Irungu Houghton is the Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, a global human rights organization.
As the organization’s Chief Strategist, Houghton leads a team of committed investigative researchers and campaigners working to end human rights abuses in Kenya.
Under his leadership, Amnesty Kenya has consistently campaigned against human rights violations in the country, particularly in June this year when several Kenyans were reportedly killed while protesting against the Finance Bill 2024.
Through Houghton, Amnesty International has also pioneered a community-based support system and established a member-driven national governance framework for the organization.
In 2024, Amnesty Kenya was among the top ten most successful fundraisers in the Amnesty movement.
Irungu has also worked with some of the biggest NGO brands in the world, including ActionAid, Oxfam, Care, Greenpeace, and the London School of Economics.
He is also the founding Chairperson of the Kilimani Project Foundation, a community foundation committed to creating livability and workability in the local community in which he lives.
His public interest campaigns with others have received awards and citations from the African Union, New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Nation Media Group, New African, the Architectural Association of Kenya, and the Sabre Africa Awards.