This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
As the executive director of Amnesty International Kenya, Houghton Irungu's days are filled with a mix of work and personal life. In a recent interview, he shared with us what a typical day looks like for him.
Irungu's day starts at 6 am, with a quick glance at his calendar to determine what he'll wear. He's recently started a daily seven-minute exercise program, which he fits in before starting work. His first agenda item is always cereals and coffee.
Unlike his younger self, Irungu now enjoys working in the mornings. He credits his children with teaching him the value of getting up early. With a busy schedule, Irungu relies on his calendar and scheduling to stay intentional and purposeful. He leaves the office early each day to avoid traffic, which he believes is designed to rob people of productivity and livability.
Irungu joined Amnesty International Kenya last year, taking over from his predecessors Miriam Kahiga and Justus Nyang'aya. As executive director, his role is divided into three parts: managerial, strategic, and representational. He spends about three days managing colleagues and budgets, one day engaging with mass and digital media, and another representing Amnesty externally.
Despite his media presence, Irungu emphasizes that his work is collaborative and that most of the change Amnesty International Kenya achieves comes from face-to-face dialogue with government officials and other stakeholders. The organization's greatest influence, he believes, comes from the trust and respect it has built with policy-makers, partners, and people at risk of discrimination and violence.
Irungu is motivated by his vision of a democratic and open society in Kenya, driven by its citizens rather than cartels. He's also driven by heart-wrenching stories of families affected by poverty, extra-judicial killings, gender-based violence, and homophobic discrimination. When Amnesty International Kenya wins, it feels worth it, he says.
However, Irungu acknowledges that his work comes with uncertainties and risks. He faces the challenge of keeping his team hopeful, systems-focused, and empathetic with each other. Like the rest of the country, he struggles with punctuality, authenticity, and intentionality.
Irungu believes that happiness is a choice, rather than a mood or feeling. He's learned to anchor himself in the belief that all people have virtuous and vicious sides. Most violators, he says, are often violated themselves. His role is to interrupt the viciousness and speak to the virtuous side.
Looking back, Irungu credits a conversation with Mary M'Mukindia, who asked him three questions that helped him decide to leave a comfortable job with Oxfam and create a new opportunity for himself. He emphasizes the importance of imagining and creating one's ideal job.
Irungu also shares his personal life, including his love of Indian and Swahili dishes, his commitment to nurturing the Kenyan creative industry, and his recent Netflix favorites, including Black-list, Truth and Justice, and Ava Duvernay's When They See Us.
