• PhD in Hydrology, University of Nairobi, 2002
• MSc in Oceanography, Gothenburg University,1998
• MSc in Hydrology, University of Nairobi, 1994
• BSc in Geography, University of Nairobi, 1990.

• Senior Management Course, Kenya School of Government, Kabete
• Prince two Project Management Course.
• Peer-Reviewer, Commission for University Education (CUE)
• External Examiner, University of Eldoret.

• Hydrological Society of Kenya (HSK): members (2014)
• Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA): members (1996)
• Kenya DAAD Scholars Association: member (1994)
• Environment Institute of Kenya (EIK): member (2015)

1. Kitheka, J.U (1996): Water circulation and coastal trapping of brackish water in a tropical mangrove-dominated bay in Kenya. Oceanography and Limnology Journal, 41(1): 169-176.
2. Kitheka J U; Ohowa, B.O; Mwashote, B.M; Shimbira, W.S and Mwaluma, J.M and Kazungu, J.M (1996): Water-circulation dynamics, water column nutrients and plankton productivity in a well-flushed tropical bay in Kenya. Journal of Sea Research, 35(4): 257-268.
3. Kitheka, J.U (1996): Coastal tidally driven circulation and the role of water exchange in the linkage between tropical coastal ecosystems Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 45: 177-187
4. Kitheka, J. U. (1997). Coastal tidally-driven circulation and the role of water exchange in the linkage between tropical coastal ecosystems. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 45(2), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.1006/ecss.1996.0189.
5. Kitheka, J.U (1998): Groundwater outflow and its linkage to coastal circulation in a mangrove-fringed creek in Kenya. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science Journal, 47(1): 63-75.
6. Wolanski, E; Mazda, Y; Furukawa, K; Ridd, P; Kitheka, J.U; Spagnol, S and Stieglitz, T (1998): Water-circulation in mangroves and its implications for Biodiversity. In: Wolanski, E (2001): Oceanographic processes of Coral Reefs: physical and biological links in the Great Barrier Reefs. CRC Press, New York. 356p.
7. Kitheka, J. U (1998): Effect of climate change and streamflow variability on estuarine and marine fisheries and biodiversity in Kenya. African Fishes and Fisheries Diversity and Utilisation. Poissons et PechesAfricainsDiversite et Utilisation, FISA/PARADI, Grahamstown (South Africa), 1998, pp. 130-131.
8. Kitheka, J.U; Ohowa, B.O; Mwashote, B.M and J. Kamau (1999): Water circulation, groundwater outflow and nutrient dynamics in Mida Creek, Kenya. Mangroves and Salt Marshes 3: 135-146.
9. Kitheka, J.U (1999): Application of Integrated Coastal Management system in marine pollution prevention and management. WINDOW, March 1999, 10(2):.6-7.
10. Kitheka, J.U., Ongwenyi, G.S and Mavuti, K.M (2002): Dynamics of suspended sediment exchange and transport in a degraded mangrove Creek in Kenya. AMBIO 31(7-8): 580-587.
11. Kitheka, J.U and Mwashote, B.M. (2002). Estuarine Systems of Kenya: Gazi Bay Mangrove Creek. In Dupra, V., Smith, S. V., David, L. T., Waldron, H., Marshall Crossland, J. I. and Crossland, C. J. (eds.). Estuarine Systems of Africa (regional Workshop II): Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fluxes. LOICZ Reports & Studies No. 20, i+81 pages, LOICZ, Texel, The Netherlands. p.52-58.
12. Kitheka, J.U (2002). Dry season sediment fluxes in the frontwater zone of the mangrove-fringed Mwache Creek, Kenya. In: Arthurton, R.S., H.H. Kremer, E. Odada, W. Salomons and J.I. Marshal Crossland (2002). African Basins: LOICZ Global Change Assessment and Synthesis of River Catchment-Coastal Sea Interactions and Human Dimensions. LOICZ Reports and Studies No. 25:ii+344p, LOICZ, Texel, The Netherlands. p.194-202.
13. Kitheka, J.U and G.S Ongwenyi (2002). The Tana River Basin and the opportunity for research on the land-ocean interaction in the Tana Delta. In: Arthurton, R.S., H.H. Kremer, E. Odada, W. Salomons and J.I. Marshal Crossland (2002). African Basins: LOICZ Global Change Assessment and Synthesis of River Catchment-Coastal Sea Interactions and Human Dimensions. LOICZ Reports and Studies No. 25:ii+344p, LOICZ, Texel, The Netherlands. p.203-209.
14. Kitheka, J.U., Ongwenyi, G.S and Mavuti, K.M (2003): Fluxes and exchange of suspended sediments in tidal inlets draining a degraded mangrove forest in Kenya. Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Science, 56: 655-667.
15. Kitheka, J.U., M. Obiero and Nthenge, P (2005): River discharge, sediment transport and exchange in the Tana Estuary, Kenya. Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Science, 63:455-468.
16. Arthurton, R, Korateng, W, Forbes, T, Snoussi, M, Kitheka, J. Robinson, J, Shah, N, Taljaard, S and P. Monteiro (2006): Chapter 5: Coastal and marine environments, 155-195. In: UNEP (2006): Africa Environment Outlook 2-Our Environment, Our Wealth. ISBN: 92-807-26691-9, Nairobi, Kenya, 542p.
17. Snoussi, M., Kitheka, J., Shaghude, Y., Kane, A., Arthurton, R., Le Tissier, M. and Virji, H. (2007): Downstream and Coastal Impacts of Damming and Water Abstraction in Africa. Environmental Management, 39 (5): 587-600.
18. Kitheka, J.U (2009): Mid-Term Evaluation of the Mauritius Port Louis Waste Management Demonstration Project, UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB Project, Nairobi, Kenya, 70p.
19. Kitheka, J.U (2009): Mid-Term Evaluation of the Mauritius National Parks Conservation Service Soil Erosion Control using Native Vegetation Demonstration Project, UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB Project, Nairobi, Kenya, 65p.
20. Kitheka, J.U (2010): Mid-Term Evaluation of the Shimo la Tewa Wastewater Management using Constructed Wetland Demonstration Project, UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB Project, Nairobi, Kenya, 70p.
21. Kitheka, J.U (2010): Mid-Term Evaluation of the ChakeChake, Pemba Wastewater Management using Constructed Wetland Demonstration Project, UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB Project, Nairobi, Kenya, 75p.
22. Richmond, M; Rudy Van der Elste; Bernadine Everett, Fiona MacKay, Peter Scheren and Johnson Kitheka (Editors): UNEP/Nairobi Convention (2009): Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis of land-based Sources and Activities affecting the Western Indian Ocean Coastal and Marine Environment, UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya, 378p.
23. Rudy Van der Elste; Peter Scheren and Johnson Kitheka (Editors): UNEP/Nairobi Convention (2010): Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean Coastal and Marine Environment, UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya, 150p.
24. Diop S, Arthurton R, Scheren P, Kitheka J, Koranteng K, and Payet R (2011): The Coastal and Marine Environment of Western and Eastern Africa: Challenges to Sustainable Management and Socioeconomic Development. In: Wolanski E and McLusky DS (eds.) Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science 11: 315–335. Waltham: Academic Press.
25. Kitheka, J.U (2013): River sediment supply, sedimentation and transport of the highly turbid sediment plume in Malindi Bay, Kenya. Journal of Geographical Sciences. Science Press Springer-Verlag (2393): 465-489.
26. Chung, D.H., Kimatu, J.N., Nyariki K. O., Su K.J., Onura K.N and Kitheka, J.U (2013): Introducing efficient low cost smoked pots for water purification for developing countries. Hydrology Current Research Volume 4(2):152. Doi:10.4172/2157-7587.1000152.
27. Kitheka, J.U., Mavuti K.M., Nthenge, P & Obiero, M (2014): The dynamics of the turbidity maximum zone in the Sabaki Estuary in Kenya. Journal of Environmental Science and Water Resources, Vol. 3(4), pp.86-103.
28. Kitheka, J.U (2014): Assessment of modification of the Tana River runoff due to developments in the Upper Tana Basin. In: The Proceedings of the 2nd Hydrological Society of Kenya (HSK) Workshop: “Hydrology in Water Cooperation and Security for Sustainable Economic Development”. .p.178-191.
29. Kitheka, J.U., Mavuti K.M (2015): The turbidity maximum zone in a well-flushed Sabaki Estuary in Kenya. Journal of Sea Research 110 (2016) 17–28.
30. Kitheka, J.U and Mavuti K.M (2016): Tana Delta and Sabaki Estuaries of Kenya: freshwater and sediment input, upstream threats and management challenges. In: S. Diop et al. (eds.), Estuaries: A Lifeline of Ecosystem Services in the Western Indian Ocean, Estuaries of the World, Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-25370-1_6.
31. Kerandi, N., Arnault, J., Laux, P., Wagner, S., Kitheka J.U and H. Kunstmann (2018): Joint atmospheric-terrestrial water balances for East Africa: A WRF-Hydro case study for the upper Tana River basin. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, Springer, 131:1337–1355 DOI 10.1007/s00704-017-2050-8.
32. Kitheka, J.U (2017): Seasonal river channel water exchange and implications on salinity levels in sand dams: Case of semi-arid Kitui Region, Kenya. The Journal of Environment and Earth. ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online), Vol. 6, No.12, 2016.
33. Kitheka, J.U (2017): Streamflow and salt flux in seasonal rivers: the case of the semi-arid Tiva River Basin, Kenya. The Journal of Environment and Earth. ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper), ISSN 22225-0948 (Online), Vol. 7, No. 1, 2017.
34. Njogu I and Kitheka, J.U (2017): Assessment of the influence of rainfall and river discharge on sediment yield in the Upper Tana Catchment in Kenya. Hydrology Current Research, Vol, 8 (1): 263 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7587.1000263
35. MwamatiF.T., Kitheka, J.U and P.G Njuru(2017): An Assessment of the spatial and temporal variations of groundwater quality in Yatta Plateau in Kitui County, Kenya. Journal of Environment and Earth Science. ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper), ISSN 2225-0948 (Online), Vol. 7, No. 1, 2017.
36. Mwia John, R.C., Kitheka J.U and M. Mwangi (2017): Assessment of the effects of deforestation on springs: A case study of Nuu/Mutaitho Hills Springs in Kitui County. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), p.1889-1898. ISSN (Online): 2319-7064. Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96. Impact Factor (2016): 6.391
37. Kasuni, S.M and Kitheka, J. U (2017): Modeling the Impacts of Land Cover Changes on Stream Flow Response in Thiba River Basin in Kenya. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science. Vol. 6, No. 1, 2017, pp. 1-13. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20170601.11
38. Oruma, S. K., Kitheka, J.U and M. Mwangi (2017): The study of the effects of Mau Catchment Degradation on the flow of the Mara River, Kenya. Journal of Environment and Earth Science www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online) Vol.7, No.2, 2017
39. Misati, C.O and Kitheka, J.U (Editors) (2017): Hydrology and best practices for managing water resources in arid and semi arid lands. Book published by IGI Global, www. Igi.global.com, Hershey PA, USA.
40. Kitheka, J.U (2017c): Chapter 2:Streamflow and salt flux in the semi aridTiva river basin in Eastern Kenya. In: Misati, C.O and Kitheka, J.U (Editors): Hydrology and best practices for managing water resources in arid and semi arid lands. Book published by IGI Global, www. Igi.global.com, Hershey PA, USA, p.17-50.
41. Mutati K., Kitheka J. U and Otieno E (2018): Sand Gradation in Seasonal Rivers and Their Suitability for Construction of Sand Dams in Kitui South. Journal of Environment and Earth Science www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online) Vol.8, No.6, 2018.
42. Njogu, I. N., Kitheka, J.U and Otieno, H (2018): Streamflow variability and sediment yield in North-West Upper Tana basin, Kenya. Hydrology Current Research, Vol. 9, Issue 4, 9:4 DOI: 10.4172/ISSN 2157-7587.1000305
43. Kitheka, J.U, Mwangi S and Mwendwa, P.K (2019): The effect of rainfall variability and land use/land cover change in a small tropical riverbasin in Kenya. International Journal of Hydrology, 3(1) 58-64. DOI: 10.15406/ijh.2019.03.00163.
44. Kitheka, J.U (2019): Salinity and salt fluxes in a polluted tropical river: the case study of Athi river basin in Kenya. Elsevier Journal of Hydrology: Regional studies, 24 (2019) 100614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2019.100614.
45. Mwendwa, P.K., Kitheka J.U., Mwangi M and Otieno H (2019): The drivers of water abstraction and river water diversion in tropical rivers: a case of south west upper tana basin, Kenya. International Journalof Hydrology2019;3(2):149‒157.
46. Ondieki, C.M and J.U. Kitheka (2019): Hydrology and Water Resources Management in Arid, Semi-Arid, and Tropical Regions. A volume in the Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies (AEEGT) Book Series (ISSN: 2326-9162; eISSN: 2326-9170). IGI Global.
47. Mwendwa, P.K., Kitheka J.U., Mwangi M and Otieno H (2019): The Impacts of Water Abstraction inTropical Rivers: A Case of South West Upper Tana Basin, Kenya. Journal of Environment and Earth Science (www.iiste.org). ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online) DOI: 10.7176/JEES, Vol.9, No.5, 2019, p.61-70
48. Kitheka, J.U., Okoyo, S and N. Mboya (2021): Chapter 10:Hydrology and climate change impacts on streamflow and sediment yield in the Nyando River Basin, Kenya. S. Diop and P. Scheren (eds.), Climate Change and Water Resources in Africa. Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021, p.219-238.
49. UNEP-Nairobi Convention/WIOMSA (2022). Marine plastic litter in the WIO region: Status, implications on the environment, human populations and effectiveness of measures and opportunities. A synthesis report. WIOMSA, Zanzibar, WIOMSA Series (Online) No 5. ix + 64p. A digital copy of this report is available at: www.nairobiconvention.org/; www.wiomsa.org. Prepared and compiled by Johnson Kitheka.
50. Kitheka Johnson U., Njogu Imelda N., Muluvi Geoffrey M., Hunja Caro W., Mutiso Festus., KiokoD andKimatuJosphert (2022): The effectiveness of Moringa Oleifera seed coagulant inreducing the turbidity and modifying the physico-chemical characteristicsofwater. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 16(4), pp. 126-145, April 2022 DOI: 10.5897/AJEST2022.3093 Article Number: 3F2296D68960 ISSN: 1996-0786.
51. Kitheka, J.U; Kitheka LM and Njogu, I (2022): Suspended sediment transport in a tropical river basin exhibiting combinations of land uses/land covers and hydroclimatic conditions: Case study of Upper Athi Basin, Kenya. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Vol. 41 (2022), 101115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101115.
52. Mutiso F., Hunja C. W, Muluvi G. M, Kitheka J.U, Kioko D, Kimatu J., NdufaJ.K andMutati K (2022): Growth and fruiting of selected provenances of Moringa oleifera Lam. in South Eastern region of Kenya. Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022, 05(02), 008–018.
53. Koech, N.C., Kitheka, J.U. and Otieno, H. (2022): Influence of Tea Plantations, Forest and Mixed Farming on Stream Flow and Sediment Loads, Case of Sondu Miriu River Basin, Kenya. Open Journal of Modern Hydrology, 12, 155-174. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojmh.2022.124009.
54. Koech, N.C., Kitheka, J.U. and Otieno, H. (2022): Influence of Sub Basins with Dominant Land Covers on Spatial and Temporal Variations of Water Balance Components in the Sondu Miriu River Basin, Kenya. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064 SJIF (2022): 7.942
55. Kitheka, J.U (2023): Land-based sources of marine pollution as an environmental stressor. In: IOC-UNESCO (2023). Marine Spatial Planning and The Blue Economy in Kenya. Paris. Nairobi, UNESCO. (IOC Technical Series, 177), 39-46.
56. Wambua T, Hunja Carol W., KimatuJosphert, Muluvi Geoffrey M., Kitheka Johnson U., Mutiso Festus, Githenya L, Ndufa James K., Mutati Kennedy (2022): A Comparative Study of the Physiochemical and Bacteriological Parameters of Potable Water from Different Sources in Kitui County, Kenya. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, Vol. 12 (11).DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-11-05.
57. Kasuki, M. M., Kitheka, J. U.,Otieno, H. (2023): The Effect of River Flow and Land use land Cover Dynamics on Reservoir Sedimentation in a Small ASAL Tropical Basin in Kenya. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, Volume 8, Issue 5, May 2023. ISSN No:-2456-2165.

Prof. Johnson U. Kitheka
South Eastern Kenya University
Department of Hydrology and Aquatic Sciences
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: +254714645694