Mosquito Hunter

About the Book

Mosquito Hunter is Clifford Mutero’s first autobiographical account. It focuses on the evolution of his entomological career, which was ignited in his early childhood from around the age of six up to the stage when he completed his PhD studies in insect science at age thirty. It is a one-of-a-kind narration that sets out geosocial, historical, and entomological facts with a brand of humor that has the potential to instruct and inspire a new generation of would-be natural scientists through the soft lore behind scientific investigation. Set mainly in a quintessentially rural farming community in Central Kenya and also in coastal Kenya, this narration reflects the abundance of stories based on village events, which were enriched by news and music from the wider world via the bridging power of radio. Significantly, Mosquito Hunter pays high tribute to the various mentors who inspired the author towards research of the natural environment. Chief among them is his father, Felix Mutero, whose all-round mastery of efficient farming practices provided a master class of sorts to the future scholar. Themes ranging from health, education, love, family, music, poverty, and professional politics are all woven into this telling of the making of that rare species, the African insect scientist.

About the Author

Clifford Mutero is a Kenyan medical entomologist who has worked for many years at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Nairobi. He is a visiting professor with the School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria. From 2001 to 2014 he spearheaded investigation in support of multi-sectoral malaria control policy-making in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. During this period, he coordinated research under the System-wide Initiative on Malaria and Agriculture to promote holistic understanding of complex linkages between socio-ecological systems and human health, overseeing implementation of projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. He has served as a consultant to the World Health Organization and other international bodies on integrated vector management. He holds a PhD in medical entomology from the University of Nairobi. Born and raised in the rural central Kenyan highlands, his childhood straddled the heady pre- and post-independence era whose optimism peaked in the 1960s. From an early age he delighted in story-telling, stemming from his innate ability to keenly observe his immediate surroundings and vividly analyze interpersonal interactions. He has been married to Joy for 30 years and together they have raised two daughters, Waihiga and Noni.