Makau W. Mutua

Makau Mutua is a SUNY Distinguished Professor and the Margaret W. Wong Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law. He served as dean from 2008 to 2014 and currently teaches international human rights, international business transactions, and international law. Educated at the University of Nairobi, the University of Dar-es-Salaam, and Harvard Law School, Mutua is a vice president of the American Society of International Law and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

During his 2002-03 sabbatical in Kenya, he chaired the Task Force on the Establishment of a Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission, recommending a truth commission for Kenya, and was a delegate to the National Constitutional Conference, contributing to the draft constitution for Kenya.

Mutua is the author of notable books such as “Kenya’s Quest for Democracy: Taming Leviathan” (2008), “Human Rights NGOs in East Africa: Political and Normative Tensions” (2008), and “Human Rights: A Political and Cultural Critique” (2002). His writings have appeared in scholarly journals and popular publications including The New York Times, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, Chronicle of Higher Education, and Washington Post. He has led numerous human rights, diplomatic, and rule of law missions across Africa, Latin America, and Europe.