Dr. Kennedy Gachoka   

Kennedy Gachoka, PhD. Entomologist. Senior Lecturer at Meru University of Science and Technology. He is a member of the African Association of Insect Scientists (AAIS). He pursued his graduate work both in Brazil and Ghana, having graduated in Biological Sciences from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya. Dr. Gachoka’s area of interest is Integrated Pest Management specifically the chemical ecology of arthropod pests, besides teaching and supervision. For doctoral studies, he characterized chemically and biologically the pheromones of the Cayenne tick. This is a three-host tick species of great importance owing to its role in the transmission of pathogens in animals and man. In his studies, Dr. Gachoka has employed single sensillum electrophysiological recording techniques, GC-MS/Single Ion Monitoring, and a range of molecular methods to investigate tropical pests of vegetable, ornamental and field crops. Dr Gachoka has teaching, research and administration experience spanning 10 years at the University level. He has successfully supervised over 15 students at Bachelor, Master, and PhD level so far and also holds several Committee appointments at the institution. He has several ongoing research projects alone and in collaboration with like-minded researchers both within MUST and other local and international institutions.

Publications
ORCID
SHS Home

Curriculum Vitae

RESEARCH AREA

Entomology and Crop Protection

RESEARCH LINE

Biology, taxonomy, and IPM of agricultural pests

OTHER RESEARCH INTERESTS

Non-sewered sanitation; Climate change and Biodiversity; and Ecosystem Services

Presentation of papers at Academic and Professional Conferences

  1. GACHOKA, K. K.; WANDILI S. A. MBOGO, E. Biological characterization of whitefly populations in Meru County, Kenya, a paper presented at Inaugural Meru University of Science and Technology International Conference on Innovation for Development (MUSTIC) held on 28th – 30th June 2022 at MUST.
  2. GACHOKA, K. K.; WANDILI S. A. MBOGO, E. Academic Field Visits: A Perspective from the Department of Biological Sciences of Meru University of Science and Technology, a paper presented at International Conference on University – Industry linkages held on 4th – 6th October 2017at MUST.
  3. GACHOKA, K. K. Population dynamics and genetic affiliation of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) from selected hosts in Meru County, Kenya. 16th Horticultural Association of Kenya Workshop on Sustainable Horticultural Production in the Tropics, Chuka, 2016.
  4. GACHOKA, K. K. Population dynamics and genetic diversity of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on weeds in Meru County, Kenya. 13th Horticultural Association of Kenya Workshop on Sustainable Horticultural Production in the Tropics, Meru, 2013.
  5. BORGES, L. M. F.; LOULY, C. C. B.; GACHOKA, K. K. Chemical ecology of ticks. V1 Brazilian Meeting of Chemical Ecology, Vicosa, MG, 2009.
  6. GACHOKA, K. K.; COSTA, D. P.; LOULY, C. C. B.; FERREIRA, L. L.; FERRI, P. H.; BORGES, L. M. F. Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae): Characterization of the male pheromone and quantification of the sex pheromone. Annals of the VI Congress of Research, Teaching and Extension “Science and Regional Development”, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, GO, 2009.
  7. GACHOKA, K. K.; COSTA, D. P.; LOULY, C. C. B.; FERREIRA, L. L.; BORGES, L. M. F.; FERRI, P. H. Quantification of the pheromone 2,6-dichlorophenol from female Amblyomma cajennense Fabricius (Acari: Ixodidae) by GC/MS and selective ion monitoring. XXI Brazilian Congress of Parasitology and II Parasitology Meeting of the South American trade block – Mercosul, Foz do Iguaçu, PR, 2009.
  8. GACHOKA, K. K.; COSTA, D. P.; LOULY, C. C. B.; FERREIRA, L. L.; BORGES, L. M. F. Biological characterization of the attraction-aggregation-attachment pheromone produced by the Cayenne tick, Amblyomma cajennense Fabricius (Acari: Ixodidae). XXI Brazilian Congress of Parasitology and II Parasitology Meeting of the Mercosul, Foz do Iguaçu, PR, 2009.
  9. GACHOKA, K.; COSTA, D. P.; FARIA, L. C.; BORGES, L. M. F.; FERRI, P. H. Identification and quantification by GC/MS-SIM of the sex attraction pheromone of the Cayenne tick. Brazilian Chemical Society, 32nd Annual Meeting, Fortaleza, CE, 2009.
  1. 2019 Transfer of the IHE Delft MSc Programme in Sanitation and related Diploma Programme and Short Courses, ≈USD 510,000
  2. 2017 MUST/Ministry of Education, Science and Technology: 4nd MUST Internal Call for Research Proposals, ≈USD 10,000
  3. 2014 MUST/Ministry of Education, Science and Technology: 2nd MUST Internal Call for Research Proposals, ≈USD 10,000
  4. 2012 National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation: The Science, Technology And Innovations (ST&I) Grant, Post-Doctorate Research Grant, ≈ USD 10,000
  5. 2008 Brazilian National Council of Research (CNPq) Grant, Doctorate Research Grant, ≈ USD 10,000
  6. 2004 DAAD Sponsorship and Research Grant for M.Sc. research, ≈ USD 5,000

Participation in Workshop/Conferences

  1. Attended the 1st conference on sustainable management of water resources within the Mt. Kenya catchment zone at Sportsman’s Arms Hotel, Nanyuki, 7 – 12 May 2012.
  2. Attended KDSA Annual Conference and AGM on 26th – 27 May 2016 at Kilifi Bay Hotel.
  3. Attended MUST-UCD Collaboration Research and Research Output Seminar. 11th October, 2018.
  4. Attended Joint MSEESA and DAAD International Conference on Materials Science Research for Sustainable Energy in Africa, 26 – 27 September 2018 Nairobi, Kenya.
  5. Participated/Presented & Rapporteured in the 1st and 2nd Meru University of Science and Technology International Conference (MUSTIC), 2022 and 26 – 28 June 2023, respectively.

MSc Molecular Biology

  1. Research Methodology and Bioethics

MSc Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management

  1. Research Methods II

MSc Entomology

  1. Research Methods in Bioscience
  2. Functional Insect Morphology
  3. Entomological Techniques
  4. Insect Taxonomy and Systematics
  5. Integrated Pest Management
  1. African Association of Insect Scientists (AAIS)
  2. Pan African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA)
  3. ARPPIS Scholars Association (ASA)
  4. Kenya DAAD Scholars Association (KDSA)
  5. KDSA – Mt. Kenya Regional Chapter (Secretary)

Convening and coordinating conferences

  1. 4th – 6th October 2017: Convened and coordinated an International Conference on University – Industry linkages, at MUST.
  2. 10th – 12th February 2016: Convened and coordinated an International Conference on Higher Education at Karatina University, Main Campus.
  3. 13th – 14th September 2012: Convened and coordinated the 1st conference on sustainable management of water resources within the Mt. Kenya catchment zone at Sportsman’s Arms Hotel, Nanyuki.