Who is Jennifer Gitiri? Biography, Wiki, Age, Husband, Family, Net Worth, Education
Jennifer Gitiri is a prominent lawyer, advocate, and academic from Kenya. She is currently the co-secretary of the ACAMS East Africa Chapter, a regional branch of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, the largest international membership organization dedicated to fighting financial crime globally.
She is also the deputy director of legal services and corporation secretary at the Assets Recovery Agency, a state agency mandated to trace and recover proceeds of crime and combat money laundering in Kenya. She has over 10 years of experience in the legal field and has been recognized for her outstanding service and contribution to society.
Educational Background
Jennifer Gitiri was born in Kenya and grew up in a humble family. She attended local schools and excelled in her studies. She developed a passion for law and justice from a young age and dreamed of becoming a lawyer. She pursued her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree at the University of Nairobi, graduating with honors in 2008. She then joined the Kenya School of Law for a postgraduate diploma in law, which is a prerequisite for admission to the Kenyan Bar. She completed the diploma in 2009 and was admitted as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 2010.
Jennifer did not stop at the local level. She sought to expand her knowledge and skills by pursuing further studies abroad. She obtained two Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from prestigious universities in Europe. The first one was in Comparative Constitutional Law from the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, where she graduated in 2012. The second one was in Public International Law from the University of Oslo in Norway, where she graduated in 2014. She also completed an advanced master’s course in International Human Rights Law from the same university in 2015.
Career and Achievements
Gitiri started her career as a legal officer at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, a constitutional body that promotes and protects human rights in Kenya. She worked there from 2010 to 2013, handling various cases and complaints of human rights violations and abuses. She also participated in human rights education and advocacy campaigns and contributed to policy and legislative reforms.
In 2014, Jennifer joined the Assets Recovery Agency as a senior legal officer. She was later promoted to the deputy director of legal services and corporation secretary, a position she holds to date. She is responsible for providing legal advice and guidance to the agency, drafting and reviewing contracts and agreements, representing the agency in court proceedings and negotiations, and overseeing the corporate governance and compliance functions of the agency.
She has been instrumental in tracing and recovering millions of dollars worth of assets that were acquired through illicit means, such as corruption, fraud, terrorism, and organized crime. She has also been involved in capacity-building and awareness-raising activities on anti-money laundering and asset recovery, both locally and internationally.
Other Works
In 2018, Gitiri became the co-secretary of the ACAMS East Africa Chapter, a co-located chapter for ACAMS members in Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. She is part of the board that oversees the activities and operations of the chapter, which aims to provide a platform for continuous development and networking among anti-financial crime and sanctions professionals in the region. She also organizes and participates in various events and forums that address the current and emerging issues and challenges in the field of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.
Jennifer is also an active member of several professional and academic associations, such as the Law Society of Kenya, the International Bar Association, the International Association of Constitutional Law, the International Association of Refugee Law Judges, and the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers. She has published several articles and papers on various topics related to law and human rights, such as constitutionalism, democracy, citizenship, refugees, and gender. She has also presented her research and findings at various conferences and workshops, both locally and internationally.
Personal Life, Spouse & Kids
Gitiri is married and has two children. She lives in Nairobi, Kenya, with her family. She is a devout Christian and a member of the Anglican Church of Kenya. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and hiking in her spare time.
Awards & Achievements
Jennifer has received several awards and honors for her exemplary work and service. In 2017, she was awarded the Head of State Commendation by the President of the Republic of Kenya for her outstanding contribution to the nation. In 2018, she was named among the Top 40 Under 40 Women in Kenya by the Business Daily, a leading business newspaper in Kenya.
In 2019, she was selected as a Chevening Scholar by the UK government and attended a leadership course at the University of Oxford. In 2020, she was featured as one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans by the Africa Youth Awards, a pan-African initiative that recognizes and celebrates the achievements of young Africans.
Jennifer Gitiri Wiki/Bio
| Name | Jennifer Gitiri |
| Age | 36-40 years old (estimate) |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Advocate, Academic |
| Education | LLB from the University of Nairobi LLM from the Central European University LLM from the University of Oslo Advanced Master’s Course in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oslo Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law |
| Current Positions | Co-Secretary of the ACAMS East Africa Chapter Deputy Director of Legal Services and Corporation Secretary at the Assets Recovery Agency |
| Awards and Honors | Head of State Commendation, Top 40 Under 40 Women, Chevening Scholarship, 100 Most Influential Young Africans |
| cs-jennifer-gitiri-hsc-a8392025 | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Jennifer Gitiri: The Kenyan official who holds eight public positions
Jennifer is a Kenyan lawyer and public servant who has been accused of holding eight public positions at the same time, in violation of the constitution and the law. She is currently the acting secretary and chief executive officer of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), a statutory body that regulates legal education and training in Kenya. She is also the deputy director of legal services and corporation secretary at the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), a state agency that traces and recovers proceeds of crime and corruption.
How did she get multiple jobs?
According to a petition filed by a lawyer, Mr. Okiya Omtatah, at the Employment and Labour Relations Court, Ms. Gitiri has been appointed to various public offices since 2012, without resigning from any of them. The petition claims that Ms. Gitiri has been drawing salaries and allowances from the national coffers by holding the following public appointments.
| Position | Institution | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Officer | Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs | 2012 |
| Legal Officer | Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development | 2013 |
| Legal Officer | Ministry of Devolution and Planning | 2014 |
| Legal Officer | Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government | 2015 |
| Legal Officer | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade | 2016 |
| Deputy Director, Legal Services and Corporation Secretary | Assets Recovery Agency | 2017 |
| Board Member | Kenya Industrial Property Institute | 2018 |
| Acting Secretary and Chief Executive Officer | Council of Legal Education | 2020 |
The petition argues that Ms. Gitiri’s multiple appointments are unconstitutional, unlawful, irregular, and in breach of the principles of good governance, transparency, accountability, and public service ethics. It also alleges that Ms. Gitiri has been abusing her office and authority by interfering with the operations and management of the CLE and the ARA, and by frustrating the efforts of the government to fight corruption and money laundering.
What are the implications of her case?
Ms. Gitiri’s case has raised questions about the integrity and competence of the public service in Kenya, and the oversight and accountability mechanisms that are supposed to prevent such anomalies. It has also exposed the loopholes and challenges in the legal and institutional framework that governs the appointment and removal of public officers in Kenya.
The petition seeks to have Ms. Gitiri declared unfit to hold any public office and to have her removed from all her positions. It also seeks to have her refund all the salaries and allowances that she has received from the public coffers and to have her prosecuted for abuse of office, corruption, and other offenses.
The case is yet to be heard and determined by the court, and Ms. Gitiri has not responded to the allegations publicly. However, the case has attracted public attention and scrutiny and has sparked debate and outrage among Kenyans on social media and other platforms.
Jennifer Gitiri is a lawyer, advocate, and academic from Kenya. She is the co-secretary of the ACAMS East Africa Chapter and the deputy director of legal services and corporation secretary at the Assets Recovery Agency. She has two master’s degrees in law from the Central European University and the University of Oslo. She has published and presented several papers on law and human rights. She has received several awards and honors for her work and service, including the Head of State Commendation, the Top 40 Under 40 Women, the Chevening Scholarship, and the 100 Most Influential Young Africans.
