Jacqueline Oduol: Professor of communication and gender expert

Prof Jacqueline Oduol is a well known Kenyan gender expert. She is also specialized in child protection and children's rights, leadership, peace building and conflict resolution. She has played key roles in developing gender policies to increase women's participation in development activities in Kenya, and was among the first members of the National Gender and Equality Commission when it was set up in 2003.

Prof Oduol holds a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics, English and Literature (1979) and a Master of Arts in Linguistics and African Languages of Education (1981), both from the University of Nairobi. Her PhD in Linguistics (1990) was researched at both the University of Nairobi and Bayreuth University in Germany.

She taught at the Department of Linguistics and African Studies at the University of Nairobi and rose through the ranks to the position of senior lecturer. In 1994, she joined the United States International University (USIU) as a lecturer in comparative linguistics, critical thinking, intercultural communications and gender studies. It was at USIU where she was appointed a professor.

Prof Oduol has undertaken several consultancies on gender for a number of reputable international agencies such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (UN-DAW).

She has also prepared policy papers for the UN gender agency, UNIFEM, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD).

In 2007, Prof Oduol quit her teaching post to vie for a parliamentary seat in Alego-Usonga constituency but her bid was unsuccessful. However, in April 2008, she was appointed the Secretary for Children Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, a position she held until May 2013.

In 2008, she received a Head of State Commendation, the award of Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS), in recognition of her work on gender mainstreaming.

Source: Ng'ang'a N. (2002, December 2). Gender agenda in politics. Sunday Nation. Retrieved from http://www.nationaudio.com

Prof Miriam Were: A community health champion

The Business Daily (Friday 8 Nov 13) has a feature story of Prof Miriam Were's journey to becoming a leader in the field of community health.

Here's the link to the story: Making of a community health champion.

Naomi Shitemi: Professor of linguistics and Kiswahili studies

This blog post pays tribute to a renowned Kiswahili scholar, the late Professor Naomi Shitemi of Moi University, who passed away recently after an illness.

Today's Saturday Nation featured a moving tribute by Prof Kimani Njogu, the executive director of Twaweza Communications and the chairman of Chama cha Kiswahili cha Taifa (CHAKITA). Here is the link to the feature article, Prof Shitemi: Unsung heroine who fought hard for Kiswahili language.

Rest In Peace, Prof Naomi Shitemi.

Collette Suda: Professor of sociology

Prof Collette A. Suda

Collette Suda, an associate professor of sociology, is a well respected Kenyan sociologist with a wealth of research experience in issues of gender and development, children in especially difficult circumstances, social development, agricultural/rural development and community development.

Prof Suda earned her PhD in rural sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1986. She also holds an MSc in rural sociology and an MSc in community development from the same university.

After her PhD, she embarked on a career in lecturing and research at the University of Nairobi's Institute of African Studies (now the Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies), focusing on various gender and social development themes including women in development, social change and development, and agricultural development policies, programs and projects.

Prof Collette Suda is widely published and has several peer-reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters to her name. She has also held senior leadership positions at the University, serving as director of the Institute of African Studies from 1999 to 2002 as well as the director of the Board of Common Undergraduate Courses from 2002 to 2007. In 2002, she was promoted to the position of full professor.

In addition to her university teaching and research career, Prof Suda served the Government of Kenya as the Secretary for Gender and Social Development in the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development from 2007 to 2012. In June 2013, she was appointed the Principal Secretary for Science and Technology in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Prof Collette Suda is also an Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS), a civilian service award given by the President of Kenya in recognition of distinguished service to the nation.

Prof Judi Wakhungu nominated to Kenya's new Cabinet

Congratulations are in order to Prof Judi Wakhungu on her nomination as Kenya's new Cabinet Secretary in charge of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

President Uhuru Kenyatta unveiled his new Cabinet earlier this week. The nominees now await vetting by a parliamentary committee on appointments.

Congrats Prof Wakhungu!