Aquaculture Scientist Aquaculture Division Aquaculture & Fisheries Value Chains Gender Dynamics • Socioeconomics • Climate-Smart Aquaculture • Fish Nutrition Location KMFRI Kisumu Research Centre Years of Experience 14 Years at KMFRI Department Aquaculture Division Research Interests Gender Dynamics & Social Inclusion; Socioeconomics of Aquatic Food Systems; Climate-Smart & Resilient Aquaculture Production; Fish Nutrition & Feed Formulations; Strategic Project Leadership & Evidence-Based Policy | Research Focus: Optimizing aquaculture and fisheries value chains through gender-inclusive research, climate-smart technologies, and socio-economic empowerment to enhance food security, nutrition, and livelihoods in Kenya. Dr. Cecilia Muthoni Githukia is an accomplished Research Scientist within the Aquaculture Division at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), based at the Kisumu Research Centre. She holds a PhD in Fisheries from Kisii University, alongside an MSc in Aquaculture and a BSc in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, both from Moi University. Furthermore, she has earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Fisheries and Aquaculture from UNESCO-IHE and a Certificate in Responsible Aquaculture Development from the Wageningen Centre for Development and Innovation in The Netherlands. She has complemented her scientific expertise with certifications in Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP) and Senior Management Course (SMC) from the Kenya School of Government. With over 14 years of dedicated research experience, Dr. Githukia specializes in optimizing aquaculture and fisheries value chains. Her robust research portfolio spans fish nutrition, fisheries socio-economics, gender dimensions within value chains, and climate-smart aquaculture technologies. She has successfully led and contributed to multiple nationally and internationally funded research projects. These include the Climate-Resilient Aquaculture Systems for Africa (CASA), Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), and various initiatives supported by the European Union (EU). Currently, Dr. Githukia serves as the Co-Principal Investigator for the CASA project spanning from 2025 to 2030. This strategic initiative focuses on transforming regional aquatic food systems to alleviate poverty, enhance food security, and build environmental resilience across Kenya. She has an impressive publication record comprising 26 peer-reviewed journal articles, 12 books and book chapters, alongside several technical reports. She is deeply passionate about breaking down systemic barriers for women and youth, integrating socio-economic empowerment with climate-smart technologies to secure sustainable food and nutrition nationwide. Research & Administrative Responsibility
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Selected Publications Githukia, C.M., Cheserek, M., Otieno, D., Menach, E., Kyule-Muendo, D., Obiero, K., Munguti, J. (2024). Nutritional Composition of Value-added Fish Products from Selected Fish Species in Kenya. Sustainable Agricultural Research. DOI:10.5539/sar.v13n2p56 Obiero, K. O., Mboya, J. B., Ouko, K. O., Kembenya, E. M., Nyauchi, E. A., Munguti, J. M., Outa, N. O. & Githukia, C. M. (2023). The role of indigenous knowledge in fisheries resource management for aquaculture development: A case study of the Kenyan Lake Victoria region. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries. 2023;1–9. DOI: 10.1002/aff2.101 Githukia, C., Onyango, D., Lusweti, D., Ramkat, R., Kowenje, C., Miruka, J., Lung'ayia, H. & Orina, P. (2022). An Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Communities in Lake Victoria, Kenya on Microcystin Toxicity. Open Journal of Ecology, 2022, 12, 198-210. https://www.scirp.org/journal/oje Githukia, C. M., Chesoli, J. W., Manyala, J. O. & Odhiambo, J. A. (2022). Unravelling gender awareness and opportunities in Aquaculture value chain in Western Kenya. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, 85(1 & 2), 11. https://www.kalro.org/www.eaafj.or.ke/index.php/path/article/view/493 Munguti, J. M., Nairuti, R., Iteba, J. O., Obiero, K. O., Kyule, D., Opiyo, M. A., Abwao, J., Kirimi, J. G., Outa, N., Muthoka, M., Githukia, C. M. & Ogello, E. O. (2022). Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus, 1758) culture in Kenya: emerging production technologies and socioeconomic impacts on local livelihoods. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.58 Githukia, C. M., Drexler, S., Obiero, K. O., Nyawanda, B. O., Odhiambo, J. O., Chesoli, J. O. & Manyala, J. O. (2020). Gender roles and constraints in the aquaculture value chain in Western Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research. DOI: 10.5897/AJAR2020.147 Onyango, D. M., Orina, P. S., Ramkat, R. C., Kowenje, C., Githukia, C. M., Lusweti, D. & Lung'ayia, H. B. O. (2020). Review of current state of knowledge of microcystin and its impacts on fish in Lake Victoria. Lakes and Reservoirs. DOI: 10.1111/lre.1232 Links |
