MWA Team

Global Team Members

Keith Wright

Chief Executive Officer

Keith Wright joined the Millennium Water Alliance as CEO in 2018. Mr. Wright brings a track record of leadership and innovation to the...

...challenge of global water security. Mr. Wright has more than 25 years of strategic and operational leadership of complex humanitarian and business enterprises in the U.S., Africa, Asia, and Latin America. His experience includes serving as president of Food for the Hungry, Inc, filling national and regional operational leadership roles in Africa, launching an innovative business to accelerate business solutions to poverty, and governance leadership in one of East Africa’s leading financial institutions. He earned a M.Sc. degree in economic development from Eastern University and a B.A. degree in political science from the University of Mary Washington.

Darren Saywell

Chief Business Officer

Darren Saywell joined MWA in May 2025 as Chief Business Officer. He has 25+ years of experience in practice, business development,...

...and policy formulation in the water security, sanitation, and hygiene sector. Recent appointments in the US included senior leadership roles at DAI Global, AECOM, and Plan International USA. Earlier he spent a decade in Europe with the World Health Organization (on sector policy and advocacy) and the International Water Association (on capacity building, implementation, and peer learning). Darren began his career at Loughborough University's Water, Engineering & Development Center working in teaching, consultancy, and research positions.

Violet Moenga

Global Finance Director

Violet Moenga was appointed Global Finance Director for MWA in January 2021 after nearly 15 years as Finance and Administration Manager...

John D. Sparks

Director of Advocacy

John D. Sparks joined MWA in 2010 as the organization's first Director of Advocacy and Communications. Mr. Sparks has more than...

...25 years of experience in Washington and New York in legislative lobbying, coalition building, public policy, media relations, and nonprofit leadership. Prior to MWA, he was Director of Campaign Finance Reform at the public interest group Common Cause, and previously was Vice President for Government and Public Affairs at the American Symphony Orchestra League, the national association for orchestras. Previous assignments include senior lobbying and coalition building positions at two public affairs firms in Washington DC where he worked on regulatory and legislative issues in transportation, energy, and human rights; two national advocacy coalitions in the nonprofit sector; press secretary for two members of the U.S. House of Representatives; and professional positions in several Congressional campaigns and two Presidential campaigns. Some of them were even successful.

Audrey Caprio

Global Knowledge Management and Learning Officer

Audrey Caprio joined the Millennium Water Alliance as the Global Knowledge Management and Learning Officer in October 2024.

... Mrs. Caprio is a nurse by training but has worked in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), global health, and international development since 2016. Mrs. Caprio has implemented programs in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe and has utilized her experience working with patients and providers to address global health challenges at the nexus of WASH, climate change, and health. Prior to joining MWA, Mrs. Caprio managed the implementation of WASH systems in the Dominican Republic and worked as a bedside nurse before earning her Master of Public Health degree from the George Washington University. Mrs. Caprio then went on to work in infectious disease epidemiology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, Mrs. Caprio managed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Global Health Security Agenda portfolio at PATH while serving as a subject matter expert on knowledge management systems, WASH, antimicrobial resistance, and infection prevention and control. Mrs. Caprio’s extensive experience implementing knowledge management and learning systems and advocating for communities to be at the center of decision-making processes allows her to create more compassionate, efficient, and inclusive solutions to global challenges.

Allan E. Elvir

Senior Legal Consultant

Allan Elvir joined Millennium Water Alliance in April 2011. He has 15+ years of professional legal experience working for the public and...

...private sectors in the U.S., Latin America, and Africa regions. Some of his previous professional experiences are working as a Clerk for the Supreme Court of Honduras, Corporate Associate for the Central American law firm Lexincorp, and Commercial Counselor for the Embassy of Honduras in Washington, D.C. Elvir holds a law degree (LLB) from the National University of Honduras, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and two Masters of Laws (LLM in International Legal Studies/Business and LLM in Law & Government) from American University – Washington College of Law. Elvir is admitted to practice law in Washington D.C., New York, and Honduras.

Josephine Wanguku

Executive Assistant

Josephine Wanguku joined Millennium Water Alliance in June 2024 as the Executive Assistant supporting Chief Executive Officer...

...She brings in wealth of experience to the role, having previously worked with Helios Investment Partners as the Executive Assistant. Has also worked at JP Morgan ClimateCare, MicroSave Africa and Kenya Gatsby Trust as an Administrative Assistant, International Fund for Animal Welfare as an Executive Assistant.

She holds a master’s in business administration, Bachelor of Science in Leadership Management from Strathmore University, Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management, Diploma in Business Management. She is also a Certified Human Resource Professional.

Ethiopia Team Members

Tamene Chaka

Ethiopia Country Representative

Mr. Chaka has more than 20 years of tremendous knowledge and experience in WASH sector. He has proactively engaged in many...

Mussie Tezazu

CQI & MEL Manager

Mussie Tezazu joined MWA in March 2015 as a Continuous Quality Improvement and Monitoring and Evaluation Manager. He received his B.A...

...in Planning and Management and his M.A. in Social Work and Social Development from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. He has more than fifteen years of experience in strategic planning, executing WASH, and sustainable development program management. From 2009 -2015, Mr. Tezazu worked at the Catholic Relief Service in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he served as the Program Officer for Monitoring and Evaluation, and Water, Sanitation, and Communication. In this position, he specialized in WASH communication, project design and management, proposal development, and community managed disaster risk reduction (CMDRR).

Yisehak Leta Guttema

Grants Manager

Yisehak Leta Guttema was born in Nekemte, in western Ethiopia. As a child from a farming family, he worked in many areas of agriculture...

...including growing coffee and raising cattle and other livestock. Mr. Guttema earned a degree in biology at Kotebee collage of teachers education in July 1990, and taught in public Secondary School. He also earned a BA in accounting at Addis Ababa University in July 1999. He has worked at Ethiopian Assurance Corporation as junior auditor, and at CARE Ethiopia for nearly 11 years in different positions, such as Project Accountant, Area Finance Head, Senior Internal Auditor, Audit Officer, and Grant, Contract and Budget Specialist. He came to MWA-EP as the Grant, Contract and Budget Manager in July 2014.

Kalkidan Wubshet

Program Assistant

Kalkidan Wubshet joined MWA Ethiopia in June 2022 as a Program Assistant. She received her B.A. Degree in Management from Addis Ababa...

Selamawit Tiruneh

Regional Project Coordinator

Selamawit Tiruneh joined the Millennium Water Alliance as Regional Project Coordinator in 2019. Mrs. Selamawit brings a record of...

...accomplishment of leadership, administration, coordination, and collaboration that can add a great value to the challenge of WASH sector. Mrs. Selamawit is well experienced as a project manager for 4 years, Project Coordinator for 6 years, Contract Administrator for 3 years, Individual consultant for 3 years, INGOs and Governmental and Private Organizations. She helped establish 214 health centers across the Amhara Regional State to unravel the health problem of society and helped in the infrastructure improvement of governmental hospitals in different regions around Ethiopia. She earned a M.Sc. degree in Construction Technology Management, and BSc in Civil Engineering from Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Kenya Team Members

Styvers Kathuni

Kenya Country Director

Styvers Kathuni joined the Millennium Water Alliance as Program Director and Country Representative for Kenya in January 2022.

In January 2024, he was promoted to Country Director for MWA Kenya and is the Chief of Party of USAID STAWI Mashinani Activity.Styvers has worked for over 15 years in design and management of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities in Africa. Prior to joining MWA, he worked at SweetSense Inc. as the Regional Director for Africa. Styvers has also worked for Caritas Embu, Save the Children and Catholic Relief Services – in Kenya and South Sudan, where he held various positions – Technical Supervisor, WASH Engineer, Project/Program Manager and Technical Advisor. He was also seconded to the Ministry of Roads and later the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Kenya to support European Commission and IFAD funded projects.Styvers earned his Masters in Water Supply and Sanitation at Kenyatta University and BSc in Water and Environmental Engineering from Egerton University.

June Samo

Program Director - RAPID+

June Samo joined MWA in April 2022 as the Water Intervention Manager and Market Systems Development Specialist.

In October 2023, June was promoted to WASH Systems Manager and thereafter in March 2024, took up the Program Director - RAPID+ role.

Prior to joining MWA, she worked as a development consultant at EED Advisory where she engaged in various assignments for the World Bank, Oxfam, GIZ, UNICEF, the Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Network, the African Development Bank (AfDB) among others. Before joining EED Advisory, June worked at Kenya Markets Trust (now Gatsby Africa) and focused on improving the performance of selected urban water utilities in Kenya through the reduction of non-revenue water and improving water service delivery in rural areas.

June holds a masters in Water Science, Policy, and Management from Oxford University (UK) and a BSc. in Soil, Water and Environmental Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

Esther Wamahiu

Finance & Operations
Manager

Esther Wamahiu is a seasoned Finance and Operations professional with over 15 years of experience in finance management...

...budgeting, donor compliance, and grant administration. She has worked in both the international NGO and private sectors, including Catholic Relief Services (CRS), served as a Finance Officer and later advanced to Grants Finance Specialist, supporting programs in Somalia. Over the course of her career, she has managed and provided oversight for donor funds from USAID, BHA-USAID, PEPFAR, UNICEF, CDC, Hilton Conrad, SDC, and several private donors. She also held the position of Chief Accountant at FedEx in both Kenya and Tanzania, further strengthening her financial leadership expertise.

She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), registered with ICPAK, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting from Kenya Methodist University, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Operations Management from the University of Nairobi.

Esther is committed to driving financial strategy, donor compliance, and operational excellence across non-profit and development sectors in Kenya and the Horn of Africa.

Emmanuel Olela

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting & Learning
Manager

Emmanuel Olela has more than seven years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) for...

...donor-funded projects in WASH, Agriculture, Nutrition, Rangelands, Climate Change and Health sectors. Prior to joining MWA, Mr. Olela worked for Catholic Relief Services-Kenya as a Senior MEAL Officer. He is not new to MWA , as he worked as the MEAL officer for Kenya RAPID in Isiolo County for five years. Prior to that, he worked for other organizations, including JHPIEGO, CAP YEI, and Plan International. He has expertise in development and management of M&E systems, mobile phone based data collection, data analysis using various statistical software, and has a passion for telling the story behind the programs. He holds a Bachelors in Sociology with Information Technology from Maseno University and a Masters in Project Planning and Management from Nairobi University.

Chamia Mutuku

Water Intervention Manager

Chamia Mutuku joined Millennium Water Alliance as the Water Intervention Manager for the RAPID+ program in July 2024...

...Chamia has over 15 years’ experience in water, sanitation and hygiene programming in the Coast region and ASALs of Kenya; and parts of Somalia, S. Sudan and Ethiopia. His expertise spans Program/ Project Management, WASH Policy and Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Project Design/ Grant Writing; and Gender and Social Inclusion. He has worked for the Government, as a development consultant and most recently as Program Coordinator at Peace Winds Japan – Kenya.

He holds a BTech Degree in Civil & Structural Engineering from Moi University, Diploma from Erasmus University Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), and certificates in non-credit course work from several universities.

Chamia is PMI certified as a Project Management Professional, PMP®; is a member of the Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK), Association of Civil Engineers of America (ASCE), and the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM).

DAVID KAMAU

Program Manager, SASaWa Project

David Kamau is a seasoned Water and Environmental specialist with over 14 years of expertise in the water and sanitation sector. He is passionately focused on improving ...

... access to water and sanitation services for Kenya’s most vulnerable communities in ASALs.
David recently worked at Catholic Relief Services as the Isiolo County Lead for WASH under the USAID Nawiri program. His career is defined by his ability to plan, design, and implement multi-use water systems that deliver sustainable solutions for communities in need with a proven track record in strategic project execution, sustainable water management and governance. David is a graduate of Water and Environmental engineering from Egerton University. He is a registered member of the Engineers Registration Board (EBK) and the Kenya Engineering Technology Registration Board (KETRAB).

KELVIN MUSIKOYO

Capacity Strengthening and Networking Specialist

Kelvin Musikoyo has over a decade of expertise in capacity strengthening and leading strategic partnerships...

...with government,
private sector, and development organizations to drive collective
action for collective impact through Collaboration Learning and Adapting (CLA). Kelvin oversaw USAID partnerships in Kenya and East Africa: Partnership for Resilience and Economic Growth (PREG), South-Eastern Kenya Coordination Mechanism (SEK), and the Horn of Africa Resilience Network (HoRN), that brings together resilience actors in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia.
He recently worked at ACDI-VOCA for USAID Resilience Learning
Activity as the SEK Partnership and Networks Coordination Lead
Kelvin holds a B.A in Anthropology from the University of Nairobi
and ongoing MSc in Project Management at Liverpool John Moores University, UK.

ZIANA RUGUT

MEL Specialist

Ziana is a seasoned expert in Gender, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning with extensive experience within.

humanitarian and development sectors funded by DG ECHO, OFDA/BHA, USAID, BMGF, SIDA, DANIDA, UNHCR, UNICEF, DFID, UKAID, FCDO, PEPFAR, UMCOR, SNF, GFFO, and the British Council.
Previously, Ziana worked at Save the Children Regional Programming Unit as the MEAL Lead and has recently served as the Regional MEAL Manager for Secours Islamique France, providing technical support to the Kenya-Somalia Mission. She holds a B.A in Gender & Development Studies from South-Eastern Kenya University and now pursuing an MSc. in Project Management at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

PAULINE CHERUNYA

Program Manager

Dr. Pauline Cherunya joined Millennium Water Alliance in April 2024 as a Research and Knowledge Specialist for the Think and Do Tank

A project geared towards convening, connecting, and catalyzing investments in the ASALs of Kenya through knowledge management and communication. Pauline has over 10 years of experience in sustainable livelihoods, WASH, and climate change – and has garnered competence in implementing learning and communication strategies and facilitating collaborative processes.

Prior to MWA, Pauline worked as a Senior Project Lead with Samuel Hall East Africa where she engaged in various assignments for the World Bank, Mercy Corps, and Norwegian Refugee Council among others on refugee-related research in diverse regions globally. She also worked in the same capacity for EED Advisory Limited, a pan-African consulting firm offering technical, analytical, and advisory services in energy, WASH, and climate change.

Pauline has a PhD in Sustainability Transitions and Innovation Management from Utrecht University, a master's degree in Sustainable Resource Management from the Technical University of Munich, and a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Community Development from Kenyatta University.

Johnson Ng’anga

WASH Specialist

Johnson has over 15 years of experience in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene programming in the Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, and ASAL...

regions of Kenya working with national and county governments, private sector entities, and diverse communities. He has been a Water Development consultant and most recently the WASH Technical Advisor and RAPID+ program lead at Food for the Hungry Kenya. Experienced in WASH Engineering (Design, Supply, and Development), Water Resources Management, Program/Grants Management, WASH legislations/policies, WASH program design and proposal developments, program reporting and documentation, Monitoring Evaluation and Learning, stakeholders’ engagement and gender mainstreaming in WASH. He holds a BSc. Degree in Soil, Water & Environmental Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (J.K.U.A.T) and is a member of the Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK).

Vincent Ng’etich

Finance Officer

Vincent Ng'etich joined MWA as a Finance intern in June 2022 and was promoted to Finance Assistant in December 2022. Prior to joining MWA, Vincent...

Elizabeth Kasyoka

Office Assistant

Elizabeth Kasyoka joined Millennium Water Alliance in 2016 as Office Messenger supporting administration function including front office desk receptionist and Office cleaning.

Boniface Thiga

Fleet and Logistics Officer

Boniface Thiga joined MWA in 2017 as a program driver supporting logistics. Prior to joining MWA Boniface worked for Care...

Bolton Onyango

Rangelands Intervention Coordinator

Bolton Onyango has over five years of experience in rangeland management, providing his expertise to both national and international organizations

He is a certified spatial and data scientist, as well as a climate researcher, having trained with Academic Data Analysts, the Eco Science Generation Initiative (EcoSciGen), and the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD). Bolton is a Range scientist, specializing in Rangeland Management, Range ecology, Livestock production systems, Range ecosystems monitoring and evaluation in the ASALs. He is passionate about conservation and community empowerment for the well-being of ecosystems and communities.

ROBERT MULEKA

Driver

Robert has over 18 years’ experience in logistical and administrative support. Previously, he worked as a fleet/warehouse assistant for ...

Tobby Ageng'o

Procurement Coordinator

Prior to joining MWA, Tobby worked for Catholic Relief services Kenya/Somalia as a Procurement Officer having supported procurement of various donor funded projects

such as USAID projects NAWIRI in Isiolo and Marsabit counties; CTWWC in Kilifi and Kisumu regions; MWENDO in Western and Nyanza regions; POLIO in Nairobi and Marsabit including K-RAPID projects in Isiolo and Turkana regions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Supplies management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology and Master’s degree in Supply Chain management at University of Nairobi. He is also a full member of Kenya Institute of Supplies management (KISM) and certified member in Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).

End-of-Year Message from MWA Chief Executive Officer, Keith Wright