Our Founders

OUR ORIGIN

The people behind UWRA

Utafiti Wellness was founded in 2025 by two passionate Kenyan public health leaders. Their shared commitment to bridging the research‑to‑action gap has driven the organisation from day one.

We founded UWRA because we saw that too many brilliant research findings were gathering dust. We wanted to create a space where evidence meets community, where knowledge translates into action, and where health equity is not just a goal but a reality.

— Haroun Shiundu & Natasha Kisandi, UWRA Founders

Meet the Founders

Two leaders with complementary expertise driving UWRA's mission forward.

Haroun Shiundu

Founder & Director of Research & Innovation

Haroun is a public health researcher with over 5 years of experience in health systems strengthening, implementation science, and knowledge translation. He has worked with the State Department of Science Research & Innovation, international NGOs, and academic institutions. His passion lies in ensuring that evidence is not just generated but used to improve health outcomes for communities.

Natasha Kisandi

Co‑Founder & Director of Research

Natasha is a Health systems specialist with a background in participatory research, community mobilisation, and health communication. She has done several community‑based projects across Kenya, working closely with marginalised populations to co‑design solutions that are culturally appropriate and sustainable.

A shared vision

Together, Haroun and Natasha bring a unique blend of research excellence and community groundedness. Their complementary skills and shared values have shaped UWRA into an organisation that is both scientifically rigorous and deeply connected to the people it serves.

THEIR WORDS

What drives them

I have seen too many communities suffer because good research never made its way to the people who could use it. UWRA is my way of ensuring that evidence becomes a tool for empowerment, not just a publication in a journal.

— Haroun Shiundu

I believe that communities are the experts of their own lives. Our role is to listen, to learn, and to partner. When we co‑create solutions together, we build ownership, trust, and lasting change.

— Natasha Kisandi