Our People
Faculty and Staff
Prof Nancy Booker
Prof. Nancy Booker is a Professor and the Dean at the Graduate School of Media and Communications . She has had a distinguished career as an academic, teacher, researcher, administrator, leader and media practitioner with over 20 years experience. Prof. Booker specializes in broadcast journalism, multimedia storytelling, media management and health communication and research and has several academic publications in these areas. She has also been trained in leadership at Harvard.
Prior to joining GSMC Nancy was head of the Department of Journalism and Communication at Multimedia University of Kenya and was actively involved in teaching, mentorship, research, and curriculum development. She previously taught at Daystar University and at ABC University in Liberia where she set up the Media and Communication Department in post-war Liberia.
She had stints at the national broadcaster, KBC, and later Nation Media Group's flagship, NTV, where she honed her skills. Today she is a regular commentator on local TV stations.
Prof. Booker continues to contribute to the media industry in the region in significant ways. Presently she serves as one of the seven members of the Media Complaints Commission, an independent arm of the Media Council of Kenya, which adjudicates complaints against the media. She also been a juror for the Kenyan Annual Journalism Excellence Awards. At a regional level, she is a founding member and current board member of the East African Communication Association (EACA). This organization is involved in harnessing regional synergies and capacity building for media and communication scholars in the region. Prof. Booker has also been involved in training, research and consultancies for several organizations. Some of these include The Open Society, Sida, UNDP, MCK, KEG, Thomson Foundation and NMG.
As part of her service to the community, Nancy is a trustee of Amani Ya Juu – Kenya, a social economic enterprise committed to peace and reconciliation for women from several African nations and cultures.
Prof George Nyabuga
George Nyabuga is the Associate Dean at the Aga Khan University's Graduate School of Media and Communications and an Associate Professor of media and journalism. He was the coordinator of the Executive Master's in Media Leadership and Innovation programme at the School before he was appointed Associate Dean. He taught at the University of Nairobi for more than 13 years before joining Aga Khan. Prof. Nyabuga has also taught Journalism, and Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Worcester, and International Media and Communication, and Comparative Politics at Coventry University both in the United Kingdom. He also worked at the Standard Group as a Managing Editor in charge of weekend editions (Saturday and Sunday) as well as Media Convergence. He has worked as the communications head at African Network Information Centre in Mauritius, and at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. He currently sits on the Executive Council of the Kenya Editors' Guild representing academia. He has a PhD in Media, Politics and History from Coventry University, a Master of Arts in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of South Africa, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of London, a Diploma in Journalism from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and a post-graduate certificate in teaching in higher education from the University of Worcester.
Prof Peter Kimani
Peter Kimani, PhD, is a Professor of Practice and an internationally acclaimed author, journalist and editor. As an interdisciplinary scholar, his research cuts across four main areas: journalism, creative writing, African literature, and postcolonial studies. He specialises in 20th Century African literature, East Africa's South Asian diaspora, and the politics of language and decolonisation. His work explores how colonial discourse is constructed and reconstructed in contemporary journalistic practice and its implications on Africa's development. This intersectionality of journalism and creative writing feels fortuitous; as digital media continue to disrupt the way information is gathered and disseminated, traditional media are increasingly turning to creative writing strategies to inaugurate new forms of storytelling.
Prof Kimani has published four books—including Dance of the Jakaranda, a New York Times Notable Book of 2017. He was one of only three international poets commissioned by NPR to present a poem to mark Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. His journalism has been published in leading newspapers of the world, from the New York Times to the NewAfrican, the oldest pan-African newsmagazine. He also served as a senior writer/editor and columnist for the Daily Nation and The Standard, two of the region's largest media organisations.
He reported all major news developments in the nation and region. He was deployed to Darfur to report the 2004 atrocities, now the subject of an International Criminal Court investigation; covered conflicts in Northern Uganda and Somalia; reconstruction efforts in South Sudan; HIV/Aids in Botswana, among others. His journalistic oeuvre at both The Standard and the Daily Nation long surpassed the 1,000-mark comprising deep investigations, penetrating analyses, features, opinions and editorials.
Prof Kimani has taught at the prestigious Amherst College and the University of Houston, where he completed a doctorate supervised by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, one of the world's best-known living writers.
Click here to view his publications.
Dr Denis Galava, PhD
Dr Galava is an interdisciplinary scholar and public affairs specialist with more than 25 years of professional experience in the media, academia and development sector. He has served as the Managing Editor of Kenya's largest newspapers – The Daily Nation and The Standard – and was also the Global Media Relations and Advocacy Director at the African Wildlife Foundation. He recently served as a Strategic Communications Consultant with the World Bank. Dr Galava’s research interests include the political economy of the media and the media representation of political and social issues and publics such as elections, gender and minority groups. He has published his research on these topics widely in peer-reviewed academic books and journals. He has also published for the general audience. His current research is exploring the impact of generative AI on newsroom practices and cultures in Africa. He is also researching the Gen Z protests in Kenya, specifically TikTok and the new registers of protest in Kenya. He is the founder of Athari Communications, a specialist agency that works with foundations and not-for-profits to tell their stories of change. He holds a PhD in African Studies from the University of Edinburgh, an MSc in African Studies from the University of Oxford, an MA in Peace Studies from Coventry University and a B.Ed (Arts) from Kenyatta University.
His published work includes:
Galava, Denis and Kanyinga, Karuti (2024). “Protecting the win, and securing the base: Kenya’s 2022 presidential election dispute and outcome” Journal of East African Studies https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2024.2373626
Galava, Denis. 2020. “The Role of Traditional Media.” The Oxford Handbook of Kenyan Politics. 1st ed. Oxford University Press. Web
Galava, Denis. 2019. “From Whispers to the Assemblage: Surveillance in post-Independence East Africa” in Maggie Dwyer and Thomas Molony (Eds.) Social Media and Politics in Africa: Democracy, Censorship and Security. London: Zed Books
Galava, Denis. 2018. “From Watchdogs to Hostages of Peace: The Kenyan Press and the 2013 General Election” in News making Cultures in Africa, ed. H. Mabweazara, 313–334. London: Palgrave Macmillan
Galava, Denis. 2015. “From Watchdog to Hostages of Peace: The Kenyan Media and the 2013 General Election” in Otieno, Fred (ed,) New Constitution, Same Old Challenges: Reflections of Kenya’s 2013 General Election. Nairobi: Society for International Development/Uraia Trust
Galava, Denis. 2011. “Review: Birth of a Nation: The Story of a Newspaper in Kenya”, African Affairs, 110 (439)
Dr Caroline Kiarie
Dr Kiarie is a full-time faculty at GSMC and a communications professional with over 20 years' experience in both academia and industry. An able manager having worked with global teams in financial services, conference management, communication agency, and academia. She strongly believes in collaborative efforts to drive goal attainment in organizations and understands how to motivate others to work well together.
Her areas of expertise are corporate communication, interpersonal communication, public relations, and social media. She has worked and trained with several organizations in Kenya, South Africa, and the USA in strategic communication, soft skills, and public speaking. As a communication liaison, she has worked for international organizations with an interest in Kenya. Dr. Kiarie has researched and written papers on social topics that have been published and presented at conferences in different parts of the world. Her peer-reviewed publications are on colorism and Twitter conversations in Kenya, students' perceptions of online collaborative learning, and university crises. She is currently working on ICT in higher learning institutions and, the utilization of AI by Public Relations professionals.
Before joining GSMC, Dr. Kiarie served as an assistant professor in Strategic Communication at USIU-Africa. She has been an adjunct faculty and lecturer at Daystar University, Kenya Methodist University, and Co-operative University of Kenya, instructing both undergraduate and graduate students in theories and concepts of communications covering such topics as market research, communication strategies, interpersonal communication, social media, public speaking, communication skills, consumer behavior and persuasion, public relations, corporate communication, communication and advertising, community development, communication and culture, communication and conflict management and organizational communication among others. She has also supervised, advised, and examined graduate students, and trained and mentored other professionals in the writing and research of theses and dissertations.
She holds a PhD in Communication, Media and Cultural Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), a Master of Science degree in Communications and Marketing from Franklin University (USA), and an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi (Kenya). She is a member of Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), East Africa Communication Association (EACA), South African Communication Association (SACOMM), and International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). She also recently received certificates on designing and improving online courses by Quality Matters.
Henry Kibira
Henry is a Teaching Assistant at the Graduate School of Media and Communications. Prior to joining GSMC, Henry worked at Radio Africa Group (The Star newspaper) as a news reporter, where he was seconded to the Health Desk.
He has also worked as the coordinator for the Kenya Media Network on Population and Development (KEMEP), a Network of like-minded journalists, whose primary engagement is to research and highlight human interest stories such as female genital mutilation, early marriages and population and development stories from across the country.
Henry is currently pursuing a PhD in Communication and Information Studies from the University of Nairobi, with a special interest in Terrorism and Media. He obtained both his MA in Communication and Information Studies and Bachelor’s (Hons) in Journalism and Media Studies from the University of Nairobi.
Expertise: journalism, terrorism and media, human interest stories, language and cross-cultural.
Marion Njoki
Marion is an accomplished and results-driven professional overseeing the technical operations, academic affairs, and administration at AKU - GSMC. She is tasked with managing cross-functional teams, ensuring the seamless integration of technology, efficient administrative processes, and assist the academic department in to maintain high standards of academic excellence.
In the role of Manager, Marion assists in the planning and execution of GSMC studio technical operations and academic projects, working closely with faculty, staff, and students to foster a productive and innovative learning environment. Working closely with the ICT Director, she is responsible for managing GSMC’s IT infrastructure, supporting academic programs, optimizing administrative workflows, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
With a background in both technology and higher education management, Marion is passionate about leveraging technology to enhance the educational experience and is dedicated to ensuring the university’s vision and mission of academic excellence and student success.
Prior to joining GSMC in the year 2016, she worked as a Technical Operations Manager in the broadcast and media industry for about 15 years, notable at Mediamax Ltd, Ebru TV and Broadcast Solutions International.
Marion holds a Master of Arts in IT Management from International University of Applied Sciences in Germany, a Bachelor of Science in Information Science and a Diploma in Telecommunications Engineering from KIMC
She has served as an Executive Board Member of Habel Nyamu High School in Kirinyaga County where she is actively involved in mentoring female students on how to excel in STEM subjects.
Expertise: Telecommunications, Media and broadcasting, consult broadcast engineer, administrative operations and mentorship.
Alykhan Peermohamed
Alykhan Peermohamed leads the Professional Development and Continuing Education (PDCE) department at the Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications. In this role, he has successfully spearheaded the design, development, and delivery of a wide range of professional development and executive education programs. Under his leadership, the department has experienced significant growth, expanding operations across Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania, and facilitating training for over 4,000 individuals.
Alykhan has a proven track record of driving organizational growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and managing high-profile projects. He has collaborated with esteemed institutions such as Meta, KfW, the European Union, the Harvard Kennedy School, and Global Affairs Canada.
In addition to his professional roles, Alykhan has held several volunteer leadership positions, contributing meaningfully to youth development and community engagement. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Marketing from Anglia Ruskin University and recently completed the International Training Program (ITP) for Waezeen with the Institute for Ismaili Studies. He actively participates in professional development initiatives, reflecting his ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and excellence.
Dr Hesbon Owilla
Dr Hesbon Hansen Owilla is an emerging scholar whose interest is in political communication, democracy and media role in democratization in fledgling democracies.
He teaches broadcast journalism and his research interests and enterprise in political economy of the media, media viability, the role of the media in political communications and place of emergent technology in expanding civic engagement and democratization has seen him lead many research projects and mentored many masters students.
Currently, Hesbon is the Research Lead at Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) and a faculty at the university.
He has over 14 years of university teaching experience and more than five years experience in leading research projects in East Africa under the auspices of Aga Khan University’s Media Innovation Centre and Media Futures East Africa. Within the Media Futures East Africa, he had worked with a team of researchers and media development experts from all over the globe with the overarching objective of strengthening the long-term viability of the media in East Africa and support informed communities through viable media. He has led research projects including the State of the Innovation and Media Viability in East Africa published in 2022, and Media consumption in an evolving digital world: millennials and digital published in 2023 and the latest State of Women in the Media launched in 2024.
Hesbon is a prolific writer and contributes weekly opinion editorials in the areas of the emergent tech and its democratising role, media and politics, socioeconomic issues of the day and current affairs in Kenya’s fledgling democracy from a media perspective. Currently he writes two opinion column every week for two National newspapers: The People Daily and Capital News in Kenya. Hesbon has also served the public in different capacities, including as the Chairman of the FKF Electoral Board 2024 which oversaw a free, fair, transparent, credible and verifiable elections in 2024 to the acclaim of many stakeholders including FIFA and the Government of Kenya.
Benson Githaiga
Benson is the Media Innovation Centre’s Community Manager and is responsible for community needs, assists the vibrant, diverse and dynamic innovators, fosters ideas and communities to converge and supports interpersonal and partnership relationships. As a dynamic person, his multi-skilled nature makes him a unique and valuable asset to the centre and AKU.
Prior to working at MIC, Benson worked as a Community Manager at the globally recognized innovation hub and hackerspace, iHub. He has also worked in PR, human resources, project management and account management roles.
Benson holds a BA in International Business from the United States International University.
Expertise: community needs, relationship and partnership building, innovator management
Clare Mogere
Clare Mogere is an International Development and Financial Management Professional with over 15 years of experience in overseeing multi-million-dollar donor-funded initiatives across the non-profit and public sectors. She currently serves as the Grants Manager at Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC), where she oversees end-to-end grants management, donor engagement, compliance assurance, and financial reporting.
Prior to joining AKU, Clare worked for PwC Kenya’s Projects and Portfolio management department where she worked extensively on donor funded projects. Her expertise spans grants and portfolio management, budgeting, capacity building, risk and compliance management and institutional strengthening. In her previous roles, Clare contributed to the success of large-scale development projects including the €7.7M Futures Project and the US$80M World Bank-funded TOWA Project.
Clare holds a Master of Science in Economics and Finance from the University of Leeds and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Egerton University.
