A Profile of the KARI Director

Dr. Ephraim A. Mukisira was appointed the Director of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) on 10th April 2006. He took over from Dr. Romano M. Kiome who was appointed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture in December, 2005. Until his appointment, Dr. Mukisira was KARI’s Deputy Director for Research and Technology.

Dr. Mukisira began his research career in KARI in 1980 when he joined the then Scientific Research Division of the Ministry of Agriculture as a Research Officer. He rose through the ranks to become Principal Research Officer, Assistant Director, Deputy Director-Research and Technology and finally to the current position of Director-KARI. Dr. Mukisira holds board positions in local and international bodies. In 1999-2003, he was a member of the World Council of Animal Production (WCAP). In 1998, he was elected to the post of the Secretary to the African Chapter of the World Association of Animal Production and from 1999-2000, he was elected to serve as the National Chairman of the Animal Production Society of Kenya. He is also a member of the Netherlands-based CTA Advisory Committee on Science and Technology.

During his research career, Dr. Mukisira has authored and co-authored several scientific papers, some of which have been published in referred journals. He has also contributed to book chapters and presented scientific papers in local and international conferences. Two of these presentations won him meritorious awards by the Canadian Society of Animal Science and the European Poultry Conference. He has also won several scientific awards locally.
Dr. Mukisira holds a Doctorate degree in Animal Science from McGill University, Canada. He also holds a Master of Science degree from Louisiana State University, USA and a Bachelor of Agriculture (Honors) degree from the University of Nairobi.