At Namati, our people are our greatest resource.

Anne is a Senior Environmental Justice Officer at Namati. In her role, Anne will work closely with Namati’s country teams to build out new areas of work. She will also draw on learning from grassroots casework and comparative analysis of legal frameworks to develop actionable policy recommendations for more effective, community-centered land and environmental governance. Anne will also foster engagement across Namati teams on common themes and connect experimentation within Namati to movement building in the Grassroots Justice Network.

Anne holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Kenyatta University in Kenya and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. Prior to joining Namati, Anne worked at Natural Justice (a pan-African Organization that empowers communities to pursue environmental and climate justice) in different capacities and most recently as a Program Officer at Natural Justice's East African Hub and as the East African Hub's Just Energy Transition in Africa representative. Through legal empowerment, policy advocacy and litigation, Anne has supported marginalized communities to know, use and shape the law.

Anne is passionate about building an African agenda for the just energy transition.

Arach David James has experience working with communities on land governance and strengthening of tenure security. Currently based in Nairobi, Kenya, David is Namati’s Land, Environment, and Climate Senior Program Manager. He is armed with a strong passion for justice, advocating for security of tenure, and strengthening communities’ ability to defend their land rights. Before joining Namati, David worked with Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) to implement a Community Land Protection Program in Northern Uganda. David’s life slogan is, “Sustainable change is that which is initiated or owned by the affected persons.”

Derrick Makhandia is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with 10 years’ experience working in legal aid, governance & policy, human rights, research and electoral governance. Prior to joining Namati, he worked with Transparency International Kenya in different capacity where he handled legislative and policy reforms on land, elections & democracy, anti-corruption and public interest litigation. He has also worked with Mzalendo Trust as a Program Officer-Parliamentary Affairs, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights as a Human Rights Monitor, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics as a researcher, Mutuerandu Muriithi & Co Advocates as a pupil, alongside other assignments. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law and a Bachelors of Law Degree from Moi University.

In his free time, Derrick binges on history books and documentaries, travels and watches soccer.

Meet Edwin Njiru Mwaniki, our Senior Finance & Operations Associate. He has more than four years background experience in Finance, Administrative Support & Operations, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (Finance) from Kenyatta University, among other academic qualifications. Having worked with Good Neighbors International and other INGOs, he is also passionate about creating sustainable community development projects, and empowerment towards justice in all aspects. When he is not facilitating financial reports or ensuring the office operations are running seamlessly, he enjoys watching an F1 Grand Prix or a soccer match as well as listening to some good music.

Eileen Wakesho is the Director of the Land, Environment, and Climate program. She brings about ten years of experience in the Development Sector with a focus on Women’s Land Rights and Land and Natural resource governances. Prior to joining Namati, Eileen served as the Women’s Land Rights Advisor for Oxfam International. Women Land Rights Advisor at Oxfam International where she focuses on carrying out influencing work that draws on national work and grassroots women’s experiences and leads to greater attention to women’s land and property rights in all relevant policy arenas globally. Eileen has also worked with Kenya Land Alliance, Development PolicyManagement Forum, NCCK and Kenya Institute for Public Policy, Research and Analysis (KIPPRA). She has co-authored a peer reviewed book on informal justice mechanisms and formal courts in Kenya and Engagement with Local Communities: Land and Conflict. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication. She is alumni of Landesa’s Women Land Rights Visiting Professionals Program in the USA and Sydney’s Law School Gender and Transitional Justice Fellowship.

Lempaira D. Elijah is a pastoralist-turned-advocate with extensive experience empowering communities across Northern Kenya to secure and manage their land and natural resources. He brings deep expertise in community land rights, paralegal coordination, project management, data analysis, and advocacy strategy. Previously as Program Manager at IMPACT Kenya, Lempaira oversaw the day-to-day implementation of community land and natural resource governance programmes. He coordinates and supports community-based paralegals, leads participatory processes for developing community land rules, land use and settlement plans, and supports pastoral communities to establish sustainable grazing management systems. His work contributed directly to rangeland restoration, invasive species control, and strengthened community-led land governance. Lempaira is an experienced programme leader with a strong track record in designing and delivering engaging training programmes, managing multi-stakeholder projects, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies and community land legislation. He is highly skilled in data collection and analysis, report writing, monitoring programme outcomes, and identifying practical solutions to complex implementation challenges. In his role as Director of Collaborations and Partnerships, he led partner engagement, strengthened alliances and networks, supported coordination across IMPACT’s programmes, and contributed to resource mobilization efforts. He is known for his strong interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and ability to build effective partnerships that enhance programme impact. Driven by a commitment to social accountability, collective action, and community-led solutions, Lempaira joins NAMATI as a Program Manager LEC Kenya, he continues to work at the frontline of land justice, supporting pastoral communities to protect their territories, livelihoods, and future generations.

Ruth is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with experience in private practice and advocacy work in various organizations through which she has partnered with justice stakeholders in both the public sector and civil society. Her highest joy is to see people at the margins of society, especially women and youth, empowered enough to change their realities through knowledge of the law and consistent, organized efforts. Ruth loves to paint, read and play soccer with her nephews.