Welcome to the Directorate of Research and Extension

The academic staff of the University of Embu are currently engaged in research activities in ten  thematic areas, namely; Agriculture and Food Security, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Ecology, Education, Organic and applied Chemistry, Energy, Business, Health Sciences, Social Sciences and Mathematics. Our members of staff continue to actively seek new funding opportunities so as to attract research grants in the university. The members of staff have also published widely with the high impact journals and top publishers in the world.
Dr. Mark Otieno
Director, Research and Extension

Climate Smart Options

The project entitled “Climate smart options allowing agricultural intensification for smallholders in the dry zones of the Central Highlands of Kenya” is one of the VLIR-UOS funded project in Kenya. It is being implemented by the University of Embu in Kenya in collaboration with Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), County Government of Tharaka-Nithi and KU Leuven University in Belgium, who are the project promoters.

The aim of the project is enhancing crop productivity to eradicate poverty and improve livelihood in the Central Highlands of Kenya. The approach is by simultaneously addressing soil and water conservation and soil fertility problems by integrating selected isolated approaches towards sustainable intensification of agricultural productivity in the region. The project is being implemented in the Tharaka-Nithi County, with the experimental trials in Tharaka south sub-County. Read More

Recent Publications

  1. Amwoma, J. G., Kituyi, S., Wakoli, D. M., Ochora, D. O., Chemwor, G., Maisiba, R., ... & Akala, H. M. (2024). Comparative analysis of peripheral whole blood transcriptome from asymptomatic carriers reveals upregulation of subsets of surface proteins implicated in Plasmodium falciparum phenotypic plasticity. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports37, 101596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101596
  1. Mwithiga, G., Maina, S., Muturi, P., & Gitari, J. (2024). Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) growth rate, essential oil yield and composition as influenced by different soil conditioners under two watering regimes. Heliyon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25540
  2. Nyarindo, W. N., Mugera, A., Hailu, A., & Obare, G. (2024). Do combined sustainable agricultural intensification practices improve smallholder farmers’ welfare? Evidence from eastern and western Kenya. Agricultural Economics, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12816
  1. Omar, F., Neondo, J., Mweu, C., & Muli, J. (2024). Assessment of genetic diversity of latent bacteria in coconut leaves associated with lethal yellowing disease symptoms in Kenya. British society for plant pathology, 1-29https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13856
  1. Gitiha, R. W., Rugano, P., Wakhu, S., & Muriithi, C. G. (2024). Students’ perceptions
    towards the uptake of educational technologies in Christian Religious Education.
    Cogent Education, 11(1), 2310968. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25134119.v1 

News

Prof. Kenya wins a grant from the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund

Prof. Eucharia Kenya, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Planning, Administration and Finance who is a Professor of Biotechnology at the Department of Biological Sciences has been awarded a grant worth US$ 498,071.28 (approximately 61 million Kenyan shillings) by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDTF). The project is titled “Enhancing Gender Analysis in STEM Higher Education and Research in Kenya” and will run between 1st January 2023 and 31st December 2024. - Read More

Visit by the Director DAAD - The Director DAAD Ms. Beate Schindler-Kovats visited the University on 2nd June 2022. The visit was to present an opportunity to the university to explore areas of mutual interest, collaboration and in-depth discussion on sponsorship and funding programmes. Read More

The Director DAAD Ms. Beate Schindler-Kovats visited the University on 2nd June 2022. The visit was to present an opportunity to the university to explore areas of mutual interest, collaboration and in-depth discussion on sponsorship and funding programmes. The Director paid a courtesy call to the Vice-Chancellor's Office and later visited the Microbiology laboratory. She made a presentation on funding opportunities and programmes by DAAD in Senate Boardroom. She concluded her visit to the University with a tree planting exercise.