Godwin Murunga
Godwin Murunga | |
|---|---|
 Murunga in 2025 at the ECOWAS 50th Anniversary, Abuja | |
| Born | Kenya |
| Other name | Godwin Rapando Murunga |
| Citizenship | Kenyan |
| Education | Kenyatta University (BA), (MA) Northwestern University (MA), (PhD) |
| Occupations | Historian; Public intellectual; Political analyst |
Godwin Murunga is a Kenyan historian, political analyst, and public intellectual whose work focuses on higher education in Africa.[1][2] He served as the Executive Secretary of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), a pan-African social science research organisation headquartered in Dakar, Senegal from 2017 to 2026.[2][3][4]
Education
[edit]Murunga earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Kenyatta University, and a second MA and a PhD in history at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.[1]
Career
[edit]Before his appointment as Executive Secretary of CODESRIA, Murunga held a range of academic, research, and leadership roles across institutions. He taught in the Department of History, Archaeology and Political Studies at Kenyatta University in Nairobi.[5] He lectured at the Institute of Development Studies of the University of Nairobi and served as director of the African Leadership Centre, Nairobi.[3][6] He was a member of the Executive Committee of CODESRIA for two consecutive terms (2005–2011), before his appointment as the 7th Executive Secretary of CODESRIA, where he served from 2017 to 2026.[2][7][8][4]
Murunga contributes to Kenya's Daily Nation, writing on governance, security, democracy, and regional politics.[9] He has written an opinion piece for CNN on African politics and security issues.[10] His interviews and commentary have also been featured on platforms including Africa Uncensored and The Elephant, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]
Selected publications
[edit]- Murunga, Godwin R., Ibrahim O. Ogachi, and Jimi Adesina. “Reflections on Social Policy in Africa.” CODESRIA Bulletin, no. 6 (2021): 2.
- Murunga, Godwin R., Ato Kwamena Onoma, and Ibrahim Oanda Ogachi. “CODESRIA’s Meaning-making Research Initiatives (MRI).” Africa Development / Afrique et Développement 45, no. 4 (2020): v–x.
- Murunga, Godwin R. “Moments of anxiety and fear: The Kenyan post-election violence, 2007–2008.” In Kenya after 50: Reconfiguring the Future, edited by Kimani Njogu and John W. Harbeson. Nairobi: Twaweza Communications, 2014.
- Murunga, Godwin R., and Shadrack W. Nasong’o (eds.). Kenya: The Struggle for Democracy. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), 2007.ISBN 978-1842778579
- Murunga, Godwin R. “The state, civil society and democracy in Kenya.” Review of African Political Economy 36, no. 122 (2009): 156–157.
- Murunga, Godwin R. Spokes of the Wheel: Ethnicity and the Politics of Nationalism in Kenya. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), 1999.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Godwin Rapando Murunga". Amandla Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 "New CODESRIA Head". University of Pretoria. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Kenyan scholar Godwin Murunga lands continental think-tank job". Daily Nation. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- 1 2 "CODESRIA Names a New Executive Secretary". Intervention. 13 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "Dr Godwin R. Murunga" (PDF). Security and Development Programme. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ "Godwin Murunga". CODESRIA. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ "Keynote lecture: Knowledge production, decoloniality and higher education in Africa with Dr Godwin Murunga". King's College London. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Godwin Murunga emerges CODESRIA's 7th Executive Secretary". ITRealms. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ "Godwin Murunga". Daily Nation. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ Murunga, Godwin (24 September 2013). "What does the Nairobi mall attack mean for Kenyan security?". CNN. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ "Dr Godwin Murunga on the COVID-19 pandemic". The Elephant. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
