Our vision
Who we are
Patient-led. Rooted in lived experience.
The Stroke and Hypertension Association (SaHA) is a registered, patient-led, not-for-profit organisation bringing practical support, trusted information and a united voice to people affected by stroke and hypertension in Kenya.
Stroke is a leading cause of permanent disability and death in Kenya, and its effects can be debilitating and life threatening. A study by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) at Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital found that about 80% of strokes were attributed to complications of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is the leading forerunner of stroke the world over, and that is why SaHA was formed.
With awareness, both conditions are largely preventable and manageable through wellness and rehabilitation. The Association was formed because there was a clear need for awareness on prevention, for post-treatment programmes and services, and for peer support among people living with stroke and hypertension, health practitioners and the general public.
SaHA offers assistance, rehabilitation, advice, education, advocacy, training and research for people living with stroke and hypertension and for the wider public, to reduce both first strokes and repeat strokes. We work through community partnerships to prevent stroke and hypertension and to improve life for survivors and their families.
Our members are mainly people living with stroke and hypertension and their caregivers, and the membership keeps growing as mobilisation and recruitment continue.
Our mission
Committed to reducing the effects of stroke and hypertension through programmes anchored on the pillars of Prevention, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Advocacy and Research.
Our values
- InclusionEveryone affected by stroke and hypertension has a seat and a say.
- EmpathyWe meet survivors and caregivers where they are, without judgement.
- AccountabilityWe handle every resource with prudence and transparency, and answer for it.
- IntegrityHonest information, honest money and honest care.
Registered in KenyaRegistered under the Societies Act (Cap. 108), Laws of Kenya. Certificate of registration No. 50993.
Our leadership
Officials with lived experience.
SaHA is led by stroke survivors, people living with hypertension, caregivers and health professionals. Their lived experience shapes every programme.
Chairperson
Dr Grace K. A. Ochodo
Chief Executive Officer and founding member of the Stroke and Hypertension Association, Dr Ochodo is a career educationist and visionary leader with over fifteen years of teaching experience at high school and university levels, and more than twenty years leading high-performing teams in the corporate and NGO sectors.
She is a passionate advocate on stroke, hypertension and mental health management, with a proven track record in public health awareness campaigns, strategic planning, non-profit board governance and stakeholder engagement, focusing on fundraising, research and partnership development.
She holds a PhD in Business Administration from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, a Master of Business Administration from Africa Nazarene University and a Bachelor of Education (Arts) from the University of Nairobi, and trained in Counselling Psychology at Amani Counselling Training Centre, Nairobi.
Dr Ochodo has over twenty years of lived experience with stroke and hypertension, which gives her deep insight into the continuum of their management.
Vice-Chairperson
Edward Konzolo
A dedicated and results-driven patient advocate and stroke survivor with over ten years in the stroke awareness space. Edward is a board member of the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Kenya (NCDAK) and Vice-Chairman of the United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK). He is a founding member and former Secretary of the Stroke Association of Kenya (SAOK).
He has delivered keynote addresses at international and local forums, including the 2018 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases and the launch of 'Fafanuka', a mobile stroke awareness platform.
Edward is a career educationist who has served the profession with dedication and impact.
Secretary
Cornelius Makutwa Sayi
Founder member and Secretary of the Association. Cornelius is a detail-oriented and highly organised professional with over ten years of experience in non-profit governance and administration, and expertise in administration, finance and strategy.
As head of the Secretariat he is adept at management and administrative operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and maintaining records. He has dutifully managed the Association's administrative duties, official records and communication with external stakeholders.
Treasurer
Florence Njoki Kigo
A long-serving, dedicated member of the stroke and hypertension fraternity and a career nurse, Florence has served the Association as Treasurer since its inception. She is responsible for the safekeeping, recording and reporting of the Association's financial resources.
A stroke survivor, she has shown her commitment to the stroke and hypertension cause through active participation in advocacy programmes, including peer counselling.
Medical Coordinator and Rehabilitation Specialist
Dr Japheth Asungu
A results-oriented health specialist with wide knowledge of the continuum of stroke management. Japheth has proven expertise in patient assessment and is committed to research-based therapeutic practice that maximises patients' outcomes and quality of life.
A dynamic rehabilitation specialist with more than a decade of experience improving patient care through tailored rehabilitation strategies, he works closely with multidisciplinary teams to promote recovery and holistic wellness for people living with stroke and hypertension.
Membership Administrator
Eunice Naliaka
A career administrator committed to the membership drive, Eunice is adept at mobilising new members and keeping records for existing ones, organising events, and providing front-line support for the Association, including customer care and the upkeep of its key data.
A stroke survivor since a haemorrhagic stroke in 2018, she has turned adversity into purposeful living by faithfully serving the community of people living with stroke and hypertension.
Assistant Membership Administrator
Rosebud Ombura
A dedicated member of the Association since its inception, Rosebud is a stroke survivor who had her stroke in childhood. Her lived experience shows serenity, focus, resilience, determination and an entrepreneurial spirit.
She is an active participant in local non-communicable diseases advocacy and serves as a Community Health Promoter in Nairobi County. Rosebud leads the Association's mobilisation drive, coordinating the identification and recruitment of members and keeping them engaged through service delivery.
Walk this journey with us.
Survivors, caregivers, health workers and partners are all welcome in SaHA.