Prof. Mukunya was born in 1944. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in plant pathology from Cornell University, USA. He has 40 years of experience in training, research, administration, and consultancy in the areas of agricultural planning, production, appraisals, policy formulation and capacity building. He has spent over 30 years as a Professor of the University of Nairobi, Kenya and has held senior responsibilities including being Chairman of the Department of Crop Science (3 years), Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture (7 years) and the Principal of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (10 years) apart from serving in Kenya Government statutory organizations as Founder Chairman of the Pest Control Products Board, a member of the Coffee Research Foundation Board for which he served as the Chairman of the Coffee Research Advisory Committee for eight years. Prof. Mukunya has vast experience having handled consultancy assignments in agricultural and environmental areas not only within Kenya but also in other countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroon, Bukina Faso, Tanzania, Canada, and the UK. He has conducted research on crops in collaboration with researchers in the Ministry of Agriculture in the improvement of beans grown in Kenya. He has published more than 60 papers in scientific journals and international media and has mentored many upcoming Kenyan scientists and agricultural extension specialists. Prof. Mukunya is the current Chairman of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service Board of Directors having been appointed to this position by the President of Kenya in 2011.