Our Team

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.

Kennedy M. Kiio is a GIS and Remote Sensing Analyst at the CETRAD, specializing in the application of geospatial technologies to research, natural resource management and evidence-based planning. His professional specialisations include GIS and advanced spatial analysis, Remote Sensing and Earth Observation, GeoAI, spatial data infrastructure and database management, Web GIS and geoportal development, participatory GIS, environmental and land-use monitoring, spatial planning, and geospatial decision-support systems.

At CETRAD, he applies these capabilities to transform complex spatial and Earth Observation data into actionable intelligence, supporting environmental monitoring, restoration and resilience planning, natural resource management, and sustainable development in arid and semi-arid lands.

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

Research interests: Earth Observation, UAV Mapping, GeoAI, Geospatial Big Data, Water Resources and Food Security, Participatory GIS, Climate Change and Carbon, Knowledge Systems

Wisdom Kipkemboi is a geospatial scientist and technologist with over a decade of experience in Earth Observation and spatial information systems. He analyses how environments and livelihoods change across sub-Saharan Africa, and builds the data infrastructure and applications that put that evidence in the hands of decision-makers, including local communities. He works with transdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and international teams to move geospatial research into practice. At CETRAD, he heads the Department of Information and Knowledge Management, leading GIS, ICT, and communications, supporting resource mobilisation, and building geospatial capacity through teaching and training. He holds an MSc in Geospatial Information Systems and Remote Sensing and a BSc in Geospatial Information Science from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, and has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications.

Wisdom is interested in how geospatial technologies can make research more useful, institutions more capable, and evidence more accessible to the people and organisations making decisions about landscapes and livelihoods. Portfolio: https://wkipkemboi.github.io

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.

Dr. Judith Koskey is an environmental scientist at CETRAD specializing in water resources management, environmental governance, and climate resilience in Kenya’s drylands. Her work addresses the complex challenges facing water, land, and ecosystems by integrating ecological assessments, field monitoring, and stakeholder engagement to inform practical, evidence-based policy.

Her core research areas span ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, biodiversity conservation, and land-use dynamics. Dr. Koskey holds an MSc and a PhD in Environmental Science. Her doctoral research focused on freshwater ecosystem health and sustainable catchment management in Kenya, specifically analyzing the relationships between land use, vegetation, water quality, and benthic macroinvertebrates.

Operating at the intersection of science and policy, Dr. Koskey is dedicated to bridging research and practice. Through her work, she strives to support inclusive environmental decision-making, strengthen natural resource governance, and foster resilient landscapes.

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.

Research: GIS and Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis, Land Use Planning, Environmental Monitoring, Conservation and Natural Resource Management

Martins Lucas Musungu is a GIS and Remote Sensing Analyst with experience in applying geospatial technologies to environmental, land and natural resource management challenges. His work involves spatial analysis, remote sensing, GIS-based mapping and field data collection to generate information that supports research, conservation and decision-making. He has worked on geospatial applications involving biodiversity, wetlands, rangelands, land use and community-based environmental monitoring. His interests include land use planning, environmental monitoring, geo-governance and the application of geospatial technologies to understand and manage landscapes and natural resources.

Lee Muthuri is a GIS and Remote Sensing Analyst specializing in geospatial analysis, land use planning, and natural resource management. He has an academic background in Geographic Information Systems

His professional experience spans remote sensing, cartography, spatial data management, and environmental monitoring. He uses geospatial technologies to explore landscapes, support sustainable land use planning, inform environmental research, and promote responsible natural resource management.

Beyond his professional work, Lee is passionate about indigenous African knowledge and its integration with GIS to support conservation and preserve traditional practices.

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.

Michael Mutie is a Research Assistant at CETRAD and a 2026/2027 Chevening Scholar. He specializes in water infrastructure solutions, community engagement, and sustainable resource management.

At CETRAD, Michael implements critical water and land use initiatives, including rangeland and wetland ecosystem restoration in Meru and Isiolo Counties. His key projects involve protecting and rehabilitating springs, establishing the Gambela Wetland water supply project, and minimizing non-revenue water by installing water meters across Laikipia, Meru, Isiolo, and Nyandarua Counties. Furthermore, he trains local communities, Water Resources Users Associations, and Wetland Management Committees on effective water infrastructure asset management to ensure sustainable operations and maintenance.

His prior professional background includes roles as a Hydrogeologist at Geobrix Drilling Company Limited and a Project Supervisor at Nature Systems Kenya Limited, where he managed groundwater feasibility assessments, supervised drilling works, and oversaw wastewater treatment installations.

Michael is currently pursuing an MSc in Water and Environmental Management at the University of Bristol. He also holds a BSc in Water Resource and Environmental Management from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, alongside specialized certifications in water infrastructure asset management and hydrogeological modeling.

Franklin Mutuma is a software developer skilled in full-stack development, database design, and cloud computing. He builds robust web applications using PHP, SQL, Java, and Python, prioritizing clean, maintainable code.

Alongside software engineering, Franklin possesses specialized expertise in network administration, network security, and cybersecurity. This ensures his digital solutions are both functional and highly resilient.

His education includes a Bachelor’s in Information Technology from the University of Embu and a Security Analyst Program Certificate from USIU-Africa. Additionally, in 2025, he joined the Industry Digital Transformation Program led by Safaricom, Vodafone, and AWS to further advance his capabilities in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and software engineering to meet future industry demands.

Combining this strong foundation with practical web development experience, Franklin designs secure APIs and innovative architectures, actively seeking to collaborate with talented teams on impactful technology projects.

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.

Dr. Caroline A. Ouko is the Acting Deputy Director and a Senior Research Scientist at the Centre for Transformative Research and Development (CETRAD). She holds a BSc in Agriculture from Egerton University, as well as an MSc in Soil Science and a PhD in Environmental Policy from the University of Nairobi. With over 18 years of leadership experience in the agriculture and environment sectors, Dr. Ouko specializes in natural resource governance, climate resilience, and environmental policy. She has successfully designed and led participatory, donor-funded projects including those backed by USAID and IKI that bridge science and policy in East Africa. Currently, she coordinates the 2022–2025 WEF Nexus EbA project to enhance climate resilience and sustainable resource use across five Kenyan counties. Additionally, she has represented the Government of Kenya at UNFCCC COP meetings regarding Action for Climate Empowerment since 2019. Beyond her core professional duties, Dr. Ouko serves as the Team Lead for the Women in Nature Network (WiNN) Kenya chapter and is the Chairperson of the Pangani Girls Alumni Association

Eliza is a GIS Analyst with 15 years of professional experience in Geographic Information Systems and spatial information management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Moi University and has developed extensive expertise in spatial data collection, processing, storage and presentation.

In her role within the Department of Information and Knowledge Management (DIKM), Eliza applies GIS technologies and relevant software to transform spatial data into accurate, meaningful and accessible information. Her work supports effective information management, analysis and decision-making through the application of geospatial technologies.

James is an information technology and systems professional with more than two decades of experience spanning ICT management, systems administration, database management, web development, network infrastructure, and information systems. He currently leads technology initiatives that support organizational operations, data accessibility, security, and digital collaboration.

CURRENT LEADERSHIP & IMPACT
At CETRAD (Feb. 2016–Present), James leads ICT project management and delivers business solutions across the system development life cycle. His work includes database administration, web and visualization tools, enterprise applications, LAN/WAN infrastructure, network operating systems, technical security, backups, disaster recovery, storage, procurement, and ICT supplier coordination. Selected impact includes developing an early warning system concept and implementing it through external consultancy. Provided support and maintenance of SHIP (Social Hydrological Information Platform and other online platforms developed in CETRAD.

FUTURE DIRECTION AI & INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Building on his foundation in information systems, James seeks to advance toward the strategic application of Artificial Intelligence and modern information management. His ambition is to help organizations turn trusted data into actionable intelligence through responsible AI-enabled analytics, better knowledge management, automation, and decision-support systems.