Patrick Gathara

About

Patrick Gathara is a strategic communications consultant, writer, researcher, event organiser, web and graphic designer and award-winning political cartoonist. An irredeemable news buff who is always up for an argument, Patrick revels in articulating and communicating complex ideas and realities to critical audiences. For over three years, he was an integral part of one of the most challenging, and most successful, communications projects in the world. Starting off as an Information Officer and rising to head the Press & Media Team within the AU/UN Information Support Team, Patrick helped deliver strategic communications support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), raising the Mission’s profile and enhancing its reputation both within Somalia and across the world. A formidably articulate writer, he took the lead in drafting official press statements, as well as academic articles and Opinion Editorials for key AMISOM and AU leaders which have been published in leading international journals. He was also instrumental in organising and running media embeds with the troops as well as advising the senior AMISOM leadership on reputational issues. Patrick's articles are regularly published on his blog, www.gathara.blogspot.com (named the Best Political Blog in Kenya in 2017), and on leading international and regional publications and websites including The Washington Post, Aljazeera.net, Financial Times, Mail & Guardian, The East African and The Star. As General Secretary of the Association of East African Cartoonists, he organized numerous international cartoon exhibitions and competitions which afforded unprecedented opportunities for, and raised the profile of, many Kenya’s cartoonists. Patrick also briefly run his own design business, providing graphic and web design services to Kenya’s leading companies.