Linking Research to Development in Pastoral Communities of Northern Kenya: Recent Experiences and Key Findings in Participatory Research Approaches

Over 50% of Kenya\u27s land mass is arid. The mainstay of the local economies of these areas is nomadic pastoralism. Arable agriculture is limited to the few oases and mountain zones. Due to the harsh climate, there are few alternative livelihood options available to the local communities of mostly herders. Efforts to improve agricultural productivity have often been hampered by low adoption of available technologies. This low adoption is linked to many factors, notably the non-involvement of the stakeholders in the research process and the weak linkage between research and extension. To address these shortcomings, new approaches were tested with the aim of improving acceptability and use of agricultural technologies and knowledge in a pastoral community of northern Kenya

Neighbor removal increases forager longevity, slows progression through temporal castes (Pogonomyrmex badius)

Sustainability standards like Fair Trade (FT) or Utz certified (Utz) are widely regarded as a promising way of improving smallholder coffee farmer welfare. As yet, the impact of certification remains poorly understood. This chapter presents the findings of the study regarding the impact of FT and Utz in Kenya. The study was carried out in the Kiambu and Nyeri districts of Kenya (Figure 3.1). The study is based on two waves of data collection carried out in 2009 and 2013 with farmers belonging to six cooperative societies: Ndumberi, Tekangu, Kiambaa, Mikari, Rugi and Kiama. This chapter aims to answer the following central research question: What is the impact of FT/Utz involvement at producer and producer organisation level in Kenya

Exploring the barriers to health care and psychosocial challenges in cervical cancer management in Kenya

Mariah Ngutu, Isaac K Nyamongo Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies (IAGAS), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya Abstract: Cervical cancer is the most frequent cancer among women aged between 15 years and 44 years in Kenya, resulting in an estimated 4,802 women being diagnosed with cervical cancer and 2,451 dying from the disease annually. It is often detected at its advanced invasive stages, resulting in a protracted illness upon diagnosis. This qualitative study looked at the illness trajectories of women living with cervical cancer enrolled for follow-up care at Kenyatta National Hospital cancer treatment center and the Nairobi Hospice, both in Nairobi county, Kenya. Using the qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through 18 in-depth interviews with women living with cervical cancer between April and July 2011. In-depth interviews with their caregivers, key informant interviews with health care workers, and participant observation field notes were used to provide additional qualitative data. These data were analyzed based on grounded theory’s inductive approach. Two key themes on which the data analysis was then anchored were identified, namely, psychosocial challenges of cervical cancer and structural barriers to quality health care. Findings indicated a prolonged illness trajectory with psychosocial challenges, fueled by structural barriers that women were faced with after a cervical cancer diagnosis. To address issues relevant to the increasing numbers of women with cervical cancer, research studies need to include larger samples of these women. Also important are studies that allow in-depth understanding of the experiences of women living with cervical cancer. Keywords: qualitative, illness trajectories, women, cervical cance

Gender and sociocultural factors in animal source foods (ASFs) access and consumption in lower-income households in urban informal settings of Nairobi, Kenya

Background Gender shapes household decision-making and access for nutritious diets, including animal source foods (ASFs) that impact on child health and nutrition status. However, research shows that the poorest households in the urban informal settlements of Nairobi have low ASFs consumption. This study was conducted to explore further from a qualitative perspective the gender, sociocultural factors affecting household ASF consumption this study. Methods To explore further on the topic of study, an exploratory qualitative study was carried out to establish the factors that influence access, allocation and consumption of animal source foods (ASFs) by households in urban informal settings of Nairobi. Nineteen focus group discussions with men and women were conducted to enable in-depth exploration of ASFs consumption. Results Gender influences decision-making of household ASFs dietary intake. Gendered power dynamics prevail with men as breadwinners and household heads often determining the food access and consumption of ASFs. Women are increasingly accessing short-term waged-based incomes in urban informal settings and now play a role in food and nutrition security for their households. This enforces the idea that women’s decision-making autonomy is an important aspect of women empowerment, as it relates to women’s dietary diversity and subsequently, better household nutritional status. As evidenced in this study, if a woman has bargaining power based on accessing incomes to support their household food needs, she will not jeopardize food security. The mobile digital money platform was key in enabling access to resources to access food. Use of trust to access food on credit and purchasing smaller packaged quantities of food were also enablers to access of food/ASFs

Consumer perceptions of food safety in animal source foods choice and consumption in Nairobi’s informal settlements

Background Animal-source foods (ASFs) are high-quality nutrient-dense products key to reducing stunting and micronutrient deficiencies. However, their consumption among the poorest households in urban informal settlements is low. Several drivers beyond price, including health considerations have been reported to drive ASF choice and consumption among consumers. This current study explores consumer perceptions of food safety associated with animal source foods (ASFs) consumption in urban informal settlements with a view to unpacking the health considerations driving their choice and consumption. Methods Coupled households with children 6–59 months formed the study sample. The Food Environments Working Group (FEWG) Framework of the Agriculture and Nutrition for Health academy (ANH) was used to guide the study which utilized qualitative methods namely, 60 in-depth interviews (IDIs), 19 focus group discussions, and 19 key informant interviews (KIIs) complemented by unstructured observations. Data were transcribed and analysed according to emerging themes. Results Consumer perceptions of food safety are driven by concerns about food production, processing, handling, storage and the health risks associated with consumption of the ASFs. For all the ASFs, lack of traceability of source, unhygienic environments in which they were sold and health risks around consuming too much or improperly cooked products were key perceptions from the community. To mitigate against food safety risks, consumers used strategies such as boiling the ASFs, purchasing their products from trusted retailers, avoiding vendors in unhygienic environments and reducing the amount and frequency of consumption of ASFs or totally avoiding their consumption. These consumer perceptions are increasingly influencing the ASFs choice and consumption in low-income populations besides other drivers. Notably, given limited incomes that influence their purchasing power and the need for nutritious diets that included ASFs, the dilemma of quality vis-a-vis quantity persists and consumers still accessed and consumed these ASF products to supplement their diets. Conclusions To enhance food safety for ASFs, as well as assure consumer access to safe ASFs from informal markets, there is need to contextualize the value chain as informed by consumer perceptions on food safety as these influence their ASFs choice and consumption

Participatory Evaluation of Pulse Crop Suitability to Mountain and Oasis Zones of Northern Kenya

The biophysical and climatic characteristics of the arable pockets of northern Kenya are different from other arable parts of the country. The mountain and oasis areas of northern Kenya, where crop farming is practiced are characterized by heterogeneity. The suitable pulse crops for these zones are not well understood, which has led to promotion of pulse varieties which are not suitable in mountain and oasis areas of northern Kenya. This study evaluated pulse varieties in these regions. Beans, cowpeas and green grams were tried in mountains, foot slopes and lowlands areas of northern Kenya. The focuses of the study were the crop yields, communities’ preference and gross margins. For yield comparison experimentation, a randomized complete block design was done and data analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). To gauge community preference, pair-wise ranking was used. Gross margins were determined from total inputs and outputs. Results showed that all pulses performed best in irrigated lowland and mountains, with no significant difference between lowlands and mountains. Foot slopes performed poorest across pulses. Beans were highest yielding while green grams were lowest yielding across sites. Cowpeas and green grains were affected severely by sucking pest mainly aphids especially in foot slopes and irrigated lowlands. Across the sites, beans were most popular mostly due to their better marketability, locally and outside. Green grams had the highest gross margins despite having the lowest yield. It is concluded that in areas of lowlands and mountains, all the three pulses are viable crops and should be pursued. Bean pulse is recommended for food security and green grams are recommended for commercialization across the sites