Dr. Daniel Pande
Caretaker Dean, School of Agriculture
Message from the Dean
Dr. Pande is a lecturer in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Science Technology and a specialist in Plant Pathology, Plant Virology, Bioinformatics, Genetics, and Molecular Biology. He holds a PhD in Botany (Plant Pathology) from Maseno University, a Master of Science in Botany (Plant Pathology), and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension from Egerton University.
He is an experienced researcher and scholar with expertise in molecular plant virology, bioinformatics, and computational biology, having collaborated with international research teams, including scientists from the University of Cape Town. His work focuses on understanding the evolution and dynamics of plant viruses using advanced molecular and bioinformatics tools.
Dr. Pande has also played a key role in the development of academic programmes and has served in various academic and administrative leadership positions within the University.
Introduction & Brief History
Laikipia University has a long history in agricultural training dating back to 1965, when it served as a large-scale Farmers Training College under the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. From 1979 to 1987, it was one of the Animal Husbandry and Industry Training Institute (AHITI) campuses offering specialized training in Animal Health. Today, the University proudly continues this rich legacy through the School of Agriculture (SoA).
The School of Agriculture currently comprises one main department, the Department of Agricultural Sciences, which offers six cutting-edge undergraduate degree programmes and one postgraduate programme designed to address modern agro-market and dynamic industry requirements:
Available Academic Programmes
- Master of Science in Agricultural Economics
- Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Resource Management
- Bachelor of Science in Animal Health and Production
- Bachelor of Science in Animal Science
- Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
The School features an adequate pool of qualified professors, lecturers, and administrative staff dedicated to providing top-tier teaching, advisory, and mentorship services to our student body. Boasting 927 acres of land, modern machinery, and specialized field equipment, the School leverages Laikipia County's unique, diverse agro-ecological setting—spanning from the temperate zones near the Aberdares to the northern semi-arid lands—to offer the best practical agricultural learning experience in Kenya.
Our Guiding Principles & Quality Operations
In every aspect of our service delivery, we are firmly guided by the University's core vision and mission:
- Vision: “A University for valued transformation of the Society”
- Mission: “To serve students and society through research, education, scholarship, training, innovation, outreach and consultancy”
Furthermore, our institutional administrative workflows strictly align with the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Standard for standard service optimization, alongside the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Information Security Standard to consistently ensure absolute confidentiality, integrity, and operational availability of all records and info matrices.
Further School of Agriculture Inquiries
Contact the Dean's desk for intake schedules, specialized placement parameters, and attachment guidelines.