Meet The Board
Dr Moses Masika
Chairperson
Dr. Moses Masika is a distinguished research scientist, educator, and medical doctor with expertise in Tropical and Infectious Diseases. His areas of specialization include virology, immunology, vaccinology, epidemiology and One Health. Dr. Masika is also highly skilled in research design, data analysis, scientific writing, communication and grantsmanship.
For over a decade, Dr. Masika has been a lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, where he teaches Medical Microbiology and Research Methods to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. His mentorship extends beyond Kenya, as he supervises students from countries such as DR Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Dr. Masika holds a PhD in Infectious Diseases, a Master of Science in Tropical and Infectious Diseases, and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, all from the University of Nairobi’s School of Medicine. For the past seven years, he has also served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki’s medical and veterinary faculties in Finland.
His professional affiliations include membership in the Kenya Medical Association (KMA), the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH), and the European Virus Bioinformatics Center. He also serves on the National Committee for Verification of Measles Elimination, KMA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Planetary Health, and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Winnie Mumalla
Treasurer
Winnie Mumalla, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, is a Partner at Ashitiva Advocates LLP which she joined an associate in 2013. She currently manages the Nakuru branch overseeing firm operations, client relations and spearheading strategic initiatives across Real Estate, banking/financial services, Dispute resolution, corporate and commercial Law.
Her experience in both “in-house” and “out-house” at top financial institutions like National Bank of Kenya and Family Bank also brings a deep understanding of client needs from multiple perspectives.
Her career highlights include; travelling to the USA to represent the United States Diaspora Sacco in Texas, where she provided legal advice on SACCO management and regulations in Kenya, and handling a Ksh5 billion succession dispute at the High Court in Nairobi and successfully managed a Ksh300 million land trespass case in Nakuru County.
She also facilitated the acquisition of a large business with assets including seven aircraft, a farm, processing plant, an airstrip, a hospital, and over 800 unionized employees across four jurisdictions, mindboggling negotiations and attendant regulatory approvals.
Committed to community service, she offers pro bono legal aid to marginalized groups through the National Legal Aid Programme, which has strengthened her commitment to social justice.
Winnie holds a Bachelor of Laws from Moi University, a Diploma from the Kenya School of Law, and is pursuing certifications in Arbitration and Certified Public Secretary.
She is a member of the Law Society of Kenya and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
Dr Riro Mwita
Member
Dr Riro Mwita is a seasoned consultant physician and Senior Assistant Director of Medical Services at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, where he leads key initiatives, including chairing the Multidisciplinary Team for HIV patient care and the Medicines and Therapeutics Committee, which ensures the provision of essential medicines.
In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Mwita coordinates the Continuous Medical Education (CME) programs for healthcare workers and oversees outreach efforts that link various specialists with junior doctors in neighboring sub-district hospitals for supervision and mentorship.
With 19 years of experience in both public and private healthcare, he also serves as an honorary lecturer at Kenyatta University Medical School, where he teaches and mentors medical students and young doctors. Dr. Mwita is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Kenya Medical Association (KMA), the Kenya Association of Physicians (KAP), and the Kenya Cardiac Society (KCS).
He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) and a Master of Medicine (MMed) in Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi School of Medicine. His research interests focus on anemia in HIV, heart failure, hypertension, and diabetes care in resource-limited settings.
Dr. Mwita is dedicated to becoming a leading practitioner in the field of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the Global South.
Emmanuel Dennis
Member
Emmanuel Dennis is a seasoned expert in Strategic Business Management, Public Policy, Climate Change, and International Development. As the founder and Executive Director of the Green Teams Initiative, he leads efforts to empower communities, organizations, and individuals to embrace climate-smart solutions in the battle against climate change.
Currently, Emmanuel serves as the Senior Manager of Policy & Partnerships for the East and Southern Africa Region at Evidence Action, where he strengthens public-private collaborations and drives government engagement, policy research, and analysis.
His leadership extends to his role as Convener of the National Youth Sector Alliance, where he was pivotal in monitoring and implementing youth policies. Throughout his career, Emmanuel has contributed to notable organizations, including The Global Youth Employment Summit as Africa Coordinator, the Tallberg Foundation (Sweden), and the Youth Advisory Board of the Open Society Foundations. He has also served as a Council Member of URAIA Trust Advisory Council, Board Chair of PAWA254, National Youth Summit Convener at the Youth Agenda, and Field Officer at the Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children (KAACR).
Recognized among Kenya’s most influential young leaders in 2014 and 2016, Emmanuel is a recipient of the prestigious David Sjogren Memorial Scholarship for African Leaders. With over 20 years of experience in development work, he has recently joined the Nextworks global think tank, where he contributes to exploring the intersection of East, West, and Africa in shaping the next phase of globalization.
Pamella Sittoni
Member
A trailblazer in media and communications, Pamella’s wealth of experience spanning decades in leadership, advocacy, and innovation, has seen her hold senior positions in Kenya’s most influential newspapers, in turn, shaping the media landscape in East and Central Africa.
Her enviable career highlights include; appointment as Managing Editor, the Standard in 2005, The EastAfrican in 2012, the Daily Nation in 2019 and the first woman Group Managing Editor of the Nation Media Group in 2022 in between interviewing high profile figures like the President of Estonia and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.
Beyond the newsroom – Pam as she is fondly called – has had stints as a Communication Specialist, at UNICEF Kenya, handling humanitarian advocacy for women and children.
Winning the 2017 WAN-IFRA Women in News Editorial Leadership Award for Sub-Saharan Africa from and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual 2023 Media Council of Kenya Journalism Excellence Awards, only cemented her slot in the pantheon of Kenya’s journalism.
A Fellow of Aspen Global Leadership Network and a Trustee of Africa Check, Pamella has sat on the boards of World Editor’s Forum and the Thomson Foundation (UK) and her expertise will guide the editorial vision and collaborative partnerships at Willow Health Media.
Pamela holds a BA (Literature and Anthropology) and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Communication from the University of Nairobi, and a Masters in New Media and Democracy from the University of Leicester, the UK.
She believes that the next generation of journalists has the onerous task of ensuring the profession not only survives the challenges presented by digitalisation, but thrives to serve populations with credible and relevant information and that they will require resilience and innovation to achieve this.
Dr Mercy Korir
Secretary
Dr Mercy Korir is a qualified medical doctor, a communications specialist majoring in health and a business executive. She has singled herself out as a pioneering medical journalist, reputable television health reporter, host of a health show at the Kenya Television Network (KTN) and Editor of the Health & Science Desk at the Standard Group PLC.
Her skills set sweep across growing business units from scratch, capacity building, health communication, multimedia content conceptualization and revenue growing revenue via strategic partnerships.
Her multifaced background which combines medical expertise with communication and business acumen positions her as a versatile and impactful professional in the healthcare and media industries.
Dr Korir holds a Bachelor of Science and Surgery degree from the University of Nairobi School of Medicine, a Master’s degree in Communication from the University of Nairobi, School of Journalism and Mass Communication and an MBA (Finance and Marketing) from United States International University- Africa (USIU-A) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Dr Korir, the 2020 recipient of the Presidential Order of Service (Uzalendo Award) for her media role in covering the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic, is registered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, Media Council of Kenya and Fellow of the International Centre for Journalists.
