EKM

Legal Scholar & Human Rights Practitioner

Bridging the Gap Between International Human Rights Theory and Judicial Practice in Africa.

Dr. Edward Kahuthia Murimi is a Kenyan human rights scholar, advocate, and policy expert specializing in international and African human rights law, democratic governance, and accountability. He is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Amsterdam Centre f…

Contact
Nairobi / Amsterdam
kahuthia.edward@gmail.com
Dr. Edward Kahuthia Murimi

15+

Years Experience

30+

Publications

20+

Consultancies

Work Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher

Amsterdam Centre for International Law (UvA)

Sept 2025 – Present

Leading the examination of the African human rights system within the 'Beyond Compliance' project. Researching legal-jurisprudential conditions for effectiveness in non-democratic regimes.

ResearchHuman RightsAcademia

Doctoral Researcher

Ghent University

Jan 2021 – Mar 2025

Investigated the evidentiary regime at the African Court (DISSECT Project). Conducted fieldwork in Arusha, interviewed judges, and lectured on International Human Rights Law.

Evidence LawAfrican CourtTeaching

Legal Intern (Legal Division)

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Mar 2022 – June 2022

Drafted judgments and rulings. Developed a code of evidentiary standards which was adopted in the Court's revised Practice Directions (March 2024).

AdjudicationDraftingArusha

Technical Advisor

GIZ Kenya (Strengthening Good Governance)

Sept 2017 – Dec 2020

Provided advisory services to the Office of the Ombudsman (CAJ). Supported county governments in mainstreaming good governance in agriculture.

GovernancePublic AdministrationAdvisory

Consultant (Seconded)

African Union Commission (Addis Ababa)

June 2016 – Jan 2017

Developed draft indicators/benchmarks for the African Governance Platform to measure implementation of the ACDEG. Served as lead speech writer for DPA leadership.

Policy DraftingAfrican UnionGovernance Indicators

Practicing Advocate & Partner

Munyao Kayugira and Company Advocates

Jan 2016 – to date

Specialized in Constitutional law, administrative law, employment law, and general commercial litigation.

LitigationCommercial LawHuman Rights

Legal Editor

Kenyan Judiciary

2017- Present

Legal editor for Kenyan judiciary’s first Bench book on electoral disputes resolution.

Legal EditingElectoral LawJudiciary

Journal Reviewer

African Human Rights Law Journal

2024-Present

Peer reviewer for the African Human Rights Law Journal, providing critical feedback on submissions related to human rights law and practice in Africa.

Peer ReviewHuman RightsAcademic Publishing

Programme Advisor

Kenya Human Rights Commission

Sept 2014 – Dec 2014

Lead implementer of the Kenya Horticulture Project. Coordinated regional colloquiums on economic rights and managed legal aid clinics.

Labor RightsProject ManagementAdvocacy

Programme Officer (Labour Rights)

COBADES

July 2011 – Aug 2014

Trained farm managers and workers in horticulture/tea sectors on gender-based violence and labor rights. Compiled a casebook on industrial court jurisprudence.

TrainingLabor RightsGender Policy

Programme Associate

Labour Awareness and Resource Centre

Mar 2010 – Mar 2011

Authored IEC materials on labor rights and conducted 'people's parliaments' for workers in the tea and sisal sectors.

Civic EducationGrassroots Advocacy

Education

Doctor of Law (PhD)

Ghent University, Belgium

2021 – 2025

Thesis title - Evidence at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: The Case for an Equitable Applicant-Centred Approach as a Pathway to Substantively Fairer Decisions

Master of Laws (Distinction)

University of Pretoria, South Africa

2015

Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa.

Diploma in Human Rights & Gender Equality

Uppsala University, Sweden

2011 – 2012

Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies

Kenya School of Law, Kenya

2010 – 2011

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B, Second Class Upper)

University of Nairobi, Kenya

2005 – 2009

Specialized Training

Transitology – Pathways to and from Democracy

Global Campus of Human Rights | 2023

Autumn School on Decentralisation and Local Governance

University of Potsdam, Germany | 2019

Summer School on Development Policy

University of Bonn, Germany | 2018

International Framework on Freedom of Expression & Safety of Journalists

University of Pretoria / UNESCO | 2017

Children’s Rights in Africa

University of Pretoria | 2015

Civil Society Law in Africa

University of Pretoria | 2015

Disability Rights in an African Context

University of Pretoria | 2015

The Human Rights of Sexual Minorities in Africa

University of Pretoria | 2015

Public International Law

University of Pretoria | 2015

Policy and Legislative Drafting (Training with Clarity)

TCA | 2014

Selected Consultancies

  • Legal Consultant
    Knoops’ Advocaten (Amsterdam): For an Application filed at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ongoing).
  • Rapporteur
    • African Union: 2018 African Union Annual African Anti-Corruption Dialogue on Corruption Measurement held from 2nd to 4th October 2018 in Arusha, Tanzania.
    • African Union: 7th Annual Humanitarian Symposium held from 18th to 20th November 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya.
    • African Union: Continental Youth Consultation: Youth and Forced Displacement in Africa held on 2nd-3rd December 2019 in Kampala, Uganda.
    • African Union: 8th High Level Dialogue on the theme – 'The Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa' held on 4th -6th December 2019 in Kampala, Uganda.
    • Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR): Annual General Meeting held on 27th -29th January 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya.
    • International Development Law Organization (IDLO): National Gender and Equality Commission's Training on Cultural and Traditional Structures on Equality and Inclusion in Elections in May 2017 in Murang'a, Kenya.
  • Consultant
    Hivos Foundation: Developed Position Paper on 'Workplace Sexual Harassment Policies in Kenya’s Horticulture Sector' (2016).
  • Workshop Facilitator
    • Hivos Foundation - Women@Work Campaign: Conducted a workshop in Lusaka, Zambia for Civil Society actors drawn from East and Central Africa on International and Regional Frameworks on Corporate Accountability.
    • Kenya Human Rights Commission: Facilitated human rights education workshops in Meru and Laikipia Counties in Kenya.
  • Researcher
    MUHURI: Delivered research paper on 'The Legal, Policy and Regulatory Framework in Kenya on Migrant Workers'.
  • Consultant
    CRECO-Kenya: Rapid response research project on escalating insecurity in Bungoma County.

Selected Publications

Newspaper Articles

Yes, it’s time to repeal criminal defamation lawThe Standard, 16 Aug 2025How to investigate torture cases and deaths under police custodyThe Standard, 28 June 2025African Court did not say we postpone the electionsDaily Nation, 28 July 2021Fight coronavirus but respect human rightsThe Standard, 31 Mar 2020Care, lest BBI tampers with graft warDaily Nation, 28 Jan 2020DCI and EACC have shared mandate to investigate corruptionThe Standard, 27 Mar 2019Judiciary at fault to issue long pre-trial detention ordersThe Standard, 27 Feb 2019It’s duty of State to protect right of assembly and demonstrationDaily Nation, 18 May 2016When the arms of government test boundaries’ The Standard, 23 Aug 2015How to tame labour unrest and make employees happyThe Standard, 5 Jan 2014How about trade unions creating a ‘strike fund’ for their members?The Standard, 5 Aug 2013Dear Mr. President, don’t discriminate private school children on laptopsThe Standard, 11 Apr 2013Strikes still remain an option of last resort in industrial disputesThe Standard, 8 Sep 2012Vet all Industrial Court judges tooThe Standard, 23 Mar 2012Why justice must precede peaceThe Standard, 28 Feb 2012Who is really benefiting from EPZs in Kenya?Business Daily Africa, 4 Jan 2012The right to life versus the right to strikeBusiness Daily Africa, 14 Dec 2011Women should demand gender parityBusiness Daily Newspaper, 23 Nov 2011Labour Institutions Act must be in line with ConstitutionThe Standard, 20 Mar 2011Trade unions’ elections a sham’The Standard, 4 Feb 2011

Get In Touch

Nairobi, Kenya

Munyao Kayugira & Company Advocates

Lower Hill Duplex, 2nd Floor, Room 51, Bunyala Road

edward@smkadvocates.com +254 723 653 745Visit Website

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam Center for International Law

University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Law, REC A, Room 10.02, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV

e.k.murimi@uva.nl +31 6 26 26 78 52Visit Website