Evaluation of land and vegetation degradation indicators in Kiang'ombe Landscape, Mbeere North, Kenya

Land and vegetation degradation is mainly driven by inappropriate land use which mainly results from use of inadequate technologies and rapid increase of human population. Climate variability and change have also exacerbated the land and vegetation degradation problem. This study was undertaken to provide a valuable tool for assessing land and vegetation degradation risk and analyzing the effectiveness of various woodland rehabilitation practices. This was undertaken through integration of local and scientific techniques in Kiang’ombe landscape, Mbeere North in Kenya. The methods used included; Focus Group Discussions (FGD), key informant interviews with local community and vegetation data collection. Sample plots were laid to characterize and enumerate vegetation along degradation gradient. Major land degradation drivers prioritized by local people were overgrazing (70%), soil erosion (65%), unsustainable charcoal production (55%) wildfires (30%), and uncontrolled sand harvesting (20%). Major land and vegetation degradation indicators identified by local community were; reduced vegetation cover (75%), loss of soil fertility (70%) and low water discharge form springs (53%). Results on vegetation data revealed a significant difference in stocking density and tree diversity along degradation gradient (p<0.05). Protea gaugedi was identified as wildfire tolerant tree species due to its high occurrence in fire prone areas. In addition, Croton macrostachyus, Acacia hockii and Faurea saligna were prioritized tree species for rehabilitation of degraded areas. The study recommends integration of scientific and local knowledge during monitoring of woodland degradation and assessing the impact of rehabilitation interventions.Keywords: Local knowledge, woodland, land degradation gradient, rehabilitation, Kiang'ombe landscap

Determinants of the Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis among Neurotrauma Patients at a Referral Hospital in Kenya: Findings and Implications

Background: Surgical site infections can occur adding to morbidity, mortality and costs, and can be particularly problematic in low and middle income countries. This includes infections in neurosurgical patients following surgery despite antimicrobial prophylaxis. The study aimed at measuring the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) and identifying factors that influence the effectiveness of antimicrobial prophylaxis in a leading hospital in Kenya. Methods: Prospective cohort study from April to July 2015 in the Neurosurgical ward of a leading referral hospital in Kenya. Adult head injury patients were recruited by universal sampling. Data was collected on prophylactic antibiotics and the occurrence of SSIs. Risk factors for infection were identified by logistic regression. Results: Eighty four patients were recruited, with 69 patients eventually analysed. Incidence of SSIs was 37.7% (n=26). The most common antibiotic used for prophylaxis was ceftriaxone. Patients on prophylaxis were less likely to be infected than those who did not receive prophylaxis; however, this was not statistically significant (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.40-1.893). The presence of epidural haematoma was a risk factor for the development of SSIs (Crude RR 2.456, 95% CI 1.474-4.090). Overall, antimicrobial prophylaxis was effective only in patients who underwent evacuation of hematoma by craniotomy (risk reduction, 62.5% (CI, 29.0% -96.0%). Conclusion: Evacuation of haematomas through craniotomy increased the effectiveness of prophylaxis, and should be considered in the future. The rationale will be explored further to see if antibiotic prophylaxis can reduce SSIs in other patients with neuro trauma

A comparison of two sampling methods for surveying mammalian herbivore impacts on beetle communities in the canopy of Acacia drepanolobium in Kenya

Even though several methods are used to sample and monitor canopy arthropods, there are no studies to indicate which of these methods is more effective.We compared the efficacy of the beating and canopy fogging methods in collecting beetles that inhabit Acacia drepanolobium (Harms) tree canopies at Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia district, Kenya. These trees grow naturally on the black cotton soils of the Laikipia ecosystem, accounting for more than 98%of the overstorey at the study site, and are important for local cattle and wildlife production. The ultimate objective of this study was to determine the effect of differential grazing and browsing pressure from large mammalian herbivores on the beetle communities of A. drepanolobium. Seven hundred and twenty trees 1.0–2.5 m tall were sampled using each method, making a total of 1440 trees. Sampling using the two methods was done concurrently and repeated quarterly over a period of 14 months. In total, 4320 individuals were collected, 1456 by beating and 2864 by fogging. The methods jointly yielded beetle specimens from 13 families and 55 morphospecies. Fogging collected significantly more beetle morphospecies than beating, and there was a significant interaction effect between method and sampling date. We found that numerically Anthicidae and Curculionidae responded positively to the presence of cattle.We also found that Anthicidae sp. A and Myllocerus sp. A numbers significantly increased in plots where livestock were grazed

Local Understandings of Soil Fertility, Rainfall and Conservation Agriculture in Laikipia, Kenya: A Qualitative Analysis.

Conservation Agriculture (CA) is mostly referred to in the literature as having three principles at the core of its identity: minimum soil disturbance, permanent organic soil cover and crop diversity. This farming package has been described as suitable to improve yields and livelihoods of smallholders in semi-arid regions of Kenya, which since the colonial period have been heavily subjected to tillage. Our study is based on a qualitative approach that followed local meanings and understandings of soil fertility, rainfall and CA in Ethi and Umande located in the semi-arid region of Laikipia, Kenya. Farm visits, 53 semistructured interviews, informal talks were carried out from April to June 2015. Ethi and Umande locations were part of a resettlement programme after the independence of Kenya that joined together people coming from different farming contexts. Since the 1970–80s, state and NGOs have been promoting several approaches to control erosion and boost soil fertility. In this context, CA has also been promoted preferentially since 2007. Interviewees were well acquainted with soil erosion and the methods to control it. Today, rainfall amount and distribution are identified as major constraints to crop performance. Soil fertility is understood as being under control since farmers use several methods to boost it (inorganic fertilisers, manure, terraces, agroforestry, vegetation barriers). CA is recognised to deliver better yields but it is not able to perform well under severe drought and does not provide yields as high as ‘promised’ in promotion campaigns. Moreover, CA is mainly understood as “cultivating with chemicals”, “kulima na dawa”, in kiswahili. A dominant view is that CA is about minimum tillage and use of pre-emergence herbicides. It is relevant to reflect about what kind of CA is being promoted and if elements like soil cover and crop rotation are given due attention. CA based on these two ideas, minimum tillage and use of herbicides, is hard to stand as a programme to be promoted and up-scaled. Therefore CA appears not to be recognised as a convincing approach to improve the livelihoods in Laikipia

Assessment of phenotypes, physiological and behavioural responses associated with heat tolerance among Galla goats in North Eastern Kenya.

Galla goats have great adaptation vigor to different environments. However, the outcomes of the ongoing climate change have subjected livestock including the Galla goats to harsh environmental conditions like high ambient temperatures. In this study, Galla goats were characterized in the selected areas based on phenotypic, physiological, and behavioural responses to high environmental temperature. One hundred and forty-nine Galla goats selected from Isiolo, Garissa and Tana River were scored for various features such as coat colour, horn colour, skin colour, horn shape, horn length, ear orientation, ear length, wattles and horn circumference. Data collected were entered in an excel spread sheet then analyzed in R statistical software version 4.0.4. White was found to be the dominant coat colour with a percentage frequency greater than 60.0% in the studied counties. The study revealed that both male and female Galla goats possess horns with more than 88.9% of goats being horned across the three counties. There was a strong relationship between horn presence and the environmental temperature with p=0.05. A positive correlation was also observed between environmental temperature and rectal temperature, horn length, ear length and horn circumference. The findings show the presence of an important gene pool from which guidelines on conservation of heat stress phenotypes as a result of the ongoing climate change can be put in place

Formulation and evaluation of ibuprofen gel using a natural polymer

Prolonged oral use of ibuprofen for chronic conditions such as arthritis may cause peptic ulcer disease. Topical gel formulations have been developed to overcome this shortcoming. An immediate release formulation of ibuprofen would find application as a transdermal patch for management of chronic inflammatory conditions. In our study, a topical ibuprofen gel was found to have a better release profile for the active pharmaceutical ingredient than the marketed brand.Keywords: Ibuprofen, gel, immediate release, peptic ulcer diseas

Designing Dialogues for Complexities with Marginalised Youth: Processes and Tools

Culture, lifestyles, resources and conditions offered by complex realities create challenges, but also ignite opportunities for a meaningful dialogue between the facilitators and marginalised youth that enable empathy, learning and empowerment. We propose a dialogue model that has helped to identify opportunities to motivate and potentially empower the youth to be/become involved in the service innovation and local dialogue with the stakeholders. Through a case study, we demonstrate how we apply this model while working with indigenous San youth in vocational training or higher education courses in Windhoek, Namibia. By taking into account the complexities, tools adapted and developed for enhancing dialogue are introduced. Reflections are made on both the outcomes and the ways that designers restructure their roles as facilitators to enable peer-to-peer exchanges, ongoing dialogues with the youth, and potentially catalyse a transformative process in unlocking situated knowledge, developing skills and capacities of the youth who are part of the fabric of change

In and out of place: correspondence as a means to understand and redesign complexity

New methods are needed to understand, visualise and work around complexities of socially oriented design research and practice. This chapter reflects upon the experiences of researchers undertaking work for a research and innovation staff exchange project and makes use of a lens of critical complexity to determine scenarios that frame the project’s significant moments. The chapter discusses complexities that are related to project work in three scenarios – institution, individual and activity – and reveals how these complexities were experienced and related to in the case of the project Participatory Tools for Human Development with the Youth (PARTY). As an outcome, the chapter presents the people, objectives and methods (POM) framework, a method for identifying and understanding the challenges that complexities can present to designers as they aim to grasp what is to be – in place, out of place and in place with others

A Policy Brief on Adopting the Somali Camel for Enhanced Profitability and Pastoral Resilience in Northern Kenya

Persistent drought and high temperatures in Isiolo and Marsabit counties of northern Kenya repeatedly devastate livestock herds particularly cattle making the pastoralists less resilient, more vulnerable to climate change and poor. To address this challenge, an IGAD funded project promoted adoption of Somali camel breed, trained farmers on improved management and also estimated potential profitability of rearing the camel. Through the project, trainers were trained and facilitated to train 240 peri-urban Somali camel producers in Isiolo and Marsabit on breeding, health, routine husbandry and marketing. Impact study documenting positive stories of change was conducted at the end. Producers who hitherto made zero money from their camels were making KES. 42,000 a month from sale of 20 litres of milk daily from only 5 milking camels; producers had adopted a new grazing management strategy that ensured daily access of the camel milk market and conservation of grazing areas around settlements; motor bikes had been adopted as means delivering milk to collection centers thus creating jobs for the youth; the beneficiary producers were spending more money on production inputs. In terms of policy, the county governments of Isiolo and Marsabit need to appreciate the huge business potential in Somali camel rearing and the magnitude of positive change that can be brought about by capacity training of producers on improved camel management technologies and agree to allocate more funds in support of livestock production extension services

A study of drug use in five urban centres in Kenya

Few studies have addressed the reasons for substance use in Kenya, with most focusing on prevalence rates in school-based and general population samples. None have been carried out among people already using drugs. This study, based on five samples of drug users, aimed to identify patterns of factors contributing to and consequences of substance use; compare socio-demographic characteristics; document help-seeking behaviours of substance abusers as well as their family and social dynamics. Active or former substance abusers (N =1,420) were interviewed using a structured questionnaire format. The peak age for substance abuse was between 21 and 30 years and most abusers were male. Leisure, stress and peer pressure were the most common reasons given for abusing substances. There were negative economic and work-related impacts of abusing substances. Risky sexual behaviour may have been a consequenc of abusing substances. Substance abusers need assistance as most of them could benefit from programmes for treatment and rehabilitation. Keywords: substance abuse, Kenya, urban, peri-urba