Department of pharmaceutical chemistry

Welcome to the department of pharmaceutical chemistry, which was established in the year 2012, is one of the three departments in the School of Pharmacy (SOP), housed under the College of Health Sciences (CoHES). Its establishment was driven by the need to strengthen delivery in training of innovative and creative pharmaceutical professionals and researchers; in addition to improving primary health care. The department aims to offer accessible quality training, research and innovation in order to develop pharmaceutical professionals with ability to offer quality health care geared towards meeting the health care needs of a dynamic world. To do so is a privilege, one we believe requires our students to possess the highest levels of hard work, character, sensitivity and integrity. We nurture partnership, collegiality and mutual respect between our students and staff over the training period. Our students have the chance to learn not just from the great minds of the teaching staff in the department, but also from well equipped state of the art laboratories, under the tutorage of qualified and experienced technologists.

Dr. Boniface Thuo, Chair of Department

Initially the department was called the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics.

The first COD was Dr. Alex Kigundu Muriithi followed by Dr Veronica V. Abwova. It was then split in June 2020 into two:

1) the Department of Pharmaceutics where Dr. Veronica V. Abwova was the first COD followed by the current COD Dr. Ronald O. Wandera and

2) Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry under the first and current COD Dr. Boniface M. Thuo.

Undergraduate Programmes

Bachelor of Pharmacy

Master of Science Programs in Medicinal Chemistry and Phytochemistry.

Master of Science in Medicinal Phytochemistry

Doctor of Philosophy Medicinal Chemistry

Doctor of Philosophy Medicinal Phytochemistry

Ph.D. Programs in Medicinal Chemistry and Phytochemistry (In Collaboration with KEMRI) – 2008 to date).

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The general regulations for all PhD degrees in COHES shall apply.

The common regulations for all PhD degrees in the University shall apply.

Holder of a Master’s degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or any other qualification recognized by the JKUAT senate.

A holder of at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or any other qualification recognized by the JKUAT senate.

Under exceptional circumstances a holder of a Lower Second Class Honours degree in pharmacy or chemistry or biochemistry or any other qualification from a recognized university provided that the candidate produces acceptable evidence of research ability

Dr. Boniface Thuo

Lecturer

Dr. Alex Kigundu Muriithi

Dr. Alex Kigundu Muriithi who is the current Dean and founding Chairman, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics, joined the School of Pharmacy in 2013. He holds a Master of Pharmacy degree (combined with the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree) and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the Volgograd State Medical University, Volgograd, Russia. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Muriithi worked as a Pharmacist in the Ministry of Health and as a Lecturer at Mount Kenya University, Thika. Dr. Muriithi has research interest in Organic synthesis of Uracil derivatives with diverse pharmacological activity.

Dr. Jocelyn Wambui Kamau

Dr. Kamau joined JKUAT in 2007. She was the founding dean of the JKUAT School of Pharmacy and served in that capacity from 2014 to 2019. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Kamau worked as a Pharmacist at Kenyatta National Hospital. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Nairobi and a Masters in Medicinal Chemistry from JKUAT. Dr. Kamau’s research interests include phytochemistry and biological activity of Kenyan medicinal plants.

Mr. Tom Odera Odwa

Mr. Odera joined the School of Pharmacy in April 2013 as a Senior Technologist in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics. He holds Bachelor of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry (Hons) JKUAT, Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology in Analytical Chemistry (TUM) and several certificates for short courses in instrumentation. Prior to joining the school of Pharmacy, Mr. Odera worked as a Senior Technologist in the Department of Chemistry, JKUAT. He has research interest in the area
of the occurrence of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds (PhACs) in the Environment. Mr. Odera has a wealth of experience in the field of Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Instrumentation.

Ms. Eunice Adongo Oduor

Ms. Oduor joined the School of Pharmacy in June 2013. She holds a Diploma in Analytical Chemistry from O’llessos Technical Training Institute. Besides, Ms. Oduor has certificates in First Aid and Computer Basic Skills from the Red Cross Organization and Premier institute, respectively. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy, Ms. Oduor worked as a Skilled Casual Technician at Kenyatta
University, Chemistry Department. Ms. Oduor has research interest in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Analysis and has a wealth of experience in Analytical Chemistry.

Dr. Alex Kigundu Muriithi, MPharm, PhD (Volgograd, Russia)

Email: akigundu@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Abwova Veronica Vugutsa

Dr. Abwova joined the School of Pharmacy in 2015 and is the current Chair, Department of Pharmaceutics. She holds a Bachelor of pharmacy degree and a Master of Pharmacy degree in Industrial Pharmacy from The University of Nairobi. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy Dr. Abwova worked at AIC Kijabe Hospital as the Pharmacy Manager. Dr. Abwova’s research interest is in Pharmaceutical Product Development. Previously, Dr. Abwova was the Chair of the joint Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics.

Email: vabwova@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Linus Makokha Wafula

Dr. Wafula, joined the School of Pharmacy in 2011. He holds a Bachelor of pharmacy degree and Master of Pharmacy degree in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Nairobi. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Wafula worked as a Senior Pharmacist in the Ministry of Health. Dr. Wafula has research interest Clinical Pharmacy; specifically, Patient-centred pharmaceutical care of non-communicable diseases and the outcomes of Pharmacists’ interventions in patient management. Dr. Wafula is the founding and current Head of Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy.

Email: lwafula@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Isaac Kimani Githaiga

Dr. Isaac Kimani joined the School of Pharmacy in 2013. He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Nairobi and an MBA in International Business Management from United States International University-Africa. Dr. Kimani is currently pursuing his Ph.D at the JKUAT School of Business. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Kimani worked at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as the Head of Distribution for the East African market. Among Dr. Kimani’s research interests are pharmaceutical supply chain management for health commodities and technologies, Regulatory affairs, International pharmaceutical trade and diplomacy, Health economics & Pharmacoeconomics, Pharmaceutical Policy, leadership and Social Behavioral Pharmacy. Dr. Kimani has a wealth of experience and offers trainings and consultancy in management of global manufacturing and supply of pharmaceutical products, validation of manufacturing systems, Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Distribution Practices and Regulatory affairs.

Email: isaac.kimani@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Boniface Mburu Thuo

Dr. Thuo joined the School of Pharmacy in 2018 and is the current Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy and Masters in Pharmacy (in the speciality area of Pharmaceutical analysis) degrees from the University of Nairobi. Dr. Thuo has worked as a pharmacist in various positions with the Government of Kenya, Ministry of Health and the County Government of Kakamega. He then moved into academia to lecture at Mount Kenya University prior to his appointment at the School of Pharmacy, JKUAT. Dr. Thuo’s research interests include drug discovery for neglected diseases and cancer and has a wealth of experience in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical analysis.

Email: boniface.thuo@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Godfrey Mayoka

Dr. Mayoka joined the School of Pharmacy in May 2013. He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Nairobi, an MSc in Drug Discovery from University College London School of Pharmacy, United Kingdom and a PhD in Drug Discovery from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Mayoka’s research interests include drug discovery and development, therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacogenetics. Besides being a Commonwealth Scholar, Dr. Mayoka is a joint European and Developing Country Trials Partnership-Africa Research Excellence Fund Fellow.

Email: godfrey.mayoka@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Monicah Karara

Dr. Monicah Karara joined the School of Pharmacy in 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree as well as a Masters of Pharmacy degree in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Nairobi. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Karara worked as a Pharmacist with the Ministry of Health, Government of Kenya. Dr. Karara’s research interests include infectious disease and internal medicine and has a wealth of experience in implementation science.

Email: mkarara@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Julia Kimondo

Dr. Julia Kimondo joined the School of Pharmacy in February 2016 as a Lecturer in Pharmacognosy. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Nairobi, an MPharm in Materia Medica (Pharmacognosy) from Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China and a PhD in Pharmacognosy and Complimentary Medicine from the University of Nairobi. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Kimondo worked as a lecturer and Head of Department (Pharmacognosy) at Mount Kenya University. Dr. Kimondo’s research interests includes ethnobotany, herbal drug development, metabolic disorders and antioxidants. She has a wealth of experience in medicinal plants, ethnopharmacological surveys, animal and cell studies and phytochemistry.

Email: jkimondo@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Ososo Ronald Wandera

Dr. Wandera joined the School of Pharmacy in August 2018. He holds a Bachelors of Pharmacy degree and a Masters of Pharmacy degree in Industrial Pharmacy from The University of Nairobi. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Wandera worked as a Pharmacist at the Ministry of Health and the Migori County Government before gaining a lectureship position at the University of Nairobi, School of Pharmacy. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutics at the University of Nairobi. Dr. Wandera’s research interests includes Pharmaceutical product formulation and development, Quality assurance, Quality control and Good Manufacturing Practices.

Email: ronald.wandera@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Lily Njeri Kimuhu

Dr. Kimuhu joined the School of Pharmacy in the year 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University Chennai, India and a Master of Pharmacy degree in Clinical Pharmacy (in the specialty area of Paediatrics and Infectious diseases), from the University of Nairobi. Besides, she also holds a Diploma in Health Systems Management from Galilee College, Israel. Prior to joining the School of Pharmacy Dr. Kimuhu worked in the Ministry of Health, Kiambu as the County Head of Pharmaceutical services. Her research interests include Pharmacotherapeutic management of chronic and infectious diseases, Pharmacovigilance and Health systems strengthening.

Email: lily.kimuhu@jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Jocelyn Wambui Kamau

DONOR FUNDED PROJECTS

Sphier (Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education Innovation and Reform) – Sponsored by Nottingham University in collaboration with other public universities offering Bachelor of Pharmacy and Chemistry Degree Programs 2017- 2021 assisted in the Review of the Bachelor of Program

GeMX (Global Medical Exchange Program 2015-2020) changed to African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth) 2020-2023 An interdisciplinary health professional collaboration with universities offering Health related courses in Africa.