Our Team
GJ Nutrition is led by a skilled team of experts in food systems, nutrition and health related fields. They have extensive experience working across academia, corporate organizations, international development and research agencies, government sectors, health and community groups.
PhD - Nutrition, Food Environment & R&D Expert
Dr. Beatrice Ekesa is a self-driven and highly innovative international expert in Nutrition, Food Environment and Research and Development (R&D). She brings over 17 years of experience working across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, with strong expertise in designing, managing, evaluating, and scaling impactful nutrition initiatives.
She holds a PhD in Foods and Nutrition and an MSc in Community Nutrition and Development, and has built a robust record of accomplishment in multi-level strategy development, stakeholder engagement, and translating evidence into real-world impact. Dr. Ekesa has successfully mobilized more than USD 5 million in research and development funding over the past five years. Her work includes high-level technical advisory roles in nutrition and food environments, leading nutrition Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategies, developing and disseminating policy briefs, coordinating capacity-building programs, and publishing more than 25 peer-reviewed papers.
As a recipient of the prestigious African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Fellowship, where she completed two women leadership courses ("Women's Leadership and Management Course" and "Women Leading in Times of Crisis") and a certified institution change management champion (Prosci ADKAR Model), — strengthening her capabilities in communication, negotiation, mentoring, and organizational transformation. Dr. Ekesa has acquired vast skills and experience in leadership, management, communication, negotiation and mentoring. View Dr Ekesa's LinkedIn profile here.
When she is not working, Dr. Ekesa enjoys experimenting with food and creating nutritious, exciting meals — she really loves to cook!
Dr. John Otieno Odhiambo
MD - Internal Medicine Specialist
John Otieno is a medical doctor with several years of experience working in one of the busiest private health facilities in East and Central Africa. He is currently pursuing a Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine at the same institution. His major areas of interest are non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.
John recognizes that significant attention has been given to the therapeutic stages of care for individuals suffering from these conditions, with very little emphasis on prevention—an aspect he believes is crucial in curbing the rising prevalence and incidence of these conditions. He highlights nutrition as a key component of prevention and is committed to championing awareness of safe nutritional practices, among other strategies, to ensure that these conditions are not only controlled but also prevented.
He remains dedicated to the vision of a healthcare system that adopts a multidisciplinary approach in the management and prevention of health problems.
Prof. Agatha Christine Onyango
PhD - Senior Lecturer & Nutrition Researcher
Prof. Agatha is a Senior Lecturer at Maseno University. She holds an MSc and a PhD in Community Nutrition and Development from Maseno University. She also serves as an advisor to SANGO-Kenya, a local NGO focused on food security, sustainable and nutrition-sensitive agriculture, women's empowerment, and leadership development.
She has over 10 years of experience conducting food and nutrition research in Kenya, with a strong emphasis on food security, and maternal and child nutrition. Prof. Agatha has participated in numerous research and community projects in East Kolwa Location, Kisumu Central Sub-County, and Seme Sub-County in Kenya.
She is currently involved in several collaborative research studies, including projects on indigenous vegetables and food security, childhood obesity in Kenya, an intervention study in Seme Sub-County, and the ongoing study Consequences of COVID-19 Preventive Measures on Food Security, Dietary Practices, and Nutrition Outcomes. Agatha has also participated in various surveys focusing on food security in Marsabit, Turkana, Bomet, and Kisumu Counties.
Her key research areas include the assessment of agricultural practices, household dietary diversity, nutritional status of women and children, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Agatha is trained as a national facilitator in Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and as a facilitator for ENACT (Effective Nutrition Education in Action), a program developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
She has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles on HIV and AIDS, nutrition, food security, and obesity, with over 30 publications in scientific journals and conference proceedings. Additionally, Agatha serves as a reviewer for several international scientific journals, including BMC Nutrition, Journal of Medical and Medical Sciences, International Research Journal of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, African Journal of Biotechnology, International Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, Journal of AIDS and HIV Research, FACTS Reports, and Basic Research Journal of Agricultural and Science Review, among others.
Agatha also serves as both an internal and external examiner for university research in nutrition-related fields. She is passionate about leadership and believes in "leading from where you stand" as a nutrition leader in Africa.
PhD - Community Nutrition Specialist
Dr. Florence Oyiera Habwe is a community nutrition specialist with a strong research background and over 16 years of experience in nutrition assessment, training, and intervention among vulnerable populations. Her areas of interest include post-harvest handling, recipe formulation, and nutritional value enhancement to support good health and development.
She holds a PhD and MSc in Community Nutrition and Development from Maseno University, as well as a B.Ed. degree in Home Science and Technology from Moi University. With a strong commitment to reducing hunger and malnutrition among vulnerable groups, Dr. Habwe has worked extensively on formulating and modifying African indigenous vegetable recipes to improve their nutritional value.
Dr. Habwe is finalizing her post-doctoral fellowship under the Sustainable Development for Health (SD4H) project at Maseno University, in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the University of California, and the Global Health Institute. In her post-doctoral research, she conducted a food intervention study among HIV sero-positive adults to improve their nutritional status—particularly hemoglobin, BMI, and micronutrient (iron, zinc, and selenium) levels—using innovative nutritious food products formulated from underutilized indigenous food crops. The intervention findings indicate a significant positive effect on hemoglobin and micronutrient (iron and selenium) levels among previously micronutrient-malnourished HIV patients.
Florence completed a two-year Post-Bachelors Fellowship under the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) CGIAR Gender and Diversity Programme, where she undertook courses in women's leadership and management, as well as scientific writing and policy development in agricultural research.
She has authored and co-authored several publications and serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Food Studies, Frontiers in Global Women's Health, and RSIS International Journals. In 2013, she received the "AU-TWAS Young Scientists National Award in Earth and Life Sciences," awarded by the Ministry of Higher Education in Kenya on behalf of the African Union and the World Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Habwe supervises postgraduate students at the Master's and PhD levels in public health and human nutrition and is a mentor to many students. Her professional philosophy is: "Integration of African indigenous foods into the modern menu to eliminate malnutrition and improve health for development."
Francis Kidake
MSc - Nutrition Specialist
Mr Kidake is a Nutrition Specialist (NOC) with over 16 years of experience focusing on Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Nutrition in the Eastern and Horn of Africa Region. He possesses extensive expertise in both emergency and development-focused nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming, complemented by a strong academic background with undergraduate and postgraduate training from Maseno and Kenyatta Universities, in Kenya, as well as professional training and research experience both within and outside Kenya.
Mr Kidake is highly skilled in programme design, with a proven record of spearheading the adoption of impactful innovations that enhance quality and cost-effective service delivery models. These efforts have contributed to strengthening healthcare systems and improving the legal and policy environment for nutrition supply chains, community health services, and social protection sectors.
He demonstrates a strong record of accomplishment of managing business processes within the UN and international NGOs, including engagement with high-profile government institutions, foreign missions, bilateral and multilateral organizations, and community partners in Kenya and Rwanda. He is also a high achiever with excellent planning and organizational skills, fluent in both English and Swahili.
BSc - Public Health Nutritionist
Hazel is a registered Public Health Nutritionist with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nutrition and Dietetics with IT from Maseno University. Her studies focused on public and community health issues, with particular emphasis on diet, food security, and food systems. Her undergraduate research project examined the influence of smallholder household agricultural practices on child nutritional status.
Based in Kenya, she has a strong interest in food systems and their role in transforming the lives of local communities, particularly in developing nations. She is passionate about smallholder farming households and is committed to supporting innovative research and development projects aimed at improving their livelihoods and nutritional well-being.
Hazel Okech also works with food systems actors to develop practical solutions using human-centered design, systems thinking, foresight, and strategic approaches. She has extensive experience in nutrition research, having worked closely with mentors in academia and with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.
In addition, Hazel has demonstrated expertise in therapeutic nutrition, nutrition education, and counseling, which she has applied to help individuals achieve healthier lifestyles. You can connect with Hazel Okech on LinkedIn.