Prof. Abuya Joshua Olang’o

Prof. Abuya Joshua Olang’o is a distinguished academic, researcher, innovation leader and higher education administrator with over 20 years of progressive experience in academic leadership, research management, international partnerships, consultancy and institutional development across East Africa. He currently serves as Acting Registrar (Planning, Partnerships, Research & Innovation) at Kibabii University, Kenya. His distinguished leadership career includes previously discharging the duties of the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration, Finance & Development), and as well as Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Planning, Partnerships, Research & Innovation). He has also held academic and administrative leadership positions in Kenya and Rwanda. Prof. Abuya holds a PhD in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, an MBA in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension. He is a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS), United Kingdom.

An accomplished research leader, Prof. Abuya has led and contributed to over 10 competitively funded research projects and consultancies, collectively attracting approximately KES 856 million from international and regional funding agencies, including the European Union, Innovate UK/UKRI, Africa UniNET, the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), and WAITRO. Notably, he is the Principal Investigator of the Innovate UK/UKRI-funded African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP) involving Kibabii University (Kenya), the University of Huddersfield (UK), and Carbon Footprint Ltd (Kenya). The partnership developed the innovative EcoDryer technology, which transforms sugarcane bagasse waste into valuable biomass resources for sustainable energy production, advancing circular bioeconomy development, climate-smart industrialization and research commercialization. The partnership has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2026 Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership Outstanding KTP Impact Award.

A prolific scholar, postgraduate supervisor and consultant, Prof. Abuya has published extensively in logistics, supply chain management, procurement, organizational performance and sustainable development. His professional contributions extend to research capacity building, strategic planning, policy development, institutional governance and industry–academia collaboration across Africa.Prof. Abuya is passionate about transforming research into impactful innovations, strengthening international research partnerships and advancing Africa-led solutions to global sustainability challenges. His leadership philosophy emphasizes collaborative innovation, ethical governance, knowledge transfer and the commercialization of research for sustainable socioeconomic transformation.