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Biosafety Expert (EXP)
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BCH-EXP-KE-106134-2   |   PDF   |   Print   |  
published: 28 Nov 2014 last updated: 11 Sep 2023
General Information
Profile of the expert
Dr. Roy B. Mugiira is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Authority, Kenya. He holds a Ph.D in the diagnosis of plant viral infections based on the alignment of their DNA sequences. He has research experience in the cloning of viral DNA genomes into gene silencing vectors for application in functional genomics. Dr. Mugiira played a key role in the development of Kenya’s Biotechnology Development Policy and the Biosafety regulatory framework for Genetically Modified Organisms. He is a member of the Biosafety Risk Assessment Panel of Experts for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and served as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NBA at its formative stages. Dr. Mugiira has a wide experience in policy advisory for the governance of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) generally and Biotechnology Development specifically. Previously, he served as the Director of Research, Ministry of Education – Kenya and Director, Scheduled Sciences at the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI).
Dr. Mugiira has actively participated as a member of the Kenya Government Delegation to several COP-MOP meetings.

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- Person: Dr. Roy Mugiira | BCH-CON-KE-265317-1
Person:
Dr. Roy Mugiira
Chief Executive Officer, National Biosafety Authority
P.O. Box 28251
Nairobi, Nairobi
00100, Kenya
Phone:
Fax:
Website:
1969
  • Kenyan
Details of current employment
National Biosafety Authority-Kenya (NBA)
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Government agency (National/Federal)
Chief Executive Officer
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CEO's Office
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2022-02
Government agency (National/Federal)
Overall management and day to day operations of the National Biosafety Authority
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Employment history
  • Kenya
National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI)
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Scheduled Services
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2016-02
2021-01
Government agency (National/Federal)
Served as the Director of Scheduled Sciences at the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) 
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Post-secondary education A. Formal education
First Degree
B.Education (Science: Botany and Zoology)
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Egerton University
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1990-10-01-01
1994-11-30-01
Second Degree (e.g. M.Sc. in Microbiology)
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology
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Egerton University
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1996-06-01-01
2000-11-30-01
Third Degree (e.g. Ph.D. in Microbiology)
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology
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Egerton University
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1996-06-01-01
2000-11-30-01
B. Other professional qualifications
  • Biosafety Risk Assessment
  • Biosafety Environmental Risk Assessment
Areas of expertise
  • Policy and legal
Publications
  • Mugiira, R. B. and Omari, J. B (2013). Biosafety of Genetically Modified Crops:  a case for enabling policy, legal and regulatory framework. Kenya Science, Technology and Innovation Journal 3: 52-59.
  • Mugiira, R.B. (2011). Administrative Systems for Handling Biosafety Issues in Kenya: Emerging Experiences and Lessons Learned. Biosafety Protocol News – A Magazine on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 9th issue, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal Canada.
  • Qian Y. J., Mugiira, R. B. and Zhou X. P. (2006). A modified viral satellite DNA-based gene silencing vector is effective in association with heterologous begomoviruses. Virus Research 118: 136-142.
Professional memberships
  • Founder Member: Kenya National Young Academy of Science
  • Member: African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum
  • Associate: International Service for the Acquisition of Agr-Biotech Applications
  • COMESA Technical Committee on Biotechnology and Biosafety: To advice on regional harmonization of Biotechnology policies and Biosafety regulation.
  • East African Community Biosafety Initiative: To facilitate ragional consultations on harmonization of Biotechnology Policies and Biosafety regulation.
Language proficiency
  • Other (Kiswahili)
Language Level
English excellent
Any other relevant information
Experience gained while advicing African regional economic communities (COMESA and EAC) on their initiatives to harmonize Biotechnology policies and Biosafety regulation will be valuable in articulating the needs and interests of these regions specifically and Africa generally. Further, experience in developing Kenya's National Biosafety framework will enrich my particpation in designing an effective Biosafety Risk Assessment mechanism.
Nomination Type
Roster of Experts Open-ended Online Expert Forum on RA&RM
Birth Place
Kenya
Other Publications

Mugiira, R. B., Shu-sheng Liu and Zhou X. P. (2008). Tomato yellow leaf curl and Tomato leaf curl Taiwan virus invade Southeast coast of China. Journal of Phytopathology, 156:217-221.
Mugiira, R. B., Wu, J. B., Wu, Z. J., Li G.X. and Zhou, X. P. (2008) Molecular Characterization of Malvastrum leaf curl Guangdong virus Isolated from Fujian, China. ActaPhytopathologicaSinica:38(3): 258-262.
Mugiira, R.B., Arama, P.F. Macharia,J.M and Gichimu B.M. (2011). Antimicrobial Activity of Foliar Fertilizer Formulations and their effect on Ice Nucleation Activity of Pseudomonas syringae Pv. garcae, Van Hall; the Cause Agent of Bacteria Blight of Coffee. International Journal of Agricultural Research 6 (7): 550-561.
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