Godwin Murunga

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. He currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the Council for the Development of [Social Science Research in Africa], a pan-African social science research organisation headquartered in Dakar, Senegal.

Early life and education

Murunga was born in Kenya, and obtained Bachelor of Arts ; and Master of Arts from Kenyatta University and a PhD in history from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, US.

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. 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.
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.

Leadership at CODESRIA

In 2017, Murunga was appointed Executive Secretary of CODESRIA, becoming the organisation’s seventh executive head since it was founded.
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.

Public scholarship

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

Selected publications

Murunga, Godwin R., Ibrahim O. Ogachi, and Jimi Adesina. “Reflections on Social Policy in Africa.” CODESRIA Bulletin, no. 6 : 2.
Murunga, Godwin R., Ato Kwamena Onoma, and Ibrahim Oanda Ogachi. “CODESRIA’s Meaning-making Research Initiatives.” Africa Development / Afrique et Développement 45, no. 4 : 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. Kenya: The Struggle for Democracy. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, 2007.
Murunga, Godwin R. “The state, civil society and democracy in Kenya.” Review of African Political Economy 36, no. 122 : 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, 1999.