Polycarp Oduor Okeyo (Poly)

Poly is a social scientist with more than six years’ extensive and availed experience in management of community-based research and relief, health development, and community education and promotion within Kenya from a rights based approach. He has direct experience with communities at grass roots, with proven skills and knowledge. Polycarp Oduor Okeyo reaches out to key populations including gays, bisexuals, transwomen, and sex workers (LGBTIQ) and currently serves as chief executive director for Shinners, a community-based organization in Western Kenya that targets male sex workers and the GBT community with health, advocacy on human rights, and economic empowerment interventions. Upon completion of the Fellowship, he hopes to have re-energized knowledge and zeal to increase his way of doing activism. The skills will increase his organizational visibility and mobilization strategy for sustainable activism to secure LGBTI rights, as well as give him good networking opportunities to pull resources and advance his mission.