CECILIA WAHINYA, a Director at Triad Architects, has built a career defined by curiosity, resilience and purpose. In a recent interview, she recounted her journey from studying architecture at University to becoming a leader at one of East Africa’s most respected firms—emphasizing the importance of sustainable design, hands-on learning, and using architecture to make a lasting impact.
For Cecilia Wahinya, architecture has never been just about buildings — it’s about curiosity, people, and places that shape how we live and feel. Her story is proof that a spark of wonder can grow into a legacy of leadership in one of East Africa’s most respected architectural firms.
Cecilia’s journey began at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), where she graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2004. What stood out for her during those years was how tactile and immersive the learning was — not just design studios but interactive classes that took her out of lecture halls and into the real world. She fondly recalls studying geology while sitting on sedimentary rocks in Matuu. This kind of learning made her see that architecture is about understanding materials, people’s needs, and how well-designed solutions stand up in real life.
Industrial attachments during her studies exposed Cecilia to both the formal and informal sides of the built environment — from working with established architects to NGOs operating in informal settlements. Those early experiences planted a deep understanding that good design must connect with communities and context.
After graduation, Cecilia joined Tile & Carpet Centre, where she learned how design choices directly shape products and influence how they fit into people’s lives. She soon moved to Dimensions Architects & Interior Designers, where she expanded her portfolio with projects like the Kenya Red Cross and Africa Online offices, blending architecture, interior design and client engagement.
Family life then took Cecilia abroad, first to London and later to Dubai. In London, she joined a firm in Southfields and immersed herself in the art of modernizing Victorian houses — conserving historic streetscapes while reinventing interiors for modern living. The experience sharpened her sensitivity to conservation and the delicate balance between old and new.
In Dubai, she joined Dabbagh Architects, a RIBA-certified practice, and worked on a wide range of projects — from mid-level commercial buildings, villas, to a master plan of 786 residential units in Abu Dhabi. Dubai’s scale and pace were eye-opening, but so was the way climate shaped design — keeping heat out in the desert compared to London’s need to conserve warmth. That experience deepened her belief in designing with climate in mind — a principle she brought home.
Returning to Kenya at the end of 2009, Cecilia knew exactly where she wanted to take her global experience: Triad Architects. With a legacy of delivering transformative projects since 1963, Triad felt like the perfect fit. She joined in 2010 and quickly found her stride.
“Triad’s culture gives you responsibility from day one,” she says. “You run with projects, you learn, you grow.” By 2012, she had become an Associate, taking charge of Triad’s ISO-certified Quality Management System — a role that deepened her understanding of operational excellence. The following year, when Director Tim Vaulkhard retired, Cecilia was invited to the board, becoming Triad’s first female director in over fifty years.
She downplays the gender milestone: “There’s no process for women and another for men in architecture. Good design is good design. My job is to do it right and show others it’s possible.”
Her portfolio at Triad reflects her versatile, community-minded approach. From the Kericho Cathedral — a landmark of simple yet striking form and authentic materials — to large office projects for the UN, World Bank, IFC, NCBA, Standard Chartered, Microsoft and others, she has shaped spaces that respond to people’s needs and the local environment.
She’s particularly proud of Triad’s collaborative spirit — exemplified by projects like ICRAF (World Agroforestry Centre). Triad first designed its Nairobi campus in the 1980s, and today, Cecilia’s team is expanding that legacy with new facilities that honour the original vision while meeting modern sustainability standards.
Sustainability, she says, is no longer optional — it’s fundamental. “In Kenya, we have no excuse for not doing climate-conscious design. With our climate, the right orientation and passive strategies can get you far.”
She’s also keenly aware of how technology is transforming the profession. Triad already uses BIM tools like Revit among others on the Autodesk suite. AI is likewise starting to play a bigger role — helping generate and test multiple design ideas quickly at early design stages. Still, she sees AI as an assistant, not a replacement. “You still need to detail the work, go to site, manage contractors — the human side doesn’t go away.”
Architecture is not static- an in-depth understanding of value chains, deployment of real estate capital and lifetime running cost of built assets is key in getting it right. Trends like flexible workplaces, International brands-driven retail spaces, and DIY home building are reshaping the industry too. More homeowners are downloading plans online and hiring neighbourhood fundis. Her advice? “Get good guidance upfront. Construction is capital-intensive — better get it right the first time.”
Beyond design, Cecilia believes architecture must give back. Through the Triad Foundation, the firm supports community projects every year in education, health and the environment. This year’s focus is improving facilities for young children living with their incarcerated mothers in prison— showing how technical expertise can uplift even the most overlooked corners of society.
Outside work, Cecilia wears another full-time hat — mother to two energetic sons who keep her busy between football and basketball. She also serves on the board of her local high school, mentors young architects, and champions career talks in schools and universities. “You don’t have to go far to serve — put your service where you’re planted.”
For Cecilia Wahinya, every project is a chance to ask the same question that sparked her curiosity as a young girl in a wooden gazebo in Nanyuki: Why does this place feel the way it does? And how can good design make it feel better for everyone?
In asking — and answering — such questions, she continues to shape not just buildings, but lives and communities across East Africa.
