Ms. Ummi Bashir

Board Member

Principal Secretary, State Department for Culture & Heritage

Born in Wajir County, MS. Ummi Bashir is a strategic leader and cultural ambassador passionate about preserving, promoting, and celebrating our rich cultural heritage, #MakingKultureKoolAgain.

She believes our cultural heritage is a source of pride and unity for our country. It is what sets us apart and makes us who we are. As such, State Department of Culture works together to preserve and promote our rich cultural heritage for future generations.

Ms. Ummi is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with 11 years of post-admission experience in the field of Law. She holds a Master’s Degree in armed conflict & peace from the University of Nairobi, a post-graduate diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law and a Bachelor of Law (LLB) from Zanzibar University. She is pursuing her PhD in International Relations, Foreign Policy and Diplomacy at the United States International University.

She has worked with UNDP-Kenya, UNHCR, in the office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, served as the County Chief Officer in the Department of Public Service and Labour in Wajir County Government and also served as the Head of Legal and advisor to the Governor in Mombasa County Government.

The State Department for Culture and Heritage is poised to significantly contribute to developing Kenya’s culture and heritage, honoring our heroes who contribute considerably to the development and growth of Kenya’s past, present, and future, embarking on various initiatives to promote Kenya’s cultural identity and ensure that Kenya’s cultural heritage remains relevant in digital age through innovation and technology.