
I am an Executive Director with 30+ years of national, continental and international leadership delivering policy reform, organisational growth and human rights protection.
As Amnesty’s spokesperson and chief strategist in Kenya, I led a team of investigative researchers and campaigners that drove national human rights investigations, bold public campaigns, and movement‑building efforts to produce consistent human rights impact, an eight‑fold growth in registered membership and a 150% expansion in funding over eight years.
Published author, trusted thought leader and a niche social media micro-influencer with 500+ op-eds, regular mass media appearances and an active web presence. My impact with others has attracted 18 awards and citations from the African Union, New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Nation Media Group, New African, Architectural Association of Kenya and Sabre Africa Awards over the last two decades.
My 2021 book “Dialogue and Dissent: A Constitution in Search of a Country” is now available to read for free here with printed copies on Amazon. I am married and father to seven adult children. I also hold two degrees from the University of Dar es Salaam and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.
Enough about me, lets keep connected on LinkedIn
Email: irungu.Houghton@gmail.com
Personal Achievements
2025 Nominated for best NGO CEO in Kenya
2024 Kenya's top 100 leaders in Kenya
2017 Lifetime Achievement Award
2016 Top 10 Best Communicator in Kenya
2016 Top 100 influencers in Africa
2013 African Union Women's Rights Champion Award
Institutional Awards under my leadership
2025 Amnesty International Kenya Governance NGO nominee by Law Society of Kenya -Nairobi Branch
2024 Amnesty International Kenya Governance and Human Rights NGO nominee by Government of Kenya
2018 East Africa Philanthropy Award
2017 Sabre Public Affairs Campaign of the Year - Africa
2017 Sabre Public Affairs Campaign of the Year - Kenya
2012 Oxfam International Kenya Award
2012 NEPAD Partner of Choice Award
2007 High-Level Panel to Review the African Union




