Ms Gladys Mwaka is a Research scientist in Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). She has an Msc. from Pukyong University, World Fisheries University in South Korea and a Bsc. in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. She is passionate about management and governance of aquatic system (coastal marine and fresh water). Gladys has been empowering communities in the coastal region through fish farming and different other projects in bid to utilize the blue economy potential and recently appointed to be the head of the community stakeholder trainings along the Kenya coastal line.
In view of this, she has managed to enhance livelihoods through fish farming in the arid areas of Coastal Kenya. She has been able to acquire and invest in strategic Blue economy livelihood through various projects like The Kenya Coastal Development Project (KCDP), Kenya Marine socio-economic development project (KEMFSED) and with other scientists she has been able to develop other culture systems including fish cage culture which has the potential of improving livelihoods of the local communities in line with exploitation of the blue economy. Speaking of her research interests, Gladys has been working with different species including tilapia, milkfish, prawns and now sea cucumber which is a highly valuable species looking forward to its artificial production. She has authored 11 scientific publications comprising of 6 manuscripts: 4 published and 2 accepted for publication and 5 book chapters. Gladys has served as a temporary co-chair of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) taskforce. She recently was awarded the 2020 Bioinnovate fellowship for women working to produce black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as an alternative and affordable protein for fish.
She has worked on contract basis for KPMG international as a consultant in supporting the Norwegian MFA in scoping a new ‘for development’ program on Oceans in Kenya including identifying potential challenges and providing clear, actionable recommendations to consider in designing the program.
She is serving as a Board of Director of the Kenya Wildlife Research and Training Institute (KWRTI) Nairobi-Kenya to oversee the effective implementation of the national wildlife policy in the institute and any other function as may be necessary for the fulfilment of KWRTI mandate under the wildlife Act.

Research gate link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gladys-mwaka-08b838149

PUBLICATIONS:

Holeh GM, Magondu EW, Njiru JM, Tsuma S, Salim A, Muriuki AM, Fulanda A, Kilonzo J, Ochola O, Ndirangu S, Zamu MS, Athoni G, Luyesi J. 2020. Social Economic Survey and Feasibility Study to Initiate Cage Fish Farming in Kenyan Coastal Creeks. J Aquac Res Development, Vol. 11 Iss. 11 No: 617.

Holeh GM, Appenteng P, Opiyo M.A, Park J, Brown CL (2020). Effects of intermittent feeding regimes on growth performance and economic benefits of Amur catfish (silurus asotu). Aquatic research 3(3), 167-176. https://doi.org/10.3153/AR20015

Holeh GM, Ochiewo JO, Tsuma S, Mirera DO (2020) Impact of Aquaculture and Mariculture Information Dissemination to the Local Coastal Communities in Kenya. J Aquac Res Development 11: 9. doi: 10.35248/2155-9546.20.10.608

 

1. Mwaluma J., Mirera D., Magondu E., Mukami M., Wainaina M., Holeh G., Nyabeta J., Kimathi A., Wanjiru C (Eds) (2021) . Marine and Coastal Aquaculture: Production, statusand prospects: Munguti et al., State of Aquaculture in Kenya 2021: Towards Nutrition-sensitive Fish Food Production Systems; Chapter 3: pp 39-57.
2. Munguti J., Musa, S., Mukami, M., Magondu, E., Ondiba, R., Abwao, Masai Mutune, J., Holeh, G. and Njiru, J. (2021). (Eds) (2021). State of Aquaculture Report in Kenya 2021: Towards Nutrition Sensitive Fish Food Production systems. Chapter 4: pp 58-88
3. Mirera, D., Nyonje, B., Opiyo, M., Obiero, K., Awuor, F.J., Holeh, G., Kendi, J., & Okechi J. (2021). Aquaculture Research and Training in Kenya. In: Munguti et al. (Eds). State of Aquaculture in Kenya 2021: Towards Nutrition-Sensitive Fish Food Production Systems; Chapter 8: Pages 156-166. Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya.