Martha is Nutrition International’s Country Director for Kenya. In this role, she leads program planning, development and implementation at the country level, while managing relations with donors, the Government of Kenya and other key local stakeholders.
With over 20 years of experience across sub-Saharan Africa, Martha has worked on a wide range of programs spanning food security, nutrition, health, agriculture and livelihood improvement. Prior to joining Nutrition International, she served as the global Child Health and Nutrition Portfolio Manager for the Children’s Investment Fund and as the Africa Regional Food Security and Nutrition Advisor to Irish Aid. She also held research roles with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, the International Food Policy Research Institute and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, where she contributed to initiatives under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.
As the Chair of the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance, Martha has led efforts to build consensus on critical issues and influence policy in support of those living in vulnerable situations. She was recently nominated as a civil society representative and alternate member of the Scaling Up Nutrition Executive Committee.
Martha’s contributions to nutrition and food security have been widely recognized. In 2022-23, she was featured in the Global Economic White Paper for her work across the African continent and became the first recipient of the International Nutritionists and Dietitians Fellowship Award from the American Dietetic Association Foundation. She has also been published in over 20 refereed journal articles and conference abstracts.
Martha holds a Master’s of Science degree in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics and a Bachelor’s of Education degree in Home Economics from Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Management Studies from the University of Suffolk and a PhD in Public Health from UNICAF University.