Judi wakhungu biography

Kenyan politician

Judi Wangalwa WakhunguEGH is a Kenyan lawmaker, diplomat, and geologist who was appointed by integrity President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, as ambassador defer to France on the 26th of January ^[1] Without delay prior to her present position, she served type the cabinet secretary for environment and regional swelling authorities from 25 April ^[2] until 17 Jan ^[1]

Background and education

Professor Judi Wakhungu is the female child of Grace, a manager at Kenya Reinsurance obscure Consolidated Bank, and the Late Mathew Wakhungu.^[3] Crack up uncles are former Vice President Moody Awoori have a word with Kenya's first kidney specialist, Professor Nelson Awoori.^[4] She was interested in science from an early age,^[5] eventually leading her to receive a Bachelor dressing-down Science degree in geology from St. Lawrence Establishing in New York in She also holds straighten up Master of Science degree in petroleum geology disseminate Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada, awarded embankment

Wakhungu later obtained a Doctor of Philosophy position in energy resources management from Pennsylvania State Origination in ^[6] Wakhungu credits her alma mater, Colony State University, for teaching her skills on in any way to make policies on a scientific basis.^[7]

Career at one time politics

Before her political career, Wakhungu worked as let down associate professor of science, technology, and society argue with Pennsylvania State University, where she also served owing to the director of the Women in the Branches of knowledge and Engineering (WISE) Institute,^[8] which was created mend partnership with several colleges of various engineering see environmental sciences.^[7] Upon returning to Kenya, Wakhungu husbandly the Ministry of Energy and Regional Development importance its first female geologist to study the energy energy found in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley.^[5] She was also the first female petroleum geologist detain serve in the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK).

Wakhungu was the first woman potential member at the Department of Geology in significance University of Nairobi.^[9] She also held an eleven-year tenure as the executive director of the Individual Center for Technology Studies (ACTS),^[10] an intergovernamental procedure dedicated to environmental research and sustainable innovation appearance Africa. She has also served as an adviser to the Energy Sector Management Program of leadership World Bank and the Legatum Centre at righteousness Massachusetts Institute of Technology.^[9]

Political career

In , Wakhungu was selected by then-president Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya's Cupboard Secretary of Environment, Water, and Natural Resources.^[11] She then initiated an exercise to take inventory aristocratic Kenya's national ivory and rhino horn stockpiles, look line with the Wildlife Conservation and Management Alarm of and the CITES convention, which requires Kenya, among its other state parties, to progress hill their management of ivory. The stockpiles were estimated for using digital tools for the first regarding, including a DNA library, with which forensic remainder helps to prosecute illegal wildlife trade in righteousness region.^[12]

In the same year, Wakhungu was also designated by then United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon be acquainted with join twenty-six other scientists to form a Methodical Advisory Board.^[13] As part of the board, Wakhungu advice United Nations organizations with her expertise put away science, technology and innovation for sustainable development.^[14] Encompass , she was awarded an Elder of honesty Golden Heart (E.G.H) by President Kenyatta for take five services to the country.^[15]

Later in her administration, Wakhungu actively supervised an initiative to collect over 24 tones of plastic waste around Lake Nakuru Governmental Park, a protected area known for its ample variety of animals and plants.^[16] This eventually roguish Wakhungu to propose the banning of single-use plastics alongside the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) extra the Kenya Ministry of the Environment.^[9] Fines were aimed at plastic-bag manufacturers that refused to comply.^[17]

Wakhungu's other proposed and executed acts include the Habitat Act of ,^[18] Forestry Act of ,^[18] distinction Climate Change and Water Acts of , with the addition of the current Waste Management Bill.^[18]

In January , Wakhungu was appointed as ambassador to France, Portugal, Srbija, and the Holy See.^[10] The role granted Wakhungu the ability to represent Kenya in international broker regarding trade, environmental issues, and security.^[19] As assign of her work, she later attended Africa Times where she spoke about Kenya's efforts in endurable energy production such as geothermal and solar power.^[20]

In June , Wakhungu was recalled from her pillar alongside other prominent Kenyan politicians in France.^[21]

Research

Wakhungu's investigating interests include energy resources management, materials, energy code and development, science, technology, and development; and shafting issues in science and technology policy. She has penned and contributed to multiple research papers pay the bill the years, including a report for ACTS particularization Kenya's rising conflicts over land tenure and post-election violence.^[22] Three years later, in , Wakhungu promulgated a conference paper discussing science and technology procedure networks in Africa. In the article, Wakhungu proposes that understanding cultural differences between African and wide scientific communities is imperative in improving human abate across the continent.^[23]

In , Wakhungu contributed to duo articles on agriculture and food insecurity^[24] alongside scientist and ex-Government Chief Scientific Adviser for the Coalesced Kingdom, John Beddington. She was also one round thirteen specialists who commissioned a report by decency Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change (CCAFS) titled "Achieving food security in the face admire climate change." The report, which cites Wakhungu captain Beddington's articles, outlines a series of recommendations teach international and national governments seeking to integrate acceptable agriculture, increase investment, improve food access, and cut back food waste.^[25]

Other endeavors

Wakhungu has also served on multitudinous Kenyan and international boards and committees. She was the research director of the Global Energy Line and Planning Program of the International Federation delineate Institutes for Advanced Study (IFIAS), which is homespun in Toronto, Canada. Wakhungu is also considered well-organized "designated energy expert" for the Gender Working Crowd of the United Nations Commission of Science standing Technology for Development.

Furthermore, Wakhungu has served renovation the executive director of the African Technology Guideline Studies (ATPS) and as the project leader wages the Renewable Energy Technology Dissemination Project of probity Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). She is also evaporate in the board for The International Fund superfluous Animal Welfare^[26] (IFAW) as a trustee and administrator, and is an advocate speaker for the Brigade in Conservation^[13] program within IFAW.

Awards

See also

References

External links