Meet the team

Dynamic, captivating, jovial and effervescent, Teresita or as many call her Terry, is a wife and mother of two. She has used her anointed gifting for leadership, mentoring, coaching, and shepherding in various ways.

She is the founder and President of “Kara Olmurani”, a nonprofit that provides safe spaces for young girls who have been sexually abused. Terry has undying desire to advocate for survivors, and the policies and statutes that protect them from predators.

Currently, she serves in the board of Kenya Women in The United States of America (KWITU) U.S and Kenya Branches and LINVEC PLC Kenya.

As a transformational speaker, her impact extends beyond the Kenyan soil where she was born and raised. She has received numerous awards for her societal reforms including an honorary Doctor of Divinity from St Thomas Christian University Florida, recognizing her trail blazing work as a child protector. Her advocacy work had been featured in many dailies including, New York times.

Terry has joined the Texas Umoja team, bringing extensive leadership skills and valuable experience. She is eager to contribute to our mission of promoting social and economic empowerment and is excited to spearhead innovative initiatives that will benefit our community. With her dedication and vision, Terry aims to inspire and support our members, propelling Texas Umoja to new heights.

Sullen is a professional in education with backgrounds in music and special education.

She has successfully served as a supervisory committee chair for a Sacco in Kenya that has over 1000 members by ensuring thorough audits, and safeguarding the rights and interests of members.

She is committed to bringing positive change, organizational excellence and making significant contributions to the growth of Texas Umoja.

She is a wife and mother and resides in Dallas Texas

Grace grew up in Kenya and now resides in Dallas, TX.  She has been a case manager, a billing manager and now an operations manager for a home health mental health agency for the last 11 years. She has been the treasurer for Texas Umoja after serving as the secretary for the last 5 years since 2016.

Grace holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Northern Illinois University. Beyond her professional and organizational roles, she enjoys socializing, traveling, and actively participating in her church’s children’s ministry, as well as the ushering and welcoming committee. Her diverse interests and community involvement make her a cherished member of Texas Umoja.

Stanley Kapten was born and raised in Kenya, East Africa.

He attended elementary and high school in Kenya before proceeding to Friends University, Wichita, Kansas, where he earned a B.Sc. in Business Administration. After two years of studying IT at Wichita State University, he moved to Texas and joined the University of Texas, Dallas, for a master’s degree in public affairs.

Besides serving on several boards, Stanley Kapten has held several leadership roles ranging from golf to church affairs.

He has a passion for young people and believes in giving back to the community.

An avid reader who enjoys traveling and playing golf, the author is also an optimist who believes that we are born to solve problems and that our best days are ahead of us.

Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Lonicah is married and blessed with children.

She is an alumna of Pangani Girls High School and has a nursing diploma from the Nairobi Hospital school of nursing and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University.

For 13 years, she worked at the Nairobi hospital intensive care unit and later on promoted to the management level before she immigrated to the U.S. In the U.S she has worked in several hospitals in different states both as staff and travel nurse.

Currently, she is working as a registered nurse at Parkland Health Hospital and Baylor University Medical Center.

She has held several leadership roles and served on various steering committees, both at work and in church. Her extensive experience and warm hospitality make her an invaluable asset to our welcoming team, which she now leads.

Grace is a visionary founding member of Texas Umoja, where she plays a pivotal role in organizing events that foster inclusive togetherness.

With a keen eye for uniting people in both joyful and challenging times, Grace has been instrumental in the growth of Umoja over the past eight years.

Her vision centers on uplifting and connecting individuals from Western Kenya, creating a strong, supportive community.

Professionally, Grace is a dedicated business owner in the healthcare industry, passionately serving the elderly community to ensure they age gracefully in the comfort of their homes.

Her unwavering faith guides her life, bringing her ultimate fulfillment through significant roles in her local church.

Grace’s life revolves around making others feel better and part of a larger family, embodying her commitment to collective well-being and inclusive unity.

Milton is married to Lonicah, and together, they are blessed with 5 children

He is a Certified Public Secretary (K) and has worked with Alexander Registrar in Kenya for 20 years.

Pastor of Mustard Seed Fellowship Center in Nairobi, Kenya, for 17 years and is currently on the pastoral team of Upendo Baptist church in Garland.

He is currently working in a health care facility where he continues to touch lives, and an extension of his selfless service is felt in our benevolence program that he leads.

Lillian Buliva has been a member of the Texas Umoja since 2016. In her own words, she says, “This is the best decision I have made to become part of this special group because it is my family away from my motherland Kenya.”

She is the team leader of the “Merry-go-round,” where she ensures everyone in the group keeps up with their contributions in a timely manner.

A nurse by profession, she cares with compassion to those she serves.

She is a wife and a mother to two wonderful young adults, and her family is her first priority. When not working, she dedicates her time to family. She also cherishes being in the company of friends, socializing, and creating new relationships.

Phennie is a founding member of the organization, born and raised in Kenya, Africa and lives in Dallas TX for the last 20yrs.

She is a professional nurse who has worked in various African states on Humanitarian grounds in the area of primary Health care programs where they were implemented in countries affected by civil unrest as well as natural disasters.

Before venturing in Humanitarian assistance Phennie, was a lecturer at the Kenya medical Training college [KMTC], Nairobi in the faculty of nursing and saw majority of the graduates from the college migrated to developed countries such as USA, UK, Australia, and Canada to put into practice what they had learned to assist the population in need of services.

Amos has been a member of Texas Umoja for seven years, during which he has served as Parliamentarian, Chair of the Benevolence Team, and a key member of the group that managed our successful for-profit ventures at Umoja Enterprise. His dedication and leadership have been instrumental in our achievements.

Now, as the chair of Umoja Enterprise LLC, Amos remains committed to ensuring our organization’s continued success and growth. His unwavering dedication and expertise are vital to our ongoing and future accomplishments.

Tom is the CEO of Asarab Investment and a Partner at Jungles Safaris.

He has a master’s in data Analytics from Western Governors University, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with focus in Finance from Colorado Technical University.

He is a Certified Risk Associate (CRA) from Global Academy of Finance and Management (GAFM).

Tom has worked as a credit risk associate, loan officer, small business debt management associate, financial investment associate and in the insurance industry, as a sales and field underwriter and senior data analyst for over 15 years at multiple American banking and insurance institutions.

He also has a background in hospitality and retail industry both in Kenya and the United States, respectively.

Currently, Tom provides financial investment coaching, retirement planning, and mentorship to individuals seeking financial security. His expertise in the finance field is invaluable to Texas Umoja, and his involvement is poised to drive significant growth for our organization.

Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, before relocating to the U.S. 8 years ago, Claire is a trained administrative assistant and Customer Service Officer. She worked in the banking industry in various departments, including Administration, Forex, and Customer Service.

Currently, she works as an administrative assistant, a scheduler to care givers, and part a time caregiver to the senior citizens.

Claire is responsible for taking minutes of meetings, keeping records of the members in the investment portfolio, and communicating/coordinating with the officials to ensure the smooth running of the organization.

She is enthusiastic about working with people of different ages and races. She is a team player, loves to socialize, travel, and always tries to be part of the solution to any challenging issues that may arise. She also likes to volunteer in various charitable ventures.

Claire joined Texas Umoja in 2017 and has been an active participant in our meetings and activities ever since. She has worked with three different LLC Chairpersons, and her contributions have brought tremendous value to our organization.