NANCY KARIGITHU
| NAME | NANCY KARIGITHU |
| AGE | 76 YEARS |
| GENDER | FEMALE |
| OCCUPATION | LAWYER |
Nancy Karigithu is a distinguished Kenyan lawyer and civil servant who currently serves as Kenya’s Special Envoy for Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.
She is widely recognized as a leading global authority on maritime law and sustainable ocean management, with nearly 40 years of experience.
Karigithu advises the Executive Office of the President of Kenya on policies and strategies to promote the sustainable development of marine resources.
As the first Director General of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), she served for nine years and modernized Kenya’s maritime laws.
Early Life and Educational Background
Ambassador Nancy Karigithu was born on September 6, 1950, in Nairobi, Kenya, but grew up in Mwea, a region far from any major body of water.
She was inspired by a seashell gifted by a relative who had visited the coast, which sparked a lifelong “love affair” with the ocean. Her educational journey eventually brought her closer to the sea when she attended high school in Kilifi.
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Nancy attended the University of Nairobi from 1979 to 1983, earning her first law degree.
- Post-Graduate Diploma, she obtained her diploma from the Kenya School of Law between 1983 and 1984 and was admitted to the Kenyan Bar shortly after.
- Master of Laws (LL.M.) – In 1993, she received an IMO scholarship to attend the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta, graduating in 1994 with a master’s in international Maritime Law.
- Leadership Training – in 2014, she completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Strathmore University in partnership with IESE Business School.
Nancy Karigithu’s Career
She serves as Kenya’s Special Envoy and Presidential Advisor on Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, advising the Executive Office of the President on policies for sustainable marine resource management.
Also Read: Joseph Sergon Profile: 24 Years on the Bench and a Vision for Kenya’s Judiciary
In December 2025, she was conferred the status of Senior Counsel, which is the highest professional rank for Kenyan lawyers.
Since September 2025, she has served as a board trustee for the London-based International Maritime Pilots Association (IMPA) Foundation.
In August 2025, she spearheaded the launch of the Ocean Centre Kenya, which is a hub designed to connect policymakers and industry leaders ahead of Kenya hosting the 11th UN Ocean Conference from June 16-18, 2026, with Mombasa and Kilifi Counties being the hosts.
Nancy served as the first Director General of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) for 9 years, from 2006 to 2015.
Between 2016 and 2022, she was the Principal Secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs.
She was the first African woman nominated for the position of Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2023.
Her work has been recognized with awards, including the Seahorse Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.
Family Background
She is married to Charles Karigithu, whom she publicly credited for being exceptionally supportive, particularly when he took on single-parenting duties while she pursued her master’s degree in Malta in 1993, a move she describes as “unheard of” at the time.
The two have four sons, three biological and one foster son, who was “adopted” by her biological sons after meeting and bonding with him, before Nancy and her husband officially brought him into the family.
Also Read: Profile of Kipruto Arap Kirwa, Kibaki’s Former Minister Who Refused to Work with Ruto
Karigithu is a grandmother and has expressed that one of her goals is to leave a clean professional record so she can fully enjoy her time with her grandchildren.
Net Worth
Ambassador Karigithu’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, as she is a career civil servant and legal professional whose financial records are private under Kenyan law.
Her financial status is based on her career spanning 4 decades:
- Public Service Earnings- as a former Principal Secretary, her basic salary and allowances were within the bracket set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for top-tier state officers, commanding a significant monthly compensation and benefits.
- Special Envoy Status and Presidential Advisor are high-ranking executive positions with associated government remuneration.
- Legal & Consultancy Expertise, she ran a private legal consultancy and worked as an expert for major international bodies, including the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
- International Board Roles, such as a Trustee of the IMPA Foundation and a Board Member of the World Maritime University, which reflect her high professional standing and market value in the global maritime industry.
- Her conferment as Senior Counsel (SC) in late 2025 further solidifies her status as one of Kenya’s most elite and highly valued legal professionals.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and join our WhatsApp Group for real-time news updates.
