Title: Emerita Professor
Area of Specialization: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Affiliation: Kenya National Academy of Sciences

Prof. Emeritus Ratemo Michieka is a highly regarded weed scientist and environmental expert, currently serving as the Chancellor of Tharaka University and the President of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences. He has an extensive background in academic leadership and management, having held various positions in Kenya and East Africa, including Chair of the Inter University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) and Founding Vice Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

Born with a passion for environmental science, Prof. Michieka obtained his PhD in Weed Science from Rutgers University, USA. Following his academic pursuits, he underwent postdoctoral training at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) before joining the University of Nairobi as a lecturer in 1980. Prof. Michieka has published widely in both local and international journals and authored several books, including his autobiography, "Walking the Promise."

His expertise lies in the use of integrated weed management. Throughout his career, he has been a fierce advocate for environmental conservation, articulating the dangers of pollution and natural resource degradation during his tenure as the Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). Notably, he was instrumental in producing Kenya's first report on the State of the Environment.

Though now retired, Professor Michieka remains actively engaged in advisory roles both within Kenya and internationally. He has chaired several organizations in Kenya and East Africa, and his contributions have significantly impacted higher education transformation in the region. Most recently, he served as the immediate outgoing chair of the African Union’s African Scientific, Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC).