Winifred Wangari Gitao

Head- Conveyancing & Real Estate

Founding Partner,
wwgitao@merwinadvocates.com
Mombasa, Kenya

WINIFRED WANGARI GITAO is a Founding Partner of the firm and heads the Conveyancing Department. She has been in legal practice for over 25 years with in-depth experience and knowledge in real estate, corporate and commercial and maritime law.
A holder of a Masters of Laws Degree from the University of Hull, UK, as well as an Honours Bachelors Degree in Law and Psychology from the University of Keele, UK; Winifred is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya holding of Post-graduate Diploma in Legal Studies from the Kenya School of Law. Her expertise is focused on banking and securities, conveyancing and project development transactions, leases and licenses. She also handles tribunal suits, and commercial insurance and Maritime litigation matters.

Winifred also practices in Probate and Estate administration matters, preparation of Wills and Estate management. She is a Certified Public Secretary, CPS (K) Holder experienced in her advisory capacity sitting in at Boards for several institutions, and as Company Secretary, maintaining the various statutory registers, filing and preparing statutory documentation.
Additionally, her experience includes acting for numerous Banks, Corporate institutions, Parastatals, Local and International Charitable and Profit-making organizations. One of the key highlights in her accomplishments was being a key Legal advisor on the governance and successful restructuring of a micro-finance institution in its transition into a Deposit Taking institution. She has also honed her expertise in Family and Children’s Law having represented hundreds of families before the court, on adoption, Guardianship and other family law matters.

Winifred has developed a track record of proven integrity and the myriad referrals she has receive bear witness to the fact she has created confidence with the  boards with which she works, both locally and internationally. Winifred has served as a Trustee of the Board of Trustees of Seeds in His Garden Children’s Home registered as a Trust in Kenya and as a Member of the Board of Governors AIC CURE International Kijabe Children’s Hospital, currently Winifred serves the Anglican Church of Kenya as a lay reader at the Mombasa Memorial Cathedral, and also serves as Assistant Registrar for the Mombasa diocese