A life spent defending human dignity
“As a Commissioner of Human Rights in Kenya, I have faced numerous challenges — but also incredible moments of fulfilment. Come along with me on this eye-opening journey as a human rights champion.”
Dr. Dennis Wamalwa, PhD, is a Commissioner with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). He also serves as a Board Member and Vice-Chairperson of the Intersex Persons Society of Kenya (IPSK). A governance expert, community organiser, social-justice advocate, gender specialist, and human rights defender, Dr. Wamalwa brings a wealth of experience in advocacy initiatives across Kenya and the African continent.
He is an associate research consultant with the AFRIBA Research Consortium, which contributes to social change in Africa, and a member of Honor and Diligence Support Service — an international consortium of counsellors and psychologists offering remote psychological support across Africa.
Dr. Wamalwa has more than 20 years of experience as a lecturer, trainer, researcher, and mental-health and psychosocial well-being consultant, working with international, national, and local NGOs, corporates, government, health, and religious institutions. He is a registered member of the Kenya Counsellors and Psychologists Association, holding Associate Counsellor Supervisor status.
He holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies and a Master's in Counselling Studies from the University of Manchester — with 20 publications in peer-reviewed journals and 25+ postgraduate scholars supervised to completion.
Current appointments & roles
Commissioner, KNCHR
Member of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights — the constitutional body safeguarding rights and equality under Article 59.
Vice-Chair, IPSK
Board Member and Vice-Chairperson of the Intersex Persons Society of Kenya, advancing recognition and rights.
Research Consultant
Associate research consultant with the AFRIBA Research Consortium, driving evidence for social change in Africa.
Counsellor & Supervisor
Registered member of the Kenya Counsellors and Psychologists Association with Associate Counsellor Supervisor status.
A career of service & expertise
From refugee camps to correctional facilities, from national COVID-19 response to pan-African human-rights training — a record built in the communities that need it most.
See his current workMental-Health & Psychosocial Consultant · Honor and Diligence
Offering remote psychological counselling to survivors of the Palma attack across Africa, and worldwide mental-health support and talks.
Part-time Lecturer · MMUST, Africa Nazarene & MKU
Lecturing and supervising Bachelor's and Master's students; mentoring students toward holistic mental well-being through counselling.
COVID-19 National Response · Red Cross & Ministry of Health
Trained frontline health workers on Psychological First Aid and self-care; coordinated counselling across quarantine centres and supervised clinical teams.
Psychosocial Counsellor & Trainer · Peace Brigades International
Supporting staff under distressful conditions, including the rehabilitation of victims of political torture, through individual and group counselling.
Consultant · IREX (Washington DC), SAFE Program Africa
Designed and delivered holistic psychosocial safety training for human rights defenders, journalists, and lawyers across East and the Horn of Africa.
Lead Psychologist · Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU)
Supported torture victims of police brutality during the Mt Elgon 'Okoa Maisha' interventions; provided prison counselling and staff debriefing.
Senior Psychological Counsellor · Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF-B)
Led a multi-cultural team in emergency preparedness and response, trauma interventions, SGBV, and disaster survivor support — including the 2009 Sachangwan tragedy.
Team Leader & Counsellor · GOAL Street Program
Counselled, reintegrated, and reconciled over 250 children with their families across Kenya, with debriefing and supervision of field teams.
Grounded in rigour
Academic depth paired with two decades of applied practice.
Qualifications
- PhD, Peace & Conflict Studies — Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology (MMUST), Kenya · 2008–2016
- MA, Counselling Studies — The University of Manchester, UK · 2005–2007
- Higher Diploma in Counselling — Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors (KAPC) · 2001–2002
- Certificate in Counselling — Amani Counselling Centre & Training Institute · 2000
Research & publications
Dr. Wamalwa has authored 20 publications in peer-reviewed journals with high impact factors, and has supervised 25+ postgraduate Master's scholars to completion across multiple universities since 2016. His research spans:
The work is far from finished
Explore the causes, the record, and the road ahead — and find your place in the movement for equal rights.