Professional Bio:
Dr. Elisha Akech Ochungo is a distinguished and passionate Senior Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU). With over two decades of professional experience spanning engineering consultancy, urban infrastructure development and higher education. Dr. Ochungo, engages in teaching, research and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students in civil and transportation engineering related field. Dr. Ochungo brings to the classroom a rare combination of deep field experience and rigorous academic scholarship, having worked extensively as a practicing engineer and consultant across Kenya and the wider East African region before transitioning into academia.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Ochungo is the Chief Executive Officer of G A Consultants Ltd. A consultancy firm through which he has led major infrastructure projects encompassing road design, construction supervision and urban upgrading works in both formal and informal settlements across Kenya and Rwanda. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (FIEK), A Professional and Consulting Engineer registered with the Engineers Board of Kenya and a Registered Water Engineer.
Dr. Ochungo is passionate about building African cities that are smarter, quieter and more resilient. cities where infrastructure does not come at the cost of the environment or the communities it serves. He is particularly driven by the belief that engineering solutions are rooted in local African contexts, whether addressing road traffic noise, water insecurity, or carbon footprint of urban transport, hold the greatest potential for lasting impact on the continent.
Beyond his professional life, Dr. Ochungo is an avid reader, writer and his deeply committed to Gospel messaging, a reflection of the values of service, integrity and community that also define his approach to engineering and education.”
Academic Qualifications
2024 − Ph.D. Civil Engineering (Ongoing)
University of Nairobi (Transportation Engineering option)
Thesis: “Developing a Predictive Road Traffic Noise Model for Nairobi”.
2020 − Ph.D. Climate Change & Adaptation
University of Nairobi
Thesis: “Water Supply Security in a drought exposed Lang’ata
Sub-County: Adopting a block chain provenance tracking for
Informal water alternative.”
2015 – M.Sc. Climate Science
University of Nairobi
Thesis: “Adaptation strategies against impacts of
Climate change by Sengwer indigenous
Community in Kapcherop”.
2024 – M.Sc. Transport Planning and Engineering
Edinburgh Napier University
Thesis: “A free Bus Travel Policy for the Under-22s in Nairobi
City Kenya”.
1999 – B.Sc. Civil Engineering
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology
Professional Qualifications
Registered Professional Engineer — Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), A2184.
Registered Consulting Engineer — Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), E281.
Registered Water Engineer — Ministry of Water and Irrigation, WD/WRP 001/86(10).
Membership of Professional Bodies or Associations
Fellow, Institution of Engineers of Kenya (FIEK) — F.2556.
Council Member, Institution of Engineers of Kenya — IEK (2022–2024).
Panelist, Highway Engineering Registration Panel, Engineers Board of Kenya.
Approved Road Safety Advocacy Engineer, Business Advocacy Fund, Kenya.
Academic Affiliations
Research Associate, Institute for Climate Change & Adaptation, — University Of Nairobi.
Collaborative Researcher, — Stanford University’s Biosphere Collapse Program.
Faculty Member, University of Stuttgart, Germany — Institute Of Construction Management.
Research Interest
Transportation Engineering, Transport Externality research (pollution control) & Urban
Development (Climate Resilient Urban Infrastructure).
De carbonation studies in urban transport.
Urban utility sustainability (water supply security, & clean transport system planning).
Recent Publications/ Grants/Awards and Recognition/Consultancies
Publications
Refereed Journal Articles
Ochungo, E. A., Osano, S. N., & Gichaga, J. F. (2026). Modelling the subjective road traffic noise annoyance levels in Nairobi City, Kenya. World Journal of Engineering and Technology, 14(1), 281–298.
Matara, C., Osano, S., Yusuf, A. O., & Ochungo, E. A. (2025). Public perceptions on exposure to traffic-related air pollution along Nairobi Expressway Corridor. Civil and Environmental Engineering, 21(1), 393–408.
Ochungo, E. A., Osano, S. N., & Gichaga, J. F. (2025). GIS-based spatial modelling of road traffic noise distribution in Nairobi City, Kenya. Journal of Engineering Research and Reports, 27(12), 275–293.
Ochungo, E. A., Osano, S. N., & Gichaga, J. F. (2025). A smart traffic noise prediction model for Nairobi City, Kenya. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology and Sciences.
Ochungo, E. A., Osano, S. N., & Gichaga, J. F. (2025). Accuracy of smartphone-based road traffic noise measurement in Nairobi City, Kenya. World Journal of Engineering and Technology, 13(4), 816–834.
Ochungo, E. A. (2025). Engineering accessibility in Nairobi City by road transport infrastructure in the face of climate change dilemma. Journal of Engineering in Agriculture and the Environment, 11(2), 8–8.
Matara, C., Osano, S., Yusuf, A. O., & Ochungo, E. A. (2024). An assessment of the contribution of vehicular traffic to ambient air quality: A case study of Nairobi Expressway Corridor. Civil and Environmental Engineering, 20(1), 54–67.
Matara, C., Osano, S., Yusuf, A. O., & Ochungo, E. A. (2024). Prediction of vehicle-induced air pollution based on advanced machine learning models. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 14(1), 12837–12843.
Matara, C., Osano, S., Yusuf, A. O., & Ochungo, E. A. (2024). Classification of particulate matter (PM) concentrations using feature selection and machine learning strategies. LOGI – Scientific Journal on Transport and Logistics, 15(1), 85–96.
Ochungo, E. A. (2021). Africa: Her space-time convergence status. Journal of Engineering Research and Reports, 21(5), 61–80..
Ochungo, E. A. (2020). Decongestion of Nairobi–Thika Highway–Outer Ring Road ‘GSU’ intersection using microsimulation and geometric modelling. American Journal of Water Resources, 8(2), 48–55.
Ochungo, E. A., Ouma, G. O., Obiero, J. P., & Odero, N. A. (2020). Impact of drought on groundwater quality in Lang’ata Sub-County, Kenya. American Journal of Water Resources, 8(3), 145–154.
Ochungo, E. A., Ouma, G. O., Obiero, J. P., & Odero, N. A. (2019). Improved response to water shortage: A discrete choice experiment study in Lang’ata Sub-County, Nairobi City, Kenya. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 11(9), 1161–1187.
Ochungo, E. A., Ouma, G. O., Obiero, J. P., & Odero, N. A. (2019). Can one drink informal water alternatives directly? Using mobile phone to establish trust in quality. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 11, 1260–1277.
Ochungo, E. A., Ouma, G. O., Obiero, J. P., & Odero, N. A. (2019). Water quality index for assessment of potability of groundwater resource in Lang’ata Sub-County, Nairobi, Kenya. American Journal of Water Resources, 7(2), 62–75.
Ochungo, E. A., Ouma, G. O., Obiero, J. P., & Odero, N. A. (2019). The implication of unreliable urban water supply service: Vendor water cost in Lang’ata Sub-County, Nairobi City, Kenya. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 11(07), 896.
Ochungo, E. A., Ouma, G. O., Obiero, J. P., & Odero, N. A. (2019). An assessment of groundwater grab syndrome in Lang’ata Sub-County, Nairobi City, Kenya. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 11(05), 651.
Ochungo, E. A., & RAO. (2019). Project management readiness: A glimpse into the troubled rhetoric and the expected delivery of 2020 priority action projects in Africa. Journal of Business and Management Sciences, 7(2), 64–71.
Non-Refereed Journal Articles and Conference Papers:
Ochungo, E. A. (2023). Climate vulnerability assessment for increasing adaptive capacity of infrastructure projects in Kenya. 29th IEK Conference Proceedings.
Ochungo, E. A. (2023). Decongesting Nairobi inner-city traffic during wet-weather: Using HEC-RAS flood resilience model map. 29th IEK Conference Proceedings.
Manuscripts in Progress:
Ochungo, E. A., Osano, S. N., & Gichaga, J. F. (in press). Active noise control: A mathematical A-weighted filter experiment for road traffic noise in Nairobi City.
Ochungo, E. A., Osano, S. N., & Gichaga, J. F. (in press). Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient-enabled analysis of Doppler effect on road traffic noise from Nairobi City.
Ochungo, E. A., Osano, S. N., & Gichaga, J. F. (in press). The timbre quality of road traffic noise: A case of tambourine-like jingles from Nairobi City, Kenya.
Awards and Recognitions
Represented University of Nairobi in the Pioneer 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Ph.D. Presentation — University of Ghana, 2019
Consultancies
Team Leader — Infrastructure Upgrading Works, Nairobi & Nakuru Counties (2022–Present)
Team Leader — Socioeconomic Surveys, Infrastructure Upgrading Plans & Engineering Designs, Nairobi & Kilifi Counties (2017–2019)
Roads Engineer — KISIP Infrastructure Upgrading, Embu, Kitui, Malindi-Kilifi (2016–2018)
Team Leader — KISIP Designs, Eldoret, Kericho, Kisumu, Embu, Nakuru (2014–2015)
Project Highway Engineer — Informal Settlements, Mombasa, Eldoret, Nakuru (2012)
Team Leader — Construction Supervision, Ngong–Kiserian Road (2019)
Team Leader — Construction Supervision, Outer Ring Road (2019)
Team Leader — Road & Drainage Design, Six Secondary Rwandan Cities (2020)
Civil Engineer — Langata Road Expansion (2012)
LINKEDIN PROFILE URL, PERSONAL WEBSITE/PORTFOLIO, GOOGLE SCHOLAR/RESEARCH GATE
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=H5Dxb30AAAAJ&hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ochungo-elisha-akech-43850131/
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3597-1475?lang=en
Contancts:
Phone; +254721 629706
Email; elishakech1@gmail.com