Kenyan Dr. Fredrick Kyalo Manthi elected to US National Academy of Sciences

Renowned palaeontologist Dr. Fredrick Kyalo Manthi has been elected into the United States National Academy of Sciences.

The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) joined scientists globally in celebrating Dr. Manthi, who is also the director of Antiquities, Sites and Monuments and a Senior Research Scientist at the State agency.

He now becomes the second Kenyan to join the US National Academy of Sciences after Prof. Meave Leakey in May 2013.

Dr. Manthi, who is the Director of the West Turkana Paleo Project based at the NMK works in the remote Lake Turkana region of the country, where he and his team are discovering hundreds of fossils including those of early humans.

Election into membership of the non-profit society of distinguished scholars acknowledges one’s commitment and achievement in Science.

Membership of the National Academy of Sciences is an award to distinguished Scientists who are continuing achievements in original research.

Dr. Manthi was named an International Member of the National Academy of Sciences on April 30, 2024. 

Citizen Digital caught up with the Scientist at a time when he was receiving overwhelming congratulatory messages and he shared in his excitement.

“My election to the US National Academy of Sciences was a pleasant surprise. No one prepared me for this,” an elated Dr. Manthi said.

“This is a big honour, it  makes me believe even more that if you do good Science, treat all your colleagues well regardless of their age and status, mentor young scholars, and overall promote scientific discourses, some people somewhere will someday recognize the good work you are doing.”

He added: “Indeed, the election to the National Academy of Sciences is a big encouragement not to me alone but to all Kenyan and African scholars.”

Dr. Manthi acknowledged that accolades come with passion and dedication to triumph over all odds.

He said: “Like any other profession, being a research Scientist comes with a share of challenges. One of the most universal challenges that particularly African researchers deal with is inadequate resources including funding opportunities as well as poor infrastructure to undertake cutting-edge research.”

Dr. Manthi expressed his passion for research and conservation efforts of Kenya's unparalleled natural and cultural heritage, both ancient and modern at the National Museum of Kenya.

“In being honoured, I must admit that it is not a journey I walked alone, as so many people including my family, colleagues and friends, as well as institutions such as the National Museums of Kenya, the Leakey Foundation, PAST of South Africa, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the National Geographic, among many others, all held my hand in this long journey,” he noted.

In 2007, Dr. Manthi was also awarded Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) by then President the late Mwai Kibaki for his contribution to Science in Kenya.