Egerton University Appoints New Principal for Nakuru Town Campus College

Egerton University Council has appointed Prof. Joshua O. Ogendo as the New Principal of Nakuru Town Campus College effective 16 August, 2021 for a period of five years through a competitive process that attracted a large number of applicants from several universities in Kenya. Professor Ogendo is an Associate Professor of crop protection (stored products entomology) in the Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Faculty of Agriculture.

Professor Ogendo is taking over the helm of Nakuru Town Campus College with over 12 years of experience in university administration and over two decades of leadership in participatory action research, outreach, consultancy and community service. Prof Ogendo is the immediate former Director of Crop Management Research Training Centre (CMRT), having served between May 2019 to August 2021. Previously, Professor Ogendo served as the Dean Faculty of Agriculture (Oct. 2014- Oct.2018) and as the Chairman Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils (January 2009 to October 2014). In addition to the responsibilities as mentioned above, Professor Ogendo is serving as the Coordinator of  Egerton University Mpeketoni Campus in Lamu County (July 2012-Present). Professor Ogendo has 45 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, over 70 papers presented in national, regional and international conferences and has successfully supervised ten postgraduate (7 Masters and 3 Doctorate) students in his area of specialization.

As Professor Ogendo ascends the position of Principal, he brings in a wealth of experience in participatory adaptive research and consultancy services focusing on bio-intensive pest management, enhanced food and nutrition security and livelihoods in smallholder agriculture. Over the past decade, Prof Ogendo has found a niche in bio-prospecting for botanical pesticides for bio-control of pre-and post-harvest insect pests of staple food crops. In recent years (2009-2021), he has widened his research and consultancy domain to span neglected crops (cassava, sweet potatoes, sorghum, and indigenous vegetables), climate change and agro-biodiversity. He is currently involved as a Principal Investigator (PI) and collaborator of several research projects, funded by SGCI, NIFA-USDA, NSF, BBSRC-GCRF, EASTECO, The MasterCard Foundation, The African Union, European Commission, Rockefeller Foundation, CIAT/ECABREN, AICAD, USAID, VicRes, African Union, EAAPP/World Bank, KAPAP/World Bank, RUFORUM, Global Center for Food Systems Innovation (GCFSI), Michigan State University, Austrian Development Cooperation and Government of Kenya among others; in agronomy and related disciplines with particular focus on botanical pesticides, climate change water-related vulnerabilities, neglected crops (e.g. cassava, sorghum) and agrobiodiversity. As the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Ogendo was instrumental in the conception and actualization of the African Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) at Egerton University supported by the World Bank. CESAAM’s broad objective is to contribute to sustainable agricultural and agribusiness management through capacity development, research and technology transfer for enhanced food security. He has strong linkages, networks and partnerships for training, capacity building, research and consultancy at national, regional and global levels.

Professor Ogendo is expected to use this immense experience to improve the work environment for academic staff, expand student enrolment, boost resource mobilization through research grants, consultancies and support by philanthropists and increased visibility through community outreach initiatives by the Faculties of Commerce and Health Sciences. The Faculty of Health Sciences offers four undergraduate degree courses: Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine and Bachelor of Science in Food Nutrition & Dietetics, and a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery. The Faculty of Commerce, on the other hand, offers three-degree courses which include Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Purchasing and Supplies Management and Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management; and three diploma programmes, namely Diploma in Purchasing and Supplies Management, Diploma in Business Management and Diploma in Human Resource Management.

The University Council, Vice-Chancellor, University Management Board, staff and students wish Prof Joshua O. Ogendo every success in his new position.