Ruth Nashipae Muigai is the Founder and CEO of The Gender Initiative, where she leads efforts for gender equality and inclusion in East Africa.
She holds an LLB (Hons) Bachelor of Laws and an LLM Master of Laws in international law and human rights from the University of East London and Certification in Leadership in Public Management from Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University.
Muigai has received awards, including the Commonwealth Scholarship (2014), Mandela Washington Fellowship (2024), and Transform Norms Fellowship (2024). Her academic career includes lecturing at the Kenya School of Government; training senior officials in leadership, legal frameworks, and governance; and offering policy advisories. She also taught at Catholic University of Eastern Africa in constitutional law and human rights.
Muigai facilitated the Pipeline Fellowship 2024 by Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS). She serves on the boards of Inua Village to Global Foundation, Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), and Canada Mathare Education Trust, where she provides strategic leadership to advance gender equality, human rights, education, and community empowerment. Muigai is a published researcher on women’s rights, climate justice, and transitional justice, and is recognized as an African climate expert by African Group on Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES). She is a certified UN climate negotiator and contributes to YOUNGO as knowledge co-lead for the Women and Gender Working Group, Green Leaders Academy, and Grassroot community efforts.