Dr. Erick Okuku
Dr Okuku has over 18 years in marine research ranging from marine ecology, pollution, plankton, biotoxins. He has lately been involved marine litter assessments, ocean acidification and use of radioisotopes to reconstruct pollution history and determine sediment accretion rates. He has coordinated more than 20 project in the last 18 years and has published a number of peer reviewed articles.KMFRI Mombasa
Oceanography and Hydrography
Marine ecology and pollution studies
Biogeochemistry, ecotoxicology, radioecology, ocean acidification, biotoxins, Marine Litter
eokuku@kmfri.go.ke
ochiengokuku2003@yahoo.com
- Phd (Kathilieke University of Leuven, Belgium),
- Msc (VUB, Belgium),
- BSc (Moi University, Kenya)
Key achievements:
- Spearheaded the development of the first Kenya national marine litter management action plan
- Successfully coordinated 12 projects, the latest ones being:
- Marine Litter Dynamics and Monitoring in The Coastal Waters of Mombasa City, Kenya: An Input to Source Reduction and Place Based Management Initiatives
- From trash to the pockets: a community approach to reduction of marine litter pollution
- The impact of ocean acidification on seafood safety, food and nutrition security along the Kenyan Coast”
- Strengthening of The National Capacity for Monitoring Ocean Carbon Chemistry and Its Impacts on Coastal Ecosystems and Human Livelihoods (2019) (ongoing).
- Supporting an Integrated Approach for Marine Pollution Monitoring Using Nuclear Analytical Techniques project
- Supporting an Integrated Approach for Marine Pollution Monitoring Using Nuclear Analytical Techniques project
- Enhancing Regional Capability in assessment of Marine contamination in Africa project
Membership:
- Regional expert on marine litter and microplastics in WIO region by Nairobi convention
- Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
- Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
- Okuku, E. O., Kiteresi, L., Owato, G., Otieno, K., 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.
- 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.
- Okuku, E. O., Kiteresi, L. I., Owato, G., Mwalugha, C., Omire, J., Mbuche, M., ... & Brenda, G. (2020). Baseline meso-litter pollution in selected coastal beaches of Kenya: Where do we concentrate our intervention efforts? Marine Pollution Bulletin, 158, 111420.
- 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.
- Okuku, E. O., Kiteresi, L. I., Wanjeri, V. O., & Owato, G. O. (2020). Baseline survey of sediment contamination with 210Polonium in three peri-urban creeks of Mombasa, Kenya. Marine pollution bulletin, 154, 111040.
- Okuku E.O., Wanjeri V.W, Owato G., Mwalugha C (2019). Decadal Pollution Assessment and Monitoring Along the Kenya Coast (Book chapter)
- Okuku E.O, Bouillon, M. Tole and A. V. Borges (2019). Diffusive emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from a cascade of tropical hydropower reservoirs in Kenya (Accepted for publication: Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management)
- Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2018). Role of a cascade of reservoirs in regulating downstream transport of sediment, carbon and nutrients: Case study of tropical arid climate Tana River Basin: DOI: 10.1111/lre.12206.
- Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2016). The response of phytoplankton and zooplankton to river damming in three cascading reservoirs of the Tana River, Kenya. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management 2016 21: 114–132.
- Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2016). Role of a cascade of reservoirs in regulating downstream transport of sediment, carbon and nutrients: Case study of tropical arid climate Tana River Basin: DOI: 10.1111/lre.12206.
- Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2016). The response of phytoplankton and zooplankton to river damming in three cascading reservoirs of the Tana River, Kenya. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management 2016 21: 114–132.
- Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Ochiewo J. O., Munyi F., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2015). The impacts of hydropower development on rural livelihood sustenance. International Journal of Water Resources Development.DOI:10.1080/07900627.2015.1056297.
- Borges V., Darchambeau F., Teodoru C. R., Marwick T. R., Tamooh F., Geeraert N., Omengo F. O., Guérin F., Lambert T., Morana C., Okuku E. O.& Bouillon S. (2015). Globally significant greenhouse-gas emissions from African inland waters. Nature Geoscience. DOI: 10.1038/NGEO2486.
- WanjeriO., Okuku E. O., Ohowa B. & Kosore C (2013). An insight into ecotoxicological significance of PAHs contamination in selected Kenyan estuaries: Journal of Environmental Science and Water Resources. 2(5): 157-166.
- Ongore C. O, Okuku E. O., Mwangi S. N., Kiteresi L. I., Ohowa B., Wanjeri V. O., Okumu S. & Kilonzi J (2013). Characterization of nutrients enrichment in the estuaries and related systems in Kenya coast. Journal of Environmental Science and Water Resources: 2(6): 181-190.
- Okuku O.& Peter H. K. (2012). Choice of heavy metals bioindicator: a critique of the method that uses total heavy metals. International Journal of Environmental Research. 6(1): 313-322.
- Kiteresi L. I., Okuku O., Mwangi S. N., Ohowa B., Wanjeri V. O., Okumu S. & Mkono M. (2012). The influence of land based activities on the phytoplankton communities of Shimoni-Vanga system. International Journal of Environmental Research. 6(1) 151-162.
- Okuku E. O., Ohowa B., Munga D., Mwangi S. N., Kiteresi L. I., Wanjeri V. O., Okumu S. & Kilonzo J. (2011). Sewage pollution in the coastal waters of Mombasa City, Kenya: A norm rather than an exception. International Journal of Environmental Research. 5(4): 865-874.
- Okuku E. O., Mubiana V. K., Hagos K. G., Kokwenda P. & Blust R. (2010). Bioavailability of Sediment-Bound Heavy Metals Using BCR Sequential Extraction on the East African Coast. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine sciences. 9(1): 325-334.