Aluoka Otieno's Bio

Org: Youth Association for Rural Development (YARD),

Bio:

Aluoka was born to a rural family in Western Kenya in 1971. He grew up surrounded by issues of poverty and injustice, and at an early age became motivated to political action. In 1992, he joined the student government at the University of Nairobi and later graduated to work in the local civil society movement. In 1995, he contributed to the founding of an alternative political party, SAFINA, to contribute to social change in Kenya. As the national coordinator of Youth Association for Rural Development (YARD), Aluoka’s present focus is on empowering youth of all economic backgrounds with knowledge and skills to become the leaders of the future. He also coordinates Dialogue Africa, a philanthropic foundation that supports sharing and community building amongst diverse constituencies. He is a consultant with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Kenya.

"The Jam afforded me a most sober and intuitive reflection on activism, power dynamics and spirituality. For instance, how does having peace of mind and integrity engage with the corporate subjugation of indigenous people’s rights? What’s the place of love in our struggles? At thirty, I am most delighted to have been granted this solid opportunity for contact building, networking and spiritual replenishment."