Prof Makau Mutua (left) with President William Ruto on 30 April, 2025. Photo/PCS
By Wanderi Kamau
Kenyan-born US law scholar and human rights advocate Prof Makau Mutua has been appointed as the Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs in the Executive Office of the President.
The announcement was made by President William Ruto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in a move that has stirred both political and public interest due to Prof Mutua’s history of opposing the UhuRuto administration.
“Prof Makau Mutua brings a wealth of experience in legal, constitutional, and human rights matters,” said Ruto in an official statement. “I have appointed him as the Senior Advisor of Constitutional Affairs in the Executive Office of the President. Congratulations Prof Mutua. I welcome you to join a dynamic team of public servants in the implementation of our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.”
The appointment marks a significant political shift, as Mutua has long been known for his close association with opposition leader Raila Odinga and his fierce criticism of the UhuRuto regime. A law professor based in the United States, Mutua has held firm ideological positions over the years, often using his Sunday Nation column to critique past and current regimes on matters of governance, justice, and constitutionalism.
In 2013, Mutua publicly declared that he would never recognize the presidency of Uhuru Kenyatta and his then-deputy, William Ruto, due to the charges they were facing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
At the time, he condemned what he viewed as a government led by individuals accused of crimes against humanity and expressed concern over the ethical and legal implications of their leadership.
From fierce critic to Presidential ddvisor
Despite his past stance, Mutua’s inclusion in President Ruto’s administration is seen by analysts as part of a broader strategy to reach across the political divide. Mutua was also one of the key figures supporting Raila’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, a campaign that has received backing from Ruto’s administration despite Odinga being a leading opposition figure.
Mutua now joins a growing list of Raila allies who have landed top government appointments under Ruto, signaling a thawing of relations between the President and the opposition. This has been interpreted as a political realignment aimed at consolidating national unity and building broader consensus on major governance and constitutional reforms.
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While the appointment has sparked mixed reactions on social media, sone legal scholars and civil society players have welcomed it, citing Mutua’s deep expertise and global experience in constitutional law and human rights. His involvement is expected to strengthen the government’s efforts in entrenching constitutionalism and the rule of law.
With his new role, Mutua is poised to play a central part in shaping Kenya’s constitutional discourse from within government ranks—an ironic twist for a man who once stood firmly in opposition to those now welcoming him into the fold.
The coming months will reveal how Prof Mutua navigates this transition from critic to insider—and whether his influence will lead to substantive reform or political compromise.
