Dr Okidi obtained his M.Sc. in 1973 and PhD in 1975 from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, in Massachusetts (USA) in 1975 – 1976. He became Research Fellow and Post-doctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Centre for International Studies. He then joined the Institute for development studies (IDS) of the University of Nairobi as Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow and Research Associate Fellow (1976 – 1988) and became a full professor in 2002. His research interests include international and comparative environmental policy, law and institutions, international water policy and law, the law of the sea, public international law, and law and development. He has served as Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy at the University of Nairobi and Dean of the Environmental Studies at Moi University and Senior Legal Officer and Task Manager and Chief of Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). He has been a member of the Board of Management of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and member of the National Environment Council of Kenya’s supreme policy organ under the Environmental Management and Coordination. Also, he served as Chairman of the Faculty Committee on Research and Chairman of the Governing Council of Kenya Water Institute. He is a member of the American Society of International Law and several other professional societies; he has several national, regional and international awards and recognition with 30 publications.
