info@karu.ac.ke (+254) 20 2176 713
Studied Agriculture at undergraduate level, later specializing in plant pathology at Masters and PhD levels, University of Nairobi. Started professional career at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), currently Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO), stationed at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL). This was an opportunity to develop practical skill, knowledge and competences in plant disease diagnosis, on-farm and on station agricultural research and working with farmers and industry players in different aspects of plant health.
As a young professional, became part of a team pioneering sweet potato (Ipomoea babatas) research and development in Kenya in early 1990s. This important food security crop was previously neglected by scientists and government policies in East Africa. Today, sweet potato holds an important crop position in the farming and food systems of Kenya and the East African region as a security, food and cash crop. Another important outcome of the work was documentations of various diseases that are responsible for postharvest losses during the transportation, storage and marketing of the edible storage roots.
African region as a security, food and cash crop. Another important outcome of the work was documentations of various diseases that are responsible for postharvest losses during the transportation, storage and marketing of the edible storage roots.
In the year 2006, left KARLO and joined Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) as a senior lecturer in the department of Horticulture. This career move was guided by the desire to share the acquired wealth of knowledge and experience with the future agricultural professionals. During this term at JKUAT, successfully supervised several masters and doctorate students and mentored many undergraduate students, among other academic achievements.
After a successful 9-year term at JKUAT, joined Karatina University as associate Professor in the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, department of Crop Science, later renamed Agricultural Sciences Department. Besides administrative responsibilities as the Head of the Department, continued to teach agricultural courses, supervise postgraduate students and mentor students at different levels of learning, and other young agricultural professionals.
Academic leadership achievements include serving as external examiner, authoring/co-authoring scientific articles in journals, books, bulletins and workshop proceedings. Excellent leadership and communication skills are attributable to appointment to various leadership positions including, Head, academic department (agricultural sciences, Karatina University), Attachment Coordinator and Time table Coordinator (JKUAT), Head, plant pathology section (NARL, KARI) among other leadership responsibilities.