National Research Repository
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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NRF is developing a Registry of Research Repositories in Kenya (RoRiK) in an effort to promote access to research data in the country.
Recent Submissions
Blended Learning Approach to Integrating Research Competency in Undergraduate Teacher Education Programme for Mathematics Students at Maseno University
(Commonwealth of Learning (COL, 2022-09) Dr. Mildred Atieno Ayere
Unemployment in Kenya relates closely to the under-skilling of learners, specifically teachers whose research potential has not been well harnessed through the present education system. In any teaching situation, the faculty’s role is to facilitate, guide, and motivate the learning process or train students to be lifelong learners and critical thinkers. Because information in the world is constantly changing, there is a need to learn how to evaluate, integrate, and apply information, not simply memorize accepted facts and theories. For these reasons, this study sought funding for a pilot program of a teacher-driven but university-guided research initiative that could help improve classroom instructional processes and provide feedback to policymakers and trainers to improve the curriculum and classroom outcomes. This project used the quasi-experimental design, with 3rd-year Mathematics students of Maseno University in the experimental cohort (Taken through an online facilitated research course and supervised in a blended mode at Maseno and face-to-face in Kenyatta University) of students and 3rd-year Mathematics students from Kenyatta University in the control group (Taken through the face-to-face course without online follow up). Specifically, it used the comparison Group Pre-test/Post-test Design. The population for this project was drawn from Bachelor of Education students of Mathematics Maseno and Kenyatta University that were taking their teaching practice in Western Kenya region, 55 lecturers from Maseno, 60 lecturers from the Kenyatta University’s School of Education, and 5 lecturers from the school of Education Linnaeus University and all secondary school principals of teaching practice school. A sample of 200 students and 55 lecturers from Kenyatta and Maseno University was drawn through the stratified random method. Stratification was based on the participants’ University of origin. The school principals were key informants in the tracer study. Data were collected through student and teacher questionnaires, online forum discussions, and documentary analysis. The paired sample T-test was used to analyze the quantitative data while thematic analysis was used with qualitative data. Findings showed that a higher percentage of students who received training completed and submitted research reports at 65% as compared to only 35% from the non-treatment cohort; the final cumulative qualitative rating of the reports indicated that students who received treatment performed much better at 80% as compared to non-treatment students at only 20% pass rate; training and creation of a community of practice in research is linked to lifelong learning practices; that at least 2% of students in the facilitated research cohort are already directly benefitting from the research training received as researchers or postgraduate students; field research exposed training gaps in classroom pedagogical and instructional practices that need to be addressed at the training level: Motivating learners in mathematics classes, effective use of resources in learning & teaching, gender issues in Math education, and influence of mathematics learning in performance of related curriculum content areas. In conclusion, the project identified the critical role of mentorship and collaboration as a driver to the emergence of industry-driven courses in HEIs and the need to integrate research in the Bachelor of Education degree program in Kenya.
The Diagonalized t-J Hamiltonian and the Thermodynamic Properties of High-Tc Superconductors
(American Research Journal, An academic publishing house, 2026) Rapando B. W., Tonui J. K., Khanna K. M., Mang’are P. A.
The Bogliubov transformation was used in this study to diagonalize the t-J model Hamiltonian yielding
the quasi-particle Hamiltonian and the thermodynamic properties of high temperature superconductors.
Formulae for ground state Energy , specific heat, , and entropy, , of high temperature superconductors
have been derived in the framework of the t-J model. Transition temperature for Lanthanum Strontium Copper
Oxide (LSCO) in the t-J formalism is obtained . Transition temperature for Yttrium Barium Copper
Oxide (YBCO) in the t-J formalism is obtained . Calculated Tc
that is higher than the experimental
value has been obtained for the LSCO and YBCO Cuprates. Highest heat capacity of the superconducting state
in the t-J model is found to be while the highest entropy value is 3.15×10-3eV/K for high-Tc
superconductors. The total energy of the system increases exponentially with the temperature.
Optimal Protection Index in Malaria Vector Hosts Elicited by the 10-34 kHz Animal Sound
(American Research Journal, An Academic publishing house, 2020-07-02) Mang’are P. A., Ndiritu F. G., Rotich S. K., MakatianiJ. K., Rapando B.W.
: A coustic startle has been exploited in the control of malaria by targeting the female Anopheles
gambiae. Studies with an inbuilt ultrasonic device (AC-UD) yielded 17.3% and 60.7% in the knockdown tests
with fan-off and fan-on respectively. The repellency by the 10-34 kHz sound of Odorrana tormota based on
observable behavioural responses and the unconfirmed repellency due to the sound from Anti-Pic® (EMR)
on the female A. gambiae was 34.12% and 30.3% respectively. Recent studies with the electronic piezo
buzzer mosquito repellent emitting 40-55 kHz sound treatment on mosquitoes yielded a protection index of
68.99%. Chemical malaria interventions were impeded by pathogen and vector resistance. This research thus
determined and analyzed the optimal protection index in malaria vector hosts based on landing rates and
bites elicited by the 10-34 kHz filtered recorded sounds of the male Anopheles gambiae, mixed male and female
Delphinapterus leucas, and further investigated the sound of the male O. tormota. Landing rates and behavioral
responses of the female A. gambiae which were bred and reared under controlled laboratory conditions in
Kenya Medical Research Institute evoked by the filtered into 10-34 kHz sound of the male mosquito, A. gambiae,
male O. tormota, and mixed male and female D. leucas were determined and analyzed statistically. The sounds
of the A. gambiae, O. tormota, and D. leucas yielded 2.10, 2.20, and 3.00 landings (bites)/minute; and 42.73%,
40.24%, and 10.64% protection index respectively. The optimal acoustic entropy, power deviation, and average
acoustic power of the sound of the male A. gambiae were 4.58 bits, 35.80 dB, and 51.60 dB respectively with
wide bandwidth. The protection index evoked by the sound of the male A. gambiae did not differ significantly
from the reported repellency of the sound of O. tormota and Anti-Pic® EMR, though differed significantly from
the sound emitted by the and AC-UD.
Optimal Efficacy in Mosquito-Host Interaction Inhibition by 35-60 kHz Animal Sounds for Malaria Control
(Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/biophysics, 2024-11-14) Mang’are P. A., Makatiani J. K., Ndiritu F. G., Rotich S. K.
The haematophagous mated female Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, a malaria vector, continues to develop
resistance to synthetic insecticides thus threatening its control. Studies on negative phonotaxis response in mosquitoes
showed that the electronic mosquito repellent (EMR) (40-55 kHz) sound, Odorrana tormota (35-60 kHz) sound, and
winded-EMR sound yielded 68.99%, 45.88%, and 60.70% repellency respectively, proving the feasibility of using
non-pollutant sounds in mosquito control. However, studies with O. tormota sounds were rudimental and didn’t observe
protocols for mosquito rearing standard operation procedures (SOPs) and World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for
efficacy testing of spatial repellents. Also, phonotactic inhibition by natural sounds of Delphinapterus leucas and male A.
gambiae s.s had not been studied. This research, therefore, determined spatial activity index (SAI) and protection index (PI)
of mated female A.gambiae s.s evoked by 35-60 kHz sounds of O. tormota, D. leucas, and male A. gambiae s.s in adherence
to mosquito rearing SOPs and WHO guidelines. Mosquitoes were reared in Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
Entomology laboratories observing KEMRI SOPs protocols. Sounds of a hundred 3-5-day-old male A. gambiae s.s were
recorded using an Avisoft recorder whereas the sounds of O. tormota and D. leucas were acquired through donations.
Mosquito exhibited adverse abnormal composure, low flights, antennae erection, open wings, and extension of legs during
the bioassays under the treatment with the sound of O. tormota. The data obtained were analyzed using Avisoft SASLab and
Raven Pro software. Mean SAI evoked by O. tormota, male A. gambiae s.s, and D. leucas were 0.142, 0.318, and 0.206
respectively, indicating negative phonotaxis. The PI elicited by O. tormota was 80.06% exceeding male A. gambiae s.s and
D. leucas by 1.65% and 8.24% respectively. Frequency modulated, constant frequency, and pulsating sound of O. tormota
showed mean bandwidth (mean entire; 13.95 kHz), maximum frequency (mean entire; 41.61 kHz), maximum energy (8.02
Pa2s), entropy (2.87 bits), delta power (24.10 dB), average power (55.60 dB), maximum power frequency (38.09 kHz) and
maximum power (75.90 dB). This study provides new acoustic parameters and an effective repellent recommended for
mosquito control.
Drought and heat affect common bean minerals and human diet— What we know and where to go
(John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2021-12-03) Alessia Losa, Juan Vorster, Eleonora Cominelli, Francesca Sparvoli, Dario Paolo, Tea Sala, Marika Ferrari, Marina Carbonaro, Stefania Marconi, Emanuela Camilli, Emmanuelle Reboul, Boaz Waswa, Beatrice Ekesa, Francisco Aragão, Karl Kunert
Global climate change, causing large parts of the world to become drier with
longer drought periods, severely affects production of common beans (Phaseolus
vulgaris L.). The bean is worldwide the most produced and consumed food grain
legume in the human diet. In common beans, adapted to moderate climates, ex
posure to drought/heat stress not only results in significant reduction of bean
yield but also the nutritional value. This review explores the contribution of com
mon beans to food and nutrient security as well as health. Also discussed is the
existing knowledge of the impact of drought/heat stress, associated with a chang
ing climate, specifically on iron (Fe) and phytic acid (PA) that are both among
the most important mineral and anti- nutritional compounds found in common
beans. Further discussed is how the application of modern “omics” tools con
tributes in common beans to higher drought/heat tolerance as well as to higher
Fe and reduced PA content. Finally, possible future actions are discussed to de
velop new common bean varieties with both improved drought/heat tolerance
and higher mineral (Fe) content.
