Front from left; Prof. John Muoma, Prof. J.S.K. Achoka, Prof. George Owuor and Prof. Maurice Vincent Omolo. Back from left; Dr. Joseph Owino, Dr. Lydia Anyonje, Dr. Catherine Aurah, Ms. Wangari Wambugu and Dr. Dennis Ochieno.
CESAAM is currently working on phase II of its project in which it will support research and product development on issues related to Agriculture and Agribusiness through partnership arrangements. It is on this strength that it would like to collaborate with MMUST’s CAMNFF whose focus is on medicinal and nutritional plants and animals. CAMNFF’s projects and activities will blend in very well and synergize with Egerton’s CESAAM to attain sustainable solutions that address the issue of food security in Africa as well as improved human health.
“Let us pick key areas or interests that are common to both Centers and collaborate. It will be useful to have an MOU in product and technology development, students’ supervision, research and outreach activities,” stated Prof. Owuor.
Speaking during the meeting, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Planning Research and Innovation), Prof. J.S.K. Achoka, who was representing the Ag. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo, assured the members of the two (2) Centers of MMUST’s support. “As a University, this partnership gives us hope that our Scholars will receive the much required exposure provided by the Centers and their networks,” she said.
CAMNFF’s Leader and Principal Investigator, Prof. Maurice Vincent Omolo, expressed hope that the partnership will accommodate the variety of activities and projects that his team is currently undertaking.
“CAMNFF has come up with a number of products. We have the Mushroom and Spirulina value added nutritional products and stingless bee honey production project. We have also patented a formulation that kills jiggers with a single application without inflicting pain to the infected, a patent on a formulation that protects maize from ‘Osama’ also known as larger grain borer, we have innovated and patented a smokeless biomass pyrolysis stove and we are keen on producing value added yoghurt using local crops,” said the PI, CAMNFF, Prof. Maurice Vincent Omolo.
Director Science Park Innovation and Incubation Centre (SPIIC) at MMUST, Prof. John Muoma, noted that CAMNFF is hosted at SPIIC. He pointed out that the partnership between the two (2) Centers will provide opportunities for both institutions to tap into and prosper. “Egerton University has done so much with the World Bank and MMUST would like to do the same,” he said.
The Dean School of Natural Sciences (SONAS), Dr. Joseph Owino, who is an expert in products development and also a key founding member of CAMNFF said that an MOU with CESAAM will be an excellent entry point for transforming communities in Africa. Other notable CAMNFF members include, Prof. Asenath Sigot (CO-PI), an astute human nutrition and dietetics expert, Prof. John Muoma, a plant biotechnologist expert, Dr. Dennis Ochieno, an entomologist in charge of the Fauna and Dr. Gordon Nguka, also a nutritionist expert.
“We need policy level institutions to anchor us and give us credibility. Therefore, this partnership with CESAAM is very welcome,” stated Dr. Ochieno.
The Director International and Academic Linkages, Dr. Catherine Aurah, said that MMUST is delighted about this arrangement of an MOU with a renowned international Center such as CESAAM. “My office is ready to start working on the logistics of the MOU as soon as possible,” said Dr. Aurah.
This collaboration with CESAAM will go a long way towards nurturing and transforming CAMNFF into a formidable global academic center of excellence in indigenous Medicinal and Nutritional Flora and Fauna.
