Dr. Mustafa Yusuf Ali is the Founder and Chairman of the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies. He is currently serving as the Director of Arigatou International – Nairobi and the Secretary General of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), a global network active in 50 countries. He previously served as the Secretary General of the African Council of Religious Leaders and Africa Representative of Religions for Peace International. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations and Sociology from University of Portsmouth, Britain; Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Studies from University of Nairobi (Kenya); and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Sciences from Moi University (Kenya).

Dr. Mustafa has been working to build peaceful, just and harmonious societies and promoting peaceful coexistence between faiths and communities around the world for more than two decades. Together with religious leaders and multi-lateral institutions including the African Union and the United Nations, governments and partners, Dr. Mustafa has been involved extensively in finding ways to peacefully and sustainably address some of the most intractable conflicts in the most challenging countries and locations in Africa including Nigeria, Libya, Somalia, Burundi and others.

He is a recipient of the 2012 Coexist International Peace Prize which was awarded to him in New York, USA, to honor his action-oriented work and leadership in interfaith relations and dialogue, as well as conflict transformation in Africa. A panel of judges, including former Ireland President Mary Robinson, Egypt Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa, Rabbi David Rosen and others voted him for ‘his vision and courage in mobilizing religious and faith leaders in transforming difficult and challenging conflicts in many parts of Africa’. He is the author of Globalization of Terrorism: From Sicariis, Assassins to ISIS.

Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome Asmani is an expert in Islamic law, administrator, and community mobilizer. He holds a Master’s Degree in Law and Shari’ah specializing in Muslim Personal Law from International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan; and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Profession from the Kenya School of Law-Nairobi. He also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Shari’ah from International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the Punjab University – Lahore Pakistan.

Sheikh Lethome, consulted for Population Council in the debate around Islam and harmful cultural practices and co-authored a tool kit for anti-FGM/C campaigners in the Horn of Africa entitled “Delinking FGM from Islam”. As a lead consultant, he guided UNFPA Kenya into developing a Shariah compliant guide on Islam and child-spacing.

He is the chairman of both the Shariah advisory Committee of KCB, and that of the County Pension Fund (CPF) on interest free banking and Shariah compliant financial transactions.

He consulted for USAID in developing a programme for youth in Nairobi and Mombasa to prevent radicalization.

Sheikh Lethome is a long-standing lawyer specializing in Muslim personal law matters. He previously worked as a Commissioner in both the People’s Commission (Ufungamano Initiative) and the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) and was part of the team that drafted the Bill of Rights in the “Bomas draft”, the precursor to the 2010 Constitution.

He is a member of both the Jamia Mosque Committee and Supreme Council of Muslims and advices both institutions on legal and Shariah matters.

Currently Sheikh Lethome is the Secretary General of Centre for Sustainable Conflict Resolution (CSCR) whose flagship project is known as BRAVE, and one of the leading Consultants on how religion can be used to address Violent Extremism, specifically training religious leaders, community P/CVE champions, youth and other stakeholders in this regard.

His main area of interest includes how to use religion to promote peaceful co-existence, Islam and the rights of the Child, Islam and the dignity of the child in the digital world and Islam and interfaith relations.

He has severally been invited by AU and IGAD to present papers on preventing and countering violent extremism in various Countries in Africa.

Abdul Swamad Alawi has worked for National Muslim Leaders Forum as a System Support assistant and as an accountant with Nafisa and Alibhai Audit Firm. He later joined The African Council of Religious Leaders as youth intern before joining DNC Stationers Company as the Head of Sales Department.

Abdul has a Diploma in Business and ICT from the Institute of Advanced Technology, Nairobi and Bachelors of Arts in International Relations at Kenya Methodist University. He was the Chairman of Kenya Interfaith Youth Network from 2010 to 2014 which is a wing chapter of Interreligious Council of Kenya under the umbrella of Religions for Peace.

Abdul has a passion for children and youth in general and he has conducted seminars and workshop trainings in different parts of Kenya especially in the East and Western parts. Abdul has been a key player in youth activism in different subjects such as Environment awareness, eradication of small weapons, landmines and cluster ammunitions campaigns, countering violent extremism.

He is involved in many charity events that aim to benefit children from under privileged families especially orphans.

Sheikh Ramadhan Aula Juma is an expert in Islamic law, Administrator, and social and political mobilizer. He holds a Master’s degree in Religious Studies from University of Nairobi and a Bachelor’s degree in Sharia from Islamic University of Madina, Saudi Arabia. He also has a diploma in Administration from UK and holds certificates in Project Management, Communication, and Leadership.

Sheikh Ramadhan who is the current Programme Manager for BRAVE, worked as lecturer of Religious Studies (Islamic Studies) at Mt. Kenya University, and previously Lecturer University of Nairobi. He also authored learning material for beginners of Arabic Studies. He has engaged on matters of de-radicalization and wrote articles which were published in section of dailies in Kenya. He also facilitated fora that brokered peace between Akamba and Maasai communities who were in conflict over the grazing land and the livestock market.

Sheikh Ramadhan has wealth of experience in social mobilization, facilitation and training. He facilitated Intra-faith Community Dialogue Fora funded by UNDP in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Isiolo and Marsabit. Edited the BRAVE Training Manual and Resource Guide on Narratives of Violent Extremists and Counter-Narratives. He also facilitated Inter-faith Community Dialogue Fora funded by UNDP for Coast Region and North Eastern Region. He trained BRAVE ToT on Resilience, Narratives and Counter-Narratives of the violent extremist groups in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, Isiolo and West Kenya.

Trained Youth on resilience, Narratives and Counter Narratives of the Violent Extremist groups. He assisted in editing the Translated version of the Training Manual and Resource Guide into Swahili that was used for training. He worked with the Center for Study and Practice of Direct Democracy in the Youth Assembly Programme which was a platform for initiation of young people into leadership. The platforms were erected around the country (Kenya) and nurtured youth who took part in leadership positions and responsibilities where some took competitive positions and were elected in general elections. He also played an active role in the campaigns for peaceful elections where a white ribbon movement was launched symbolizing peace as a co-founder of Coalition of Youth Against Violence (COYAV). This was during Kenya’s 2002 general elections working with Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat. He recently participated in Scoping Mission with National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on CVE activities in Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi. He was the secretary of the team comprising of members from NCTC, NCIC, SUPKEM and UNDP

Academic Qualification

• Masters of Education (completing) Educational Policy and Leadership, Moi University
• Bachelor of Education (B.ED Arts) History and Religion, University of Nairobi

Area of Specialization

• Basic counseling skills
• International leadership ( community service and volunteerism)
• Mentoring
• Policing and human rights

Achievements and Affiliations

• Helped in the establishment of a fully-fledged Educational Institute.
• Represented Muslim women in the National Constitutional Conference.
• Nominated in the participation of the International visitor leadership programme in the United States.
• Mentored girls at school and through the UNICEF/G.O.K programme.
• Assisted girls to access education through different scholarship programmes from primary to tertiary levels.
• Represented Muslim women and pastoralists in international and national forums.
• Providing civic education to parents, teachers, staff and students and the general public.
• Providing guidance and spiritual Counselling to girls and women.
• Helped in founding various women’s organizations
• Inspired and empowered young women at different levels
• Taught and mentored students who are now successful members of the society.