Our Team

John Waweru Gakunga

Founder and Managing Trustee
John Gakunga has passion on urban waste engineering,rural/urban water,sanitation and hygiene issues;waste to energy in cities for sustainable developments, projects/construction management and infrastructure developments, with a keen eye on environment challenges and best practical solutions for keeping our planet pollution free.

Our concerns are environmental challenges caused by urban solid wastes, wastewater, WASH, agriculture/irrigation, DEFORESTATION and chemical and hazardous wastes sectors in Africa. We target waste to energy schemes, urban waste, wastewater engineering, land filling engineering, land fill gas, dump sites rehabilitation; with development of mechanism for reduction of GHG Emissions in developing countries; anaerobic digestion and Bioelectrochemical systems, education, research & development and training young men and women in these sectors in Africa.

John is a member of International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) among others and shares the same objectives as ISWA and cares for the following causes -Arts and Culture, Children, Education,Environment, Health, Fairness to all, Poverty eradication, Science and Technology, Social Services and Youth Motivation

www.interwaste-ea.co.ke, www.linkedin.com, 

Email: jwgakunga@gmail.com    

Dr. Catherine Rwamba Githuku

Catherine Rwamba Githuku was born in Embu, Kenya. She completed her high school education at Kangaru High School, Embu in 1980 after which she got admitted at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, to pursue her undergraduate studies. In 1985, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (B Eng – Civil Engineering) and she immediately secured a job with the then Ministry of Water Development in Kenya, where she worked as an Assistant Engineer till 1987 when she joined Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) as a lecturer.  In 2005, while at KEWI, she enrolled for her post graduate studies at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), where she graduated with a Master’s degree (MSc) in Environmental Engineering and Management in 2009. She then joined Kenyatta University as a lecturer in 2010 and in 2012, she was appointed to head the Civil Engineering Department, an appointment she held till November 2014 when she joined the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to pursue her doctoral studies in Civil Engineering – DEng (Civil Engineering). In her doctoral research, Catherine focused her investigation on the ability of four (4) emergent mcrophytes; Vetiveria zizanioides, Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia and Cyperus latifolius in the removal of toxic heavy metals Cd, Cr and Pb from synthetic wastewaters in experimental constructed wetland units. Catherine is an author and co-author of five scientific publications.

Catherine currently heads the department of civil engineering at Kenyatta University (KU). She has steered the development of curricula in Civil, Petroleum and Aerospace Engineering, programs that are currently in use at KU. She is also involved in the development of Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) in Water related areas as a Sector Skills Advisory Committee (SSAC) member.

Email: rwamba_kiura@yahoo.com, githuku.catherine@ku.ac.ke

Simon Mbogo Karanja

He is currently responsible for overseeing and guiding implementation of MESPT-DANIDA funded Green Growth, Enterprise Development and Value Chain Development Projects across Kenya. He has over 10 years’ stint managing Food Security and Livelihoods, Market-Based Solutions Business Development and Entrepreneurship changing projects and programs-Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan 2016-2030 and Participatory Integrated Community Resources Management Programs within the East Africa region.

Email: smbogo1@gmail.com

Prof. Edwin Ataro

I am a university professor who has been involved in nurturing and mentoring young engineers for many years. I am an accomplished researcher with over 15 publications in peer reviewed international journals. I have research interests in renewable energy and environment as well as telecommunication engineering. Part of my work has yielded two international patents, details of which can be found at the world Intellectual Property Organisation website (www.wipo.org) and the German patent office site.

Email: ataro@mu.ac.ke, edwin.o.ataro@gmail.com

Prof. George Muturi Thumbi

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Holder of Doctor in engineering, Kyoto university Japan. Professor of civil engineering technology, in area of environment engineering. The area of research interest is technology of water and waste water treatment, a technologist with interest of seeing engineering team working together and implementation of competent based education and training (CBET) is realized in Kenya. A technologist trusting that all cadres in engineering team have strong regulating bodies. 

www.tukenya.ac.ke

Email: georgethumbi@yahoo.com