Mount Kenya University Institutional Repository
Not a member yet
5772 research outputs found
Sort by
Antibody profiles to wheat germ cell-free system synthesized Plasmodium falciparum proteins correlate with protection from symptomatic malaria in Uganda
No full textThe key targets of protective antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum remain largely unknown. In this study, we determined immunoreactivity to 1827 recombinant proteins derived from 1565 genes representing ∼30% of the entire P. falciparum genome, for identification of novel malaria vaccine candidates. The recombinant proteins were expressed by wheat germ cell-free system, a platform that can synthesize quality plasmodial proteins that elicit biologically active antibodies in animals. Sera were obtained from indigenous residents of a malaria endemic region in Northern Uganda who were enrolled at the start of a rainy season and prospectively monitored for symptomatic malaria episodes for a year. Immunoreactivity to sera was determined by AlphaScreen; a homogeneous high-throughput system that detects protein interactions. Our analysis revealed antibody responses to 128 proteins that significantly associated with protection from symptomatic malaria. From 128 proteins, 53 were down-selected as the most plausible targets of host protective immune response by virtue of having a predicted signal peptide and/or transmembrane domain(s), or confirmed localization on the parasite surface. The 53 proteins comprised of not only previously characterized vaccine candidates but also uncharacterized proteins. Proteins involved in erythrocyte invasion; RON4, RON2 and CLAG3.1 and pre-erythrocytic proteins; SIAP-2, TRAP and CelTOS, were recommended for prioritization for further evaluation as vaccine candidates. The findings clearly demonstrate that generation of the protein library using the wheat germ cell-free system coupled with high throughput immunoscreening with AlphaScreen offers new options for rational discovery and selection of potential malaria vaccine candidates
Mount Kenya University 12th Graduation Supplement
No full textMount Kenya University (MKU) will tomorrow hold
its 12th Graduation Ceremony at its main campus
in Thika town. The university will confer degrees and
award various academic certificates to a total of 6,603
candidates who have successfully completed their
studies. Bachelors’ degree programmes account for
the bulk of the numbers, with 4,157 graduands. Other
graduands will receive diplomas or certificates, and
a few will be conferred with doctorate degrees. The
university continues to release highly skilled graduates
who are absorbed in public service, private firms,
non-governmental organisations and international
agencies. The enterprising ones set up own firms
to employ themselves and others. The theme for
the ceremony is, “The Role of Ethics and Values in
Sustainable Socio-economic Development.”
The graduation ceremony will be aired live on Citizen
TV from 9am tomorrow
Make education reforms sustainable
No full textEducation Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has received a lot of accolades for the good work he is doing in the sector.
The praises are deserved, looking at his achievements in the short stint he has served at the ministry. He has inspired hope that the myriad challenges that the education sector is grappling with can be addressed with focus, ingenuity, determination and resilience
The sero-epidemiology of Rift Valley fever in people in the Lake Victoria Basin of western Kenya
No full textRift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic arbovirus affecting livestock and people. This
study was conducted in western Kenya where RVFV outbreaks have not previously been
reported. The aims were to document the seroprevalence and risk factors for RVFV antibodies
in a community-based sample from western Kenya and compare this with slaughterhouse
workers in the same region who are considered a high-risk group for RVFV exposure.
The study was conducted in western Kenya between July 2010 and November 2012. Individuals
were recruited from randomly selected homesteads and a census of slaughterhouses.
Structured questionnaire tools were used to collect information on demographic
data, health, and risk factors for zoonotic disease exposure. Indirect ELISA on serum samples
determined seropositivity to RVFV. Risk factor analysis for RVFV seropositivity was
conducted using multi-level logistic regression. A total of 1861 individuals were sampled in
384 homesteads. The seroprevalence of RVFV in the community was 0.8% (95% CI 0.5±
1.3). The variables significantly associated with RVFV seropositivity in the community were
increasing age (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.1±1.4, p<0.001), and slaughtering cattle at the homestead
(OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.0±10.5, p = 0.047). A total of 553 slaughterhouse workers were
sampled in 84 ruminant slaughterhouses. The seroprevalence of RVFV in slaughterhouse
workers was 2.5% (95% CI 1.5±4.2). Being the slaughterman, the person who cuts the animal's
throat (OR 3.5; 95% CI 1.0±12.1, p = 0.047), was significantly associated with RVFV
seropositivity. This study investigated and compared the epidemiology of RVFV between
community members and slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya. The data demonstrate
that slaughtering animals is a risk factor for RVFV seropositivity and that slaughterhouse
workers are a high-risk group for RVFV seropositivity in this environment. These risk factorshave been previously reported in other studies providing further evidence for RVFV circulation
in western Kenya
Congratulating 12th Parliament’s youngest MP, a student at MKU
No full textThe MKU fraternity also takes this opportunity to heartily congratulate all its alumni and students who clinched various parliamentary and county seats following this year’s General Election. To them all, the University says, ‘Well done!’ The Chancellor, Prof Victoria Wulsin, the Board of Directors led by founder and Chairman Prof Simon N. Gicharu, the University Council led by the Chair, Prof David K. Serem, the Senate, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Stanley W. Waudo, Management, Staff and Students celebrate the winners and all MKU members who offered themselves for election. The MKU fraternity appeals to all elected leaders to do Kenya proud by practising ethical, development-focused leadership to help catapult the nation to greater heights of prosperity. The University is delighted that wananchi across the country continue to display their faith in the leadership abilities of the studen
MKU’s International Conference on peace, Security and Social Enterprise
No full textIf you doubt the cost of war, ask the Congolese and the Rwandese … in fact go no further than our own Pokot and Turkana,” said a candid Professor PLO Lumumba during the International Conference on Peace, Security and Social Enterprise, hosted recently by Mount Kenya University ( MKU)
Makerere, MKU Varsities sign partnership
No full textMakerere University and Mount Kenya University on 19th September 2017 signed a memorandum of understanding where the two institutions have agreed to collaborate in the improvement of higher education in the region.
The event which was attended by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, Assoc. Prof. Isaac Okullo, Deputy Principal, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Prof. Moses Joloba, Dean, School of Biomedical Science, Prof. Stanley Waudo, MKU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Gaitho, MKU Vice Chairman Council, Dr. Stanley Kangethe, MKU Principal College of Health Science and Madam Jane Nyutu, Member MKU Board of Directors
UNESCO, MKU teach Naivasha prisoners
No full textMount Kenya University (MKU) has been offering training at Naivasha Maximum Security Prison as a corporate social responsibility activity by the School of Education.
Kenya National Commission for Unesco representative, Dr Reuben Nthamburi, joined MKU staff and donated a television set, DVD player and digital content from Kenya Institute for Curriculum Developing (KICD) for use by inmates preparing for this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams.
Kenya National Commission for Unesco is also a partner in a research project by MKU at the prison that seeks to look at Effectiveness of Offline Study Desk on Prison Education that has been shortlisted for funding by the National Research Fund (NRF).
The partnership between MKU and Kenya National Commission for Unesco will go a long way in strengthening the Unesco chair at MKU, Nakuru campus whose MoU was signed by MKU Vice-Chancellor and Unesco Secretary Seneral in Paris, France, Dr Irina Bokova. Upon completion, it is hoped that the results of the research at Naivasha Maximum Security Prison will inform the Kenya Prison’s education policies in the country and probably beyond.
The MKU – Naivasha Maximum Prison partnership was initiated by Madam Jayne Muchiri-Marquard who was brought up at the prison in the 70s by her late father who was a warden . She continues to marshal hefty support to the prison both financially and in kind from her own resources and from well-wishers as a way of giving back to the prison that nurtured her into what she is today
Evaluation of activity based cost analysis as a tool on financial performance in selected public sugar firms in Kenya
No full textGlobally, businesses have continued to focus on cost reduction and effectiveness in operations. Organizations have to be transparent when incurring costs. Stakeholders in general need detailed insights about costs and financial performance of organizations to which they are associated. However, this is limited by absence of adequate knowhow, good systems and necessary data. There has been a lot of concern over rising operational costs across the globe and more so particularly in Kenya due to high energy costs, staff costs and borrowing costs among others. Mumias Sugar Company Limited made a total loss of Kshs 10.3 billion from 2013 to 2015 as per the published annual financial statements. The financial performance of Nzoia Sugar Company Limited was also affected by interest on borrowed loans, aged machinery and high input costs of materials, fuel, fertilizer and lubricants. The purpose of the study was to evaluate Activity Based Cost Analysis as a tool on financial performance of the selected public sugar firms. The problem for the research was the apparent high operational costs that were being exhibited uncontrollably and which resulted in losses and therefore poor financial performance of the selected public sugar companies in Kenya. The researcher aimed at filling the gap of showing whether if Activity Based Cost Analysis as a tool was well followed, then the financial performance of the selected sugar firms would have been better. A mixed methodology was used because the data collected was both discrete and continuous which required the employment of both descriptive and inferential techniques. Descriptive research design was used because it covers both the quantitative and qualitative data in the research and also assisted the researcher to collect relevant data at minimal cost, time and effort. This was a census whose target population was top management, accounting staff, internal audit staff, procurement staff, and sales revenue staff. Data was analyzed using SPSS. The null hypothesis had to be accepted, that is there was no significant relationship that existed between application of ABC Analysis as a tool and financial performance. On an overall basis, the researcher concludes that upon evaluation, Activity Based Cost analysis was lowly applied in the selected public sugar firms since it faced a myriad of challenges and therefore could not significantly influence Financial Performance. Direct players and other stakeholders should take keen interest in both accounting and non-accounting tools that would enhance financial performance of firms
Risk factors for dog bites in Moiben Sub-county, Uasin Gishu county, Kenya
No full textRabies virus still causes human and animal deaths around the world. Human rabies is transmitted by an
infected canine. If rabies-infected person is not treated within 48 hours, the virus could move to the central nervous
system and cause irreversible cell damage that could be fatal. The aim of this study was to establish risk factors for
dog bites in Moiben Sub-county, and whether there is a significant association between dog bite frequency and those
risk factors.
Methods: A total of 339 respondents were selected from a total of 1152 households using multistage sampling,
simple random sampling and systematic sampling methods. The head of the household responded to intervieweradministered
questionnaires. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22 of 2013. Associations were tested using chi
square test and any associations reported at critical p-value of 0.05 and 95% confidence interval.
Results: This Study found more children <15 years bitten by dogs (351/643, 54.6%, X²=26.3, p<0.01) than any other
age bracket. There were significantly more males bitten compared with female victims (334/643, 51.9%, X²=10.3,
p=0.03). Strangers were bitten in larger numbers than family members (512/643, 79.6%, X²= 7.11, p=0.03). The
unconfined dogs bit people than the partially confined dogs (487/643, 75.7%, X²=12.9, p=0.01). Most people were
bitten during the wet season than in dry season (437/643, 67%, X²=18.8, p=0.01).
Conclusions: The risk factors with significant association in dog bites in Moiben Sub-coounty were age and sex of
the residents, dog confinement and seasons of the year. We recommend that the County government of Uasin Gishu
controls the movement of dogs by enforcing the existing confinement policy and movement permits made mandatory
for anyone intending to move a dog from one place to another. Free educational vaccination campaigns should be
provided in order to attain 75% dog vaccination coverage