As friends of Katiba Institute will know, in the last few months we have been engaged in the search for a new Executive Director following the Departure of our founding ED, Waikwa Wanyoike, in September last year.

It has been a rewarding experience. The field of applicants was strong and we felt happy that people were keen to work with us. 

After an exhaustive and participatory process, the Board of Katiba Institute has offered the position to Ms. Christine Nkonge, who prior to taking over as the acting ED, was the Senior Litigation Counsel/Public Interest Litigation Manager in charge of the litigation team. We are delighted that Christine has accepted the offer. The appointment became effective on 1^stJune 2019.

We look forward to continue working with all our partners, and assure them of our commitment to strengthening our work in support of the Constitution.  We also want to thank all our partners for being very understanding in our period of transition.

We shall be recruiting a Public Interest Litigation Manager in the near future.

Christine Nkonge: Profile

Christine joined Katiba Institute in 2014. Her former immediate employer was International Justice Mission  (IJM) Kenya. In our first Activity Report, she said:

My interest in constitutionalism was strengthened by the 2007 – 2008 post-election violence in Kenya. This event clearly demonstrated the crucial importance of proper leadership, public participation in leadership and the rule of law in a democratic state. I studied law at the University of Nairobi from where I graduated in 2006 and joined Kenya School of Law for my diploma in 2007. I was admitted to the bar as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 2008. I pursued a Master of Laws Degree, in Human Rights – International Justice Specialization from the Central European University in Budapest, graduating in 2013. I have litigated a wide spectrum of criminal cases before magistrates’ courts in Kenya, and have ample experience in children’s rights. I have also appeared before the High Court of Kenya as counsel in a number of human rights violation claims. I believe that fidelity to the Constitution is the only way to guarantee peace and democratic progress in Kenya.

She now adds: 

There has been significant progress in actualizing the 2010 Constitution; most laws that were to be enacted by Parliament under the fifth schedule have been passed, the devolved system of government became functional in 2013,independent offices and commissions have been set up, restructuring of the police service has occurred, and a more independent judiciary established. However,a lot remains to be done to achieve complete implementation of the Constitution, as envisioned by the Kenyan citizens during the referendum where they overwhelmingly voted for the Constitution. I am therefore humbled by this opportunity but at the same time excited for the chance to lead KI in assisting citizens, stakeholders, development partners and government institutions in realizing the full potential of a transformed Kenya that respects the rule of law, social justice, good governance and human rights.