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Recent Submissions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
