Meet Our Team

AFRIMEB consists of a truly dynamic, multi-disciplinary team of researchers, research support and management staff, working together in mental health research. Our excellent team is truly the reason why we are one of the leading mental health research and advocacy institutions in the region.

Prof David M. Ndetei

Founder & Director

Dr. Victoria Mutiso

Director of Research & Administration

Dr. Victoria Mutiso

Director of Research & Administration

Victoria Mutiso, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist and Director of Research at Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB). Her research interest is in child and adolescent mental health, development, and adaptation of culturally appropriate interventions around promotion of mental well-being and prevention of/or delay of the onset of mental illness in young people, as well as underserved and marginalized populations in Kenyan urban and rural settings. She has experience in navigating the Kenyan political and bureaucratic terrains, and with this, she successfully engaged with a Kenyan county government to integrate mental health services at the primary healthcare level, including maternal and child mental health services. She has been Principal and Co-Investigator in several mental health projects at AFRIMEB with other Kenyan and international collaborators on mental health and substance abuse, which are the basis for policy and practice in Kenya. She has several publications on various aspects of public mental health in Kenya.

Email:vmutiso@amhf.or.ke

Dr. Christine Musyimi

Research & Ethics

Dr. Christine Musyimi

Research & Ethics

Christine Musyimi, PhD, is a Global Mental Health Researcher at the Institute of Mental and Brain Health. She is also a Collaborating Faculty Member at the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health, and a fellow of the National Institute of Mental Health’s Global Mental Health Visionary Innovators Shaping Tomorrow's Advancements and Child Mind Institute, New York. Dr. Musyimi’s research focuses on promoting excellence in community-based mental health research, and she develops innovative strategies with special attention to addressing social determinants of mental health (such as stigma, climate change, violence, homelessness and early life adversities) that contribute to mental health disparities across the entire lifespan (from childhood to old age) in marginalized populations.

Email:christine.musyimi@amhf.or.ke

Miriam Mande

Senior Finance & Administration

Arthur Odera

Head of IT & Communications

Arthur Odera

Head of IT & Communications

Arthur Odera is an Information Communication Technology Officer and Information Technology Analyst at the Africa Institute of Mental & Brain Health (AFRIMEB) in Nairobi, Kenya. With a Bachelor of Technology in Business and Information Technology from Africa Nazarene University, he specializes in network administration, IT service management, and information systems. Arthur focuses on leveraging technology to support healthcare and mental health research initiatives, enhancing healthcare outcomes, and fostering collaboration and innovation within his organization. He is skilled in areas such as web development, SPSS, MySQL, networking, and team leadership.

Dianah Achola

Project Officer

Dianah Achola

Project Officer

Diana Achola is a medical anthropologist and Project Officer at AFRIMEB, passionate about advancing health and dignity for vulnerable and homeless populations. With over three years of research and field experience, I combine deep community insight with evidence-based approaches to design and support impactful interventions. My work bridges research, policy, and practice, collaborating with NGOs, governments, and international partners to ensure that the needs and voices of marginalised communities are truly heard.

Kevin Onuonga

Project Officer

Kevin Onuonga

Project Officer

I am a Project Officer and public health researcher at the Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB), passionate about improving family well-being and community resilience in the face of climate change. With experience supporting research on climate, mental health, and gender, I bridge field coordination and evidence-based practice to strengthen systems of care. My work focuses on empowering community health workers, supporting vulnerable families, and advancing climate-informed solutions for healthier, more equitable communities.

Pascalyne Nyamai

Clinician

Pascalyne Nyamai

Clinician

Pascalyne Nyamai is a public health professional and clinical officer with experience in mental health research and community-based interventions across adolescents, youth, and the elderly. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Pascalyne currently serves as a Project Officer at the Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB), for the DASI-K dementia related project and the SHADE-K project, which focuses on adolescents experiencing homelessness and mental illness. Prior to her current role, she served as a Study Clinician at AFRIMEB on the READ-ADSP dementia study and the TEMPLETON project, which examined long-term health outcomes and dissemination strategies for adolescent character strength interventions. Pascalyne also actively contributes to peer- reviewed publications and remains committed to advancing mental health knowledge and interventions for vulnerable populations in Kenya.

Diana Thakya

Research Associate

Diana Thakya

Research Associate

Diana is a public health researcher and project management professional with a solid footprint in community-driven research and stakeholder engagement. She serves as a Research Assistant at AFRIMEB, supporting multidisciplinary studies, leveraging both qualitative and quantitative methods to deliver research-driven solutions anchored in real community realities. Her work spans across community engagement, strengthening health systems, and evidence generation that informs policy, practice, and measurable impact. Diana has a keen interest in dementia research, with hands-on experience advancing early detection, awareness, and community-level support for affected populations. She remains committed to driving ethical, responsive, and sustainable research that elevates community voices and strengthens decision-making across the health sector.

Joan Muthoki

Digital communication officer

Grace Mutevu

Executive Assistant

Grace Mutevu

Executive Assistant

Grace N. Mutevu serves as the Personal Assistant to the Executive Director, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the Executive Director’s office. She holds a Certificate in Secretarial Studies, a Diploma in Business Management, and a Certificate in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Grace provides administrative, organizational, and operational support to facilitate effective leadership and seamless office operations.

Susan Muli

Front Office Manager

Susan Muli

Front Office Manager

Susan Muli is the Front Desk and Office Manager at the Africa Institute of Mental & Brain Health (AFRIMEB). She serves as the first point of contact for visitors, clients, and staff, ensuring a professional and welcoming reception. She manages incoming communications, coordinates visitor access, supports office operations, and handles key administrative tasks. Susan holds a Certificate in Customer Care and Relationship Management, which strengthens her service delivery. Her strong interpersonal and organizational skills help maintain an efficient and professional front-office environment.

Samuel Walusaka

Biostatistician

Samuel Walusaka

Biostatistician

I am a Biostatistician, data science practitioner, and researcher at the Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health. Using tools like SPSS, Stata, R, and Python, I manage and analyze health data, turning it into actionable insights that inform policy and strengthen community well-being and services. I support data dissemination through manuscript writing and contribute to systematic reviews and book chapters. Beyond technical work, I train research teams and community health workers on data literacy, monitoring, and evidence interpretation. As an ILO-certified SIYB Trainer, I support capacity-building initiatives that enhance analytical skills and decision-making. What drives me is simple: transform data into clear insights, practical digital solutions, and interactive dashboards, combined with training, to ensure evidence truly improves services, supports, and strengthens communities.

Dennis Kioko

Intern Biostatistician

Dennis Kioko

Intern Biostatistician

I am a Biostatistician at AFRIMEB, specializing in the design, analysis, and interpretation of data. With expertise in SPSS, Stata and R, I apply advanced statistical methods to enhance the quality and accuracy of research on mental health, adolescent wellbeing, and community-based interventions. With a strong foundation in quantitative research and data management, I am committed to promoting data-driven decision-making in public health and advancing research excellence across projects.

Veronica Onyango

Research Associate

Veronica Onyango

Research Associate

Veronica Onyango is a Research Associate at the Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB) with over three years of experience in mental health research. I have a strong passion for advancing evidence-based mental health interventions and actively contribute to multiple research projects with diverse roles and target populations. The bulk of my roles revolve around project implementation including field activities, stakeholder engagement, data collection, and support the development of training programs and community-based support structures. I am committed to producing high-quality research and contributing to solutions that strengthen mental health systems and improve outcomes for communities across Kenya.

Yvonne Kiogora

Pyschiatric Clinical Officer

Yvonne Kiogora

Pyschiatric Clinical Officer

Yvonne Kiogora is a clinical officer with over 13 years of experience in healthcare, spanning the public, private, and institutional health sectors. She is trained in mental health, psychiatry, and public health. She currently works at AFRIMEB, where her work includes research activities focused on mental health, stress management, and cognitive wellness. She is dedicated to promoting evidence-based approaches that empower individuals and communities to address stress, trauma, and related mental health challenges.

Susan Malinda

Research Associate

Susan Malinda

Research Associate

I am a Mental Health Research Projects Assistant with a background in Social Work and Medical Sociology. I am passionate about understanding human behaviour and exploring the social determinants of health and illness. Currently, I support a project aimed at strengthening the capacity of community health promoters to assist families with young children under five. This work focuses on enhancing parent–child interactions, improving child health, and promoting child safety. I am also involved in a study that seeks to deepen our understanding of psychosis risk among young people through comprehensive assessments. For the first time, this research integrates MRI and electrophysiological investigations to help predict the potential development of psychosis later in life.

Valerie Ngatta

Research Assistant

Valerie Ngatta

Research Assistant

Valerie Ngatta is a licensed Counseling Psychologist, Clinical Supervisor, and Clinical Research Assistant with extensive experience in mental health research, school-based interventions, and psychological practice. She is trained in mental health assessment, counselling, research methods, and team leadership. She currently works at AFRIMEB, where she takes a hands-on approach to supporting large-scale mental health research projects through data collection, participant recruitment, ethical oversight, and mentorship of research assistants. Valerie supervised the Anansi Project in secondary schools and is actively involved in the KEPROS Project, which seeks to better understand the causes and course of the earliest stages of psychosis among young people. Valerie is committed to advancing evidence-based mental health research and promoting effective, ethical interventions that enhance the well-being of individuals and communities.

Leyla Mutheu

Intern

Leyla Mutheu

Intern

Meet Our Team

Prof David M. Ndetei

Miriam Mande

Joan Muthoki

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