Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is exploring a partnership with the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Africa (COEHA) to introduce Kenya’s first Master of Science in Occupational Medicine. The proposed hybrid programme seeks to address the continent’s acute shortage of specialists while offering graduates internationally recognized certification.

During a courtesy call on Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Robert Kinyua September 2, 2025, the Chief Medical Officer of the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Africa, Dr. Omer M. El-Nagieb, proposed a joint programme that would combine online and in-person learning. Successful candidates would sit a professional examination leading to Irish certification, opening doors to practice in Kenya, Ireland, and South Sudan among other parts of the world.

Dr. El-Nagieb underscored the urgency of the initiative, stating Occupational medicine is very scarce in Kenya and across Africa. He noted that the collaboration seeks to bridge that gap by producing experts who can safeguard workplace health.

He decried the fact that occupational illnesses are often managed by general physicians, owing to the acute shortage of trained specialists in the field. This, he noted, compromises the quality-of-care workers receive and underscores the urgency of building local capacity in occupational medicine.

Prof. Kinyua welcomed the proposal, observing that JKUAT thrives on partnerships that expand knowledge frontiers and address national needs.

“A programme of this nature would position JKUAT as a pioneer in health education while equipping African professionals with globally recognized credentials,” said Prof. Kinyua.

He revealed that Kenya’s first postgraduate programme in Occupational Safety and Health was itself borne out of collaboration, underscoring JKUAT’s track record in pioneering niche fields through strategic partnerships. That initiative, he noted, set a precedent the university is keen to build upon by venturing into occupational medicine, another gap the institution is well-placed to fill.

Dr. El-Nagieb was accompanied by Dr. Hader Mousa from COEHA and Dr. Kerama Onyimbo of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital. Also present were Dr. Musa Mohammed, a faculty member in the Department of Surgery at JKUAT, and Dr. Wallace Karuguti from the Department of Rehabilitative Sciences.