KESSA was formed in 2008 by Profs. Kefa Otiso, Maurice Amutabi, C. Gichana Manyara and Francis Koti to primarily promote the intellectual and professional interests and welfare of Kenyan Diaspora scholars and their associates. Every year, since 2008, KESSA has held a conference that brings together scholars, professionals, policy makers, government officials, Embassy staff and well-wishers from USA, Canda, the UK, Kenya and Africa.The history of KESSA is briefly narrated by one of the founders Prof. Kefa Otiso in the Youtube video below;
Our conferences have been held at Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, Ohio (2008-2013), Florence, Alabama (2014-2015), the Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, GA (2016-2019), Dallas, TX (2021-2022), and back to Atlanta, GA in (2023-2025). Some of the most momentous conferences were the 2008 inaugural conference, the 2013 conference that coincided with the Kenya bicentennial independence celebrations, the 2017 conference that marked KESSA’s 10th anniversary and the 2024 conference graced by the late Literature icon Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o.
Importantly, KESSA seeks to promote scholarly, scientific and research work in/on Kenya in all scholarly disciplines and persuasions; promote and facilitate cooperation through the exchange of ideas and meaningful dialogue among groups and/or persons engaged in scholarly and scientific research work in/ on Kenya; encourage and facilitate the dissemination of information, publications, and other scholarly works on Kenya; organize scholarly workshop panels, discussions, symposia, and conferences on Kenya; and raise funds in support of the foregoing activities.
Since then KESSA has pursued these objectives by especially holding annual conferences, sponsoring the publication of edited book volumes, publishing conference proceedings, mentoring Kenyan diaspora students and aspiring scholars, and creating networking opportunities for its members. In that time, KESSA has become a one stop shop for its members.
We have successfully mentored and helped many Kenyan diaspora students to gain advanced degrees and numerous Kenyan academics at home and in the diaspora to grow intellectually and professionally.
Past KESSA Presidents
Prof. Esther Obonyo KESSA President 2023-25 with long-serving Prof. Jerono Rotich (2019-2023) during the transition meeting at 2023 KESSA Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Prof. Jerono Rotich (second right) with the President of the Republic of Kenya on a past engagement with members of the Kenya Diaspora Working Group and leadership representatives from 31 countries at State House, Nairobi.
Prof. Jerono Rotich with Kenya Ambassador to the USA David Kerich in Washington D.C.
Prof. Wycliffe Njororai. Simiyu 2017-2019
Prof. Kefa Otiso (right) with Moses Ogutu, a PhD Student at the 2025 Conference