Eddy Gicheru Oketch was once a street boy in Kakamega town. Through a Dr.khaemba, he went back to school and later got a scholarship as one of the first students at the South African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg.
While there, he became a student leader and made networks around the world. He then proceeded to Trinity College in the United States, and eventually Yale University where he graduated with a Masters in Global Affairs.
Eddy has been DFIDs youth ambassador on peace issues for over ten years. In addition, he is one of the heads of the Environmental Program in the Obama foundation worldwide.
The upcoming politician who gave ODM a run for their money in the just concluded Migori Senatorial race is a founder member of Ongoza. Ongoza, with offices both in Kenya and the US, was founded in 2007/2008 after the (post-election violence (PEV). It aims to scale high-potential youth-led small and growing businesses as a means of tackling the youth unemployment challenge in Kenya and promoting a more prosperous and stable society.
A close friend of Eddy says he's had the privilege of visiting sitting presidents with Eddy.
"We've travelled without visas because we were state guests. They call him and he calls them just as I do call you," says the friend portraying Eddy as a very well connected person.
Eddy Gicheru Oketch has been the recipient of global awards including the 2012 Impact Award from the Kenyan US Diaspora, the 2013 Africa Village’s Top 30 Under 30, Most Inspirational Young People on the African continent and Salt’s 2015 top 30 under 30 most innovative and influential youth in Africa.
Those who know him describe him as humble, and with one of the best brains, they have encountered. He's also described as a hardworking person and is one of the few Kenyans who has invested in trees and earn carbon credits. He's also a consultant in several Kenyan organisations where his opinion is highly valued.
During the 2017 general elections, Eddy is said to be one of the people who mobilised resources for NASA from all over the world. He also financed some of the foreign trips by the opposition leader.
Eddy is one of the few Kenyans who has earned their rightful place in world affairs. He attends and addresses the UN general assembly and the G7 summit on Global Youth and Peace issues.