ABSTRACT Adoption of a technology varies from place to place. According to the Rogers Diffusion Theory, most technologies are adopted by farmers if they are perceived to have returns. It is from this view point that this research assessed the role of socioeconomic and environmental factors in the diffusion of the zero grazing (ZG) technology in Samia Sub-County, Kenya. A survey, using a questionnaire and observations was conducted in Lower and Upper Samia. The study employed strata sampling,...
ABSTRACT An assessment of the efficiency of heavy metals removal by a constructed wetland system at Egerton University, Kenya, was conducted between August 2013 and January 2014. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics of wastewater and investigate heavy metals retention in the wetland. Water samples were collected monthly in plastic bottles at the inlet, along the wetland, and at the outlet; sediment samples were collected from the gravel bed and the three ...
ABSTRACT With an ever-increasing global need for sustainable animal protein, agriculturists are turning to aquaculture for an alternative source of protein and revenue. Aquaculture is widely considered as an important component for enhancing food security, income and nutrition. Tilapias are considered as the best species for culture globally and in Kenya, Oreochromis niloticus has shown significant success. However, little is known about the aquaculture potential of Oreochromis jipe. This st...
ABSTRACT Water pans are excavated earth with embankments used as boundaries that are used to harvest surface runoff. Water pans are the main sources of water for domestic purposes in arid and semi-arid lands, however, lack of protection and water treatment of this water sources exposes the dependent communities to human health problems. This study sought to assess the microbiological water quality of water pans in relation to prevalent water-related diseases in the study area. This was achie...
ABSTRACT Accessibility to potable water is a fundamental right for dignity and well-being. In spite of this observation, over 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. This is particularly true in the Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia regions. The main aim of this study was to Assess Water and Sanitation Accessibility and Prevalence of water-related diseases in Marigat town Baringo County, Kenya. The study employed a Cross-sectional household survey. Stratified random sampl...
ABSTRACT In West Africa, artisanal gold mining competes with agriculture, more specifically crop farming and livestock keeping. Mali is not an exceptional to this observation. In Sikasso region, women and youths have been reported to abandon agricultural activities for artisanal gold mining. It is against this background that this study was conducted to assess the factors that influenced households to be engaged in artisanal gold mining, to evaluate its impacts on water quality, subsistence ...
ABSTRACT Lake Baringo waters and sediments are being impacted negatively by metal contaminants sourced from the lake’s watershed posing a human and environmental health concern. The main objective was to determine the concentration of heavy metals cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) in water and sediments, and to characterize sediments in terms of grain size and total organic carbon and relate them to the heavy metal levels encountered at the sampled sites. 5 sites were s...
ABSTRACT East African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata) is a dioecious shrub growing to 1-7 m tall depending on environmental factors and genetic variation. Sandalwood is widely exploited for extraction of oil, which is used in the fragrance, perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. Efforts are being made to domesticate the species in order to reduce pressure from its natural habitat. However, little is known in regard to its ecological factors, range of oil yields and quality across its distri...
ABSTRACT Heavy metal pollution in the environment is a problem experienced all over the world. Whereas heavy metals exist naturally in the environment, heavy metal pollution is associated with anthropogenic activities. Pollution studies reveal that the aquatic ecosystems in Kenya and the fish that inhabit these ecosystems are contaminated with heavy metals. Literature also reveals that exposure to levels of heavy metals above the recommended doses may possibly cause various adverse health ef...
ABSTRACT Nzoia River Drainage Basin is a major sugar production region in Kenya. Various pesticides are applied in this area to control weeds and boost sugar productivity. However, use of herbicides for weed control leads to increased chemical loads in the environment whose effects could be disastrous to the biotic component. The use of pesticide adapted microorganisms in the degradation and detoxification of many toxic xenobiotics, especially pesticides, is an efficient tool for the deconta...
ABSTRACT The truncated ecosystems of the Tana River County are highly vulnerable to climate change and variability due to their low adaptive capacities and high dependence on climate sensitive resources. Inadequacy of long term climate information is a serious constraint for long-term planning for enhanced food security and minimization of the adverse impacts of climate change and variability. This study was motivated by the need to downscale climate information using modelling procedures ba...
ABSTRACT Increase in maternal employment over the past 25 years has led to an increase in reliance on child care for young children from birth to 5 years of age. Non parental child care is now the norm for young children on a regular basis, with at least 44% of infants in child day care for more than 30 hours a week. Economic deprivation has led mothers especially in low income residential areas in Naivasha to return to work soon after delivery and since they do not have enough money to hire...
ABSTRACT The efficiency of the sewage works depends on the quality and quantity of the influent and the design of the sewage works. Inefficiency of the sewage work has adverse health impact to the aquatic ecosystem. Pollutants can bio-accumulate and bio-magnify in the food chain causing health impact to both human being and wildlife. The main objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of wastewater management system of Njoro industrial sewage works. This study used descriptive re...
ABSTRACT FROM SALISBURY TO HARARE : THE GEOGRAPHY OF PUBLIC AUTHORITY FINANCE UNDER CHANGING IDEOLOGICAL CIRCUMSTANCES This study is based on the assumption that money 'powers the urban system'. Its focus is the geography of public finance in Harare and ideologically inspired change in urban management. The context is the changing circumstances attendant upon the transfer of power from minority White settler colonial rule to Black majority rule in Zimbabwe. The ruling ZANU-PF party professed ...
Abstract Background: Heart failure (HF) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality both in the developed and the developing nations. Acute heart failure (AHF) is a syndrome characterized by hospital admission for heart failure as defined by the presence of acute dyspnea and the presence of heart failure signs by physical examination with at least 2 of the following: rales, edema, elevated JVP, hepatomegaly and ascites. AHF can occur de novo or as worsening of symptoms in...