About activism, awards, appointments, expert
groups and forums and academic achievement
Activism
Transnational: Part of the social
movements and pressure groups concerned with issues of habitat and environment,
human rights, food sovereignty, globalization and the neo-liberal conduct of
international and supranational institutions and so on.
National: Part of the
leadership of the Kenyan reform movement that contributed to the ‘Kenyan Spring’
by removal of the dictatorial regime that reigned for four decades, and the
development and enactment of the new constitution being implemented now.
Further, protecting the autonomy of civil society, fight against corruption in
public office—particularly the Judiciary, and public land grabbing. Working
with pressure groups to sustain mass action against violations of human rights
and freedoms, on matters of habitat and environment such as displacements and
forced evictions, destruction and so on.
Awards
1999
UNCHS(Habitat) Scroll of Honor for promotion of secure tenure and transparent
land allocation in Kenya, given to Operation Firimbi (Blow the Whistle)
Campaign against public land grabbing and corruption, operated by Mazingira
Institute.
2004
Asian Foundation Award, in recognition of exemplary and dedicated services to
the people of Kenya.
2006
Firimbi (Whistle Blower) Award given by Kenya National Commission on Human
Rights (KNCHR) in recognition for championing land reform in Kenya.
Appointments
Consultant
for the organizational design and management plan of the Kenyan Truth, Justice
and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC), in operation now. Member of the Task
Force for the establishment of TJRC.
Commissioner,
Presidential Commission on Illegal/Irregular Allocation of Public Land in
Kenya.
Board
member, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC). Chair, Centre for Governance and
Development(CGD) and Trustee, Men for the Equality of Men and Women Trust(MEW).
Served
as member, Scientific Steering Committee, Management of Social Transformations
MOST) Programme, UNESCO, for policy-relevant international social science
research. Appointed by UNESCO Director General.
Consultant,
UNHabitat, on engagement of civil society in the Habitat Jam of World Urban
Forum (WUF) 3, Vancouver.
Served
HIC in various positions and as President.
Expert Groups and Forums
Served on UN Expert Groups and
panels: OHCHR and UNEP–Human Rights and Environment, UNEP—Poverty and
Environment, UNEP—Women and Enviroment, UNHabitat—Social Inclusion. UCLG/SPIDH Expert Group—Charter and Agenda
of Human Rights in the City.
Forums: Chair, 5th and
6th Global Civil Society Forum of major groups allied to UNEP.
Co-chair, CSOs Roundtables, World Urban Forums 4 and 5. Participated in World
Social Forums and leader, professional team for the design and development of
the physical facility for WSF 2007, Nairobi.
Academic achievement
Professional
training: Environmentalist and Policy Analyst (MES, York University, Toronto),
Architect/Urbanist (B.Arch. University of Nairobi).
Served
as visiting course director, Global Environmental Politics (graduate seminar).
Faculty of Environmental Studies,York University.
Published
papers and edited books.
