James Kimondo Experience

---

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Employed in May 1983, as an Assistant Conservator of Forests and posted to Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Forest Research Department (FRD) immediately. In July 1983, I was seconded to KARI where I worked until June 1986, when the FRD translated into the current KEFRI. I have grown through the ranks until my current position as a Chief Research Scientist which I attained in 2010 after obtaining my PhD.

ADMINSTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY

Over the years in KEFRI I have been in charge of a number of Centres overseeing the research as well as development agenda therein. Significant among these was the initiation of the large scale planting of an indigenous tree species – Melia volkensii. This went on to attract a lot of attention among other research both local and internationals working in the country eventually leading to the funding of an excursion in the country initially by the Belgium Technical Cooperation (BTC) to identify the superior trees in the natural range of the species. The activity was further supported by the Japanese International Agency (JICA) where not only did they extend the exploration, but also supported the establishment of orchards which are already bearing superior germplasm for planting in the dry areas, thereby taking commercial forestry to the drylands.