Springfield, Missouri, USA — James Shikwati, Country Coordinator for SIFE Kenya, was named among the top 100 most influential Kenyans in a study released by The Standard Group, one of Kenya’s leading media houses.  As founder and Executive Director of the Inter Region Economic Network, Shikwati is a self-taught libertarian economist who promotes freedom of trade as the driving solution to poverty in Africa. 

His passion for this belief shows in all he does and writes.  He has argued this point on international television and in major newspapers, reasoning that foreign aid to Africa is not as beneficial as an unrestrained independent economic environment. Through his work with SIFE Kenya, James Shikwati is able to share his ideas and enthusiasm with young Kenyans who are working to create opportunity in Kenya’s national economy.

James Shikwati has served as the Country Coordinator for SIFE Kenya since 2002.  During that time, the SIFE program has grown to include over 600 students at 14 different universities in Kenya.