Alice Wairimu Nderitu
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Alice Wairimu Nderitu

Alice Wairimu Nderitu
United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide 
Kenya

Alice Wairimu Nderitu, born on January 9, 1968, in Nairobi, is a Kenyan national who has earned a well-deserved spot in the 5th list of 100 Most Influential African Women in 2023 by Avance Media. Since November 2020, she has served as the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, showcasing her commitment to global peace and conflict prevention.

 

Nderitu holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Keene State College, a testament to her contributions to humanity. Her academic journey includes a master’s degree in armed conflict and peace studies (2013) and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Philosophy (1990) from the University of Nairobi.

 

Alice Wairimu Nderitu’s career is marked by her dedication to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and the promotion of pluralism. She has been an active member of the African Union’s Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (Fem-Wise) and the Women Waging Peace Network. As the founder of Community Voices for Peace and Pluralism, Nderitu has played a crucial role in amplifying diverse voices for a more inclusive peace process.

In her role as a Commissioner of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission in Kenya, Nderitu co-founded the Uwiano Platform for Peace. This innovative agency utilizes mobile technology to encourage citizens to report indicators of violence, effectively linking early warning to early response.

 

Nderitu’s mediation prowess is evident in her role as one of three mediators who facilitated a peace agreement among 10 ethnic communities in Nakuru, Kenya. She was the chief lead mediator in peace processes involving 29 ethnic communities in Kaduna State and 56 ethnic communities in Southern Plateau, Nigeria. Her contributions have been pivotal in defining the role of women mediators, and challenging gender norms in a male-dominated field.

 

As an international leader in conflict prevention, Nderitu has been a passionate advocate for women’s inclusion in various international forums. She has contributed significantly to reports on the issue, further emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in building lasting peace.

 

Nderitu’s commitment to public service is evident in her roles as a member of the Kenya National Committee on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and all Forms of Discrimination. Additionally, she served as an Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide Instructor and as a Commissioner of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the dissolution of the Makueni County government in Kenya.

 

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to peace, conflict prevention, and advocacy for women’s inclusion, Alice Wairimu Nderitu was named in the 5th list of 100 Most Influential African Women in 2023 by Avance Media. Her unwavering dedication to promoting pluralism and preventing genocide underscores her as a transformative leader in international affairs.