Strengthening University Partnerships and Collaborations in Kenya: Strategies for Sustainability

Globally, university partnerships and collaborations have been identified as key pillars of the tripartite roles of universities namely; Academics, Research, and Civic Engagement. In Africa, there is intensified effort to strengthen university partnerships with the governments, industry and communities for greater impact to socio-economic development. The role of university partnerships is considered a vital driver of not only research and innovation but also capacity development as well as internationalization. In this paper, multiple case analysis approach was used to explore the strategies being employed by universities in Kenya with a view of teasing out lessons for advancing partnerships and collaborations in universities in Africa. The two main objectives of the study were; to find out the strategies employed by universities in advancing partnerships and (ii) to establish challenges affecting university partnerships in Kenya. Random sampling was used to identify public and private universities for the study in order to establish the objective position across the higher education landscape. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected. The respondents of the study were purposively selected due to the unique nature of the study. Among various initiatives, the paper highlights some distinctive projects, initiated courtesy of university partnerships in the 21st century. The paper highlights developing partnership policies, creating monitoring systems and capacity building as key ingredients for enhancing resilient and sustainable partnerships and collaborations

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS FOR PEDAGOGICAL ICT INTEGRATION IN KENYA: LESSONS FOR TRANSFORMATION

This paper is based on a study carried out in selected secondary schools in Kenya. The research examines teachers’ professional development needs in Kenya with a specific focus on the teachers’ needs towards professional development in pedagogical ICT integration. Teachers’ professional development is often regarded as a key element to successful education reforms. Hence, teachers are expected to undergo continuous professional development to keep abreast with the various changes that occur in the education systems including the modes of teaching and instructional resources. In this study, a cross-sectional and descriptive survey design was used where research data was collected through triangulation. Three key instruments namely; questionnaires, interview guides and checklists were used to collect data. The study sample for the institutions was 30 secondary schools from Nairobi and Kiambu Counties. The sample comprised 278 teachers, 375 secondary school students, 30 schools and Computer for Schools Kenya (CFSK) trainers. The study revealed a variance in the use of ICTs by teachers especially between personal use and pedagogical use. The highest teacher professional development need cited by teachers for effective ICT integration was an intensive approach to ICT integration. Most teachers felt that the approaches used in professional development did not equip them adequately for independent ICT usage in schools. The paper proposes for a convergent approach to teacher professional development which supports constructivist learning among teacher trainers and subsequently among learners in schools to enhance ICT integration in teaching and learning.  Article visualizations

Factors influencing uptake of family planning services among men in Kenya

Background: Utilisation of family planning services in Kenya remains quite low hence, the soaring population which has partly hampered achievement of the fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) as well as achievement of overall development goals for the entire country. Current reports indicate that male participation improves uptake of maternal healthcare and family planning services among women.Objective: To determine factors that influence male participation in family planning services in Kenya.Design: A retrospective studySetting: Nationally representative survey of Eight provinces in Kenya.Subjects: Married and single sexually active men.Results: From the adjusted logistic regression model after controlling for other factors, we found higher education AOR 1.59 (C.I: 0.767-3.299), employment AOR 1.67 (C.I: 1.127-2.496), Media as the source of information AOR 1.75 (C.I: 1.308-2.367), discussion with a health worker AOR 1.71 (C.I: 1.206 – 2.430), number of wives (one wife AOR 0.07 (C.I: 0.007-0.769), No more desire for children AOR 2.83 (C.I: 1.794-4.489) and the total number of children one has (1-4) AOR 2.55 (CI: 1.616 -4.029) as the main factors that influence male participation in family planning services.Conclusion: In Kenya, programmes intending to have men actively participate in family planning services should focus on addressing multiple factors which influence men’s participation in family planning services

Sahiwal Breed in Pastoral Production Systems in Kenya: Future Roles and Existing Gaps in Knowledge and Supportive Technical Logistics; \u3ci\u3eA Review\u3c/i\u3e

Sahiwal genetic resources is an integral part of the ASALs economy of Kenya. Sahiwal is the largest single dual purpose cattle breed kept by the pastoral communities in the ASALs where livestock products are the main drivers of food and nutrition security, and a source of income to support other household obligations. It was introduced in Kenya to upgrade the low performing small east African Zebu because of its superior productive and reproductive performance. The promising results of this upgrading programme led to the breed gaining preference over the local Zebu among the Maasai pastoralists. Despite the impressive results from this breed and subsequent high demand for milk and beef due to increase in population, supply of superior bulls and cows from the nucleus herd to the commercial herds remain low. It is likely that the problem will continue and perhaps in future the numbers of Sahiwal population may reduce unless appropriate measures are put in place. Pastoralists and other stakeholders such as policy makers need technical guidance to identify the most seemly approaches to ensure long term breed multiplication and conservation as well as optimal utilisation in ASALs. This study looks at the underlying challenges and opportunities that are there to exploit advantages of the breed. Gaps in knowledge and supportive logistics for low input production system for the breed are also discussed as well as implications of Sahiwal cattle and practices and technologies for pastoral-based systems

Phytochemicals Present in Engleromyces goetzei and Antimicrobial Activity Against Phytopathogenic Bacteria

Interest in the extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources has increased in recent years due to the potential applications of these compounds in food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The methanolic extract of the fungus Engleromyces goetzei was investigated for the presence of phytochemicals and the antibacterial properties. The study shows that the extract has flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, terpenoids and steroids. Engleromyces goetzei has potential as a source of useful antibacterial compounds active against phytopathogenic bacteria. Disk diffusion assay was used to analyze the susceptibility of an organism which help in identifying the proper antibacterial biopesticide. In this experiment, this was done by placing the antimicrobial disks impregnated with E. goetzei on the NA plates swabbed with Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas sryingae pv phaseolicola, Erwinia carotovora and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. After twenty-four hours of incubation, there were areas around the antimicrobial disks with no bacterial growth. The MIC of E. goetzei against X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli, Ps. syringae pv phaseolicola and X. campestris was found to be 1mg/ml while that of E. carotovora was 10mg/ml. Keywords: Phytochemicals, Engleromyces goetzei, X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli, E. carotovora, Ps. syringae pv phaseolicola, X. campestri

Effect of Inoculation with Mycorrhizae on Growth Parameters of Dombeya torrida, Leucaena leucocephala and Tephrosia vogelii

The present work evaluated the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus on growth. Three species of trees, Tephrosia vogelii, Leucaena leucocephala and Dombeya torrida were treated with fragments of arbuscular mycorrhizae and grown in greenhouse. The aim of the present work was to determine whether arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiotic association with these tree species would enhance their growth. Data on height, stem diameter and number of leaves were taken after every two weeks for a period of three months. Mycorrhizal plants demonstrated higher vigor with Tephrosia vogelii giving a mean height of 57.50 cm, 0.50 cm diameter and 9.33 number of leaves which were significantly different from the control plants at p ≤ 0.05 according to least significant difference (LSD). The biomass was also taken at the end of 90 days of growth and the same trend was exhibited. Mycorrhizal plants also showed root nodules with mycorrhizal arbuscles. This work contributes to our understanding of the effects of AM symbiosis on the accumulation of certain micronutrients in valuable woody tree species. Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizae, Tephrosia vogelii, Leucaena leucocephala, plant growt

Biocontrol of Green Mould Disease of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) using Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

The occurrence of Trichoderma harzianum and T. asperellum in cultivation of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) frequently results in serious crop losses and considerable inhibition of growth of mycelium and fruiting bodies of oyster mushroom thus lowering the yield substantially. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain isolated from groundnuts proved very effective in antagonizing the oyster mushroom pathogenic T. harzianum and T. asperellum without having a negative effect on P. ostreatus mycelia. The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was found to produce diffusible and volatile organic compounds. This strain is a potential biocontrol candidate, in addition to the lack of antagonistic activity towards P. ostreatus mycelia. The present study, hence, provides a potential biocontrol agent for Trichoderma green mould. However, field studies of this isolate as substrate inoculant in oyster mushroom are required in order to establish its actual performance. Keywords: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Green mould, Mushroom, Biocontro

Improved Livelihoods from Grasslands; the Case of Napier Grass in Smallholder Dairy Farms in Kenya

In Kenya, smallholder farmers produce about 80% of the marketed milk. The farming systems vary from mixed farms with up to 10 ha of land and \u3c 10 dairy cows (Gitau et al., 1994; Anon., 1985), to intensive smallholder dairy producers in the high human population central Kenya region with 0.9 to 2 ha of land and 3-4 dairy cows (Staal et al., 2001a). Milk production depends heavily on the cultivation of forages, with Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) by far the most important. An estimated 350,000 of the 600,000 smallholder farms in Kenya grow and utilize P. purpureum on their farms. There are various published data indicating the level of dependence on sown forages. In a survey of 21 smallholder dairy farmers in the highlands of Kenya, Romney et al. (2004) found that P. purpureum supplied approximately 40 and 60% of the feed offered to dairy cows in the dry and wet months respectively, with the remaining feed provided by concentrates, crop residues (mainly Zea mays (maize) stover) and other cut and carry fodder such as roadside grass. In the more intensive cut and carry systems of production practiced in central Kenya, McLeod et al. (2003) found that P. purpureum was grown by over 70% of the smallholder farmers in their study area. In farm level characterisation surveys of over 3300 households conducted between 1996 and 2000 in central Kenya, 62% kept livestock and more than 50% were growing P. purpureum. Farmers were also growing fodder legumes such as Sesbania grandiflora (Sesbania), Leucaena leucocephala (Leucaena), Calliandra calothyrsus (Callindra), Desmodium intortum/uncinatum, (Desmodium) and Medicago sativa (Lucerne), but the frequency did not exceed 7.5% (Staal et al., 2001b)

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNAL AUDIT AND INTERNAL CONTROLS IN WATER SERVICE PROVIDERS IN KENYA

The aim of this study was to establish the association between internal audit and internal controls of Kenyan water service providers. To attain this objective, the researcher collected data on a population of 93 Water service providers. This cross sectional descriptive study that attained a response rate of 78% of the targeted 93 water service provider units was guided by a positivist research philosophy. Correlation analysis and regression analysis was then used to test the hypotheses. Correlation research analysis found a statistically significant positive relationship between internal audit and internal controls. The null hypothesis was rejected as the regression analysis found that a unit change in internal audit leads to a change of 0.505 in internal controls. . This infers that internal audit influences internal controls of Water service providers in Kenya. This study has provided an empirical foundation for investigating the relationship between internal audit and internal controls. Further, the study has made a unique contribution to policy formulation and development to benefit the understanding on how internal audit in the Kenyan context influences internal controls resulting to formulation of reforms in various public institutions to strengthen internal audit

An Analysis of Economic Efficiency in Bean Production: Evidence from Eastern Uganda

Bean has emerged to be an important cash crop as well as a staple food in Uganda; however, the country’s bean productivity per unit area cultivated has been on the decline for the past ten years. This study estimated the economic efficiency levels and assessed the factors influencing economic efficiency among bean farmers in Eastern Uganda, by applying a stochastic frontier cost function and a two-limit Tobit regression model, based on a random sample of 580 households. Findings revealed that the mean economic efficiency level was 59.94% and it was positively influenced by value of assets, off-farm income, credit and farmers’ primary occupation. Based on the findings from this study, there is need for government and stakeholders to train farmers on entrepreneurial skills so that they can divest their farm profits into more income generating activities which would harness more farming capital. Finally, there is a need for initiatives geared towards enhancing farmers’ access to adequate credit for farming at affordable interest rates and using groups as collateral, so that they could invest more in farming to increase their economic efficiency and farm productivity. Key words: stochastic frontier approach, smallholder farmers, Tobit regression mode