Stephen Ochieng Nyandiare: From Slums of Kisumu to Rubbing Shoulders with Presidents

Stephen Ochieng’ Nyandiare (H.S.C.) was born and raised in Kisumu, Kenya, but today he is
rubbing shoulders with captains of businesses worldwide and presidents of nations and working as
special advisers on global issues to many world leaders. He came into the limelight a few years ago as the first president and representative of the Kenyan Youth in the office of the then Vice President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Kalonzo Musyoka.

From then on, he has spearheaded roundtable discussions on salient issues affecting the African continent, engaging major constituents such as the African Diplomatic Corps, African American Unity Caucus, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus, among others, around the world. Hon. Stephen was part of the First Cohort of Young African Leaders invited and hosted by President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future of Africa under the Young African Leadership Initiative. In 2009, Stephen Ochieng was recognized by late President Mwai Kibaki as part of the 100 most influential young people in Kenya and awarded a Head of State Commendation (H.S.C.) in recognition of his efforts. Stephen has advised and has been consulted on several high-level government projects in Africa, holding high level business discussions with global partners and African leaders. Most recently, he has been engaged by the leadership of Malawi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Ghana, among others.

Stephen has worked with several foreign companies, introducing them to the African markets, and he is a
member of the Africa Centre for International Arbitration and Settlement of Investment Disputes, a member of the Rotary Club of Gigiri, a peace ambassador with Peace One Day, a board member of the World Youth Parliament, a member of the International Youth Council, a member of the Pan African Movement, a co-founder of Afrique LLC (a lobbying company), and the founder of One Vibe Entertainment, among other enterprises he runs in Kenya and outside of Kenya.

Hon. Stephen has worked under the African Union (AU) on the Countries Development Agenda (Silencing the Guns of Africa by 2020) in Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, and Tanzania, with several other convenings that he has done, including being the chief annual convener of the Lake Region Investment Conference in DC. Stephen has worked with governments advising on foreign direct investments, high-net-worth individuals, multinational companies, and private entities and in the entertainment world.

edge in leveraging business and politics and comes in as a cogent thinker, a persuasive speaker, and a successful conciliator. In August 2024, Stephen Nyandiare and Dr. Mrs. Ida Odinga were among the 34 winners of the Voice Achievers Award 2024 held in Nairobi, Kenya. Nyandiare is among the rising Kenyan youngsters in the global arena who have been recognized by Forbes as Influential Young Africans making a global impact in the area of business enhancement on the African continent. On the heels of these accomplishments, he was appointed as a senior advisor to the prestigious Climate Change Forum (CC Forum). He is currently eyeing the Kisumu senatorial seat in 2027.

Nyandiare has previously worked as a property business development director, investment consultant and strategic liaison personnel on international trades with Africa and around the world, government relations consultant, and building international trades between Africa and global partners. He is also a political adviser to many African countries and political leaders. Steven Nyandiare has held several key positions and responsibilities in the past; he is a senior advisor to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisai Al-Qassimi, a member of the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He is also a very strong advocate and lobbyist to ensure the election of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is vying to become the president of the Africa Union Commission. Hon. Stephen, accompanied by other powerful delegations, went to Addis Ababa to present his bidding for the top job. Hon. Stephen says he is confident that Rt. Honorable Raila Odinga is well endowed and prepared to lead the African Union for greater prosperity of the continent, and he should be given the top job. “This is a time for African youth to be part of decision making on Africa’s business and geopolitics. There is an opportunity for Africa and the African youths,” he declares as he attends the inauguration of the newly elected Ghanaian president, President John Mahama.