About Iyashi Wellness Centre
A woman-led Kenyan social enterprise dedicated to breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma and poverty through professional mental health solutions.
Our Story: The Why Behind Iyashi
Iyashi Wellness Centre is a woman-led Kenyan social enterprise dedicated to breaking the intergenerational cycles of trauma and poverty in vulnerable communities. It was founded in 2017 by Emiliana Mbelenga, a Clinical Psychologist and Public Health Nutritionist.
We hold a simple belief that wellbeing is the foundation upon which individuals and communities can build a thriving future.
In over 18 years of working with local and international organizations, our founder saw a recurring gap in development work. Programs often focused on providing resources but overlooked the invisible burdens of trauma, stress, and anxiety that prevented people from truly benefiting. We were treating the symptoms but not healing the person.
Iyashi was born from this insight. Our name, which means "healing," reflects our main purpose: to create spaces for healing and to build resilience from the ground up. We are driven to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and make professional, compassionate care accessible to all.
Our Team
Emiliana Mbelenga
Founder and CEO
Emiliana is a dual-certified Clinical Psychologist and Public Health Nutritionist with 18 years of experience designing and leading health programs for vulnerable populations across Africa. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to community-led, trauma-informed care. After years of leading complex projects for international partners, Emiliana founded Iyashi Wellness Centre to create and scale innovative, integrated solutions that address mental health and physical well-being.
Charles Mwangi
Monitoring & Evaluation Lead
Charles Mwangi leads our Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) section. With expertise in designing robust M&E frameworks, Charles ensures that every program we implement produces evidence-based data. He is responsible for measuring our impact and developing our theories of change (ToC), results frameworks, and data collection systems.
Edward Miyogo
Grant Management & Finance Lead
Edward Miyogo oversees our grant management and financial strategy, ensuring the highest standards of accountability and stewardship for our partners' investments. Edward manages all financial aspects of our projects. His expertise is critical in building the trust and transparency that underpins our long-term partnerships with foundations, corporations, and NGOs.