Our Team
The Simama Project is a Community Based Organization (CBO)in Nanyuki, Kenya.
The Simama Project’s on-the-ground work is guided by a community-based advisory council consisting of local leaders, social workers, education experts and former Simama Project students under the leadership of Founder and Executive Director Matt Orcutt.
Matt Orcutt
Founder & Executive Director
Matthew Orcutt is the Founder of the Simama Project and an Executive Director and Founding Board Member at Simama International.
After graduating from UCLA, Matthew worked in Los Angeles and San Francisco before a life-changing trip to Kenya in 2009 inspired him to start the Simama Project. He now lives primarily in Kenya, where he oversees Simama Project’s programs, staff, and operations, and makes frequent visits to the United States to collaborate with the Board of Directors and key partners.
Matthew is also the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Laikipia Highlanders, where he continues to serve through community-based projects that align closely with Simama’s mission of empowerment and service.
In his spare time, he enjoys the ongoing quest for the perfect burrito, cheering on the San Francisco Giants, reading Shakespeare, and spending time with his nephews.
Operations Team
Sophia Kitonga
Sophie Kitonga is a social worker and counselor.
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Nairobi.
Sophie has been in the field of psychosocial services for 10 years now – both as an intern and an employee. She has worked with children from the streets of Nairobi. She worked with adolescent girls and young women in a gender project by USAID in Nairobi as a case worker and now works at Simama Project as a social worker and counselor.
Billy Mugo
Billy Mugo is a trained Social Worker and Counselor (Kobujoi Development Training Institute, Elder and the of University of Nairobi).
He comes to Simama with 24 years of experience in Community Development, child rights and protection, foster, adoption and guardianship and life skills training among other child & youth focused services under the auspices of the United nations Convention on the Rights of the child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the rights & the welfare of the child (ACRWC).
Billy’s other interests include gardening, environmental and horticultural farming activities.
Esther Wainaina
Esther has a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Communication from the University of Nairobi.
Esther has been with us since early 2016. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Communication from the University of Nairobi. Esther first fell in love with Simama after volunteering with us for three months.
Esther loves working with the kids and loves the opportunity to grow and learn with the kids. Esther works with Simama as a counsellor and social worker.
Esther loves travelling, especially to the beach!
Kenyan Board of Directors
Jesse Kigotho
He is a happy volunteer with simama because of his passion and respect for education.
He has a Diploma in Education and has worked as a teacher for the last thirty years. He is a happy volunteer with simama because of his passion and respect for education; He is a husband and a father of two. His favorite food is choma and ugali. Jesse works hard to ensure that the project prospers.
Charles Mbuto
With over 10 years of teaching experience is currently the Academic Dean at Daraja Academy.
With over 10 years of teaching experience, Charles or “Mr. C” as he is referred to by his students, is currently the Academic Dean at Daraja Academy in Nanyuki, Kenya. Being a teacher and having lived in Nanyuki, Charles understood the need and saw the Simama Project and it’s mission as a great opportunity for local children. Charles hold a bachelor of science degree in Biology from University of Nairobi and currently pursuing a post‐graduate diploma in Education. He lives in Nanyuki with his wife and two daughters.
Victoria Gichuhi
Victoria Gichuhi is the Principal of Daraja Academy, whose role is to ensure all learning and activities that support secondary education are well coordinated.
Victoria Gichuhi is the Principal of Daraja Academy, whose role is to ensure all learning and activities that support secondary education are well coordinated. Since Simama’s inception, Victoria has worked closely with Matt in Kenya on consultative grounds. In the year 2013 she joined in as a member of Simama’s board of directors.
Victoria holds a degree in Education and is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Business administration at Kenyatta University. Her passion is to change the world through children’s education.
Mohamed Adam Shaiya
Mohamed is passionate about Simama because we help rehabilitate kids who would otherwise not have the opportunity to succeed in life.
A native of Kenya, Mohamed earned a degree in business finance from Ryerson University in Ontario Canada. He has worked in the film industry since 1996. Mohamed is passionate about Simama because we help rehabilitate kids who would otherwise not have the opportunity to succeed in life. He loves to cook and owns one of the best restaurants in Nanyuki.