IHRAM Influencer Mbizo Chirasha in Conversation with multi-creative expert Carolyn Gatonye

MC: Who is Carolyn Gatonye and What are your current projects?
Carolyn Gatonye: Carolyn Gatonye is many things, but first, she is Kenyan, born and raised. I am a computer scientist by training and currently a law student at Kabarak University in Kenya. I have spent over a decade in the tech field, including teaching at the university level. Over time, my journey has evolved to blend technology, law, and storytelling.
In the literary space, I am deeply involved in civic storytelling and legal literacy. I authored Black Voices, a poetry anthology that explores themes of identity, oppression, and the unbreakable spirit of African people.
My current projects span across literature, law, and social work. I volunteer with Help Aid Africa, a community-based initiative focused on promoting education by donating books to under-resourced schools across Kenya.
I am also leading a collaborative project with a group of young African writers. Together, we are working on a collection of short stories that explore contemporary African culture and history, with the aim of celebrating the richness and resilience of African communities.
In addition to this, I am developing Law Unmuted, a digital platform dedicated to civic storytelling and legal empowerment. The platform aims to simplify legal concepts and present the law in an accessible, narrative form that resonates with the public.

MC: How many stories have you written so far and What are your themes?
Carolyn Gatonye: I have written over 50 stories so far, and each one usually finds a way of gravitating towards the African spirit. Most of them are yet to be published though, but the purpose behind them has always been the same - stories that center around African women, sometimes challenge past injustice, explore the chaos and beauty of African culture and dig into the histories we were never taught in school.
I also express myself through poetry. My writing often comes from a deeply personal place, and I’ve been told it can be quite raw and honest. I don’t shy away from political themes either. Writing about politics gives me a way to express dissent, wherever it may exist. I believe stories should speak truth to power.
At the core of my writing is a commitment to storytelling that acknowledges struggle, celebrates resilience and strengthens voices that are frequently overlooked and/or unheard. Inspired by the legacy of Steve Biko’s seminal work, ‘I Write What I Like’, I write what I believe must be articulated, stories that tend to challenge, inform and empower.

MC: You are a multi-tasking professional; how do you handle your professional activities?
Carolyn Gatonye: It’s been a bit hectic, no sugar-coating that. Balancing full time classes and still expected to deliver clients’ tech projects requires discipline, grace and the occasional burning of the midnight oil. It was hard the first year I went back to school, but I keep getting better with my time management, so in the journey, I have learnt to enjoy it.
Law has become like my daily rhythm now, but in the free time I find, I try as much as I can to learn on the evolving trends that push tech into its being, while also taking less demanding tasks. Let’s say I treat it like a dance between two passions; where one is fixed in justice, the other in logic, and in the midst of the chaos, I create balance.

MC: Which level are you now in your legal studies?
Carolyn Gatonye: I’m currently in Level 3 of my legal studies. In Kenya, the journey to becoming an advocate takes four years of law school, followed by one intense year of postgraduate diploma training (and passing the bar exams), for one to be considered an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. It’s a long road, no doubt, but an exciting and interesting one all the same, especially when navigating it as a millennial surrounded by the fearless energy of Gen Z classmates.

MC: What is your Tech experience, what are your challenges?
Carolyn Gatonye: The tech journey has been anything but easy. I began working in tech over a decade ago, teaching programming classes at local unis as well as offering simple tech services to organizations in my hometown. I then got employed in different companies where I did a few years of graphic design, software development and digital marketing. But after a while, life, as it often does, demanded a pause. I took time off to start a family, and that break, though beautiful in its own right, came with a cost. The industry moved fast, and catching up meant proving myself all over again.
I chose motherhood over the momentum, but I never let go of the dream. So during the break, I co-founded a business and took on minor roles to have balance in everything. It paid off eventually and it’s been good ever since. Now, as the Lead Information Technology Specialist, I’ve learned to carry both competence and confidence, even when the world questions both.
One of the biggest challenges has been proving myself to clients who have doubted me, mostly because of my gender, a woman in a male-dominated field. There's an unspoken test we often face, “Can she really do it?” And my answer has always been in the work itself.

MC: Do you deal with issues of gender equity and social justice in your area of work, give us a brief background?
Carolyn Gatonye: At the moment, not directly, especially since I now run my own show. But gender struggles have followed me throughout my journey. Even now, I occasionally deal with clients who hesitate to pay for services when I ask, something my male colleagues rarely seem to experience.
In the early years of my career, being a woman in tech often felt like walking uphill with a weight no one else could see. I had to report to my boss after completing every task, and he would review my work before it moved forward. It wasn’t about feedback, it was about trust, and it stung that this didn’t apply to my male counterparts. It felt like I was constantly being tested while others, the male crew, just had to show up.
When it came to pay, the story was no different. I discovered that men doing the same job were earning more than me. At the time, I blamed my age. But with time and perspective, I realized that gender played a huge role in how I was perceived and rewarded. Still, none of it broke me. If anything, it sharpened me and shaped my voice.

MC: Have you ever won any award, accolade or prize in your endeavors?
Carolyn Gatonye: Unfortunately, not yet, but I’m working towards it. A few years back, I was featured in one of our local newspapers for my writing and community projects, and that recognition meant a lot to me. It reminded me that even the small steps count.
My bigger dream is to have my literary work reach global audiences, to be published across borders and spark conversations far beyond home. The awards will/might come, but for now, I’m focused on creating meaningful work that speaks to people.

MC: How are female Tech and legal practioners treated in your country? Are they recognized and respected?
Carolyn Gatonye: They are not recognized as much as they should. Spaces that need Tech leaders have for the longest time been a reserve for the men. However, the tech and legal arenas are still relatively small for women, with fewer female professionals compared to men. But the landscape is slowly changing, thanks to creators who dare to challenge stereotypes and pave new paths.
Currently, a Kenyan software developer and a civic activist, Rose Njeri, has recently made headlines by creating a tool designed to amplify citizen voices by making it easier for ordinary Kenyans to email the National Assembly’s Finance Committee to oppose controversial bills like the Finance Bill 2025. Her intention being to deepen public participation in governance through technology.
Sadly, instead of applause, Rose faced arrest under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, accused of disrupting parliamentary systems. Her arrest has sparked a national outrage, rallying civil society and prominent leaders to her defense. This clearly highlights not only the challenges female tech practitioners face but also the power and resilience women have in Kenya’s digital and legal spaces.
Rose’s courage and the public support she commands show that women in tech and law are breaking barriers and that the tides of recognition and respect are turning. If men began looking at women differently before, now is the time for a genuine shift. So for respect, we are yet to reach there.

MC: Where do we see you in the next 5 years and What is your parting shot to women of your generation?
Carolyn Gatonye: I like to take things a step at a time. I set small goals, break them down, and move forward with what I can manage. Hopefully in the next five years, I’ll have completed law school and published a good number of papers and stories, because I do have a lot to say about Africa, her people and her promise.
I hope my writing will speak for me. That it will sit somewhere, no matter how silently, beside the works of thinkers like Achille Mbembe, Steve Biko or Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. It’s a long shot, I know, but every step forward matters. I want to be part of the African story, not just as a writer, but as someone making a difference through the power of words and ideas.
To the women of my generation, you are never too old to do anything. Take each step as it comes. The journey may be long, but every move forward, no matter how small, is progress. Believe in your voice, stand tall in your truth and don’t shrink to fit into spaces that were never designed for you. We’re not here to blend in, we’re here to change the narrative.

Carolyn Gatonye is a Kenyan seasoned tech professional with over 10 years of experience in computer science and currently a law student. She has also taught Mathematics and Programming at Presbyterian University of Eastern Africa and Mount Kenya University, where she played a pivotal role in mentoring students, fostering innovation and bridging the gap between theory and practical application in technology. Carolyn uniquely blends her passions for law, technology and storytelling to amplify African voices, especially on governance, constitutional issues and human rights.
She is the author of Black Voices, a poetry anthology exploring themes of identity and resilience. Carolyn volunteers with Help Aid Africa, an initiative focused on uplifting African children through education. She is also the founder of Law Unmuted, a blog dedicated to civic storytelling and legal literacy that seeks to make the law accessible and engaging.
Balancing her careers in tech and law, Carolyn’s mission is to spark social change through powerful storytelling and justice-driven innovation. Outside of her professional work, she identifies as an ambivert and a dog lover. She is also a nature enthusiast who enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors whenever she is not writing.