With a strong belief in the equal value of every Kenyan life, Eliud Owalo, an Economist, Management Consultant, and Strategy Expert, currently serving as the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy in Kenya, founded the Eliud Owalo Foundation as a vehicle by which he could coordinate his philanthropic side.
The Foundation’s core mission is to facilitate the basic needs of Kenyan communities by forming strategic alliances and partnerships that enhance the living standards of the underprivileged. Eliud Owalo is a firm advocate for the rights of every Kenyan to access to food, education, clean water, and the means to support themselves and their families.
Today, the Foundation has made significant progress in various areas, including Health, Sports, Education, Youth and Women Empowerment, Environmental Management, Water and Sanitation, Shelter and Security and Disaster Response. The Foundation aspires to become one of Kenya’s leading charitable organizations.
Eliud Owalo’s philanthropy was birthed and developed through his involvement in the Nomiya Church, which was founded by his late grandfather Nabi Yohana Owalo in 1907. Nomiya means “I Was Given” in dholuo because Yohana believed he got the call from God himself. On the death of Yohana Owalo, the mantle passed on to Benjamin Oundo and eventually, Gideon Charles Owalo in 1980, who headed the church until his death in 2016. The latter is the Patron’s father.
Guided by his faith, Eliud Owalo devoted himself to charitable work, particularly in Kibra. So deep was his conviction that during his consulting career, he would donate nearly half of his income to charity, responding personally to thousands of appeals, especially from the less fortunate.
As his charitable efforts expanded, he felt the need to transition to a more organized and institutionalized approach, centred on the principles of good corporate governance. It was in this context that Eliud Owalo decided to establish a Foundation that would consolidate and amplify his philanthropic work.
Over a five-year period, he brought on board experts to assist in the development of the blueprint that would eventually become the Eliud Owalo Foundation.
Driven by a commitment to efficiency, strategy, and a centralized system for fund distribution, the Foundation ensures the effectiveness of fund allocation by entrusting it to professional staff governed by an independent board of trustees.
The Foundation, now a multifaceted philanthropic entity, constantly employs design thinking to enhance its offerings. While there were a few similar charitable trusts in Kenya before its establishment, the Eliud Owalo Foundation stands out for its remarkable ability to mobilize resources and create a tangible impact in various sectors.
To facilitate the education of talented, yet, underprivileged individuals in our society.
To enhance the population’s health by collaborating with healthcare institutions and non-governmental organizations within the healthcare sector and beyond.
To empower youth and women to unlock their full potential through participation in sustainable income-generating activities.
To identify and facilitate the optimal utilization of youth potential in sports activities.
To offer timely and adequate response to calamities such as fires and floods.
To help communities attain and sustain a clean and eco-friendly environment.
To improve access to clean water and adequate sanitation requirements.
To provide support to community members in acquiring affordable, suitable and secure housing
To offer support to faith based organizations and institutions for spiritual nourishment and peaceful co-existence among communities.