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The National Research Fund facilitates research for the advancement of Science, Technology and Innovation. One of our core functions is to compile and maintain a national database of research and innovation projects funded by the Fund and other agencies as per the STI Act of 2013.

 

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Publication
Publication
Adsorptive removal of phosphates from wetland waters using silica molyb date adsorbent
(Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 2025-02) Aquiline Kathambi, Peter W. Njoroge, Sylvia A. Opiyo, Isaac Waweru, Benson M. Mwangi
World’s most productive and valuable ecosystem is the wetlands. Quality and functions of wetlands have been affected adversely by deforestation, fertilizers, and pesticides among others. Pollution by phosphates affect aquatic life as they have serious side effects at very low levels. Silica molybdate was prepared by first chlorinating silica sand using phosphorous pentachloride (PCl5) to give chlorinated silica. Amination of chlorinated silica was done using Ethylenediamine (EDA) and later molybdate was chemically grafted to the aminated silica to yield silica molybdate. Silica molybdate was used to reduce the levels of PO4 3- residues from wetland ecosystem.. Molecular structure of the silica molybdate material was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR). FT-IR results showed Adsorption bands at 854cm-1 and 542cm-1 which were attributed to Mo=O and Mo-O stretching in molybdate. Peaks observed at 1388 and 1662cm-1 were attributed with the vibration mode of Mo-OH bond and bending mode of adsorbed water. Spectra peaks observed at 542, 634.58 and 898.97 cm-1 were attributed to the adsorption of molybdate. The physical adsorption parameters which were examined using batch adsorption system were; temperature, pH, contact, time, initial concentration using sorption models, adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics. Results showed that optimum pH for biosorption of PO4 2- was 6.0, optimal contact time was 30 minutes, optimum temperature was 45 ℃. The experimental results obtained showed that the maximum phosphate adsorption of silica molybdate was achieved at 194.93mg/g at adsorption optimal conditions of pH, temperature and contact time. The phosphate removal based on silica molybdate will offer several benefits such as low cost, effectiveness and reliability to lower the levels of phosphates in wetland waters as compared to commercial activated carbon. Based on the adsorption efficiency values obtained from this study and comparing them with adsorption efficiency reported in the literature, it can be concluded that silica molybdate is super adsorbent for the removal of phosphates from wetland waters.
Publication
Publication
Sustainability of Livelihood Strategies of Riparian Communities in Murang’a County, Kenya.
(nternational Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention (IJHSSI), 2021-06) Isaiah Ochieng Abillah, Dr. Benson Mwangi, Prof. Richard Juma, Prof. Clifford Machogu
Wetlands have played a key role in support of the riparian community’s livelihoods and development and have been the source of forest, wildlife, minerals, agriculture, recreation, water and energy. Murang’a County in Kenya, is endowed with many such wetlands that provide water to nearby towns of Thika and Nairobi city. Despite these important roles, wetlands conservation and management in the county continue to attract little attention from scientists and policy makers. This study aims at investigating the livelihood strategies of riparian communities in Murang’a County, Kenya. This study aimed at investigating how sustainable the livelihoods strategies are of the riparian communities are in Murang’a County. The study was conducted in four purposively selected sub-counties, due to their richness in wetlands: Kiharu, Kangema, Mathioya, and Maragua. Data was collected using household’s survey questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussion. Questionnaire were administered to a randomly selected sample of 404 respondents from the riparian community in the four sub-counties. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 26.0. Chi-squared test was used to test for association between livelihood strategies and effects of encroachment into wetlands. Rejection value for statistical tests was set at P< 0.05. Results showed an encroachment rate into the wetlands by the riparian communities of 60.4%. It is concluded that livelihood strategies of riparian communities were not sustainable due to a high rate of encroachment, inadequate enforcement of laws and policies, On the other hand, over exploitation of wetlands resources, lack of knowledge on wise use of wetlands and conflict of interest among different environmental conservation institutions among other factors, were impacting negatively on wetlands conservation in Murang’a County. The study recommends enhanced sustainability of livelihood strategies of riparian communities through empowerment, capacity building and well-coordinated livelihood strategies by all stakeholders in wetlands management that will lead to the wise use of wetlands ecosystems in Kenya and in other parts of the world.
Publication
Publication
Gender Roles in Wetlands Conservation and Restoration in Murang’a County, Kenya
(International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention (IJHSSI), 2021-06) Isaiah Ochieng Abillah, Dr. Benson Mwangi, Prof. Richard Juma, Prof. Clifford Machogu
Women are the majority vulnerable in wetlands access and control, yet livelihood provisioning services bring her in direct contact with and control of wetlands on a daily basis. Murang’a County is majorly a patriarchal society and women continue to experience the worst forms of oppression and exploitation in environmental management. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to determine the gender roles in community- based strategies aimed at Wetlands conservation and restoration in Murang’a County, Kenya. It adopted a descriptive survey design with a target population of 144,376 divided into four Sub-Counties of Murang’a. Simple random sampling was used for each stratum to select a sample of 404 respondents. Key Informant interviews, focus group discussion, and documentary analysis were used to corroborate responses from the questionnaires. Qualitative data were coded before the analysis. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26.0. Continuous variables were analyzed using a Chi-Square test and P values of <0.05 at 95% confidence interval level was considered significant. The study revealed that there is gender inequality in conservation efforts due to poor policies, beliefs, lack of knowledge, and skills. The study thus recommends effective gender role equity in wetlands conservation efforts.
Publication
Preferential Use of Sahiwal Bull Calves by Beneficiaries of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Southern Rangelands of Kenya
(European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 2023-06-28) Fredrick O. Agutu, Samuel M. Mbuku, James O. Ondiek, and Bockline O. Bebe
Bull service is the most common insemination method in pastoral herds grazing in the rangelands. To accelerate multiplication and distribution of and access to high quality Sahiwal genetics to pastoral communities, development agencies have promoted the use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) in the Kenyan rangelands. However, sustainable use of ARTs is uncertain because pastoral herd owners attach high value to bull calves of high genetic merits for breeding, which is a potential barrier to technology adoption. This study assessed preferential use of ART- bull calves among beneficiaries of the Sahiwal cattle upgrading breeding program that were utilizing OvSynch and TAI protocol in the southern rangelands of Kenya. Preferential use of bull calves was assessed in a choice experiment basing on attributes associated with potential use of bull calves. Overall, the first-choice preference was to retain the bull calves for future breeding (54%) compared to immediate selling for income (44%). This was the firstchoice of pastoralists and agro pastoralists preferred unlike ranchers who preferred selling bull calves for income compared to retaining for future breeding (80% versus 20%). The preference of retaining bull calves for future breeding was higher among women compared to male respondents (59% versus 51%). Second choice preferences were sales for income (58%), breeding (29%), draft power (5%), meat production and cultural practices (3% each) and prestige (2%). Socioeconomic factors had no significant influence on preferential use of ARTs bull calves. The results indicate that high genetic merit bull calves are preferred for breeding, implying that bull calves would be retained within the pastoral herds for bull service. This presents a possible barrier to adoption of ARTs in pastoral herds for upgrading of Sahiwal cattle breed. Policy direction need to invest in Sahiwal multiplication and distribution of bull calves to pastoralists and agro pastoralists. Ranchers have low preference for retaining bull calves for breeding, so it would be best to capacitate them to invest in ARTs to multiply breeding bulls and supply to pastoralists and agro pastoralists.
Item
ANTI-DERMATOPHYTIC ACTIVITY OF Salvia nilotica METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST Trichophyton mentagrophytes
(2021) JOSEPH KIPROP CHEPKWONY
Conventional medicine used against dermatophytosis has resulted in treatment failure, relapses of the fungal infection and side effects due to its use. Herbalist in the Tugen community in Kenya claim that Salvia nilotica leaves have anti-dermatophytic effects however, there is no scientific documentation for these claims. This study therefore sought to determine the phytochemical constituents in S. nilotica methanolic crude leaf extract and its anti-dermatophytic activity against the dermatophyte, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and probable mode of action through the effects on Metalloprotease 2 (MEP2), Sulphite efflux pump (SSU1), Subtilisin 3 (SUB3) and dipeptidyl-peptidases V (DDPV) target genes. The phytochemical constituents of methanolic crude leaf extract of S. nilotica were determined using standard methods. Food- poisoned technique was used to determine antidermatophytic activity of S. nilotica extract at different concentrations ranging from 7.76 mg/mL to 77.59 mg/mL. Plausible mode of action was determined using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction to establish the effect of S. nilotica methanolic leaf extract treatment on MEP2, SSU1, SUB3 and DDPV genes of Trichophyton mentagrophytes versus the standard drug fluconazole. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the methanolic crude leaf extracts of S. nilotica indicated the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, amino acids and glycosides but there was absence of phlobatannins and anthraquinones. This study also found that S. nilotica crude leaf extract has anti-dermatophytic activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The activity of crude leaf extract of S. nilotica on Trichophyton mentagrophytes was not significantly different (p < 0.05) when compared with fluconazole. In addition, all the Trichophyton mentagrophytes genes, which were targeted in this study, were down regulated by different folds depending on the concentration of the antifungal agent used. The down regulation noted was -1.7, -1.9, -1.1 and -1.1 folds for MEP2, SSU1, SUB3, and DPPV genes respectively at 0.30 mg/mL of fluconazole. At 0.50 mg/mL of fluconazole, the genes were down regulated by -4.2, -2.9, -1.6 and -34.4 folds for MEP2, SSU1, SUB3 and DPPV respectively. S. nilotica at 13.97 mg/mL down regulated the target genes by -1, -1.2, -1.2 and -38.4 folds for MEP2, SSU1, SUB3, and DPPV genes respectively. Similarly at the concentration of 77.59 mg/mL of S. nilotica the genes were down regulated by -1.3, - 7.9, -2.3 and -2211.8 folds for MEP2, SSU1, SUB3 and DPPV respectively. In conclusion, this study has shown that S. nilotica crude leaf methanolic extract could offer a potential alternative medicine for dermatophytosis treatment.