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<span>Dr. Kevin Obiero</span>
Scientist

Dr. Kevin Obiero

Assistant Director, Aquaculture & Centre Director, Sang'oro

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
 
Assistant Director
Aquaculture & Centre Director – Sang'oro Station
 
Fisheries Governance & Climate-Smart Aquaculture
Socioecological Systems • Blue Economy • Policy Advocacy
 

Email: kobiero@kmfri.go.ke Email: kevobiero@gmail.com

 
Current Role & Experience
Centre Director – KMFRI Sangoro Station
16 years of experience in fisheries and aquatic sciences
Principal Investigator & Collaborator on 5 funded collaborative research projects
Academic Qualifications
PhD (Natural Resources & Life Sciences with Distinction) – BOKU, Vienna, Austria
MSc in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences – Moi University
BSc in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences – Moi University
Post-Graduate Diploma in Project Management – Kenya Institute of Management
Leadership Training
Strategic Leadership Development Program (SLDP)
Senior Management Course – Kenya School of Government
Leadership Focus: Advancing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture through interdisciplinary research, policy advocacy, and governance frameworks that address food security, blue economy, and climate resilience in Africa.
 

Dr. Kevin Obiero is a Research Scientist currently working as the Centre Director at Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Sangoro Station, and holding the position of Assistant Director, Aquaculture. Dr. Obiero holds a PhD Degree in Natural Resources and Life Sciences (with Distinction) from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria; MSc and BSc Degrees in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences both from Moi University.

His academic and professional work experiences span 16 years in fisheries and aquatic sciences. He has significantly contributed to fisheries, aquaculture, and aquatic research in Kenya and beyond. He was recognized for exemplary performance for the third consecutive time by the Institute and was the best performer in bringing funds during FY 2019/2021 through development of donor-funded collaborative research projects at national, regional, and global levels.

Dr. Obiero has published over 60 articles in peer-reviewed international journals and presented talks and papers at several local and international scientific conferences. His body of research includes 32 peer-reviewed journal articles, 8 published books (edited volumes), 16 book chapters, 5 policy documents, and other materials. This body of work has received >560 citations on Google Scholar with an H-Index of 13, currently receiving >100 citations/year and over 22,000 readers on ResearchGate.

 
International Leadership Roles
Board Chair – African Center for Aquatic Research & Education (ACARE) Board Member – IISD Experimental Lakes Area (ELA), Canada Member – Aquaculture Regional Working Group (LVFO) Member – Training Selection Committee (KCSAP)
 
Research Interests & Specializations
Climate-Smart Aquaculture TIMPs Private Sector-Led Market Systems Development Environmental Impact Assessment Fish Trade, Marketing, Value Addition & Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Blue Economy Gender-Based Value Chain Analysis Policy-Oriented Research & Advocacy
 
Editorial & Review Roles
  • Editor and Reviewer for multiple international peer-reviewed journals including PLOS ONE, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems and Aquatic Foods, People and Nature, Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, Limnologica, Lakes and Reservoirs, and Journal of Great Lakes Research
 
Key Research Contributions & Publications
  • Predicting Aquaculture Technology Uptake – Published research on factors influencing uptake of aquaculture technologies among smallholder fish farmers in Kenya (Aquaculture International 2019).
  • Fish Contribution to Food Security – Led research on the contribution of fish to food and nutrition security in Eastern Africa, emerging trends, and future outlooks (Sustainability 2019).
  • Advancing Africa's Great Lakes Research – Published on harmonized, long-term, collaborative networks and partnerships for Africa's Great Lakes research (Journal of Great Lakes Research 2020).
  • Fisheries Co-Management in Lake Victoria – Authored research on challenges of implementing fisheries co-management in Lake Victoria, Kenya (Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management 2015).
  • Lake Turkana Fisheries & Water Level Fluctuations – Co-authored research on fisheries and water level fluctuations in the world's largest desert lake (Ecohydrology 2016).
  • Community Perceptions of Lake Victoria Water Recession – Published research on community perceptions of the impact of Lake Victoria water recession on Nyando Wetland (Scientific Research and Essays 2012).
 
Books & Major Publications
Lead Editor – State of Aquaculture Report 2021 – "Towards Nutrition Sensitive Fish Food Production Systems" (KMFRI, 2021, 190pp). Also lead editor for State of Aquaculture in Kenya (2017) and Inventory of Climate Smart TIMPs for Aquaculture Value Chain (KALRO, 2021).
Editor – Training of Trainers' Manual for Climate Smart Aquaculture Practices (KALRO, 2020).
Book Chapters: Multiple chapters in State of Aquaculture in Kenya (2017, 2021), Encyclopaedia of Inland Waters (2nd Ed, 2021), The Wetland Book (Springer, 2016), Lakes Governance (CRC Press, 2018), and Community-based approach to management of Nyando wetlands (2012).
Policy & Research Briefs: Lead author of FAO WAPI Policy Brief "Kenya: High aquaculture growth needed to improve food security and nutrition" (FAO, Rome, 2019); Kenya's Aquaculture Brief 2017; KCSAP research briefs on social behaviour change communication and fish production for food security in Western Kenya.
Dr. Kevin Obiero's leadership as Assistant Director, Aquaculture and Centre Director at KMFRI Sangoro Station brings exceptional expertise in fisheries governance, socioecological research, and climate-smart aquaculture – strengthening the Institute's capacity to conduct multi-institutional and interdisciplinary research, influence policy through evidence-based advocacy, build strategic partnerships across Africa and globally through his leadership roles at ACARE and IISD-ELA, and advance sustainable management of Kenya's aquatic resources toward food security, blue economy growth, and climate resilience.
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