Catherine Omanyo is a political activist, feminist organizer, and humanitarian. Born in rural Busia County to a poor widow who was not able to afford school fees for her ten children, Catherine grew up observing the injustices that women and children face in Kenya. After a journey of self discovery that sparked from the hardships she endured growing up, she decided to dedicate her life to fighting for the education and social welfare of the orphans, sick, and other vulnerable groups of people in society.

She is the founder of International School for Champions, a non profit school that houses over 300 male and female students ages 2-24, and focuses on making education accessible to orphans and poverty stricken children who cannot afford school fees. She is also the founder of a youth talent development program that focuses on teaching life skills, leadership, and career development to youths.

Through her school, Catherine works with 30 different women’s groups in rural Busia county to improve the lives of women who are HIV positive, widowed, or divorced. Women are taught weaving, micro finance, tailoring, and to create self sustaining agricultural projects. The school also installed a Kudira solar power system which supplies power to 400 homes in the neighborhood.

Since 2006, she has spearheaded an anti-jigger flea and bed bug health initiative that has reached over 400 households. In partnership with doctors from the UK, she also helps organize medical camps for the people of Matayos constituency that offer PMTCT, MCH, dental, pediatrics and treatment for tropical diseases. Catherine’s home, Busia County, has a high HIV infection rate. She created an HIV awareness campaign targeted toward high risk youth and women, which offers healthcare support to those affected with the disease and gives financial assistance to families of the deceased for burial expenses in exchange. Her school also provides free HIV screening services.

Catherine Omanyo has served as the International Affairs Secretary for Amani National Congress party, and is the Secretary-General of Women Candidates Network of Kenya, which represents more than 150 women political candidates. She spoke at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2019, and is a frequent guest on TV news panels discussing politics, gender, and youth empowerment. She is also the recipient of the Distinguished African Amazons award, the Young Boss Humanitarian Award, and was featured in African Vanguard’s list of 50 Outstanding Amazon Women Leaders.