Development of a Drought and Yield Assessment System in Kenya

Dependence on rainfed agriculture in a highly variable climate, renders crop and livestock production vulnerable to impacts of drought in Kenya. Stakeholders in the region have highlighted the need for timely and actionable detailed early warning information on drought and its implication on crop productivity. Here we apply the Regional Hydrological Extremes Assessment System (RHEAS) to estimate current and future drought conditions onset, severity, recovery, and duration) and expected productivity outlooks

Evaluation of the use of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) as an indicator of nutritional status of dairy cattle in smallholder farms in Kiambu district

A survey was conducted to evaluate the use of Milk Urea Nitrogen as an indicator of nutrition status of lactating animals. Twenty-seven animals in a randomly selected sample of 21 farms in Kiambu District were monitored for nutritional status for 12 weeks. Fortnightly records were taken on feed offered, body condition, body weight and milk yield. Milk samples were collected weekly and analysed for MUN. Preliminary results indicated that there was a significant (P<0.05) negative correlation between MUN and milk yield, and a marginal correlation between MUN and body weight. There was no significant relationship between MUN and Body condition score. The data so far collected, which excludes the feed data indicate that MUN, may to an extent be a reliable indicator, of nutritional status of dairy cattle under smallholder farm conditions

Delivery of technical information to smallholder dairy farmers in Kiambu District

A survey was conducted to determine the sources and delivery of technical information to smallholder dairy farmers in Kiambu District. Sixty-three farmers in three wealth groups (rich, medium, poor) of 21 farmers each from three different locations, were selected at random from maps drawn by communities. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on farmers’ level of exposure to different dairy information sources and their involvement in extension activities during 1997. Preliminary results indicate that most poor farmers (66%) relied on neighbors as their primary information source. Field days run by dairy cooperative societies were the most important organized information delivery channel for poor (28%) and medium (38%) farmers. Private and co-operative veterinary services concentrated on rich farms with 33% of these households having contact compared with only 14% of poor households. The government veterinary or livestock services contacted less than 20% of households either in farm visits or field days. Besides visits by private veterinary officers to wealthy farmers the frequency of contact with livestock professionals was therefore limited for all communities. Preliminary conclusions are that for Kiambu, which has a well established smallholder dairy industry, group meetings organized by cooperatives are more likely to reach the poorer sectors of the community. This coupled with frequent neighbour-to-neighbour discussions may currently be the most effective dairy information delivery channel

Analysis of small ruminants’ pastoral management practices as risk factors of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) spread in Turkana District, Kenya

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an emerging viral disease spreading throughout Kenya and East Africa causing major losses in the small stock. This study is an attempt to evaluate small stock management practices in Turkana pastoral system, Kenya as predictors of PPR outbreaks. Information on the social practices and the occurrence of PPR outbreaks was obtained by participatory techniques. The small stock management practices, evaluated as factors, in a previous study were simultaneously analyzed with seasons and administrative divisions as the independent risk factors for the presence or absence of PPR outbreaks in 142 Adakars (villages) as the dependent variable. Analyses were carried out for the years 2009 and 2010 combined as one data set and considered as longitudinal repeated data. In the analyses, the presence or absence of PPR outbreaks was the dependent variable. Data were further analyzed separately disaggregated by season where the presence or absence of PPR outbreaks in a season was considered as the dependent variable. All analyses utilized multivariable logistical regression analyses. In the longitudinal analysis, season was the only significant factor associated with PPR outbreak. Disaggregating the data by season revealed that certain seasonal-specific livestock management activities increased the risk of reporting PPR outbreaks: (1) sharing water sources leading to social aggregation of young stock in one point (Factor 3) (odds ratio (OR) = 2.0) in season 2 (wet season) of 2009; (2) sick dams left to nurse their young kids/lambs (Factor 7) (OR=1.62) in the same season in 2010. The finding of diverse risk factors in the same seasons across years suggests temporal heterogeneity in the distribution and occurrence of the determinants of PPR in the Turkana ecosystem. The study discusses the implications of these findings on disease control

Expression of mismatch repair proteins in colorectal cancer at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi

Introduction: Microsatellite instability is one of three molecular pathways described in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma. The presence of microsatellite instability in patients with colorectal cancer has implications for prognosis and family counselling. Deficiency in mismatch repair genes leads to microsatellite instability and this can be reliably demonstrated in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue by methods, which include immunohistochemistry for the detection of mismatch repair proteins. Local data show a disproportionately large number of younger patients with colorectal cancer compared to that documented in Caucasians. Colorectal cancer in younger ages is often attributed to deficient mismatch repair. The objective of this study therefore, was to determine the proportion of colorectal cancers associated with the microsatellite instability pathway through detection of the mismatch repair proteins on immunohistochemistry. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 80 colorectal adenocarcinoma resection specimens received over a three-year period from January 2009 to January 2012. The mismatch repair gene mutation expression was analysed by immunohistochemical staining for products of mismatch repair genes. Associated clinical and pathologic characteristics were reviewed and documented. Results: The proportion of deficient mismatch colorectal cancer in the study was 19.4% [95% CI 11.7%-30.4%].There was a significant but weak association between mismatch repair gene protein expression and tumour grade, and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (tumour grade Cramer’s V=0.263, p=0.031; tumour infiltrating lymphocytes Cramer’s V=0.246, p=0.044). Mismatch repair gene protein expression outcome showed significant but moderately strong association with the anatomic site of tumour, and tumour histological type (anatomic site Cramer’s V=0.469, p=0.001, tumour histological type Cramer’s V=0.469, p=0.001,). Conclusions: The study provides preliminary data of the contribution of the deficient mismatch repair molecular pathway of colorectal cancer in Kenya

Audit Committee Characteristics And Corporate Sustainability Disclosure Among Listed Firms In East Africa Community Member States

This study investigates the relationship between audit committee characteristics and corporate sustainability disclosure among listed firms in East Africa. Employing stakeholder and legitimacy theories as a framework, the research examines four key audit committee characteristics: meeting frequency, financial expertise, gender diversity, and size. Based on secondary data from 708 firm-year observations spanning 2012–2022, the findings reveal that audit committee attributes significantly enhance corporate sustainability disclosure. Gender diversity fosters diverse perspectives, while financial expertise ensures accurate and credible reporting. Frequent meetings and optimal committee size improve oversight and decision-making, further bolstering sustainability transparency. These insights highlights the essential role of audit committees in fostering corporate accountability and transparency in East Africa’s evolving regulatory environment. Keywords: Audit Committee Characteristics, Corporate Sustainability Disclosure, Audit Committee Gender, Audit Committee Financial Expertise, Audit Committee Frequency of Meeting, Audit Committee Size DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/17-3-09 Publication date: April 30th 202

Profile Of Bacteria And Fungi On Money Coins

Objectives: To determine the quantity and quality of bacterial and fungi on money coins and to identify those that could pose a public health risk.Design: Random sampling of coins from subjects within predetermined categories.Setting: Westlands division of Nairobi Metropolitan province.Subjects: Twenty-shilling coin samples were collected from matatu (a common commuter vehicle in Kenya) taxi conductors, greengrocers, shoe shiners, butchers, food kiosk/restaurant attendants, grocery shops attendants, roast maize vendors and school children. Forty coin samples were analysed for both the total viable content and the types of bacterial and fungal organisms.Results: Average bacterial content on the coins ranged from 2.3xl03 to 25.5x103 and fungi content from 11 to 377 colony forming units. The following potentially pathogenic bacteria were among those isolated: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Serratia, Enterobacter, Salmonella,Acinetobacter, Enterococci, Staphylococcus and Bacillus cereus. In addition, this is the first report of potentially pathogenic fungal isolation from money coins. Penicillium spp, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Altenaria spp, Candida spp and Cryptococcus were isolated. Conclusion: Money coins harbour potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi that may pose a public health risk. Hand hygiene is therefore strongly recommended, especially for those who simultaneously handle food and money

Local Participation in Community Forest Associations: A Case Study of Sururu and Eburu Forests, Kenya

Participation of local communities in the management and utilization of state-owned forest resources has become widely recognized in contrast to centralised forms of forest governance. This paper examined the extent of inclusiveness and household participation in community forest associations (CFAs) adjacent to Sururu and Eburu forests in Kenya. The probit model was used to assess the socio-economic factors determining participation in the CFAs. The study established that gender (P&lt;0.05), group membership (P&lt;0.0001), ownership of tree nursery (P&lt;0.0001), wealth status (P&lt;0.0001), percentage share of wage income (P&lt;0.05), and farm size allocated to trees (P&lt;0.05) significantly influenced CFA participation. However, because of high opportunity participation costs some poor (68%) and rich (65%) households did not participate in CFA activities. Since households participated in CFAs to derive livelihood gains, unclear participation benefits offered little incentive to get involved. Thus participation in CFA activities remained low. Therefore, Kenya Forest Service should review participation guidelines to enable effective CFA input in decision making on forest issues. Keywords: Community; inclusiveness; household; participation; user groups; participatory forest managemen

Spatially shaped imaginaries of the digital economy

This paper examines spatial imaginaries and their ability to circumscribe and legitimate economic practices mediated by digital technologies, specifically, the practices of digital entrepreneurship. The question is whether alternative imaginaries and typologies of digital entrepreneurship can be included in how we view digital entrepreneurship in order to stimulate new practices and imagined futures. Our case studies of digital entrepreneurs in a number of African cities illustrate that popular and academic spatial imaginaries and discourses, for example those that cast the digital economy as borderless and accessible, do not correspond with the experience of many African entrepreneurs. Furthermore, enacting the metaphoric identities that coincide with these imaginaries and their discourses is a skillset that determines which (and how) actors can participate. They reflect the inherent coloniality of the digital, capitalist discourse. The tendency in the digital economy is to regard the entrepreneur persona, as realistic and global, rather than performative and particular to the Euro-American context in which these personas have originated. Our interviews of 186 digital entrepreneurs demonstrate that digital imaginaries and metaphors cannot be neutral and apolitical. In order to be inclusive, they should evoke a sense of multiplicity, heterogeneity and contingency