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Prof. Rebecca Hugiru Ngumburu Karanja

Professor, Department of Plant Sciences

Home School of Pure & Applied Sciences Department of Plant Sciences Prof. Rebecca Hugiru Ngumburu Karanja

Prof. Rebecca Hugiru Ngumburu Karanja

Professor, Department of Plant Sciences

Academic Qualifications

PhD

Refereed Journal Articles

  1. Nang’oni Mary Stella, Muo Kasina, Karanja Rebecca, , Guantai Mary, Kinyanjui Rahab, Omuse Evanson , Lattorff Michael, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Marian Ada, Samira A Mohamed and Thomas Dubois (2025) Annual Diversity Of Honey Bee Pollen Sources In Two Pumpkin Growing Landscapes, Machakos County, Kenya. Journal of Pollination Ecology, 38(7), 2025, pp 97-109.DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2025)809.
  2. Kasiera W ,Pozo M. I,Toroitich K, Karanja R ,Odhiambo M , Jaramillo J, Hundt B, van Langevelde F& Nkoba K (2024). When size matters: effectiveness of three endemic African stingless bees as watermelon pollinators. Apidologie (2024) 55:48 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-024-01092-6 INRAE, DIB and Springer-Verlag France SAS. Springer Nature, 2024.8.11.
  3. Muthama E, Samita NE, Dharani N & Karanja R (2024). Enhancing Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices: A Focus on the Production of African Indigenous Vegetables and Pulses in Kenya. Int J Agriculture Technology. 2024; 4(1): 1-11.
  4. Nang’oni M, W, Karanja R , Guantai M.M,& Omuse E.R & Kasina, M. (2023). Pollinator Diversity and Floral Calendar of Forage Resources for Pumpkin, Machakos County, Kenya. African Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences.Volume 4
  5. Muia, E.M., Karanja, R ., Samita, N.E., Dharani, N (2023-September) Impacts of Selected Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices on African Indigenous Vegetables in Kenyan Drylands. Trends in Agricultual Sciences.DOI: 10.17311/tas.2023.378.386
  6. Wairimu K.J , Rebecca N . Karanja, and Ngaruiya G.W (2023). Indigenous Use and Commercialization of Urtica dioica l. from Local Communities of Kieni West Sub County, Nyeri County, Kenya. Jounal of Environmental Science and Public Health. ISSN: 2575-9612.DOI:10.26502/jesph.96120183.
  7. Eregae, J.E , Njogu P.M , Karanja R.H & Gichua M.K. (2023) Economic Assessment of Selected Regulatory Ecosystem Services (RES) in the Elgeyo and Nyambene Watersheds Ecosystems in Kenya. Open Journal of Forestry, 2023, 13, 200-224. https://www.scirp.org/journal/ojf ISSN Online: 2163-0437ISSN Print: 2163-0429. DOI: 10.4236/ojf.2023.132013.
  8. Koech J, Karanja, R.H , Kurgat , J.K , Mokaya H.O, Thomas Dubois & Lattorff M.G (2023),Pesticide contamination and their botanical sources in pollen loads collected by honeybees in Kenya: A spatio-temporal context. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 343 (2023) 108264.
  9. Changa Y, Middleton R, Ogawab , Gregory, T.Y, Steinera VL.M, Kovaleve A, Karanja R.H , Rudall P.J, Glover B.J , Stanislav N. Gorbe , and Vignolina, S. (2021); Cell wall composition determines handedness reversal in helicoidal cellulose architectures of Pollia condensata fruits. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. PNAS 2021 Vol. 118 No. 51 e2111723118: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2111723118
  10. Chebet G, Mbugua P.K and Karanja R. (2021) Uses and community perception on the value and status of Prunus africana (Hook. F) Kalkm across Western Mau Forest. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 11, Issue 11, November 2021. ISSN 2250-3153. DOI:10.29322/IJSRP.11.11.2021.p11905. http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.11.11.2021.p11905
  11. Nyanumba N., Karanja R.H . & Gikungu M. (2021)Diversity and Abundance of Bee Flower Visitors of Beans in Borabu Sub-County, Western Kenya. Journal of Horticulture and Plant Research . ISSN: 2624-814X, Vol. 13, pp 24-31. doi:10.18052/www.scipress.com/JHPR.13.24.
  12. Eregae J.E , Njogu P.W , Karanja RH & Gichua M (2021) Economic Valuation for Cultural and Passive Ecosystem Services Using a Stated Preference (Contingent Valuation Method (CVM)Case of the Elgeyo Watershed Ecosystem, Kenya. International Journal of Forestry Research Volume 2021, Article ID 5867745, 12 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5867745
  13. Macharia JM, Gikungu MW, Karanja RH and Okoth S (2020). Managed bees as pollinators and vectors of bio control agent against grey mold disease in strawberry plantations. African Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 16(12), pp. 1674-1680, December, 2020 DOI: 10.5897/AJAR2020.15203. Article Number: 62FF03B65536 ISSN: 1991-637X Copyright 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.academicjournals.org/AJAR
  14. Karanja R , Muia, A.W, Ngigi A.N, Kariuki C, Kariuki, M.J & Mukundi, R.N (2020) Effects of pesticide use on weeds, pollinators and microbial activity in Nzoia Sugar Basin of Western Kenya. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation. Vol. 12(4), pp. 283-290, October-December 2020 DOI: 10.5897/IJBC2019.1365 Article Number: 0C7611764936 ISSN 2141-243X ISSN 2141-243X Copyright 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.academicjournals.org/IJBC
  15. Nyamwamu N. C, Karanja, R . & Mwangi, P.N (2020) Relation between Soil Weed Seedbank and Weed Management Practises and Diversity in Farms in Kisii Central Sub County, Nyanza. Journal of Horticulture and Plant Research. Journal of Horticulture and Plant Research. ISSN: 2624-814X, Vol. 10, pp 1-14.doi:10.18052/www.scipress.com/JHPR.10.1.
  16. Nyamwamu, N.C, Karanja, R. & Mwangi, P.N (2019) Diversity of Weed Species in Farms Kisii Central Sub-County, Western Kenya. Journal of Horticulture and Plant Research. Journal of Horticulture and Plant Research .ISSN: 2624-814X, Vol. 6, pp 11-19 .SciPress Ltd., Switzerland.
  17. Nyamwamu N. C, Karanja, R. & Mwangi, P.N (2017) Influence of weed management practices on weed diversity in farms in Kisii Central Sub County, Western Kenya. International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovative Technology ISSN: 2313-3759 Vol. 4 No. 10.
  18. Patent: Koimburi B.N.,Gitau, M.K, Wangai, L.N, Karau, G.M., Karanja R.H.N & Ndura, P.K (2015): Capparis tomentosa; Medicinal product used in management of chronic diseases (2015).
  19. Wangai N. Laura, Brenda Wamae Waithera, Muriira Geoffrey Karau, Ndura Boniface Koimburi, Philip Karanja Ndura, Rebecca Karanja, Michael Kimani Gitau and Peter Kirira ( 2015); Investigation of the in vitro antioxidant activity, in vivo antidiabetic efficacy and safety of Capparis tomentosa aqueous roots extracts in male alloxanized mice. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2015; 3(1): 42-47.
  20. Karanja R.H, Gikungu, M.W, Njoroge G.N & Newton L.E. (2014) Pollination Efficiency of bee species pollinating Coffea arabica in Kiambu County Kenya. Current Research Journal of Biological Science.
  21. Kuja J.O , Jackson R.R , Godfrey O. Sune, Karanja R.H , Lagat Z.O and Carvell G.E(2012). Nectar Meals Of A Mosquito-Specialist Spider. Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. Volume 2012, Article ID 898721, 7 pages: doi:10.1155/2012/898721
  22. Karanja R.H, Gikungu, M.W, Njoroge G.N, Newton L.E. and Kihoro J.M (2013).The role of bee pollinators in improving berry weight and coffee cup quality. Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 5(3): 52-55, 2013
  23. Karanja R.H, Gikungu, M.W, Njoroge G.N & Newton L.E. and Kihoro J.M (2011).Comparison of Bee Pollinators of Coffee in Organic and Conventional Farms. Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 3(6): 469-474, 2011 ISSN:2041-3890
  24. Karanja R.H, Gikungu, M.W, Njoroge G.N & Newton L.E. (2010) Bee interactions with wild flora around organic and conventional coffee farms in Kiambu district, central Kenya. Journal of Pollination Ecology, 1(2), 2010 pp 7-12.
  25. Karanja R.H.N. (2009). Conservation status of exploited endangered species, Mount Kenya. VDM Publishing house.
  26. Njoroge, G.N, Ngamau, K., Wanjala, C. & Karanja R. H.N (2008). Pollination studies in various cropping systems in Mwingi: Case study of Agrobiodiversity. Project report F.A.O 2008.
  27. Proposal Review for Climate Smart Agriculture Projects 17 th to 20 th September 2019.
  28. International good practice for biodiversity management in development projects" training course (5 March 2019, Nairobi)
  29. The Economic Assessment of Landbased Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. European Union/GIZ/UNDP
  30. Researching the convergence of sustainable Agriculture, Informal Community Learning and Appropriate Technology. June 2018.
  31. Fundamentals of Oil and Gas exploration and Production: Key environmental considerations- Executive 90-minute Webinar introducing key environmental considerations related to oil and gas exploration and production. Webinar hosted by : Marisol Estrella, Saad Ibrahim, Joppe Cramwinckel, Inga Petersen, Chidinma Zik-Ikeorha Date : Thursday, 19 July 2018.
  32. Peer Reviewers Training. Commission for University Education.
  33. Kenya Climate Action Learning Conference (UKAID Climate Action SDG 13:Kenya’s Journey and the Path Ahead). May 2018.
  34. Climate Resilience in International Value Chains. "Becoming a Climate Expert" Training of Trainers” training by International Trade Centre (ITC). June 2018
  35. Measuring Green House Gases Emissions using EX-ACT tool for AFOLU. World Bank Online Course.
  36. Community Mitigation for Climate Change in Agriculture (Micca) 2013/2014 .FAO
  37. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) 2012: Exploring tradeoffs around farming livelihoods and Environment.
  38. Netherland Government (NFP / TP-Fellowship) International Trainers of Trainers on Wetland Management 2010: Facilitation and Multi-stakeholder Processes and Curriculum Development.
  39. Earth watch Institute Award 2009 to study Ecological / Environmental Monitoring at Mt Mulanje-Malawi.
  40. Ethno-ecology, Community-based Conservation and Participatory Video. Sponsored by Christensen fund-Port Elizabeth South Africa (2007)
  41. UNESCO (People and Plants initiative) Msc Scholarship (1998-2001).

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, of Environment Institute of Kenya . Member No: EIK/1/1593
  • Registered Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit Lead Expert, National Environmental Management Authority, Kenya (NEMA). Registration Number 2680
  • Member, Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) 2021 to 2023
  • Vetted Climate Change and Resilience Expert for UNDP
  • Member, Ecological Society of Eastern Africa (ESEA)
  • Former Patron, Jomo Kenyatta Model Of United Nations (JKMUN)