Administration and Support

Gitonga Grace Muthoni serves as an Office Assistant at the Centre for Training and Integrated Research in ASAL Development (CETRAD). Working hand-in-hand with her colleague Elizabeth Kirathi, Grace is instrumental in maintaining an organized, welcoming, and highly functional workplace environment.

She provides vital day-to-day administrative support, assists with office upkeep, and ensures that shared facilities and resources are consistently well-managed. Through her dedication and collaborative work ethic, Grace helps sustain the daily operations of the office, enabling CETRAD’s multidisciplinary research and technical teams to focus seamlessly on their core developmental objectives across Kenya’s drylands.

CPA Samuel G. Kimathi serves as a Senior Finance Officer with CETRAD providing technical support in financial management, budgeting, donor compliance and reporting, tax fillings, and external audit coordination. With over seven years of experience in the Audit and Donor funded sector, he brings strong expertise in financial analysis, internal controls, and ensuring alignment between financial planning and program delivery.
Led by a strong commitment to integrity, accuracy, and transparency, while collaboratively working with program teams and stakeholders to ensure compliance with financial regulations and donor requirements thus strengthening organizational financial systems. It is in his belief that sound financial systems are central to delivering impactful, transparent, and sustainable community outcomes

Elizabeth Kirathi serves as the Office Assistant at the Centre for Training and Integrated Research in ASAL Development (CETRAD). With over a decade of dedicated service, she is a foundational pillar of CETRAD’s daily workplace operations.

Drawing on her extensive institutional knowledge, Elizabeth ensures a welcoming, organized, and well-maintained office environment, providing essential day-to-day support to the research, technical, and management teams. Her long-standing tenure reflects a deep commitment to the organization’s mission and a proven ability to manage diverse office tasks efficiently. By maintaining office resources, assisting with administrative workflows, and supporting general staff welfare, Elizabeth plays a crucial role in enabling CETRAD’s multidisciplinary teams to focus comfortably and efficiently on their core research and development initiatives.

Faith is an accountant with knowledge of accounting principles, financial record-keeping, and administrative support. Skilled in processing invoices, recording transactions, reconciling accounts, preparing financial documents, and maintaining accurate accounting records.

Able to work accurately and support the finance team in ensuring efficient day-to-day financial operations. Committed to accuracy, integrity, and continuous professional development in the accounting field.

Denis Kithinji leads Transport Support Services at the Centre for Training and Integrated Research in ASAL Development (CETRAD). With over a decade of dedicated service to the organization, Denis is an expert in field navigation and logistical planning.

He possesses extensive knowledge of physical locations and regional geographies, allowing him to efficiently link diverse project sites across Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). Through his meticulous planning of transport services and deep understanding of local routes, Denis ensures that CETRAD’s research, technical, and management teams can safely and reliably access even the most remote fieldwork environments to execute their mandates.

John Dirangu oversees Facilities and Premises Management at the Centre for Transformative Research and Development (CETRAD). He is responsible for the comprehensive upkeep, security, and physical maintenance of the CETRAD office buildings and surrounding grounds.

John manages all aspects of the organization’s physical infrastructure, including coordinating routine and emergency repairs, enforcing premises security protocols, and handling general facility maintenance. By ensuring that the physical environment is safe, highly functional, and well-maintained at all times, he creates an optimal workplace. His dedication to managing the physical headquarters allows CETRAD’s research, technical, and administrative teams to operate smoothly and focus entirely on their core developmental mandates.