MSc Fellows

The aim of establishing the MSc programme in cooperation with the University of Iceland is to go a step further in assisting selected countries in building up their specialist groups. A total of 33 scientists and engineers from Kenya have completed the six month specialized courses during 1982-2003. Four of them have already completed their MSc studies in Iceland.

Two scientists from the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) started their MSc studies at the UNU-GTP/University of Iceland in January 2001, and graduated in 2002. One of them, Cornel Otieno Ofwona (UNU Fellow 1996) conducted research on the reservoir engineering aspects of the Olkaria geothermal field in Kenya (abstract and table of contents, main document), the other, Cyrus W. Karingithi (UNU Fellow 2000) wrote his MSc thesis on the chemistry of the same field (abstract and table of contents, main document).  Two more scientists from Kenya commenced their MSc studies in 2002 and defended their MSc thesis in April 2004. Mr. Gabriel Wetangula (UNU Fellow 2001) wrote a thesis on the environmental aspects of geothermal energy, and Mr. John Lagat (UNU Fellow 1995) wrote a thesis on the geology and alteration mineralogy of the Olkaria field. 

Kenya is the leading country in geothermal research and development in Africa, and most of the leading geothermal specialists of Ken Gen have been trained in Iceland. With the advanced training of the MSc students, the UNU-GTP is assisting Kenya in bringing geothermal research to a still higher level. It is hoped that, in the future, Kenya will be in a position to assist neighbouring countries by training some of their scientists and engineers. At present, Kenya obtains about 10% of its electricity from geothermal energy. The government plans to increase this figure to 20-25%. The UNU-GTP will support this aim.

The photo shows the UNU MSc Fellows celebrating with John Lagat (Kenya) on the defence of his MSc thesis.  From left:  Gabriel Wetangula (Kenya) who defended his thesis a few days later, Purevsuren Dorj (Mongolia), John Lagat, Younes Noorollahi (Iran), Godfrey Bahati (Uganda), and Konstantinos Velegrinos (Greece) FMEEA Fellow at UNU-GTP in 1996 who is also a MSc student at the University of Iceland.