Esther Mwaura-Muiru is a Founder and Coordinator of GROOTS Kenya (Grassroots Organizations Operating Together in Sisterhood) — a network of more than 2000 self-help groups from poor communities in urban slums and rural areas across Kenya. Esther’s leadership has enabled women in the GROOTS Kenya network to build a solid network of grassroots women’s organizations and take leadership roles in their own communities and within local, national, regional and international decision-making forums, focusing on local governance, secure land tenure, and community responses to HIV and AIDS.

She continues to write articles, serves as an environmental specialist who has documented several award-winning Kenyan community development practices and sits on advisory boards for national and international organizations. Since 2007, she has been coordinating GROOTS Kenya’s response to the political and ethnic violence, which erupted across the country through supporting the provision of direct relief, and leading dialogue towards reconciliation and long-term rebuilding of communities. She is active with Huairou Commission and several global networks. GROOTS is a Global Fund for Women grantee. Learn more about GROOTS at http://www.groots.org/