Following recent competitive interviews undertaken by the Board of the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI), the following staff have been appointed to the following top and senior management positions.
Dr. David Ngigi has been appointed to the position of Director Advisory, Standards, and Licensing.
Dr. David Mwangi Ngigi
Dr. David Ngigi is a distinguished Entomologist with over 22 years of professional experience in both Public and Private Sectors. He is a known Champion for Science, Technology and Innovation in Kenya. He has served as the Head of the Institutional Registration and Accreditation Department at NACOSTI. In that capacity he has successfully spearheaded national initiatives towards attainment of aspirations of STI Act of 2013 that include mainstreaming STI in Government Agencies, strengthening research ethics oversight in the country, and facilitating the establishment of new research institutions.
Earlier, Dr. Ngigi successfully coordinated NACOSTI’s initiatives to operationalize the Government Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Fund that was set to intensify innovations and promote uptake of STI output in priority areas in line with Vision 2030 aspirations. Through his leadership the STI Fund grew to nurture and support over 1,800 research and Innovation projects, solidifying his commitment to propelling Kenya’s scientific landscape forward.
He was one of the pioneer members of the secretariat that was tasked to operationalize the current National Research Fund (NRF), the successor of the STI Fund. He made a significant contribution in supporting the Board of Trustees to set-up organization structures, build linkages and spearheaded resource mobilization to support research and Innovation in Government priority areas.
Mr. Gideon Kirui has been appointed to the position of Director Corporate Services.
Mr. Gideon Kirui
Mr. Kirui is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Public Secretary. He is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK). He has served as the manager, finance, and accounts at the Commission for the last eight years. His contributions are anticipated to further enhance financial strategies and management within the Commission and bring a seasoned perspective to the dynamic world of Organizational Corporate Services.
His notable achievements include implementing operational systems, automation, and performance management.
Dr. Benson Mburu has been appointed to the position of Deputy Director, Biological and Health Sciences.
Dr. Benson Mburu
Dr. Benson Mburu is a seasoned expert in biological and health sciences as has served as the Acting Deputy Director/Chief Scientist at the Commission. Trained as a master’s level Plant Pathologist and a Ph.D. holder specializing in Pesticide Safety, his expertise extends to biosafety compliance and the development of policies harmonizing biosciences management in Kenya. Notably, he has represented Kenya in international forums, serving as a member of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert group on Synthetic Biology under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and as a Future Council Member on Synthetic Biology in the World Economic Forum since 2020.
The NACOSTI Board, along with the Director General and the entire Commission staff, extend their heartfelt congratulations to Dr. David Ngigi, Mr. Gideon Kirui, and Dr. Benson Mburu on their well-deserved appointments. The Commission looks forward to the trio’s impactful contributions to the realization of NACOSTI’s mandate and functions.
The National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation is established under the Science, Technology and Innovation STI) Act 2012 (Rev. 2013) with the mandate of regulating and assuring quality in the science, technology and innovation sector and advising the Government in matters related thereto.
Pursuant to the mandate, the commission is empowered with 17 functions that may be categorized as; Regulatory, Coordination, Advisory, and Promotion of matters research, science, technology and innovation (RSTI).