• Phd (Kathilieke University of Leuven, Belgium),
• Msc (VUB, Belgium),
• BSc (Moi University, Kenya)

Key achievements:

1. Spearheaded the development of the first Kenya national marine litter management action plan
2. Successfully coordinated 12 projects, the latest ones being:

• Marine Litter Dynamics and Monitoring in The Coastal Waters of Mombasa City, Kenya: An Input to Source Reduction and Place Based Management Initiatives
• From trash to the pockets: a community approach to reduction of marine litter pollution
• The impact of ocean acidification on seafood safety, food and nutrition security along the Kenyan Coast”
• Strengthening of The National Capacity for Monitoring Ocean Carbon Chemistry and Its Impacts on Coastal Ecosystems and Human Livelihoods (2019) (ongoing).
• Supporting an Integrated Approach for Marine Pollution Monitoring Using Nuclear Analytical Techniques project
• Supporting an Integrated Approach for Marine Pollution Monitoring Using Nuclear Analytical Techniques project
• Enhancing Regional Capability in assessment of Marine contamination in Africa project

Membership:

• Regional expert on marine litter and microplastics in WIO region by Nairobi convention
• Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)

• Okuku, E. O., Kiteresi, L., Owato, G., Otieno, K., Omire, J., Kombo, M. M., ... & Ndwiga, J. (2021). Temporal trends of marine litter in a tropical recreational beach: A case study of Mkomani beach, Kenya. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 167, 112273.
• Okuku, E., Kiteresi, L., Owato, G., Otieno, K., Mwalugha, C., Mbuche, M., ... & Omire, J. (2021). The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on marine litter pollution along the Kenyan Coast: a synthesis after 100 days following the first reported case in Kenya. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 162, 111840.
• Okuku, E. O., Kiteresi, L. I., Owato, G., Mwalugha, C., Omire, J., Mbuche, M., ... & Brenda, G. (2020). Baseline meso-litter pollution in selected coastal beaches of Kenya: Where do we concentrate our intervention efforts? Marine Pollution Bulletin, 158, 111420.
• Okuku, E. O., Kiteresi, L. I., Owato, G., Mwalugha, C., Omire, J., Otieno, K., ... & Mulupi, L. (2020). Marine macro-litter composition and distribution along the Kenyan Coast: The first-ever documented study. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 159, 111497.
• Okuku, E. O., Kiteresi, L. I., Wanjeri, V. O., & Owato, G. O. (2020). Baseline survey of sediment contamination with 210Polonium in three peri-urban creeks of Mombasa, Kenya. Marine pollution bulletin, 154, 111040.
• Okuku E.O., Wanjeri V.W, Owato G., Mwalugha C (2019). Decadal Pollution Assessment and Monitoring Along the Kenya Coast (Book chapter)
• Okuku E.O,  Bouillon, M. Tole and A. V. Borges (2019). Diffusive emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from a cascade of tropical hydropower reservoirs in Kenya (Accepted for publication: Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management)
• Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2018). Role of a cascade of reservoirs in regulating downstream transport of sediment, carbon and nutrients: Case study of tropical arid climate Tana River Basin: DOI: 10.1111/lre.12206.
• Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2016). The response of phytoplankton and zooplankton to river damming in three cascading reservoirs of the Tana River, Kenya. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management 2016 21: 114–132.
• Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2016). Role of a cascade of reservoirs in regulating downstream transport of sediment, carbon and nutrients: Case study of tropical arid climate Tana River Basin: DOI: 10.1111/lre.12206.
• Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2016). The response of phytoplankton and zooplankton to river damming in three cascading reservoirs of the Tana River, Kenya. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management 2016 21: 114–132.
• Okuku E. O., Mwakio T., Ochiewo J. O., Munyi F., Kiteresi L. I. & Bouillon S. (2015). The impacts of hydropower development on rural livelihood sustenance. International Journal of Water Resources Development.DOI:10.1080/07900627.2015.1056297.
• Borges V., Darchambeau F., Teodoru C. R., Marwick T. R., Tamooh F., Geeraert N., Omengo F. O., Guérin F., Lambert T., Morana C., Okuku E. O.& Bouillon S. (2015). Globally significant greenhouse-gas emissions from African inland waters. Nature Geoscience. DOI: 10.1038/NGEO2486.
• WanjeriO., Okuku E. O., Ohowa B. & Kosore C (2013). An insight into ecotoxicological significance of PAHs contamination in selected Kenyan estuaries: Journal of Environmental Science and Water Resources. 2(5): 157-166.
• Ongore C. O, Okuku E. O., Mwangi S. N., Kiteresi L. I., Ohowa B., Wanjeri V. O., Okumu S. & Kilonzi J (2013). Characterization of nutrients enrichment in the estuaries and related systems in Kenya coast. Journal of Environmental Science and Water Resources: 2(6): 181-190.
• Okuku O.& Peter H. K. (2012). Choice of heavy metals bioindicator: a critique of the method that uses total heavy metals. International Journal of Environmental Research. 6(1): 313-322.
• Kiteresi L. I., Okuku O., Mwangi S. N., Ohowa B., Wanjeri V. O., Okumu S. & Mkono M. (2012). The influence of land based activities on the phytoplankton communities of Shimoni-Vanga system. International Journal of Environmental Research. 6(1) 151-162.
• Okuku E. O., Ohowa B., Munga D., Mwangi S. N., Kiteresi L. I., Wanjeri V. O., Okumu S. & Kilonzo J. (2011). Sewage pollution in the coastal waters of Mombasa City, Kenya: A norm rather than an exception. International Journal of Environmental Research. 5(4): 865-874.
• Okuku E. O., Mubiana V. K., Hagos K. G., Kokwenda P. & Blust R. (2010). Bioavailability of Sediment-Bound Heavy Metals Using BCR Sequential Extraction on the East African Coast. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine sciences. 9(1): 325-334.