Supporting Tomorrow’s Leaders in Soybean Research
Faith Sunguti and Emily Anyango are both master’s students at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi, Kenya, where they study crop diseases that threaten the region’s soybean production. As part of their degree program, they also conduct practical field research with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
This year, 2Blades is proud to support their studies, continuing our commitment to strengthening scientific capacity in Africa and advancing solutions for crop diseases that impact food security. We were introduced to them by Harun Murithi, himself a former 2Blades scholarship recipient, who helped spark their interest in soybean research.
Faith Sunguti culturing Coniothyrium glycines, the fungal pathogen that causes Red leaf blotch disease in soybean
Faith’s Journey
Faith grew up in Kakamega in western Kenya, where soybean farming is common. She earned her bachelor’s degree in microbiology and biotechnology at the University of Nairobi where she became fascinated by the tiny organisms that shape plant health and by their potential to help create disease-resistant crops. Her current work focuses on soybean red leaf blotch and soybean rust, two diseases that limit yields for farmers across the region.
Working with farmers in the field has been a highlight for Faith. She says it has helped her grow not only as a scientist but also as someone who wants to develop solutions that are truly meaningful for farmers.
With IITA, she has gained new molecular skills, including exposure to CRISPR technologies for developing resistant genes. She says the support from 2Blades motivates her to focus her master’s studies on research that can have impact in the field and to concentrate on diseases that threaten agricultural production in Kenya and global food security. When she is not in the lab or the field, Faith enjoys unwinding at the gym.
“I have realized how valuable scientists are to farmers and how my scientific work can benefit them”
Emily Anyango taking part in the 28th IARSAF Symposium at IITA
Emily’s Journey
Emily Anyango’s path also began in western Kenya, in the port city of Kisumu near Lake Victoria. While working with Harun as a research assistant on soybean rust, she found herself drawn into plant pathology and the major role that soybean plays in nutrition and food security. Her master’s work now centers on nematodes in soybean, a growing problem for farmers. She hopes that diagnosing the types of nematodes present will help guide better management practices.
Emily enjoys research that keeps her close to farmers, where she can see the real-world relevance of her work. She describes 2Blades’ scholarship support as immensely valuable to her research journey, noting that funding her studies and research on her own would have been a significant challenge. She credits Harun and IITA with offering networks and opportunities she never expected, including interacting with leading scientists, growing in public speaking, and even helping organize a symposium.
“If we can find solutions to improve diets in Kenya, and I can contribute to that effort, then that would be a wonderful thing.”
The oldest of four girls, she considers herself an extrovert and loves singing, dancing, and taking part in outreach and charity events when she is not in the lab.
Faith and Emily both hope to continue their research beyond their degrees and to use their skills to bring long-term, impactful solutions to farmers. 2Blades is honored to accompany them on the beginning of that journey.
Faith (above) and Emily (below) sampling soybeans affected by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the fungal pathogen responsible for Soybean Rust
