Prof. John Joseph Wamwara is a distinguished legal scholar, academic leader, and international humanitarian law expert with an extensive record of excellence in teaching, research, and professional practice. He currently serves as the Dean of CMG Argwings Kodhek Faculty of Law at Tom Mboya University, where he leads the Faculty in academic strategy, implementation, faculty and development, and legal education innovation. Prior to this, he served as the Dean of the School of Law at Moi University, one of Kenya’s premier public law faculties. He led the reforms at Moi University reforms at the School that led to remarkable performance of both the students and the School’s in its regulatory markers of excellence.
Prof. Wamwara holds a Doctor of Juridical Sciences, SJD (Summa Cum Laude) from Emory University, an LLM in Law and Religion from Emory University(Summa Cum Laude), an Advanced LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights; Postgraduate Diploma from Kenya School of Law and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi. His training uniquely blends comparative constitutionalism, human rights, religious freedom, and international humanitarian law.
He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and has worked with leading global institutions including the International Criminal Court, the International Committee of the Red Cross (Nairobi), and the International Organization for Migration, contributing to legal research and advisory services in areas such as migration governance, human rights protection, and humanitarian law frameworks.
Prof. Wamwara has taught at multiple universities, including the University of Nairobi, Moi University, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Riara University and Strathmore Law School. He has research interest and projects in International Humanitarian Law, Law & Religion, Human Rights, African Traditional Culture and Religion, Family Law, and general Public International Law. Prof. Wamwara has also written in Law & Religion focusing in religious and cultural practices in African families.
Notable Honors and Awards: 8 th CB Madam Prize for Commitment and Outstanding Scholarly Contribution To Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law in Kenya (2020), Eliza Ellison Prize for Leadership in Law and Religion (Emory, 2019), 1 ST Herman Dooyeweerd Fellowship in Law and Religion (Emory, 2018), Restoring Religious Freedom Graduate Scholarship (Emory, 2017) and Hans Wilsdorf (Rolex) Foundation Scholarship & Award (Geneva, 2012).