Zippy Okoth is a distinguished filmmaker, educator, and gender advocate, currently serving as the Director of the Lake International PanAfrican Film Festival (LIPFF).
Additionally, she is a multi-talented storyteller—working as a producer, director, and author—with an academic role as a lecturer.
Zippy Okoth is in her early 40s.
Education Background
Zippy Okoth holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Theatre Arts from Kenyatta University, earned between 2010 and 2014.
Okoth’s doctoral research focused on the use of dramatherapy in unlocking the voices of FGM survivors in Kajiado County, underscoring her commitment to social justice and healing through the arts.
She also holds a Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies from the University of Nairobi, completed between 2006 and 2008.
Her master’s thesis explored how dramatherapy could enhance communication among drug abusers at the Mathari Drug Rehabilitation Unit, further reflecting her interest in using performance as a tool for psychological and social transformation.
Zippy began her academic journey at Maseno University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Theatre Arts between 2000 and 2005.
Zippy’s undergraduate training included performance art, directing, production design, theatre for development, community theatre, children’s theatre, and film production.
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Zippy Okoth Professional Journey
Zippy Okoth is a seasoned academic and creative industry expert with over 15 years of experience in theatre, film, education, and consultancy.
She currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies at KCA University, where she has held a full-time position for over three years.
Since November 2022, she has led the department in training and mentoring students in theatre production, film directing, storytelling, and creative industry policy development. She also serves as a Senior Lecturer at the same institution, a role she has held since February 2022.
Zippy is the Founding Director of Legacy Arts and Film Lab Kenya, where she has been active since 2015, offering expertise in theatre arts, filmmaking, education, and training. She also works as an Independent Filmmaker under Legacy Arts and Film Lab, a role she has held since 2012.
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She is the long-serving Festival Director of the Lake International PanAfrican Film Festival (LIPFF), which she has led since 2016. The festival showcases films produced in African languages and promotes cultural storytelling across the continent.
In addition, Zippy served for over 13 years as a Lecturer at Kenyatta University, from 2008 to 2022, where she played a key role in developing and teaching performing arts programs.
Between June 2020 and September 2021, she worked as a Curriculum Specialist for Amnesty International Kenya, focusing on education programs related to human rights, gender, and development.
Across all her roles, Zippy brings a wealth of skills, including curriculum development, community theatre, drama therapy, policy consultancy, creative problem solving, and training in acting, production, and storytelling.
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