Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, PhD, EBS
PS, MEMBER
Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak is the Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation. Prior to this appointment, he served as Director for the Division for Africa, at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Under his supervision, he facilitates IAEA technical cooperation, in several thematic areas; Food and Agriculture, Health and Nutrition, Industrial application and Radiation Technology, Water and Environment, Energy planning and nuclear power, nuclear knowledge development and Management, Safety to 48 countries in Africa.
Abdulrazak is former CEO, Kenya National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (2008-2014). He has over 30 years working experience as Professor and administrator at university, leader and advisor on matters related to Science Technology and Innovation. He served as Vice-Chancellor of Umma University and Deputy VC at Egerton University, Former Governor of ICGEB, Ex Chair of Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Board member of Kenya Medical Research Institute, member of the Kenya National Economic Social Council.
He is a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences, the African Academy of Sciences Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences. He has published widely in international journals, scientific conference and symposium proceedings. His Undergraduate studies were at Egerton University, Kenya, his MSc and PhD Agricultural Sciences, from University of Aberdeen, UK and his Post Doctorate from Shimane University, Japan.
Prof. Vasey Mwaja
CHAIRPERSON
Prof. Vasey Mwaja is an internationally respected science leader whose career of more than three decades reflects sustained commitment to agricultural innovation, science governance reform, and the positioning of science as a pillar of sustainable development. He earned his PhD in Agriculture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has built a distinguished career at the nexus of research, policy, and institutional leadership. His work integrates rigorous scientific inquiry with national science governance and global development partnerships.
In Kenya, Prof. Mwaja has played a central role in strengthening the science, technology, and innovation (STI) landscape. As Chairman of the National Council for Science and Technology—later reconstituted as the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI)—he contributed to reforms that enhanced strategic coordination, regulatory clarity, and accountability across the research ecosystem. His service as a Board Member of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) further reinforced national systems for plant health, biosecurity, and agricultural productivity.
Internationally, Prof. Mwaja has influenced science-led agricultural transformation. As Senior Program Officer – Crop Management at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he guided strategic investments aimed at improving resilience and productivity among smallholder farmers. He also served on the Council of Scientific Advisers of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), contributing to global research governance, and supported continental innovation as a reviewer for the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation initiative of the African Development Bank.
Currently, as Editor-in-Chief and Governing Council Member of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences, Board Member of the Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute and Vice Chair of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council, Prof. Mwaja continues to champion research excellence, evidence-informed policy, and the societal value of science. His election as Fellow of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, and Fellow of the International Science Council affirms international recognition of his leadership and contributions. Vasey received the prestigious 2026 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Alumni Career Achievement Award for his long time professional achievement and has been appointed as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI).
Prof. Mwaja’s career exemplifies transformative science leadership—strengthening institutions, advancing agricultural innovation, mentoring emerging scholars, and shaping systems and partnerships that enable science to serve society.
Dr. Davidson M. Mwaisaka
MEMBER
Dr. Davidson Mghanga Mwaisaka the Managing Partner of Mwaisaka Muthuuri Advocates LLP, is a highly accomplished legal professional, corporate governance expert, and a Director on the Board of the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI). An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Governance Auditor, Associate Chartered Arbitrator and a Certified Public Secretary.
Dr. Mwaisaka holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) specializing in Leadership, Corporate Governance, and Organizational Change. His academic credentials also include a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Commercial and International Trade Regulation from New York University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management and Finance, and a First-Class Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Nairobi.
With over 18 years of robust corporate legal and advisory experience, he previously served as the Head of Legal for the Kenya and East Africa Cluster at Standard Chartered Bank, where he earned recognition on the prestigious Legal 500 GC Powerlist. He also led the legal Teams of Britam, Equatorial Commercial Bank (Now Spire Bank) and practiced at Oraro and Company Advocates and Kaplan and Stratton Advocates. Dr. Mwaisaka boasts a distinguished track record of public sector leadership and institutional oversight across Kenya’s regulatory and educational sectors. His extensive governance experience includes serving as a board member and director for major national bodies, including the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), and Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT).
At NACOSTI, Dr. Mwaisaka leverages his immense expertise in regulatory compliance, risk management, and administrative strategy to help guide the commission’s mandate of regulating, assuring quality, and advising the government on Kenya’s burgeoning science, technology, and innovation ecosystem.
Dr. Michael N. Walekhwa
MEMBER
Dr. Michael N. Walekhwa is a Medical Immunologist, researcher, academic, strategic management professional and Quality Management Systems (QMS) specialist. He has over 15 years of professional experience in biomedical sciences, research, higher education, laboratory quality management and research governance.
He holds a PhD in Medical Immunology and an MBA in Strategic Management. His professional development includes postgraduate training in Leadership and Management in Health and Epidemiology for Global Health. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Course of the Kenya School of Government. His technical expertise includes ISO 9001:2015, ISO 15189:2022 and ISO/IEC 17025.
Dr. Walekhwa is a Senior Lecturer of Medical Immunology at Kabarak University. He also serves as Coordinator, Grants and Resource Mobilization & Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences. His work focuses on strengthening research systems, institutional quality, resource mobilization, vaccine & infectious diseases and evidence-informed decision-making. He has secured over USD 300,000 in research grants and more than USD 50,000 in consultancy engagements.
He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed research articles and three books. His publications include Instructional Immunology, Research Ethics, and From Specimen to Result: Principles and Practice of Laboratory QMS. He has also developed guidelines for scientifically and ethically sound research proposal development.
Dr. Walekhwa has served on several national and institutional scientific, regulatory and ethics platforms. These include the Board of the National Quality Control Laboratory, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board Operational Research Committee, the National Cancer Institute ISERC and the Kabarak University ISERC. He previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Kabarak Journal of Research and Innovation. He currently serves as Lead Editor at MJ&M Biolabs.
Mr. Joel Onditi
Member
Joel Onditi is an international executive advisor specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Transformation, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Data & Analytics, and Innovation Ecosystem Development. His career spans leadership engagements with the United States Federal Government, the Government of Kenya, multilateral institutions, development finance organizations, multinational corporations, and global technology partners. With over two decades of experience across Africa and the United States, Joel helps governments and institutions design and implement national-scale digital transformation programmes that strengthen public services, accelerate economic development, and build future-ready digital workforces.
As Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pathways Technologies and Pathways International, he leads executive advisory, technology strategy, enterprise platform delivery, AI implementation, and digital capability development across East and Southern Africa and the United States. His work bridges policy and execution, translating ambitious digital strategies into measurable institutional and economic outcomes.
Prof. Dickson Andala
Member
Prof. Dickson Andala is a member of the Board by virtue of being the Chief Executive Officer of National Research Fund (NRF). He is an Associate Professor of Materials / Inorganic Chemistry, Multimedia University of Kenya; PhD in Materials Chemistry from Binghamton University and Postdoctoral Fellowship Pennsylvania State University, USA. He is Lead Expert with NEMA; DOSH and CBRN and a reviewer of several local and international journals.
Prof. Andala has served in various senior leadership/management positions including having been the Director to the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA), African Materials Research Society (AMRS) boards, Executive Committee Member to Africa Crystallographic Association (AfCA); Chairman Chemistry Department, Multimedia University of Kenya. Membership to various Professional Associations including African Academies of Science (AAS), Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS); Materials Research Society of Kenya, Kenya Chemical Society (KCS). He is endowed with vast experience in research/scholarly work, as evidenced by extensive publications in peer reviewed journals, several awards and research grants mobilization, keynote lectures and conference papers, and supervision of numerous postgraduate students. His research interests lie in the area of nanoscience and nanotechnology and its applications in remediation, sensors, catalysis.
Dr. David Ngigi
MEMBER/SECRETARY
Dr. David Ngigi is a distinguished Entomologist with over 22 years of professional experience in both Public and Private Sectors. He is a known Champion for Science, Technology and Innovation in Kenya. He has served as the Head of the Institutional Registration and Accreditation Department at NACOSTI. In that capacity he has successfully spearheaded national initiatives towards attainment of aspirations of STI Act of 2013 that include mainstreaming STI in Government Agencies, strengthening research ethics oversight in the country, and facilitating the establishment of new research institutions.
Earlier, Dr. Ngigi successfully coordinated NACOSTI’s initiatives to operationalize the Government Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Fund that was set to intensify innovations and promote uptake of STI output in priority areas in line with Vision 2030 aspirations. Through his leadership the STI Fund grew to nurture and support over 1,800 research and Innovation projects, solidifying his commitment to propelling Kenya’s scientific landscape forward.
He was one of the pioneer members of the secretariat that was tasked to operationalize the current National Research Fund (NRF), the successor of the STI Fund. He made a significant contribution in supporting the Board of Trustees to set-up organization structures, build linkages and spearheaded resource mobilization to support research and Innovation in Government priority areas.
Science, Technology and Innovation ACT No. 28 OF 2013 – The Commission shall be governed by a Board which consist of nine persons appointed by the Cabinet Secretary as follows—
(a) the Chairperson, who shall be an eminent scientist in any of the scheduled sciences set out in the Second Schedule;
(b) the Principal Secretary in the Ministry for the time being responsible for research, science and technology;
(c) the Principal Secretary in the Ministry for the time being responsible for finance;
(d) the Director of the Kenya National Innovation Agency established under section 28;
(e) the Director of the National Research Fund established under section 32;
(f) three persons, appointed by virtue of their knowledge and experience in science, technology and innovation.
(g) one person nominated by the body currently recognised as representing the private section;
(h) the Director-General, who shall be an ex officio member and the Secretary to the Board.