“Nappy Hair, Don’t Care”: Storytelling Through Strands

There is a Kiswahili phrase that goes “intelligence/the mind is like hair, everyone has their own’. Following that logic, how Kenyan women relate to their hair is unique to the individual yet there remains collective and shared experiences. The questions that I raise throughout the paper explore: 1) how images and narratives of hair throughout Kenyan history have influenced the way women today understand how they interact with their hair, 2) the ways Kenyan women are taught about hair grooming and the journey of learning to care for their hair, and 3) Kenyan women’s understanding of their hair and how it relates to ideas of beauty, presentability, and naturalness. Whether a person\u27s hair is worn in its natural state, chemically or temporarily straightened, loc’ed, or in a protective style, carries implications for how they may be read or treated by others depending on the setting. This paper also examines how hair carries meaning, messages, and simultaneously is a site where meaning is construed. By utilising an autoethnographic approach and drawing from various archival resources, I weave my experiences with that of the various interlocutors I interviewed to present an exploration of the continuing politics of hair within Kenya and how it affects Black women

Institutional stakeholders' perceptions of a sustainable neighbourhood in metropolitan Lagos

Understanding the term urban sustainability continues to dominate discourse in the built environment as societies explore how cities can be considered sustainable. Due to the increasing rate of urbanization, scholars argue that the battle for sustainability will be won or lost in cities; recognizing the crucial role that neighbourhoods can play as building blocks of urban areas. However, while the context-specificity of the several approaches to sustainability at the neighbourhood level has been recognised, no single accepted understanding of a sustainable neighbourhood has emerged. This paper explores institutional stakeholders’ understanding of a sustainable neighbourhood using questionnaire data from metropolitan Lagos. This aligns with the critical realism philosophical stance which believes that knowledge can be sourced through the perception of people with respect to an underlying structure based on their reality. The findings show variations in the perceptions with institutions having similar responsibilities differing in their understanding of the concept. It was unclear why a single common understanding was missing and why certain elements were more emphasised than others even in institutions having similar roles. Further research should explore the mechanisms at play in influencing these understandings and how they may differ in various urban contexts in Sub-Sahara Africa

Nutritional diversity of leafy amaranth species grown in Kenya

Objectives: Despite the availability of many species of amaranth in Kenya, there is inadequate information on their nutritional diversity and how they can be best used in mitigation of malnutrition. Hence, this study was aimed at investigating the nutritional diversity of five leafy amaranth species grown in Kenya. Methodology and results: Amaranth vegetables were harvested 5-6 weeks after planting. They were analyzed for their nutritional and phytochemical content using standard methods. Moisture content was lowest in A.cruentus (79.29±1.26%). A.cruentus had the highest protein (4.37 ±0.02%).The fat content of A.hybridus (2.53±0.06%) and A.hypochodriacus (2.63±0.11%) was significantly higher than the other species. The crude fibre content (3.01±0.29%) was similar in all the species. A.dubius had the highest calcium (336.47±0.9mg/100g) and iron (18.64±0.23mg/100g) while A.cruentus was highest in zinc content (1.67±0.03mg/100g).The total phenols content was highest in A.cruentus (3.59±0.01GAE/100mg).Catechins were highest in A.cruentus (7.15±0.63CE/100mg) while quercetin was highest in A.cruentus (14.28±0.86QE/100mg). Conclusion and application of results: More than 50% of the Kenyan population live below the poverty line and lack access to adequate food. The food available food is of poor nutritional value, this causes malnutrition and other nutritional disorders. There is therefore a need to identify nutrient-rich foods that can be produced inexpensively to meet the nutrient requirements of everyone and especially the vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, children and the elderly. Amaranth is drought tolerant, grows fast and is easily cultivated. This study indicates that the Amaranth species found in Kenya are a good source of key nutrients, which can be used in mitigation of malnutrition. A.dubius is a superior source of calcium and iron and can help curb the micronutrient deficiencies in Kenya, while A.cruentus is a superior source of protein and phytochemicals which are important in reducing the risk of chronic diseases which are so rampant in Kenya today.Keywords: A. dubius; A. hybridus and A. cruentus; A. albus and A. hypochondriacus; Nutrient

Molecular epidemiology of human rhinovirus infections in Kilifi, coastal Kenya

This study reports pediatric surveillance over 3 years for human rhinovirus (HRV) at the District Hospital of Kilifi, coastal Kenya. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from children presenting at outpatient clinic with no signs of acute respiratory infection, or with signs of upper respiratory tract infection, and from children admitted to the hospital with lower respiratory tract infection. Samples were screened by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) and classified further to species by nucleotide sequencing of the VP4/VP2 junction. Of 441 HRV positives by real-time RT-PCR, 332 were classified to species, with 47% (155) being HRV-A, 5% (18) HRV-B, and 48% (159) HRV-C. There was no clear seasonal pattern of occurrence for any species. The species were present in similar proportions in the inpatient and outpatient sample sets, and no significant association between species distribution and the severity of lower respiratory tract infection in the inpatients could be determined. HRV sequence analysis revealed multiple but separate clusters in circulation particularly for HRV-A and HRV-C. Most HRV-C clusters were distinct from reference sequences downloaded from GenBank. In contrast, most HRV-A and HRV-B sequences clustered with either known serotypes or strains from elsewhere within Africa and other regions of the world. This first molecular epidemiological study of HRV in the region defines species distribution in accord with reports from elsewhere in the world, shows considerable strain diversity and does not identify an association between any species and disease severity

Incorporating an Environmental Management Plan in Water Utilities Management Systems to Reduce Water Loss; Case of Non-Revenue Water in Kisumu City, Kenya

One of the biggest issues facing water utilities is the water loss experienced during the distribution process. This study sought to examine water distribution process in Kisumu and formulate an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to minimize water loss and mitigate their negative environmental impacts. A qualitative research approach and a case study research design were employed where 25 participants from Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company (KIWASCO) were interviewed in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Content analysis of the data collected indicated that water quality and quantity were greatly affected by water loss and the problems associated with them included water pollution due to introduction of contaminants when leakages or pipe bursts occur and water scarcity where the water utility was unable to make up for the amount of water lost. Water abstraction technique was also identified as a vital factor that determines how much water is lost even before it gets into the distribution system. Land/soil, socioeconomic and political environment were also some of the factors identified as they form the backbone of a functional EMP. The research concluded that as much as KIWASCO has a strategic plan to minimize these water losses, the goal entirely focuses on doing so for economic gains and not to address the associated negative environmental impacts hence the recommendation that there is need to incorporate an EMP in their management systems that will not only ensure high revenue generation but also guarantee the conservation of the said water resource to achieve environmental excellence

High case fatality cholera outbreak in Western Kenya, August 2010

Introduction: Cholera is a disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera and has been an important public health problem since its first pandemic in 1817. Kenya has had numerous outbreaks of cholera ever since it was first detected there during 1971. In August 2010 an outbreak of cholera occurred in Kuria West District spreading to the neighboring Migori District. We conducted an investigation in order to determine the magnitude of the problem and institute control measures. Methods: In order to update the line lists we reviewed records in Migori and Kuria district hospitals and conducted active case search in the community between 30th August and 6th September 2010. Data was analyzed using Epi- Info 3.5.2. Results: A total of 114 cases and with 10 deaths (Case Fatality Rate = 9%) were documented. The index case was an 80 years old woman from Mabera Division who had hosted a cultural marriage ceremony a day before the outbreak. The mean age of case patients was 34.5 years (Standard Deviation=23.4) with a range 5 to 80 years. Females accounted for 61.4% of cases; people aged 10-39 years accounted 46.9%, those 40-69 years accounted for 29.2% and those above 70 years accounted for 9.7% of the cases. Sixty percent of deaths occurred among patients aged 50 years and over, case fatality rate was highest in this age group (16.7%) followed by those aged 40-49 years (12.5%), 20-29 years (10%) and 10-19 years (4.8%). The outbreak was confirmed within 2 weeks of onset after one (16.7%) of the six samples taken tested positive for V. cholera (serotype Inaba).Conclusion: High case fatality rate and late laboratory confirmation was noted in this outbreak. There was urgent need to capacity build the districts on cholera case management, outbreak management, and equip the Migori District Hospital laboratory to allow prompt confirmation.Key words: Outbreak, Kuria West, choler

A PV-battery-powered 12V gas membrane with wood desiccants for postharvest hermetic grain storage

Around half of agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa is 'lost' or 'wasted' due to lack of an available market, poor handling at postharvest (methods and technology), and through poor road access. Effective postharvest processing is critical to ensure small producers best access local markets in nearby villages. This chapter explores small portable (renewable energy-powered, oil-less) compressors and high-pressure gas membrane technology as technical zero-emission alternatives to selectively purge seed and grain storage systems. The gas membrane uses inert and non-toxic gasses (including nitrogen) which are effective in preventing production loss to pests (fungus, insects, and others) by use of physical and environmental barriers only (i.e., no chemical fumigants) to reduce conducive conditions (especially moisture). Furthermore, the use of simple dry wood desiccants may be also a cost-effective solution for moisture management in sealed seed and grain storage. This chapter demonstrates that while proprietary gas membrane technology is expensive for sub-Saharan African smallholders, commercial arrangements (including generic drug provision at cost) may create a viable tool and foster food security by improved storage for various production conditions under variable climate

Methodologies of the 4-beaches Survey and Stakeholder Workshops

As it is clearly indicated in the title of this book section, it overviews the methodologies used in the 4-beaches Survey and in the various Stakeholders' Workshops held in all the three riparian countries of the Lake Victoria

Morphological diversity of Kenyan papaya germplasm

Papaya is one of the major fruit crops of the tropical regions of the world. It shows considerable phenotypic variation in morphological and horticultural traits that can be utilized in its genetic improvement. In Kenya, wide range of papaya germplasm exists and has not been characterized. Therefore, there is difficulty in differentiating the papaya accessions in the different regions of Kenya. Characterization of papaya germplasm is normally accomplished by use of morphological descriptors, hence as a first step, a germplasm collection from within Kenya was gathered and its morphological diversity was assessed. The papaya germplasm was collected from Coast, Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, Eastern and Central provinces of Kenya and characterized in the field using morphological descriptors based on fruit, flower, stem and leaf characteristics. The morphological characters were recorded andmorphological data from sixty accessions were submitted to principal component and Neighbor- Joining cluster analysis. Accessions from Coastal, Western, Rift Valley and Nyanza provinces showed the widest morphological diversity with those from Eastern and Central provinces showing the least diversity. Fruit shape, fruit diameter, tree habit, leaf size and flower color showed the greatest variation in principal component analysis. The high diversity observed within the accessions points to ample possibilities of obtaining desirable trait combinations in specific cultivars.Keywords: Kenya, papaya, germplasm, morphological characterizatio