Professor Moses Langat is the research leader in plant chemistry at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England.
This is the largest botanical garden in the world, hosting more than 36,000 living plants and over 8 million specimen of plants.
Having spent over four years at the garden, Langat was born and bred in Nakuru County and he is an alumnus of Egerton
Here is Langat’s story as told by WoK.
Background
Langat is one of over 400 at the botanical garden.
Their task is mainly researching different types of from the collection and finding out the good uses of the plant.
“Personally I’m involved in improving the pyrethrum sector in Kenya and this is to support the entire pyrethrum value chain,” he said.
Langat explained that to achieve this, they have to develop good pyrethrum varieties from the seeds and supporting commercial nurseries.
“We also work to improve how the refinery processes works; we have solvents that are used in the refinery which eventually if they are adopted in Kenya, they are going to be affordable and environmentally friendly,” he added.
He also explained that he ended up working in the UK after enrolling to do a PhD at the University of Surrey.
“The university was sponsoring me, meaning they were paying for my tuition fees and they were giving me,” he said.
Langat was later employed as a post doctorate fellow and a lecturer upon graduating for the university in 2009.
“I lectured at the University of Sarre in Guildford where I’m the spectroscopy lecturer and I’m also a visiting lecturer at Royal Holloway University in London,” he said.
He also co-supervises PhD students from Pen Resource University in Nigeria and University of Douala in Cameroon.
Langat also works with scientists from across the world including DR Congo, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.
“I’m also a course supervisor to students at Egerton University and the University of Nairobi,” he said.
He is also involved in politics and governance having worked closely with presidents Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto.
