Mr Mulupi is a Research Specialist at the institute. Stephen holds a BSc Environmental Health degree (Moi University), an MSc in Public health (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) and a Master of Research in Global Health (Lancaster University). He is currently in his final year of PhD at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Stephen's main interests include healthcare financing for Universal health coverage, policy and governance; adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights, chronic non-communicable diseases and health systems strengthening.
Ms Marangu is the Manager for the ECD Workforce Hub hosted by the Institute for Human Development. She was previously a Project Coordinator for the Scaling Up Playful Parenting Project co-funded by UNICEF/LEGO Foundation and the Aga Khan Foundation USA, and has held other research positions in the Institute. Her research interests include: early childhood development, child health and nutrition, child poverty and social protection. Joyce holds a B.A in Social Work from the University of Nairobi, M.A in Development Studies from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany, and an M.A in Development Studies from the University of the Western Cape. She is currently pursuing a doctorate at Stellenbosch University. She is also an Africa Early Childhood Development Network Fellow.
Ms Tumaini is a Project Coordinator responsible for the day to day running of the Aga Khan University Women Leadership Academy based in Kenya. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology and an International Diploma in Administration from Cambridge College - Distance Learning. She has vast experience in psychological assessments for both clinical and research purposes and over 15 years’ experience in administration from KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme Kilifi having been the administrative assistant in the Neuroscience Department. Her main interests are in providing mental health literacy (especially to young adults, women and caregivers), assessments, and facilitating timely referrals or interventions.
Esther Chongwo
PhD fellow
Ms Chongwo is a PhD fellow at the institute. She has a background training in Nursing and Public Health from Kenyatta University, a postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods from Pwani University, and a master's degree in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is currently pursuing her doctorate studies at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands), where she seeks to understand the risks and resilience in children from arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya and Tanzania. Previously, she worked on a project aimed at developing measures of adolescent connectedness and character development in Kenya. Her interests are in early childhood development, mental health, and positive youth development.
Beatrice Mkubwa
PhD fellow
Ms Mkubwa is a PhD fellow at the institute. She has a background training in BSc. Nursing from Moi University, a postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods from Pwani University, and a master's degree in Implementation Science from the University of the Witwatersrand. Beatrice also has clinical research experience in understanding child neurodevelopment and health systems which she gained during her previous work at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme. She is currently pursuing a doctorate at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands). She has keen interest in child and adolescent mental health, neurodevelopment, implementation science, and mixed methods research.
Paul Mwangi
Research Officer
Mr Mwangi is a Research Officer and Statistician at the institute. He has considerable experience in programming, data analysis, psychometric analysis, study designs and data management. Paul holds a BSc in mathematical sciences with Information Technology from Maseno University and MSc in statistics and data science (with specialization in Biostatistics) from Hasselt University, Belgium. Before joining the institute, Paul worked as a data manager at the Neurosciences unit of KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kenya and has co-authored over eighteen scientific articles in a peer-reviewed journal. He is passionate about data science and statistics geared toward improving health outcomes across the general population, especially in low-income settings.
Sabina Odero
Research Officer
Ms Odero is a Research Officer at the institute for Human Development. She has background training in Environmental Science from Kenyatta University, a postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods from Pwani University and a master's degree in Global Health and Development from University College London (UCL). Her research interests and expertise are in qualitative research, health systems research with a focus on human resources for health, and psychosocial well-being of health workers in Africa.
Paul Otwate
ECD Hub Government Liaison Officer
Mr Otwate is the ECD Hub Government Liaison Officer at the institute. He brings a wealth of experience in the areas of Early Childhood Development and Education programming, education project management cycle, state and non-state stakeholder partnership building and management, education policy advocacy and influence as well as child protection and safeguarding essentials in programming. He holds a master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Kenyatta University with a specialisation in Literacy Skills development in children and a Certificate in Project Management and Development for Professionals as well as a Certificate in Safeguarding Essentials. He is also a member of the Early Childhood Network of Kenya and Women Educational Researchers of Kenya. Prior to joining the institute Paul worked with the Voluntary Service Overseas and Education Development Trust. He is interested in advancing pre-primary education policies to strengthen the instruction of literacy skills especially for children from less privileged communities in parts of Kenya and beyond.
Susan Nyamanya
ECD Technical Assistant
Ms Nyamanya is an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Technical Assistant at the institute with over 10 years experience in managing and coordinating ECD projects. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Kenyatta University and a higher Diploma in Project Management from the Kenya Institute of Management. She also has certification in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) from the Humanitarian Academy and Science of Early Child development (SECD) certification from the Aga Khan University. Prior to joining the institute, she worked for the Aga Khan Foundation. Her interests lie in advocacy, programme planning and management, monitoring and evaluation in the areas of gender and child development.
Gideon Mbithi
Research Assistant
Mr Mbithi is a Research Assistant at the institute. He holds a BSc in Geospatial Information Science from Maseno University and a postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods from Pwani University. He was previously based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programe, where he examined the epidemiology and outcomes of traumatic brain injuries among patients admitted to Kilifi County Hospital. He is currently working on a research project that aims to assess and support mental health outcomes among adolescents in Kenya and Uganda. His interests are in global health and epidemiology.
Millicent Makandi
Research Assistant
Ms Makandi is a Research Assistant at the institute. She holds a BSc in Nursing and Public Health from Pwani University. She was previously attached at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme while doing her postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods and has also worked at the Ministry of Health. She is passionate and keen to strengthen the maternal and child workforce's capacity and foster a multisectoral approach to sustain integrated service delivery, thus promoting holistic growth in children.
Ezra Too
Research Assistant
Mr Too is a Research Assistant at the institute. He has a bachelor's degree in Nursing and Public Health and a postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods. He has previously worked on adolescent mental health research, where his interests lie.
Eunice Njoroge
Project Officer
Ms Njoroge is a Project Officer at the institute. She holds a BSc in Food Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. She has worked extensively in the research and implementation of projects centred around early childhood development within urban informal settlements. She has also practiced as a clinical nutritionist. Eunice is passionate about championing for healthy communities through the optimization of maternal and child nutrition as well as food security programs. Her interests are in implementation science, policy and advocacy geared towards strengthening health systems.
Anita Kerubo
Research Assistant
Ms Kerubo is a Research Assistant at the institute. She has a background training in Applied Statistics from Maseno University and a postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods from Pwani University. She was previously attached at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme where she worked on epilepsy-related data. Her current research interests are in adolescents’ well-being and their positive development.
Peninah Wachira
Research Assistant
Ms Wachira is a Research Assistant at the Instutute. She holds a BSc in Environmental Health from Moi University and a postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods from Pwani University. Previously, she worked at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme where she interacted with county health systems and worked with women living with epilepsy. Her interests are in mental health, vaccine research, mixed methods research, implementation science and general population health.
Tabitha Shali
Research Assistant
Ms Shali is a Research assistant at the institute. She holds a bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Nairobi and has vast experience in both hospital and medical research settings. Her key interests revolve around neurodevelopment in children, community mental health and health policy.
Eunice Ombech
Community Mobilizer
Ms Ombech is a Community Mobilizer at the institute. She holds a B.Ed in Early Childhood Education and is currently pursuing an M.Ed in Early Childhood Education at Kenyatta University. Her interests are in the areas of implementation science, family and caregiver programs that positively impact developmental outcomes in children and ECD research that informs policy change.
Mercy Moraa
Project Officer
Ms. Moraa is a Project Officer at the institute. She has a Bachelor of Education degree in Early Childhood Education and Master of Arts degree in Project Planning and Management. Her expertise is in Monitoring, Evaluation Research & Learning with a focus on maternal health and the integral wellbeing of children. She has worked with various organisations including Women Education Researchers of Kenya, Twaweza East Africa (Uwezo Kenya) and Research Triangle International. Mercy is interested in championing effective policy making initiatives and supporting developments of research-based interventions that promote child, maternal and adolescent well-being.
Brenda Nzioka
Project Assistant
Ms Nzioka is a Project Assistant at IHD. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in Special Needs Education at Kenyatta University. Her research interests are in inclusion and mainstreaming of persons living with disabilities and ECD.
Esther Peter
Administration & Communications Officer
Ms Peter is the institute's Administrative & Communications Officer. Esther has a master's degree in Development Communication and a BA in Public Relations from Daystar University. She has previously held positions at Syngenta AG as a Corporate Affairs Assistant- Africa and Middle East Region, and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission at the Public Relations office. Her interests are in the areas of Development Communication.
Diana Anyende
Administrative Assistant
Ms Anyende is an Administrative Assistant at the Institute. She holds a master's degree in Communication and a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Media Studies from from the University of Nairobi. She also holds a diploma in Project Management from the Kenya Institute of Management. She has extensive experience in project management, administration, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy and research, communication and publication. Diana has worked with the Aga Khan University Hospital, Aga Khan Foundation East Africa and Pamoja Trust. She is interested in reading, writing and researching on a wide spectrum of developmental issues on human rights advocacy, media and communications.
Maureen Ooko
Communications Officer
Ms Ooko is the Communications Officer at the institute. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies from the University of Nairobi and has worked in various multinational organisations where she has horned her communications skills. Her interests are in public relations and development communication.
