events across Ichuni. He is looking forward to launching the Embande Foundation, whose primary focus will be to fight poverty, diseases and economically empower people.

Since taking office, he has been committed to transparency and equity in resource distribution across the Ichuni ward, fast-tracking the implementation of county undertakings and assembly resolutions. He has also successfully laid structures for Ichuni Ward s development agenda. He currently also serves as the chairperson implementation committee and a member to the health committee.  

Wycliff holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Finance and Banking from Moi University.

 Wycliff Nyachae Ombui is a highly accomplished professional in the field of science education, with a specialization in curriculum and instruction. Born and raised in Kenya, Wycliff developed a passion for science at a young age, always curious about the wonders of the natural world. This passion led him to pursue higher education in the field, where he has made remarkable strides as a classroom teacher both in Kenya and the USA. 

Wycliff holds a Bachelor of Education degree from Kenyatta University in Kenya and a Master of Education Curriculum and Instruction- Science Education from University Texas at Arlington. 

Combining his extensive knowledge in science education and his experiences especially during formative years, Wycliff has been passionate on the need to have equity in education. He firmly believes in the transformative power of education for economic empowerment and social mobility. 

Beyond the professional realm, Wycliff is a businessman in transportation and logistics, loves playing volleyball and a dedicated family man.

Dr. Dan Atambo is a professional engineer registered with Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Engineers Board of Kenya. He is currently a  Senior Engineer/Senior Project Manager with the City of Dallas Water Utilities and an Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering at University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). 

Dr. Atambo has over 20 years work experience  having worked in Kenya and the USA. He has diverse and extensive engineering experience in capital improvement projects, design, planning, construction, operation, monitoring, and evaluation of water, sanitation, wastewater, irrigation, and drainage systems projects. He is also experienced in environmental compliance inspections, technical inspections, surveys, investigations, and studies in the field of water and air quality.  

Dr. Atambo is church and community leader. Currently serving as the chairman of Texken International resources, a  charitable organization with a goal to promote education in the community and as Vice-Chairman of Kisii United Association (KUA. He also serves as board member of Underground Construction Technology Association (UCTA) North Texas Section and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK). He has been volunteering for the International Community Projects (ICP) with Engineers Without Borders (EWB) as an ICP reviewer in water and sanitation (WASH) projects for the last fifteen years. 

Dr. Atambo holds a Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from University of Texas at Arlington, a master’s degrees in Environmental Engineering from Lamar University, U.S.A., and a second masters in Engineering from Egerton University, Kenya. He completed his undergraduate degree in Engineering from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. 

B.A. History/Music

M.A. Communication Interdisciplinary Studies

Journalist , Content Creator / KDSO TV

Bianca epitomizes a remarkable blend of roles, Her most cherished accomplishment and achievement is the role of a nurturing mother to her beloved Petunia. 

With a diverse array of roles, she thrives as Mom, Journalist, Culinary  Enthusiast, Church Pianist, and Content Creator.

Built on the foundation of Adventist Education, Bianca's academic journey led her from Maxwell Academy/Griggs International to a BA in History with a Minor in Music from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. Crossing borders, her family's journey brought her to the U.S., where she earned a Master of Arts in Communication Interdisciplinary Studies from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.  Guided by her dedication as a proponent of Christian Education, Bianca passionately designs and conducts digital workshops aimed at fostering self-improvement, Bible studies, facilitating immigrant integration, and guiding individuals in acclimatizing to their lives in the United States.

Currently, Bianca lends her expertise  to KDSO TV in Texas, USA, where she plays an integral role as Host and Producer of "100,000 Voices." This initiative, in collaboration with KDSO TV, stands as a testament to her commitment to equitable representation and storytelling of immigrants abroad. With a resolute aim to rectify the under-representation of positive news from Africa and beyond, Her work embodies the belief that ‘"No story should be left untold. Every story should find its voice."

In our shared experience of being far from home, she embraces the power of storytelling to inspire and unite. Through her narratives, she amplifies the achievements of individuals, celebrates business successes, and highlights the vibrancy of arts, music, and culture. Her work radiates a spirit of unity, reminding us that encouragement and support are universal bonds.

Bianca's unshakable conviction is rooted in the notion that authentic fulfillment flourishes through meaningful contributions to the betterment of all. As she charts her course through life, she not only strives but also wholeheartedly dedicates herself to serve; illustrating that genuine contentment stems from the unwavering commitment to uplift not only oneself but also the intricate tapestry of family, community, and society as a whole.

Miano holds a Master of Laws from the University of Pittsburgh and is an Attorney admitted to the Bar in New York, Texas and Kenya.

Miano leads Delta Financial Solutions, a financial and legal services company which provides end to end wealth and estate planning solutions from preparation of trusts, multi-jurisdictional wills and guardianship agreements to designing index universal life and fixed index annuity accounts. The Delta Financial service philosophy is client centric and is designed to help our clients grow generational wealth, minimize taxes, comply with the law, effectively save for retirement and college when protecting assets from lawsuits and bankruptcy.

Benjamin Bogonko is a lifetime educator, motivational speaker and social media influencer. He is currently pursuing a nursing program. Benjamin has lived in Japan and at the moment, in Texas, USA. He is a family man and loves Gusii culture blended with other cultures.

Dennis Okindo graduated in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Minnesota and later 

earned an MBA in Healthcare Management and Administration from the University of St. Mary in KS. 

Okindo started his career at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN and currently works as medical laboratories scientists in charge of  Blood Bank at Steward Healthcare System.

Okindo has a passion for community and has been involved with Minnesota Kenya International Development Association (MKIDA) since 2009. MKIDA’s mission is to encourage Kenyans in the diaspora to participate in the promotion of literacy, health standards and community involvement. MKIDA instills and enhances communal responsibility by encouraging a culture of giving back to the community.

Okindo loves literature. He is a poet and an accomplished painter artist. He also has a special interest in our Kisii language because he believes that language is the bedrock on which a culture is build. If we lose our language we will lose our culture and if we lose our culture we lose ourselves. So he has taken it upon himself to learn and preserve the Kisii proverbs. He greatly appreciates the wisdom in  the chimbachero ne’mebayeno ye’Kegusii. 

Okindo is a man of faith. He is currently a serving elder at Alpha international SDA IN Arlington TX. 

Marion is a psychology student at the University of Texas. She takes pride in her Kenyan heritage and enjoys learning languages and traveling in her free time.

A BFA studio acting student at AMDA (American Music and Drama ), Miss Supranational Kenya 2022 ,Miss Supreme America 2021, Miss Dallas Collegiate 2021. In her free time she enjoys traveling, listening to music and hanging with friends.

Ivy is a Senior at Texas State University Majoring in Psychology with a minor in criminal justice. She enjoys learning to play instruments and traveling.

Angela is a proud Kenyan-American who is currently a senior at Texas State University with a major in biology and plans on pursuing a career in nursing after graduation.