LAWYER
SOUND POLICIES, GOOD GOVERNANCE & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
I was one of the leading students in my high school biology class and so I always thought that I would pursue a profession in the sciences. My mother, however had a different idea for my career and enrolled me into law school, just months after I completed high school. Looking back, this was the best decision that was made for me because my career in the law has opened up the world to me and helped me maximize on my innate talents and abilities.
As a generalist, I have explored varied interests within my multisectoral career. I spent my early years in the Civil Society, working with national and international institutions that were focused on human rights, democracy and institutional reforms. It is during this period and while serving in leadership positions, that I honed my skills in policy and governance through research, advocacy and community empowerment initiatives.
I thereafter got into politics. I joined think tanks that engaged in public policy research, where I contributed to the development of political commentary on Kenya’s socio-economic and cultural spheres. My varied media appearances on local and international media platforms, as well as my publications in print media, communicated to a wider audience on Kenya and Africa’s achievements and potential. I was also nominated by one of the leading political parties, for the position of Member of Parliament in the13th Parliament of Kenya.
I later joined the Public Service, where I have served in senior positions as a Presidential Speech Writer (within the Executive Office of the President), a Chief of Staff in the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage and as a Writer and Researcher in the Office of the Government Spokesperson.
Select Policy Engagements
- Chairperson of the Taskforce on Review of the National Sports Policy Framework and the Sports Act No. 25 of 2013.
- Engaged in the Parliament & Civil Society Working Group on the development of the Health Bill, 2017
- Collaborated in the ‘TBIsNotACrime’ Campaign, on the constitutionality of jailing of TB Drug patients.
- Teamed in the campaign against the Forced and Coerced Sterilization of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, leading to policy recommendations to government on its obligation to prevent and redress non-consensual sterilization.
- Partnered in the campaign for Emergency Health Care in Kenya following the #AlexMadagaCase. The campaign contributed to the inclusion of emergency health care provisions in the Health Bill, 2017.
- Liaised in the development of the joint submission to Parliament on the Kenya Police Amendment laws including, the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill 2013 and the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2013;
- Member of the Zinduka Festival East Africa Organizing Committee and Convener of the Constitutionalism forum
- Collaborated in the development of the Access to Information Bill, 2013.
- Membership to the Civil Society led Kenya Police Reforms Working Group
- Membership to the government- led Protection Working Group on Internal Displacement. The group spearheaded the development of the National Policy and Bill for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kenya.
Select Governance Engagements
- Wrote speeches for H.E the President (Kenya) for local, national and international addresses, on the progress of the implementation of government plans and projects under the Big4 Agenda
- Collaborated in the development of the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan for the Presidency (Government of Kenya) and the development of the State House Citizen Service Delivery Charter.
- Provided overall direction for the research department under the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU) and established a repository for the department’s research resources
- Managed a team of 26 staff in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, providing leadership and direction in the execution of government projects and ministerial initiatives.
- Wrote speeches, press releases and related correspondences for the Cabinet Secretary – Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage for local, national and international addresses
- Oversaw the development of the Office of the Government Spokesperson (OGS) weekly bulletin.
- Membership to four (4) departmental committees within the Executive Office of the President;
- National Cohesion and Values Committee
- Communication Policy Committee
- Data and Knowledge Management Committee
- Procurement Advisory Committee
Select Publications and Strategic Communication Engagements
- Print media contributor, with more than seven (7) years as a weekly columnist for the People Daily Newspaper, on topical issues of policy, governance and communication
- Research assistance for the publication of the book, ‘“Municipalities and IDPs outside Camps: The case of Kenya’s “integrated” Displaced Persons.’ By Prisca Kamungi. (Published by the Brookings Institution)
Education
- Master of Arts in International Studies (University of Nairobi)
- Advocate of the High Court of Kenya
- Post-Graduate Diploma in Law (Kenya School of Law)
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Moi University)
Affiliations
- Law Society of Kenya
- Obama Foundation
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference
- Christ Is The Answer Ministries (CITAM)