Location: KMFRI Mommbasa

Department: Oceanography and Hydrography

Research Interest: Phytoplankton studies, plastic pollution, Ocean Acidification

Email: cmwalugha@kmfri.go.ke. kateagneta@gmail.com

Qualification: Bachelor of Science ( Botany & Zoology) at University of Nairobi

MEMBERSHIP

1. Western Indian Ocean Early Career Scientists (WIO-ECSN)
2. Organization for Women In Science for Developing World (OWSD)

PUBLICATIONS

1. Okuku, E., Kombo, M. M., Mwalugha, C. S.,Chiphatsi, M. M., Otieno, K., Chepkemboi, P., ... & Otieno, C. O. (2024). Anthropogenic litter pollution in selected African transboundary and Great Rift Valley lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 102382.
2. OKUKU, E., Mbuche, M., Owato, G., Otieno, K., Kombo, M., Mwalugha, C.,... & Wanjeri, V. (2023). The Complexity of Litter Pollution in Transboundary Lakes: A Case Study of Lakes Jipe and Chala in Kenya and Tanzania. Available at SSRN 4375965.
3. Okuku, E. O., Kombo, M., Mwalugha, C.,Owato, G., Otieno, K., Mbuche, M., ... & Wanjeri, V. (2023). Are tropical mangroves a sink for litter leaking from land-and sea-based sources? Evidence from selected Kenyan mangroves. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 187, 114590.
4. Okuku, E. O., Owato, G., Kiteresi, L. I., Otieno, K., Kombo, M., Wanjeri, V., ... &  Mwalugha, C.(2022). Are tropical estuaries a source of or a sink for marine litter? Evidence from Sabaki Estuary, Kenya. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 176, 113397.
5. Okuku, E., Owato, G., Mwalugha, C.,Wanjeri, V., Kiteresi, L., & Mwangi, S. (2022). Water pollution and its impact on the Blue Economy initiative: A lesson learned from the Kenyan Coast. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 25(4), 12-21.
6. Okuku, E., Kiteresi, L., Owato, G., Otieno, K., Mwalugha, C., Mbuche, M., ... & Omire, J. (2021). The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on marine litter pollution along the Kenyan Coast: a synthesis after 100 days following the first reported case in Kenya. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 162, 111840.
7. Okuku, E. O., Kiteresi, L., Owato, G., Otieno, K., Mwalugha, C., Omire, J., Kombo, M. M., ... & Ndwiga, J. (2021). Temporal trends of marine litter in a tropical recreational beach: A case study of Mkomani beach, Kenya. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 167, 112273.
8. Okuku, E.O., Kiteresi, L.I., Owato, G., Mwalugha, C.,Omire, J., Mbuche, M., Chepkemboi, P., Ndwiga, J., Nelson, A., Kenneth, O. and Lilian, M., 2020. Baseline meso-litter pollution in selected coastal beaches of Kenya: Where do we concentrate our intervention efforts? Marine Pollution Bulletin, 158, p.111420.
9. Okuku, E. O., Kiteresi, L. I., Owato, G., Mwalugha, C.,Omire, J., Otieno, K., ... & Mulupi, L. (2020). Marine macro-litter composition and distribution along the Kenyan Coast: The first-ever documented study. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 159, 111497

BOOK CHAPTERS

1. Okuku, E. O., Imbayi, K. L., Omondi, O. G., Wayayi, W. V. O., Sezi, M. C.,Maureen, K. M., ... & Oduor, N. (2019). Decadal pollution assessment and monitoring along the Kenya Coast. In Monitoring of Marine Pollution. IntechOpen.
2. Okuku E., Otieno K., Owato G., Mwalugha C.S.,Kombo M., Chepkemboi P., Chiphatsi M., Otieno C. Trawl Surveys for Floating Meso litter. In: Barnardo T, Marlin D, Ribbink AJ, Pichegru L (eds). 2023. African Litter Monitoring Manual. 2nd Edition. African Marine Network, Sustainable Seas Trust. Gqeberha, South Africa.
3. Okuku E., Chiphatsi M. Chepkemboi P., Kombo M., Mwalugha C.S.,Otieno K.: Buried Litter Surveys on Beaches. In: Barnardo T, Marlin D, Ribbink AJ, Pichegru L (eds). 2023. African Litter Monitoring Manual. 2nd Edition. African Marine Network, Sustainable Seas Trust. Gqeberha, South Africa.