Professor George Morara Ogendi has been appointed to head the Board of Post graduate studies at Egerton University effective 18th August 2022. The environmental scientist with a bedecked career as a teaching professional of 26 years has been the Director of the Dryland Research Training and Ecotourism Centre (DREC), Chemeron. He has taken over from Prof Nzula Kitaka who has been in helm of the graduate school for last 6 years where she steered great and innovative reforms in the directorate
The alumnus of Kisii High School class of 1989, is seen as the person who will steer the school in the journey of transforming lives through quality education.After High school, Ogendi joined Egerton University in 1990. He graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Natural Resources Management.
Then, between 1998-1999, he enrolled and graduated with a Master of Science in Environmental Science from UNESCO-IHE, Delft, Netherlands. He went on to separately receive a PGD, Limnology & Wetland Ecosystems - Austrian academy of Sciences, Austria in 1998. He would advance his studies to Ph.D. Environmental Geochemistry & Toxicology, Arkansas State University –USA between 2003-2006.In 2008, he received a postdoc in Environmental Geochemistry & Toxicology, Arkansas State University – USA.
Professional journey
The environmental scientist began his career in 1996 as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Natural Resources, Egerton University. Then, in 1999 he got a promotion to be an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Science.
His bedecked career has a stint as a Research Assistant in Department of Chemistry & ENSC, Arkansas State University between 2003 to 2006. He served as an Assistant Professor in the same department between 2006 – 2008. Between 2006 and 2008, He worked as an Assistant Professor at Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, USA. He taught a number of undergraduate courses. Among them; Environmental Geology, Physical Geology, and Physical Science. I also conducted post-doctoral research focusing on Environmental Geochemistry and Toxicology.
In 2009, joined as a Lecturer, in the Department of Environmental Science, Egerton University. Between 2011 – 2017, he was appointed the Coordinator, Dryland Research Training & Ecotoursim Centre, Egerton University. At the same time, he continued to teach as a Senior Lecturer - Department of Environmental Science. He went on to be an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Egerton University from 2018. In the same year, he got promoted as the Director, Dryland Research Training and Ecotourism Centre, Egerton University, where he served to date.
Port of Call at Post graduate School
Professor Ogendi’s next port of call is at the School of Post Graduate Studies. His wealth of experience in publishing comes in handy with his research work and several articles having been published in peer reviewed journals and book chapters.
As an Associate Professor of Environmental Health at the Department of Environmental Science, professor Ogendi teaches a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses at Egerton university. The courses include; Environmental Health, Water and Sanitation, Environmental Law and Policy, Watershed Management, Environmental Toxicology, Environmental Law, Environmental Impact Assessment, Research Methods I and Research Methods II.
Professor Ogendi has effectively and efficiently guided M.Sc. and PhD students doing research on water quality and quantity, water accessibility, Water, sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Water management, pollution, environmental health, and environmental conservation in Kenya and beyond. Details of those that have graduated under his supervision are as seen in this link https://www.egerton.ac.ke/component/jsn/18857/ Professor spearheaded the development of the M.Sc. and PhD programs in Occupational and Environmental Health at the Department of Environmental Science at Egerton University. I am currently the Academic Programme Leader for the postgraduate Programme, M.Sc. Occupational and Environmental Health.
As Director Post graduate school, he will be overseeing five Postgraduate diploma programmes; 70 Master’s programmes and 61 Ph.D. programmes, all accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The Postgraduate Diploma programmes, duration is between one academic year and a maximum of two years; Master’s programmes, duration is two academic years to a maximum of three years (for full time students) or four years (for part-time students) and finally Doctoral programmes, whose duration is three years but can extend to a maximum of four years (for full -time) or six years (part-time). All this programmes are conducted through Course work, Examination, Research and project/Thesis/dissertation. Contact email is
Some of his key roles in Graduate school will be harmonization of postgraduate syllabi and regulations; admission of postgraduate students, and administration of postgraduate scholarships and research grants; Ensure proper conduct, supervision of Postgraduate study programmes and the administration and processing of Postgraduate examinations, research projects and theses; enforcement of the common regulations and effective and regular management for the Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, Master’s Degrees and Doctorates in all Faculties, Schools, Institutes, and Campuses; approval and appointment of nominated departmental and faculty staff as members of the Board of Postgraduate Studies, supervisors and thesis/project/dissertation examiners and also catering for the general welfare and ensure discipline of postgraduate students.
This is expected to contribute to improved quality of post graduate education at Egerton University and thus contribute to its core mission of “Transforming Lives through Quality Education”
The University Council, Vice-Chancellor, University Management Board, staff and students wish Prof Ogendi every success in his new position.
