Staff Profiles

Prof. Francis N. Muyekho

muyekhuContact details
Department of Agriculture and Land Use Management
School of Agriculture, Veterinary Science and Technology (MMUST)
P.O. Box 190-50100
Kakamega, KENYA
Office no. Administration Block (ABA) Room 211
Kakamega-Webuye Road
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8384-1467
ResearcherID:AAL-1483-2021

Google Scholar: DSjecSgAAAAJ&hl=en

Prof. Francis N. Muyekho

Prof Francis Muyekho holds a Doctorate degree in Plant Sciences, specializing in Agronomy. He currently serves as the Chairperson of the board of the Directorate of Research and Postgraduate Support. His research and teaching interests are in forages and ruminant feeds, crop agronomy, integrated crop-livestock production systems, agroecology, and sustainable land use management. He has 40 years of research including 8 years of full-time teaching and research at the university level.

Prior to joining the University, he worked as a principal Research Scientist and Centre Director at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI); the current Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO). His major contribution to the dairy sector included evaluation and promotion of high yielding fodder crops for production by smallholder farmers, participation in the development and the dissemination of “push-pull” technology (www.push-pull.net/), and identification and dissemination of  Napier grass accessions tolerant to stunt and smut diseases. He has worked with International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) as a consultant on crop-livestock systems; and forage-crop integrated agricultural production systems respectively. His current research involves the Development of competitive and sustainable forage seed systems for dairy and enhancing the nutritive value of sugarcane tops and bagasse for increased feed availability. He has published over 80 refereed journals and conference proceedings, books, and book chapters.

Some of his major publications:

  1. P. Muigai, H. Agevi, J. Otuoma, F. N. Muyekho,C. A. Onyango and G. Ayaga. (2023). Trade-offs in Species Selection and Carbon Offset on farms around Kakamega-Nandi Forest Ecosystem in Kenya. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems 26 (3):1-17. http://doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.4774
  2. A. S. Mabele, H. K. Were, F. N. Muyekho, B. Mukoye. First report of Phasey bean mild yellows virus in Kenya with a new host record. published: 18 September 2022 in NEW DISEASE REPORT. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ndr2.12117
  3. Asudi G.O., Muyekho F.N., Midega C.A.O., and Khan Z.R. (2019). Integrated Management of Napier Grass Stunt Disease in East Africa. In book: Sustainable Management of Phytoplasma Diseases in Crops Grown in the Tropical Belt (pp.105-123). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29650-6_5.
  4. Charles K Kigen , Francis N Muyekho, Edward N Masibayi and Stanley M Makindi (2019). Potential tropical climate-based spatio-temporal grass variability.Environ. Res. Commun. 1 (2019) 021001. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ab0cc7.
  5. Peter A. Opala, Martins Odendo and Francis Muyekho (2018).Effects of lime and fertilizer on soil properties and maize yields in acid soils of Western Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research. Vol.13 (13), pp. 657-663. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2018.13066
  6. Wamalwa E.N., Muoma J. Muyekho F.N., Wekesa C. and Ajanga S. (2018). Genetic diversity of Fusarium Oxysporium races associated with cowpea fields in Kakamega County. Fungal Genom Biol 2018, Vol. 8:2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2165-8056.1000158.
  7. Rael Odhambo, Francis Muyekho, Irena F. Creed, Eric Enanga, William Shivoga, Charles G. Trick,John Obiri (2018). Managing the invasion of guava trees to enhance carbon storage in tropical forests.Forest Ecology and Management 432:623-630. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.10.010.
  8. Wamalwa N.I.E., Midega C.A.O., Ajanga S., Omukunda N.E., Ochieno M.W.D., Muyekho F.N., Asudi G.O., Mulaa M. and Khan Z.R. (2017) Screening Napier grass accessions for resistance to Napier grass stunt disease using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification of DNA (LAMP). Crop Protection 98, 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2017.02.005.
  9. I.W. Kariuki, S.W. Mwendia, F.N. Muyekho, S.I. Ajanga and D.O. Omayio (2016). Biomass production and forage quality of head-smut disease resistant Napier grass accessions. African Crop Science Journal, Vol. 24, pp. 157 – 165. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/acsj.v24i1.18S.
  10. Kabirizi, J.; Muyekho, F.; Mulaa, M; Msangi, R.; Pallangyo, B.; Kawube, G.; Zziwa, E.; Mugerwa, S.; Ajanga,S.; Lukwago, G.; Wamalwa N.I. E; Kariuki, I.; Mwesigwa, R.; NannyeenyaNtege, W.; Atuhairwe, A.; Awalla, J.; Namazzi, C.; Nampijja, Z. 2015. Napier grass feed resource: production, constraints and implications for smallholder farmers in Eastern and Central Africa. ISBN: 978-9970-9269-1-6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281556114.
  11. Birch A.N.E., Wheatley R., Anyango B., Arpaia S., Capalbo D., Getu E., Fontes D.E., Kalana P., Lelmen E., Lovei G., Melo I.S., Muyekho F., Ngi-Song A., Ochieno D.M.W., Ogwang J., Pitelli R., Schuler T., Sétamou M., Sithanantham S., Smith J., Van Son N., Songa J., Sujii E., Tan T.Q., Wan F-H. & Hilbeck A. (2004). Biodiversity and non-target impacts: a case study of Bt maize in Kenya. In: Hilbeck. A and Andow D.A. (Eds). Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms, Volume 1: A Case Study of Bt Maize in Kenya. CABI, Wallingford, UK, pp. 117–185.DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851998619.0117.
  12. Muyekho F.N., J.G. Mureithi and J. Ngeny (2003). Effects of Rates of Inorganic and Organic Fertilisers on Desmodium uncinatum Nodulation, Dry Matter and Seed Yields on Phosphorus and Nitrogen Deficient Soils. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal,Volume 69, 2003.DOI:  https://doi.org/10.4314/eaafj.v69i2.1816.
  13. F.N. Muyekho, L. Mose AND D.T. Cheruiyot (2003). Development and transfer of forage production technologies for smallholder dairying: case studies of participatory evaluation of species and methods of establishment in western Kenya. Tropical Grasslands (2003) Volume 37, 251–256.
  14. Khan, Z.R., Pickett, J.A., Wadhams, L., Muyekho, F.(2001). Habitat management for the control of cereal stem borers in maize in Kenya. Insect Science and its Application 21, 375–380.

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