Mx Imani Kimiri | Nairobi, Kenya
Bachelor of Laws, 2014, Kenyatta University, Law Campus
Previous experience
Imani Kimiri (they/them) is a gender-queer human rights defender, lawyer, feminist and activist, with over 10 years experience, who passionately champions equality for sexual and gender minorities, harm reduction and sex work. Throughout their activism, Imani has channelled their skills and passion into changing laws and policies through strategic litigation, strategic advocacy, legal clinics, research and documentation, urgent action missions, and the promotion of freedom of expression and association. Currently serving as the Advocacy Coordinator, Our Voices Our Future Consortium, where they coordinate and support the planning and execution of OVOF joint advocacy activities and oversee and support alignment of all joint advocacy activities with the joint advocacy strategy.
Formerly serving as the Head of Legal Affairs at the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) in Kenya, Imani actively advocated for the promotion and protection of equality and inclusion in policies and laws of LGBTIQ+ individuals and communities, as well as access to justice for LGBTIQ+ persons in Kenya. Imani has in the past worked under different capacities at the United Nations Office of Staff Legal Affairs and Kurauka & Co. Advocates.
Imani has consistently sought to enhance their knowledge and skills through various capacity-building programs. They have completed the Holistic Strategic Litigation against LGBTIQ+ Torture course offered by Redress Trust in 2022, the Strategic Litigation and Advocacy course at the University of Pretoria in 2023, and the Human Rights Advocates Program at Columbia University in 2023. Imani is a current fellow of the LBQ Connect program offered by Outright International in 2024.
Imani further extends their commitment by serving as a board member of QueerHive Kenya, a youth-focused social support and advocacy organisation for Lesbians, Bisexuals, Queer womxn, and Gender Non-Conforming people in Kenya. In this role, Imani creates spaces that challenge patriarchal systems and programming embedded in society, contributing significantly to the advancement of queer rights and representation.
Academic fields of interest:
Sexual and gender diverse rights, Women rights, Children rights
Position prior to the programme
Advocacy Coordinator - Our Voices Our Futures Consortium