On 18 August 2026, the Department of Civil & Construction Engineering, University of Nairobi, is pleased to announce the promotion of its Chairman, Eng. Dr. Simpson Osano Nyambane, from Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor of Civil Engineering.

 

The promotion is a significant milestone in Prof. Osano’s academic and professional career and is a reflection of his longstanding contribution to engineering education, research, professional practice and academic leadership.

Academic and Professional Journey

Prof. Osano is an alumnus of the University of Nairobi, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering between 1998 and 2003. He subsequently earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, in 2004, before returning to the University of Nairobi where he completed his PhD in Civil Engineering in 2012.

His academic career at the University of Nairobi has spanned more than a decade. He joined the Department as a Tutorial Fellow in 2010, became a Lecturer in 2013, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2019. He has taught and supervised students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with his teaching and research interests including geotechnical and transportation engineering, project management, construction methods and materials, and soil analysis.

Prof. Osano has also served as Chairman of the Department of Civil & Construction Engineering, providing leadership in academic administration, research, knowledge transfer, people management, financial management and quality assurance.

Engineering and Professional Practice

In addition to his academic career, Prof. Osano has extensive experience in civil engineering practice. His professional experience spans geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, road and airport projects, water infrastructure, irrigation, construction supervision and project management.

He has served as a team leader, project manager, design engineer, geotechnical engineer and materials engineer on a range of major infrastructure projects. His experience includes work on road rehabilitation and construction, airport infrastructure, water supply projects, irrigation schemes and geotechnical investigations.

Among the projects in which he has been involved are the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, Thika Bypass Road Project, JKIA Interim Terminal, Isiolo Airport Phase 2, Thwake Dam Project, Gigiri–Kabete Water Improvement Project, and several major road and irrigation projects in Kenya and Tanzania.
Prof. Osano is a Professional Engineer and Consulting Engineer registered with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) and a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK).

Research and Academic Contributions

Prof. Osano has contributed to research in areas including geotechnical engineering, slope stabilisation, geosynthetics, road infrastructure, pavement engineering, road safety and transportation.

His earlier research investigated the use of vegetation roots in slope stabilisation, including root tensile strength, pull-out resistance and the contribution of vegetation to soil shear strength. His subsequent research has expanded into geosynthetics, pavement performance, pedestrian facilities, road safety and transport infrastructure.

His research contributions have also continued in recent years. For example, he has co-authored studies examining high-collision locations and corrective measures on Kenyan roads, pedestrian infrastructure, pedestrian travel speeds, plastic paving blocks and sustainable water services.

His research has also involved collaboration with industry and government institutions. Notably, his CV records the KeNHA–University of Nairobi Joint Research Collaboration Agreement, alongside other institutional collaborations.

Mentorship and Postgraduate Supervision

Prof. Osano has played an active role in developing the next generation of engineers and researchers through postgraduate supervision.

His supervision portfolio includes PhD and MSc students working on topics covering road asset management, pavement performance, non-motorised transport, geosynthetics, recycled construction materials, road infrastructure defects, traffic emissions and other areas of civil engineering.

He has also served as an external examiner for postgraduate research and as a reviewer for international peer-reviewed journals.

Leadership and Service

During his tenure as Chairman, Prof. Osano has championed initiatives aimed at strengthening the Department’s links with industry, government and alumni. His leadership achievements include facilitating a KeNHA–University of Nairobi collaboration valued at KSh 151 million, organising the Department’s inaugural Road Safety Conference in 2021, and developing relationships with alumni and industry players to enhance graduate placement and professional exposure.

His leadership extends beyond the University, with professional and community service through engineering organisations and other institutions.

A Milestone for the Department

The promotion of Eng. Dr. Simpson Osano Nyambane to Associate Professor of Civil Engineering is a notable achievement for both Prof. Osano and the Department of Civil & Construction Engineering.

His career demonstrates the value of combining academic excellence, professional engineering practice, research, mentorship and institutional leadership. The Department congratulates Prof. Eng. Simpson Osano Nyambane on this well-deserved promotion and wishes him continued success as he advances engineering education, research and professional practice at the University of Nairobi and beyond.

Congratulations, Prof. Osano!