Socio – Economic Baseline Survey For Proposed Mining Of Niobium And Rare Earth Elements At Mrima Hill, Kwale County.

The overall aim of this survey is to provide baseline information on the socio-economic conditions of the communities living in Dzombo Location, the environs of Mrima Hill. The survey seeks to enhance understanding of the livelihood strategies these communities employ in meeting their livelihood needs. It also seeks to improve understanding of the problems they face in their efforts to secure food, education, health and a sustainable living. It further seeks to understand the perceptions of these communities with respect to the economic/livelihood opportunities linked to the proposed mining of Niobium and Rare Earth Elements in Mrima Hill. Background information on Mrima Hill and its environs that was considered to be of socio-economic relevance was obtained from various government offices at Dzombo and Msambweni. Information on the current socio-economic characteristics and conditions was obtained through administration of two sets of questionnaires. One was filled by community leaders while a more detailed one was filled by household heads. The data collected from primary sources was processed with aid of the Statistical Packaged for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Keywords: Socio- Economic Baseline and Niobium plus Rare eart

Sarcoptic mange and cheetah conservation in Masai Mara (Kenya): epidemiological study in a wildlife/livestock system

The sanitary control of threatened wild animals is of pivotal interest for their conservation. This task, however, is highly complex in wildlife/livestock systems. In this paper we report findings from a 2-year cross-sectional study of the epidemiology and attempted control of a Sarcoptes mite infestation in the threatened cheetah population in Masai Mara (Kenya), and discuss its interaction with sympatric wild (lion, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle) and domestic (dog, cattle and sheep) animals. Sarcoptes scabiei was isolated from cheetahs, Thomson's gazelles, wildebeests, lions, cattle, goats and dogs; Psoroptes ovis, on the other hand, was only isolated from sheep. The prevalence study revealed 12·77% infection rates in cheetahs, 4·7% in dogs, 0·8% in Thomson's gazelles, 0·8% in sheep, 0·09% in cattle, and 0·09% in goats, while it opportunistically affected lions and wildebeest. Our study revealed that prevalence of Sarcoptes mite in cheetah population was not associated with the studied geographical blocks, animal sex or the presence of affected domestic animals. Cheetah infection with S. scabiei was associated with the climatic conditions (dry more than wet season) and the balancing between the total number of Thomson's gazelles and the prevalence of infected individuals. Apparently the high prevalence of mangy gazelles has a negative effect on cheetah; this negative effect was reduced when the number of healthy gazelles was increased. Treatment with injectable ivermectin of the clinically affected wild and domestic animals during the first year of this study was associated with much lower incidence of sarcoptic mange during the second yea

Turn-Around Strategy by Kwale International Sugar Company Limited

Turnaround strategic management philosophy revolves around short-term survivability while endeavoring not to compromise longer-term turnaround viability thereafter. The study sought to bring out clearly the strategies employed by Kwale Sugar Company Limited to revamp back to life after having collapsed for a very long period of time. The main objectives of the study included identifying the turnaround strategies adopted by the company and also establish the factors influencing the turnaround process. One of the important strategies included reorganizing, refocusing of the existing team under new leadership, turnaround management consulting support and the extensive support from turnaround interim managers. The study applied a case study since it is a research on one organization targeting senior managers as the respondents. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected using interview guide as data instrument whereas secondary data was collected from the organization brochures, available documents and the web. Data was analyzed using content analysis and findings of the study were analyzed in prose. From the findings of the study, some of the many strategies employed by the Company to revamp back to business included financial restructuring, reorganization, strategic repositioning, modernization and asset reduction. Execution of the turnaround strategy faces immense complexities, pressure of limited time, information and resources, as well as uncertainty about the future which have to be addressed. As a conclusion, the study found out that various strategies need to be applied in plural to have a successful turnaround process. Keywords: Turn-around strategy and survival abilit

The curse of the prey: Sarcoptes mite molecular analysis reveals potential prey-to-predator parasitic infestation in wild animals from Masai Mara, Kenya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recently, there have been attempts to understand the molecular epidemiology of <it>Sarcoptes scabiei</it>, to evaluate the gene flow between isolates of <it>S. scabiei </it>from different hosts and geographic regions. However, to our knowledge, a molecular study has not been carried out to assess the molecular diversity and gene flow of <it>Sarcoptes </it>mite in a predator/prey ecosystem.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our study revealed an absence of gene flow between the two herbivore (Thomson's gazelle and wildebeest)- and between the two carnivore (lion and cheetah)-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>populations from Masai Mara (Kenya), which is in discrepancy with the host-taxon law described for wild animals in Europe. Lion- and wildebeest-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>mite populations were similar yet different from the Thomson's gazelle-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>population. This could be attributed to <it>Sarcoptes </it>cross-infestation from wildebeest ("favourite prey") of the lion, but not from Thomson's gazelle. The cheetah-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>population had different subpopulations: one is cheetah-private, one similar to the wildebeest- and lion-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>populations, and another similar to the Thomson's gazelle-derived <it>Sarcoptes </it>mite population, where both wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle are "favourite preys" for the cheetah.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In a predator/prey ecosystem, like Masai Mara in Kenya, it seems that <it>Sarcoptes </it>infestation in wild animals is prey-to-predator-wise, depending on the predator's "favourite prey". More studies on the lion and cheetah diet and behaviour could be of great help to clarify the addressed hypotheses. This study could have further ramification in the epidemiological studies and the monitoring protocols of the neglected <it>Sarcoptes </it>mite in predator/prey ecosystems.</p

In vitro anthelmintic activity of Albizia gummifera, Crotalaria axillaris, Manilkara discolor, Teclea trichocarpa and Zanthoxylum usambarense using sheep nematodes

Background: Albizia gummifera, Crotalaria axillaris, Manilkara discolor, Teclea trichocarpa and Zanthoxylum usambarense are used to treat different ailments in many parts of the world. For instance, A. gummifera is used to treat stomach pains, malaria, diarrhoea and sleeping sickness while C. axillaris treats ophthalmic disorders and kidney problems. Manilkara discolor stem bark infusion is used to treat stomach disorders and as an astringent while T. trichocarpa has been used to treat malaria, helminth infections and fever. Zanthoxylum usambarense is used to treat rheumatism, backache, painful joints, fever, sore throat, tonsillitis, chest pains, malaria, abscesses and wounds. Objective: The aim was to determine whether the crude plant extracts have in vitro anthelmintic activity. Materials and methods: Different parts of the plants were acquired from Ngong Hills forest, Kajiado County, Kenya in May 2012, dried and macerated to exhaustion with dichloromethane: methanol (1:1, v/v) solution. Nematode eggs (Haemonchus Spp, Trichostrongylus Spp and Oesophagostomum Spp) were obtained from infected sheep rectums at Department of Vet Farm, University of Nairobi based at Kabete. Varying concentrations of water solutions of the dry crude extracts were prepared. Egg hatch (EHA) and larvae development assays (LDA) were used to test the extracts’ effects on nematode egg hatching and larvae development, respectively Results: Albizia gummifera (root bark) and Zanthoxylum usambarense (stem bark) showed high activity (IC50 below 300 μg / mL) in both tests.  Albizia gummifera (root, stem bark and pods), Zanthoxylum usambarense root bark, Crotalaria axillaris twigs and Teclea trichocarpa root and stem bark showed high activity in LDAbut moderate activity (300 μg / mL &lt; IC50 &lt; 500 μg / mL)  in EHA. Teclea trichocarpa twigs showed moderate activity in LDA but low (IC50 &gt; 500 μg / mL) activity in EHA. Manilkara discolor extracts showed low activity in both tests. Conclusion: Different extracts of the plants tested may inhibit nematode growth and development and hence warrant in vivo tests would support their ethnomedicinal application. Key words: Anthelmintic activity, egg hatch, larval development, Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomu

Sarcoptic mange and cheetah conservation in Masai Mara (Kenya): Epidemiological study in a wildlife/livestock system

The sanitary control of threatened wild animals is of pivotal interest for their conservation. This task, however, is highly complex in wildlife/livestock systems. In this paper we report findings from a 2-year cross-sectional study of the epidemiology and attempted control of a Sarcoptes mite infestation in the threatened cheetah population in Masai Mara (Kenya), and discuss its interaction with sympatric wild (lion, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle) and domestic (dog, cattle and sheep) animals. Sarcoptes scabiei was isolated from cheetahs, Thomson's gazelles, wildebeests, lions, cattle, goats and dogs; Psoroptes ovis, on the other hand, was only isolated from sheep. The prevalence study revealed 12·77% infection rates in cheetahs, 4·7% in dogs, 0·8% in Thomson's gazelles, 0·8% in sheep, 0·09% in cattle, and 0·09% in goats, while it opportunistically affected lions and wildebeest. Our study revealed that prevalence of Sarcoptes mite in cheetah population was not associated with the studied geographical blocks, animal sex or the presence of affected domestic animals. Cheetah infection with S. scabiei was associated with the climatic conditions (dry more than wet season) and the balancing between the total number of Thomson's gazelles and the prevalence of infected individuals. Apparently the high prevalence of mangy gazelles has a negative effect on cheetah; this negative effect was reduced when the number of healthy gazelles was increased. Treatment with injectable ivermectin of the clinically affected wild and domestic animals during the first year of this study was associated with much lower incidence of sarcoptic mange during the second year. © Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012.Peer Reviewe