Students – Geothermal Training and Research Institute(GETRI)

GeTRI programs are expected to be in high demand due to their high quality and relevance. Our students are provided with a friendly environment that is sensitive to their needs. Three types of students have shown interest in the programs at GeTRI, namely, those from industry (geothermal companies), continuing students of DeKUT and those from other institutions who want to specialise in geothermal energy technology. It is expected that, in the foreseeable future, the bulk of the students will come from both the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) and Geothermal Development Company (GDC). For cost effectiveness a class of 20 to 25 participants is planned for the Master’s degree during the first few years. The institute is expected to have a student population of more than 100 students in the coming few years, including high calibre students from all over the African Continent; thus providing its students with a rich multi-cultural experience.

Students Profile

Bonface Kipkorir Cheruiyot

I graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology with BSc Mechanical Engineering in 2006. I am currently working for the Kenya Electricity Generating Company as an Operations engineer in the power plant at Olkaria II Station since 2012. My job entails daily monitoring and overall supervision of power generation at this station, while adhering to the standard of practice. Previously I have worked with the Kenya Defence Forces in various capacities where I rose to the rank of a Captain. After being commissioned from the military academy, I got posted to the Defence forces technical college where I became an instructor. My first appointment was an instructor at electrical and instrumentation squadron. Then I got appointed as a systems manager before finally being posted to Laikipia Air base as an Officer Commanding an Engineering squadron that manages a fleet of aircrafts for mainly servicing and for effective maintenance. At the Defence Forces I was also involved in designing and fabrications of various structures. Before joining the Kenya Defence Forces, I had worked for various organizations, including the Ministry of Local Government as an Assistant Engineer.
I have interests in Journalism. At the Defence Forces, for example, I revived a defunct college journal (Defence Forces Technical Journal), together with a team of five other editors had it published.
Currently I am per suing MSc. Geothermal Energy Technology at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT). I chose to undertake this course because, it is tailor made for me and suit my career and knowledge enhancement in my interest area of power plant operation and electricity generation activities. Dekut is the only University in Kenya offering this course. My aspirations are as high as the sky. Firstly, with the knowledge acquired from this course, I do believe I will greatly leverage on it to better my skills, enhance good management practice and undertake more and better innovations in my career.
I also aspire to head the Operations department of Kenya Electricity Generating Company in due course as I am equipped with the right technical and managerial skills for this job. Later I would wish to join the Ministry of Energy as a technical advisor on energy matters as one of its committee members. I would also wish to join other fellow engineers in Africa and the world as a whole in coming together to solve the human energy needs. My area of research interests are in Optimization of Kinetic Energy in Geothermal Steam for Maximum Energy harnessing and utilization.

George Mwenda Maingi

I am currently a Mechatronics Engineer in the Infrastructure Section at KenGen’s Olkaria Geothermal Project. The main aim of the Geothermal Resource Development where I work is to develop the licensed areas to have enough steam to put up power plants in line with the government’s Vision 2030. My job entails preparing drill pads for geothermal wells as wells cutting roads leading to them. These plus other Infrastructural jobs like provision of water for drilling and preparing the roads to these sites require a dedicated human resource and a fleet of earthmoving equipment. I am responsible for coordinating earthmoving equipment usage and maintenance in the Infrastructure Section to ensure timely delivery of drilling sites and roads for the rigs. I am also charged with overseeing the implementation of the contract that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has with KenGen for hire of earthmoving equipment. I sit in the well siting committee that decides where the wells should be drilled from the geoscientific data available at Olkaria. The other notable project am currently handling is the construction of the Geothermal Spa and Demonstration Centre, the only one of its kind in Africa.
In the two years I have worked with KenGen, I have written and presented two technical papers at KenGen annual G2G Technical seminar. My current paper is tilted Application of GSM Networks in Water Management in Olkaria. This project is on a practical application of one of my interests on remote automation and how it can be used to manage process in our daily lives.
From my training as a Mechatronics Engineer, I am fully aware that manufacturing is one of the ways of spurring economic growth. Manufacturing in Kenya has been hampered by, amongst others, the cost of electricity. My drive is to do my best to make sure that KenGen attains its target of providing cheaper cleaner electricity to the population and hence spur economic growth by supporting many upcoming manufacturing processes. It is for this reason that I have enrolled as a Masters student at DeKUT so that I can attain the necessary skills to enable me do my job better as a well trained geothermist.

Becky Wanja Mutua

I am currently working for Geothermal Divison of the Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya as a surface exploration Geochemist.
I am a holder of a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Nairobi and currently pursuing MSc in Geothermal Energy Technology at the Geothermal Energy Training and Research Institute (GeTRI) of Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. Previously, I did an undergraduate research project on Fluid Geochemistry of Badlands-Elementeita Geothermal Prospect in Kenya’s Rift Valley. I have been a partcipant of the 3-weel Short Course facilitaed by the United Nations University-Geothermal Training Program (UNU-GTP), Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) and the Geothermal Development Company (GDC). My work as an exploration geochemist has enable partcipate in investigations for geothermal resources in in various prospects in Kenya, including Marula-Morendat and Otutu-Ndogo involving geothermal fluids data collection and analysis, soil gas sampling and analysis, interpretation and report preparation. I have written and compiled reports on Fluid Geochemistry of Badlands Elementeita Geothermal Prospect, and Geochemical Evaluation of Otutu-Ndogo Geothermal Resource including feasible uses of the geothermal prospects based on the geochemical survey. These reports have been presented to The University of Nairobi and The Ministry of Energy, respectively.
I have attended and presented papers in various international and local conferences including the African Rift Geothermal Conference (ARGEO-C4), Annual International Kabarak Conference and International Conference of the GSK.
My ambition is that in future I become a full time researcher in an institution of higher learning through which I will be enabled to apply and share/disseminate the knowledge obtained on geothermal energy resource exploration and exploitation. Moreover, I aspire to expand my professional networks with organizations, institutions, researchers and policy makers who remain committed to enhancing affordable energy for sustainable development. I believe, the MSc Geothermal Training program at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology is the avenue for my ambition.

Sandys Sifuna Mukhongo

Currently, I am a Planning and Logistics Engineer with the Kenya Electricity Generating Company, Geothermal Resources Development Department. My duties include the procurement of drilling supplies and delivery to the drill sites, rig down, rig move and rig up of drilling rigs after completion of a geothermal well and offering logistical support services to drilling operations using Heavy Mobile Equipment. I have been in this position for the past two and half years. Previously I had worked as a Stores Assistant with the Davis & Shirtliff Group in Nairobi; a water equipment and renewable energy products supplies company. While there I gained valuable experience in overseas order making, inventory management and goods distribution to company branches and stockists countrywide and regionally for one and a half years.
I hold a Bsc Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nairobi with Second Class Honors, Upper Division. Am also currently completing my Diploma in Project Management from the Kenya Institute of Management and pursuing an Msc Degree in Geothermal Energy Technology at the Dedan Kimathi University, Geothermal Energy Training and Research Institute. Additionally, I have completed three months UNU GTP-KenGen Short Courses on Geothermal Technology in 2012 and a three-week KenGen-UNU GTP-GDC Course VII on Exploration for Geothermal Resources, also in 2012. I also hold an Award of Merit for being the student with the best final year project in the University of Nairobi, Department of Mechanical Engineering in the academic year 2007/2008. Professionally, I am a registered Graduate Engineer with the Engineers Registration Board (Kenya) and Graduate Member of the Institute of Engineers of Kenya. Am working to formalize my registration as a full engineer with these bodies in the New Year
My research areas of interest are to understand the new and emerging technologies in geothermal energy exploration and development processes. I particularly aim to carry out research work in use of locally available materials in geothermal well drilling and minimization of geothermal exploration impact on the environment. My objectives will be to lower the high geothermal well drilling costs and assist in geothermal energy development sustainably with environmental conservation.

Michael Musau Mwania

I am a Geologist and i posses a Bachelors degree in Geology from University of Nairobi, Post Graduate Diploma from UNU-GTP (Trained locally at Naivasha), Associate EIA/EA Expert; holds certificate from Kenya National Cleaner Production Centre (K.N.C.P.C) and currently am pursuing M.Sc. in Geothermal Technology from Dedan Kimathi University (DeKUT). Am a professional of Geological Society of (GSK) and also a member of Water Rock Interaction forum.
Currently am working with KenGen in geothermal exploration and utilization. At KenGen I am responsible for exploration activities, well siting activities, geological well logging, compilation of well completion reports including modeling for the drilled wells and continuous update of geothermal conceptual model. Before joining KenGen in late 2011, I worked as Hydrogeologist in a consulting firm (Earth Water Ltd) for close to two and half years particularly carrying out groundwater exploration and exploitation. At Earth Water Ltd, while working as Hydrogeologists, I have sited over 300 boreholes in many parts of the country and outside the country i.e. Kenya, Sudan and Somalia. Similarly, I have also compiled equivalent technical reports. Besides this I have also conducted numerous geotechnical investigation projects mainly for Dams construction, foundation pilings and quantification of Quarry deposits e.g. Kipevu III power plant, Nanighi Dam project, Theta Dam, Itare Dam and Dmanji Quarry deposit project among others.
My research interests are to specialize in igneous petrology of volcanic systems in Kenya and Africa as whole. In particular to study the petrogenesis of igneous rocks within the rift system as well as elucidate the evolution history of the most igneous volcanic system in Africa.

Hilary Mwangeka Mwawasi

I hold a bachelor of technology degree in Chemical and Process engineering from Moi University, Eldoret. I am currently employed by Geothermal Development Company Limited as an engineer in the Geothermal Resource Management (GRM) department and have over 3 years experience in reservoir engineering.
My responsibilities include designing reservoir test programs, leading teams in carrying out well flow tests and down hole measurements, ensuring well flow tests and down hole data computation, computer manipulation, evaluation and interpretation, ensuring submission of well assessment reports, ensuring calibration of reservoir equipment (mechanical temperature & pressure tools), providing advice to other field operation teams on reservoir engineering findings and preparing technical progress reports on implementation of Menengai geothermal project.
I am currently involved in developing, tracking and updating GRM’s 100MWe Menengai power plants project timelines and task log sheet. The project aims at delivering to the national grid 100MWe from Menengai geothermal field. I have presented papers in conferences and published a report titled “Heat Loss Assessment of Selected Kenyan Geothermal Prospects”.
My academic interests are on understanding steam gathering networks design and reservoir management strategies. I aspire to develop myself and become a geothermal resource expert in the next 5 – 10 years.

Ammon Ojwang Omiti

I am a Geophysicist with Kenya Electricity and Generating Company, involved in Geophysical Exploration of geothermal energy and monitoring of geothermal reservoir. I analyzed Joint Inversion of MT and TEM data, coming up with a 1-D the Resistivity Structure of the Eburru Geothermal Field, Kenya. Previously I had worked as a Geophysicist/Hydro-geologist in Geoscope International Enterprise Ltd where I was involved in groundwater exploration and exploitation including Geotechnical services for mineral quantification and site investigations and Environmental Impact Assessment.
I have BSc. Degree in Geology from the University of Nairobi and a Post Graduate Diploma in Geophysical Exploration from the United Nation University, Iceland. I am currently pursuing MSc. In Geothermal Technology from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
My research interests as a Research Geophysicist are on modeling seismic data to be able to understand, interpret the structures, monitor and correlate with the resistivity data of geothermal systems.

Edwin Wafula Wanyonyi

I am currently a Geochemist at Kenya Electricity Generating Company, Olkaria Geothermal Project. My job includes geothermal surface exploration, steam quality monitoring, production field monitoring, production well discharge testing, tracer testing, re-injection well monitoring, drilling fluid analysis, pH and Condensate monitoring for the power plant. Other activities include CDM monitoring, scaling and corrosion monitoring and Geochemical modelling. Previously I had the opportunity of carrying out hydro geological work including borehole siting and drilling supervision as well as underground water resources assessment.
I have a BSc (Geology) from the University of Nairobi, and currently pursuing an MSc in (Geothermal Energy Technology) at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. I have also attended short specialised courses in Geochemistry and Geothermal technology facilitated by the United Nations University-Geothermal Training Program. I have also participated in various international conferences including the ARGEO-C4, KGC conference 2011, KenGen G2G Technical seminar, 2013 and the water –rock interaction conference in Avignon, France, 2013.
I have written several reports including geochemical well discharge reports for Olkaria, silica scaling tendency for Olkaria wells, presentation to the KenGen Board of Consultants and report to the Ministry of Energy on the Geochemical Surface exploration work for Magadi-Gilgil.
I aspire in the near future to be an Energy consultant with special interest on how to explore and integrate the renewable energy sources in the energy mix in Kenya and Africa as a whole.

My responsibilities include designing reservoir test programs, leading teams in carrying out well flow tests and down hole measurements, ensuring well flow tests and down hole data computation, computer manipulation, evaluation and interpretation, ensuring submission of well assessment reports, ensuring calibration of reservoir equipment (mechanical temperature & pressure tools), providing advice to other field operation teams on reservoir engineering findings and preparing technical progress reports on implementation of Menengai geothermal project.

I am currently involved in developing, tracking and updating GRM’s 100MWe Menengai power plants project timelines and task log sheet. The project aims at delivering to the national grid 100MWe from Menengai geothermal field. I have presented papers in conferences and published a report titled “Heat Loss Assessment of Selected Kenyan Geothermal Prospects”.

My academic interests are on understanding steam gathering networks design and reservoir management strategies. I aspire to develop myself and become a geothermal resource expert in the next 5 – 10 years.

Collins

I joined Dekut in may, 2017 as one of the pioneer students of geology in the university. Three years into the course, I sought the help of my course mates and lectures in the registration of a student’s geology club in the school where I was trusted with the responsibility of steering the club under the position of chair. After completion of my third year i joined a private consultancy firm in Nairobi as an intern in the field of hydrogeology where I got a chance to horn my skills in ground water exploration and borehole drilling.