Dr Gachanja

Position: Dean - School of Economics
Department: Economic Theory
Contact Address: P.O. Box 43844 , 00100 Nairobi
E-Mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: (+)254 020 8710901-10 Ext.3620

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Dr. Paul Mwangi Gachanja is a senior lecturer at the school. He took up his position as Dean of the School of Economics on the 1st of November 2018. 

Dr. Gachanja joined Kenyatta University in 1990 for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. His distinguished performance as an undergraduate student saw him graduate with a First Class Honours later in 1995. He would later join the Department of Economics as a postgraduate student earning himself a Master of Arts degree in 1997. He became a faculty member and later enrolled for his doctoral degree in KU. In 2008, he was conferred with a doctorate in Economics from Kenyatta University.

Before this appointment as Dean, Dr. Gachanja held various leadership positions at the University both at the school and at the University levels. At the school level, Dr. Gachanja was the founding head of the Economic Theory department as well as acting dean of the school for ad-hoc periods since 2008. He held this position for six years until 2014. Prior to his appointment at the department of Economic Theory, Dr. Gachanja worked in many capacities including serving as the examination coordinator for the department of Economics as well as at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Since 2015, he has been the Chairman of the Post Graduate Committee at the school where he ensured successful PhD completion rate of over 95%..

At the University level, Dr. Gachanja has diligently served in various appointments. Since 2010, he rendered distinguished service to the University as the Chairman of the Tender Evaluation Committee. Here, he facilitated an honest and illustrious tender evaluation process for over four years. In addition, Dr. Gachanja served in a lead team of University officials for a multi-million Private-Public-Partnership project that intends to develop ultra-modern residential facilities for students.

Dr. Gachanja is known for his prowess in Microeconomic theory and Quantitative Methods; fields that he has a long standing experience in teaching and research. His main research interests are Efficiency and Productivity Economics and has recently developed enormous interest in Development Economics particularly in Low Income Countries as well as the Economics of the Maritime Industry. He has incredible experience in University curriculum development and review and has consulted for the Africa Economic Research Consortium’s Collaborative Masters and PhD Programmes (AERC – CMAP and CPP) as well as COMESA. He is a seasoned publisher in peer reviewed journals, books and book chapters as well as the dailies on matters economics. When he is out of class, Dr. Gachanja mentors early career scholars and innovators, an effort that has seen many of his mentees take up further studies in leading Universities abroad as others compete and participate in global innovation platforms. 

Publications

  • Njiraini, P., Omolo, J., & Gachanja, P. (2018). ”Innovation and Micro and Small Enterprises Growth Performance : Evidence from Kenya”, IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM) e-ISSN: 2278-487X, p-ISSN: 2319- 7668. Volume 20, Issue 10. Ver. I (October. 2018), PP 09-16. https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-2010010916

  • Mbugua, J., Gachanja, P.M, Muli, J.M., & Karagu, S.M., (2018) “Determinants of choice of mobile money transfer service providers in Nairobi County, Kenya” International Journal of Development and Sustainability Vol. 7, No. 11(2018).

  • John, M., & Gachanja, P. (2018). ”Mobile Money Transfer Services: an Analysis of Household Choices in Nairobi County, Kenya”, International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management. United Kingdom 6(10), 27–42, October 2018 http://ijecm.co.uk/

  • Njaramba, S. G., Gachanja, P. M. & Mugendi, C. (2018) “Dynamic Relationship between the Housing Price and Selected Macroeconomic Variables in Kenya”, Journal of Economics, 2(1), 35-59.

  • Njaramba, S. G &Gachanja, P. M. (2018) “The sources of housing prices growth in Kenya”, International Journal of Economics, 3(1), 7-30.

  • Njiraini, P., Gachanja, P.M. & Omolo J.O. (2018) “Drivers of technological innovations: Evidence from Kenya’s micro and small enterprises”, International Journal of Current Research, 10, (5), 69942-69946.

  • Gachanja, P. and Kinyanjui, G.K (2016) “Household Poverty Determinants in Kenya: A Demographic and Health Survey Wealth Index Approach” The Journal of Pan African Studies Vol. 9, No. 3, pp 52-65.
  • Kinyanjui, G.K, Gachanja, P.M, Muchai, J.M (2015) “Technical Efficiency of Hospitals owned by Faith Based Organisations in Kenya” Journal of Pan African Studies Vol. 8, No. 6 September 2015.
  • Mutunga, S.L, Minja, D, Gachanja, P (2014) “Resource Configurations on Sustainable Competitive Advantage of Food and Beverage Firms in Kenya: A Resource Based View of the Firm” European Journal of Business and Management Vol. 6 No. 24 pp 147-157.

  • Thuku, G.K, Gachanja, P, Obere, O (2013) “Effects of Reforms on Productivity of Coffee in Kenya” International Journal of Business and social science. Vol. 4 No. 15, pp 196-212.

  • Mugenda, O, Maina, L and Gachanja, P (2013) “Industries and Communities: Symbiotic dependency and sustainability of the Magana town industrial park in Kenya” Prime journal of social science. Vol. 2(11), ISSN: 2315-5051
  • Gachanja, P.M, Mugenda, O.M and Maina, L “Integrating Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development in Industrialization” International Journal of Science, Commerce and Humanities. Vol. 1 No. 7, pp173-183.
  • Gachanja, P , Were, N and Etyang, M (2013) Total Factor Productivity Change In The Kenyan Manufacturing Sector: A Malmquist Index Analysis. Scholar’s press, Duetschland/Germany.
  • Mdoe, J.I, Gachanja, P.M, and Muchai, D.M (2013) “Total factor Productivity change in the Non-life Insurance Sector, Kenya: 2005-2009” International Journal Of Science, Commerce and Humanities. Vol. 1 No. 2, pp 68-84.
  • Thuku, G.K, Gachanja, P.M, and Obere, A (2013) “The Impact of Population Change on Economic Growth in Kenya” International journal of Economics and management sciences Vol.2 No.6 , pp 43-60.
  • Gachanja P. M. (2003) “Determinants of Gender Earnings Differentials in the Informal Set-up” in Momanyi, C and Wawire, N. H. W. )Eds) Disparities in Developing countries: Types, Challenges and the Way forward Vol. 1. Disparities in social sciences, politics and Gender Association of Third World Studies - Kenya pp. 238 - 244.
  • Gachanja P. M. and Kosimbei G. K. (2003) “Agriculture production subsidies in developed countries, which way out for developing countries” in Momanyi, C and Wawire, N. H. W.) Eds) Disparities in Developing countries: Types, Challenges and the Way forward Vol. 1. Disparities in social sciences, politics and Gender Association of Third World Studies - Kenya pp. 151 - 156

Conference Proceedings

  • Kinyanjui, G. K., Gachanja, P. M., & Mdoe, I. J., (2018). On The Economics of Defense: Does Military Expenditure Impact Economic Growth? The case of Kenya: AREF, Wits Business School, Johannesburg South Africa, 22 - 23 August 2018.

Work in Progress

  • Gachanja, P.M. Njiraini, P., & Omolo J.O. (2018) “Factors influencing Micro and Small Enterprise’s decision to innovate in Kenya” - Under review: Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research.
  • Jackson, M. I., Kinyanjui, G. K., & Gachanja, P. M. (2018). Firms Reaction to Credit Supply Shocks: Evidence from Kenya.
  • Gachanja, P.M. & Kimaita, S.K. (2018). Port Efficiency and Its Effects on Trade flows: Case of Port of Mombasa.
  • Gachanja, P.M. & Githinji, A.K. (2018). Potential of Blue Economy for Blue Growth.
  • Gachanja, P.M. & Kimaita, S.K. (2018). Technical Efficiency Analysis of the Berths in Kenyan Ports