Dr. Esther Khakata
About me
Dr. Esther Khakata from Strathmore University embodies academic excellence and transformative leadership in the computing landscape. As Lecturer and Research Director, she navigates complex algorithms and machine learning research while mentoring generations of students, notably championing women in STEM through different initiatives. Her global perspective, sharpened as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati (USA), fuels innovative curricula and collaborative research published in international journals. Beyond lecturing halls, she architects institutional growth: developing doctoral and masters programs, chairing research panels, and organizing landmark forums. A relentless advocate for empowerment, she mentors her students in career pathways, faith, and work-life balance, weaving community impact into her scholarly fabric. Recognized as Strathmore’s first female IT PhD graduate and a passionate educator, her legacy intertwines technical brilliance with human-centered purpose. Esther’s intensity drives both silicon and spirit, relentlessly bridging knowledge and societal progress across Kenya and beyond.
Dr. Esther Khakata is a seasoned academic and researcher with a Ph.D. in Information Technology (Strathmore University, 2020), specializing in data science and machine learning. As a Lecturer and Research Director at Strathmore University, she teaches graduate courses in Data Science Foundations, Systems and Software Modelling, and Data Visualization, while mentoring students in AI-driven projects. Her research focuses on predictive analytics, utilizing data mining and machine learning techniques (e.g., decision trees, CNNs) to analyze student performance, disease detection (maize, cervical cancer), and environmental systems. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and conferences on topics like learning style prediction and IoT-based smart systems.
Notably, she supervises graduate theses on AI applications, including sentiment analysis, fraud detection, and healthcare models. She co-leads the DigitAfrica grant, advancing pan-African digital science infrastructure. Dr. Khakata also contributes to curriculum development for MSc/PhD programs in data-centric fields, reinforcing her commitment to advancing data science in academia and industry.
Other Memberships/Affiliations
Degrees:
• Mwaza, E., Khakata, E. & Kofi, I (2023). Maize Disease Detection Using Convolutional Neural Network. E3S Web of Conferences, 469, 00015 - ICEGC’ November 2023. Available at: https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2023/106/e3sconf_icegc2023_00015.pdf
• Gachuhi, J., Khakata, E. & Kofi, I (2023). A Smart Water Management System for Detecting Household Water Wastage. E3S Web of Conferences, 469, 00015 - ICEGC’ November 2023. Available at:
https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2023/106/e3sconf_icegc2023_00017.pdf
Rome, Italy
Ohio, USA