Prof. Daniel Mugendi Njiru, Ph.D., EBS Profile
Name: Prof. Daniel Mugendi Njiru, Ph.D., EBS
Title: PROFESSOR
Position: Vice-Chancellor, University of Embu and, the Chairman, Vice-Chancellorâs Committee
Department: WARM
School: SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE
Area of Specialization: Crop Science, Agroforestry, Soil Science
Contact Address: P.O. Box 65022-00618, Ruaraka-Nairobi
E-Mail:
Google Scholar Account - Link
Orchid Account : https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4998-662X
Short Biography
Professor Daniel Mugendi is a renowned scholar, higher education leader and researcher. His remarkable career in the academia, research and higher education sectors, spanning over three decades, has seen him make substantial contribution in the development of University Education in Kenya. He started his professional journey as a researcher with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) in July 1986. He, joined Kenyatta University in 1999, as a lecturer, where he rose through the academic and administrative ranks. He served in various positions in Kenyatta University namely; the Chairman, Department of Environmental Foundations, Dean, School of Environmental Studies and Human Sciences, and finally the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance, Planning and Development).
Prof. Mugendi is currently the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Embu and the Chairman, Vice-Chancellorsâ Committee that brings together all VCs of public universities and Principals of Constituent Colleges in Kenya. He has steered the University of Embu to being the Best Performing State Corporation and Public University in Kenya in Performance Contracting for three years (2019/2020 FY, 2021/2022 FY & 2022/2023 FY).
He was honored with a prestigious State Award in the rank of the Elder of the Burning Spear, EBS. He also holds the following positions;
1. A member of the Strategic Committee, Education Collaborative East Africa Hub,
2. Board Member of Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS)
3. Board Member of the Higher Education and Loans Board (HELB),
4. Chairperson of the Outreach and Partnerships Committee in the EASTCO Governing Board,
5. Member of the selection panel on appointment of a Chairperson for the National Commission for Science and Technology Board of Directors,
6. Governing Board Member of the Regional Research and Development Working Group of the East African Science and Technology Commission,
7. Chairman of Tree Biotechnology Program Board of Trustees (TBPT),
8. Member of the FOCUS Kenya Advisory Committee.
9. Member in the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS), and a Lead Expert in Environmental Impact Assessment/Audit.
10. He has also served in other leadership capacities, to mention but a few, the Chairman Board of Directors of Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Member of National Environment Council (NEC), Regional Secretary General and Chairman of the Soil Science Society of East Africa, Secretary and Chairman to the Kenya Chapter of Soil Science of East Africa, Member of the Editorial Board of Agricultural Systems Journal and the Chairman, Africa Network (AfNet) of Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Programme (TSBF).
AWARDS/ ACHIEVEMENTS
1. Recognized and ranked position 12 in Kenya, 628 in Africa, and 90235 in the world in the 2022 Alper-Doger Scientific Index, also known as âAD Scientific Index rankingâ.
2. Best poster presented at the All Africa Crop Science Congress in Pretoria, South Africa in January 1997.
3. Poster awarded 1st place in the "Environmental and Biological Sciences Poster Section" at the University of Florida Graduate Student Forum in March 1997 â Celebrating the diversity of graduate students.
4. Finest overall poster presented at the University of Florida Graduate Student Forum in March 1997 - Celebrating the diversity of graduate students.
5. Paper awarded 3rd place in the "Biological Sciences Paper Session" â UF Graduate Student Forum in March 1997 - Celebrating the diversity of graduate students.
6. Ph.D. Dissertation awarded âThe 1997 Outstanding Dissertation Awardâ of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, USA.
7. An African Career Award (Rockefeller Foundation) Post-Doctoral Fellowship
8. Recognized and ranked position one in the University of Embu, twenty-one (21) in Kenya and 765 in Africa, and 87,379 in the world according to the world AD Scientific Index Ranking 2023.
9. Recognized as the Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) by His Excellency, The President of the republic of Kenya, Hon. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, in December, 2023.
10. Awarded and recognized for adherence to the Foundational Statutes and the Principles of Good Governance (Mwongozo) in the Execution of the Core Mandate and Governance of the University of Embu during the 2025 End-of-Year Public Service Reflection and Agenda-Setting Engagement held on Friday, 5th December, 2025
MEMBERSHIP TO PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
1. Member of the African Network (AfNet) of Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute
2. Member of Soil Science Society of America
3. Member of Agronomy Society of America
4. Member of Crop Science Society of America
5. Member of Soil Science Society of Africa
6. Member of the Soil Science Society of East Africa
7. Member of the African Crop Science Society
8. Member of Nature Kenya
9. Member of the American Society of Agronomy, American Soil Science Society and American Crop Science Society
10. Member of the Soil and Water Conservation Society
RESEARCH GRANTS
1. 1988-1990, IDRC Fellowship for graduate studies at the Univ. of Nairobi, Kenya
2. 1992-1997, The Rockefeller Foundation grant (US$ 150,000) to conduct agroforestry research at Embu, Kenya, and a fellowship to pursue Ph.D. studies at the University of Florida, FL, USA.
3. 1998-1999, The Rockefeller Foundation African Career Award (US$ 32,000) to conduct research on Soil-N movement and its management in the central highlands of Kenya.
4. 2000-2003, The Rockefeller Foundation Forum on Agricultural Husbandry Grant (US$ 110,000) to conduct research on the use of low-input technologies for enhancement of soil fertility and food production in the central highlands of Kenya.
5. 2001-2002, The Rockefeller Forum preparatory grant ($4,996) to quantify mineral-nitrogen movement in the soils of the central highlands of Kenya
6. 2001-2003, The Rockefeller Foundation African Career Award (US$ 34,000) to conduct research on nutrient management by use of agroforestry trees for improved soil productivity in the central highlands of Kenya.
7. 2001-2003, The Rockefeller Foundation Forum on Agricultural Husbandry Grant (US$ 66,700) to conduct research on âSense of SOM - a preliminary evaluation of impact of organic resource management of soil organic matter status and its relationship to crop growthâ
8. 2003-2008, The Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR - Belgium) Own Initiatives Grant (Euro 309,426) to conduct research on integrated soil fertility management strategies to enhance food security in the central highlands of Kenya.
9. 2003-2005, The Rockefeller Foundation Grant (US$ 37,550) to conduct research on the long-term effects of organic and inorganic phosphorus fertilizers on soil fertility in semi-arid areas of Kenya
10. 2004-2006, FARM Africa MATF Grant (UKÂŁ 60,000) to conduct research on participatory scaling-up of soil nutrient management technologies for increased crop yields in smallholder farms of central highlands of Kenya.
11. 2005-2007, Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (FORUM) Grant ($62,250.00) to scale out soil nutrient management technologies for improved crop production in the smallholder farms of Meru South District, Kenya
12. 2005-2008, European Commission funded multi-institutional project on Africa-NUANCES â Exploring tradeoffs in natural resource management, being implemented by 19 institutions both in Europe and Africa (Euro 2,000,000.00)
13. 2006-2007, Commission for Higher Education (CHE) funded proposal on food security enhancement using soil nutrient replenishing technologies in the small holder farms of the central highlands of Kenya (Ksh. 3 million).
14. 2008-2013; The Flemish Interuniversity Council Own Initiative (VLIR - UOS) Belgian Government funded grant (Euro 309,998.58) to conduct research on enhancing farmersâ benefits from integrated soil fertility management through improved water use efficiency and better marketing strategies in the highlands of central Kenya
15. 2009-2012; Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) funded proposal on Accelerated Uptake and Utilization of Soil Fertility Management Best-Bets Practices in ECA Region (US$ 577,775.00).
16. 2010-2013; Alliance for a Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA) funded proposal on Enhancing productivity and market development of soya beans and climbing beans in central highlands of Kenya. (US$ 806,629.00).
17. 2010-2013; Alliance for a Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA) funded proposal on Masters Training Programme in Integrated Soil Fertility Management at Kenyatta University (US$ 715,697.00).
18. 2012-2014; Improving Agricultural Productivity in Mixed Cropping Systems through Application of Knowledge-Based Technologies Generated with the Aid of Nuclear Techniques. Country Project funded by IAEA (Euro 97,000.00).
19. 2012-2016; Unraveling beneficial impact of nitrogen, carbon and water dynamics in mulch-based systems on crop productivity in central Kenyan highlands IAEA funded proposal (Euro 40,000). 20.2014- 2017; Scaling up soybean and climbing beans using a value chain approach in maize-based
20. systems of central Highlands of Kenya (SHP 014). Funded by AGRA (US$495,000)
21. âClimate-smart options allowing agricultural intensification for smallholders in the dry zones of the Central Highlands of Kenyaâ funded by VLIRU-OS, Belgium, 2019 to 2022 (⏠279,113).
22. âTowards quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and deriving emission factors from organic and inorganic fertilized farming systems of Kenyaâ Funded by National Research Foundation, Kenya, 2017 to 2020 (Principal Investigator) (US$ 140,000).
23. âUnderstanding mechanisms of sustainable intensification of tropical maize cropping systems on degraded soils through regenerative practicesâ Funded by Swiss National Science Foundation, 2024 â 2028 (999,964 CHF)
24. âStrengthening rural resilient to Climate change; agroforestry systems (GALILEO)â Funded by the European Union 2025 â 2028 (USD 308,099.97)