Chairman and President of the Board, Swahili Cultural Institute, Inc.

Mr. Kevin Somoni Machine is the co-founder of Swahili Cultural Institute Inc. in New York, USA.

Previously, Mr. Machine was involved in language instruction where he taught German Language and Communication Skills at the Center for Tourism Training and Research at the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya in Nairobi. He also instructed English as Second Language for students with immigration background while he was pursuing his post-graduate studies in Germany. Mr. Machine has previously been retained as a Swahili Linguist by a US federal contractor.

Besides being a linguist, Mr. Machine also has extensive experience in investment management distribution and operations within the financial services industry. He currently works at Allianz Global Investors in Germany. He previously worked at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, New York Life Insurance Company, Dreman Value Management and Deutsche Bank in New York.

Mr. Machine holds a Certificate from Columbia Engineering FinTech, an MBA in International Management from Nürtingen-Geislingen University in Germany and a B.Ed. (Arts) degree in German as a Foreign Language from Kenyatta University. He is a recipient of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship.

Mr. Machine is fluent in Swahili, German and English and has conversational abilities in Luhya, Kisii and Spanish. He has a passion for golf, chess, arts, languages and different cultures.

Board Member & Secretary Board Member & Secretary

Mrs. Jane Njeri Clayton is a co-founder of Swahili Cultural Institute. She is an educator of Swahili language. She has taught Swahili for over seventeen years in different institutions including Columbia University. Her focus is on developing practical day-to-day use of Swahili including, reading, writing, and speaking skills as well as exposure to African culture. She also designs and administers Kiswahili proficiency evaluation tests and orientates new Swahili teachers coming from East Africa to teach in various universities in the USA. She has also worked as an independent Swahili interpreter for Lionbridge Technologies, Inc.
Prior to that, Mrs. Clayton did editorial work at Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research & Analysis (KIPPRA) in Kenya.

Mrs. Clayton holds an MEd in International Education Development from Teachers College-Columbia University, an M.A. in Swahili from Kenyatta University and B.A. in Sociology and Linguistics from Kenyatta University. Her Research interest are in Language Literacy and Technology.

Mrs. Clayton holds an MEd in International Education Development from Teachers College-Columbia University, an M.A. in Swahili from Kenyatta University and B.A. in Sociology and Linguistics from Kenyatta University. Her Research interest are in Language Literacy and Technology.

Board Member & Treasurer, Swahili Cultural Institute

Samuel Ollunga is co-founder of Swahili Cultural Institute. Sam is an attorney and author. He is a Partner and one of the founding partners at Thomson Ollunga LLP, formerly Thomson Gabriele & Ollunga LLP. Mr. Ollunga has previously worked as the Corporate Counsel at Acker Merrall & Condit, the oldest wine merchants in the US and one of the leading wine auction companies in the world.

Prior to that, he worked as a Capital Markets and Mergers and Acquisitions attorney at two of the world’s most prestigious law firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP. He holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, and another from the University of Cambridge, with a primary focus on Public and Private International Law. He holds an LL.B. from Moi University in Kenya, and a diploma in law (a requirement for admission to the Kenyan Bar) from the Kenya School of Law. He is admitted as an attorney in the State of New York and in Kenya.

His practice focuses on corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, credit financing, startup law, oil, gas and energy law, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, intellectual property law, public and private international law, and not-for-profit law.

Board Member , Swahili Cultural Institute

Dr. David Matara Angwenyi is an experienced educator with a diverse background that spans from growing up in the villages of Kenya to classroom teaching experiences in suburban America.

He is the founder of Global Connections Kenya and Experience Link Academy. He is a community organizer who is constantly working to find ways to link communities to share innovative ideas to improve living conditions for all people.

Dr. Angwenyi has more than 15 years in academia teaching high school science. He has taught at Hopewell Valley Regional School District where he is a respected educator for engaging students inside the classroom and beyond the classroom. He is a New Jersey Board of Education certified Biology teacher and holder of Principal Certificate of eligibility. His research focus is in educational diplomacy and the perceived influence of short-term travel on student preparation for college and beyond.

Experience Link Academy is an idea based on providing opportunities to students beyond the classroom to help spar their leadership potential and develop their educational diplomacy skills.

Dr Angwenyi is also involved with the Diaspora University Town – Kenya University Project (KUP) since 2016. He has invested resources in property development, organizing the database for proposed courses for the KUP, writing the curriculum and advancing the KUP agenda in the Diaspora.

Dr. Angwenyi has won several awards over his career including:
• Entrepreneurship of the Year Award – by StartUpAfrica – 2018
• Life Changer Honor Roll by National Life Group – 2018
• Kiongozi Award by Hopewell-Keroka Alliance – 2017
• Global Teacher Prize Award Nominee – 2016
• George Washington Leadership Award by Cyrus-Lodge of Trenton, New Jersey – 2014
• Fulbright- Teachers for Global Classrooms – by United States Department of State- 2012
• Brazil Educators Cohort – 2012
• Excellence in Education Award by Committee Teaching About United Nations (CTAUN) – 2010

Dr. Angwenyi has a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Capella University, a Master’s Degree in Education (M.Ed.) in Science, with a focus in STEM Education from Rutgers University, a Bachelors in Science with a major in Biology and minor in Secondary Education from Saint Peter’s University, New Jersey and another Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (Toxicology) from Rutgers University in New Jersey.