Kawango Agot, PhD, MPH

Director/CEO- Impact Research and Development Organization, Kisumu, Kenya

Dr. Kawango Agot, MPH, PhD, is a Kenyan research scientist who obtained her PhD and MPH concurrently from the University of Washington, Seattle, then proceeded to coordinate the ground-breaking trial on medical male circumcision for HIV prevention at the Kisumu site, western Kenya.  She has conducted multiple studies on various topics, including pre-exposure prophylaxis, multipurpose technologies, HIV self-testing, optimizing HIV care outcomes among adolescents and young adults living with HIV, and improving savings as a strategy to reduce spending on transactional sex and alcohol, among others. She also runs community-based HIV, Malaria and TB prevention programs. She is currently setting up her site for COVID-19 drug and vaccine trials. Dr. Kawango also founded Nyanza Initiative for Girls Education and Empowerment (NIGEE) as a give-back outfit; NIGEE raises funds locally to return to school girls who dropped out mainly due to pregnancy, early marriage or female genital mutilation.

1. Ochieng', LA, Onyango, J, Owuor, GO, Obare, I, Ochillo, M, Odwar, T et al.. Saving for a rainy day: piloting a savings intervention to reduce HIV risk among young female sex workers in Kenya. Afr J AIDS Res. 2025; :1-5. doi: 10.2989/16085906.2025.2465535. PubMed PMID:40384153 .
2. Chhun, N, Mangale, DI, Agot, K, Owade, WA, Kadima, J, Badia, J et al.. Determinants of implementation of a stepped care intervention for adolescents and youth living with HIV in Kenya: a qualitative evaluation. BMC Health Serv Res. 2025;25 (1):702. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12875-7. PubMed PMID:40369586 PubMed Central PMC12079965.
3. Agot, K, Ayieko, BO, Sheira, LA, Camlin, CS, Kulzer, J, Thirumurthy, H et al.. High mortality among fishermen along the beaches of lake Victoria: secondary analysis of evidence from a randomized control trial to promote HIV testing and services uptake in Siaya County, Kenya. BMC Public Health. 2025;25 (1):1630. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22830-0. PubMed PMID:40316987 PubMed Central PMC12046724.
4. Ochillo, M, Bosire, R, Okeyo, N, Onyango, J, Agot, K, Chhun, N et al.. Health promotion messaging reduces HIV risk behaviours and improves repeat testing among adolescent girls and young women in Kenya. Afr J AIDS Res. 2025; :1-6. doi: 10.2989/16085906.2025.2474751. PubMed PMID:40259692 .
5. Adede, DO, Sheira, LA, Gutin, SA, Ochung, A, Ayieko, B, Olugo, P et al.. Comparing PrEP adherence via objective and self-reported measures among fishermen working on Lake Victoria, Kenya. AIDS Care. 2025;37 (5):749-757. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2025.2484312. PubMed PMID:40238797 PubMed Central PMC12090886.