Options for Climate-Smart Agriculture at Kaptumo Site in Kenya

This report identifies and assesses climate-smart agricultural practices through participatory appraisal tools with experts and farmers, as part of the MICCA pilot project in Kaptumo, Kenya. The aim is to highlight and add climate-smart practices within the ongoing development programme which aims to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation with improving livelihoods and productivity of the dairy farming system

The Adoption and Dissemination of Fodder Shrubs in Central Kenya

Conference Paper No. 1

Using a model-based geostatistical approach to design and analyse the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Kenya

BackgroundInfections caused by both Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium are endemic in Kenya, with over six million children at risk. A national school-based deworming programme was launched in 2012 with the goal of eliminating parasitic worms as a public health problem. This study used a model-based geostatistical (MBG) approach to design and analyse the impact of the programme and inform treatment strategy changes for schistosomiasis (SCH).MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 200 schools across 27 counties of Kenya was utilised. The study design, selection of the schools, and analysis followed the MBG approach, which incorporated historical data on treatment, morbidity, and environmental covariates.ResultsThe overall SCH prevalence was 5.0% (95% CI 4.9%–5.2%) and was estimated, with a high predictive probability of 0.999, to be between 1% and< 10%. The predictive probabilities at county level revealed county heterogeneity, with that of four counties estimated to be between 0% and< 1%, that of 20 counties estimated to be between 1% and< 10%, that of two counties estimated to be between 10% and< 20%, and that of one county estimated to be between 20% and< 50%.ConclusionSCH treatment requirements can now be confidently refined based on the World Health Organization’s guidelines. The four counties with prevalences of between 0% and< 1% may consider suspending treatment only in areas (i.e., sub-counties and wards) where the prevalence is< 1%

Socio Economic Factors Influencing Utilization of Seasonal Climate Forecast Among Smallholder Farmers in Semi-Arid Lower Eastern Kenya: A Case of Masinga Sub-County

This paper discusses the influence of socio economic factors influencing utilization of Seasonal Climate Forecasts (SCF) by smallholder farmers in semi-arid lower Eastern Kenya in Masinga Sub County. Questionnaires were administered randomly to a total of 274 respondents in four administrative locations namely; Masinga Central Location, Musumaa Location, Musingini Location, and Katulye Location. Data on socioeconomic factors influencing utilization of climate forecast information was collected using questionnaires. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis and in particular, Pearson correlation was used to test the relationship between socioeconomic characteristic and utilization of SCF. Results established that there exist a positive relationship   between gender, age, education level, income, land size and utilization of seasonal climate forecast (p=.007,p=.000,p=.005,p=.000 and p=.003) respectively. The study concludes that socio economic factors cannot be ignored in dissemination of climate forecast information because they significantly affect utility. If these socio economic factors are observed in the entire process of climate forecasts production, and dissemination there is likelihood of increasing utility of climate forecasts by the households hence reaping benefits of forecasts. This study recommends that, socioeconomic factors be considered in the entire process of forecasts access and dissemination in order to reap benefits of the forecasts. This is because these factors have not been sufficiently prioritized as a fundamental instrument to enhance access and utilization of climate forecasts. Keywords: Lower Eastern Kenya, Perception, Seasonal Climate Forecast, Semi-arid, Smallholder farmers.

An Assessment of the Influence of School Contextual Dynamics on Implementation of English Curriculum in Public Secondary Schools in Nakuru East Sub-county, Nakuru County, Kenya

Schools play a critical role in the implementation of the English curriculum. They ensure that syllabus is adequately covered and that students register impressive academic grades in internal and national examinations. Thus, the purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of school contextual dynamics on the implementation of the English curriculum in public secondary schools in Nakuru East Sub-county, Nakuru County, Kenya. The objectives were: to investigate the influence of teachernbsp factors on implementation of English curriculum in public secondary schools, examine the influence of instructional resources on implementation of English curriculum in public secondary schools, establish the influence of studentsrsquo characteristics on implementation of English curriculum in public secondary schools and find out the influence of the school community support on implementation of English curriculum in public secondary schools in Nakuru East Sub-county. The study was guided by the Ecological Systems, the Modern Cognitive and the Curriculum Implementation Theories. The study applied mixed methods approach and explanatory sequential design which involved collecting, analyzing, and mixing both quantitative and qualitative methods. Questionnaires were used to collect data from students whereas interview schedules were used to collect data from teachers and principals. Data analysis began by identifying common themes from the respondentsrsquo description of their experiences. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically along the objectives and presented in narrative forms whereas quantitative data was analyzed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation and inferentially using ANOVA Test Analysis and presented using tables. The study established that teacher factors, instructional resources, school characteristics and school community influence implementation of English curriculum in public secondary schools. Thus, the study recommends that English teachers should undertake refresher courses to acquire emerging strategies on how to implement English curriculum. Schools should ensure availability of suitable, relevant and appropriate teaching and learning resources. Schools should provide opportunities which allow students to interact with colleagues to acquire new approaches of studying English. The Ministry of Education should provide adequate funding coupled with timely disbursement to enable school administrators procure resources for implementation of English curriculum

The adoption and dissemination of fodder shrubs in Central Kenya

Includes bibliographical referencesAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:6077. 203637(no 131) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

A case for implementation of adult pneumococcal vaccine program in Africa: review and expert opinion

Vaccines are considered as a therapeutic area for children; the scientific community focuses mainly on managing chronic disease when it comes to adults. There currently is an increase in the burden of vaccine preventable illnesses in adults. Adult vaccination has been shown to dramatically increase the health and quality of life of older populations. Therefore, adult vaccinations need to be approached as a public health issue, similar to smoking cessation programs, for example. According to the Kenya Non-Communicable Diseases and injuries poverty commission report, 2018. Kenya has a high percentage of disability adjusted life years (DALYs) from communicable diseases at 63%, while non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contribute 30% of the DALYs. Specific to pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) in adults, the Global burden of disease (GBD) study in 2016 found that 2,377,697 people of all ages died from lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in 2016. Of these, more people died from Streptococcus pneumonia(SP) than from all other studied respiratory pathogens combined. While the incidence of LRTIs in children under five years old was reducing, partly as a result of well-established vaccination programs in children, the incidence, morbidity and mortality of PP was increasing in older populations. The expert recommendations included the following; i) all individuals 65 years of age and above, and individuals with a predisposing comorbidity regardless of age, should receive the pneumococcal vaccine; ii) several systemic modules can be emulated from the successful childhood vaccines programs onto an adult vaccine program; iii) formulation of an effective vaccine program will require collaboration from the public, the government, healthcare providers, and the media, to create awareness; iv) stakeholders who need to be involved in vaccine policy development and implementation include medical professional associations, nurses, pharmacists, clinical officers, payers (private and public insurances), government, medical learning institutions and faith-based medical organizations