Interior Designer & President, IDSK
Cecilia Mbati
Crafting transformative spaces that blend functionality with timeless elegance. Based in Kenya, designing for the world.
Interior Designer & President, IDSK
Crafting transformative spaces that blend functionality with timeless elegance. Based in Kenya, designing for the world.
Years of Design Excellence
About Me
As President of the Interior Design Society of Kenya (IDSK), I bring a unique blend of creative vision, business acumen, and technical expertise to every project.
My approach combines contemporary design principles with deep respect for local context, creating interiors that are both globally relevant and distinctly Kenyan. From luxury residential projects to commercial showrooms and national infrastructure developments.
IDSK
President
MBA
JKUAT
BA Design
University of Nairobi
Post Grad Dip
Open University
Featured Work
A curated collection of residential, commercial, and hospitality projects spanning Nairobi, Mombasa, and beyond. Each space tells a unique story of transformation and design excellence.
Experience
Cecilia Nakhungu is a Master Builder of Spaces, Careers, and Businesses — an accomplished interior design professional, trainer, and industry leader operating at the intersection of design, construction, leadership, and public service.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Design and a Master’s degree in Strategic Management, enabling her to approach design not merely as a creative discipline, but as a strategic instrument for impact, efficiency, and sustainable enterprise.
As a Trainer at a National Polytechnic, Cecilia delivers competency-based education and mentors emerging professionals within Kenya’s technical training ecosystem — bridging the gap between education, industry, and real-world employability.
Her commitment to this pipeline is reflected in the Industry Integration Program (IIP), a structured mentorship initiative curated under the Interior Design Society of Kenya to equip students and young professionals with practical exposure, discipline, and career direction.
Her portfolio spans hospitality, commercial, and residential sectors — including hostel developments, showroom environments, and bespoke residential projects — demonstrating strong command of space planning, materials engineering, construction detailing, and building services coordination.
Cecilia has contributed to large-scale multidisciplinary assignments including port development projects, and has delivered resilient spatial solutions within United Nations operations in Somalia under demanding environments.
Beyond design, she plays a critical role in capacity building — supporting individuals and SMEs in developing communication, positioning, and systems thinking to build scalable careers and businesses.
As a member of the Interior Design Society of Kenya (IDSK), she champions structured professional practice, inclusivity, and recognition of interior design as a formal profession in Kenya.
A 2022 political candidate, Cecilia contributed to Kenya’s civic landscape and was part of the team behind the 2023 strategic plan for the ODM Women League, supporting leadership development, grassroots engagement, and organizational strengthening.
"Build systems. Build people. Build spaces that sustain both."
Available for board appointments, keynote speaking, advisory roles, and strategic partnerships in design, education, and industry development.
Post Graduate Diploma
Technical Trainer Education
Open University
2026
MBA
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Year
BA Design
University of Nairobi
2011
KCSE
Bunyore Girls High School
2004
Current Role
President
Interior Design Society of Kenya (IDSK)
Expertise
Get In Touch
Ready to transform your space? Reach out to discuss your project.