Dr. Mercy Wanjiru Kamau, PhD
Lead Consultant
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Lead Consultant at Agrikilimo and applied agricultural scientist with 20+ years’ experience across research, farmer systems, policy engagement and knowledge translation. Experienced in co-creating actionable roadmaps with public, private and development partners; designing and facilitating interviews, roundtables and trainings; and producing policy briefs and knowledge products. Comfortable operating at the intersection of regenerative agriculture, waste-to-value, bioeconomy education/policy, and market linkages.
EDUCATION
- PhD in Crop Science: Topic: Utilization of cow dung bioslurry from anaerobic digestion as fertilizer in improving soil fertility and maize productivity in Kiambu county, Kenya. Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya, 2023.
- Masters’ Degree: In Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics and Subtropics, majoring in crop production, University of Hohenheim, Germany, 2008. Plant Production and soil science.
- 1st Degree: Agricultural Education and Extension, Egerton University, 2001: Agricultural Extension and Education skills and rural
WORK HISTORY
Lead Consultant, Agrikilimo– Ongoing
- Serving as Lead Consultant for assignments on bioeconomy, regenerative agriculture and digital decision support solutions.
- Provided leadership in co-developing a digital decision support toolkit (under REALMS) enabling farmers to assess soil amendment materials before application.
- Leading proposal design, stakeholder engagement and delivery of consultancy outputs.
Research Fellow & Lecturer, Great Lakes University of Kisumu (GLUK)– Nov 2021-September 2025
- Coordinated field research teams to generate evidence for county-level policy briefs under regenerative agriculture programming.
- Led stakeholder engagement with county governments, farmer organizations and development partners; organized consultations, trainings and dissemination events.
- Supported resource mobilization, reporting and publication of knowledge products.
Consultant, (ABPL)– National Bioeconomy Education & Policy Framework (Bio-Ke)— 2025–2029
- Mapping of digital bio-agripreneurs; co-development of training materials; contribution to policy and curriculum components.
Agronomist & Community Mobiliser, Power for Food (COELIB) — 2025–2029
- Field trials across seven counties to evaluate regenerative practices’ impact on soil health; coordination with local stakeholders and data teams.
Project Coordinator, REALMS – Regenerative Agriculture for Improved Livelihoods & Markets (GLUK)– 2022–2024
- Managed multi-county field activities; produced evidence feeding into county policy briefs and practice change
- Supported Agrikilimo’s co-development of the digital decision support toolkit enabling farmers to assess soil amendment materials effects on soils before application.
Knowledge Management (Manager & Regional/County Coordinator), Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF)– 2009–2016
- Produced national visibility and farmer-facing materials (magazines, newsletters, briefs); curated stakeholder events; maintained membership databases and networks.
- Co-authored winning proposals in cassava and jatropha value chains; facilitated regional capacity building; represented the federation in ASDSP, KAPAP and NARIGP projects.
- Oversaw county and regional workplans across seven coastal counties; coached county coordinators.
Part-time Lecturer, Pwani University & Technical University of Mombasa– 2015–2017
- Prepared and delivered crop science course contents; organized field practicums; set and moderated examinations.
Research & Early Career Roles– 2001-2008
- Research & Development Supervisor, Homegrown (K) Ltd (2001-2003); High School Teacher-Agriculture & Biology (2003-2006); Research Assistant, University of Hohenheim (2007-2008).
PRIORITY EXPERIENCES
- Use case scoping & prioritization: Multisector networks (farmer orgizations, counties, universities, development partners) to identify practical, scalable interventions in regenerative agriculture, waste-to-value and bio-based SME ecosystems.
- Stakeholder interviews & roundtables: Facilitation and community mobilization experience; able to structure interview guides, synthesize insights, and run workshops that validate and refine interventions.
- Roadmaps & action plans: Translating field evidence into county policy briefs and practice change; experienced in sequencing interventions with partners.
- Donor engagement materials: Experience contributing to winning proposals and packaging technical evidence into content for funders and policy-makers.
PUBLICATIONS (as 1st author)
- Rewe M.K. et al. (2021). Effect of Bioslurry … International Journal of Plant and Soil Science.
- Rewe M.K. et al. (2022). Integrated effect of liquid bioslurry and inorganic fertilizer … African Journal of Crop Science.
- Kamau-Rewe M. et al. (2011). Generic prediction of soil organic carbon using mid-infrared spectroscopy. Soil Science Society of America Journal.
- Kamau-Rewe M. et al. (2008). Quantify Soil Organic Matter via Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Thermal Stability. Tropentag Proceedings.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Soil Science Society of East Africa.
Current Projects/ Interest
Research Project |
My Roles |
Project Details |
Development of a National Bio-economy Education and Policy Framework in Kenya (Bio-Ke) |
Consultant, to support in digital bio-agripreneurs mapping and training manual development (2025-2029) |
Build institutional capacity and foster a supportive bio-economy education and policy environment (EU funded) |
Power for Food: to evaluate the effects of regenerative agricultural practices on soil health in 7 counties in Kenya |
Community Mobilization, Trainer and Agronomist: 2025-2029 |
Consultant to support the project in field trials under COELIB, Funded by IKEA Foundation through SNV |
Conduct research and document the History of Regenerative Agriculture in Africa- the case for Kenya |
Research and document the study: 2024-2025 |
Funded by University of Pennsylvania, USA. Carried out in Kenya, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe |
Regenerative Agricultural practices for Improved Livelihoods and Markets – REALMS |
Project Coordinator 2022-2024 |
Funded by IKEA Foundation, through SNV |
Optimization of small-scale biogas for household energy and improvement of soil fertility in coffee-dairy production system |
PhD Student 2019-2022 |
Funded by the National Research Fund (NRF). Evaluate efficacy of bioslurry in soil health and maize productivity |
Capacity Building for Higher Education in Aquaculture |
Researcher 2023-2026 |
Funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the EU |
Cascading use of agricultural, agro-industrial and urban organic wastes (green-COW) |
Researcher 2023 |
Funded by the DFG – Consortium for Proposal development |
FAWE Study on innovative ways for Girls Retention in Schools in Kenya |
Researcher 2023 |
Funded by Forum for African Educationalists |