Dr. Jill Cottrell Ghai is a constitutional law scholar and reform advocate who has played a pivotal role in Kenya’s constitutional development. She collaborated with Prof. Yash Pal Ghai during the process of drafting the constitution, providing legal expertise and advisory support that contributed to shaping the 2010 Constitution.

After its promulgation, she co-founded the Katiba Institute in Nairobi with Prof. Ghai. As Chairperson of the Institute’s Board of Directors, she has concentrated on helping Kenyans understand their rights, monitoring government compliance with the Constitution, supporting public interest litigation, and publishing accessible guides on devolution, public finance, and constitutional governance. Her work has been especially vital in bridging the gap between complex legal frameworks and everyday citizens, ensuring the Constitution remains a tool for accountability and civic empowerment.

Dr. Cottrell Ghai studied law at the London School of Economics and Yale Law School. She taught for more than 40 years at universities in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong, specialising in constitutional law, legal systems, land law, and, later, in economic, social, and cultural rights. She also advised on constitution-making in several countries, including Nepal, Iraq, East Timor, the Maldives, Somalia, and Cambodia.

Since 2008, she has been actively educating the public about Kenya’s Constitution and advocating for its full implementation. Together with Prof. Ghai, she co-authored “Kenya’s Constitution: An Instrument for Change“, the first book on the 2010 Constitution, which remains a key reference for students, practitioners, and citizens.