CLIFFORD COLLINS OMONDI OKWANY.

Curriculum Vitae
ADDRESS
30330, 00100. Nairobi, Kenya | Mobile +254729226643. Email:cliffmode2006@gmail.com
Blog: http://cliffmode.blogspot.co.ke/
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/omondi-okwany/6a/636/99a
CAPABILITY STATEMENT
Okwany is a political scientist trained in Kenya and Norway. He is a security expert writing on
Kenya's security. He is currently working on a European Union (EU) horizon 2020 project
titled, 'Community-Based Policing and Post-Conflict Police Reform (ICT4COP). He has a
degree in political science and public administration from the University of Nairobi, and a
Master of Science degree in International Relation from the Norwegian University of Life
Science (NMBU). He is currently an assistant researcher at the Norwegian University of Life
Science (NMBU), and Norwegian Institute of Urban and Regional Research (NIBR). Okwany
is competent in both qualitative and quantitative research, impact evaluation, needs assessment,
and baseline survey. Okwany has great pedagogic skills, having thought in various learning
institutions. He can learn rapidly, he is ambitious, and career oriented; with good writing skills.
Okwany is also a co-founder of a resource group on the environment titled, World YMCA
Regional Group on Environment (YMCA-RGE) and TUNZA Kenya, an environmental youth
network within the United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP); He designed the TUNZA
Kenya strategic plan and has been an advisor for TUNZA Europe. He has worked for the Kenyan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Kenya YMCA and Youth for Conservation Kenya.
EDUCATION

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Master of science degree in

International Relations, 2014 2016.

The University of Nairobi (UoN), Bachelor of Arts (BA), a major in Political Science and
Public Administration, and a minor in History and Sociology 2010 2013.
1

Diploma in social work and social development, 2009 2010.

Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), Bible studies and leadership training at the Nairobi Young
Adult Class (YAC), 2006 2014.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Fellow at NMBU - Norwegian University of Life Sciences
2015 - Present
Involved in the European Union Community-Based Policing and Post-Conflict Police Reform
Project - (ICT4COP). Writing on Community Policing in Kenya. Planning and execution of
fieldwork in Kenya, as well as assist with more general data collection in specific areas the study
interrogates in Kenya and Somalia. Member of the Africa working team. Report writing, and
team member of research workshops planning.
Norwegian Institute of Urban and Regional Research (NIBR); (2015-2016)
Evaluating the Norwegian Embassy projects in Nairobi, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs focus on the Norwegian government support to peace and reconciliation in Somalia and
Kenya, the projects focused on countering violent extremism.
Don Bosco Net Tanzania (2014-2016)
Conducting a monitoring and evaluating of the status of Don Boscos vocational and technical
education programmers; The aim of the research was to development a better educational career
path in Tanzania. The exercise was carried in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Iringa.
Intern at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya. (2014)
Promoted and speeding the East African Community Integration. Training stakeholders on East
African Community Climate Change policy. Reviewing the East African Community policy
papers and the Kenyan foreign policy document.
Independence Electoral and Boundaries Commission
Clerical officer during the 2013 general election and the 2005 referendum in Kenya;
management of demographic information, electoral vote counting and data entry.

Assistant Chief Coordinator; African Youth initiative on Climate Change- Kenya (AYICCKenya) (2013 2014)
AYICC lead team. The youth focal point on the process of the Kenyan Climate Change bill (now
law); projecting the youth position on the same. Partnering with National Environmental
Management Authority in enforcing Kenya's Environmental Management Coordination Act
(EMCA) through training. Training Kenyan youth networks on African/Kenyan youth positions
on Conference of Parties (COPs) negotiations processes. Assisting the global south focal point
in the coordination of the youth constituency (YOUNGO) activities at the United Nation
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Developed the United Nation
Environmental Program (UNEP) TUNZA Kenya strategy 2014-2015.
YMCA Intern and National Youth Secretary (2001-2013)
Branch youth leader and volunteer (2001-2008). Two-years internship (2009-2010); Chief editor
of the Kenya YMCA Magazine. Mapping, monitoring and evaluating YMCA youth projects and
leadership in Kenya. Community mobilization. 5years, secretary of the YMCA National Youth
Council (YMCA-NYC). Managing human resource in the recruitment of YMCA members in
local and international programs. Empowering the young people through Leadership; training
and capacity building in developing youth constituency in Kenya. Resource mobilizer and lead
team of successful African Youth Climate Justice Caravan Project We Have Faith-Act Now for
Climate Justice. Developed the YMCA position on sustainable development within the United
Nation Major Group level (Rio+20 conference). Empowering the young people at the
international level in understanding the United Nation system and other leviathan bodies. YMCA
lead team participant at the Barclays banks miles ahead project for the girl child in 2005.
General Motors and Ungana Young Friends of AMREF
Public and private partnership baseline survey; data collection in addressing real concerns of
HIV and AIDS in Mukuru kwa Njenga slums in Nairobi.
Student life at Norwegian University of Life Science
Editorial Board Member at NMBU Student Journal of Life Sciences- Review team member for
the 5th volume of the Norwegian University of Life Science student online journal (NMBU
Student

of

Life

Science

2015).

Available

at:

https://www.nmbu.no/sites/default/files/pdfattachments/nmbu_student_journal_volum_5_0.pdf
3

Vice president and board member of the International Student Union (ISU Norway)- Building
relationships between the university administration and students. The liaison of international
students to the Norwegian government; part of the lead team in negotiating the 2014 new
education policy. http://isu-norway.no/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/NMBU-Report-2014.pdf
Volunteer at Norwegian African Business Association (NABA), (2014 2015)
Assisting in building networks among East African and Scandinavian investors. Providing
networking for, and promotes African business opportunities in Norway; advocating for more,
better and safer business collaboration between Norway and African countries.
Member at Nairobi University Political Science Student Association.
2011- 2013 Promoting academic writing. Lead team in the 6months democracy and governance
project with the USAID-Kenya.
PROJECTS/PUBLICATIONS
Kenya's foreign policy towards Somalia, 2011-2016; A contribution to insecurity.
(2015 2016)
Members: Omondi Okwany, Prof. Stig Jarle Hansen
A masters thesis submitted in Partial fulfillment of the requirement for a master degree in
International Relations; published by the department of international environment and
development studies, Noragric, the gateway for the Norwegian University of Life Science.
Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2422413
Countering violent extremism in Somalia and Kenya: actors and
approaches. (2016)
Members: Omondi Okwany, Stian Lid, and Professor Stig Jarle Hansen
The study was carried out for the Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi, and the Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs focuses on the Norwegian governments support to peace and reconciliation
projects in Somalia and Kenya, on those countering violent extremism in particular. It was
conducted in collaboration between the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research
(NIBR) and the Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU).
Domestic Determinant of Kenya's Foreign Policy since Independence. (2012)
Members: Omondi Okwany, Professor Phillip O. Nying'uro

My Bachelor dissertation at the department of Political Science and Public Administration, The
University of Nairobi.
ONGOING RESEARCH WORK.
Community policing; a security initiative in Kenya (forthcoming)
The study will be carried out for the Norwegian University of Life Science. It is part of the
European Union community-based policing and post-conflict police reform project (ICT4COP). Publication is due in August 2017.
______________________________________________________________________________
BLOGS AND MAGAZINE COTRIBUTIONS
AYICC-Kenya
Gender and climate change; minding the gaps in decision making (2015). Available at:
http://ayicckenya.blogspot.co.ke/2015/12/gender-and-climate-change-minding-gap.html
Ayicc-Kenya raises its voice during world environmental day, raise your voice, not sea level
(2015). Available at: http://ayicckenya.blogspot.co.ke/2014/06/ayicc-kenya-raises-its-voiceduring-wed.html
TUNZA global youth gathering; a pre-United Nation Environmental Assembly (UNEA), (2014).
Available

at:

http://ayicckenya.blogspot.co.ke/2014/06/tunza-global-youth-gathering-pre-

united.html
Ys Men International
Youth in high-level decision-making situations (2015). Available at: Ys men World magazine.
Waking the Sleeping Giant (2012). Available at: http://www.africaymca.org/the-sleeping-giantis-awake/
Norwegian council for Africa
Kenyas security dilemma; a new tall walk for the young state (2015). Available at:
https://www.nmbu.no/en/about-nmbu/faculties/samvit/departments/noragric/node/21642

or

http://www.afrika.no/artikkel/2015/02/10/kenya-kampen-mot-terror-et-politisk-dilemma
English version available at: http://cliffmode.blogspot.co.ke/2015/04/kenyas-security-dilemmanew-tall-walk.html

stlands Posten Norway

Witnessing the Westgate Attack http://www.op.no/nyheter/cliff-horte-dodsskrikene-i-nairobi/s/185-6972040
OTHER SKILLS AND COMPETENCES

Computer Skills: - MS-Office - Excel, Word, PowerPoint, MS Windows tools, SPSS,

R-Software and Access, Internet-based research tools.

Photographic Skills: - Professional photography filming and production; helping the

different reputable organization in documentation.

LANGUAGES:

English, Swahili, and Luo: Read, Write, Speak and Understanding Excellent.

Norwegian: Write, Speak and understand fairly.

INTEREST

Reading and writing

REFERENCES

Prof. Stig Jarle Hansen: Harvard Fellow and Associate professor at the Department of
NORAGRIC, Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU), P.O Box 5003, 1432 s.
Email: stig.hansen@nmbu.no Tel. +4764965333. Cell: +4748046829.

Dr Adams G. R. Oloo: Chairman of the Department of Political Science and Public

Administrations, the University of Nairobi, Tel. + 254 20 3318262/8. Cell +254 720 988
233 or +254 734 750 423; P.O. Box 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Email:
adams_oloo@yahoo.com or oloo@uonbi.ac.ke

Mr. Jared Musima: National General Secretary (NGS) at the Kenya YMCA, P.O. Box
30330-00100, State House Road, Nairobi, Tel. +254 20 272 41 16, Cell. +254 720 42 44
56. jmusima@yahoo.com or jmusima@kenyaymca