Christopher L. Bunting ’93 and Francis Chachu Ganya ’96

Christopher Bunting ’93 and Francis Chachu Ganya ’96 have centered their passion and partnership to enhance education opportunities for the children of Northern Kenya.  When Chris studied abroad in Kenya in 1992, he met Chachu, who was preparing to attend St. Lawrence.  They became close friends, and having stayed in touch throughout the years, Chris connected with Chachu when he returned to Kenya in 1998.  That trip was the cornerstone of their partnership, as they made plans to establish the Wema Scholarship Fund, which started aiding a few students’ education aspirations by 1999. Then, in 2004, this Laurentian duo decided to develop a U.S.-based non-profit to support these efforts titled the Northern Kenya Fund to utilize the gift of education to help reduce poverty in the Chalbi Desert region, one of the poorest in Kenya.  In the last two and half decades of operation, they have supported 2,336 students and are currently providing scholarships to 500 students.  They’ve also supported eight students in pursuing university education who are now all gainfully employed.

Chris graduated with honors from St. Lawrence in 1993 in Environmental Studies and Sociology. The Bozeman, Montana native was a member of the Mountain Bike Club, Outdoor Guides, Sidewaves Magazine and was a brother of Phi Sigma Kappa.  Chris also served as a Student Coordinator for the Kenya Semester Program and his time studying abroad in Kenya in 1992 helped shape his future, as the social entrepreneur focuses on creating greater well-being for both the planet and individuals. Chris is the co-founder of the two nonprofits and strategically guides several others through board participation. Prior to the Northern Kenya Fund, he and his wife Rebekah co-founded Beyond Boundaries Institute in 2001, a nonprofit entity utilizing hatha yoga to help people enhance their physical and inner well-being. Chris currently serves as the board president of the Bunting Family Foundation, board chair of the Montana Wilderness School and a board member of Ktunuxa Cultural Exchange.

Having become interested in attending St. Lawrence after interacting with students on the Kenya Semester Program, Chachu went on to graduate from St. Lawrence in 1996 with honors in Environmental Studies and Government. He served as a Student Coordinator for the Kenya Abroad Program while also working as a Resident Assistant. Following his Commencement, Chachu earned a post-graduate certificate in non-profit management and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University with a concentration in environmental policy and management. He returned to Kenya in 1999 where he began his career as the executive director of the Pastoralist Integrated Support Programme (PISP).  During his eight years of service, he led the non-governmental organization in its efforts to reduce poverty and vulnerability in Marsabit County’s pastoralist communities by supporting water sanitation, peace building, education, microenterprises, livelihood, emergency intervention, good governance, and health and nutrition.  He was elected to the Parliament of the Republic of Kenya in 2007 representing the North Horr Constituency and was re-elected in both 2013 and 2017.  Chachu currently works as a Stakeholders Engagement Consultant with the Northern Range Lands Trust (NRT) in Kenya, dedicated to strengthening ties between local communities, the government and the country’s resources.  He is a past president of the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples, a global alliance of pastoralist communities and mobile indigenous peoples, and has been involved in several noteworthy summits. He is also the Founder and Chairman of the Board Chalbi Scholars Organization, a Kenya non-profit and sister organization to the Northern Kenya Fund, to which his wife, Shanu Bashuna Chachu, serves as Executive Director.