Kemela was born over 50 years ago to Robert Papaa Gbaingbain Okara of Bumoundi in Bayelsa State and Esther Bulounimigha Okara (nee Oki) of Patani in Delta State. He was born in London, England. His late Father was a Judge in the old Rivers State Judiciary whilst his late Mother retired as a Deputy Director in the old Rivers State Ministry of Health.
He attended the Township School and Port Harcourt Primary School and later Federal Government College, Enugu and Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Port Harcourt for his secondary school education. Thereafter, he proceeded to the United Kingdom for his “A” Levels after spending a year as a prelim student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He graduated with Honours in Law from the University of Middlesex, London and was called to the Bar of England and Wales at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn and later as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He has practiced law, for over 20 years, set up the first bank to bank to bank money transfer service in the United Kingdom and does a huge amount of voluntary work in the not for profit sector. He is a founding partner of Streamsowers and Kohn a major commercial Law firm with offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. He also sits on the board of Arc Lights Limited holders of the Lego franchise for West Africa and parts of North Africa. He is active in the not for profit sector as a Trustee of Freedom Foundation and a Director of KSF Micro Finance Bank. He is also very active in leadership in his local church – This Present House.
Kemela published his first book “Open Windows in Babylon” in 2011 and it is available at www.amazon.com. He is currently working on his second book which is due for publication this year.
In February 2012, Kemela was a Governorship Candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the Bayelsa State Governorship elections.
He has since set up the Kemela Okara Foundation with offices in Yenagoa to provide vocational and entrepreneurial training for young men and women in the Niger Delta region.
He is happily married to Chineze and they have 4 children.