Lonah Wanjiru joined ILRI as an office assistant on 1 November, 2013 under IITA. She has previously worked as office assistant under the same organisation where she has gained valuable experience in office administration alongside other duties.

Thomas Ongoro joined ILRI from 1 November, 2013 under the Aflasafe project in IITA as a Field Assistant.  Before joining IITA, he worked for AATF for 3 years and the US embassy for 15 years.

Susan  Njenga joined ILRI as Research Technician- GIS and RS Data Collection and Management on 4 November 2012. Her work experience includes Knowledge Management, GIS/RS data management and Analysis and Web Mapping. She studied Geoinformatics at University of Twente, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Netherlands. She also hold a Diploma Information Science from Kenya Polytechnic.

Jenifer Kinyanjui joined the HR team, to support IRS recruitment. She is on temporary basis, covering for a staff who proceeded on maternity leave.Jenifer has 8 years working experience in various HR roles in Recruitment and HR Consultancy. She previously worked at Bridge International Academies as a Recruitment and HR Specialist – Consultant providing recruitment and HR Advisory services. She is a SHL Certified HR Professional trained in Organizational Assessments; Personality and Psychometrics tests.  She has Bachelor’s degree from Catholic University of Eastern Africa, CPS qualification from KASNEB and a  Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from the University of Nairobi.

Muthoni Mucheru will be stepping in as legal officer whilst Cynthia Kyaka is on maternity leave. Muthoni joined ILRI on 1 November 2013. Prior to joining ILRI, she worked with the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT), Strathmore University. During her tenure at CIPIT, Muthoni dealt with Intellectual Property portfolio management, patent drafting and filing, research and consultation in IP, branding and marketing, and licensing of intellectual assets.  She holds a Bachelors of Laws degree from Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and a post graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

Benjamin Kimuri was appointed ICT Customer Service Officer on 1 December 2013. He has more than 7 years’ experience in the ICT Sector with a focus on ICT Client Service Support, Helpdesk as well as Project management.  He joined ILRI in January 2010 and previously worked as ICT Customer Service Technician where he has been actively involved in several key initiatives to improve ICT services.  He holds of a Bachelor of Business in IT (BBIT) Degree and a Diploma in Project Management (First Class Honours) both awarded by the Kenya Methodist University. Benjamin is also a certified Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), ITILv3-Intermediate and Prince2 Practitioner.

Wallace Ngene joined ILRI as ICT Customer Service Officer.  He previously worked as ICT consultant working with Computech and later as ICT Customer services technician in 2010. He has more than 7 years’ experience working in Customer service sector and a member of the ICT Customer Services team, providing ICT support on ICRAF campus, assisting in improving efficiency through knowledge sharing and training on all ICT issues and providing cover for the ICT helpdesk Administrator. Wallace developed optimum trouble shooting and problem solving abilities in hardware/software support, email administration, print management, network support, helpdesk admin support among other areas. He holds a degree in Computer Science and Microsoft certified professional.

Gad Milton Ochuka Owido has Joined ILRI Tick Unit as a Research Technician from 1 December 2013.  Milton has a vast experience in Research and Development having recently worked as a Research Assistant on the Understanding of Epidemiology of African Swine Fever Project in Western Kenya, and Eastern Uganda.  Previously, he worked as Animal Technician on Wellcome Trust/University of Edinburgh funded Infectious Diseases of East African Livestock (IDEAL) project that was based in Busia, Kenya, both projects were under ILRI.  Milton has also served as a Livestock Officer, Kikuyu District in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Animal Health from University of Edinburgh, having had a graduate fellowship at ILRI working on his dissertation studying the Prevalence of Theileria parva in the tick vector Rhipicephalus appendiculatus in different agro-ecological zones in Western Kenya.

Henry Momanyi joined ILRI as Research Assistant (IITA) on 1 December 2013. He has more than three years’ research experience gained in international research institution and consultancy firms. Momanyi career track has included assignment with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in the Peanut Collaborative Research Support Programme (Peanut CRSP) where he has been analyzing Aflatoxin in peanuts in Kenya. He has also facilitated trainings in research skills at Indepth Research Services among other engagements in the private and public institutions. He has a Masters of Science in Research Methods from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and BSc. Food science and Nutrition(First class honours) from Moi University, Kenya.

Obed Kigen joined ILRI as Facilities Maintenance Supervisor on 1 December 2013. He has more than five years’ experience in civil and structural engineering design, construction supervision, project management and facilities management. Kigen’s career track has included assignments with NGOs and the private sector, having worked at the Dadaab Refugee Camp as project engineer leading design and construction of one fully equipped hospital, two schools (primary and secondary), several water supply and sewerage disposal facilities, access roads, among others. Recently, he worked with Airtel Networks Kenya in charge of maintenance works at the headquarters and capital projects supporting various telecommunications infrastructure. Kigen is a registered graduate engineer with the Engineers Registration Board of Kenya and a graduate member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi and is currently pursuing an MSc in Construction Engineering and Management at JKUAT.

Jacqueline Mwikali has joined ILRI as an Administrative Clerk at the Internal Audit.  She was currently working at the Directorate and in the Administration block as an Office Assistant.  Previously she was working as a cashier and also an administrator at Mehta Katune Restaurant. She currently holds a Diploma in Public relations and is well acquainted with computer packages.

Maureen Atieno joined ILRI as Research Technician on 1 December 2013.She has over two years in research and development gained in academia, combined with experience in Laboratory management and Quality Control and Assurance (QA/QC).  Maureen’s career track has included field assignments in ILRI-BUSIA, IDEAL Labs ensuring the smooth operation of the Lab in handling the just completed ASF cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys, and Walter Reed- KEMRI, National Influenza Centre in the same capacity as Research Technician. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Microbiology from JKUAT.