Name of Faculty/Staff: James Ogola Onyango
Designation/Rank: Associate Professor Applied
Linguistics and Director, Nakuru Campus
Laikipia University: School of Humanities and
Development Studies
Email: a9904279@yahoo.com
Educational Background:
PhD: Applied linguistics, University of Vienna, Austria
MA. Linguistics and Kiswahili Studies, Kenyatta University, Kenya.
BEd. (Honours) Kenyatta University
Brief auto-biography of the Faculty/Staff
Prof. Onyango started his teaching career in a secondary school in Kenya in 1988 (May). He
taught for five months, then joined Kenyatta University (Kenya) as a Graduate Assistant in the
Department of Kiswahili and African Languages in October the same year. He completed his
MA degree and graduated in August 1990. He was then appointed a Tutorial Fellow in the same
Department. He joined Egerton University (Kenya) as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of
Literature, Languages and Linguistics. In 1992, he was appointed as a Lecturer in the same
Department. In 1999-2003 he was at the University of Vienna (Austria) for doctorate studies. He
got his doctorate in June 2003. In 2006-2007 he was at the University of Vienna on PostDoctoral Research Fellowship. In 2007 he was appointed Senior Lecturer in the Department
Literature, Languages and Linguistics of Laikipia University Campus of Egerton University. In
2011 he was appointed Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics in the Department of Literary
and Communication Studies, Laikipia University. In 2005 he won CODESRIA’s Advanced
Researchers’ Fellowship. He has supervised more than 20 Masters students: both Kenyan and
International and 4 Ph.D. students and continues to do so. He has presented academic papers in
many local and international conferences. He has been acting chair of department (9 months in
2005) and Dean of Students for 3 years at Laikipia University. He is currently an External
Examiner in 4 Kenyan Universities and one Ugandan university.
Selected Publications
1) 2014: Hotuba za Mwalimu Nyerere kama Hifadhi ya Mawazo yake Yaliyoandikwa kawa
Kusomwa, in Islamic University in Uganda Journal Authored with Yasini Musa, Furaha
Chai and Beja S. Karisa
2) 2013: Ethnic Conflict and Ethnic Discourse in Kenya: A Discourse –Historical Approach
Perspective in Ruwaza Afrrika Journal
3) (2011b): “Imagery as a Pervasive Feature of Style: The Case of Ebrahim Hussein’s
Mashetani (1971)”. In J.K.S. Makokha, E. Kabaji and D. Dipio (eds.) East African
Literature: Essays on Written and Oral Traditions. Logos Verlag Berlin. ISBN 978-3-8325-2816-4
4) (2010a): “Ethnolinguistic Vitality and Democratic Practice in Kenya” In (B. Howe,
V.Popovski and M. Notoras (eds.) Democracy in the South: Participation, State and the
People by United Nations University Press. ISBN: 978-92-808-1178-0
5) (2010b): “A Discourse-Historical Approach Analysis of Hate Speech in 2007 Elections’
Campaigns in Kenya.” in Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and
Southern Africa (OSSREA) journal , Kenya Chapter Vol no. 1 . Co- authored with
Jonathan Furaha Chai. ISSN 9966-05-162-7.
6) (2010c): “Politics of Language in the Parliament of Kenya: A Discourse-Historical
Approach Perspective.” (In R. de Cillia, H.Gruber, M.Krzyanowski and F.Menz eds)
Discourse, Politics and Identity. Stauffenberg Verlag. ISBN 978-3-86057-669-4.
7) (2010d): “The National Language Policy Implementation and Experience: The Case of
Kiswahili in the Parliament of Kenya.” (In D.O. Orwenjo and J.O.Ogone eds.) Language
and Politics in Africa: Contemporary Issues and Critical Perspectives. Cambridge
Scholars Publishing. ISBN (13)978-1-4438-2383-8
8) (2009) “Data Analysis for Education and Social Science Research: Quantitative and
Qualitative Approaches”, in Journal of Educational Planning and Management of Kenya
(co-authored with S.O. Odebero) Vol.1 2009 ISSN, 2074-5400.
9) (2008a) “Masculine Discursive Construction of Rape in the Kenyan Press, by
CODESRIA. In E,Uchendu (ed.) Masculinities in Contemporary Africa. ISBN:278-2-86978-3
10) (2008b) “The Presidency as a National Language Academy: The Case of Kiswahili in
Kenya.” in Egerton Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education. Vol III
NO.2&3. ISSN 1021-1128.
11) (2008c). Psychometric Quality of Continuous Assessment Tests and their Suitability to
Contribute to the Final Examination Score. (co-authored with David Mwangi and
Mwangi Ndirangu) in Egerton University Journal Humanities, Social Sciences and
Education. Vol III NO.2&3. ISSN 1021-1128
12) (2007a). “Multilingual Literacy in Kenya: Past Problems, Present Challenges and Future
Prospects.” Co-authored with Odebero, S.O. In Journal of Faculty of Education.
ISSN:1563-0188
13) (2007b). “Masculinities Question in Kiswahili Children’s Literature in Kenya.” In Beck,
R, Diegner, L., Vierke, C., Geider, T. and Reuster-Jahn, U. Swahili Forum. Mainz:
Department of Anthropology and African Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University,
Mainz, Germany. 14, ISSN, 1614-2373.
14) (2006a). “The Dark Shadow of Masculinities in Women’s Emancipation Agenda”. In
Olukoshi, A and Nyamnjoh, F. (eds). CODESRIA Bulletin Nos. 1 and 2. ISSN. 0850-0712
15) (2005). “Issues in National Language Terminology Development in Kenya”. In Beck, R,
Diegner, L., Dittemer, C., Geider, T. and Reuster-Jahn, U. Swahili Forum. Mainz:
Department of Anthropology and African Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University,
Mainz, Germany. 12. ISSN 1614-2373.
16) Forthcoming. Between Hard Rocks and Hard Places: Gendered Ideologies that Bind
Kikuyu Marriages. Authored with Wakiuru, M. K. and Furaha, J.F. by Cambridge
Scholars Publishing and the agreement form was signed in 2013.
17) Forthcoming. Discursive Masculinities in Kenyan Beer Commercials. To be published in
2015.
BOOKS
(2011, December) Discursive Masculinities and the War Against HIV/AIDS: The Kenyan
Experience. Egerton University Book Series, Number. 3.