Kakiri, Nickson Ochieng

Born and raised in Kenya; deafened at age 2. Attended regular schools, experiencing much frustration and anger until finally discovering and transferring to Kija High School for the Deaf during his early teen years. Graduating in 1995, he found himself discriminated against in finding employment, and was active in the South Nyanza Association of the Deaf (branch of the Kenya National Deaf Association), serving as the SNAD Secretary General until enrolling at Gallaudet University in 2001. In 2003, won the first World Deaf Leadership Scholarship Fund; planned to graduate in 2005, majoring in government with a focus on international development.