Kenya Space Agency advertised for the position of Director General/Chief Executive office in August 2020 and the agency received 17 applications. Following the shortlisting exercise, five people have made the final list for the interview’s next process.
They include:
Prof Edward Waithaka Hunja
Professor Edward Waithaka is a senior lecturer & chairperson for the Department of Geomatic Engineering & Geospatial Information Systems at the Jomo Kenya University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT)
He holds a PhD in Earth & Planetary Sciences, an MSc in Earth & Planetary Sciences from Hokkaido University, and a BSc in Engineering (Surveying & Camp: Photogrammetry), from the University of Nairobi.
He has over 15 years of experience lecturing in Geomatic Engineering & Geospatial Engineering systems.
Prof John Bosco Kiema Kyalo
Professor Kiema John Bosco is an Associate professor in the Department of Geospatial & Space Technology, at the University of Nairobi.
He holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany, a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science, an MSc in Surveying & Photogrammetry, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Surveying and Photogrammetry, from the University of Nairobi.
He has 17 years of experience as a lecturer in geospatial & space technology at the University of Nairobi
Dr John Njoroge Kimani
Dr Kimani holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Nairobi. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Kenyatta University and a BSc in Physics from the University of Nairobi.
He lectures in Physics at various institutions which include the Kenya Defense Forces Technical College, National Defense College, Defense Staff College, the University of Nairobi, Catholic University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and Gretsa University
Dr Njoroge was the lead scientist and the national coordinator at the Kenya National Space Secretariat, which was the precursor to the Kenya Space Agency. He oversaw the coordination of the implementation of the provision of the Luigi Broglio- Malindi Space Centre Agreement between Kenya and Italy and the negotiations of the renewal of its term.
Joshua Manyara Mochache
Mr Mochache holds an MSc and a BSc in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Wichita State University, and the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, respectively.
He is currently a PhD. Candidate at the University of Texas in Arlington.
Mr Mochache currently serves the principal engineer at Bell Flight, based in Dallas, and his experience spans over 18 years in flight design and engineering. Mr Mocahache’s experience also includes aerospace engineering consulting for a number of NASA programs.
Prof Paul Olande Baki
Professor Olande is a Physical & Chemical Sciences Fellow at the Kenya National Academy of Sciences.
He holds BSc, MSc and PhD degrees from the University of Nairobi, where he taught theoretical Physics for 16 years. While at the University, he established the Bachelor’s degree program in Basic Space Science (Astronomy & Astrophysics), and saw the installation of research facilities where he managed the Physics research group.
He has also served as the Associate Dean & Head of the School of Pure & Applied Sciences at the Technical University of Kenya.
Professor Olande is the founding President of the East African Astronomical Society, which is a point of contact for the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
The shortlisted candidates will be interviewed at the agency headquarters between Tuesday 10 November and Wednesday 11 November, after which the new Director-General/Cheif Executive Officer will be selected.
The selected candidate will replace Director-General, Major General Thomas Chepkuto, the current acting Director-General who replaced Dr John Kimani whose initial tenure recently ended.
The Authority on News, Data and Market Analysis for the African Space Industry.
