WHERE TRADITION
MEETS TECHNOLOGY
Kitengela, Kenya
Santa Fe, NM
THE TEAM
We’re very proud of the diversity of our team, and their abilities to contribute their own unique experience and skills to our success.
Find out more about some of our leaders and volunteers below.
CO-FOUNDER AND CONSULTANT
Former Assistant Chief Nickson Parmisa was instrumental in helping us to get Acacia Moyo off the ground in the Kitengela community. He identified those in need, advised us where to place funds received and coordinated many community activities. Nickson has been promoted to an Assistant District Officer located outside of Kitengela, but still remains a faithful participant and consultant. He speaks Maa, Kisuaheli and English and has visited the US a few times to help us raise funds and talk to Western ranchers about issues facing cattle breeders.
CO-FOUNDER and PROJECT COORDINATOR
Kenny Mann was born and raised in Kenya and spent her early years among the Maasai. Her parents arrived in Kenya in 1942 as Jewish refugees from Poland and Romania. Dr. Igor Mann and his wife Erica are renowned in Kenya for their work against hunger and poverty. Dr. Mann founded the Animal Health and Industries Training Institute (AHITI) in Nairobi, and Erica Mann won awards for her work with the Council on Human Ecology. Kenny is a journalist, author, teacher, and documentary filmmaker.
PROJECT MANAGER
Hussein Lilah studied Infrastructure and Communications Technology (I.C.T.). He is an entrepreneur with his own business in tourism and consultancy on government documentation and permits. Hussein is a member of the Kitengela Maasai community. He is passionate about wildlife and doing everything possible to maintain his community's culture. He is now in charge of coordinating and overseeing all our community projects, including gathering members for our beekeeping cooperative, encouraging women to participcate, communicating with our team on the ground and in the US, and forming local partnerships.
MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM IN KENYA, JANUARY 2023
​
From l to r:
Consultants Felix Kariuki and The Hon. George Kimiti; Kenny Mann, Hussein Lilah
Members of the Iltalala Women's Microfinancing Cooperative, which includes ladies ages 20 to 35, attended the Acacia Moyo community meeting held in Kitengela on February 11, 2023, to introduce the community to the beekeeping project. The members will be our first class of beekeepers!
VIDEOGRAPHER, PHOTOGRAPHER
Uli Koch, is an excellent photographer and videographer, and has shot all the photos and footage that we have used for PR and fundraising over the past four years. Uli is German and now lives in Santa Fe, NM. He loves Kenya and travels there every year to document our work.
OUR CONSULTANTS
CO-FOUNDER
Anthony Carlson, formerly of Santa Fe, NM, developed the original vision of ACACIA MOYO with Kenny Mann and co-wrote our mission statement and five-year plan. He also designed our logo. Anthony spent several years in Kenya. He is a professional photographer and has found over the years that working with local people and helping to build communities brings new ways to overcome age-old challenges, increase capacities and strengthen individuals.
Dr. Merle Lefkoff, Founder and Co-Chair of the Center for Emergent Diplomacy, is a mediator, facilitator, social change entrepreneur and leadership trainer in conflict zones around the world.
Lorna Omuodo is the founder and CEO of E-Moto Limited. She has taken the task of championing household cooking energy as an area of sustainable development for women in East Africa. She has introduced bioethanol into the market as a safe alternative to coal or kerosene. This has made daily food preparation much easier and cheaper, allowing cooks to save money on fuel. Lorna is an avid gardener and advises us on suitable bee forage.
Nelly Mutunkei is Assistant Chief for two main area sections in Kitengela. "Being a woman leader in Maasai community is not easy because the men associate women iwth children so when a woman talks in front of them they don't take her seriously. I believe in change and I believe that they will soon accept us women as able leaders." Nelly is married with four children.
Acacia Moyo Beekeeping Committee oversees all aspects of the beekeeping project, including capacity building, accounting and community engagement.
Chairperson: Wilson Nanga
Secretary: Florence Saitieu
Vice Chairperson: Sylvia Parusan
Vice Secretary: Jane Reagan
ACACIA MOYO
Where Tradition Meets Technology
ikimann@earthlink.net acaciamoyo@gmail.com
19 Espira Court, Santa Fe, NM 87508
+1646 479-5884
PO Box 76, Kitengela, Kenya, 00241
+254721428470
​
ACACIA MOYO - WHERE TRADITION MEETS TECHNOLOGY is fiscally sponsored by Creative Visions Foundation (CVF). CVF is a publicly supported 501c3, which supports Creative Activists who use the power of media and the arts to affect positive change in the world.