Maize production in Kenya is under threat due to infection by maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND). The disease is known to cause intensive complete yield loss. It is caused by a synergistic infection of maize by maize chlorotic mottle virus and sugarcane mosaic virus which are mainly vectored by corn thrips (Frankliniella williamsi, Hood) and corn leaf aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis, Fitch) respectively. This study was carried out with the aim of investigating the following aspects; farme...
Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is an important African staple food crop in the tropics. The crop contains cyanogenic glycosides which can be readily converted to thiocyanate by glycosidases and sulfur transferase enzymes present in the plant or in the animal tissues. Thiocyanate inhibits the uptake of iodine by the iodide pump of the thyroid gland thus acting as a goitrogen which suppresses thyroid function leading to goiter. Goiter increases the risk of thyroid irradiation in the event o...
Salinity affects about 40% of the global area mainly the arid and semi-arid regions. In Kenya the ASALs cover approximately 80% of the total area where agricultural production constraints include water scarcity, salinity and sodicity. Sweetpotato Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.) is the third most economically important root crop after potato and cassava in the world cultivated for human consumption, animal feed and industrial uses. The production of sweetpotato by smallholder farmers in the AS...
An estimated 1.8 billion people in the world use water coming from fecally contaminated sources. This is as a result of 80% of the human generated wastewater ending up in rivers and other reusable water bodies before treatment. The hygienic balance is locally complicated by the fact that 57% of people in informal settlements have no access to basic sanitation, including latrines and toilets. This study sought to evaluate alternative toileting in the name of “Peepoo”, as single use p...
Geothermal energy has become increasingly important around the world for the past few decades. This renewable energy has been utilized for electricity generation in Kenya. Before harnessing and utilizing this energy, survey of the geothermal area must be done. Moinonin has several geothermal manifestations in form of fumaroles, hot altered ground and steaming grounds among others. Even with these geothermal manifestations, gravity survey has not been done in the area. There is need to ex...
ABSTRACT Fish feed protein ingredients are the most expensive and often unavailable in subSaharan Africa especially in commercial aquaculture systems. The major fish feed protein ingredient in fish farming in Kenya is fishmeal (FM) that is often times expensive and adulterated leading to low productivity of fish farming. This problem has necessitated a need for exploring alternative less expensive and easily available protein sources such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). This study aimed...
ABSTRACT Inflammation is a reaction to irritants that causes an injury to the body. Pain is a physical discomfort caused by injury or illness while pyrexia is an increase in body temperature above the normal range (36.5°C–37.5°C). Commonly used conventional drugs against inflammation, pain and pyrexia are effective but due to long term use, these drugs tend to be costly and are associated with adverse side effects. Traditional medicine has been used as an alternative and complementary d...
Medicinal plants contain a wide range of substances that can be used to treat chronic illness as well as infectious diseases. A vast knowledge of how to use the plants against different illnesses may be expected to have accumulated in areas where plants are commonly used. Conventional medicine has created problems due to microbial resistance. This has enhanced the interest in search for natural products with medicinal property. Information on the chemical constituents in herbs aid in dis...
Crude plant products have been widely used by different communities in Africa for pest control. Synthetic insecticides have a number of drawbacks, such as development of genetic resistance, eco-toxicity, negative health effects to users and high cost of application. However, not enough scientific research has been conducted on the efficacy of traditional methods in weevil control, the chemical profiles of plant products and their safety to the users. The bioactivities of the powedered pr...
ABSTRACT Microbial infections constitute a serious problem especially in developing countries. Several antibiotics have been developed but their use is limited due to antimicrobial resistance and emergence of new infections. Several plants have proven to be medicinal and this has necessitated research in the field of phytochemistry aimed at generating more effective antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical properties with respect to antimicrobial effec...
Elastic electron-atom collision data from experimental and theoretical studies is useful in the interpretation of spectra obtained in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy as well as in the Monte Carlo simulation of conduction electrons in solids. In principle the behaviour of an electron-atom collision system is predicted by solving the Schrödinger equation. However this task is far from simple in that the equation can only be solved exactly for a two-body co...
The search for materials for purification of polluted water is growing daily with the advent of nanoparticles. This is particularly important because many populations of people in the developing countries lack clean water due to water pollution. Water pollutants such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known to have adverse effects on humans and environment. This work investigated the potential of synthesized magnetoresponsive CNT-polysulfone infused polymeric nano...
The Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) in East Africa hosts over thirty million inhabitants most of whom are classified as absolutely poor. The food security in the region is manifested in high levels of malnutrition, child mortality and high HIV and AIDS incidents. There is need for food diversifications. Food crops like pumpkins though indigenous in the region have no established position within the major food crops despite their rich nutritional potential and capability to provide a balanced ...
Limited access to safe drinking water and information on water quality in sparsely populated arid and semi-arid regions has contributed to frequent outbreaks of diarheal disease. There is therefore urgent need to determine the bacteriological and physico-chemical quality of water in various sources in these regions. This study was undertaken in order to determine water quality in Wamba Division of Samburu District and to asses the efficacy of plan extracts in purifying water. Bacteriolog...
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by protists of the genus Plasmodium. Malaria is responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates among children under five years and pregnant women. Recent climatic changes leading to global warming has resulted in the emergence of malaria in highlands in Africa where malaria never existed before. In Kenya, highland malaria is very rampant in Nyanza, Gucha District and some parts of Rift Valley province w...