Easter Achieng Okech

Easter Okech Holds Bachelors of Business Administration-Accounting Option from the University of East Africa, Baraton and has qualification in ACCA Certificate and professional Qualifications. She is currently the Executive Director and Programs Coordinator of Kenya Female Advisory Organization (KEFEADO). Easter is a member of Amani Peoples Theatre (APT); Co-Executive Manager of George Micheal Okoth Foundation; Manager of the Bondo Paralegal Unit; A member of the Israeli Alumni and also a member of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI –Kisumu Chapter).

Easter is a member of the board of Bishop Abiero Secondary School –Kisumu and St. Theresa’s Girls Secondary School – Kisumu. Easter is a member of the Kisumu Feminist Forum a space for engaging LBQ and ITGNC persons to have voice, agency and expression. She is also the patron of Abled Differently a Community Based Organization of women with disability in Kisumu. She is a coach on Leadership and Mentorship to ensure engagement of the women, female youth (in and out of learning institutions) and adolescents in policy and polity which gives space for oversight that the constitutional requirements though “progressive” are achieved to achieve engendered governance in practice to ensure women’s engagement in agenda setting, access and accountability in political, social and economic spheres. Easter has a wealth of experience in gender mainstreaming gained nationally, regionally and internationally through a right-based approach; resource mobilization, management and program development; human resource development and management including financial management and budgeting. Easter has also been trained on finance management, conflict mapping and analysis by Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, gender analysis and proposal development.

Easter is on the National Governing Council (NGC) of the National Tax Payers Association which looks at management and utilization of devolved governance funds by the different members of parliament and how the restructuring of devolved governance at county governance impacts on communities. Easter is on the Mobilizing Community Advocates (MACS) a national platform whose focus is on quality reproductive, maternal, child, neonatal and adolescent health. Critical to this is how rights and responsibilities is exercised by citizens as is evidenced by their roles and engagement in the devolved structures outlined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010. Easter is a member of critical technical working groups (TWGs) within the county government of Kisumu i.e. the quality housing TWG and the health TWGs of good governance and quality health services. Easter is also represents KEFEADO in the Siaya County Gender technical working group (GTWG). Easter represents KEFEADO in the Deliver for Good – Kenya Steering committee focusing on comprehensive sexuality education and UHC, land rights for women, women in politics and women in economic empowerment.

As a human rights defender, Easter has a wealth of experience in breaking barriers on “taboo subjects” and has conducted dialogues on Gender identity and human rights with students, teachers, parents, religious leaders, the media and the general public. This sustained advocacy has been undertaken through community conversations at the village unit and multi-media platforms to ensure holistic development of all individuals to reach their highest potentials. She also has experience in social counselling victims of gender based violence during conflict and is a changemaker who is committed to act and demand for ending all forms of violence against women and girls. This diversity in knowledge development and management has enabled Easter to work with diverse stakeholders through a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder platform key to bringing intrinsic community development key to sustainable development at the household unit. Prior to Working at KEFEADO, Easter worked for ON FARM-Kenya (A Winrock International Project) housed by Lagrotech.