Chief Research Scientist Director & Head, Aquaculture Directorate Aquaculture Nutrition & Sustainable Feeds Fish Nutrition • Climate-Smart Aquaculture • Value-Chain Development Location National Aquaculture Research, Development and Training Centre (NARDTC), Sagana Years of Experience 2003-present (23 years at KMFRI) Research Interests Aquaculture nutrition; sustainable aquafeeds; insect-, plant- and seaweed-based proteins; climate-smart aquaculture; fish health and biosecurity; integrated multi-trophic aquaculture; aquaculture value chains; GIS site suitability | Research Focus: Advancing sustainable fish nutrition, low-cost aquafeeds, climate-smart aquaculture, and aquaculture value-chain development to improve productivity, employment, incomes, and food and nutrition security in Kenya and the region. Dr. Jonathan M. Munguti is a Chief Research Scientist and Director and Head of the Aquaculture Directorate at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), based at the National Aquaculture Research, Development and Training Centre (NARDTC), Sagana. He holds a PhD in Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, specializing in aquaculture nutrition, from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna; an MSc in Environmental Science and Technology (Limnology and Wetland Ecosystems) from IHE Delft; and a BEd (Science) Honours in Zoology and Chemistry from Moi University. With more than two decades of aquaculture research and leadership experience, Dr. Munguti has advanced sustainable fish nutrition, low-cost aquafeeds, climate-smart aquaculture, fish health and biosecurity, seed and hatchery systems, cage culture, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, and aquaculture value-chain development. He has led and co-led major national and multi-country programmes supported by NORAD, ACIAR, the World Bank, IDRC, the Rockefeller Foundation, the European Union and other partners. His work has supported the development and scaling of insect-, plant- and seaweed-based feed ingredients, national aquaculture technologies and management practices, and stronger public-private partnerships. Dr. Munguti has contributed to national policy and standards as National Coordinator of the Feed Component under Kenya's Economic Stimulus Programme, Joint Secretary of the National Aquaculture Development Working Group, and Lead Technical Expert for national fish-feed standards developed with KEBS. He has authored more than 110 peer-reviewed articles and over 10 book chapters, serves on the editorial board of Kenya Aquatica, reviews for international journals, and has supervised or examined more than 25 postgraduate theses. His work focuses on translating research into affordable, scalable solutions that improve productivity, employment, incomes, and food and nutrition security. Research & Administrative Responsibility
Research Interest / Areas of Expertise
Academic Qualifications
Professional Membership
Professional Services
Awards and Honours MASHAV Scholarship – Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel – Aquaculture Production and Management (2008). European Union FP6/BOMOSA Fellowships – Advanced remote sensing and GIS training in the Czech Republic and Ethiopia (2007-2008). Austrian Academy of Sciences Study Grant – MSc literature study at Lunz am See, Austria (2000). Selected Publications Munguti, J., Muthoka, M., Kyule, D., Magondu, E., Iteba, J. O., Obiero, K., Orina, P., Meenakshisundaram, M., & Chrysantus, T. M. (2026). Taxonomy, distribution and ecology, biology, nutritional composition, and conservation status of critically endangered Lake Chala tilapia Oreochromis hunteri (Günther, 1889): Implications for aquaculture development. Aquaculture Research, 2026, Article 9325019. https://doi.org/10.1155/are/9325019 Munguti, J., Muthoka, M., Kyule, D., Nzioka, A. M., Ogello, E., Magondu, E. W., Mukami, M., & Wainaina, M. (2025). Current status and production trends of commercially cultured mariculture species along the Kenyan coast: Challenges, opportunities and future prospects. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 5(5), e70118. https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.70118 Munguti, J., Muthoka, M., Mboya, J. B., Kyule, D., Meenakshisundaram, M., & Tanga, C. M. (2025). Unraveling the potential of black soldier fly larvae as a sustainable protein source for Nile tilapia production in diverse aquaculture systems. Aquaculture Nutrition, 2025, Article 3598843. https://doi.org/10.1155/anu/3598843 Munguti, J., Muthoka, M., Chepkirui, M., Kyule, D., Obiero, K., Ogello, E., Madalla, N. A., & Kwikiriza, G. (2024). The fish feed sector in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda: Current status, challenges, and strategies for improvement—A comprehensive review. Aquaculture Nutrition, 2024, Article 8484451. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8484451 Munguti, J. M., Mboya, J. B., Iteba, J. O., Kirimi, J. G., Obiero, K. O., Kyule, D. N., Opiyo, M. A., & Njonge, F. K. (2024). Status and prospects of the ornamental fish industry in Kenya. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 4(3), e172. https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.172 Munguti, J. M., Obiero, K. O., Iteba, J. O., Kirimi, J. G., Kyule, D. N., Orina, P. S., Githukia, C. M., Outa, N., Ogello, E. O., Mboya, J. B., Ouko, K. O., Liti, D., Yossa, R., & Tanga, C. M. (2023). Role of multilateral development organizations, public and private investments in aquaculture subsector in Kenya. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1208918. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1208918 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 socio-economic impacts on local livelihoods. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 2(4), 265-276. https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.58 Munguti, J. M., Kim, J. D., & Ogello, E. O. (2014). An overview of Kenyan aquaculture: Current status, challenges, and opportunities for future development. Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 17(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.5657/FAS.2014.0001 Links |
