The founders
Empower Nakuru was established in Oslo, Norway on March 8, 2013. The founders of Empower Nakuru are presented below. These three are also the first board members of Empower Nakuru.
John Ngwenyi Kariuki
My names are John Ngwenyi Kariuki born and schooled in Thika (Kenya). After my formal education I moved to Nakuru where I have family. This changed my life by exposing me to the plite of the many voiceless poor families through social and political engangement. I wished they could talk to the world about their plite.
After moving to Norway I finally met like-minded people who shared the same concern. Together the three of us came up with this idea of Empower Nakuru so as to bring tongether other like-minded people who are willing to make a difference in the lives of the voiceless and weak in our societies. I believe together we can make it.
Join us in Empower Nakuru and together we can make the difference a reality!
Wambui Wamwere
My name is Wambui Wamwere, born in 1973. I was born and grew up in Rugongo village, Bahati forest in Nakuru. This is where I went to primary school.
During my childhood in Rugongo village my family grew up in extreme poverty. We lived in a smoky grass thatched hut. As we didn’t have electricity we had to use firewood for light, cooking and warming of the hut. Although we lived in a forest we had to travel for miles to fetch water and firewood. During rainy seasons life was tough due to the coldness; we didn’t have any rain clothes to protect us from the heavy rains either. This cold made us sick and we had no proper medication. Often our parents didn’t have money to buy paraffin for the lamps. So we had to depend on the fire for light when learning how to read and write. Due to lack of light we could come back to school with incomplete homework. Our parents in our village had to struggle so much to earn a living to sustain their families.
I moved to Norway as a refugee in 1993, and am now working as a nurse. During my stay in Norway, I have realized how lucky and blessed I am. I have always had a strong desire to make a difference by extending a helping hand to many children in the same situation as I was in when I grew up. I know there are many children and poor people who are having the same dream I always had as a child, that one day life will be better; To have access to clean water, light, don’t have to wear torn clothes, access to books, medication, and have acceptable normal living standards.
Together with my cousin John Ngwenyi we have always discussed how we can help others, since we have been in the same situation. When we met our good friend Rune Riktor who had great ideas, we couldn’t say no to start working with the NGO “Empower Nakuru”. Joining as a team will make a greater impact in our efforts to help people who have less than us, give orphans hope that they can also rise and shine the same way as we have.
Rune Riktor
I am Rune Riktor, and was born and still live in Norway (Kolbotn, outside Oslo). I have always been an idealist, but Kenya has truly changed my life.
My family has recently assisted in the establishment of a primary school for around 130 kids in Mombasa, Kenya. This project brought me to Kenya to visit my friends there in January 2013. I also put in a few days visit to Nakuru and after that I couldn’t rest. The people in Nakuru, as in all of Kenya, are very nice and welcoming. In Nakuru they are also very poor, but still smile and are very positive and nice to others. Many are helping people worse off than themselves, especially the local churches. I could see that with small efforts (relatively, seen with Norwegian eyes) I could help many people of Nakuru to overcome barriers that seem too massive for them alone.
This was my motivation for participating in the initiative Empower Nakuru, and I use much of my spare time on this work now. I welcome others to join!