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Biosafety Expert (EXP)
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BCH-EXP-KE-106108-3   |   PDF   |   Print   |  
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published: 27 Nov 2014 last updated: 11 Sep 2023
General Information
Profile of the expert
Mr. Josphat Muchiri is the Deputy Director, Technical Services and Head of Biosafety Risk Evaluation Department at the National Biosafety Authority, Kenya. He received his Bachelor Degree in Agriculture from University of Nairobi, Kenya, Master’s Degree in Horticulture, University of Nairobi, Kenya and M.Sc. Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology from Marche Polytechnic University, Italy. He has also attended senior management courses, the latest being the Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP) at the Kenya School of Government, Nairobi in September 2022. Prior to his current position, Mr. Muchiri has held entry and mid-level positions at NBA since 2011. Previously, he worked with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) as a Senior Seed Inspector and Plant Examiner. Mr. Muchiri was a member of the AHTEG Committee on Risk Assessment and Risk Management of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) between year 2014 and 2016. He has facilitated in various fora nationally and internationally as an expert on seed certification, biosafety regulatory frameworks in Kenya and other diverse topics related to biotechnology, biosafety and emerging technologies. He has served as a Board Member in various schools. 
 

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- Person: Mr Josphat Muchiri | BCH-CON-KE-254098-2
Person:
Mr Josphat Muchiri
P.O. BOX 18288
Nairobi, Nairobi
00100, Kenya
Phone: +254 722665224,
Fax:
Website:
1975
  • Kenyan
Details of current employment
National Biosafety Authority (NBA)
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Government agency (National/Federal)
Deputy Director, Technical Services
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Biosafety Risk Evaluation Department
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2011-07
Government agency (National/Federal)
1. Coordination of review of GMO Applications, Genome Editing Applications including risk assessment, socioeconomic impact assessment and public participation.
2. Processing of GMO Approval Documents and communicating to Applicants
3. Management of the BCH (National BCH) and Central Portal BCH information for Kenya.
4. Quality Management Representative (QMR) for the National Biosafety Authority to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard.
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Employment history
  • Kenya
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)
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Seed Certification and Quality Assurance
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2005-01
2011-06
Government agency (National/Federal)
1. Coordinated all technical operations in the region including seed inspection, Phytosanitary inspections and new varieties release Trials. 2. Was the Regional ISO 9001:2008 QMR Representative ensuring effective quality management system and maintenance of ISO Accreditation at all times. 3.I headed the Regional Procurement and Disposal Committee. 4.Vetting, training and registration of individual and common interest groups as seed growers in the region. 5.Field inspection and certification of seed crops mainly Cowpeas, Greengrams, Beans, Dolichos, Sorghum, Millet, Maize, Wheat, Barley, Potatoes and Nericca Rice. 6.Inspection and monitoring of bio-containment facilities in the region and in particular Confined Field Trials (CFT) in the region. 7.Carried out Seed and hard grain sampling for purposes of germination, purity, physical examination and pathological tests. 8.Carried out post certification surveys in all agro-dealers shops at the beginning of each rainy season to monitor the quality of seeds and fertilizers being sold to farmers. Where necessary, initiated and conducted training sessions to equip them with the legal aspects of seed and other farm inputs storage and handling. 9.Conducted post control assessment trials in our KEPHIS farm to audit the effectiveness of seed certification system. 10.Conducted National Performance Trials (NPT) and Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) tests including site selection, field layouts, planting, trial management, data collection and data entry for various crops before final release to the farmers. 11. Training of small scale farmers groups to enhance their agricultural productivity and meet market requirements.  Preparation, printing and issuance of web-based documents mainly Phytosanitary Certificates, Plant Import Permits and Seed Agro-dealers Licenses. 12. Compiling monthly, quarterly, annual and project technical reports for the region.
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Post-secondary education A. Formal education
First Degree
Bsc. Agriculture
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University of Nairobi
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1996-09
2000-12
Second Degree (e.g. M.Sc. in Microbiology)
Msc. Horticulture
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University of Nairobi
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2002-09
2005-09
Third Degree (e.g. Ph.D. in Microbiology)
M.Sc. Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology
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Marche Polytechnic University
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2011-01
2013-04
B. Other professional qualifications
  • GMO containment workshop organized by ICGEB and NEPAD-ABNE in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on 29th July – 2nd August 2014.
  • Biosafety short course for African Regulators organized by NEPAD Agency African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) in Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda on 14-17th July 2014.
  • Training workshop on Risk assessment of GMOs organized by NBA and CERA at Aberdares County Club, Nyeri on 6-7th March 2014.
Areas of expertise
  • Biotechnology research and development
  • Environmental risk assessment
  • Risk management
Publications
  • THutchinson, M.J., Muchiri, J.N. and Waithaka, K. 2011. Cold storage and Flower keeping quality of cut lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum). Botswana Journal of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Vol. 7(2):4-11
  • Hutchinson, M.J., Muchiri, J.N. and Waithaka, K. 2011. Effects of chemical preservatives and water quality of cut lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum). Botswana Journal of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.
  • 3. Muchiri J.N., Mutui T.M., Ogoyi D.O. (2020) Kenya—A Review of Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)—Case Study of Kenya. In: Chaurasia A., Hawksworth D.L., Pessoa de Miranda M. (eds) GMOs. Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation, vol 19. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53183-6_23
Professional memberships
  • Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB)
  • African Biotechnology Stekeholders Forum (ABSF)
  • Kenya Burea of Standards Biotechnology Committee
  • Biological Sub-Committee of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) National Committee- Member
Language proficiency
  • English
Language Level
English excellent
Other excellent
Any other relevant information
Has reviewed a number of GMO applications for the National Biosafety Authority (Kenya).
Nomination Type
Roster of Experts Open-ended Online Expert Forum on RA&RM
Birth Place
Kenya
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