I’m deeply interested in how people make everyday decisions, what to eat, how to spend, what to grow within systems that often don’t give them many good options. My work focuses on uncovering the behavioral drivers behind these choices and identifying what can be shifted to improve outcomes for communities, especially in food systems. I’m particularly drawn to settings where small changes grounded in context, co-created with communities, and backed by evidence can lead to more resilient and equitable solutions. Whether it’s through exploring social norms around nutrition, supporting more sustainable market behaviors, or amplifying indigenous knowledge, I aim to bridge behavioral insight with practical action.

At Busara, I’ve contributed to projects that examine decision-making across nutrition, food waste, and indigenous knowledge. In the Vihara Indigenous Knowledge Report, I led an analysis exploring how forest-dwelling communities in Cherangani and Kakamega use foraging and traditional practices to manage food insecurity and land tenure pressures. With the Posner Project, I investigated behavioral drivers of food loss in traditional markets in Kenya and Nigeria, supporting intervention co-design around vendor behavior and produce display.

On the NutriSave Project, I analyzed consumer demand for fruits and vegetables, working on drivers like seasonal availability, price, and awareness. Most recently, in the Cargill Chicken and Eggs Project, I explored social norms and misconceptions around egg consumption in rural communities in Nyanza and Transnzoia, particularly beliefs affecting children and pregnant women. This included mapping normative barriers and identifying potential messaging strategies to support improved dietary behavior.

Across these projects, I work at the intersection of rigorous analysis and contextual sensitivity, translating behavioral insights into practical tools that reflect lived realities.

Before joining Busara, I worked on research and policy assignments with international organizations like the World Bank, UNCTAD, and UNECA, where I focused on regional trade, transport systems, and strategic policy planning. I served as a Research and Data Scientist on a freight logistics study for East Africa’s lake and corridor transport networks, combining quantitative analysis with machine learning techniques to inform long-term investment plans. I also contributed to the development of Kenya’s transport services policy action plan under a joint UNCTAD–ECA initiative.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Economics from Strathmore University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Data Science and Machine Learning from Zindua School. I continue to explore the intersection of data and impact through personal projects, including a deep learning–powered plant disease detection app and a diabetes risk prediction tool. These projects reflect my ongoing interest in using technology to solve practical problems in health and agriculture.

 Busara outputs: Vihara – Indigenous Knowledge

Networks: Policy Action Plan For Transport Services In Kenya 

Profiles: LinkedIn

Languages Spoken: English & Kiswahili