Ford Foundation Staff Member Willy Mutunga Appointed Chief Justice of Kenya
By Ford Foundation, PRNETuesday, June 14, 2011
NEW YORK, June 15, 2011 -
The Trustees and staff of the Ford Foundation warmly
congratulate their colleague Dr. Willy M. Mutunga, who today was
confirmed by the Kenyan Parliament as the next Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Kenya.
“Around the world people are celebrating the strengthening of
Kenya’s democracy,” said Luis Ubinas, president of the Ford
Foundation. “We know Willy will serve his country and his fellow
citizens with distinction, with the highest commitment to the rule
of law, and with deep respect for the dignity of all whose cases
come before him. It is an extraordinary honor, and we know he will
be up to it. We wish him the very best.”
Dr. Mutunga was nominated for the position of chief justice by
Kenya’s Judicial Service Commission after a round of public
interviews. His nomination was then approved by President Kibaki
and Prime Minister Odinga. The formal appointment was made by the
Kenyan Parliament in a vote today.
As chief justice, Dr. Mutunga will lead the nation’s judiciary
and serve as head of the Supreme Court for a 10-year term. The
Supreme Court will play a pivotal role in the implementation of
Kenya’s new constitution and the deepening of democratic
practices-areas of expertise that Dr. Mutunga has been devoted to
his entire professional life.
Dr. Mutunga has served as the Ford Foundation Representative for
Eastern Africa, based in Nairobi, since 2009. For five years before
that, he was the program officer focused on human rights and
women’s rights. A key area of his work involved support for
inclusive and transparent constitution-building in the region,
including in Kenya.
Earlier in his career, he was executive director of the Kenya
Human Rights Commission, and from 1975 to 1998 he held positions of
increasing responsibility in a range of civil society organizations
in Kenya. He holds a D. Jur degree from Osgoode Hall Law
School, York University, and an LL.B. and LL.M. from the University
of Dar es Salaam.
The foundation was also pleased to announce that Dr. Joyce
Nyairo will serve as acting Representative for the office,
effective immediately. Dr. Nyairo has been with the Ford Foundation
since 2007, supporting the development of the media and civil
society in Eastern Africa. She holds a Ph.D. in the Humanities from
the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.
The Ford Foundation office in Kenya opened in 1962. It is one of
four offices the foundation operates in Africa, and one of 11
worldwide.
In recent years the foundation has provided significant support
to advance the region’s progress on democratic reform and
constitution-building. Our work today seeks to help the people of
Kenya advance this progress, supporting efforts to deepen fairness,
participation and opportunity for all members of Kenyan society.
The office also supports grantmaking in Tanzania and Uganda.
Read more about the foundation, its programs and its staff in
Eastern Africa at
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making
organization. For 75 years it has worked with courageous people on
the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to
strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote
international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With
headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin
America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Explore our history and interactive timeline at
Suzana Grego, Ford Foundation Media Chief, s.grego at fordfoundation.org, +1-212-573-5128
Tags: Africa, Ford Foundation, June 15, kenya, New York
