By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 6 December 2025 - The International Commission of Jurists – Kenya (ICJ Kenya) has appointed long-serving human rights advocate Demas Kiprono as its next Executive Director, marking a significant transition in the organisation’s leadership.
He will assume office on 1 January 2026, taking over from Eric Mukoya, who has led the institution since 2025.
Kiprono’s elevation comes after years of working within ICJ Kenya, most recently as Deputy Executive Director, where he played a central role in expanding the organisation’s influence in digital rights, civic freedoms and strategic litigation. In its announcement, ICJ Kenya described him as a “transformative leader from within,” praising his ability to strengthen the organisation’s visibility and steer complex human rights conversations in an era of widening on- and offline threats.
With more than 14 years of experience, Kiprono has worked with Amnesty International Kenya, ARTICLE 19 and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, building a reputation as a courageous campaigner for public interest reforms. His litigation and advocacy work has contributed to landmark efforts, including the decriminalisation of defamation and the defence of civic space against restrictive laws.
Beyond the courtroom, Kiprono has also shaped public discourse through years of writing on constitutionalism, governance and policing. He holds a Master of Laws in International Criminal and International Human Rights Law from Bangor University in the United Kingdom, where his research examined the regulation of artificial intelligence from a human rights perspective.
More from Kenya
Kiprono often traces his motivation to moments that shaped Kenya’s modern history. Having lived through the 1990s ethnic clashes and the violence that followed the 2007/08 elections, he says those experiences strengthened his resolve to push for accountable policing and the protection of fundamental rights.
“For over a decade, my work has been to help Kenyans realise the policing they deserve—where dignity, rights and the constitution guide law enforcement, not political cycles,” he once reflected, emphasising that police officers also need fair working conditions to serve with professionalism.
ICJ Kenya extended its gratitude to outgoing director Eric Mukoya, commending his steady leadership. The organisation said Kiprono’s vision will be central as it navigates emerging challenges around technology, security and the rights of marginalised communities.
