About Us
HERI-Kenya (Health + Environmental Research Institute – Kenya) is a community-focused non-profit organization dedicated to improving health, protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable development. Founded in 2021, HERI bridges the gap between scientific research, grassroots action, and policy-making to create practical, lasting solutions.
Our Founders

Prof Desiree LaBeaud
Stanford University
Dr. Desiree LaBeaud, Co-Founder and Executive Director MD, MS, is Professor is a pediatric infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist. She is one of the few pediatric arbovirologists in the world, conducting research into the epidemiology, natural history, and the impact of climate change on global health aspects of arboviral diseases, primarily among mothers and children.

Prof Francis Mutuku
Technical University of Mombasa
Prof. Francis Mutuku, Co-Founder and chairman, is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the Technical University of Mombasa. Prof Mutuku has twenty years of experience studying the biology and ecology of malaria vectors.

Dr. Bryson Ndenga
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Dr. Bryson A. Ndenga - Co-Founder, is a research officer at the Center for Global Health Research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Kisumu, Kenya. Dr. Ndenga has experience in both larval and adult ecology of mosquitoes in western Kenya.
Our Board of Advisers

Randi Shafton

Prof Cosmas Munga

Jeff Chow

Prof Charles Mbogo

Violet Saena

Bonnie Mbithi
Our Team & Staff

Juma Nasoro
Program Manager

Betty Ngosi
Communications Lead

Carol Mbeyu
BSF Farm Manager

Said Lipi
Management Committe

Christine Lucas
Adminstrator

Sheila Mumbi
BSF Farm Operations

Riziki Jasso
Management Committe

Peter Siema
Management Committe
Our Partners & Stakeholders






