Research Team
Dr. Mercy Akinyi
Kenyan Primate veterinarian and disease ecologist
Dr. Mercy Akinyi is a Kenyan primate veterinarian and disease ecologist currently leading a One Health zoonotic disease-surveillance project that integrates human, wildlife, livestock and environmental health in select counties in Kenya. With 19 years of clinical and field experience in both natural and captive primate populations, she has served as Principal Investigator on three successive epidemiological surveillance programmes dedicated to the microscopic and molecular characterisation of zoonotic helminths, viruses and protozoans. Her core research interest is identifying and quantifying the sources of variance that drive disease risk in wild primate communities, using classical parasitology, nucleic-acid extraction, PCR and sequencing to generate actionable data. The ultimate goals of her work are to (1) inform evidence-based zoonosis-control strategies that protect both people and non-human primates, and (2) guide conservation strategies that safeguard threatened primate populations. As an African woman in STEM, she combines veterinary expertise with cutting-edge field ecology to advance primatology and mentor the next generation of women scientists across the continent.
Mr. Arthur Israel Wafula
MSc. Microbiology
Mr. Wafula is a passionate Microbiologist and an emerging research scientist with a strong background in molecular biology, microbiology, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). He currently works as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE), a WHO collaborating center at the department of Reproductive Health & Biology.
He has expertise in laboratory research, scientific writing, and mentorship, having trained students and interns. Mr. Wafula also contributes to research proposal development and development of experimental designs. His growing experience spans, biomedical research, and applied microbiology, including work in microbial culturing, molecular assays including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, and electrophoresis, sequencing and field sample analysis.
He is adaptable, results-driven and committed to advancing scientific knowledge, particularly in AMR, bacteriology, and genetic research. With strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, Wafula thrives in dynamic environments that demand innovation, precision, and continuous learning.
Maina Ashley Wendy
Veterinary Medicine Professional
Maina Ashley Wendy Wambui is a veterinary medicine professional specializing in laboratory animal science. She is currently affiliated with the Kenya Institute of Primate Research, where she contributes to clinical veterinary services, surgical support, and the advancement of evidence-based animal care programs.
Her work encompasses the design and implementation of integrated welfare systems, including environmental enrichment, behavioral monitoring, and nutritionally balanced feeding regimes tailored to diverse species such as baboons, vervet monkeys, rodents, and reptiles.
She is an active member of the Kenya Laboratory Animal Science Association (KELASA), reflecting her commitment to advancing best practices in laboratory animal care and use. Ashley is committed to advancing ethical standards and scientific excellence in animal research and aspires to contribute significantly to the local and global field of animal health and welfare.
Caroline Jerono,
Parasitologist, Entomologist & Biomedical/Molecular Biologist
Caroline Jerono is a Parasitologist, Entomologist and Biomedical/Molecular Biologist serving as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE), Nairobi, with over ten years of experience in medical parasitology, vector entomology and biotechnology. She applies a multidisciplinary One Health approach to understand interactions between pathogens, hosts, vectors and the environment in disease transmission. Her expertise encompasses molecular biology, bioinformatics and epidemiological research with advanced laboratory proficiency in DNA/RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequencing and genomic data analysis.
She has strong technical competence in vector identification, parasite screening and diagnosis, particularly focusing on sandflies and mosquitoes through trapping, morphological and molecular identification and dissection to study vector biology and pathogen carriage. She is also highly skilled in screening and diagnosing gastrointestinal parasites using microscopy and molecular techniques, alongside environmental sampling and pathogen detection of protozoan and helminths to assess zoonotic spillover risks. Her current work involves gastrointestinal parasite surveillance across human-wildlife interfaces, sandfly spatial mapping and studies on host-vector disease dynamics and climate change driven vector migration.
An internationally certified biosafety professional with expertise in biosafety and biosecurity program implementation, risk assessment and laboratory safety systems.
She contributes to training, mentorship and institutional capacity building in health, safety and research ethics. Caroline is an ISO35001 Lead Auditor and a member of professional biosafety and Entomology bodies.
Gift Thoya Katana
Principal Laboratory Technologist
Gift Thoya Katana is the Principal Laboratory Technologist and Lab Manager at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE). With a background in Industrial and Applied Biology from the Technical University of Kenya, Mr. Katana has dedicated his career to advancing research in zoonotic studies.
His extensive project portfolio includes investigating gastrointestinal nematodes in urban non-human primates, developing baboon models for childhood cryptosporidiosis, and leading critical biobanking efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, he contributes his expertise to the Tana River Ecosystem Conservation and One Health program.
Beyond research, Mr. Katana oversees the institute’s laboratory operations, including:
- Technical Skills: DNA extraction, microscopy, hematology, histopathology, and sample biobanking.
- Operational Management: Equipment calibration and preventative maintenance, procurement, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Mentorship: Training and assessing laboratory students and interns.
Lead Auditor and a member of professional biosafety and Entomology bodies.
Mary N. Chege, MSc,
Ph.D. Research Fellow
Mary N. Chege, MSc, is a Ph.D. Research Fellow at the One Health Centre, Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE). She holds an MSc in Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology and a BSc (Upper Second-Class Honors) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya). She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Bioinformatics at the University of Nairobi, with a prestigious research affiliation at the University of Notre Dame (USA) within the Archie Lab. Ms. Chege specializes in the intersection of molecular biology, disease ecology, and bioinformatics, with a specific focus on understanding pathogen dynamics at the human-wildlife-livestock interface.
Her doctoral research leverages shotgun metagenomics to investigate host-microbe interactions, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and gut microbiome stability in wild baboons and livestock within the Amboseli ecosystem. This work is pivotal in identifying how social grouping and seasonal factors influence health outcomes in shared environments. Beyond her primary research, Ms. Chege has been instrumental in high-impact global health initiatives, including SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in Kenyan cave bats with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the development of field-forward pathogen detection workflows for the REDI-NET program.
Ms. Chege brings extensive technical expertise in laboratory protocol optimization, nucleic acid extraction, and real-time PCR diagnostics. She is highly proficient in computational biology, utilizing R, Python, and Unix-based workflows for large-scale metagenomic analysis. Furthermore, she is a certified professional in Biorisk Management through the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA).
Her contributions to the scientific community are recognized through numerous accolades, including the 2025 Max Planck Society ARTEMIS Program Award and travel grants from the Africa CDC. Committed to capacity building, Mary regularly organizes bioinformatics seminars and mentors undergraduate trainees at KIPRE, ensuring the sustainable growth of One Health expertise in the region.
Lead Auditor and a member of professional biosafety and Entomology bodies.
Purity Oreng’
Biomedical researcher and public health scientist
Purity Oreng’ is a biomedical researcher and public health scientist based in Nairobi, Kenya. She’s currently completing a Master of Public Health (Reproductive Health option) at Kenyatta University and also employed as an assistant research scientist at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE). At KIPRE, she has contributed to interdisciplinary research at the intersection of infectious diseases, reproductive health and environmental exposures to human health.
Her research experience revolves around emerging and neglected infectious diseases including; COVID-19, ASFV, CCHFV, herpes virus, and malarial & baboon gastrointestinal parasites while working with more than 45,000 samples. Purity has also worked on reproductive health diseases of public health importance involving endometriosis and dysmenorrhea gynecological conditions. Her research work has produced publicly accessible journal article outputs. Ms. Oreng’s current study focuses on the safety assessment of Muguka (Catha edulis var. Muguka). She’s investigating microbial contamination and its effects on male reproductive function using rat models.
In terms of career trajectory, her research interest lies at the intersection of genomic epidemiology and disease ecology while focusing on diseases of public health importance. Moreover, she’s passionate about advancing Global Health Equity through the application of One Health approach—and committed to translating scientific evidence into policies and interventions that address health challenges in Africa.
Lead Auditor and a member of professional biosafety and Entomology bodies.
Sam Momanyi
Biomedical research professional
Sam Momanyi is a biomedical research professional with a background in Medical Microbiology. He currently serves as a Research Fellow at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research, he integrates human, animal, and environmental health through field- and laboratory-based studies on infectious and zoonotic diseases.
His technical expertise includes molecular biology and microbiology techniques such as PCR, DNA extraction, PBMC isolation, flow cytometry-based immunophenotyping, culture and experimental handling of the rodent malaria parasite (Plasmodium berghei). He also supports advanced physiological monitoring, data collection, and biobanking of biological specimens.
Sam has contributed to several key initiatives, including the validation of insertable cardiac monitors for measuring cardiac responses to stressors in female adult baboons, and the “Platform for Rapid Immunological Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Kenya and the Eastern Africa Region,” which strengthened regional surveillance of emerging viral threats.
He is currently contributing to research in the Tana River Ecosystem Conservation and One-Health Program, a multidisciplinary research initiative supported by the Max Planck Society, where he contributes to ecological monitoring, zoonotic disease surveillance, and integrated field research at the human–animal–environment interface. His work within this program supports evidence generation for both conservation and public health interventions.
Sam is expanding his skills in bioinformatics for genomic and epidemiological data analysis. He is committed to advancing research that integrates medical microbiology, computational analyses, and the One Health approach to enhance disease surveillance, generate evidence for policy, and improve public health outcomes across Kenya and Africa
Lead Auditor and a member of professional biosafety and Entomology bodies.
