President William Ruto has appointed Prof Makau Mutua as the Senior Adviser of Constitutional Affairs in his office.
He said Mutua, a lawyer by profession, brings a wealth of experience in legal, constitutional and human rights matters.
“Congratulations Prof Mutua. I welcome you to join a dynamic team of public servants in the implementation of our Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” Ruto said in a statement Wednesday evening.
Mutua is a former Azimio spokesperson and his appointment further serves to demonstrate Ruto’s committment to working with the opposition wing led by Raila Odinga, following the signing of their working pact in March.
Mutua joins a long list of leaders from the opposition who have benefited from the broad-based government between Ruto and Raila.
His appointment comes barely a week after President Ruto appointed Jaoko Oburu Odinga, son of Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, to the position of Special Advisor, Economic Empowerment, and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Executive Office of the President.
Mutua, a Kenyan-American, is a former dean at the SUNY Buffalo School of Law.
He teaches international human rights, international business transactions and international law.
Mutua has been a long-time ally and supporter of Raila.
He served as the spokesperson for Raila’s Azimio la Umoja campaign during the 2022 Kenyan presidential elections.
He is also a former Vice President of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), where he also served as a member of the Executive Council, and was the Co-Chair of the 2000 Annual Meeting of ASIL.
In 2003, Mutua was appointed to chair the Task Force on the Establishment of a Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission.