Professor Attiya Waris who lectures Fiscal Law at the Faculty of Law, has   received an official appointment to be a commissioner on the newly established O’Neill- Lancet Commission on Racism, Structural Discrimination and Global Health which will last approximately 3 years with the first two years dedicated to research, consultation and development of the Lancet report, and the final year for dissemination of the report and findings across various communities in the world.

Waris previously held the position of the Director of Research and Enterprise for the University of Nairobi (2019-2022) and acted as Deputy as Deputy Principal of the then college of Humanities and Social Sciences (2020-2021).

Professor Attiya Waris is the only Professor of Fiscal Law and Policy in Eastern Africa. She holds a PhD in Law and is a specialist in Fiscal Law, Policy and Development. She is an advocate of High Court of Kenya and convenor of the committee on Fiscal Studies.  The Fiscal committee spearheaded the first agreement on sharing of data between a university and a revenue agency globally, between the University of Nairobi and the Kenya Revenue Authority and actively mentors the next generation of researchers.

She consults for international institutions like the UN, government agencies as well as civil society organizations and has received research grants from European Commission, GIZ, Open Society and Oxfam. Her funded research revolves around financing rights, financing health, taxation of collective investment vehicles as well as researching issues related to the United Nations Tax Committee.

In 2017, she was nominated for the position of UN Special Rapporteur on Development and is the current Independent Expert on Foreign Debt and other related international financial obligations of States on Human Rights (1ST August 2021-31st July 2024) and also an observer to the UN Tax Committee.

The University of Nairobi Faculty of Law therefore celebrates and congratulates Prof. Attiya Waris for her continued dedication and commitment towards work. “As you look forward towards making bold moves to ensure equal access to and attainment of the right to health, we wish you the best.” CONGRATULATIONS PROF. ATTIYA WARIS!