Principal Research Scientist Freshwater Aquaculture Fisheries & Aquaculture Governance Climate-Smart Aquaculture • Blue Economy • Value Chains • Food Security Location KMFRI Sang'oro Aquaculture Centre Years of Experience 2012–Present (14+ Years at KMFRI) Current Roles Assistant Director, Freshwater Aquaculture Centre Director, KMFRI Sang'oro Centre Research Interests Aquaculture and Fisheries socioeconomics; Community-based fisheries governance and natural resource management; Climate-smart aquaculture technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPs); Fish trade, value chains, market systems development (MSD), value addition and post-harvest loss reduction; Blue economy and gender analysis; Private sector-led market systems development; Evidence-informed Policy and governance of aquatic resources; Food and nutrition security through sustainable fisheries and aquaculture | Research Focus: Advancing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture through climate-smart systems, value chain development, and science-policy integration to enhance food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience across Africa. Dr. Kevin Obiero is a Principal Research Scientist, Centre Director of KMFRI Sang'oro Freshwater Station, and Assistant Director (Aquaculture) at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). He holds a PhD in Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Dr. nat. techn.) with Distinction from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria, and MSc and BSc degrees in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from Moi University. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management from the Kenya Institute of Management and has completed executive leadership training through the Kenya School of Government. Since joining KMFRI in 2012, Dr. Obiero has established an internationally recognized research portfolio spanning fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic ecosystems, and sustainable blue economy development. He has successfully led and contributed to numerous nationally, regionally, and internationally funded research programmes supported by development partners, mobilizing significant competitive research funding and earning recognition as KMFRI's top performer in research resource mobilization for three consecutive years. His research focuses on fisheries and aquaculture governance, climate-smart aquaculture systems, aquatic resource management, socio-economic analysis, value chain development, and science-policy integration for sustainable blue economy development. He has authored over 70 peer-reviewed scientific publications, eight edited books, 16 book chapters, and numerous technical reports and policy briefs that have informed fisheries and aquaculture policy in Kenya and across Africa. Dr. Obiero currently serves as a Board Member of the African Centre for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE) and the IISD Experimental Lakes Area (ELA), Canada. Through research, capacity development, and policy engagement, he continues to advance evidence-based management of fisheries and aquaculture to enhance food security, livelihoods, climate resilience, and sustainable management of aquatic resources across Africa. Research & Administrative Responsibility
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Selected Publications Obiero, K., Ogello, E., Munguti, J., Mboya, J., Kyule, D., et al. (2024). Profiling and Prioritizing Climate-Smart Aquaculture Technologies, Innovations, and Management Practices in Kenya. Aquaculture Research, 2024, 8843677. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8843677 Munguti, J. M., Obiero, K. O., Iteba, J. O., Kirimi, J. G., Kyule, D. N., et al. (2023). Role of multilateral development organizations, public and private investments in Kenya's aquaculture subsector. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1208918. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1208918 Naziri, D., Belton, B., Loison, S. A., Reardon, T., Shikuku, K. M., & Obiero, K., et al. (2023). COVID-19 disruptions and pivoting in SMEs in Kenya's potato and fish value chains. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review. https://doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2022.0120 Achieng, A. O., Arhonditsis, G. B., Mandrak, N., Febria, C., Opaa, B., et al, & Obiero, K. (2023). Monitoring biodiversity loss in rapidly changing Afrotropical ecosystems: An emerging imperative for governance and research. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 378, 20220271. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0271 Obiero, K. O., Klemet-N'Guessan, S., Migeni, A. Z., & Achieng, A. O. (2022). Bridging Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge systems and practices for sustainable management of aquatic resources from East to West Africa. Journal of Great Lakes Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2022.12.001 Plisnier, P. D., Kayanda, R., MacIntyre, S., Obiero, K., Okello, W., et al. (2022). Need for harmonized long-term multi-lake monitoring of African Great Lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2022.01.016 Munguti, J. M., Nairuti, R., Iteba, J. O., Obiero, K. O., Kyule, D., et al. (2022). Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture in Kenya: Emerging production technologies and socioeconomic impacts on local livelihoods. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.58 Obiero, K. O., Achieng, A. O., Nyamweya, C. S., Onyango, H. O., Opaa, B., et al. (2022). Societal Implications of Kenya's Inland and Marine Waters. In Encyclopedia of Inland Waters (2nd ed.). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819166-8.00196-1 Obiero, K. O., Waidbacher, H., Nyawanda, B. O., Munguti, J. M., Manyala, J. O., & Kaunda-Arara, B. (2019). Predicting Uptake of Aquaculture Technologies Among Smallholder Fish Farmers in Kenya. Aquaculture International. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-019-00423-0 Obiero, K. O., Waidbacher, H., Drexler, S., Meulenbroek, P., Adamneh, D., et al. (2019). The contribution of fish to food and nutrition security in Eastern Africa: Emerging trends and future outlooks. Sustainability, 11(6), 1636. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061636 Links |
