CS Ruku pays tribute to late Prof. Jenesio Kinyamario

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has paid tribute to National Biosafety Authority chairman Prof. Jenesio Ikindu Kinyamario, who died on January 13 after a short illness.

Prof. Kinyamario, an emeritus professor at the University of Nairobi, is remembered as one of the country’s foremost environmental scholars and was widely celebrated in scientific circles both locally and abroad.

He was also President William Ruto’s PhD supervisor during his doctoral studies in biological sciences.

In his message of condolence, Ruku described the late professor as “a remarkable scholar.”

“Prof. Kinyamario was a statesman who leveraged his expertise to build the country behind the scenes, making life-changing contributions in science and human capital development at the University of Nairobi and in various national responsibilities,” he wrote.

Ruku noted that Kinyamario was feted by global institutions and peers for his expertise in environmental safeguards, biodiversity assessments, climate change impacts on ecosystems, and the ecology of arid and semi-arid areas, adding that his work had served as a reference point for generations of scientists.

“May Prof. Jenesio Ikindu Kinyamario rest in eternal peace,” Ruku said.

The family, in a notice, described him as a devoted husband, father, scholar and public servant.

He is survived by his wife, Agatha Kinyamario, and five children.

They said the professor’s treatment journey had been an overwhelming burden on the family and appealed for generous support from friends and well-wishers as funeral preparations continue.

A requiem mass will be held at St. Paul’s Chapel, Nairobi, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, starting at 2pm.

He will be laid to rest on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at his Muchonoke home in Muchonoke Sublocation, Gitiburi Location, Mbeere North Sub-County, Embu County.

Prof. Kinyamario’s name entered public discourse after President Ruto publicly acknowledged him as his doctoral supervisor, recalling the sessions where he presented progress reports on his thesis on the impact of human activity on riparian reserves.

“Presenting my PhD progress report to the director of School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, Prof. Paul Ndegwa, and my supervisor, Prof. Jenesio Kinyamario, on the impact of human activities on riparian reserves such as Saiwa Swamp, Trans Nzoia County,” Ruto wrote in a June 14, 2016, post on his social media page.

Beyond academia, Kinyamario played key roles in national environmental regulation and policy, culminating in his position as chairman of the National Biosafety Authority Council, where he was regarded as a steady, principled and analytical voice in matters touching on scientific standards and biosafety compliance.