Meet Our Board Members
Prof. John Weru
Chair
Dr. John Weru is an Assistant Professor of Palliative Medicine at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUHN). He is the leader of the Palliative Care Team at the Aga Khan University Hospital and the Chairperson the East African Palliative Care Steering Committee charged with developing palliative care services in the region within the Aga Khan Health Services. He is the chairperson of the board of Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA). Dr. Weru is a reviewer with the Journal of Supportive Care in Cancer and sub editor with the Open Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He is the chairperson of the Hospital Ethics committee at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.
Mrs. Ruth N. Were
Honorary Secretary
Ruth N.Were is the former Chief Executive Officer at Nairobi Hospice and serving on the Board of KEHPCA as the Hon secretary. Ruth was also the former Director of Nursing Services at Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Nairobi with a capacity of 140 beds responsible for all of the Hospitals Nursing Care practices for both in and outpatients; overseeing a staff compliment of 250 employees in the department (Nurses & support staff). Played a key role in improving nursing systems in the hospital including the setting up of the Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and Satelitte clinics to full operational capacity.
Mr. Ben Mandi
Honorary Treasurer
Mr. Ben Mandi is a finance and business specialist, a Certified Public Accountant with a BSc in Business Administration. He has had long experience in his field in audit, financial management, consultancy and training. He has particular interest in the creation of awareness, and the treatment and care, of childhood cancers having had firsthand experience of the same within his family. He has recently joined KEHPCA as the Honorary Treasurer.
Linet John
Board Member
Linet John is a Deputy Director Nursing Service Director at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya. She is a Registered Nurse, holder of Bachelor of Science in Palliative Care Attained from Makerere University, Uganda and a Higher Diploma in Palliative care from Oxford Brookes University, U.K among other qualifications.
She is responsible for the Nursing care services at Homa Bay County and Teaching Referral Hospital whose bed capacity is 300 beds.
Dr. Asaph Kinyanjui
Board Member
Dr. Asaph Kinyanjui joined KEHPCA board in March 2022. He is an experienced Board level leader with a wealth of experience in strategic leadership, program management and Palliative Care, having spent over 12 years in various roles within the healthcare, advocacy and research. He holds a master’s degree in Management and Leadership (MML) from the Management University of Africa and a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Nairobi.
Dr. Zipporah Ali
Board Member
Dr. Zipporah Ali, MD. MPH. MPC. HonDUniv is a Palliative Care Physician and a Public Health Specialist. She was instrumental in the setting up of Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) and worked as the Executive Director of KEHPCA, a position she held for 15 years until her retirement in 2021. She serves on the boards of the African Palliative Care Association, the Alzheimer Dementia Organization-Kenya and NCD Alliance East Africa.
Catherine Wachira
Board Member
Catherine Wachira is a career lawyer and a patient rights advocate with the following achievements:
- A legal practitioner of over 25 years standing running a law Practice in Nairobi.
- A passionate cancer patient rights advocate for over 12 years moved by experiences in …
Stella Rithara
Board Member
Stella M. Rithara is a palliative care specialist nurse, a palliative care program leader at Kenya Medical Training College- Nursing Department. Previously, worked at Nairobi Hospice as a clinical nurse.
Stella is the founder and director of Ongata Ngong Palliative Care Community. In addition, she is currently serving as a Board Member for the International Association for Hospices
and palliative care.
Stella is a public health palliative care champion under St. Christopher’s Hospice. she is one of the world palliative care nursing advisor committee members. A member of Ongata Rongai Rotary club serving as the Service Project Director.