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.
Moreover, 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.