Lawrence Otweyo Migire Gumbe

Lawrence Otweyo Migire Gumbe was born in Kisumu, Kenya, on 28 July 1957. He studie Agricultural Engineering and obtained a B.Sc(Hons) degree from the University of Nairobi in 1980. He thereafter got his M.Sc degree from Cranfield University in 1982. He was awarded a Ph.D degree at the Ohio State University, USA, in 1987.

 

Lawrence, Larry to family and friends,  became a graduate member of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers in 1981. He is a Registered Professional Consulting Engineer (R. Cons. Eng.) with the Engineers Board of Kenya. He is  a member of several learned societies including the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK), the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Kenya Society of Agricultural Engineers (KSAE), the American Society of Heating, Ventilating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). He is a fellow of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS) and the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK).

 

Lawrence is currently professor in the Department of Biosystems and Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Kenya and adjunct professor at Kenyatta University.   He has also been an academic member of staff at the University of Nairobi since 1981. In 1998-2006, he was Chairman of Department at the University of Nairobi. He has taught many courses in engineering at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I have successfully supervised many doctoral and masters degree candidates.  He have researched and supervised theses in the following areas: Bioprocess Engineering; Environmental Simulation and Control in Buildings; Geographical Information Systems(Remote Sensing and Infrared Spectroscopy); Grain Storage Structures(Silos, Cribs);  Granular Mechanics: Soil Mechanics, Mechanics of En-masse Grains Heat and Mass Transfer; Mechanical Properties of Soils; Oilseed Processing; Physical Properties of Biological Materials; Renewable Energy: Biogas, Solar Energy; Structural Composites(Ferrocement, Fibre Reinforced Concrete); Thermal Properties of Building Materials; Timber; and Waste Management.

 

He worked as a coffee factory engineer in the Ministry of Agriculture in 1980. He was the director of programmes at the Africa Centre for Technology Studies in the period 2005 to 2007. I has also worked as a researcher, lecturer and examiner at the Ohio State University, USA, Silsoe Institute, UK, Kenya Polytechnic University College, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, University of Malawi, University of Zambia and University of Ibadan.

 

Lawrence I, since 1994, the CEO of Log Associates, a consultancy firm in engineering, environment, agriculture and economics. H practiced as a consultant in industry in the fields of economics; trade and policy analyses; feasibility studies; energy; water supply; valuation of machinery; design and construction supervision of factories; design, construction and testing of machinery; project appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of industries; and structural design.  He has worked In Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Nigeria, the UK and USA.

 

Lawrence is fluent in English, Kiswahili, French, Dholuo and Lingala. He speaks basic Arabic. He is a husband and father of three.