The Horticulture sub-sector is one of the key contributors to Kenya’s GDP directly and
indirectly. Commercial horticulture is steadily growing in other countries in Eastern Africa.
The subsector is very dynamic and requires a well-equipped human capacity to drive
knowledge-based sustainable growth as envisioned in national, regional and international
development policy documents. The PhD in Horticulture programme is tailored to train
qualified technical practitioners who will take the central stage in policy formulation,

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Agronomy Degree programme of the University of Nairobi
has produced most of the leading agronomists who are serving key sectors in government,
research and development organizations in Kenya and internationally. The revised programmes
aim at training leaders in the field of agronomy with the necessary knowledge and skills to
develop innovations, policies and managerial skills required for sustainable agricultural
production.
The programme has been revised to be compliant with the national and international policies

The science of plant breeding has over many centuries led to the development of superior crop
varieties that are high yielding, have higher nutritional value, have better agronomic and
horticultural characteristics, varieties resistant to heat, cold, or drought and improved. The
revised curriculum in Genetics and Plant Breeding will train researchers and academicians who
will be leaders in the development of innovations and policies in genetics and plant breeding in
Kenya and the region.