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Domestic rainwater harvesting: a case study in Embu County, Kenya
Get PDFThis study assessed probable water that could be harvested during rainy seasons over Embu County of Kenya. Monthly rainfall data was obtained from Kenya Meteorological Department while percentage distribution of household by household size, main roofing material, number of rooms in the main dwelling and per capita volume of water required was sourced from Kenya Integrated Household Budget of Survey (KIHBS). Minimum water demand per household was computed based on KIHBS. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) 2009 population census was used to determine population and number of occupants in the main dwelling. Embu County receives bimodal rainfall during March-April-May (MAM) and October-November-December (OND). Rainfall is highly variable with 8190 and 7490 litres of harvested water during MAM and OND season respectively expected to last for approximately 43 days (MAM) while 39 days (OND) and thus not sufficient to satisfy minimum water demand levels for Embu population. The total potential harvestable water during MAM and OND accounted for 45.4 % and would go a long way in meeting water demands in the region. Notably, harvestable water was being used to supplement natural sources of water. Therefore, enhanced water harvesting during rainy season could provide an alternate source of domestic water
Determination of Pesticide Residues in Locally Consumed Vegetables in Kenya
No full textBackground: Pesticides are being used today to control a variety of insects, weeds and plant diseases. Some of these pesticides can act as toxins to plants, animals and humans when found in significant concentrations. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine pesticide residues in locally consumed vegetables. This was done by analyzing vegetable samples from supermarkets and local markets in Nairobi and its environs. Materials and methods: A total of 112 samples (kales 94, French beans 18) were collected from the study area and analyzed using gas chromatography for pesticide residues. Samples collection was done during the hot/dry season and cold/wet season. Results: The pesticide residues were found especially during the hot/dry season and were mainly organophosphates. However, on washing and cooking the residue levels reduced were by 17% and 40% -respectively. Adherence to recommended pre harvest intervals resulted in 99% reduction of the pesticide residues. Conclusion: This study clearly shows that adherence to good agricultural practice would significantly lower the levels of pesticide residues in vegetables. Keywords: Pesticides residues, vegetable
Effect of Irbesartan on Glucose Tolerance in a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Mouse Model
Get PDFBackground: Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have been reported to affect glycaemic control in both animals and humans. A few studies have evaluated the effects of irbesartan on blood glucose levels and ARBs are recommended in patients with comorbid diabetes and hypertension. However, the effect of irbesartan on insulin resistance and glucose tolerance is inconclusive and contradicting. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of irbesartan on blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance in diabetic and non-diabetic mice. Materials and methods: Diabetes was induced in 18 obese BALB/c mice fed on high fat diet using alloxan monohydrate 150mg/kg via the intra-peritoneal route. Non-diabetic mice were assigned to three treatment groups (n=6/group) and each group received either of the following treatments: 20mg/kg irbesartan or 75mg/kg irbesartan or vehicle. Diabetic mice were also divided into three groups and each group received one of the three treatments mentioned above. Drug administration was done daily via oral gavage for 14 days. Blood glucose levels were measured on day 1 (baseline values), day 8, and day 13 of treatment. An oral glucose tolerance test was carried out on day 14 after administration of 50% dextrose at the dose of 1g/kg body weight. Blood glucose levels at 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes were measured during the oral glucose tolerance test. Results: Irbesartan at the dose of 20mg/kg (-39.44% ±8.96, p=0.0177) and 75mg/kg (-40.07% ±6.27, p=0.0111) significantly lowered blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. However, irbesartan 20mg/kg (-14.87% ±10.13, p>0.9999) and 75mg/kg (-9.07%±3.77, p>0.9999) did not significantly change blood glucose levels in non-diabetic mice. In non-diabetic mice there was only a modest difference in AUC in the irbesartan20mg/kg (AUC=28.73mmol/Lmin, p=0.6435), 75mg/kg (AUC=26.66mmol/Lmin, p>0.9999) compared to the non-diabetic control (AUC=26.63 mmol/Lmins). Although there was a slight improvement in glucose tolerance in diabetic mice, irbesartan 20mg/kg (AUC=55.35mmol/Lmin, p>0.9999) and 75mg/kg (AUC=45.54mmol/Lmin, p=0.1737) had no significant effect on glucose tolerance compared to the diabetic control group (AUC=63.53mmol/Lmin). Conclusion: At standard treatment doses, irbesartan had a significant hypoglycaemic effect without significantly improving glucose tolerance in diabetic mice. Key words: Irbesartan, glycemic effects, glucose tolerance, Type 2 diabetes, mouse mode
Liver toxicity of Crude extract of Ficus natalensis traditionally used in South Western Uganda
Get PDFBackground: Traditional healers have used medicinal plants to treat infectious diseases since time immemorial. These natural products have not only played a vital role in healing, but have also contributed to the discovery of many pharmaceutically active agents. Objectives: This research was aimed at assessing the effects of crude extract of Ficus natalensis on the liver. Methodology: Test and control Wistar albino rats were fed on either Water or Ethanolic extract of Ficus natalensis and water-only (control) respectively and their serum harvested. Biochemical analysis of liver function tests was performed and Human Diagnostic Test Kits were used to assay for the enzymes ALT (alanine aminotransferase), (AST (serum aspartate aminotransferase) and γ-GT (gamma glutamyl transpeptidase).The organ body weight ratio was also recorded. Results: The cold water decoction once administered to the rats showed adverse effects leading to death of the experimental animals by day 3. The ethanolic extract results showed that there was a dose-dependent alteration in the indices of liver function as well as enlargement of the liver following feeding on the ethanolic extract of Ficus natalensis. All the serum enzyme activity of ALT, AST and GGT were increased in a dose-dependent manner and the groups of animals being fed on the ethanolic extract, showed a reduction in weight. Discussion: The cold water extraction might have extracted all the active ingredients including some that were toxic to the laboratory animals leading to their death. The ethanolic extracts exhibited alterations in the indices of liver function as well as enlargement of the liver in a dose-specific manner. All the serum enzyme activity of ALT, AST and GGT was increased in a dose-dependent manner. This could possibly be due to hepatotoxicity resulting from the metabolites of the Ficus natalensis. Key words: Ficus natalensis, Ethanolic extract, Liver toxicit
Women’s Knowledge and Food Security
Get PDFWomen play a vital role in the production of food. Most importantly, they are critical in the storage, processing as well as the provision of food at the household level. It is also a fact that as in the case of all policies, those on food are supposed to be informed by existing evidence and realities whose dynamics keep on changing. As key stakeholders in food handling, women have a wealth of knowledge on issues of food and nutrition status. This paper argues on the importance of this knowledge in informing policy issues and programming issues related to food security and nutritional status. The study draws from the findings of a study done in Kenya by the African Women’s Studies Centre (AWSC) of the University of Nairobi and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in 2014. The study aimed at documenting women’s knowledge in relation to food security and generating proposals ensuring the full implementation of Article 43(1)(c) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010); as well as suggesting policy recommendations at the national and county levels. The study used Moser’s Gender Analysis tool (1986) and adopted a descriptive survey approach. Selected women in each of the ten counties across Kenya provided information through focus-group discussions, oral testimonies and key informants questionnaires. Additional data was generated from debriefing sessions which were done with selected respondents of the study at the conclusion of the field work in each county. The findings revealed that by virtue of their gendered roles and responsibilities in the family and community, women have a wealth of experience and knowledge on food and nutrition. The knowledge can usefully inform policies on issues related to food and nutrition status, especially in terms of its availability, access, utilization and sustainability. The study thus recommends the need for policy makers, scholars and researchers to focus on gender responsive studies so as to capture not only women’s needs but also their experiences and knowledge. The policy makers have an obligation to ensure the same in policy formulation and programmin
Women’s Experiences On Food Security In Kenya: Major Challenges That They Face
Get PDFThis paper discusses the major challenges women in Kenya face as they try to ensure and maintain food security at the household level. The challenges include access to and ownership of resources such as land, finance, water and affordable cooking energy; access to markets and proper infrastructure and education. The paper demonstrates that women in Kenya lack land ownership deeds since land is owned by either their husbands or male relatives. Women also spend a lot of time walking long distances in search of water and wood fuel which prevents them from engaging in other income generating activities. Moreover, poor infrastructure also makes it difficult for women to access markets for their products or to buy food even when they may have the income. Poor storage facilities or lack of such facilities makes it difficult for women to store food during times of glut and enable them to militate against food insecurity during times of drought. Finally, the paper shows that poor education or the lack of it makes it hard for women to know the nutritional contents of various foods. Furthermore, this lack of education also makes it difficult for them to get employment and earn an income that is sufficient to maintain food security at the household level. This paper recommends that there should be sensitization of men and women to the requirements of the Constitution that women should be equal to men in their rights to inheritance. It is, therefore, imperative that County Governments, NGOs, civil societies and community-based organizations should hold civic education sessions for both men and women and educate them on the same. Women should also be involved in the planning and implementation of various projects that have an impact on their lives. Water, energy and road infrastructure projects should involve women in their identification, planning and implementation. Educating girls benefits the whole community and so just like sensitization on land ownership, parents should also be educated through civic education on the need to educate the girl child because this will translate to improved welfare both for her and the household as well in terms of improved nutrition and food security
Regional Integration in East Africa: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Business Enterprises in Kenya
Get PDFWithin the global economic environment, regional integration provides the most favored avenue to foster economic cooperation among states. The European Union (EU) is one of the most successful regional integration platforms and provides valid evidence of the benefits that member states can accrue from such organizations. The East African Community (EAC) is a regional organization that has over time initiated the processes geared towards increasing economic integration to encourage free mobility of labor, goods and services. Whereas regional integration has its benefit, so are the challenges associated with free mobility of goods and services within member states. Small and Medium Business Enterprises (SMEs) offer an opportunity for thousands in terms of employment. Part of the reason for growth and survival of these enterprises is their ability to explore opportunities that large scale investors don not consider as providing an avenue for profit maximization. These enterprises at the same timeoffer unique services depending on the demand of the area where they are located. This paper seeks to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with the EAC to SMEs in Kenya. What opportunities exist for small business enterprises within the regional integration platform? What are the challenges to accessing wider market opportunities in the East African Community? How can the government of Kenya support SMEs to exploit opportunities in EAC under the common market protocol? The paper is organized into four sections, part one of the paper offers a conceptual understanding of regional integration, part two covers a background on regional integration in East Africa, part three provides an interrogation of opportunities and challenges in regional integration for SMEs in Kenya while part four is the conclusion of the paper.Key Words: Integration, Small Business Enterprises, Common Marke
Anti-inflammatory Activity of Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume
No full textBackground: Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume which belongs to the Amarantheceae family is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of chest troubles, dysentery, diarrhea, skin ulcers, scabies, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), tumours and inflammations amongst many others. The growing concerns associated with the incidence of reactive free-radicals widely implicated in many health conditions prompted this present study. Objectives: The crude extract, fractions and two previosly isolated compounds (HOO-1and HOO-2) from the plant were to be screened for anti-inflammatory activities with the aim of confirming or disproving its uses such as wound healing, treating skin ulcers and rheumatism amongst many others. Methodology: The xylene and chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) models were employed in the determination of the anti-inflammatory activity of the plant. Results and Discussion: The xylene-model test for anti-inflammatory activity showed that the ethyl-acetate fraction and HOO-2 gave moderately similar anti-inflammatory activity of 53.48 % while HOO-1was comparably less active at 30.20 %. The chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) model also indicated that both the ethyl-acetate fraction and HOO-2 gave moderate anti-inflammatory activity of 52.00 % while HOO-1 was less active at 44.00 %. However, the other fractions were weakly active. These results obtained from this study were not surprising because the phytochemical screening of the extract indicated the presence of flavonoids and terpenes which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities in previous studies. Furthermore, the results show some consistency irrespective of the model used. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study have lent scientific justification to the folklore uses of the plant in treating and managing inflammatory conditions. Keywords: anti-inflammatory; xylene-model; chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM); Cyathula prostrat
Antiplasmodial, Cytotoxic and Acute Toxicity Activities of Vernonia lasiopus O. Hoffman
No full textBackground: Malaria continues to cause heavy morbidity and mortality and it is the fifth leading cause of death globally. The disease causes over one million deaths annually and affects many more, particularly due to increasing multi-drug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Sustained investigations in both curative and prophylactic interventions have supported the ethno-pharmacological approach to identify novel compounds as a major channel towards achieving a solution. Vernonia lasiopus has been used in traditional medicine for their antimalarial, antiviral and analgesic properties. Objective: To investigate the antiplasmodial activity and toxicity profile Vernonia lasiopus extracts. Methodology: Extraction of aerial parts and roots was done using dichloromethane:chloroform (1:1) and the resulting crude extracts each fractionated into six fractions by vacuum liquid chromatography using solvents of different polarities. The crude extract and fractions were investigated for antiplasmodial activity using the chloroquine (CQ) sensitive D6 and chloroquine (CQ) resistant W2 laboratory adapted Plasmodium falciparum strains. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on Vero 199 cells at starting concentrations of 100µg/ml, whereas acute toxicity (LD50) determined on healthy female Swiss mice (20±2 gm.). Selectivity index was used as an indicator of antiplasmodial viability. Results: The fractions of V. lasiopus roots showed higher activity combined than individually. The crude V. lasiopus root extract had an IC50 13.1 µg/ml and selectivity index >7.63. Fraction 1 of the crude root extract (VLR1) was the most viable fraction with an IC50 of 16.8 µg/ml and S.I >5.95. Both had CC50>100 µg/ml and LD50 >5000mg/kg. Conclusion: extracts of V. lasiopus aerial parts and roots were found to exhibit notable viable antiplasmodial effects, and had minimal acute toxicity in mice. Key words: Plasmodium falciparum, Vernonia lasiopus, antiplasmodial activity, toxicity, selectivity index
The Effect of Selected Macro-Economic Variables On Bond Market Development In Kenya
Get PDFThis study sought to investigate the effect of selected macro economic variables on bond market development in Kenya. A causal research design was used to find out the effect of macroeconomic variables on bond market development. Secondary data was used to model the macroeconomic factors influencing development of the bond market. Theentire bond market in Kenya was covered. Data was analyzed using descriptive and regression analysis. T-test was used to interpret the significance of the relationship. The study found out that bank size, exports and fiscal policy had no effect on bond market development while exchange rate, interest rate and GDP per capita had a positive effect.However, economic size measured as GDP at purchasing power parity had a negative effect. It can therefore be concluded that exchange rate, interest rate, GDP per capitaand GDP at purchasing power parity do affect bond market development. It is therefore recommended that more focus should be given, on the four main variables identified, by the policy makers in order to spur more growth in the bond market. A further investigation would be necessary in order to establish the effect of other macroeconomic and institutional variables not covered by this study.Keywords: Macro-economic variables, Bond market, Purchasing Power Parity and fiscal Polic