Emma Kinyanjui

Emma Kinyanjui is the Legal Director of Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC), where she leads a team of attorneys advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. She joined DRNC in 2016 and became Legal Director in 2020, restructuring the organization’s legal services during the pandemic. Emma has a distinguished career, including nearly eight years with Legal Aid of North Carolina, focusing on housing and Medicaid cases. She is co-lead counsel on the DRNC’s high-profile Samantha R litigation, which won significant relief for disabled individuals facing systemic issues with the Medicaid waiver program. Her leadership extends to various advocacy efforts, including ending solitary confinement, securing fair housing, and ensuring equitable access to health care for disabled people, particularly those of color and from impoverished backgrounds.