Rachael Kisilu (Plant breeder), KALRO

She holds a MSc degree in Plant Breeding and genetics from University of Nairobi (2010), Kenya; and  Bachelor of Science (2001) in Chemistry & Zoology, University of Nairobi University. 

Her Masters study involved phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Kenyan sorghum germplasm, two papers were published under this study. Presently she is tasked with participatory development of high yielding sorghum varieties for the various climates of Kenya as a component of ASAL-APRP.

Dr. Daniel L. Mutisya (Health Crop Research Officer), KALRO

He holds a Doctorate degree in agricultural entomology (2014) and an MSc in agricultural entomology (2010), both from University of Nairobi. His doctorate study area on cassava green mite pest has enabled correction of the mite (CGM) species as Mononychellus progresivus (Doreste) after molecular analysis. He holds a Bachelor of Science (2006) in agriculture from the Kenya Methodist University. He has also documented widely integrated management of cassava green mite (CGM) in different ecologies in East Africa. He is currently developing bird management technologies in Kenya on millets and sorghum under ASAL-APRP.

Fatuma Omari KALRO Katumai

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya and Diploma in Agriculture from the same University.

The officer is currently pursuing a Masters degree in horticulture.  Ms. Omari has previously worked with other scientists and helped in releasing of several cassava and sweet potato varieties. The officer is involved in amaranth technology development.  She is also involved in dissemination of proven technologies farmers particularly the vulnerable groups.

John Mulwa Wambua

He holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from university of Sydney, Australia and a Bachelor of Science in agricultural Economics from Egerton University, Kenya. Before joining KARI in 1984, he worked with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Research Division. He coordinated the Kenya Arid and Semi Arid Lands (KASAL), funded by the European Union between 2007 and 2012, and the the IDRC Projects between 2010 and 2014. John Wambua is currently persuing a PhD in Integration of smallholder farmers in competitive changing food markets: The case study of greengramme and pigeonpea production in semi-arid Machakos County.

He holds MSc in soil science from the University of British Columbia (1990) with postgraduate on use of isotopes in agricultural research from the University of Pertanian (1994), Malaysia and a BSc from the University of Nairobi (1981). He has worked in various projects including the Fertiliser Use Recommendation Project (FURP), Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF), the Kenya Arid and Semi-arid Lands (KASAL), the Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project (KAPAP), the Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASAL), the Agricultural Sector Development Support Project (ASDSP), the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He has published more than 13 papers in refereed journals, 4 Book Chapters and over 20 papers in conference proceedings in areas of soil and water management research. He is working on strategies to increase sorghum productivity, soil salinity management and natural resources management in arid and semi-arid lands.