Dr. ELIPHAS GITONGA MAKUNYI

Name: Eliphas Gitonga Makunyi Title/Qualifications: PhD /Dr. Department: Environmental and Occupational health Position: Chairman of Department Designation: Senior lecturer Contact address: P. O. Box 43844-00100 Nairobi- Kenya Email; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Google Scholar; https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=czVW1iEAAAAJ ORCID ID; 0000-0002-8788-742X Research gate; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eliphas-Gitonga Areas of Specialization; Family planning, Reproductive health, Nursing, Public Health, Monitoring/evaluation, medical physiology Research interests; Maternal health, adolescent and child health, behaviour change, mental health, Environmental health, climate change and health. Download Full CV

Dr. Eliphas Gitonga Makunyi is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University. He has over ten years of experience in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, research, academic leadership, and consultancy in public health and reproductive health.

Dr. Makunyi holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Reproductive Health and a Master of Public Health from Kenyatta University, a Master of Science in Medical Physiology from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Moi University. He is also a Postdoctoral Fellow with the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), where he served as the Principal Investigator for a research project on urban family planning among marginalized and vulnerable refugee women.

His teaching and research interests include reproductive health, family planning, maternal health, child health, adolescent health, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), non-communicable diseases, environmental health, occupational health, medical physiology, and monitoring and evaluation.

As a researcher, Dr. Makunyi has served as Principal Investigator in three funded research projects and has published 18 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He has convened six scientific workshops and conferences, presented 12 conference papers, attended 14 scientific conferences, and contributed to science communication through six mainstream media outputs, four blogs, and three podcasts.

Dr. Makunyi has successfully supervised 17 postgraduate students to graduation, including three PhD candidates. He also serves as an external examiner for postgraduate programmes at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Aga Khan University, and Maseno University.

Beyond academia, he has provided consultancy services to several national and international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) on post-pregnancy family planning scale-up, AMREF Health Africa, Tangaza University, the Nursing Council of Kenya, FAIMER, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Lúrio University (Mozambique), the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP), the Global Monitoring and Evaluation Network (GEMNET), Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, and Mama Ngina University College.

Within Kenyatta University, Dr. Makunyi has held numerous leadership and administrative positions, including Acting Deputy Executive Dean, Chairperson of Department, Departmental Examination Coordinator, Postgraduate Coordinator, School Examination Coordinator, and member of the Vice-Chancellor's Committee on COVID-19 Prevention.

Dr. Makunyi is a registered Nurse/Midwife with the Nursing Council of Kenya. He is an active member of the Population Association of America (PAA), the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), and the Union for African Population Studies (UAPS).

CONFERENCES/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS

• 2025: First Non-Communicable diseases at Nairobi, Kenya
• 2024: 8th Reproductive Health network Kenya annual Conference, Sarova White Sands, Mombasa, Kenya
• 2024: Climate change policy validation workshop at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi,hosted by Kenyatta University
• 2024: 1 ^ST Climate change and health conference at Kenyatta University hosted by American Institutes of Research (AIR)
• 2024: 7 ^th Reproductive Health network Kenya annual Conference, Sarova White Sands, Mombasa, Kenya
• 2023; 6^th Reproductive Health network Kenya annual Conference, Diani Reef Resort and SPA, Kenya
• 2023: Population Association of America 2023 (PAA 2023), New Orleans Louisiana, USA
• 2022: International Conference on Family Planning 2022 (ICFP 2022), Pattaya, Thailand
• 2022: International Society of Urban health conference 2022, Valencia, Spain
• 2022; 3 Panel Mini-Conference on family planning and contraception by International Union for scientific study of populations at Madeira, Portugal
• 2022; Africities Conference, Kisumu
• 2019; African population health conference, Entebbe Uganda 12^th-20^th December
• 2018: MPH curriculum validation workshop of Edna Adan University, Hargesia Somaliland, 9-11th March 2018
• 2017: 1st international conference on reproductive health, Kenyatta University Kenya; May 2017
• 2016: 1st Haemostasis and thrombosis conference, Nairobi, Kenya

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS IN ACADEMIC CONFERENCES

• 2024: 7 ^th Reproductive Health network Kenya annual Conference, Sarova White Sands,Mombasa, Kenya; use of implants among adolescents and youth aged 15-24 years in Kenya; In-depth analysis if Kenya demographic health survey 2022
• 2023; 6^th Reproductive Health network Kenya annual Conference, Diani Reef Resort and SPA, Kenya; Comparing the Use of Modern Family Planning among native and refugee young Somali women in Nairobi City, Kenya
• 2023: Population Association of America 2023 (PAA 2023), New Orleans Louisiana, USA; Dynamics in Utilization of Modern Family Planning among blended Somali Women (refugees and natives) in Nairobi City, Kenya
• 2022: International Conference on Family Planning 2022 (ICFP 2022), Pattaya, Thailand; Utilization of Family planning among urban Somali refugee women in Nairobi City, Kenya
• 2022: International Society of Urban health conference 2022; Predictors of approval for the use of family planning among blended (natives and Refugees) Somali women in Nairobi, Kenya
• 2022: International Society of Urban health conference 2022, Valencia, Spain ; The missing synergistic link between family planning and urban development in Nairobi, Kenya,https://iussp.org/sites/default/files/Eliphas%20Urban%20development%20and%20Family%20Planning%20_%20The%20Missing%20Link.pdf
• 2022; Future research ideas in urban family planning in 3 Panel meeting on family planning and contraception by International Union for scientific study of populations at Madeira, Portugal
• 2021: International Population Conference 2021 (Virtual): Family planning among blended Somali women in Nairobi, Kenya; Preliminary results; https://ipc2021.popconf.org/uploads/210125
• 2017: Three delays model in causation of obstetric fistula at 1st international conference on reproductive health, Kenyatta University Kenya; May 2017
• 2017: Potential of mobile health in prevention of obstetric fistula at 1st international conference on reproductive health, Kenyatta University Kenya; May 2017
• 2017: Birth preparedness in prevention of obstetric fistula at 1st international conference on reproductive health, Kenyatta University Kenya; May 2017
• 2016: Haemostatic effects of selected Kenyan plants in 1st Haemostasis and thrombosis conference, Nairobi, Kenya

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

• Iseme-Ondiek, R., Muia, A., Shabani, J. S., Mucheru, S., Gathu, C., Gitonga, E., Mutisya, R., Kioko, P., Safipour, J., & Witthöft, C. (2026). Participant recruitment, baseline characteristics and burden of cardiometabolic risk markers among adults with prediabetes in Kenya: insights from the fermented foods and prediabetes study. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 235, 113214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2026.113214

• Mutisya, R., Gitonga, E., Maundu, M. M., & Iseme-Ondiek, R. (2026). Implementation and acceptability of a community based intervention for cervical cancer screening amongst women of reproductive age in Kiambu County, Kenya. BMC Research Notes. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-026-07710-z

• David, M. K., Gitonga, E., & Munyoki, G. (2026). Intrapartum determinants of birth asphyxia in Machakos County Referral Hospital, Kenya. African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 20(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.12968/ajmw.2024.0032

• Ameso RA, Gitonga E, Owaka IO (2025). The intervening role of community-based health education in reducing unmet family planning needs among women of reproductive age 15 and 49 years in Siaya County, Kenya. Pan Afr Med J. 2025 Oct 31;52:89. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2025.52.89.48467. PMID: 41523867; PMCID: PMC12790397.

• Mwanza, J. N., Gitonga, E. M., & Mugo, J. (2025). Client-related factors influencing contraception uptake among postpartum women in Kitui County, Kenya. African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 19(4), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.12968/ajmw.2024.0016

• Mwanza, J. N., Gitonga, E., & Mugo, J. (2025). Influence of smartphone application reminder service on postpartum contraception among postpartum women in Kitui County, Kenya. African Journal of Health Sciences, 38(1), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajhs.v38i1.7

• Kamau, F., Gitonga, E., & Kipkalom, R. (2025). Institutional factors associated with preconception care in Kenya. African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 19(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.12968/ajmw.2024.0021

• Ameso, R. A., Gitonga, E., & Owaka, I. O. (2025). Determinants of unmet family planning needs among women of reproductive age between 15 and 49 years in Siaya County, Kenya. Pan African Medical Journal, 51, 61. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.51.61.47943

• Kamau, I. W., Keraka, M. N.,  Gitonga, E. (2024). Effect of post-discharge postnatal educational intervention on postnatal practices among low-income primiparas in Nairobi informal settlements, Kenya: a post-test quasi-experiment. The Pan African Medical Journal, 48
  
• Tyotswam, Y. S., Iseme, R. A.,  Makunyi, E. G. (2024). A randomized controlled study of the effects of targeted health education on uptake of contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Nnewi City, South-East Nigeria. SAGE Open Medicine, 12,20503121241237877.
  
• Sogoti, T. Y., Audi, S. A., Gibuswa, D. M., Manyega, A. N., Manotiti, G., Rwabukoba, M.J., ... & Gitonga, E. (2024). Mortality and associated factors among neonates admitted at the Karatina Sub-County Hospital Newborn Unit, Nyeri. East African Medical Journal, 101(3),6837-6844.
• Gitonga, E., & Gage, A. J. (2024). Modern contraceptive prevalence and its predictors among non-refugee and refugee Somali women in Nairobi city, Kenya; a comparative view. Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 5, 1328612.
• Eliphas Gitonga, Rosebella Iseme, Redempta Mutisya & Maurice Kodhiambo (2022) Cervical cancer knowledge, awareness and related health behaviours amongst women of reproductive age in Kiambu County, Kenya: a cross-sectional study, Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 10:1, 1056-1070, DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2136184
• Peter Kimani, Eliphas Gitonga and Joseph Musau, Risk factos for caesarean delivery and fetal macrosomia among women with gestational diabetes in Nyeri County Kenya: cross-sectional study. Pan African Medical Journal. 2022; 41:322. Doi: 10.11604/pamj.2022.41.322.29734
• Gitonga E., J. Nyamari, P. N. Warutere and A. Wanyoro, “Utilization of mobile short message service to enhance uptake of focused ante natal care,” African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Accepted
• Gitonga E. “Skilled Birth Attendance among Women in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya” advances in public health. Volume 2017, Article ID 9740196, 5 pages doi.org/10.1155/2017/9740196
• Gitonga E. and M. Felarmine, “Determinants of health facility delivery among women in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya,” The Pan African Medical Journal, vol. 2, supplement 2, p. 9, 2016. [10]
• Gitonga E., M. Keraka, and P. Mwaniki, “Birth preparedness among women in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya,” African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 153–157, 2015
• Gitonga E. “Determinants of Focused Antenatal Care Uptake among Women in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya”, advances in public health. Volume 2017, Article ID 3685401, https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3685401
• Byamukama Topher, Margaret Keraka, Eliphas Gitonga. “Perceptions of Caregivers on Immunization in Ntungamo District, Uganda”. Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
• Joseph O. Adoyo, Eliphas G. Makunyi, George O. Otieno, Alison Yoos. Magnitude and determinants of self-referrals among women seeking skilled birth attendance services: a cross-sectional hospital-based study in Marsabit County, Kenya. Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health. https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20211728
• Yasmin H. Derowa, Eliphas Gitonga, George Otieno, Alison Yoos, Clayton S. Jisuvei Impact of introduction of the anti-female genital mutilation law on the practice of female genital mutilation in Garissa County, Kenya. https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20213765

Grants won and funding attracted

• 2022; AuthorAID grant for Kenya research, mentorship and Publishing hub; USD 9000
• 2022; IUSSP; Urban family planning fellowship; USD 23, 750; Policy communication grant
• 2021: Kenyatta University Vice Chancellors grant as principal investigator; kshs. 1.2M
• 2020; IUSSP; Urban family planning fellowship; USD 41, 0000
• 2019: STAR fellowship on university collaborations and curriculum development as a Co-investigator; USD 7500
• 2012: APHIA II evaluation fellowship; KSHS 400,000