Nicholas Mwenda was appointed ICT customer services officer on 1 September 2014. Prior to this appointment, he had been serving as ICT customer services technician. He has more than five years’ experience in the ICT sector with a focus on ICT client service support, helpdesk as well as project management. Mwenda holds a BSc in computer science from Makerere University and is currently pursuing an MSc in project management at Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT). He is Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) and Prince 2 certified.

John Nyingi joined ILRI as accountant – staff accounts and inventory on 8 September 2014. He started his career at UNEP as finance intern for six months and later joined Humanitarian Just Relief Aid as a finance assistant for one year. Recently, he worked with Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture as a finance assistant. Nyingi holds a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Nairobi; he is a certified public accountant with two years’ experience in accounting.

Benjamin Ashuma joined ILRI as finance and accounting officer-payables on 22 September 2014. He has more than 5 years finance and accounting experience in the banking and telecommunication sectors. His career began with internships at National Bank of Kenya and then Citibank N.A of Kenya before he worked with Safaricom Limited. Ashuma holds a bachelor of commerce degree in accounting from the University of Nairobi. He is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya and is also an associate member of the Kenya Institute of Management. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in project management at Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology.

Edwin Kimani joined ILRI as project officer – mNutrition on 1 October 2014. He has seven years experience in public health nutrition management and has worked in both bilateral and multilateral donor funded projects. In his most recent position, he managed a maternal, newborn and child project for World Vision International and among other things implemented Jamii Smart, an mHealth pilot in Kenya done in consortium partnership with Safaricom Limited and non-governmental organizations. Kimani holds a master’s degree in international relations from the United States International University and a BSc in foods, nutrition and dietetics from Egerton University, Kenya.

Victor Gatimu was appointed facilities technician on 1 October 2014. Prior to this appointment, he was working on temporary basis in ILRI’s Corporate Services – facilities maintenance. He has more than three years’ experience in engineering and building works projects. He had worked with Ital Built Imports and with Eastern General Mercantile as an assistant site supervisor for labour-based road construction projects. Gatimu holds a diploma in civil engineering from Kenya Polytechnic University College.

Evalyne Nyawira was appointed Environment Occupational Health and Safety (EOHS) officer- research on 1 October 2014. She has more than five years laboratory and field experience having worked in other ILRI projects in Nairobi and Busia. Before joining EOHS, she worked as a research technician with the Food Safety and Zoonosis group. She also worked with the Infectious Diseases of East African Livestock (IDEAL) project where she was responsible for coordinating laboratory activities. Nyawira has a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from Egerton University, Kenya and a Master’s degree in veterinary tropical diseases from the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

Victoria Kyallo was appointed project manager for the Urban Zoonoses Project on 6 October 2014, prior to which she was a consultant in the same capacity at ILRI. She is a veterinarian by profession with more than 10 years’ experience working with a several livestock organizations, both in private and public sectors including VETAID and VSF Germany. She has been engaged in veterinary relief and development work in South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. Kyallo has experience in project management, grants management, food security assessments, Value Chain analysis, monitoring and evaluation of projects and disaster risk reduction. Most recently, she served as the executive officer of the Kenya Livestock Breeders Organization (KLBO), a national farmers’ organization that deals with livestock registration and recording. She holds Masters’ and Bachelors’ degrees in veterinary medicine from the University of Nairobi.

Mark Kwemoi joined ILRI as communication specialist on 16 October 2014. He has more than 10 years’ journalism and communications experience gained in both local and international media. He has previously worked for the Nation Media Group, International Monetary Fund, Kenya Wildlife Service, Beijing-based Global Times and Kenya’s Standard Media Group. He has won many awards, most recently the United Kingdom’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship. Kwemoi holds a master’s degree in multimedia journalism from the University of Kent, United Kingdom, an MSc degree in financial economics from Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT) and a bachelor of commerce-accounting degree from the University of Nairobi. He is currently pursuing a PhD in communications at the University of Nairobi.

Edwin Oyieng joined ILRI as a Research Technician under the Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity Program (ASSP) on 17 November 2014. Edwin holds an MSc in Animal Breeding and Genetics and a BSc in Animal Production from Egerton University, Kenya. Previously, he was as a Program Officer at PICO-Eastern Africa and a consultant at ILRI. Edwin has experience in field surveys, quantitative animal genetics data analysis, project management and community development through innovation platforms.

Loise Makara Joined ILRI/ICRAF ICT department as ICT helpdesk Technician on the 4 of December 2014. She has about five years’ experience in ICT helpdesk support and administration. Previously, Loise served as an ICT helpdesk support technician and administrator at DHL supply chain. She holds a BSc degree in computer science, a number of ICT certifications and has also attended training on customer care.

Lilian Masigah joined ILRI, ICT Department as ICT Administrative Assistant on 8 December, 2014. She has over 8 years in Administration and 4 years in ICT support in the private sector. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration, Advanced Diploma in Computer studies and currently undertaking a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Maseno University,Kenya.

Polycarp Otieno Onyango joined ILRI as a communications officer for BIO-INNOVATE program on 15 December 2014. He has more than 10 years’ experience as a communications expert in various fields; from humanitarian and relief, health sciences and community development to publishing. Recently, he was the Senior Communications Officer for African Development Solutions, (ADESO) where he provided communication lead to the USD 45 Million REGAL-IR resilience program funded by USAID. Previously, he was the Communications Advisor for Oxfam GB and PATH International. He holds a BA in Communication Arts from Daystar University and has done various media courses with Burness Communications (international) and the BBC Media Trust among others. He has also done Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing at Graffins College.

Diana Ndunge was appointed as ICT helpdesk Technician on the 1 December 2014. previously she was the ICT Helpdesk Administrator. She has three years’ IT administration, development and support experience gained in consultancy; training, monitoring and development of systems; customer service support and administration. Diana career track has included assignments with NGOs such as AMREF, where she was part of the eContent development team which was responsible for developing training materials for the visionary e-learning plan to train 20,000 Kenyan nurses in just 5 years and so dramatically improve the health care in the country. Her assignments also include the private sector where she has worked with the leading Eastern Africa hospitality solutions provider Novacom Systems Limited and also with Tracker Group of Companies. Recently, she worked in ICRAF within the ICT customer service support unit. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business and Information Technology from Strathmore University and has attained CCNA certification from Cisco.