Analysis of Green Energy Adoption on Household Development in Kenya: Case of Kibera Slums

Green energy technology adoption has been a major problem in urban poor (slums dwellers) in developing countries.  The government and other major stakeholders in the energy sector often fail to address these issues due to poor policy and high cost of technology. The presence of NGO’s whose programmes of equipping the slum dwellers especially Kibera slum in Nairobi Kenya have done very little in addressing the problem. The use of green energy technology has grown tremendously in semi-arid areas. However little is known about the adoption, awareness and use of such household scale technologies by slums dwellers in Kenya. The general objective of the study was to analyze the green energy adoption in Kenya, case of Kibera slum which is the largest of its kind in Africa. Recent empirical evidence showed that renewable energy adoption is growing in the world’s emerging economies nearly twice as fast than in industrialized nations. Not only are renewable energy technologies now cost competitive with fossil fuels in many developing nations, but they are often more reliable, safer, and at times cheaper than conventional grid power. This study examined the cost of green energy, size of family income, energy sector reforms. The researcher used descriptive analysis to assess the awareness and adoptions of green energy technology. In particular the study used logit and probit models to examine the variables of green energy adoption and intensity use of green energy technology on household scale respectively. The study used data collected via personal interview using pretested questionnaires in all the 17 villages of Kibera slums. This area was selected because of its relevance to the study. It used probability proportion to size sampling technique to collect information from 449 respondents. The study finds high awareness (76 percent) of green energy technology among the Kibera slums dwellers. However, this has not translated into high adoption. Only 10 percent of the respondents have adopted green energy technology. Results indicate high usage in the villages supplied with the technology by the NGOs than the rest of the study areas. Results of the regression analysis indicates that family income, the cost of green energy technology, lack extension officers,  and distance to the green energy enterprises /dealers affects the adoption of green energy technology. Intense of adoption of green energy technology on the other hand is affected by membership to youth or women group, distance to the nearest enterprises with physical and financial assets. Lastly, a finding of this study also implies that adoption of green energy technology can spur good physical well-being and productivity of household members, improve welfare of such households and reduces deaths caused by pollution related disease. Therefore there is need to formulate and implement Energy sector reforms to encourage access to clean and affordable energy services by slums dwellers. Key Words: Green Energy Adoption, Household Development, Kibera Slums in Kenya

On-site and off-Site long-term economic impacts of soil fertility management practices: The case of maize-based cropping systems in Kenya

"This article analyzes the on-site and off-site economic impacts of various sustainable land management (SLM) practices in Kenya. Long-term trial data are used to establish the relationship between SLM practices and maize yield. The analysis of on-site effects focuses on the profitability of maize production at the farm level, while the examined off-site effects include carbon sequestration and siltation from maize farms, which increase the cost of potable water production. The major contribution of this study is the use of long-term experimental data to estimate the impacts of land management practices on crop yield and consider their off-site benefits and costs. The results of this study show that soil and water conservation (SWC) structures reinforced with leguminous plants are more profitable when the plants are used as fodder, as opposed to situations in which only SWC structures are used. SWC structures reinforced with vegetation had lower maintenance costs, whereas those that were not reinforced with leguminous trees were not profitable over the long-term period. These results suggest that complementary and multipurpose SWC practices are more likely to be adopted compared to non-complementary and/or single-purpose practices. Thus, SWC practices should be promoted as a package of complementary technologies. If it is not feasible to promote a mix of complementary enterprises, high value crops are likely to make SLM practices more profitable. In areas where SLM practices are not profitable, promotion of alternative livelihoods is necessary. Adoption of SLM also provides global environmental services worth 10% of the net present value of the SLM practices over the 50-year period addressed in the present study Finally, the results of this analysis suggest that farmers who offer significant environmental services should be compensated for their efforts." from Author's AbstractAgroforestry, Land degradation, Soil erosion, Sustainable land management, Land management, Economic impacts, maize,

CIRCULATORY CYTOKINES AND HEMATOLOGICAL PROFILES: POSSIBLE BIOMARKERS OF HIV/AIDS DISEASE PROGRESSION

Introduction: This study sought to identify circulatory cytokines and hematological profiles measureable in blood plasma in newly diagnosed HIV patients as possible biomarkers that could predict the progression of HIV and AIDS disease in the course of acute HIV infection.Methodology: A prospective cross sectional study design was used to recruit the participants at the Nakuru Provincial General hospital in Kenya.  The study group included those who were HIV positive before and after commencing therapy and those who were HIV negative. The study group composed of male and female of different ages ranging from 7-72 years.  Hematology auto analyzer system was used to analyze hematological parameters and indices.  Types and concentrations of cytokines were determined using multiplex cytokine immunoassay by flow cytometry using Becton and Dickinsonfluorescence activated cell sorter (BD FACS) count.  Descriptive statistics were applied and a p- value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: This study found a significant difference in mean Interleukin 12p70 (p<0.001), Tumor Necrosis Factor (p<0.05), Interleukin 10 (p<0.05), Interleukin 6 (p<0.005) and interleukin 1β (p<0.05) between HIV negative patients, treatment naïve HIV patients and HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Among the treatment naïve HIV patients, significant associations were observed between IL-12p70 and HGB (p<0.05); between TNF and MPV (p<0.001); between IL-10 and PDW (p<0.005); between IL-6 and Gran# (p-0.05); between IL-1β and PDW (p<0.005).Conclusion: The early period of infection with HIV is characterized by high circulatory cytokines levels and could be useful biomarkers and indicators of early immune activation of HIV infection. The results from this study also showed that acute HIV infection induces several hematological changes, involving all the blood parameters and indices, some of which may act as indicators of HIV/AIDS disease progression

Analysis of Turnaround Strategies on Organization Performance: Case of Uchumi Supermarket, Kenya

Turnaround strategy is the process by which a business with inadequate performance is analyzed and changed to achieve desired results. It is an important tool to arrest and reverse the sources of competitive and financial weakness of an organisation as quickly as possible. A company could be transformed into a learning organization while adopting turnaround strategy so that they could increase the operation efficiency of the company and develop a competitive advantage. Turnaround strategy in any business organization results in effective service delivery, skilled, responsible and accountable workers, good Co-operative Governance and an improved business. The objective of strategic focus is to redefine the business and develop the restructuring plan’s strategic moves for a successful turnaround.  This can possibly call for product refocusing and implementing a divestiture, operational realignment, or outsourcing of non-core activities.  Although the solution tends to be simple in concept, the restructuring and turnaround plan is more complex in its execution.The researcher sought to assess the turnaround strategies on economic growth at Uchumi Supermarket, The purpose of study was to assess the outcome of turnaround strategies of Uchumi Supermarket. The objectives of the study was to examine the role of stakeholder in repositioning and support, top management reorganisation, training and sensitization and cost reduction strategy as well as  policies on turnaround strategies applied  at Uchumi Supermarket. The study adopted a case approach in order to get an in-depth of the outcome in implementation of turnaround strategies. The target population was three hundred and eleven staff members of Uchumi Supermarket comprising of top level and middle level managers. Sample random was used to get actual individuals. Primary data were collected using questionnaires and interview schedule while Secondary data was obtained from a review of published materials on the subject of turnaround and from organization reports documenting Uchumi turnaround. The qualitative data collected was analyzed using narrative analysis while quantitative data was analyzed by the use of Statistical Package for Social Science Software (SPSS) version (22). Key terms: Turnaround Strategies, Organization Performance, Uchumi Supermarket

Molecular epidemiology of human rhinovirus from one-year surveillance within a school setting in rural coastal Kenya

Background Human rhinovirus (HRV) is the most common cause of the common cold but may also lead to more severe respiratory illness in vulnerable populations. The epidemiology and genetic diversity of HRV within a school setting have not been previously described. Objective To characterise HRV molecular epidemiology in primary school in a rural location of Kenya. Methods Between May 2017 to April 2018, over three school terms, we collected 1859 nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) from pupils and teachers with symptoms of acute respiratory infection in a public primary school in Kilifi County, coastal Kenya. The samples were tested for HRV using real-time RT-PCR. HRV positive samples were sequenced in the VP4/VP2 coding region for species and genotype classification. Results A total of 307 NPS (16.4%) from 164 individuals were HRV positive, and 253 (82.4%) were successfully sequenced. The proportion of HRV in the lower primary classes was higher (19.8%) than upper primary classes (12.2%), p-value &0.001. HRV-A was the most common species (134/253, 53.0%), followed by HRV-C (73/253, 28.9%) and HRV-B (46/253, 18.2%). Phylogenetic analysis identified 47 HRV genotypes. The most common genotypes were A2 and B70. Numerous (up to 22 in one school term) genotypes circulated simultaneously, there was no individual re-infection with the same genotype, and no genotype was detected in all three school terms. Conclusion HRV was frequently detected among school-going children with mild ARI symptoms, and particularly in the younger age groups (&5-year-olds). Multiple HRV introductions were observed characterised by the considerable genotype diversity

Parvovirus B19 infection and severe anaemia in Kenyan children: a retrospective case control study

Background: During acute Human parvovirus B19 (B19) infection a transient reduction in blood haemoglobin concentration is induced, due to a 5-7 day cessation of red cell production. This can precipitate severe anaemia in subjects with a range of pre-existing conditions. Of the disease markers that occur during B19 infection, high IgM levels occur closest in time to the maximum reduction in haemoglobin concentration. Previous studies of the contribution of B19 to severe anaemia among young children in Africa have yielded varied results. This retrospective case/control study seeks to ascertain the proportion of severe anaemia cases precipitated by B19 among young children admitted to a Kenyan district hospital.Methods: Archival blood samples from 264 children under 6 years with severe anaemia admitted to a Kenyan District Hospital, between 1999 and 2004, and 264 matched controls, were tested for B19 IgM by Enzyme Immunosorbent Assay and 198 of these pairs were tested for B19 DNA by PCR. 536 samples were also tested for the presence of B19 IgG.Results: 7 (2.7%) cases and 0 (0%) controls had high B19 IgM levels (Optical Density > 5 x cut-off value) (McNemar's exact test p = 0.01563), indicating a significant association with severe anaemia. The majority of strongly IgM positive cases occurred in 2003.10/264 (3.7%) cases compared to 5/264 (1.9%) controls tested positive for B19 IgM. This difference was not statistically significant, odds ratio (OR) = 2.00 (CI95 [0.62, 6.06], McNemar's exact test p = 0.3018. There was no significant difference between cases and controls in the B19 IgG (35 (14.8%) vs 32 (13.6%)), OR = 1.103 (CI95 [0.66, 1.89], McNemar's exact test, p = 0.7982), or the detection of the B19 DNA (6 (3.0%) vs 5 (2.5%)), OR = 1.2 (CI95 [0.33, 4.01], McNemar's exact test p = 1).Conclusions: High B19 IgM levels were significantly associated with severe anaemia, being found only among the cases. This suggests that 7/264 (2.7%) of cases of severe anaemia in the population of children admitted to KDH were precipitated by B19. While this is a relatively small proportion, this has to be evaluated in the light of the IgG data that shows that less than 15% of children in the study were exposed to B19, a figure much lower than reported in other tropical areas

Human rhinovirus spatial-temporal epidemiology in rural coastal Kenya, 2015-2016, observed through outpatient surveillance [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Background: Human rhinovirus (HRV) is the predominant cause of upper respiratory tract infections, resulting in a significant public health burden. The virus circulates as many different types (~160), each generating strong homologous, but weak heterotypic, immunity. The influence of these features on transmission patterns of HRV in the community is understudied. Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI) at nine out-patient facilities across a Health and Demographic Surveillance System between December 2015 and November 2016. HRV was diagnosed by real-time RT-PCR, and the VP4/VP2 genomic region of the positive samples sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was used to determine the HRV types. Classification models and G-test statistic were used to investigate HRV type spatial distribution. Demographic characteristics and clinical features of ARI were also compared. Results: Of 5,744 NPS samples collected, HRV was detected in 1057 (18.4%), of which 817 (77.3%) were successfully sequenced. HRV species A, B and C were identified in 360 (44.1%), 67 (8.2%) and 390 (47.7%) samples, respectively. In total, 87 types were determined: 39, 10 and 38 occurred within species A, B and C, respectively. HRV types presented heterogeneous temporal patterns of persistence. Spatially, identical types occurred over a wide distance at similar times, but there was statistically significant evidence for clustering of types between health facilities in close proximity or linked by major road networks. Conclusion: This study records a high prevalence of HRV in out-patient presentations exhibiting high type diversity. Patterns of occurrence suggest frequent and independent community invasion of different types. Temporal differences of persistence between types may reflect variation in type-specific population immunity. Spatial patterns suggest either rapid spread or multiple invasions of the same type, but evidence of similar types amongst close health facilities, or along road systems, indicate type partitioning structured by local spread

Multiple introductions and predominance of 3 rotavirus group A genotype G3P[8] in Kilifi, coastal Kenya, 4 years after nationwide vaccine introduction

Globally, rotavirus group A (RVA) remains a major cause of severe childhood diarrhea, despite the use of vaccines in more than 100 countries. RVA sequencing for local outbreaks facilitates investigation into strain composition, origins, spread, and vaccine failure. In 2018, we collected 248 stool samples from children aged less than 13 years admitted with diarrheal illness to Kilifi County Hospital, coastal Kenya. Antigen screening detected RVA in 55 samples (22.2%). Of these, VP7 (G) and VP4 (P) segments were successfully sequenced in 48 (87.3%) and phylogenetic analysis based on the VP7 sequences identified seven genetic clusters with six different GP combinations: G3P[8], G1P[8], G2P[4], G2P[8], G9P[8] and G12P[8]. The G3P[8] strains predominated the season (n = 37, 67.2%) and comprised three distinct G3 genetic clusters that fell within Lineage I and IX (the latter also known as equine-like G3 Lineage). Both the two G3 lineages have been recently detected in several countries. Our study is the first to document African children infected with G3 Lineage IX. These data highlight the global nature of RVA transmission and the importance of increasing global rotavirus vaccine coverage