DR. WINIFRED W. KAMAU
P.O. Box 9764-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254- (0)728-652826 (cell)
+254- (0)20-2047534 (hse)
Email:
Nationality: Kenyan
KEY COMPETENCIES
- PhD in lawwith expertisein issues of women’s human rights, gender equality, democratic governance, dispute resolution.
- Teaching experience at universities and colleges in Kenya and Canada, as well as experience in facilitation at seminars and workshops for diverse clientele.
- Excellent research and writing skills; have published and presented papers at various forums.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills; ability to work with teams.
CURRENT POSITION
Lecturer, Department of Public Law, School of Law, University of Nairobi
EDUCATIONAL & PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), OsgoodeHallLawSchool, York University, Canada (2007)
Master of Laws (LL.M),University of Nairobi(1996)
Diploma in Law (Dip. Law),KenyaSchool of Law(1987)
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Hons.),University of Nairobi (1986)
Certified Public Secretary (C.P.S.), Kenya(1998)
Qualified for Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb), U.K.(1991)
Advocate, High Court of Kenya(1987)
WORK EXPERIENCE
2000 to date: Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi (on study leave from Sept. 2002 – Feb. 2007 undertaking doctoral studies at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Canada).
2003 –2006: Teaching Assistant, Law & Society Program, Division of Social Science, York University, Canada.
2000 – 2001: Part-time Lecturer, KenyaCollege of Accountancy and UNISA, Nairobi.
1998 – 2002: Part-time Lecturer,KenyaSchool of Monetary Studies, Nairobi.
Facilitator in seminars for banking professionals at KenyaSchool
of Monetary Studies.
1993– 2001: Partner, Kamau & Kamau, Advocates.
1988 – 1992: Associate and Partner, Walker Kontos, Advocates.
1987 – 1988: Associate, Archer & Wilcock, Advocates.
PROJECTS
2007: Consultant in a research project commissioned by FIDAKenya and funded by the World Bank on traditional justice systems (TJS). The research sought to investigate the nature and operation of TJS in Kenya from a gender perspective, and in particular the extent of women’s participation in TJS, barriers to such participation and outcomes for women in those forums. Field work was conducted in selected communities in the Coast Province of Kenya. The research resulted in a report containing recommendations for legal reform aimed at mainstreaming traditional justice institutions into the Kenyan justice system, with a view to promoting access to justice by vulnerable groups, particularly women.
1996: Consultant in a project sponsored by the Kituo Cha Sheria (Legal Aid Centre) for training of para-legal personnel from a poor urban area in Nairobi. The project was aimed at equipping the para-legals with legal and participatory skills to enable them to advise, sensitize and mobilize their community in regard to legal and development issues.
1996: Facilitator in the Legal Education Programme sponsored by the National Council of Churches of Kenya NCCK) which involved legal education initiatives targeted at various categories of people, e.g. teachers, church lay workers, persons with hearing disabilities, etc.
1995: Contributed substantially to an USAID sponsored research project which involved an entire review of Kenyan laws relevant to micro and small enterprises (MSEs). The main purpose of the project was to critically assess the legal and regulatory framework of MSEs in Kenya, and to identify legal restraints hampering the operations of MSEs, including how these constraints affect women-owned businesses. This was with a view to recommending an action plan for legal reform in this area.
1988: Member of a Legal Task Force under the auspices of the Public Law Institute and the Women’s Bureau, whose mandate was to review the Kenyan legal framework as it affected women’s rights. The object was to identify laws that contributed to women’s inequality in society, and to make recommendations for legal reform. This initiative resulted in the formation of Women and Law in East Africa (WLEA) a non-governmental organization for research on women’s legal issues.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
Chair, Library Sub-Committee, School of Law, University of Nairobi
Member, Examinations Committee, School of Law, University of Nairobi
PUBLICATIONS
E. Wangari, W. Kamau & A.M. Kinyua, “Globalization and its Impact on Women in the Third World” Vol. 1, No.3 (2005) Gender Discrimination: A Global Perspective Forum on Public Policy290.
Winifred Kamau, “Indigenous and State Justice Systems in Kenya: Towards Realization of Justice”, in John D. Whyte and Lorena Fontaine, eds., Moving Towards Justice (Regina, SK: Purich Publishing, 2008)(forthcoming)
SELECT CONFERENCE PAPERS
“Stigma and Discrimination: The Legal Perspective on HIV and AIDS”: Presented at the Health Rights Advocacy Forum (HERAF) Annual Conference on Right to Health: An Assessment of Kenya’s Commitment to Health as a Fundamental Human Right, November 2007.
“Resolution of Succession Disputes in Kenya: The Role of Traditional Leaders”: Presented at the International Conference on Traditional Leadership, Durban, South Africa, October 2007.
“Women, Law and Dispute Resolution in Kenya: The Impact of Legal Pluralism”: Presented at the LSA/RCSL International Conference on Law and Society held in Humboldt University, Berlin, July 2007.
“Indigenous and State Justice Systems in Kenya: Towards Realization of Justice”: Presented at Moving Towards Justice Conference on Indigenous Law in Regina, Saskatchewan, March 2006.
“Globalization and Third World Women” (co-authored with Esther Wangari): Presented in at Oxford Round Table Conference in OxfordUniversity, U.K,August 2003.
“Women’s Legal Literacy Strategies in East Africa: The Limits of Law”: Presented at the Graduate Law Students Conference at OsgoodeHallLawSchool,YorkUniversity, Toronto, May 2003.
RESEARCH AFFILIATIONS
GenderJustice Collaborative Research Group, OsgoodeHallLawSchool, York University, Canada.
Gender and Judging Collaborative Research Network, Law & Society Association, Massachussetts, U.S.A.
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