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Application of phytoplankton community structure for ranking the major riverine catchments influencing the pollution status of a lake basin
(2020 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd, 2020-01-24) Christopher Mulanda Aura1 | Cyprian Odoli2 | Chrisphine S. Nyamweya1 | James M. Njiru3 | Safina Musa, Jared Babu Miruka, Monica Ochieng Owili, Reuben Omondi, Phillip Raburu, Julius Manyala, Job Mwamburi, Zachary Ogari, Emmanuel K. Mbaru
The present study demonstrates the application of a multi-metric Phytoplankton
Index of Biotic Integrity (PIBI) approach for ranking of major river catchments in the
Kenyan part of Lake Victoria on the basis of their pollution status. The index utilizes water quality and zooplankton data, phytoplankton diversity, abundance and
attributes, as well as literature information. The rivers were sampled from 2016 to
2018 during the wet season (March) and dry season (July). The separation power of
the Mann–Whitney U test (p < .05) qualified eight discriminant metrics for phytoplankton samples into a scoring system of 1, 3 and 5, based on high, fair and slight
deviation from the best site, respectively, in development of the final PIBI. The Kuja
and Sondu-Miriu rivers had the highest PIBI, signifying least pollution influence on
the lake. In contrast, the Yala and Nzoia rivers exhibited the lowest PIBI, representing the catchments with a higher pollution influence on the lake. The fair to poor
integrity classes for the major river catchments in the region signified a deteriorating
lakescape. The present study presents the preliminary results of using phytoplankton
metrics for development of the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) approach in the region
as a decision-making support tool for the effective management and sustainable use
of water resources in the lake basin
Land and Water Resources Planning and Management Options in Floodplain Wetlands in Nyando Basin, Kenya
(Scientific Research Publishing Inc, 2021-12-17) Job Rotich Kosgei, Serena Adhiambo Nasongo, Julius Kipkemboi, Nzula Kitaka, Joash Barack Owuor-Okeyo
The functions of and services from wetlands are seriously compromised due
land and water scarcity coupled with the inability of poor people to adopt
sound management strategies. The expansion of rice irrigation into the Ombeyi wetland ecosystem is likely to reduce their long-term ecological functionality. Using field observations and measurements, stakeholder analysis framework and consultative fora, this study investigated the growth in irrigated
agriculture, irrigation practices and existing and potential trade-offs between
the various uses of the wetland and their ecological functions. The objective
was to identify the equilibrium between expansion of area under rice and
restoration of the Ombeyi wetland ecosystem. Issues affecting wetland use
and management were identified and used to derive possible solutions that
could lead to sustainable use of the wetlands. The study showed that the area
under rice cultivation increased by up to 760% as compared to the 1970s,
most of it into the wetlands. There was a huge dependency on irrigation for
food and income generation. However, there was observed low efficiency in
water use and management. Recent emerging crops, especially arrow roots,
would pose more threats to the wetland ecosystem because of their tolerance
to waterlogged soils, low labour input, continuous harvesting and fewer pests
and diseases. The fast exhaustion of soil fertility by arrow roots is also likely
to motivate expansion into new areas, predominantly the wetlands. It was established that transplanting rice by mid May as opposed to the current practice in which farmers transplant in mid July saves water. The impact could
further be reduced if the farmers adopted an optimized seasonal calendar.
The study concluded that the solutions to wetland encroachment and over
exploitation of resources lie in capacity building of farmers, improving efficiency in resource use and seeking for alternative livelihood options.
Hemoglobinopathies, merozoite surface protein-2 gene polymorphisms, and acquisition of Epstein Barr virus among infants in Western Kenya
(BMC Cancer, 2023) Perez K. Olewe, Shehu Shagari Awandu, Elly O. Munde, Samuel B. Anyona, Evans Raballah, Asito S. Amolo, Sidney Ogola, Erick Ndenga, Clinton O. Onyango, Rosemary Rochford, Douglas J. Perkins and Collins Ouma
Background Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-associated endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma pediatric cancer is associated with
morbidity and mortality among children resident in holoendemic Plasmodium falciparum regions in western Kenya. P.
falciparum exerts strong selection pressure on sickle cell trait (SCT), alpha thalassemia (-α3.7/αα), glucose-6-phosphate
dehydrogenase (G6PD), and merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP-2) variants (FC27, 3D7) that confer reduced malarial
disease severity. The current study tested the hypothesis that SCT, (-α3.7/αα), G6PD mutation and (MSP-2) variants
(FC27, 3D7) are associated with an early age of EBV acquisition.
Methods Data on infant EBV infection status (<6 and ≥6–12 months of age) was abstracted from a previous
longitudinal study. Archived infant DNA (n=81) and mothers DNA (n=70) samples were used for genotyping
hemoglobinopathies and MSP-2. The presence of MSP-2 genotypes in maternal DNA samples was used to indicate
infant in-utero malarial exposure. Genetic variants were determined by TaqMan assays or standard PCR. Group
differences were determined by Chi-square or Fisher’s analysis. Bivariate regression modeling was used to determine
the relationship between the carriage of genetic variants and EBV acquisition.
Results EBV acquisition for infants<6 months was not associated with -α3.7/αα (OR=1.824, P=0.354), SCT
(OR=0.897, P=0.881), or G6PD [Viangchan (871G>A)/Chinese (1024 C>T) (OR=2.614, P=0.212)] and [Union
(1360 C>T)/Kaiping (1388G>A) (OR=0.321, P=0.295)]. There was no relationship between EBV acquisition and
in-utero exposure to either FC27 (OR=0.922, P=0.914) or 3D7 (OR=0.933, P=0.921). In addition, EBV acquisition in
infants≥6–12 months also showed no association with -α3.7/αα (OR=0.681, P=0.442), SCT (OR=0.513, P=0.305),
G6PD [(Viangchan (871G>A)/Chinese (1024 C>T) (OR=0.640, P=0.677)], [Mahidol (487G>A)/Coimbra (592 C>T)
(OR=0.948, P=0.940)], [(Union (1360 C>T)/Kaiping (1388G>A) (OR=1.221, P=0.768)], African A (OR=0.278,
P=0.257)], or in utero exposure to either FC27 (OR=0.780, P=0.662) or 3D7 (OR=0.549, P=0.241)
Conclusion Although hemoglobinopathies (-α3.7/αα, SCT, and G6PD mutations) and in-utero exposure to MSP-2 were
not associated with EBV acquisition in infants 0–12 months, novel G6PD variants were discovered in the population
from western Kenya. To establish that the known and novel hemoglobinopathies, and in utero MSP-2 exposure do not
confer susceptibility to EBV, future studies with larger sample sizes from multiple sites adopting genome-wide analysis
are required.
Citizen Science for Bio-indication: Development of a Community-Based Index of Ecosystem Integrity for Assessing the Status of Afrotropical Riverine Ecosystems
(Frontiers in Water, 2021-01-07) Christopher Mulanda Aura, Chrisphine S. Nyamweya, Horace Owiti, Cyprian Odoli, Safina Musa, Kobingi Nyakeya and Frank O. Masese
The use of socioeconomic and cultural parameters in the assessment and biomonitoring
of ecological health of aquatic ecosystems is still in its nascent stages. Yet, degradation of
aquatic ecosystems has elicited concerns because of its bearing on social and economic
development of communities consisting of marginalized and vulnerable groups, as well
as the expenses and technical knowhow involved in biomonitoring approaches. In this
study we developed a Citizen-based Index of Ecological Integrity (CIEI) for assessing and
monitoring the ecological status of vulnerable African riverine ecosystems in Lake Victoria
Basin, Kenya. The hypothesis is that the citizen-led socioeconomic and cultural metrics
provides a more cost-effective broad view of ecosystems than other biomonitoring
methods in the assessment of water resources in the developing countries. Selected
rivers in the southern part of Lake Victoria (Rivers Kuja and Sondu-Mirui) recorded
the highest CIEI than their northern counterparts (Rivers Yala and Nzoia) that had
moderate to poor ecosystem integrities. The study demonstrates the usefulness of this
approach to elucidate the source of impairment, the extent of impacts and provide a
justifiable rationale to advice policy makers on developing guidelines for conservation and
management of aquatic ecosystems. We recommend for adoption and promotion of the
CIEI perspective in areas where such approaches appear defensible for the assessment
of catchment-wide practices in areas with robust indigenous knowledge to provide a
broad-view of the ecological health of the aquatic ecosystem.
Church’s Role in Prevention, Care and Management of HIV and AIDS in Western Kenya: Case of Vihiga and Busia Districts
(Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and its Diaspora, 2005-11-24) Sussy Gumo-Kurgat and Susan Mbula Kilonzo
The mandate of this essay is two-fold. First, it pays attention to the role of the Church in
the care of persons living with HIV and AIDS and the affected. Secondly, it examines
the efforts of the Church in prevention and management of HIV and AIDS in Western
Kenya. The strategies used by the Church in achieving these two facets therefore forms
the basis of the discussion. The viability of these approaches has been discoursed
analytically as a basis for providing suggestions that might inform the church leaders and
members to rethink the strategies relevant in responding to HIV and AIDS. The
discussions are framed under the concept of holistic care and development for humanity.
Primary data is sourced from two purposively sampled districts: Vihiga and Busia in
Western Kenya. 52 randomly sampled churches provide the sample size from which
examples were drawn. As a way forward, given the numerous challenges that the
churches face while responding to HIV within communities, we advocate for an
integrated approach where churches can borrow strategies that work best from their
counterparts.
