Deputy Director Laboratory Services Laboratory Management & Quality Assurance Laboratory Accreditation • Food Safety • Environmental Testing Email: wogara@kmfri.go.ke Location KMFRI Headquarters, Mombasa, Kenya Department Laboratory Services Professional Bodies Environment Institute of Kenya (EIK) • Scientists of Kenya Association (SCOKA) • Chairman – Testing, Inspection and Certification Society of Kenya (TICS Kenya) | Leadership Focus: Transforming KMFRI's laboratory network into an integrated, internationally recognized system supporting world-class research, aquatic animal health, food safety, environmental monitoring, and sustainable management of Kenya's Blue Economy. Walter Edwin Ogara Odhiambo is the Deputy Director, Laboratory Services at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). He provides strategic leadership in the development, coordination and continuous improvement of the Institute's laboratory services, quality management systems, accreditation programmes, laboratory modernization and scientific support services. He is a laboratory management and quality assurance specialist with over 20 years of experience in laboratory leadership across Kenya, the larger Eastern Africa, the Horn of Africa and South Africa. His expertise spans laboratory quality management systems, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), food safety, aquatic and environmental testing, laboratory governance, regulatory compliance, and institutional capacity development. Walter holds a Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Chemistry from Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry from Moi University. He is a certified ISO/IEC 17025 Lead Auditor and a NEMA-registered Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit Expert with extensive experience in laboratory accreditation, environmental management, risk assessment and scientific quality systems. Before joining KMFRI, Walter held senior laboratory leadership positions with leading regional and international organizations, where he successfully established and managed internationally accredited laboratories, implemented laboratory information management systems, expanded analytical testing capabilities, and led multidisciplinary laboratory teams across multiple countries. Leadership & Professional Expertise Laboratory Quality Management Systems ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) Food Safety & Environmental Testing Laboratory Governance & Regulatory Compliance Institutional Capacity Development Environmental Impact Assessment & Audit Key Initiatives at KMFRI - Spearheading the transformation of KMFRI's laboratory network into an integrated, internationally recognized system
- Championing the "One KMFRI Laboratory" initiative to harmonize quality management systems and strengthen laboratory excellence across the Institute
- Supporting world-class research, aquatic animal health, food safety, environmental monitoring, innovation and sustainable management of Kenya's Blue Economy
Professional Contributions & Recognition Chairman: Testing, Inspection and Certification Society of Kenya (TICS Kenya) – Providing leadership in the advancement of quality infrastructure and conformity assessment services in Kenya. Member: Environment Institute of Kenya (EIK) and Scientists of Kenya Association (SCOKA) – Actively contributing to environmental sustainability and scientific advancement in Kenya. Professional Interests: Laboratory accreditation, laboratory digital transformation, quality infrastructure, aquatic animal health, food safety, environmental sustainability, and capacity building for scientific institutions. |
