NATIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR

Dr. George A. Keya

Dr George Azenga Keya holds Doctorate in Natural Sciences (Dr. re. nat., magna cum laude) from Trier University in Germany, Msc. in Range Sciences from Colorado State U.S.A and BSc. Agriculture (Hons.) from the Nairobi University, Kenya. He is a range scientist with interest in extensive livestock production systems, integrated production systems, crop‐livestock interactions, rangeland ecology, sustainable use and management of agricultural ecosystems, technology transfer and rural development, particularly in arid and semi-arid systems. He has undertaken several short courses in research management. With over 30 years’ of experience as a scientist and research manager, Dr Keya served as Centre Director at the National Arid Lands Research Centre in Marsabit for (2000-2006) before rising to the position of Assistant Director- Range Management Division (2007-2014) in the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). While at the centre he implemented and coordinated several research projects including the EU/KARI Agriculture and Livestock Research Support Programme (EU/KARI ARSP I and II), GEF Desert Margins Programme, GL-CRSP Pastoral Risk Management Project; FAO-Acacia Operation Project and USAID-Livestock Early warning systems Project (LEWS) and more recently the IFAD-ICARDA Integrated Agricultural Productions Project (2014-2016). He implemented and managed the range component of the World Bank supported Kenya Agricultural Productivity Project (KAPP and KAPAP). He served on various taskforces in KARI and taught several courses in range management at the University of Nairobi.

Dr Keya has published several papers in international journals and authored many conference papers as well as other research reports. Currently Dr Keya is a Livestock Research Coordinator in the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and the National coordinator of the Arid and semi-arid lands Agricultural Research Project (ASAL APRP).  Dr Keya has undertaken management courses at various levels including the Senior Management Seminar Course for the Government of Kenya Senior Civil Servants at the Kenya Institute of Administration (KIA). He participated in various local, regional and international agenda setting fora on Science and Technology particularly the Advisory Committee on Science and Technology for the EU‐ African‐ Caribbean and Pacific (EU‐ACP)
Agricultural and Rural Development. He was part of the Kenya Delegation that completed a two week “Seminar on Science and Technology Innovation for Kenya” in Fuzhou, the Peoples Republic of China.   Dr Keya also participated in a seminar “Kenya National Integrated Civic Education” at the Kenya School of Government, Nairobi.
 

PORJECT STAFF

Nancy Wele – Shaban
ASAL APRP Office Manager

She holds a Diploma in Office Management & Administration from Cambridge International College, UK; advanced Secretarial qualifications from Graffins College, Nairobi. Prior to this Nancy worked for the Kenya Arid and Semi-arid Lands Research Project funded by the European Union and Government of Kenya and implemented by KARI.

Nancy began her administrative career as a Trainee Secretarial Tutor at Graffins College, Nairobi.  From there she worked for Oserian Development Co Ltd, Naivasha as a Secretary, then moved to Kisima Farm, Timau as Secretary and later as Office Manager in the Floriculture Department.  Nancy also served as Secretary for many years on the Show Organising Committee of the Livestock Breeders Show Trust and also for the Boran Cattle Breeders Society.

Jackline Chepngeno
Finance Manager, ASAL

I hold a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Egerton University; A Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management (Accounting Option), from Moi University. A member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

ASAL – APRP TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Dr. Joseph G. Mureithi                  - Chairperson

Dr. Lusike Wasilwa

Dr. Foustine Wandera

Dr Jack Ouda

Dr Jack Ouda is the Director in charge of Knowledge Management and Outreach. He attended Homa Bay and  Mangu High Schools before joining the faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi, where he graduated with BSc in Range Management in 1988. In July the same year, he was employed by the Ministry of Livestock Development and posted to Laikipia District. His focus, professionalism and managerial capability were noticed early and by 1990 he had risen to the influential position of District Range Officer. He taught briefly at Animal Health and Industry Training Institute (AHITI)- Kabete before joining KARI in March 1991 and posted in Marsabit Centre where he headed Animal Production research programme. In 1993 he moved to KARI-Lanet Centre to head beef cattle research programme. After completion of Masters training in Animal Nutrition at University of Wales, UK in 2000, Dr Ouda stayed briefly in Lanet and in 2003 moved to KARI Headquarters to coordinate livestock research programme nationally. He undertook PhD training in Animal Science at University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Upon completion of the doctorate in 2007, Dr Ouda worked briefly in KARI Naivasha where he headed Sahiwal cattle research programme. He returned to Headquarters in 2008 to be the Editor in-Chief of the East African Agriculture and Forestry Journal among other duties. In 2012, Dr Ouda was appointed as the Assistant Director for Technology Packing and Transfer. He has published widely in reputable local and international academic journals; his work being widely cited by other scholars. In his distinguished carrier, he is a member of many professional societies including the Animal Production Society of Kenya where he has held several portfolios including being the Secretary General and Chairman from 2013-2015, during which the society very successfully hosted the 6^th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture in October 2014. Dr Ouda has won several competitive grants to do research, implemented several collaborative and partnership projects, and is a great team player as well as a mentor.  He is the team leader for collation, storage and sharing of knowledge and information in the ASAL-APRP work.

Dr. Festus Murithi

Dr. David Kamau

Dr. Joseph Kimemia

Pauline Mburu

Pauline is a holder of a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Information and Communication Management from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelors Degree in Information Science from Kenyatta University.

She works at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Headquarters.  She provides Research Scientists with vital information to use for their research work and is also active in Agricultural Technologies Exhibition Events. She is currently involved in the ASAL-APRP Project Visibility and Communication work.