For the seventh episode, in collaboration with The Elephant and Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi!, The Civic Voice is honored to feature Prof. Karuti Kanyinga in the Intergenerational Solidarity Series.
In this thought-provoking exchange, we engage with Prof. Karuti Kanyinga, one of Kenya’s foremost political analysts and scholars of governance, to unpack the country’s ongoing struggle for democratic accountability. With decades of research on Kenya’s political transitions and reform processes, Prof. Kanyinga brings a deep, data-driven perspective to the table. He reflects on the significance of the Gen Z-led protests of June 2024, situating them within a broader historical context of civic resistance and people-powered change. Drawing connections between past reform movements and today’s youth-driven activism, he offers a compelling analysis of why Kenya’s push for justice, equity, and responsive leadership remains as urgent as ever. Together, we explore the evolving role of citizen agency and what it will take to sustain democratic momentum in an increasingly disillusioned society.
About Kanyinga
Prof. Karuti Kanyinga is a distinguished Kenyan scholar and Research Professor of Development Studies at the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi, where he currently serves as the Director. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Sciences (International Development Studies) from Roskilde University in Denmark, an M.A. in Government, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Nairobi. Over the past three decades, Prof. Kanyinga has become a leading voice in governance, development policy, and political economy in Kenya and the wider East African region.
His research focuses on critical themes such as ethnicity and development, electoral politics, democratic transitions, land rights, and devolution. He has authored and co-authored numerous influential publications, including works on Kenya’s 2007 electoral crisis, the legacy of land inequality, and the politics of devolution under the 2010 Constitution. His widely cited scholarship, such as “Tensions and Reversals in Democratic Transitions” and “Devolution and New Politics of Development in Kenya,” has significantly shaped academic and policy debates on governance in Africa.
Beyond academia, Prof. Kanyinga is actively involved in policy research and consultancy, having worked with international organizations such as the World Bank, UNODC, and Gatsby Africa on projects involving governance reforms, justice systems, education, and public service delivery. He is also a mentor to postgraduate students and a regular contributor to national dialogue on democratic governance and reform. His work continues to bridge scholarship and policy, making him a key figure in Kenya’s intellectual and civic landscape.
Prof. Karuti Kanyinga.Photo/Courtesy.
