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Dr. Juliana Kiio

Lecturer & Chairperson, Department of Food, Nutrition & Dietetics

Home School of Health Sciences Department of Food, Nutrition & Dietetics Dr. Juliana Kiio

Dr. Juliana Kiio

Lecturer & Chairperson, Department of Food, Nutrition & Dietetics

Specialization: Food and Nutrition (Complementary Feeding, Micronutrient Deficiencies, Food Fortification, Functional Foods)

Academic Qualifications

PhD, MSc, BSc — Food and Nutrition

Research Interests

Complementary Feeding
Micronutrient Deficiencies
Food Fortification
Functional Foods

Books & Book Chapters

Kiio JN & Waweru GW (2025). Complementary feeding recipes for children aged 6-23 months in Makueni County: Based on locally available foods. Nairobi, Kenya. Copyright © HealthDiets4Africa, Kenyatta University, Kenya, 2025.
Juliana Kiio & Christine Njuguna (2020). Food Safety, from Farm to Fork, Emerging and Re-emerging Issues. Copyright © 2020 Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

  1. Abong, G., Wanjala, G., Njeru, N., Kilonzi, S., Kiio, J., Oloo, B., ... & Kavunja, D. (2025). Thirteen-year surveillance of aflatoxin contamination in nuts and nut products in Kenya (2012–2024). Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1677074.
  2. Odongo, N. O., Akingbemisilu, T. H., Jordan, I., Bodjrenou, S., Kiio, J., Teuber, R., & Termote, C. (2025). Rural−urban built food environment disparities in Kenya: Applying 'vendor neighbourhood' as a lens for built food environment characterisation. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 102434.
  3. Neema Muinde, Judith Kimiywe & Juliana Kiio (2025). Paternal Role on Feeding and Childcare: Exploring Practices, Perceptions and Challenges in Makueni County; A Qualitative study. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 13(6).
  4. Beatrice K. Mutiga, Eunice W. Njogu & Juliana N. Kiio (2025). Demographic and socio-economic factors associated with stunting among children aged 0-23 months attending Sub-County Hospitals, Meru County, Kenya. Int J Community Med Public Health, 12(9):3849-3855.
  5. Bridget Nduta Mwaniki, Sophie Ochola & Juliana Kiio (2025). Investigating the Interplay Between Physical- and Social-Environmental Factors, Eating Habits and Nutrition Status among Nutrition Students at a Kenyan Middle-Level Institution - A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 15(9).
  6. Bridget Nduta Mwaniki, Sophie Ochola & Juliana Kiio (2025). Gap Analysis: Nutrition Knowledge Assessment and Practical Application Evaluations among College Nutrition Students at a Middle-Level Institution, Kenya. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 15(9), 246-263.
  7. J Ateka, C Mwangi, F Obebo, J Kiio, J Muniu (2025). Influence of knowledge and attitudes on consumption of Biofortified iron Beans: Evidence from Kenya. VeriXiv, 2, 222.
  8. Obebo, F., Ateka, J., Muniu, J., Kiio, J., & Mwangi, C. (2025). Shaping Demand for Nutritious Crops: Insights on Consumer Willingness to Pay for Iron-Biofortified Beans in Kenya. AERC.
  9. Mugo, B. M., Kiio, J., & Munyaka, A. (2024). Effect of blanching time–temperature on potassium and vitamin retention/loss in kale and spinach. Food Science & Nutrition, 00, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.4186
  10. Nyakundi, P. N., Kiio, J., Munyaka, A. W., Galgalo, D. A., & Lohner, S. (2024). Consumption Pattern of Tea is associated with Serum Ferritin Levels of Women of Childbearing Age in Nandi County, Kenya: A Cross-sectional Study. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism.
  11. Kiio, J., Nduati, R., Kuria, E., Ochola, S., & Okoth, J. (2023). Bioaccessibility of iron and zinc in selected complementary foods fortified with micronutrient powders in Kenya. International Food Research Journal, 30(2), 514-523.
  12. Kiio, J., Ochola, S., Nduati, R., Kuria, E., Mathenge, S., & Okoth, J. (2022). Bioequivalence of micronutrient powders to Corn-soy Blend on serum zinc concentration of children (6-36 months) with Moderate Acute Malnutrition in Thika urban slums, Kenya: A cluster randomized controlled trial. PloS one, 17(9), e0274870. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274870
  13. SK Kivaya, JN Kiio & Eunice W. Njogu (2022). Training, knowledge and skills of community health volunteers on complementary feeding of children aged 6-23 months in Machakos, Kenya. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 9(7), 3082-3089.
  14. Nyakundi, P., Kiio, J., & Munyaka, A. (2022). Serum ferritin levels are associated with frequent consumption of iron- and ascorbate-rich foods among women of childbearing age in Nandi County, Kenya. Journal of Nutritional Science, 11, E6. doi:10.1017/jns.2022.5
  15. Mwanzia, M., Kiio, J., & Okoth, E. (2022). Formulation, Processing and Characterization of Fermented Probiotic Mango Juice Using Selected Starter Cultures. European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 4(1), 86-91. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejfood.2022.4.1.437
  16. Patrick Nyamemba Nyakundi, Juliana Kiio & Ann Munyaka (2020). Does Education Level, Household Income, Budget for Food and Birth Interval Predict the Iron Status of Women of Childbearing age in Nandi County, Kenya? EC Nutrition, 15(10), 41-49.
  17. Fidelis N. Kilonzo, Winnie M. K., Joyce W. K., Juliana K., Daniel K., Catherine M., and Scholastica M. (2020). Wastewater Reuse For Urban And Peri-Urban Agriculture: Why It's Not Happening Soon? Journal of Engineering in Agriculture and the Environment (JEAE), 6(2), 32-40.
  18. Co-author, Kenyan Food Composition Tables (KFCT) policy brief 2018. Improving decision making through food composition data: an essential tool for policy makers, health practitioners, researchers, industry and agricultural sector.
  19. J. Kiio & B. De Meulenaer (2014). Generation of chicken antibodies for the immunochemical detection of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) proteins. The National Council for Science (NCST) — 4th Annual Conference for Dissemination of Research Results and Exhibition of Innovations, May 3–6, 2011. Conference proceedings.
  20. J. Kiio & B. De Meulenaer (2011). Immuno-chemical detection of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) proteins using chicken antibodies. Food and Agricultural Immunology, 1-10.

Funded Projects & Grants

Combating Malnutrition in Africa through Diversification of the Food System (2023–2028) — EU Research Consortium on HEALTHYDIETS4AFRICA, with Kenyatta University and 18 collaborating institutions across Africa and Europe.
Catalyzing Food Environment Policy Actions (FEPAction) (2022–2024) — Funded by IDRC Canada; collaborators APHRC, MOH, JKUAT & GAIN.
Eco-friendly Urban & Peri-Urban Agriculture (UPA) Evaluation (2016–2017) — Funded by the Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Grant.
Bioequivalence of Micronutrient Powders to Conventional Fortification on Zinc Status (2012–2014) — Funded by the National Research Fund (NRF), Kenya.

Conference Presentations

  • Juliana Kiio, S. Ochola, E. Kuria and R. Nduati (2025). Micronutrient powders and conventional fortification: A bioequivalence trial. IUNS ICN International Congress of Nutrition, Paris, August 24–29, 2025 (Poster).
  • Ondiek Felix, Juliana Kiio, Eid Brima, Parvez Haris (2025). Levels of Acrylamide in Foods Consumed by Mothers and Children in Makueni and Nairobi Counties. World Food Safety Day Regional Webinar 2025.
  • Donkor, E. et al., incl. Kiio, J. (2023). Combating malnutrition in Africa through diversification of the food systems. Tropentag 2023, Berlin, Germany (Poster).
  • Juliana Kiio (2019). Baobab fruit pulp and Acacia gum: Functional food ingredients for the 21st Century. Workshop on Health Promoting Properties of African Food Plants, Panari Hotel, Nairobi, Oct 7–8, 2019.
  • Kiio J.N. et al. (2019). Potential for Wastewater Re-use in Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture to Mitigate Household Food Insecurity in Nairobi, Kenya. International Food Safety Conference, Kenyatta University, May 20–24, 2019.
  • Juliana Kiio, S. Ochola, E. Kuria and R. Nduati (2017). Bioequivalence of Micronutrient Powders to Conventional Fortification on Serum Zinc Levels. IUNS 21st ICN, Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 15–20, 2017.
  • Juliana Kiio, S. Ochola, E. Kuria and R. Nduati (2016). Is Home Fortification Effective on Improving Serum Zinc Levels Among Moderately Malnourished Children. National Food and Nutrition Symposium, Nairobi, Nov 23–24, 2016 (Oral).
  • J. Kiio, S. Ochola, E. Kuria, R. Nduati and J. Okoth (2016). Micronutrient Powders: Does the Anti-Nutrient Content Affect Bio-accessibility of Iron and Zinc? Integrated Nutrition Conference, CRS, Nairobi, Nov 14–15, 2016 (Oral).
  • Juliana Kiio (2015). Community Screening and Assessment of Dietary Intake for Food Supplementation among Malnourished Children in Thika Urban Slums, Kenya. 1st Global Conference on Patient-Centered Care, Kenyatta University, Sep 29–Oct 2, 2015.
  • Juliana Kiio (2015). Dietary Intake, Iron and Zinc Status of Moderately Malnourished Children Aged 6–36 Months in Thika Urban Slums, Kenya. FANUS 3rd Conference, Arusha, Tanzania, May 25–29, 2015.
  • Juliana Kiio (2011). Generation of chicken antibodies for the immunochemical detection of peanut proteins. NCST 4th Annual Conference, Nairobi, May 3–6, 2011.

Consultancy Work

  • October 2018 — Training of farmer groups on post-harvest handling of fruits and vegetables and value addition; project funded by the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD).
  • May 2010 — Acceptability of Wheat and Maize Flour Fortified using Different Iron Fortificants; project funded by the Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI), published in Food & Nutrition Bulletin Supplement 3, Vol. 33.

Training & Workshops

  • FAO/INFOODS training on Food Composition Databases, Nairobi, November 17–20, 2015.
  • Nutrition in Emergencies module, Kenyatta University FAO/FSAU training workshop, May 3–6, 2011.
  • Training of millers and regulatory staff on QA/QC for national flour fortification programmes, FFI/Smarter Futures, Dar es Salaam, April 4–7, 2011.
  • Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species (NUS) workshop, Nairobi, November 24–28, 2008.
  • 20th anniversary symposium "Research in Applied Nutrition: Challenges and Expectations," Brussels, December 3, 2004.

Awards & Honours

  • 3rd Best Presenter, 4th Annual Conference for Dissemination of Research Results and Exhibition of Innovations, KICC, Nairobi — National Council for Science (NCST), 2011.

Administrative Roles

  • Chairperson, Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University

Professional Affiliations

  • Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI)
  • African Nutrition Society (ANS)
  • Nutrition Society (NS)