About Us

SAIRC Objectives

We aspire to become a community of individuals who are professionally competent, creative, and enterprising who can thus act as positive agents of change and service to society. Our objectives are

Building Research Capacity

Promoting Research for Policy

Conducting High Impact Research

Providing Research Support Services

Developing a Knowledge Management Centre

SAIRC Board of Directors

Prof. John Odhiambo

Prof. John Odhiambo

Prof. Odhiambo is a professor of Mathematical Statistics and former Vice-Chancellor of Strathmore University. He obtained his Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Mathematics and went on to complete his Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in statistics from the University of Nairobi. He has exemplary industrial experience and has served as Consultant Statistician to the Population Council and Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Program. He has done extensive research, and supervised PhD research students in group testing designs, and published his work in reputable statistical journals. He has also done significant research and supervised PhD research students in disease modelling in areas such as HIV, malaria and most recently, the COVID-19 outbreak. Prof Odhiambo has continued to mentor his students even after they graduate and start research careers and many of them are now holding senior academic positions, both regionally and globally. While at the University of Nairobi, he successfully led the establishment of an international programme for the enhancement of biometric training and education in Africa sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation at both Master’s degree and professional levels. Most of the graduates who received fellowships to enroll in the programme proceeded to do PhDs in biostatistics and related areas and are now established senior researchers or senior academics in prestigious institutions across the world. At Strathmore University, Prof. Odhiambo led the University to partner with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of South Africa and the African Centre for Clinical Trials (ACCT), through a grant from the Council for National Health Research (CNHR), to establish the Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences (CREATES), which is a renowned Centre of excellence in the region. Most recently, he led the creation of the Mathematical Sciences Research Programme (MSRP) dedicated to applying mathematical sciences to solving problems in health and biology through a collaborative cross-disciplinary research platform at Strathmore University. This is a community of research excellence that fosters the collaboration of mathematical scientists, medical and health scientists, chemists and physicists, ecologists and environmental scientists, economists, social scientists, etc. to solve problems in population and planetary health. Prof. Odhiambo is a member of the International Biometric Society (IBS), American Statistical Association (ASA), International Statistical Institute (ISI), International Association of Statistical Education (IASE), among others.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Jacqueline Mcglade

Prof. Jacqueline Mcglade

Prof. McGlade holds a PhD in Zoology and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Guelph, Canada (1981) and a BSc Joint Honours in Marine Biology, Biochemistry and Soil Science from the University of Bangor, UK. She holds a Private Pilot’s Licence, Advanced Diver Certificate, and is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (UK), Fellow of the Linnean Society, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Manufacturing (UK). She holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bangor, Kent and Keele. She is a Knight of the Order of St James (Monaco) for her services to marine sciences. She has won several awards; including the Masryk Gold Medal, and the Geospatial Industries 2013 Global Citizen for her work on open data and citizen science. Prof. McGlade worked as the UN Environment’s Chief Scientist, Director of Science and Chief Statistician, spearheading the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Indicator Development. She has also served as the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, and Director of the UK Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences. Prof. McGlade is the founder of View the World, a company that delivers virtual gaming experiences and scientific software, and Downforce Technologies, home of EcoBalance, a land health accounting platform. Her current research is on: natural prosperity and the circular bioeconomy (waste management, renewable energy, development of novel feedstocks), impacts of pollution on health (particulate matter in the air, plastics in the marine environment, and pharmaceuticals in soil and water), data analytics (earth observation, ecosystem modelling), and development of traditional medicinal and food trees for improving nutrition and diets. She holds several key advisory roles, including for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, China Council and the European Space Agency. She has published more than 200 research publications and produced award-winning films and radio series.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Ismail Ateya

Prof. Ismail Ateya

Prof. Ateya holds a doctorate in Applied Geophysics, and a Master of Science in Applied Geophysics, both from Kyoto University, Japan. He also holds a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Surveying and Photogrammetry from the University of Nairobi. He has been an external examiner for the Master of Science in Software Engineering program in the Department of Computing, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology since 2010 and for the Bachelor of Business Information Technology for St. Paul’s University for the Year 2010. He has been a resource person for the Commission of University Education (CUE) since 2009 where he has reviewed several curricula for Information Technology, Computer Science and Information Systems programs with some of the programs being at the Masters Level. Prof. Ateya is currently the Director of the Office of Faculty Affairs at Strathmore University. He has also been the Academic and Research Director in the Faculty of Information Technology from February 2009 to March 2015 and during this time, he, as the Chairperson, together with his team, successfully designed the Bachelor of Science in Informatics and Bachelor Science in Telecommunications that were launched in 2010. He was also the Chairperson in the major reviews of the flagship undergraduate Bachelor of Business Information Technology program and two Master’s programs namely: Master of Science in Information Technology and Master of Science in Computer Based Information. He has been a member of several Committees at Strathmore University, including: the School of Graduate Studies Board (SGS), Faculty Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), Faculty Management Committee (MC), Academic Committee – Research Methods Conference, Management Committee of Strathmore Innovation and Technology Transfer (SITT) and the Chairman, Academic/Scientific Committee, Strathmore University ICT Conference for the period 2009 to 2010. His research interests are on Software and Database Modelling of large Information Systems.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Ruth Kiraka

Prof. Ruth Kiraka

Prof. Kiraka is Associate Professor, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Strathmore University. She earned her PhD from Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; MSc from Wageningen University, the Netherlands; and BSc from Egerton University, Kenya. She has published books, numerous journal articles and book chapters, case studies, and research reports. She has received research grants to conduct entrepreneurship research. She has supervised and examined several PhD and masters’ students. Her teaching performance also won her a University teaching excellence award. Her consulting experience includes work for Johnson & Johnson, Commission for University Education – Kenya, National Council for Higher Education – Namibia, Barclays Bank of Kenya, the British Council, and the International Finance Corporation. She also conducts entrepreneurship training for small and medium sized enterprises, in which she has trained over 2000 entrepreneurs. Prof. Kiraka is a journal reviewer for Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review; International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management; Knowledge and Process Management; International Academy of African Business and Development and Third Sector Review.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Gilbert Kokwaro

Prof. Gilbert Kokwaro

Prof. Kokwaro is a Professor of Health Systems Research at Strathmore University. He holds a PhD (Pharmacokinetics) from the University of Wales (UK), and undertook postdoctoral training in clinical pharmacology at the University of Liverpool, UK. He is a Fellow of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences and the African Academy of Sciences. He currently leads research and training (Masters and PhD) in Health Systems, focusing on Health Leadership and Governance; Pharmaceutical Commodity Supply Chain Management; Hospital Management; and aspects of health systems efficiency. He has also been a Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Nairobi since 2000. Prof. Kokwaro has been the Chair of the Expert Committee on Clinical Trials (ECCT) at the Ministry of Health, Kenya, since 2009. In 2018, he was appointed by the then Cabinet Secretary for Health to be the Chairperson of the Advisory Panel on development of a Health Benefits Package for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for Kenya. Regarding research capacity development in Kenya, Prof. Kokwaro, as the founder Director of the Consortium for National Health Research (CNHR) received funding of £10 million (approximately USD 18 million at that time) from the Wellcome Trust and DFID in 2007 for health research capacity strengthening in Kenya. Through this grant, CNHR established 4 Centres of Research Excellence, and supported several senior research leaders, postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and over 80 research interns in Kenya. His main areas of research are: systems approach to road safety, health systems strengthening and mathematical modelling (pharmacokinetics) of drugs in patients with malaria, HIV/AIDS and other tropical infectious diseases.

Email:[email protected]

Dr. Jane Wathuta

Dr. Jane Wathuta

Dr. Wathuta has a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from the University of Nairobi, and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She is also a Master’s Degree holder in Marriage and Family from the University of Navarre and a Research PhD holder in Bioethics from the Biomedical University of Rome. She has trained in research ethics, ethics education, human rights, philosophy and theology, at various institutions in Africa and Europe. Dr. Wathuta is currently the Academic Director at Strathmore University Law School (SLS), and the Director of the Strathmore University Institute for Family Studies and Ethics (IFS). She is visiting faculty in the SARETI (South African Research Ethics Training Initiative) Master’s Degree program, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She is also a visiting researcher at the School of Law, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. She is also an invited peer reviewer for various academic journals and currently serves as a guest editor for a special issue with Frontiers Public Health. Dr. Wathuta serves in the National Scientific & Ethics Committee (formerly the National Bioethics Committee – NBC), within the National Commission for Science, Technology & Innovation (NACOSTI – Kenya). She also represents Strathmore University in the NCAJ (National Council on the Administration of Justice – Kenya) Special Taskforce on Children Matters. She is a member of the Bioethics Society of Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya, and the co-founder and chairperson of Women in Academia (WiA.ke). She is a trainer and coordinator of professional women’s development programs under the auspices of Kianda Foundation Educational Trust. He currently leads research and training (Masters and PhD) in Health Systems, focusing on Health Leadership and Governance; Pharmaceutical Commodity Supply Chain Management; Hospital Management; and aspects of health systems efficiency. He has also been a Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Nairobi since 2000. Prof. Kokwaro has been the Chair of the Expert Committee on Clinical Trials (ECCT) at the Ministry of Health, Kenya, since 2009. In 2018, he was appointed by the then Cabinet Secretary for Health to be the Chairperson of the Advisory Panel on development of a Health Benefits Package for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for Kenya. Regarding research capacity development in Kenya, Prof. Kokwaro, as the founder Director of the Consortium for National Health Research (CNHR) received funding of £10 million (approximately USD 18 million at that time) from the Wellcome Trust and DFID in 2007 for health research capacity strengthening in Kenya. Through this grant, CNHR established 4 Centres of Research Excellence, and supported several senior research leaders, postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and over 80 research interns in Kenya. His main areas of research are: systems approach to road safety, health systems strengthening and mathematical modelling (pharmacokinetics) of drugs in patients with malaria, HIV/AIDS and other tropical infectious diseases.

Email:[email protected]

Rosemary Okello-Orlale

Rosemary Okello-Orlale

Ms. Okello-Orlale is a highly acclaimed communication, media and gender expert who finds interest in creating Africa narrative through Data storytelling. Currently, she is the Director- Africa Media Hub, Strathmore University Business School, whose mission is to increase expert knowledge among the business and finance journalists in the coverage of critical issues related to the global economy and business using data visualization. She has worked with key partners to make Strathmore University set a landmark precedent by becoming the only University in Africa hosting Data for over 5 Countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, Ghana, and Sierra Leone) dating back 17 years under the African Regional Data Cube (ARDC) – including food systems related data. She has a long personal history in analyses/ reporting on food security and climate change issues. She is also in the Advisory Board of the Strathmore Data Analytics Centre (SADAC). Previously, she was a Program Officer with the Ford Foundation Eastern African Office on Civic Engagement and Government; Creativity and Free Expression and Advancing Public Service Media Initiative. She has supported the media sphere as a platform to give voice and visibility to marginalized people and the transformation of the alternative media into a critical voice of civil society. She is also a Founder of African Woman and Child Feature Service- a Media NGO where she served as the Executive Director. She has also served as the First Secretary of the Kenya Editor’s Guild and Africa Editor’s Forum. She is also a founder member of the Kenya Media Council.

Email:[email protected]

Eng. Prof. Alex Muumbo

Eng. Prof. Alex Muumbo

Eng. Prof. Muumbo holds a Doctorate Degree in Materials Engineering from Nagoya University (Japan), a MSc in Advanced Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Management from the University of Bradford (UK) and a Bachelor of Technology (B. TECH – Hons.) in Production Technology from Moi University (Eldoret – Kenya). He has over 34 years of teaching and research experience, particularly in Materials science/engineering, Energy, Engineering design practice, Additive/Subtractive manufacturing, Foundry engineering, Production planning and control, among others. He is a Mechanical engineer by profession, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a mentor with both the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) and the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK). He has actively participated in organizing IEK-sponsored functions and events, including the annual IEK-EBK International Conferences/conventions in addition to participating in initiatives that promote collaboration between Academia and Industry, particularly towards the realization of the fourth industrial revolution and a green future. He has served as a judge in the KenGen’s annual G2G Global Innovation Seminar and is currently a member of the HOPE worldwide Kenya Board of Directors. Prof. Muumbo has extensively trained industry professionals on; continuous improvement, research techniques, technical report writing, failure mode and effect analysis, lean manufacturing/administration, change management and total quality management, among other short courses.

Email:[email protected]

Bernard Chiira

Bernard Chiira

Bernard is the director of Global Disability Innovation Hub’s Innovate Now-Africa’s first assistive technology accelerator program. His professional journey and experience span 9 years as an expert across innovation, entrepreneurship, assistive technology, disability, new venture development & investment. He has worked across diverse technology, innovation and entrepreneurship development projects with partners and organizations across Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. He is a Co-founder and first chairman of the Association of Startup and SME Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK), Co-founder of the Inclusive Innovation Network (+N) and founding Innovation fellow at Global Innovation Catalyst. He serves as a board member and advisor in various organizations including Government of Kenya’s Disability Inter-agency and Inclusive Data Charter Committee, Pangea Trust, and Kenya Innovation Agency. Bernard’s academic background cuts across business and information technology, mobile telecommunication and innovation (Strathmore University), impact investing (Maastricht School of Business), venture capital and new venture development (Stanford Centre for Professional Development & Strathmore Business School). As leader in the African innovation ecosystem and a pioneer for assistive technology innovation and entrepreneurship development in Africa, his passion is to inspire, catalyze and bridge success for individuals, Startup founders, organizations, and businesses, in building a more inclusive world.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Peter Njuho

Prof. Peter Njuho

Prof. Njuho is currently a statistical consultant and has been a Professor of Statistics at the University of South Africa (UNISA) up to 2021 and a Temporary Professor of Research Methods and Data Analysis at the University of Zululand, South Africa, from 2022. He is an independent thinker who maintains professional ethics and conducts most of his research work on issues related to agricultural statistics (biometrics). He has vast consulting experience acquired over the years and has worked both in educational and research institutions. Prof. Njuho has conducted short courses mainly for research scientists across Sub-Saharan Africa. He has organizational, administrative, communication and leadership skills gained through working as a coordinator, project manager, chairman, and acting head of discipline/department. Prof. Njuho has published widely in peer-reviewed journals; supervised PhDs and MSc. Students; examined MSc. theses; reviewed professional papers for various journals; served as an external reviewer of MSc. in Statistics Programmes; and acted as an external examiner to many universities. He has served as Chair of the Education Committee and has been an Executive Board Member of the International Biometrics Society (IBS), and a Coordinator of the Sub-Saharan African Network (SUSAN) of the IBS. He is also a member of the Executive Board of the South African Statistical Association (SASA) in addition to being a member of other professional organizations (international & national) including being a Selection Committee member of the Africa 2 VLIR-UOS, Belgium Government Funding Agent.

Email:[email protected]

Dr. Bernhards Ogutu

Dr. Bernhards Ogutu

Dr. Ogutu holds a doctorate in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of Nairobi and is a certified Medical Practitioner, Pediatrician and Clinical Pharmacologist. He is currently a Senior Principal Clinical Research Scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Senior Clinical Trialist with the Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance of the INDEPTH-Network. Dr. Ogutu is the Director of Kondele Unit CCR – KEMRI as well as Director of the Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences (CREATES) which is a consortium of KEMRI, Strathmore University, African Centre for Clinical Trials (ACCT) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He is an adjunct professor of therapeutics at the Institute of Healthcare Management at Strathmore Business School. He is a member of various Associations, including; the Kenya Medical Association, Kenya Pediatric Association, Kenya Academy of Sciences, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. He is also a member of the WHO technical Committee on malaria Diagnostics and the Expert Committee on Clinical Trials (ECCT) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of the Ministry of Health, Kenya. Dr. Ogutu has authored more than 50 peer reviewed publications. His areas of research expertise include: clinical trials, disease pathogenesis, and clinical therapeutics with a bias in malaria and clinical trials capacity development.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Izael Da Silva

Prof. Izael Da Silva

Prof. Da Silva has a PhD in Power Systems Engineering from the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). He is also a Certified Energy Manager (CEM). Presently, he is a Professor at Strathmore University and the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research and Innovation. He is the founding member of the Strathmore Energy Research Centre, SERC. The Centre carries out training, research, testing and consultancy in energy related topics. His topics of interest are: Rural Electrification, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Policy, Sustainable Environment and Demand Side Management. Prof. Da Silva was appointed UNESCO chair on climate change mitigation and sustainability, which will help to achieve impact on the global platform. He is also the current chair of the board of directors of KCIC (Kenya Climate Innovation Centre).

Email:[email protected]

SAIRC Research Advisory Board

Prof. Margaret Kobia

Prof. Margaret Kobia

Prof. Kobia is a full Professor of Management at the Kenya School of Government. She served as the Cabinet Minister for the Ministry of Public Service, Youth, Gender, Social Protection and Special Programs from 2018 to 2022. Prior to joining the Cabinet, she was the Chairperson, Public Service Commission (PSC) and Vice Chair, Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from 2013 to 2018. She is the founding Director General of the Kenya School of Government where she served from 2005 to 2012. Prof. Kobia is the Chancellor, St Paul’s University, Kenya since 2018.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Peter Mbati

Prof. Peter Mbati

Prof Mbati is currently the Vice Chancellor of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. He is a Professor of Parasitology. He is currently the Chairperson of the Ruforum TAGDev Steering Committee and a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Academic Research Centre based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Florence Oloo

Prof. Florence Oloo

Prof Oloo is an Associate Professor in Chemistry, the Technical University of Kenya, (TUK) and currently Director Academic and Quality Assurance at TUK. She is a senior officer at the Centre of Research in Therapeutic Sciences (CREATES)

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Leonard Mbevi Masu

Prof. Leonard Mbevi Masu

Prof Masu is currently a Full Professor in the department Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment at The Technical University of Kenya. He holds a PhD in Mechanical engineering from Leeds University (UK) and has over 40 years of teaching and research as well as 4 years’ industrial experience. He is a registered engineer with Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). He is a Fellow of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering, a registered engineer with Engineering Registration Board of Kenya and a Member of the Institution of Engineers Kenya.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Pamela Andanda

Prof. Pamela Andanda

Prof Andanda is a Professor of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She is currently a Member of the Ethics Advisory Board, HABITABLE project, funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme. She has also held the position of Research Assistant and peer reviewer, (Developing World Bioethics web portal on ethical, legal and social implications in HIV/AIDS), Bioethics Division, University of the Witwatersrand.

Email:[email protected]

Dr. Kristina Wanyonyi-Kay

Dr. Kristina Wanyonyi-Kay

Dr. Wanyonyi-Kay is a Research programme leader with experience in health service research and academic higher education. She has over 12 years’ experience as principal investigator and co-investigator in multidisciplinary research and stakeholder collaborations in academia, government and pharmaceutical industry. She is currently the Research Programme Leader in Health Service Research at the University of Cambridge – THIS Institute.

Email:[email protected]

Dr. Halima Mwenesi

Dr. Halima Mwenesi

Dr. Mwenesi, PhD, is a public health and policy specialist with subject matter expertise in infectious diseases (malaria, TB, neglected tropical diseases NTDs); community-based health systems strengthening and capacity development; public private partnerships and social marketing; as well as social and behavior change. Dr. Mwenesi has over 30 years of global health programs, strategy, policy & advocacy and research practice; and currently serves as Senior Technical Advisor, Infectious Diseases- Malaria, within the Global Health Population and Nutrition (GHPN) at FHI 360. Dr. Mwenesi provided technical support and oversaw a portfolio that included Neglected Tropical Diseases and TB; in addition to providing technical leadership and direction for infectious diseases-related business development.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote

Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote

Prof Kameri-Mbote is a Professor of Law at the University of Nairobi where she has taught for over 30 years. She is the Director of the Law Division, of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and is the Founding Research Director of the International Environmental Law Research Centre (IELRC). She served as chair of the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in African Universities, and has contributed to the development of similar initiatives for North Africa and Middle East and for judges.

Email:[email protected]

Prof. Luis Bohórquez

Prof. Luis Bohórquez

Prof Bohórquez is a Professor of International Economics, Department of Economics, University of Navarra, since 1990. He is the director and founder of the Navarra Center for International Development, Instituto Cultural y Sociedad, University of Navarra since 2008. He is also the Director of the Course “International Economics; Theory and Policy”, Princeton, New Jersey, since 2002, Collaborator of the Atlantic Council “Freedom and Prosperity Center” Washington DC, since 2022, Co-director “Empowering Africa Workshop” Penn University, Economics Department, Navarra Center for International Development, since 2021 and Director of CINDERE, Research Center for Regional Development, University of the Istmo, Guatemala City.

Email:[email protected]