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A climate-smart agriculture approach using double digging, Zai pits and Aquacrop model in rain-fed sorghum cultivation at Wiyumiririe location of Laikipia County, Kenya
Full text linkThe smallholder farmers of Wiyumiririe in Laikipia County are food insecure and highly vulnerable to climate related hazards owing to dearth of resources and over reliance on rain-fed agriculture. A preliminary reconnaissance pre-field visit of the area showed that there were no tangible CSA measures in place that could significantly improve the farmers’ adaptive capacity in a way that would make them food secure. This study therefore sought to investigate how double digging, Zai pits and Aquacrop model would be applied to help the community overcome food insecurity and adapt to climate change. The researcher identified experimental plots that were set out based on the split plot design. The field trials were done from January 2016 to February 2019. Daily weather data, soil water content, above ground biomass and percent canopy cover measured at regular intervals formed input data to calibrate Aquacrop model. The validated model was then used to determine the impacts of climate change on Sorghum crop yields at Wiyumiririe and to prepare scenarios for policy makers. The findings show that the interventions had significant impact because farmers who adopt either double digging or Zai pits and farmyard manure at 5 tons/ha, can obtain yields of approximately 9tons per hectare under current weather conditions and in future under climate change. This is because the attainable yields of 9 tons/ha are more than double the average production in Kenya of 4 tons/ha. Furthermore, the model output showed sorghum crop yields will generally increase in future mainly due associated increased carbon dioxide fertilization. However, the increase in yields needs to be taken with caution. This is because the compounding effects of water stress which is likely to cause a 61% reduction in canopy expansion, 31% closure in stomata and temperature stress of 31% is not yet fully understood. Moreover, the impacts of altered weather patterns to crop physiology, soil chemical properties and; prevalence of crop pests and diseases are still obscure
Urban Unsustainability and Development
No full textWelcome to the thirteenth edition issue one of the Africa Habitat Review Journal of the School of the Built Environment, University of Nairobi, Kenya. This edition of Africa Habitat Review has presented ten papers on issues relating to Urban Unsustainability and Development.The paper entitled The North-South Divide in Urban Patterns and the Contradictions of Using Homogeneous Instruments of Planning: Lessons from Kenya deals with three development pathways that characterize all urban societies in the world and, these, result in different spatial patterns. The first pathway is laissez-faire, which produces informal or organic urban patterns while the second pathway is the preplanned development trajectory which results in the ideal urban patterns. The third pattern is urban decay, which occurs when preplanned patterns reach optimum thresholds. Countries in the ‘North’ have since minimized or eliminated informal development processes in favour of the preplanned pathway. However, countries in the ‘South’, Kenya included, are trapped in a dual development pathway, where informal patterns dominate the urban fabric, and therefore preplanned theories would be ineffective in regulating such patterns. The paper notes that planning theories and instruments were developed in the North to respond to challenges in their urban development scenarios. These foreign instruments were exported to Kenya during colonial rule. However, the study found that the instruments have never been modified to respond to the specific challenges in Kenya, especially those related to organic urban patterns and this is the main factor in ineffective urban planning.The Unsustainability of Urban Habitat Transformation: A Case Study of Kileleshwa in Nairobi, Kenya paper interrogates the issue of sustainability of the market-driven urban residential transformation of Nairobi through a case study of Kileleshwa, a residential neighbourhood located in the western suburbs of the city. The paper examines the impact of the ongoing transformation from low-density housing to higher density high-rise apartment housing on the sustainability of the urban habitat. This is predicated on an understanding of sustainability in which its components are hierarchically organized to privilege the environmental component over the social and economic ones. The findings indicate that the current production of housing in Kileleshwa is unsustainable. This is demonstrated by the inadequacy of the neighbourhood’s infrastructure in supporting the current trajectory of the habitat’s densification. The paper observes the need to reframe the approach to urban development through a paradigm shift in prioritizing the environmental component of sustainability and deliberate planning for densification in place of the current ad hoc approach to urban development. The paper further observes that sustainable urban development requires both a foregrounding of environmental concerns and the adoption of a holistic approach in the satisfaction of urban needs such as housing with their commensurate physical and social infrastructure. The paper recommends the upgrading of the existing physical infrastructure to support densification, and the redirection of the ongoing urban development towards the more sustainable compact city structure.Cadastre Systems and Their Effectiveness in Implementation of a GIS-Based Physical Addressing System: A Case Study of Kiambu, Thika and Machakos Towns in Kenya study assesses the effectiveness of the cadastre system as a basis for implementation of a GIS-based physical addressing system. This study reveals that the existing cadastre in Thika, Kiambu and Machakos towns was prepared using different scales, have different datum, are incomplete and inadequate, and not current to support a digital physical addressing system. Only the main streets are named and have no unique numbering and naming of properties. The paper observes that the cadastre systems at their current states in the three towns are not effective as a basis of implementing a GIS-based physical addressing system. The paper recommends an inclusive automation of all cadastre records in the three towns. In addition, there is need to develop a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) to support physical addressing.A New Frontier in Collaborative Approaches in Sustainable Open Spaces Delivery in Nairobi City was a study aimed to examine the historical loss of public open spaces in Nairobi City. The paper also examined the residents’ awareness of the importance of the resource and sought to determine the collaborative planningand governance approaches used for delivery of sustainable open spaces. Study results indicate serious lossof public open spaces, highlights residents’ awareness of open space benefits and the absence of collaborativeplanning and governance practices. This study recommends new governance structures, higher status for urbanplanning and sustainable open spaces delivery based on pertinent frameworks achieved through collaborativegovernance approaches.The paper on Evaluation of Property Rates Collection and Enforcement in Devolved Systems of Governance inKenya: A Case Study of Nairobi City County focuses on property rates collection and enforcement in devolvedsystems of governance in Kenya, specifically in Nairobi City County. The study sought to establish the propertyrates Collection Ratio (CR) in Nairobi City County (NCC); identify and measure the effectiveness of propertyrates’ collection and enforcement tools in NCC; and determine challenges faced by NCC in rates collection andenforcement. The study established that collection ratio has been reducing over the years; from 16.93 percent in2011/2012 to 6.65 percent in 2014/2015. The property rates collection and enforcement tools utilized in NairobiCity County include provision of discounts and waivers on property rates interest; sanctions and penalties;and social pressure. The enforcement tools that were found to be effective in ensuring compliance in ratespayment include provision of improved public services; operational debt recovery; sanctions and penalties;provision of discounts and waivers on interests & penalties. Some of the challenges hindering compliance inproperty rates payment in Nairobi City County include negative attitude of the public towards property ratesand rates officials; unfair administration; discontentment with property rates administration; and complexitiesin understanding tax system and payment procedures. To improve on compliance, the paper recommendsprovision of improved public services to boost the morale of rates’ payers; use of an integrated computer assistedproperty rates administration system; and capacity building of the administrators.Riparian Zones and Their Role in Enhancing Resilience to Flooding in Urban Areas: A Case Study of NairobiRiver Basin is a paper that elaborates the need to investigate the role of functional riparian zones in enhancingresilience to flooding in urban areas. Specifically, this study examined whether there are developments that areat a permanent risk of floods as a result of ignoring potential role of the riparian zone, and to assess whetherthe criteria used during delimitation of riparian zones is adequate to shield development from effects of floods.This study established that the width of the river varies along the river profile and depends on the adjoiningtopography. The location of the high-water mark therefore is not constant from the river and widens or narrowsdepending on the adjoining topography. The study revealed that there are structures that are at permanent riskof flooding. This study further established that the criteria used during delineation of the riparian zone is notadequate to protect development from flood hazards. Areas where structures are constructed within definedactive flood areas are constricted and they have blocked the flood paths. As a result, floods get elevated dueto lower rate of evacuation causing localized flooding in areas not ordinarily affected by floods. The paperconcludes that functional riparian zones have potential roles of ensuring flood resilience. The study recommendsregeneration of the active flood areas through relocation of structures and planting of trees. The study furtherrecommends pegging of inundated flood areas based on the criteria established in the study.The Production of Space and Place in Informal Settlements: A Case Study of Mukuru Kwa Njenga paper seeksto understand how the space and place are conceived and used in Nairobi´s informal settlements. Using thecase of Mukuru Kwa Njenga, the study explores three questions around the production of space and place; first,whether in informal settlements there exists abstract or conceived space, second, whether the space respondsto a structure of power in the area, and third, how do people use day by day the different categories of space(public, semi-public and private). The study finds that, informal settlements indeed have internal structuresthat resemble the formal city, although in a less systematic way. Ownership of resources and the internalstructures of power play a major role in the conception of space into an informal functional space. This studyconcludes that understanding the spatial dynamics in the informal settlements and creation of flexible spatialsolutions that allow low income people to have a space and place in the city may be the way towards an inclusivetransformation.The paper entitled Universal Design Awareness among Urban Planners and Its Impact on Public Transport Systems in Nairobi, Kenya investigates the level of universal design awareness among professionals (engineers,QS, designers and architects) and the general public in relation to public transport systems in Nairobi-Kenya.Research results revealed that universal design is not a common concept known to most public transport users.The major element of perceptions revolved around cost of universal design application. This study establisheda lack of a clear framework and policies on universal design application in public transportation services thuscreating inconvenience and difficult transfers at transportation system connections. The study recommendsthat universal design application in Nairobi city's public transport needs to consider social inclusiveness andstrengthen the urban planning agenda.Adaptation of Swahili Architecture and Identity: A Case Study of Lamu Island is the ninth paper in thisthirteenth edition. The author questions cultural identity and the resulting material culture of the Swahili peoplein Lamu. This exploration reveals that the cultural identity of Lamu has a history firmly rooted in hybridisationand transculturation. A comparative analysis of four housing typologies demonstrates that the stone housesare characterised by variations and adjustments of an otherwise expected model; adapted to meet the dynamicfunctions as the town grew with irresolute precepts. The paper recommends that in the phase of a modernisingLamu, it is thus not necessary to limit cultural identity to physical forms, aesthetics, materials and textures.Appraisal of Human-Centred Design as a Public Health Tool: Curbing the Incidence of Lifestyle Diseases inKenya paper argues that cost-effective and feasible preventive actions for lifestyle diseases in Kenya, throughthe use of HCD in designing health programmes, will possibly help avert potentially catastrophic costs forcommunities through primordial prevention. The paper observes that designing a successful health interventioncan increase access and uptake of health care and services prompting behaviour change and equally improvingexpected health outcomes
Bacteriological profile and in vitro antibacterial activities of some liquid herbal preparations sold in Abia State, south-eastern Nigeria
Full text linkBackground: The use of liquid herbal preparations in the treatment and management of human diseases has long been practiced before the advent of chemotherapy and is a fundamental component of the African traditional healthcare system. Objectives: The objective of this study is to analyze the bacteriological profile and in vitro antibacterial activities of selected indigenous liquid herbal products sold in Abia State, Nigeria. METHODS: A total of 315 bacterial strains were isolated from 150 therapeutic liquid herbal preparations (LHPs) sold in different parts of Abia State. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from these products; the isolates were evaluated for total aerobic plate count, Gram’s reaction, biochemical reaction. Antibacterial activity was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and inhibitory zone diameter (IZD).The MBC, MIC and invitro antibacterial activities of LHPs were carried out against 3 test clinical bacterial isolates; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using agar well diffusion methods. Results: The number of isolates obtained in this study were; 100 (31.4%), 84 (26.7%) 131 (41.6%) from Umuahia, Ohafia and Aba respectively. The genera isolated included Salmonella, Bacillus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Citrobacter and Pseudomonas. Out of 150 LHPs processed, 20 showed no bacterial growth. Different concentrations of these LHPs were evaluated for their antibacterial activities. MIC for LHPs with antibacterial activities range from 6.25-100%. MBC ranged from 12.5-100%, while IZD had range of 6-20mm. Conclusion: The study revealed that some tested liquid herbal preparations were grossly contaminated with bacteria while some had antibacterial activities. Key words: Liquid herbal preparations, Antibacterial activit
Time series analysis of consumption and short term forecasting of female contraceptives in the Kenyan public health sector
Full text linkBackground: Contraceptive security is crucial in ensuring access to family planning services and improving the contraceptive prevalence rate. This requires proper forecasting and procurement of contraceptives. It is therefore important to study consumption patterns and apply forecasting techniques so as to adjust for any changes in the choice of contraceptives over a given time period. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to analyze trends, identify any seasonal or cyclic patterns in consumption of contraceptives, compare service point and consumption data, forecast consumption for six months and determine optimal models for forecasting contraceptives. Methods: Data on consumption of implants, injectables, pills, and Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCDs) were extracted from the Kenya District Health Information System for the years 2014-2018. An exploratory analysis was done and the data decomposed to evaluate the trends and seasonal components. Service point and consumption data of contraceptives were compared. Short-term forecasting using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and the Exponential Smoothing (ES) models was done. The optimal model for forecasting was determined and the models validated using actual facility consumption data for 2018. Results: The consumption of pills, injectables, and IUCDs declined while that of implants increased significantly across the 4 years. There were differences in the data reported for consumption and service point data for injectables, implants, and IUCDs. The ES models recorded the least error when forecasting consumption of all contraceptives except for one-rod implants in which the ARIMA model had the least errors. Conclusion: There was a general shift towards the use of long-acting reversible methods especially implants in Kenya. The difference in the reporting of consumption and service point data for injectables, implant, and IUCDs showed gaps in the documentation and reporting of contraceptives. The ETS models were generally superior to the ARIMA models for predicting consumption of contraceptives. Keywords: Contraceptives, consumption, forecasting, time series, trend
A comparison of the socio-economic status of female-headed and male-headed households in Kenya: Use of Ordinal Logistic Regression
Full text linkWith the many challenges facing the nations in sub-Saharan Africa, such as epidemics, civil wars, among others, there is an upsurge in the number of female-headed households. The socio-economic status of such households is low. Many studies in the recent past have attempted to identify the determinants of poverty in Kenya but did not do a comparison of these determinants across female-headed and male-headed households. This study has conducted a comparative analysis of the socio-economic status of the two types of households in Kenya applying an ordinal logistic regression model using data from Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2008-2009). The results obtained indicate that education is the key determinant of socio-economic status. Both female-headed and male-headed households in rural Kenya are less likely to rise up the wealth index categories unlike in urban Kenya. Female-headed households in Nairobi are less likely to rise through the wealth index categories unlike the male-headed households in the same region. Also, both types of households in Western and North Eastern Kenya are the least likely to move up the categories of wealth index as compared to other regions. Formulation and implementation of proper policies would address these disparities
Device Simulation of Sb2S3 Solar Cells by SCAPS-1D Software
Full text linkAntimony sulphide (Sb2S3) has drawn research interest due to its promising properties for photovoltaic applications. The progress in developing highly efficient Sb2S3 solar cells has stimulated this study to a great extent. In this paper, we present the results of a simulation of solar cell processing parameters on the performance of the solar cell through theoretical analysis and device simulation using SCAPS software. The results of this simulation show that the solar cell performance can be enhanced to a great extent by adjusting the thickness, doping concentration and defect density of both the TiO2 buffer layer and Sb2S3 absorber layer and also the electron affinity of the TiO2 buffer layer. Optimized parameters were found to be: doping concentration of (1.0 X 1017CM3 for TiO2 and 3.0 X 1016 CM3 for Sb2S3), defect density of the Sb2S3 absorber at (1.0 X 1015.....3) and the electron affinity of the buffer layer at (4.26 eV). The results obtained were as follows: Voc of 750 mV, Jsc of 15.23 mA/cm2, FF of 73.55% and efficiency of 8.41%. These results show that Sb2S3 is a potential earth-abundant compound that can yield highly efficient solar cells
Effect of Selected Macroeconomic Variables on Performance of Securities Exchanges in the East African Community
Full text linkAbstract Purpose - The goal of this paper was to investigate the impact of selected macroeconomic factors on the performance of securities exchanges in East African Community. Methodology - Descriptive research design was embraced as study involves inspiring conclusions. This study relied on secondary data. The period of the study was from 2013 to 2017 Findings - This research found out that the coefficient of GDP was 0.001 meaning that GDP positively influences market capitalization. Inflation rate positively affects the market capitalization, this is clear from the coefficient value of 0.235. Money supply impacts negatively on market capitalization since its coefficient was-0.004. Interest rates influences market capitalization positively since the value of coefficient was 0.129. Exchange rates influences market capitalization negatively since the value of coefficient was -0.338. In general, macroeconomic variables affect the performance of securities exchanges in East Africa Community. The five independent variables analyzed were able to explain their effect on the market capitalization up to 48.9% as shown by adjusted R square. This implies that they input 48.9% on the market capitalization with the rest contributed by the factors not studied. The model was fit. Implications - Little attention has been paid to understanding the impacts of macro-economic factors on performance of securities exchanges. Understanding such effects is central to the resourceful working of the financial system in totality and for overall economic performance. The study recommends that policy makers should formulate policies geared towards stabilizing inflation, exchange and interest rates which will in turn promote foreign trade in the region Value - This study is of pronounced significance to researchers, academicians, companies and policy makers as it gives important insights on how the macroeconomic variables affect the performance of the stock exchanges. It acts as a basis for making investment decisions by investors and policy makers can design appropriate stabilization policies in the stock markets. 1MSc. Finance, Corporate & Treasury Analyst, KCB Bank, [email protected] 2Lecturer University of Nairobi, School of Business, Department of Finance and Accounting and a Certified Investment and Financial Analyst (CIFA), [email protected]
THE INFLUENCE OF FIRM-LEVEL FACTORS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS
Full text linkThis study was based on conceptualized relationship between strategic planning (SP),firm-level factors and performance. Some researchers have argued that strategicplanning influences performance positively while others contend that the influence isnegative. Therefore, the past empirical studies have produced many contradictoryfindings and there is a need for further studies to fix this empirical conundrum. Otherresearchers have posited that the central tenet in strategic management is that a matchbetween firm resources and capabilities are critical to performance, and that astrategist’s job is to find or create this match. Hence, there was need for more researchon the moderating influence of firm-level factors on the relationship between strategicplanning and performance. These variables were contextualized in the manufacturingfirms in Kenya. The current study had one objective, to establish the influence of firmlevelfactors on the relationship between strategic planning and performance ofmanufacturing firms in Kenya. A corresponding hypothesis, firm-level factors have amoderated influence on the relationship between strategic planning and performance ofmanufacturing firms in Kenya, was formulated and tested at 95 percent confidence level.Through a cross-sectional descriptive survey, data was obtained using a structuredquestionnaire from 72 manufacturing firms representing 52.17 percent response rate.Data obtained were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics.Hypothesis was tested using both simple and multiple regression analysis. StatisticalPackage for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. The findingsestablished that firm-level factors had a significant moderating influence on therelationship between strategic planning and performance. The independent influencesof the firm-level factors’ indicators used were all significant. The study suggested thatthe managers of the manufacturing firms in Kenya need to synchronize the strategicplanning and firm-level factors for superior performance. Current study’s findingshave theory, policy, managerial practice and methodological implications. The findingssupport resource based view theory. On policy and managerial practice, manufacturingfirms’ management should be motivated to attract valuable resources anto attract valuable resources and capabilitieswhich are valuable, rare, not easily imitated, and cannot be substituted as they create sustainable competitive advantage hence propel organizations to better performance.The use of regression method in analysis made it very easy to test the hypothesis which was developed to attain research objective
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF A LIBQUAL SCALE: A CASE OF A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN KENYA
Full text linkThis study focusses on assessing the reliability, validity and dimensionality of LibQUALscale in a private university in Kenya, a developing country. It also investigates theperception of the library users towards the services provided. This research used thesurvey method for collecting data from users of the Library. Library service quality wasmeasured by using 22 items taken directly from the 2004 version of the LibQUAL scale.Altogether, 361 questionnaires were distributed and 254 completed questionnaires wereused in the final analysis. Cronbach’s Alpha values of each construct confirmed that agood reliability exists with the data. Principle component analysis was employed todetermine the important factors of LibQUAL scale. Out of the 22 factors, only 16 werefound to satisfy requirements for testing reliability and validity. As a result, a modifiedLibQUAL was adopted for further analysis. Three service quality components wereidentified through the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis as in line with otherstudies. The three were: affect of service, information control and library as a place. Astructural equation model was developed showing the relationships between the threecomponents and library service quality and all the three were significant
Wound healing effect of aqueous extracts of Brucea antidysenterica and Croton marcostachyus from Northwest Ethiopia in albino mice
Full text linkBack ground: The practice of traditional medicine to treat wound and bleeding disorders in Ethiopia is based on use of numerous herbs. In Ethiopia, the traditional healers use the leaves of Brucea antidysenterica and Croton marcostachyus for wound healing purposes. But no scientific study is reported on the in vivo evaluation of the pharmacological effect of the two selected plants collected locally from Zegie and around Lake Tana monasteries, Northwest Ethiopia. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wound healing effects of Brucea antidysenterica and Croton marcostachyus on a mouse model. Methods: 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml of Brucea antidysenterica and 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml of Croton marcostachyus leaf aqueous extract solutions were applied on the 1.5cm inflicted wound on the trunk part of the mice of different groups. The degree of wound healing as a percentage was calculated from the wound diameter for each experimental animal. Result: The aqueous extract 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml of Brucea antidysenterica and Croton marcostachyus achieved a relatively higher degree of wound healing percent compared to the control group. Moreover, the 100mg/ml aqueous leaf extract of Croton marcostachyus and Brucea antidysenterica have shown higher degree of wound healing percent compared to the 50mg/ml concentrations of the two plants. Conclusion: The current study concluded that the aqueous extracts of Brucea antidysenterica and Croton marcostachyus possess excellent wound healing potential. Hence, the results of the current study support the traditional use of leaf extracts of Croton marcostachyus and Brucea antidysenterica as remedies for wound healing. Further studies are required to isolate the active compounds and determine safety margin of the plant extracts. Key words: Wound healing, Brucea antidysenterica, Croton marcostachyu