Across all our services, we work as partners – not vendors – bringing strategic thinking, contextual intelligence,
and a commitment to change that lasts.
Athari provides strategic communications and policy advisory services to organisations working to drive inclusive, sustainable change. We help our partners navigate complex political, social, and regulatory environments, turning evidence into influence and ideas into action.
We craft communication strategies that shape public understanding and shift power. Our work includes
narrative framing, messaging, thought leadership, and storytelling that builds trust, challenges harmful
norms, and mobilises support.
We support organisations to engage policymakers with clarity and credibility. Our work includes policy
positioning, advocacy strategy, stakeholder mapping, and campaign design –grounded in political
economy analysis and an understanding of how power operates in practice.
We help partners turn research and data into tools for influence. From documentation of impact and
learning briefs to policy papers and insight reports, we ensure evidence is accessible, persuasive, and usable by decision-makers and the public alike.
We advise on media strategy, public engagement, and issues management in high-stakes contexts. Our
support helps organisations anticipate risk, respond strategically, and sustain reputational strength while
engaging the press and wider audiences.
We specialise in communications that advance gender equality, women’s economic empowerment,
youth inclusion, and inclusive development. Our work centres African realities and voices while supporting systemic approaches that shift attitudes, policies, and markets.
Across all our services, we work as partners – not vendors – bringing strategic thinking, contextual intelligence,
and a commitment to change that lasts.
Senior Advisor, Strategy and Policy
Kamau is a researcher, educator, and policy consultant specialising in policing, violence, and criminal justice in Africa. He is a lecturer in criminology at Edinburgh Napier University and a Research Fellow at Strathmore University Business School. A published author and public commentator, he hosts The Kenyanist podcast and holds a PhD and MSc from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Oxford respectively.
Senior Advisor, Strategy and Partnerships
Pamella is an award-winning journalist and thought leader in media, advocacy, and partnerships. She previously served as Group Managing Editor at Nation Media Group and as Communications Specialist at UNICEF Kenya, where she championed children’s and women’s rights. She is a Trustee of Thomson Foundation and Africa Check, a recipient of the WAN-IFRA Women in News Editorial Leadership Award, and holds an MA in Communications from the University of Leicester.
Senior Advisor, Research and Knowledge Translation
Judith is an accomplished storyteller and science communicator with over a decade of journalism experience. She previously served as Health and Enterprise Editor at The Standard and as a researcher at the Duke Global Health Institute. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, USA, and ensures that data and insights are accessible, engaging, and actionable.
Senior Advisor, Data and Evidence
Kagure is a distinguished communications professional with extensive experience designing and leading strategic communications initiatives for social change. She has led major campaigns on governance and gender inequality and previously headed investigations, data, and research at The Standard Group.
She specialises in strategic messaging, media relations, and digital communication, and holds an MA in Development Studies from the University of Leeds.
Senior Advisor, Economic Inclusion and Sustainability
Reyian M. Risa is a dynamic legal professional and sustainability advocate with a proven track record in economic inclusion, land management, and community-driven development. Combining her legal expertise with hands-on experience in sustainable pastoralism, she has designed and implemented innovative approaches that integrate traditional knowledge with modern practices to enhance ecological sustainability and economic resilience. Her experience includes serving as a Refugee Status Determination Officer and participating in Kenya’s Task Force Committee for the transition of refugee management from UNHCR to government, where she led policy development, capacity building, and stakeholder coordination. Reyian is also the founder of Rennil Olchekut Ranch in Kajiado, promoting sustainable pastoralism, and holds an LLB from the University of Nairobi and entrepreneurship training from Future Female Business School and Honoris United University.
Managing Partner
Denis is a seasoned communications strategist and public affairs expert with a deep commitment to social justice and sustainable development. He has held senior editorial leadership roles at Nation and The Standard, served as Media and Advocacy Director at the African Wildlife Foundation, and most recently worked as a Strategic Communications Consultant with the World Bank. Denis holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc from the University of Oxford.