Our Staff
Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiative (DLCI) is a knowledge management and advocacy resource organization registered in Kenya with the aim of improving policy and practice in the Horn of Africa.
Previously known as REGLAP (the Regional Learning and Advocacy Programme), it supports collaborative learning, civic education and documentation on drylands development and advocacy.
DLCI focuses its capacity-building support in Kenya, disseminates its learning and findings to other countries with substantial drylands in the Horn of Africa.
DLCI provides knowledge management, research, facilitation, advocacy, and communications services, and is a willing partner with organizations sharing similar values and objectives.
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Jarso Mokku
Chief Executive Officer
Jarso is a respected elder from the drylands community, with over 30 years extensive professional experience in the Horn of Africa region as a leader and senior programme manager. He has extensive skills, talent, and knowledge on management, governance of sustainable development, policy formulation, amplifying community voices, peace-building, intercommunity cohesion, conflict management, and programming in sectors of education, food security, and humanitarian affairs. He has a wide range of skills and has successfully coordinated major drylands, pastoralists' development, and policy advocacy in the Horn of Africa region. A person of great passion for defending the rights of poor people, minorities, and marginalized communities. Result oriented, and true peace loving citizen mediator and talented multi-cultural team leader in finding creative solutions to complex problems. He holds a Masters of Art Degree in Development Studies from the Republic of Ireland. Currently pursuing a home study PhD at the AIU-USA, Faculty of Business and Economics - focusing on programme management.
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Bilach Jimale
Programme Manager
Bilach is a Gender and Programmes Development professional. With 13 years of experience, she has developed and perfected her skills and expertise in project Management, Administration, Operations Coordination, Gender Mainstreaming, Strategy Development, Policy Advocacy and Monitoring and Evaluation. She holds a Masters of Arts in Gender and Development Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Project Planning and Management from Moi University.
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Joan Letting
Programme Manager
Joan Letting is a graduate of Moi University with a Bachelor's degree in Media Science. She has worked as a Kenyan editor and journalist covering science, gender, climate and adaptation, women's and youth's rights, and health. She is a communications expert. She believes in amplifying the alternative voices of vulnerable groups in society, giving them a chance to tell their stories through their lenses. Her stories have been featured in the United Nations UN Africa Renewal Magazine, The Standard Newspaper, Kenya Television Network (KTN News), Turkana Guardian and AllAfrica.com.
Joan was a fellow at the European Journalism Centre-Foreign Policy Interrupted (FPI) from 2017 to 2020. She is a member of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. She is also a member of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) and a Master of Arts in Communication graduate student at Daystar University, Kenya.
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Sakina Hamadi Athumani
Finance and Admin Officer
Sakina Hamadi Athumani is a Certified Public Accountant with a bachelor's degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Nairobi. She has experience as a Programs Officer and in Finance and Administration. She is skilled in quickbooks, financial expenditure control, financial reporting, media, communication, oratory skills, and office administration. She has also served as an assistant to the DLCI board during her entire period with DLCI.
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Peter Durito
Business Development and Operations Advisor
Peter Durito joined DLCI in January 2024 as Business Development and Operations Advisor. Peter is a seasoned governance, peacebuilding and development practitioner with fifteen years of experience in the design, implementation & management of development, humanitarian and conflict sensitivity programming. He has a strong background in conflict analysis, research, teaching and institutional and partner development.
Prior to joining DLCI, Peter worked as a program director for Hope Without Borders, a Political analyst for the Canadian High Commission, Adjunct faculty for Daystar University and a Coordinator for peacebuilding at ALARM-Kenya.
Peter is an author of a book chapter on environmental justice in a book titled ‘The African Church and Covid 19.’ He has published articles on environmental conflict, natural resource and diplomacy as well as contributed to a publication on impediments to peace and resilience in Laikipia County and is member of Diplomacy Scholars Association of Kenya (DIPSAK). He is an excellent facilitator with experience in designing capacity building training and workshops to a broad range of partners and stakeholders.
Peter is a PhD candidate in International Studies at the University of Nairobi. He holds a Masters of Arts in International Conflict Management from the University of Nairobi, and a B.A in Community Development from Daystar University.
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Hillary Kitel
Programs and Communications Officer
Meet Hillary, a talented communication professional with a degree in Marketing and a minor in IT. Hillary brings a unique combination of technical and creative skills to the table. His passion for the industry is evident in the results he consistently delivers, consistently exceeding expectations and making a lasting impact on the organizations he has worked for.
He is a natural problem-solver, always seeking out innovative solutions to complex communications challenges. He has expertise in website and social media management, combined with his ability to produce multimedia content. In addition to his technical skills, he is an excellent communicator, with strong interpersonal skills and a proven track record of building relationships both internally and externally.