The Department of Chemistry

To be a department of global excellence in training, research and innovation for development.

Chair of Department

Welcome to the Department of Chemistry at Jomo Kenyatta university of Agriculture and Technology. The department is one of the two departments in the School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (SMPS) which falls under the College of Pure and Applied Sciences (COPAS).

Dr. Elijah Ngumba Kungu

About Us

The department offers various BSc, MSc and PHD programs. Currently, the programs that are running include; BSc Chemistry, BSc Analytical chemistry and BSc Industrial chemistry at undergraduate level. Admission to these programs is competitive through Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) or as self-sponsored students. MSc and PHD graduate programs are offered in the areas of Analytical, inorganic, Physical and Organic chemistry. In line with the JKUAT mission and vision, the department is in the process of launching new programs both in graduate and undergraduate programs. Under the supervision of academic members of staff, the department has progressively engaged in various research activities. This has enabled the department to post over five patents in the last two years and still continue to explore the area of innovation through the hard work of competent members of staff. The department has been in constant collaborations with the public and private universities and research institutions such as ICIPE, KEFRI, KEMRI, KARLO amongst others. Through Pan African Chemistry Network (PACN) the Royal Society of Chemistry identified JKUAT through the department as a center of excellence and for the last three years, JKUAT through the department has hosted international training workshops on GC-MS and LC-MS/MS these training workshops have attracted participants drawn from different parts of Africa As a department we are open to ideas relevant to the ever-dynamic world of science.

VISION STATEMENT
To be a department of global excellence in training, research and innovation for development

MISSION STATEMENT
To provide accessible quality University education , training, research and innovation in order to produce leaders in the fields of Agriculture, Engineering, Technology, Health and other Applied Sciences to suit the needs of a dynamic world

MOTTO
Setting trends in Higher Education, Research and Innovation

DEPARTMENTAL OBJECTIVES

To meet regulatory requirement regarding teaching, examinations and research
To expand, strengthen and sustain the curriculum taught in the department.
To improve research activities, discovery and innovations within the department
To promote and strengthen a culture that emphasizes commitment to the Departmental Objectives and the Overall University’s vision, mission, values and image.
To establish a culture of role model in teaching and research in Department.
To improve staff competence through training.

Undergraduate Programmes

The Department of Chemistry provides a high level, quality learning experience for all of its undergraduate students in both the theoretical and practical aspects of Chemistry.
There are a number of undergraduate courses in Chemistry leading to the following qualifications
1).BSc. Analytical Chemistry
2).BSc. Industrial Chemistry
3).BSc. Chemistry

1. BSc. IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Entry Requirements
No student shall be registered for the degree of Bachelor of Science in analytical chemistry without satisfying the minimum university entry requirements
The general regulations for all Bachelor Degrees in the School of Physical Sciences shall apply.
The following shall be eligible for registration for the Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry
A candidate must have passed chemistry or physical science in K.C.S.E. with a minimum grade of C+. In addition, a student must have passed with a C- in two subjects from the following two alternatives

Mathematics, physics
Mathematics, physical science

or
a).Have a minimum of 2 principals passes 1 in science subjects in the Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE),
or
b).Have a diploma in relevant subjects and with at least a credit pass from an Institution recognized by the University Senate,
or
c). Have a diploma in Applied Sciences with at least a credit pass in the relevant subjects from an Institution recognized by the University Senate,
or
Have any other qualifications accepted by the University Senate as equivalent to the qualifications above.
Students who hold any of the qualifications a, b and c above may at the discretion of the Faculty of Science be admitted directly to the second year of the course in which case they may complete their course in a minimum of three years and a maximum of five academic years.

2. BSc. IN INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY

Entry Requirements
Students wishing to study industrial chemistry must satisfy the minimum University requirements and Faculty of Science entry requirements.
A student to be admitted must satisfy any of the following minimum requirements;
Either:
Must have passed chemistry or physical science in the K.C.S.E. at a minimum grade of C+. In addition, a student must have passed in Mathematics and any one of the following subjects with C-:
Physics
Biology/Biological Sciences
or
Have a minimum of 2 principals passes in science subjects in the Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE), of which one must be in Chemistry,
or
Have a diploma in relevant subjects and with at least a credit pass from an Institution recognized by the University Senate,
or
Have any other qualifications accepted by the University Senate as equivalent to the qualifications above
Students who hold any of the qualifications 1.2 and 1.3 above may at the discretion of the Faculty of Science be admitted directly to the second year of the course in which case they may complete their course in a minimum of three years and a maximum of five academic years.

3. BSc. IN CHEMISTRY

Entry Requirements
A student wishing to study Chemistry must satisfy the minimum University requirements and Faculty of Science regulations. A student must have passed Chemistry or Physical Science in the K.C.S.E. with a minimum grade of B- or the equivalent.
In addition, a student must have passed in two subjects from the following alternatives at the grades shown:-
Alternative A       Alternative B
Mathematics            Mathematics
Physics                      Biological Science
Biology
or
Have any other qualifications accepted by the University Senate as equivalent to the qualifications above

Postgraduate Programmes

The Department of Chemistry provides a high level, quality learning experience for all of its postgraduate students
At the moment there are two postgraduate courses in Chemistry leading to the following qualifications:
1. MSc. CHEMISTRY
2. PH.D. CHEMISTRY

1. MSc. CHEMISTRY

The following shall be eligible for registration for the Master of Science degree in Chemistry.
i. A holder of at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree having studied Chemistry either as a single subject or as one of the two Science subjects at Bachelor’s degree level or its equivalent from a University recognized by the Senate.
ii. Under exceptional circumstances a holder of at least a Second Class Honours (Lower Division) degree having studied Chemistry as either a single subject or as one of the two Science subjects at Bachelor’s degree level or its equivalent may be registered provided the candidate produces evidence of proven postgraduate research ability.

Duration and Pattern of the course
i. The duration of the Master of Science degree in Chemistry shall be at least two academic years (18 months) from the date of registration.
ii. The Master of Science course will consist of:
Either
Course work Examination and thesis
Or
Research and thesis only (very exceptional cases). A student taking this option of the programme will be expected to take units SCH 3100 Analytical Chemistry and SCH 3101 Research Techniques.
iii. In the first year, students studying for Master of Science degree by course work, examinations and thesis will take ten units of which five will be core and the other five will be electives. Three of the elective units will be taken from the student’s intended area of specialization and the remaining two electives chosen from any other area. In addition, students must attend and present department seminars.
iv. In the second year of study, students will concentrate on their research work, present seminars and write theses.
v. Students studying for a Master of Science degree by thesis only will spend the whole period on research and present and attend seminars and thesis. Such students may be required to take additional reading in those areas relevant to their research work. In addition the students will take two core units SCH 3100 and SCH 3101 during the first year of study.
Areas of Specialization
Students taking a Master of Science degree in Chemistry may study any of the following four areas of specialization:
i.Analytical/Environmental Chemistry
ii.Inorganic Chemistry
iii.Organic Chemistry
iv.Physical Chemistry

2. PH.D. IN CHEMISTRY

A candidate registered for Ph.D. in Chemistry shall carry out a programme of original study or research over a minimum period of twenty four (24) months after the date of registration and shall submit a thesis based on the study of the research done
Areas of Specialization
Students taking a Ph.D. in Chemistry may study any of the following four areas of specialization:
i.Analytical/Environmental Chemistry
ii.Inorganic Chemistry
iii.Organic Chemistry
iv.Physical Chemistry

Academic
Organic Chemistry

Prof. Thiong’o George Thuku
Dr. Gitu Leonard Mwangi
Prof. Githua Mercy Njeri
Mrs. Omulokoli Emmah
Dr. Raphael Kung’u
Mr. Jackson Mutembei

Inorganic Chemistry
Dr. Muigai Peter Gitita
Mr. Muka James Abu
Dr. Nyawade Eunice

Analytical/Environmental Chemistry
Prof. Gachanja Anthony Ngure
Dr. Wanyika Harrison Njuma
Dr. Anam Onditi Ouma
Dr. Ngumba Elijah Kungu
Dr. Kiptoo Jackson Kipkore
Dr. Edwin Madivoli

Physical Chemistry

Prof. Okong’o Erick Rang’ondi
Dr. Salim Ali Mohammed
Dr. Waudo Walyambillah

The departmental has a wide variety of facilities including three state of the art laboratories, a departmental production center, amongst others
Some of the equipment in the departmental laboratories include;
• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR)
• UV-Vis spectrophotometers
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometers (GC-MS)
• Liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS)
• Atomic absorption spectrophotometers
• Atomic emission spectrophotometers

Contacts

Physical location: New Science Complex (NSC) building first floor
Tel. (067)52181-4/52711/52223 ext 6113
Fax: (067)52164
Email: chemistry@fsc.jkuat.ac.ke

News & Events

To all our Dear First Year Students, Welcome to 2023/2024 Academic Year.
On behalf of administrative, teaching and technical staff, we would like to extend a warm welcome to all our first year students to the School of Physical Sciences (SPS). We will ensure you have smooth running academic development programme from all our two department.

Learn More

Department Life

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