About KEYSA
Rooted in the community, built for its youth
The Kenya Youth Support Association was founded in 2020 in Matungu, Kakamega County, by people deeply rooted in the local community. Today we serve young people across Bungoma, Kakamega and Busia counties and in Nairobi — with one conviction: youth are the primary drivers of any nation's development.
Our story
From a shared conviction to a registered movement
KEYSA began as a group of neighbours, educators and development professionals in Kakamega County who refused to watch talent go to waste. The COVID-19 pandemic made the stakes brutally clear: school closures pushed girls into early motherhood and boys into odd jobs, and traffickers began preying on the most vulnerable.
So we organised. In 2023 the association was formally registered, a board elected, and the work put on a proper governance footing — bank account, board resolutions, signatories and all. Today KEYSA designs and runs programs across five thematic areas: education, sports and talents, technology, financial literacy, and community development with climate action.
We work where we live. That means our beneficiaries are not statistics — they are our neighbours’ children, our former classmates, the young people we meet at the market and on the pitch. It’s why inclusivity is non-negotiable and why every program is built with local leaders, schools and families at the table.
Our vision
To unlock the full potential of every young person by equipping them with the tools necessary to be confident, competent, and compassionate leaders of tomorrow.
Our mission
To empower youth by providing them with opportunities and resources in education, sports, technology and financial literacy.
Our objectives
Five commitments that guide everything we run
Every program and project is designed to advance these objectives.
- 01
To provide youth with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
- 02
To enable youth to unlock their full potential — empowering them with the opportunities and support they need to thrive, benefiting both the individual and society as a whole.
- 03
To equip youth with technology skills that build employability, economic growth, digital inclusion, critical thinking and problem-solving — and responsible digital citizenship.
- 04
To equip youth with financial literacy that builds a strong foundation, promotes financial responsibility, fosters independence, encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, mitigates financial risks and bridges socio-economic gaps.
- 05
To encourage youth to become active in community development programs through participation — fostering growth, building capacity to contribute to community well-being, and taking charge of sustainable development.
Our founding commitment: To cultivate and empower young people, fostering sustainable and self-reliant communities through a focus on leadership, mentorship, and community engagement.
Core values
The five commitments we measure ourselves against
Empowerment & Leadership
We give young people real responsibility and the room to grow into it — encouraging them to be proactive and influential in shaping their own future.
Partnerships
We collaborate with like-minded organisations, leveraging collective expertise and resources to meet the real needs of the youth we serve.
Mentorship & Guidance
We connect experienced professionals with vulnerable young people, providing the guidance, support and inspiration that changes trajectories.
Inclusivity & Equal Opportunities
Every young person — regardless of background, family or status — gets an equal chance. We eliminate barriers so all youth can benefit from our programs.
Community Engagement
We engage youth in development initiatives and volunteer activities, fostering empathy, social responsibility and a sense of belonging by giving back.
Leadership
The people accountable for the mission
An elected board of chairperson, treasurer and secretary — all founding members and official signatories — leads a wider team of eleven founding members.
Edmond Ongoma Juma
Founder · Chairperson & Program Director
Edmond is a dedicated development professional with over a decade of experience in social work and project management. He holds a Master's in Project Planning and Management and a Bachelor's in Development Studies from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and a Diploma in Development Studies and Social Work from Marist International University College.
Read full bio
Edmond Ongoma Juma
Founder · Chairperson & Program Director
Edmond is a dedicated development professional with over a decade of experience in social work and project management. He holds a Master's in Project Planning and Management and a Bachelor's in Development Studies from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and a Diploma in Development Studies and Social Work from Marist International University College.
As Director of the James Ryken Center for Hope in Bungoma, he has worked tirelessly to support and rehabilitate street children. His earlier roles include Project Coordinator with Evolutionary Community Oriented Practitioners and Project Officer with Talitha Kum International Kenya, where he confronted human trafficking head-on.
As KEYSA's Program Director, Edmond guides the organisation's efforts to empower young people across Kenya.
Dr. Ngeso Aketch John Paul, Ph.D
Founding Member · Treasurer & Resource Mobiliser
Dr. Ngeso Aketch is an educator par excellence, administrator, author and youth advocate. He holds a PhD and a Master of Education (Educational Administration and Planning) from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and a Bachelor of Education from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (Tangaza University). He currently serves as Principal Officer, Registration and Accreditation.
Read full bio
Dr. Ngeso Aketch John Paul, Ph.D
Founding Member · Treasurer & Resource Mobiliser
Dr. Ngeso Aketch is an educator par excellence, administrator, author and youth advocate. He holds a PhD and a Master of Education (Educational Administration and Planning) from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and a Bachelor of Education from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (Tangaza University). He currently serves as Principal Officer, Registration and Accreditation.
His career spans high-school teaching and administration in Bungoma, Kitale and Nairobi; university roles as Admissions Coordinator and Teaching Practice Coordinator at Tangaza University and MKU; and volunteer teaching and social work with the Xaverian Brothers in DR Congo (Lubumbashi and Likasi), Jesuit Refugee Services in Nimule (South Sudan), the KNH Referral Hospital chaplaincy and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development. His path includes international leadership training in Rome (2014) and an international paper presentation in the USA (2017).
A published author and motivational speaker — including with the SOS Children's Villages Next Economy program in Nairobi — his research spans public administration, education, gender and inclusion. At KEYSA he leads resource mobilisation, applying strategic networking and fundraising expertise to youth empowerment.
Peter Misiati Simboni
Founding Member · Secretary
Peter serves as Secretary of the association and one of its official signatories, keeping KEYSA's governance rigorous and its records transparent.
Read full bio
Peter Misiati Simboni
Founding Member · Secretary
Peter serves as Secretary of the association and one of its official signatories, keeping KEYSA's governance rigorous and its records transparent.
A technology professional by background, he champions KEYSA's digital skills agenda — the belief that rural youth deserve a real route into the digital economy.
Governance & transparency
Built to be trusted with your support
Donors deserve certainty. KEYSA runs on formal governance — elected leadership, board resolutions, joint signatories and regular reporting.
01
Registered association
KEYSA is a registered non-profit association in Kenya, governed by an elected board with a chairperson, treasurer and secretary as official signatories.
02
Accountable banking
All funds flow through the association's NCBA bank account, opened by board resolution, with the elected leadership acting as joint signatories.
03
Board oversight
The Executive Director reports regularly to the board on the progress and impact of every project, with comprehensive reports at each board meeting.
04
Non-profit commitment
As a community-service organisation, KEYSA directs resources to programs — and pursues KRA tax-exempt status to maximise every shilling donors give.
Questions about our governance?
Write to us at info@keysa.org — we’re happy to share our registration and board documentation with serious donors and partners.
From our founder
“Real education is about unlocking the potential that lies inside every person.”
Read Edmond Juma’s essay on legacy, learning and the generation preparing to take over.