John Baru

I had the privilege of working with John for more than ten years during my tenure at CHS, a recipient of CDC funding for HIV/AIDS programs. Throughout this period, I reported directly to John on all financial matters. John exemplifies principled and effective leadership. He established clear standards for financial accountability while fostering a collaborative environment across CDC and its implementing partners. His technical command of financial management is exceptional. He initiated the development of the Budget Monitoring Tool (BMT) and successfully cascaded it to all CDC implementing partners in Kenya, significantly enhancing budget tracking, forecasting accuracy, and expenditure oversight. He conducted regular Business System Assessments at CHS with professionalism and objectivity, and as a direct outcome of his engagement, CHS has maintained strong internal controls and has not received any adverse audit opinions since its inception 16 years ago. Beyond his technical competencies, John is a person of remarkable character: humble, respectful, and genuinely collaborative. I recommend him unreservedly for any senior role requiring leadership in financial and grants management.

I worked closely with John Baru during his time at CDC, where he served as a Cooperative Agreements/Grants Manager supporting complex USG-funded programs. John demonstrated strong expertise in grants management, including budget review, financial monitoring, compliance with donor requirements, and partner monitoring and oversight. He provided practical guidance to implementing partners, ensuring adherence to federal regulations, strengthening accountability, and improving the quality and timeliness of financial and programmatic reporting. John combined technical rigour with a collaborative approach, working effectively with programme teams and partners to resolve issues and mitigate risks. His professionalism, responsiveness, and deep understanding of grants management made him a trusted advisor and valuable partner throughout the lifecycle of cooperative agreements.