Rooted in our purpose

Explore the heart of our organisation—who we are, what we stand for, and why we do what we do.

Our vision

To be the leading African consultancy in sustainable agriculture, agroecology, and food systems transformation, driving positive change through evidence-based solutions and stakeholder engagement.

Our mission

To enhance food systems in Africa, supporting profitable enterprises at the bottom of the pyramid, regenerating natural resources for future generations, and working towards healthy and affordable diets for those who need it most.

The Mukinduri tree

The Mukinduri tree (Croton megalocarpus), known by its Kikuyu name in Kenya, is a fast-growing, indigenous tree native to the highlands of eastern Africa—stretching from Somalia in the north to Mozambique in the south. It is valued for its shade, fuelwood, timber, medicine, and oil-rich seeds. Deeply rooted in Kenyan culture, the tree is respected for its resilience and multipurpose utility in farming communities. At Mukinduri Consulting Africa Ltd, the tree reflects our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and agroecology. Just as Mukinduri tree nourishes land and livelihoods, we design solutions that regenerate food systems, empower communities, and enhance environmental health. Grounded in local knowledge and guided by science, we honour the tree’s legacy by building resilient and inclusive agricultural landscapes.

Our core values

At Mukinduri, we uphold integrity, excellence, and inclusivity in all our engagements

Integrity

We uphold honesty, accountability, and fairness, ensuring that our work meets the highest ethical standards.

Excellence

We strive for the highest quality in research, consulting, and project implementation.

Collegiality

We foster collaboration, mutual respect, and knowledge-sharing across disciplines and cultures.

OUR TEAM
Dedicated professionals committed to agricultural excellence
Ralph Roothaert, PhD

Founder and Director

Ralph Roothaert is the Founding Director of Mukinduri Consulting Africa Limited. He holds a PhD in Tropical Animal Production from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and has over 30 years of experience in agricultural development across Africa and Asia. Ralph is a renowned expert in agroecology, food systems, and inclusive market development. He has led interdisciplinary research, implemented community-driven programmes, and designed innovative models linking smallholder farmers to markets. Passionate about sustainability, he integrates scientific insight with practical solutions tailored to local contexts. His leadership at Mukinduri reflects a lifelong commitment to transforming agriculture for resilience, equity, and environmental stewardship

Gilbert Muhanji

Director, Communication

Gilbert Muhanji is the Director of Communications at Mukinduri Consulting Africa Limited and a communication expert with over 25 years of experience in development communication. He holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Studies from the University of Nairobi. Gilbert has led communication strategies across Africa in agriculture, water, and health sectors. He specialises in translating research and policy into engaging stories that drive impact, amplify local voices, and influence change. His work bridges science, policy, and practice, with a strong focus on inclusive storytelling and food systems transformation. Gilbert is passionate about using communication to foster resilience and equity.

Winnie Nyonje, PhD

Partner

Dr. Winnie Akinyi Nyonje is a food scientist at JKUAT specialising in the nutritional enhancement of African indigenous vegetables, particularly amaranth. She holds a PhD in Food Science and Nutrition from JKUAT. Her research focuses on improving micronutrient bioavailability through optimised preparation methods. She has published studies on iron absorption, consumption patterns in East Africa, and challenges to the wider use of traditional vegetables. Dr. Nyonje collaborates with partners like the World Vegetable Center and is part of a JKUAT-led team awarded a USAID grant to explore ICT use in agriculture. Her work bridges nutrition, food science, and sustainable food systems.

Roland Brouwer, PhD

Partner

Roland Brouwer (PhD) is an expert in natural resource management, agronomy, higher education, science, technology, and innovation policy. He has worked in Portugal, Mozambique, and Ethiopia as a lecturer, researcher, and consultant. His work explores the intersection of technology, inequality, and power. Based in Mozambique since 1996, he has served as a senior lecturer, advisor to the Minister of Higher Education, and value chain specialist with the International Potato Centre. Roland holds a PhD from Wageningen University and has published widely on policy impacts in forestry, education, and innovation, focusing on the distribution of costs and benefits.

Rizwaan Khambata

Partner

Rizwaan Khambata, known as Riz, is a development consultant with 15 years of experience in strengthening non-profit organisations and entrepreneur support organisations (ESOs) to grow sustainably and deepen their impact. Based in East Africa for the past seven years, he has worked across the continent, drawing from earlier roles in India and Afghanistan—where he co-founded youth entrepreneurship hubs. Riz now runs a consulting practice focused on strategy, sustainability, and ecosystem development. Passionate about localisation and shifting power in global development, he brings a human-centered approach to agribusiness and rural financial models. Outside work, he enjoys cooking, drumming, and writing haiku.

Barnabas Apom

Partner

Barnabas Apom is a seasoned research consultant and project manager with over a decade of experience in market research, trade facilitation, and enterprise development. He holds an MBA in Marketing from UPSA, a Mathematics and Statistics degree from the University of Ghana, and a postgraduate diploma in software development from MEST. As Senior Project Manager at GNBCC, he has supported 100+ Dutch-Ghanaian companies and led initiatives in agribusiness, water, and horticulture. Barnabas is the founder of Researchlime Ltd. and excels in data-driven decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and digital innovation to advance sustainable business growth in Ghana and beyond.

Josiah Ateka, PhD

Partner

Dr. Josiah Mwangi Ateka is an agribusiness expert and lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), and a Research Fellow at the Environment for Development Institute (EfD). His expertise spans agricultural value chain analysis, smallholder commercialisation, and agro-processing systems. He has led and contributed to numerous research and consultancy projects, employing both participatory and quantitative approaches. Dr. Ateka has conducted extensive fieldwork in rural and pastoral communities and is a subject matter expert in key value chains including tea, coffee, milk, potatoes, and vegetables. He previously held leadership roles at KTDA, gaining valuable management experience.

Ard Lengkeek, PhD

Partner

Ard Lengkeek is a seasoned specialist in public private partnerships for sustainable food systems, with over 35 years of experience in tropical agriculture, rural development, and business development. He brings deep expertise in agricultural policy, food security, and farmer-led innovation, working across Africa to support climate-resilient and agroecological systems. Ard holds an MSc in Tree Breeding and a PhD in Agroforestry from Wageningen University, conducted in respectively Burkina Faso and Kenya. He has mentored students and startups, serves on the board of DIBcoop, and co-founded agroforestry enterprises in Mali, Rwanda and Burkina Faso. Ard is known for his practical approach, intercultural fluency, and commitment to sustainable land use.

Washingtone Booker

Partner

Washingtone Booker is a seasoned research consultant and food systems advocate with extensive experience working with smallholder farmers across Kenya and within the East Africa region. He plays a leading role in the Kenya Small Scale Cereal Growers Association, where he champions inclusive agricultural policies, and farmer-led development. Washingtone’s expertise spans rural development, value addition, food security, regenerative agriculture, climate adaptation and mitigation and participatory research methodologies. He has collaborated with national and international partners to advance sustainable agriculture and improve livelihoods in vulnerable communities. Committed to empowering grassroots voices, Washingtone supports policy engagement and innovation that drive equitable food systems. His work reflects a strong passion for resilience, equity, and farmer empowerment.

Joyce Mulila-Mitti

Partner

Joyce Mulila-Mitti is an experienced plant specialist and development consultant with a strong background in sustainable crop production and climate-smart agriculture. She previously served as a Plant Production and Protection Officer for FAO in Southern Africa, where she led efforts to scale up sustainable agricultural practices. With a passion for farmer-centered innovation, Joyce believes in empowering producers by helping them understand the “why” behind adopting new methods. Her work bridges research and practical implementation, supporting resilient food systems through inclusive approaches to agricultural intensification and environmental stewardship across the region.

OUR EXPERTISE

Our expertise spans agroecology, agroforestry, livestock management, vegetable business networks, and nutrition-focused interventions. We combine practical experience with deep technical knowledge to deliver context-specific solutions that drive impact.
👉 Explore below how our integrated approach transforms food systems, empowers communities, and shapes a more resilient future.

Agroecology

At Mukinduri, we embrace the broader concept of agroecology as outlined by Agroecology Europe (see diagram). The framework includes thirteen interconnected principles—those in green reflect technical and economic dimensions, while those in orange highlight social, cultural, and holistic aspects. Achieving truly transformative and sustainable food systems requires consideration of all these principles. However, in many contexts, key elements are either missing or only partially addressed. At Mukinduri, we begin with a rapid or in-depth assessment of the current situation. In collaboration with our clients, we then identify and prioritize the most relevant principles for action or research.

Agroforestry combines the agricultural concepts of trees, crops, and livestock in the same farm or landscape (Gassner and Dobie (2022))

Agroforestry

Agroforestry introduces the vital role of trees into farming systems and landscape management, aligning closely with many principles of agroecology. When integrated into degraded lands, trees can access deep soil layers to recover nutrients beyond the reach of most crops, helping restore soil fertility through leaf litter, fodder, mulch, and compost. Trees also stabilise soils, reducing erosion and conserving water—critical functions in fragile ecosystems. Crop-tree-livestock interactions enhance land productivity and support more sustainable farming systems. Indigenous trees, in particular, have long provided cultural, ecological, and livelihood benefits. In the face of climate change, Mukinduri recognises the critical role trees play in carbon sequestration and in building resilient, sustainable food systems.

Food systems

Our approach to research and development in food systems is guided by the conceptual framework developed by the HLPE (2018) (Fig. 1). We focus primarily on interventions within food supply chains, food environments, and the key drivers of innovation, technology, and infrastructure. In addition, our research extends to areas such as consumer behavior, dietary patterns, nutrition, and health outcomes, while also taking into account broader external drivers that influence the food system as a whole.

Livestock

Mukinduri brings strong expertise in animal husbandry, animal health, fodder production, rangeland management, and crop-livestock integration. Recognising that animal nutrition is central to productive livestock systems, we conduct inventories of locally available feed resources that offer high nutritional value (e.g., Roothaert, 2000). Working closely with our clients, we design feed and fodder systems that are not only productive and cost-effective, but also well-integrated into broader farm or landscape management strategies to enhance overall sustainability and profitability.

Vegetable business networks (VBNs)

VBNs are collaborative networks of actors across the vegetable value chain—ranging from agro-input suppliers, farmers, and traders to wholesalers, processors, retailers, and consumers. These networks work together to improve business efficiency, increase profitability for all stakeholders, and ensure the production of safe, nutritious foods.

Mukinduri has extensive experience in establishing VBNs from the ground up in Kenya and Ethiopia. Our efforts have directly engaged women and youth, created over 80,000 jobs for farmers and agro-entrepreneurs, generated more than USD 9 million in vegetable sales in local markets, and transitioned over 500 hectares of farmland from conventional to agroecological practices—all while improving profit margins. Implementing the VBN model involves detailed planning, hands-on training, field testing, mentorship, learning exchanges, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation. The training covers a broad spectrum—from agriculture and agribusiness to entrepreneurship and group dynamics. The model is comprehensively documented in the VBN Guide (Roothaert & Muhanji, 2025).