Had it not been for her job at Kenya National Library Service at Nakuru, Angella Nyamisi Maramba admits she might never have visited the US.
She was, however, to take a month-long visit to several states in the United States of America in July 2014 with four other librarians from other branches in the country. The five of them were being prepared to be the coordinators of the newly established American Corner sections in their respective libraries.
After her return in August, Angella officially took over as the coordinator of the American Corner at knls Nakuru which covers the entire second floor at the ultra-modern library. The corner was officially opened on 3rd October 2014 by the US deputy ambassador to Kenya.![]()
Education
Angella is the 2nd born in a family of 12. She was born at Nakuru’s Bondeni Maternity on 23rd February 1971. She attended Kampala primary in Molo Township before being transferred to St. Mary’s Primary then to Musaa primary where she did her KCPE in 1985.
For her secondary education, she joined Shieywe secondary school where she used to play Netball and she did her KCSE in 1989. After this, she came to Nakuru and joined Superior Commercial College to study Accounts. She studied ACNC 1 and 2 and also CPA 1. She, however, had to drop out of college in 1992 when her dad passed away on 30th May that year.
“Although I had gotten a job at knls Nakuru by then, it was my father who had been paying the tuition for me and when he was murdered that year, I had to drop out of school,” says Angella. She adds that her first salary was Kshs. 1,100 only.
In 1994, her employer sponsored her to do a certificate in Library Information Sciences at Kenya Polytechnic.
For her diploma, she attended Tracom College in Nakuru in 2010 where she was awarded a diploma by the institution in conjunction with Uganda based Busoga University. She graduated in 2013.
Work
Angella is a trained Librarian by profession. She was first employed on 1st March 1991 at the Nakuru Library which was then based at Menengai Social Hall grounds. Until January 2013, she was in charge of the Nakuru Library Junior section before taking over as the AC coordinator.
She counts the programs she has organised aimed at empowering the youth as some of her greatest achievements.
“The American Embassy has been very supportive in the running of the programs and I really thank them for my successes,” says Angella.
The awarding of full scholarships to some Nakuru students to study in the US has to be the greatest achievement of the American Corner. The first batch of 14 students will be leaving on 20thJuly 2016 and another 38 are being prepared for the same,” says Angella.
Other projects she has done are training the youth on entrepreneurial and practical income earning skills like bead making and shaggy mat making.
In her capacity as the AC coordinator, Mrs. Wanyonyi has also been visiting institutions for the underprivileged like Hospitals, Children’s homes, and schools for the physically handicapped. She has also been involved in talents development and for most of 2015 hosted the American Kona Open mike show before it was disbanded.
Personal life
Angella is both a wife and a mother. Her marriage to Corporal Makokha who is a policeman stationed in Garissa has them blessed with five children the last born of whom did his KCPE in 2015.
Three of her children are in college with the firstborn studying Library Information sciences at Kenyatta University. The 2nd born is at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) doing Computer engineering and the other has studied Plane dispatch at Nairobi Aviation College. Her other child is currently a student at Flamingo Secondary school in Nakuru.
Away from work, Angella is engaged in poultry farming and supplies eggs and poultry to her customers regularly. She is a board member at three schools and the secretary at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church, Ngata and is also a chorister.
She is active on various social media including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn where she has established her brand.