DR ANDREW G. THAIYAH, PhD

Personal particulars

__________________________________________________________

Name: Dr. Andrew Gitau Thaiyah

Address: P.O. Box 29053 00625, Kangemi,

Nairobi. KENYA.

Tel: Mobile: + 254-720-005620; +254-701838301

Office: +254 – 020-2055199

Email: agthaiya@uonbi.ac.ke or andrew.thaiyah@gmail.com

Nationality: Kenyan.

Gender: Male.

Languages: English, Kiswahili and Spanish.

Education _______________________________________________________

2007 PhD in Veterinary Medicine (University of Nairobi).

1992 Master of Science in Clinical Studies (University of Nairobi).

1987 Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (University of Nairobi).

Key competencies

___________________________________________________________

Program management and coordination, monitoring and evaluation.

Training on infectious and production diseases in the livestock sector.

Epidemiology, disease surveillance and reporting.

Career goal/objective _______________________________________________________________________

To provide result driven leadership and expertise in animal health issues in order to

mitigate disease incidences and create resilience through timely disease detection,

surveillance and outbreak response.

EMPLOYMENT PROFILE _______________________________________________________________________

A. 2010- DATE: KENYA COUNTRY COORDINATOR, EPT USAID

RESPOND project on One Health under One Health Central and Eastern Africa

(OHCEA). This project links 14 schools of veterinary medicine and public health

in East and Central Africa under one health. Duties include:

a. Administration and coordination of all one health activities in Kenya and

providing linkage with the secretariat in Kampala

b. Institutionalizing the one health approach by:

a. Developing country and regional work plans for OHCEA

b. Preparation of budgets and ensuring prudent use of finances

c. Reviewing animal health and medical related curricula in educational

institutions to include one health modules

d. Formulating and administering new in-service courses to in-service

personnel

e. Creating linkages between the various players and organizations involved

in disease surveillance and outbreak response

f. Linking one health Kenya with various donor agencies and source for

funding

g. Organizing and holding workshops to institutionalize one health in Kenya

c. Success stories:

i. Over the last three years, I have facilitated and reviewed 15

curricula in the veterinary and public health schools.

ii. I have also facilitated and trained 70 in-service personnel on One

Health leadership skills. These are currently OH focal persons in

the various counties

B. 2009- 2012: National coordinator, Research for life (HINARI, AGORA AND

OARE) AND TEEAL programs in Kenya under the auspices of ITOCA and

sponsored by WHO, FAO, UNEP, Yale university and Cornell university. Duties

include teaching to impart skills on use of the programs to universities, research

institutions and civil service.

C. 2012 TO 2013: SENIOR LECTURER AND HEAD OF MEDICINE

Department of clinical studies, University of Nairobi. Duties as outlined below

D. 2008 to 2012: LECTURER AND HEAD OF MEDICINE, Department of

clinical studies, University of Nairobi. Duties:

Overall coordination of both the ambulatory services, teaching hospital and

delivery of lectures. I oversee 4 professors, 6 lecturers and 7 technical staff

ensuring speed and efficiency in the delivery of services.

Teaching and practice on infectious and zoonotic diseases in areas of etiology,

epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and

control to veterinarians and wildlife scientists.

Preparation of teaching and practical schedules.

Coordination of various programs.

Disease surveillance, diagnosis and control of mainly notifiable/transboundary

and zoonotic animal diseases.

Extension services to farmers in urban, peri-urban and ASAL areas by organizing

farmer field days and community herd health and vaccination programs.

Initiation of new projects and identification of problem areas and formulating

intervention programs.

E. 1992 TO 2007: Lecturer in medicine, department of clinical studies, Faculty of

Veterinary medicine, University of Nairobi.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in clinical medicine,

ambulatory services and herd health and management and extension and

wildlife medicine

Disease surveillance, diagnosis and control of mainly notifiable/transboundary

diseases

Extension services to farmers in urban, peri-urban and ASAL areas.

Coordination of various programmes as indicated above

F. 1988 – 1992: Assistant lecturer, department of clinical studies. The duties

involved teaching of undergraduate students in clinical medicine and herd health

to farmers within a 50Km radius from Kabete Campus. I also co-coordinated the

animal heath programme where I supervised 2 professors, 10 lecturers and

technical assistants.

G. 1987 – 1988: Veterinary officer II, Ministry of livestock development. Duties

involved research on tick borne diseases; culture and maintenance of tick

reference stocks and pre-registration trials for new acaricides on animals.

Professional skills and expertise ________________________________________________________________________

Experience in livestock sector activities.

I have over 20 years solid experience in the livestock sector in Kenya where I have

been involved in advocacy and training of veterinary personnel and farmers in

improving animal health and production in high potential and ASAL areas. I have

developed public private sector livestock linkages with KEVIVAPI, Ministry of

Agriculture, Livestock and fisheries, Ministry of health and private drug companies

who market livestock vaccines and drugs. I have a very good working relationship

with Zoonotic disease unit, CDC and ILRI

Three major successful programs that I have initiated are:

i. 2002 – 2012: Coordinated, executed and monitored a community herd health

program in cattle, sheep, goats, local chicken and dogs in Kibwezi, Machakos

District, Kenya. This involves the improvement of breeding programs, herd

health services and vaccination programs on Foot and mouth disease,

contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, anthrax, rabies and Newcastle disease in

chicken. This has resulted in a significant improvement in the animal health

and production status and conservation of the local breeds of cattle and goats

in the area.

ii. 2000 – 2011: Successfully executed a comprehensive herd health program for

small - scale farmers within the Kiambu district of Kenya. This has resulted in

a significant drop in the number of animal diseases including ECF (East Coast

Fever) and an increase in milk production in the locality due to improved

disease control, feeding and management programs.

iii. 2007 – 2009: I, with partners, initiated an Avian influenza surveillance program in

Kibera area in Nairobi, Kenya. Samples were taken from domestic chicken,

ducks and dogs. Avian influenza was not detected

Program management and coordination

I have over 10 years experience in program coordination both within the private

and public sectors where I have coordinated programs linking the university of

Nairobi with USAID, centers for disease control (CDC), International Livestock

Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya medical research Institute (KEMRI), Kenya

Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), International training and outreach centre

for Africa (ITOCA), Ministry of Agriculture, livestock and fisheries and Ministry

of health. Some of my notable projects include:

2003 to 2011: Faculty Coordinator for programs in B.Sc. Wildlife

and Tourism management course and BSc wildlife and conservation

programs. Lecture schedules prepared on time, delivery of lectures

monitored and exams set and modulated efficiently. Student

attachment places identified and students attached, supervised and

monitored within a specified financial and time budget. Supervising 3

lecturers and 1 technician.

2003 to 2008: Coordinator, Faculty attachment program for 4th

year

Vet and diploma in animal health students linking the students to

national, Regional and international organizations. Attachment places

identified on time, students attached and supervised; budgets prepared

and implemented; overall supervision of the program and writing of

final report to the dean. This is an annual program involving 100

students, 2 professors, 5 lecturers and 3 drivers.

2003 to 2006: Coordinator, animal health and hygiene course.

Program coordinated within the Departments of Clinical Studies,

Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology and the School of

Biological Sciences: supervised 3 professors, 12 lecturers and 6

technical assistants. The programs run smoothly and effectively during

this period.

1992 –2000: Head of ambulatory section of medicine. Coordinated the

programme ensuring that timely schedules are prepared and

implemented and client’s demands were met efficiently. Supervised 6

lecturers and 3 drivers.

2000 – 2004: Formulated, coordinated, executed and monitored the

extended ambulatory clinic in the department of clinical studies,

University of Nairobi. This improved service delivery to our clients by

bringing services closer to the people. Supervised 2 professors, 4 lecturers

and 3 drivers. Overall caseload increased three fold.

Research and training I have over 20 years experience in research and training of veterinary, wildlife

scientists and biomedical students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate

levels. I have specialized in ruminant, porcine, poultry and wildlife medicine and

health in areas of disease aetiology, diagnosis and control, clinical medicine, herd

health and epidemiology and have published 30 peer reviewed articles.

Disease surveillance I have a solid experience in epidemiological surveillance, management and

reporting on animal diseases as indicated in my list of publications. My

specialization is in clinical epidemiology

Computer skills I have a solid working experience in Microsoft office packages (word, excel,

PowerPoint and outlook), Internet and in the use of the statistical programs SPSS

and Genstat®. I am also able to learn and apply new computer software.

Training _______________________________________________________________________

One health leadership training. Organized by USAID Respond. 7-11 February 2011, Kigali. Rwanda, 5 – 9th Dec 2011, Kampala, Uganda.

Kenya Regional leaders Course, TEEAL-AGORA. 1st - 4th December 2009. ILRI, Kenya.

Pedagogy training. Training conducted by the College of Education and External Studies of the University of Nairobi, June 2008.

Transformative Leadership and Results Based Management. One day Training organised by the University Management Board to build capacity for academic staff members on Result Based Management, transformative leadership, change management, emotional intelligence among others, 25th October 2007.

Proposal and scientific writing for grant winning proposals and competitive

publications. Kenya school of monetary studies, Nairobi. 26th

– 31st May 2007.

PUBLICATIONS _______________________________________________________________________

BOOKS

Infectious Diseases of Sheep and Goats. by J.N. Njenga, G.K. Gitau and A.G. Thaiyah. Egerton University Press. 2013

PAPERS PUBLISHED IN REFEREED JOURNALS.

I, individually or in collaboration with colleagues have to date published 30 papers in

peer reviewed journal articles and presented papers in conferences. This list includes the

following papers:

1. Muriuki J, Thaiyah A, Mbugua S, Kitaa J and Kirui G (2016). Knowledge, Attitude

and Practices on Rabies and Socio-Economic Value of Dog Keeping in Kisumu and

Siaya counties, Kenya. Inter J Vet Sci, 2016, 5(1): 29-33

2. Thaiyah, A.G., Kirui, G. Mwanthi, M. Koskei, P and Mulei, C.M. (2015). One

Health key knowledge and training needs among service providers in Kenya. 3rd

International One Health congress. 15th

-18th

March. Amsterdam, Netherlands

3. B. A Obanda,, A. Cook, E .Fèvre , S. Wang , L. Bebora, J. M. Mwituria ,R.

Ngetich

,W. Okoth ,C. Nafula, W. Ogara , A.G Thaiyah, S. Kariuki W. A.

Gebreyes (2015). Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in abattoir workers

and livestock from western Kenya. ICOPHAI, Aug 6-8, 2015 at Holiday Inn,

Chiang Mai, Thailand.

4. Muasya, J. Gitau, G.K. and Thaiyah, A.G (2015). Presented paper: ‘Estimation

of Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) prevalence using antibody ELISA in Kenya’.

Regional conference on zoonotic diseases. March 9-13, 2015. Enashipai Resort

and Spa, Naivasha, Kenya

5. Amenya, H.A., Gathumbi, P.K., Mbaria, J.M., Thaiyah, A.G. and Thoithi, G.N.

(2014). Sub-acute toxicity of the chloroformic extract of Rapanea melanophloeos

(L.) Mez in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 154, Issue 3, 3 July

2014, Pages 593–59.

6. Amenya, H.A., Gathumbi, P.K., Mbaria, J.M., Thaiyah, A.G. and Thoithi, G.N.

(2012). In vitro and acute in vivo toxicity of the aqueous and chloroformic

extracts of Rapanea melanophloeos (L) Mez. The Kenya Veterinarian vol. 35 (2)

77-85

7. Thaiyah, A.G., Aleri, J.W., Abuom, T.O. and Mulei, C.M. (2011). A Typical

Actinobacillosis in an Adult Friesian Cow. Bull. Anim. Hlth. Prod. Afri. Vol 59,

No 4, 471-473.

8. Thaiyah, A.G., Nyaga, P.N., Maribei, J.M., Ngatia, T.A., Kamau, J.P.M. and

Kinyuru, J. M. (2011). Acute, sub-chronic and chronic toxicity of Solanum

incanum L in sheep in Kenya. The Kenya Veterinarian vol. 35 (1) 1-8.

9. Muthee, J.K., Mbaria, J.M., Thaiyah, A.G., Karanja, D.N. and Gakuya, D.W.

(2011). Clinical, haematological, biochemical and pathological manifestation of

sub-acute toxicity of Nicandra physaloides (L) Gaertn in Calves. Bull. Anim.

Hlth. Prod. Afr. 59

10. A.G Thaiyah, P.N Nyaga, J.M Maribei, D Nduati, P.G Mbuthia, T.A Ngatia

(2010). Experimental Solanum incanum L poisoning in goats. Bull. Anim. Hlth.

Prod. Afr. Vol 58. No.1

11. Thaiya, A.G., Gitau, P., Gitau, G.K., and Nyaga, P.N. (2009). Bovine

papillomatosis and its management with an autogenous virus vaccine in Kiambu

district, Kenya. Kenya veterinarian 33: 16-19.

12. Muthee, J.K., Mbaria, J.M., Thaiya, A.G. and Gakuya, D.W. (2009). Acute

toxicity of Nicandra physaloides (L) Gaertn in cattle and mice. Kenya veterinarian

33: 1-6.

13. Bebora, L.C., Thaiyah, A.G., Mbuthia, P.G., Njagi, L.W., Ngatia, T.A. and

Nyaga, P.N. (2007). A case of Newcastle disease in parrots in Nairobi, Kenya.

Bull. Anim. Hlth. Prod. Afr. 55:292-295.

14. J.K. Wabacha, C.M. Mulei, N.P. Gitonga, M.J. Njenga, A.G.Thaiyah and J.

Nduhiu (2007). Atypical dermatophilosis of sheep in Kenya. J. S. Afr. Vet. Ass.

78(3): 178-181.

15. M. J. Njenga, J.N. Kuria, R.G. Wahome, P.B. Gathura, A.G.Thaiya, C.G. Maina,

J. Mwangi (2006). An investigation into a Human Anthrax outbreak in Maragua

District, Central Kenya. Kenya veterinarian Vol. 30 (2) 62-67.

16. J.K. Wabacha, N.P. Gitonga, M.J. Njenga, A.G.Thaiyah and C.M. Mulei (2006).

An outbreak of acute bovine dermatophilosis in a large scale dairy herd in Kenya.

Bull. Anim. Hlth. Prod. Afr. 54:144-147.

Recent Scientific meetings and workshops

_________________________________________________________

1. 3rd

International One Health congress, 15-18th

march 2015. Amsterdam,

Netherlands. Presented the paper: One Health key knowledge and training needs

among service providers in Kenya. Thaiyah, A.G. Kirui, G. Mwanthi, M and

Koskei, P.

2. OHCEA 1st One Health conference. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 23rd-26th September 2013: One health status and in-service training needs in Kenya

3. Prince Mahidol Award “A World United Against Infectious Diseases: Cross-

sectoral Solutions” from 28 January to 2 February 2013 at the Centara Grand &

Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World, Bangkok, Thailand

4. The Seventh Global Scientific TEPHINET Conference, 10-15, November, 2012

in Amman, Jordan

Membership in professional associations

_________________________________________________________

Member of the Kenya veterinary Association (KVA)

Registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB).

Hobbies

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My hobbies include reading, swimming and body fitness in the gym.

REFEREES

_________________________________________________________

Prof. Charles M. Mulei,

Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

P.O Box 29053, Kangemi,

00625, Nairobi. KENYA

Tel: +254-722840314

E-mail: cmulei@uonbi.ac.ke

Prof. James K. Wabacha

Coordinator, SMP-AH project

AU-IBAR

P.O. Box 30786 00100

Nairobi.

Tel: +254722874870

Email: james.wabacha@au-ibar.org

Mr. Mwangi Kariuki

Group Human Resource Manager

Sarova Hotels

P.O. box 72493-00200,City square, Nairobi. Kenya.

Tel: +254-722-419870

Email: mwangi.kariuki@sarova.co.ke