Richard has considerable experience in the field of Biotechnology, and brings to the Board extensive expertise in research and biostatistics. His active research focuses on using modern biotechnologies including genetic engineering to confer innate tolerance to local staple food crops against diseases, drought, aflatoxin and Striga. He holds a patent on a stress-inducible promoter with the World Intellectual Property Organization and Chairs the Kenya University Biotechnology Consortium; a professional body that brings together experts in Biotechnology from public and private universities to promote safe use and application of modern biotechnology in Kenya. Richard sits in the Board of The Global Biotechnology Transfer Foundation. In 2017, he was among the 52 African Scientists celebrated by the South African Department of Science and Technology for their outstanding contributions in advancing research in the continent. Richard has won several research grants, supervised several graduate students and published widely in the discipline. Apart from being an Associate Professor of Molecular Biology in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Richard also serves as the Director, Research Support and Dissemination at Kenyatta University. Richard holds a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from University of Cape Town, an MSc (Biotechnology) and BSc (Biochemistry) both from Kenyatta University, Kenya. In addition, Richard has a postdoctoral training, in drug discovery from Pfizer, UK. He also holds an Executive MSc in Management and Organizational Development from United States International University, Africa, a Graduate Diploma in Forensic Sciences from Blackford Institute, UK and a Certificate in Science communication from the University of Cape Town. He is currently an Honorary Visiting Fellow of the University of Leicester.
