Ruto Appoints Makau Mutua To State House Job

President William Ruto has appointed lawyer Makau Mutua as Senior Advisor of Constitutional Affairs in the Executive Office of the President.

The Head of State announced this in a statement via his social media accounts on April 30, 2025 coupled with a photo of him and Mutua at State House, Nairobi.

"I have appointed Prof Makau Mutua as the Senior Advisor of Constitutional Affairs in the Executive Office of the President. Prof Mutua brings a wealth of experience in legal, constitutional and human rights matters," he revealed.

"Congratulations Prof Mutua. I welcome you to join a dynamic team of public servants in the implementation of our Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda."

A photo of Professor Makau Mutua. /PEOPLE DAILY

On his part, Mutua thanked the President for the appointment, stating that "Our Constitution is the beating heart of the Republic. Mr President, I promise to serve you and our fellow citizens with diligence, honour, and distinction."

Makau W. Mutua is a prominent Kenyan-American legal scholar, human rights defender, and public thinker.

Originally from Kenya, he moved to the U.S., where he built a highly respected academic and legal career. His work focuses heavily on human rights, constitutional law, and the political landscape of Africa.

He began his legal education with an LL.B. from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, before heading to the U.S. to continue his studies. At Harvard Law School, he earned both an LL.M. and a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.), giving him a solid foundation to shape global legal and human rights conversations.

Mutua made history as the Dean of the University at Buffalo Law School under the State University of New York (SUNY) system, where he also held the title of SUNY Distinguished Professor. His leadership stood out for pushing diversity and academic innovation, and he became one of the first Africans to lead a major U.S. law school.

His scholarship challenges dominant Western interpretations of human rights, especially when applied to African contexts. He is well known for questioning the "one-size-fits-all" view of human rights and arguing for more culturally rooted and context-sensitive approaches. 

One of his most influential ideas is the “Savage-Victim-Savior” framework, a critique of how Western human rights narratives often portray non-Western societies in reductive and paternalistic ways.

Outside the classroom, Mutua has actively contributed to global human rights advocacy and legal reform. He’s worked with organisations like the United Nations and the World Bank, and back in Kenya, he was instrumental in shaping key legal and constitutional changes during the reform era of the early 2000s.

He also plays an active role in public debate, regularly offering sharp commentary on Kenyan and African politics through media columns and digital platforms, making him a leading voice in discussions around law, governance, and justice in Africa.

Makau is the latest in a series of opposition figures to gain from the inclusive political arrangement between President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

A loyal supporter of Raila for years, Makau played a key role in the 2022 Kenyan presidential election as the spokesperson for Raila’s Azimio la Umoja campaign. He has regularly expressed strong support for Raila’s leadership and reform agenda, often defending his political approach and championing his vision for Kenya’s future.