PhD Student pmuthomi@ufl.edu
Kendi Muthomi
Meet Kendi Muthomi, a scholar, mentor, social entrepreneur, and development practitioner who has dedicated her life to using agriculture to empower communities, strengthen local economies, and drive social change. Born and raised in Kenya, Kendi's passion for agriculture led her to pursue a Licenciantura in Agricultural Engineering at EARTH University in Costa Rica, where she studied insecticidal control of cassava thrips and redbanded thrips. In her third year of school, she landed an internship at UF IFAS Everglades Research and Education Centre (Belle Glade, Florida), where she had the opportunity to evaluate the effects of sugarcane lace bugs in sugarcane under the guidance of Dr. Gregg Nuessly.
After graduation, Kendi moved back to Kenya and founded Kilimo Jijini , an organization that seeks to revolutionize how people think about food production in urban and peri-urban settings through capacity building on food production, value addition, and market access of various crops. Her work with Kilimo Jijini has had a tremendous impact on communities in Kenya and beyond.
Kendi's passion for agriculture led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Entomology and Nematology at the Liburd lab in the US. Her research involved finding alternative tactics that can be integrated into the current management of diamondback moth in cole crops. After graduation, Kendi worked as a research associate in the Liburd lab before embarking on her Ph.D. studies. Currently a Ph.D. student, Kendi's research involves the development and application of integrated pest management strategies to manage key arthropod pests and beneficials in southern high bush blueberries. Her work promises to have a significant impact on the blueberry industry and beyond.
In her free time, Kendi enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter playing FIFA, painting, watching movies, or relaxing at the beach. With her drive, determination, and commitment to social change, Kendi is truly a remarkable individual and a role model for us all.