Prof Peter Gakio Kirira

Prof. Peter G. Kirira is a distinguished Kenyan pharmaceutical chemist, academic leader, university administrator, and researcher with extensive experience in higher education leadership, pharmaceutical sciences, and research innovation. He currently serves as the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration, Planning and Institutional Advancement at Kenyatta University, Kenya. Previously, he served as the Principal of the College of Graduate Studies and Research at the same institution.

Prof. Kirira holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Nagasaki University, Japan, and a Master of Science degree in Organic Chemistry (Natural Products) from Kenyatta University, Kenya. He also completed a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Synthetic Chemistry at Kyoto University, Japan.

In his current leadership role, Prof. Kirira oversees the University’s administration, strategic planning, and institutional advancement agenda. He has played a pivotal role in advancing the University’s digital transformation initiatives and has championed institutional advancement strategies that have significantly enhanced organizational resilience, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

An accomplished scholar and researcher, Prof. Kirira has authored and co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications and holds three Kenyan patents in antimalarial drug synthesis. His research interests span antimalarial drug discovery, synthetic and medicinal chemistry, immunomodulators, and the antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and antimalarial properties of traditional medicinal plant extracts. His notable contributions include the design and development of trioxaquine antimalarial compounds and studies on bioactive natural products with therapeutic potential.

Prof. Kirira has successfully supervised and mentored more than 40 postgraduate students at both Master’s and Doctoral levels. He has also secured and managed over 10 competitive research grants, including major funding from DAAD/GIZ and the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme.

Beyond research and administration, Prof. Kirira actively contributes to academic quality assurance and policy development through his service as a reviewer for reputable international journals, donor agencies, and government institutions in Kenya. He is also deeply committed to civic engagement and community development, having spearheaded collaborative outreach programmes with non-governmental organizations across various regions of the country.

He is a member of the Kenya Chemical Society, serves on the Advisory Board of the CBEC-KEMRI Bioethics Training Initiative (CK-BTI), and is a Board Member of the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS), among other professional affiliations. Prof. Kirira has presented his research and scholarly work at numerous local, regional, and international conferences.