ABSTRACT Assessing the rate at which ICTs utilization was being used to enhance the performance of the institution (University of Kabianga) in Kericho County Kenya, was the main reason for carrying out this research project with the aim of focusing on the four variables namely: ICT infrastructure, ICT proficiency, ICT integration and ICT management supports. The problem has been that our universities have been investing so much in ICT and yet the added value of it has not been realized in ter...
ABSTRACT Maize (Zea mays L.) is the world third most important cereal crop after rice and wheat. It can been used as fodder crop, food crop for human consumptions, also used as raw material for manufacture of sweetener, starch and biofuel. However, tropical maize breeding is faced by many challenges which are biotic, abiotic and most genotypes are recalcitrant and genotype dependent. In this study, two tropical coastal maize genotypes SC DUMA 43 and DHO4, were evaluated for embryogenesis and...
ABSTRACT Extreme habitats are increasingly being recognized as sources of secondary metabolites which provide an encouraging source for development of novel natural pharmaceuticals. Saline and hot water lakes are now becoming appreciated as rich and untapped reservoirs of extremophilic microorganisms with previously uncharacterized functions. Bacilli, a large homogeneous group of bacteria that survive in a wide range of environmental conditions, is one such microorganism. Formation of resist...
ABSTRACT Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by blood-dwelling flukes of the genus Schistosoma transmitted through freshwater snails. While the disease affects as many as 249 million people worldwide, treatment largely relies on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ), which is extremely effective against all schistosome species known to infect humans, it is welltolerated in the body, making it suitable for mass treatment campaigns. The near exclusive use of this drug for...
ABSTRACT Groundnut or peanut (Arachis hypogae L.) is one of the principal economic oilseed legumes and is largely cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world. It is an upright or prostrate annual plant. Groundnut contributes significantly to household food security and cash income through the sale of the seeds and also provides a valuable source of proteins, fats, energy and minerals. Developing countries account for nearly 95% of the world production. Groundnu...
ABSTRACT Dumping of urban, industrial and agricultural wastewater has impacted negatively on the water quality of Lake Victoria. A number of studies have documented pollution in the Lake but several gaps have been identified. Firstly, the focus has been on urban catchment areas and so information on rural areas is missing. Additionally, information on the effects of seasonal variation is limited. Also that individual studies are focused on either the physical, chemical or microbial quality bu...
ABSTRACT Groundnuts also known as peanut (Arachis hypongaea L.) and ‘njugu karanga ’locally is one of the principle economic oilseed and is largely cultivated in warm regions of Kenya. Groundnut contributes significantly to domestic food security and cash revenue through the sale of the seeds. The study aimed at evaluating genetic diversity and phenotypic characterization of groundnut varieties grown in some parts of Kenya. Thirty genotypes each from six varieties (ICG83708, ICGV99568, C...
ABSTRACT Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a tropical root crop that serves as a staple food and a vital source of income to small holder farmers in the tropics. Despite its contribution to food security, cassava production and utilization is faced by several challenges that include post-harvest physiological deterioration, insect and disease susceptibilities and accumulation of cyanogenic glycosides. Cassava crop improvement by conventional breeding has failed to address these constrain...
ABSTRACT Instructional media has gained prominence in the recent past, especially given that the process of teaching is currently gravitating towards constructivist learning where the teacher is no longer the sole source of knowledge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of instructional media in teaching of Kiswahili in public primary teachers’ training colleges (PTTCs) in Kenya. Objectives of the study were to: establish the availability of instructional media used in tea...
ABSTRACT Solanum nigrum (commonly referred to as black nightshade) are world-wide weeds on arable land, gardens and rubbish pits. Nightshades have been used in the field of medicine in the manufacture of analgesics, ointments and vasodilators. The limited information available on this neglected and underutilized family hinders their development as well as sustainable conservation. Existing knowledge on the genetic potential of these plants is limited and the information regarding the genomic ...
ABSTRACT Learning mathematics is a cognitive as well as affective endeavor with the affective factors playing major role in student achievement. The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between affective factors and students’ achievement in Mathematics in Ganze District, Kilifi County Kenya. Study was motivated by underrepresentation of females in advanced mathematics levels and related careers. The study was guided by the following three specific objectives: to estab...
ABSTRACT Schistosomiasis (also known as Bilharzia) is a disease caused by species of parasitic worms or helminths of the genus Schistosoma. It continues to be a serious world wide public health problem. The pathological changes in schistosome infestations are caused mainly by the deposition of the eggs into various tissues and organs where granulomas or pseudo tubercles are formed around them. Schistosomes and their intermediate snail hosts are integral parts of the freshwater aquatic en...
ABSTRACT In Kenya maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important staple food. Owing to its predominant role, food security in the future cannot be achieved without major increases in cereal production. An efficient in vitro regeneration and transformation system holds a great potential for genetic improvement of maize against production constraints. This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the regenerative capacity, genetic transformation of Kenyan maize genotypes and efficacy of ...
ABSTRACT Cassava has been recognized as an important crop to more than 600 million people around the world prompting scientists to look for ways to improve the crop’s nutritive qualities, enhance its resistance to diseases and pests; reduce its levels of cyanide toxicity and reduce the crop’s rate of postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD). To develop improved cassava, genetic engineering is being used as a tool to deliver genes of interest directly into farmer preferred varieties....
ABSTRACT Coffee provides one of the most widely drunk beverages in the world, and is a very important source of foreign exchange income for many countries. In kenya, coffee production has a significant contribution to Kenya‟s economy for decades, and a high proportion of the coffee produced is considered the best quality coffee in the world. In coffee, morphological parameters are very often used to discriminate the varieties and hybrids. However, this exercise has some challenges that incl...