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DR Maurice Karani Murungi

OffLine
Staff Information
PERSONAL DETAILS
Designation
Lecturer
Corporate Email
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Personal Email
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Division / Faculty
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
Directorate / Dept
Veterinary Public Health Pharmacology and Toxicology
Section
Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics
SUMMARY

Dr. Maurice Karani is a veterinarian and university lecturer with a passion for animal and public health. He teaches at Egerton University and works on projects that improve disease control and food safety in Africa. His work focuses on how animal diseases spread and how to manage them in ways that are both practical and affordable. Maurice works closely with farmers, governments, and international organizations to find solutions that protect both animals and people.

ORCID
http://0000-0001-6467-4352
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
  • PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology and One Health (in progress)
    Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES),
    Department of Epidemiology and One Health,
    University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
    Research title: Evaluating Domestic Dog Population Dynamics, Movements, and Vaccination Economics in Machakos County, Kenya
  • MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health (2015–2017)
    The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, United Kingdom (Distance Learning)
    Thesis title: Seroepidemiological Survey for Acute Q Fever Antibodies and Risk Factors Among Patients with Febrile Condition in Two Hospitals in Busia County
  • Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) (2008–2013)
    Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Kenya
FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION
  • Veterinary epidemiology and public health
  • One Health approaches to disease control
  • Zoonotic disease surveillance and control
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data systems and analysis
  • Dog population ecology and rabies control
  • Health policy engagement and strategy development
  • Livestock value chain analysis and food safety
  • Project design, coordination, and training delivery
  • Data management and digital tools (e.g., ODK, DHIS2)
  • Community engagement, stakeholder mobilization, and science communication
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) – Certified in project planning, implementation, and monitoring
  • 8th International Course on Rabies Surveillance and Control – Institut Pasteur, Harare, Zimbabwe (Dec 2024)
  • African Swine Fever in Resource-Limited Settings Training – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • Syndromic Surveillance Training – ILRI/DVS Zoonosis Lab, Busia, Kenya
  • Gather® Data Collection Tool Training – Kestrel Technology Group, ILRI Nairobi
  • Open Data Kit (ODK) Training – ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya
  • Workshop on Phylogenetics: From Faeces to Phylogeny – ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya
WORK EXPERIENCE

 

  • Research Project Coordinator / Officer, ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya
    March 2017 – September 2020
    Coordinated implementation of the Fleming Fund and ZooLinK projects focused on One Health, AMR surveillance, and zoonotic disease control. Trained over 200 professionals, managed multidisciplinary teams, and contributed to national policy development.
  • Research Assistant & Graduate Intern, ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya
    June 2013 – March 2017
    Contributed to field research under the Urban Zoo and livestock value chain projects. Designed data collection protocols, facilitated focus group discussions, and supported manuscript development and community engagement.
KEY PROJECTS
  • PhD Research (Ongoing):
    Evaluating Domestic Dog Population Dynamics, Movements, and Vaccination Economics in Machakos County, Kenya
    University of Liverpool, UK – Focuses on dog ecology and rabies control strategies using epidemiological and economic approaches.
  • ASF Control Strategy for Kenya (2024):
    Consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to develop Kenya’s national African Swine Fever (ASF) control strategy.
  • Fleming Fund Regional AMR Program (Ongoing):
    Supports implementation of AMR surveillance and data systems across East and Southern Africa, including training curriculum development and stakeholder engagement.
  • ZooLinK Project (2017–2021):
    Integrated human, animal, and environmental health data to develop One Health surveillance systems for zoonoses in Kenya.
  • Fleming Fund Country Grant – Kenya (2017–2021):
    Strengthened AMR surveillance through capacity building, data collection, and support to national strategy formulation.
  • Q Fever and Zoonotic Disease Surveillance (2015–2018):
    Conducted a seroepidemiological survey and risk factor analysis for acute Q fever in Busia County hospitals.
  • Urban Zoo & Livestock Value Chain Studies (2013–2017):
    Investigated disease emergence, food safety, and value chain risks in Nairobi’s livestock systems using a One Health approach.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
  • One Health approaches to disease surveillance and control
  • Epidemiology and ecology of zoonotic diseases
  • Dog population dynamics and rabies elimination strategies
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and policy
  • Animal health economics and cost-effectiveness of interventions
  • Livestock value chains and food safety risks
  • Digital tools and data systems for veterinary public health
  • Community-based disease prevention and public engagement
  • Surveillance system design and implementation in resource-limited settings
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
  • Hassell JM, Muloi DM, VanderWaal KL, Ward MJ, Bettridge J, Gitahi N, Ouko T, Imboma T, Akoko J, Karani M, Muinde P (2023). Epidemiological connectivity between humans and animals across an urban landscape. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(29), e2218860120.
  • Murungi MK, Muloi DM, Muinde P, Githigia SM, Akoko JM, Fevre EM, Rushton J, Alarcon P (2021). The Nairobi Pork Value Chain: Mapping and Assessment of Governance, Challenges, and Food Safety Issues. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 60.
  • Muloi DM, Wee BA, McClean DM, Ward MJ, Pankhurst L, Murungi MK, et al. (2022). Population genomics of Escherichia coli in livestock-keeping households across a rapidly developing urban landscape. Nature Microbiology, Mar 14:1–9.
  • Stevens L, Rooke S, Falzon LC, Machuka EM, Momanyi K, Murungi MK, et al. (2020). The genome of Caenorhabditis bovis. Current Biology, 30(6), 1023–1031.
  • Akoko JM, Macleod E, Thomas LF, Alarcon P, Kang'ethe E, Kivali V, Muloi D, Muinde P, Murungi MK, et al. (2019). Detection of circulating antigens for Taenia spp. among pigs slaughtered for consumption in Nairobi. Parasite Epidemiology and Control, 4, e00093.
  • Muloi D, Alarcon P, Ombui J, Abdullahi B, Muinde P, Murungi MK, Rushton J, Fevre EM (2018). Mapping of the camel milk chain supplying Nairobi: a framework for public health. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 159.
  • Kiambi S, Alarcon P, Rushton J, Murungi MK, et al. (2018). Mapping the dairy value chain in Nairobi: an analytical framework for food safety. Agricultural Systems, 167, 47–60.
  • Alarcon P, Fevre EM, Murungi MK, et al. (2017). Mapping of beef, sheep, and goat food systems in Nairobi: policy and structural insights. Agricultural Systems, 152, 1–17.
  • Alarcon P, Fevre EM, Muinde P, Murungi MK, et al. (2017). Urban livestock systems in Nairobi: diversity and disease management. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 4, 171.
  • Maud C, Alarcon P, Murungi MK, et al. (2017). The broiler meat system in Nairobi: value chain and sanitary risks. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 147, 90–99.
  • Onono J, Alarcon P, Murungi MK, et al. (2017). Egg production challenges and value chain mapping in Nairobi. Agricultural Systems, 159, 1–8.
CONFERENCES & INVITED PRESENTATIONS
  • Murungi MK, Falzon L, Fevre EM (2019). An integrated surveillance system for zoonoses in Western Kenya. 53rd Kenya Veterinary Association Conference, Kisumu.
  • Murungi MK, Cook EA, Fevre EM, Granville W (2018). Q fever antibody survey among febrile patients in Busia. 15th ISVEE Conference, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
  • Murungi MK, Cook EA, Fevre EM (2018). Establishing a cysticercosis serum bank. 52nd Kenya Veterinary Association Conference, Nyeri.
  • Murungi MK, Muinde P, Fevre EM, et al. (2016). Food safety practices in Nairobi’s pork system. 4th International One Health Congress, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Murungi MK, Muinde P, Fevre EM, et al. (2015–2016). Food safety and value chain risks in Nairobi’s pork system.
    • 49th KVA Conference, Meru (2016)
    • 11th Safe Pork Conference, Porto, Portugal (2015)
    • 48th KVA Conference, Busia (2015)
HONORS, PRIZE AND AWARDS
  • Best Oral Presentation (Student Category) – 11th Safe Pork Conference, Porto, Portugal (2015)
  • Full Scholarship – One Health and EcoHealth Conference, Melbourne, Australia (2016)
  • Partial Scholarship – 15th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE), Chiang Mai, Thailand (2017)
  • Commonwealth Scholarship – 3-year award to pursue MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London (2014)
  • Kennel Club Charitable Trust Inspiration Award – For outstanding community-focused veterinary work (Date not specified in CV)
TEACHING AREAS

Undergraduate Teaching:

  • Veterinary Epidemiology
  • Public Health and Zoonoses
  • Veterinary Economics and Business Management
POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION
MASTERS LEVEL :

None 

PhD. LEVEL :

None

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