Godwin Murunga

Godwin Murunga
Murunga in 2025 at the ECOWAS 50th Anniversary, Abuja
Born	Kenya
Other names	Godwin Rapando Murunga
Citizenship	Kenyan
Education	Bachelor of Arts (BA); Master of Arts (MA); Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Alma mater	Kenyatta University; Northwestern University
Occupations	Political scientist; Public intellectual; Policy analyst; Executive Secretary of CODESRIA

Godwin Murunga is a Kenyan scholar, historian, political analyst, and public intellectual whose work focuses on African politics, governance, security, higher education, and the political economy of development. ^[1] He currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), a pan-African social science research organisation headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. ^{[2] [3]}

Early life and education

Murunga was born in Kenya, and obtained Bachelor of Arts (BA); and Master of Arts from Kenyatta University and a PhD in history from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, US. ^{[1] [4]}

Career

Before his appointment as Executive Secretary of CODESRIA, Murunga held a range of academic, research, and leadership roles across institutions. He taught in the Department of History, Archaeology and Political Studies at Kenyatta University in Nairobi. ^[5] He also lectured at the Institute of Development Studies of the University of Nairobi and later served as director of the African Leadership Centre, Nairobi. ^{[3] [4]}

According to an interview in Feminist Africa, Murunga’s work emphasises historically grounded, Africa-centered approaches to social science research and critiques externally imposed narratives about African governance and security. ^[6]

Leadership at CODESRIA

In 2017, Murunga was appointed Executive Secretary of CODESRIA, becoming the organisation’s seventh executive head since it was founded. ^{[7] [2]}

Murunga oversees CODESRIA continental research networks, training programmess, and initiatives supporting early-career African scholars, while centring Africa-centered knowledge production and challenging neocolonial narratives in social science research. ^[8]

Public scholarship

Murunga is a regular contributor to Kenya’s Daily Nation, writing on governance, security, democracy, and regional politics. ^[9] He has also written opinion pieces for CNN, appearing as an expert commentator on African politics and security issues. ^[10] His interviews and commentary have also been featured on platforms including Africa Uncensored and The Elephant, particularly during the COVID‑19 pandemic. ^{[11] [12]}

Selected publications

• Murunga, Godwin R., Ibrahim O. Ogachi, and Jimi Adesina. “Reflections on Social Policy in Africa.” CODESRIA Bulletin, no. 6 (2021): 2.

• Murunga, Godwin R., Ato Kwamena Onoma, and Ibrahim Oanda Ogachi. “CODESRIA’s Meaning-making Research Initiatives (MRI).” Africa Development / Afrique et Développement 45, no. 4 (2020): v–x.

• Murunga, Godwin R. “Moments of anxiety and fear: The Kenyan post-election violence, 2007–2008.” In Kenya after 50: Reconfiguring the Future, edited by Kimani Njogu and John W. Harbeson. Nairobi: Twaweza Communications, 2014.

• Murunga, Godwin R., and Shadrack W. Nasong’o (eds.). Kenya: The Struggle for Democracy. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), 2007. ISBN   978-1842778579

• Murunga, Godwin R. “The state, civil society and democracy in Kenya.” Review of African Political Economy 36, no. 122 (2009): 156–157.

• Murunga, Godwin R. Spokes of the Wheel: Ethnicity and the Politics of Nationalism in Kenya. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), 1999.

See also

• CODESRIA
• Pan-Africanism
• Isabel Casimiro

References

1. "Godwin Rapando Murunga". Amandla Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
2. "CODESRIA appoints Dr Godwin Murunga 7th Executive Secretary". New African Magazine. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
3. "Kenyan scholar Godwin Murunga lands continental think-tank job". Daily Nation. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
4. "Godwin Murunga". CODESRIA. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
5. "Dr Godwin R. Murunga" (PDF). Security and Development Programme. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
6. "In conversation with Godwin Murunga" (PDF). Feminist Africa. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
7. "Godwin Murunga emerges CODESRIA's 7th Executive Secretary". ITRealms. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
8. "Council head challenges neo-colonial narrative about Africa". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
9. "Godwin Murunga". Daily Nation. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
10. Murunga, Godwin (24 September 2013). "Kenya's security failures". CNN. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
11. "COVID-19 Conversations 17". Africa Uncensored. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
12. "Dr Godwin Murunga on the COVID-19 pandemic". The Elephant. Retrieved 18 December 2025.

External links

• Godwin Murunga – CODESRIA profile