National Repository :: Browsing by Author "Kimiti, Jacinta M."

Browsing by Author "Kimiti, Jacinta M."

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Adoption of green energy technologies in selected peri-urban and rural areas of Makueni and Machakos counties, Kenya
(World Journal of Research and Review, 2023-05) Muloo, Samson; Kimiti, Jacinta M.; Mwinzi, Muusya; Muthike, George
Many peri-urban and rural households usetraditional stoves which have low energy use efficiency leadingto wasteful use of woodfuel, increase in indoor air pollution andputting more pressure on biomass sources. Energy savingdevices have been introduced which are environmentallyfriendly and economical. The main objective of this study was toassess levels of adoption of green energy technologies in selectedperi-urban and rural areas of Makueni and Machakos Counties,Multistage sampling technique was used whereby; locations andsub-locations were selected purposefully. Households from foursub-locations were chosen using simple random sampling. Atotal of 214 households in the four selected study areas wereinterviewed. The study used questionnaires and interviewschedules for data collection. The collected data was coded andentered into the computer for analysis using the StatisticalPackage for Social Sciences (SPSS) and statistics and datasoftware (STATA) presented using tables. Utilization of metalcharcoal energy device was higher than that of other charcoaldevices in Unoa area (63.1%). Family size had a significanteffect on use of LPG (χ2 = 22.010, P = 0.001) and electric energytechnology (χ2 = 20.482, p = 0.002). The study results on theprediction of future charcoal energy devices adoption showedthat in the next 30 years’ majority of the households will stillprefer Kenya ceramic charcoal stoves to the maendeleo charcoalstoves. The outcome of the research is useful to manystakeholders including the government, Ministries ofAgriculture and Energy, Environmentalists, Market Suppliersof green energy devices and Researchers.
Effects of Land Degradation on Agricultural Land Use: A Case Study of Smallholder Farmers Indigenous Knowledge on Land Use Planning and Management in Kalama Division, Machakos County
(Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 2019-04-05) Masila, Samson M.; Kauti, Matheaus K.; Kimiti, Jacinta M.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of land degradation on agricultural land use, planning and management in Kalama Division, Machakos County; and specifically determined farmers’ considerations of land suitability for selected types of agricultural land uses in varying cropping zones, investigated farmers’ local environmental knowledge of land degradation indicators and finally documented farmers’ land management strategies and practices for soil and water conservation. Data was collected using a questionnaire, along a road transect cutting across upper, middle and lower zones (parts) of a slope. A total of 40 households along the transect on the three zones were interviewed. Results obtained revealed that crop farming, livestock, poultry, farm forestry and bee keeping were the major agricultural land use activities carried out in the study area. Overall, steep slope was the most important factor considered for farm forestry (17%) (5.29 STDEV). Bee farming was the least land use practice accounting for only 1% of total land use. Most land degradation (15%) was reported in the middle zone while lowest land degradation (7%) was reported in the upper zone. The study found out that most households were aware of land degradation indicators in their local environment and described them using their indigenous environmental knowledge. The smallholder farmers prevented further land degradation by use of their local or traditional ways such as application of organic manure, planting of trees, crop rotation, use of gabions and stone lines. Different zones had different land use and management practices due to differences in terrain and other physical and biophysical characteristics. Overall, the major land management practices included tree planting (23%) (4.04 STDEV) and water conservation and gabion making (10%) (2.52 STDEV). This study clearly established an existence of smallholder farmers’ indigenous knowledge, perceptions, and beliefs of the local environmental factors of land condition which are necessary for the farmer’s decision-making on land use planning and management. On the basis of these findings, the study argues for place-based analysis and understanding of the landscape structure and local micro-environments in enhancing understanding of local-level decision-making on land use planning and management by smallholder farmers in maintaining livelihood security. Even though the study is limited to the local scope, it can provide a basis for designing policies aimed at rural livelihood security improvement and inform and facilitate targeting of outside interventions such as land use planning and management programs which can be built on existing indigenous knowledge.
Factors influencing use of multipurpose trees and shrubs in arid and semiarid lands of Kenya
(Elsevier, 2021-01) Kisangau, Patrick D.; Kimiti, Jacinta M.; Mburu, Mary W. K.; Snelder, Denyse J.
Multipurpose trees and shrubs are vital components of arid and semiarid ecosystems. They offer both regulatory and production services, yet there is inadequate information on their actual use and factors affecting utilization of these plant resources. A study was carried out in three agroecological zones (counties) of southeastern Kenya: Machakos (subhumid zone), Kajiado (semiarid zone), and Kitui (arid zone). The research objective was to assess the local uses of multipurpose trees and shrubs and determine how socioeconomic factors (gender, type of occupation, and education level) influenced their use. A field survey was conducted along a 324-km transect across the three agroecological zones. Data were collected from 196 respondents using focus group discussions, key informants, and individual household questionnaires. A total of 86 plant species belonging to 47 plant families were recorded. The Mann-Whitney U-test revealed that women significantly used a higher number of different plant species than men (P < 0.05). The level of education and type of occupation also significantly affected plant use (P < 0.05), with subsistence farmers having primary or no formal education, reporting the highest number of species. Fifteen plant-use categories comprising production and service provision were identified. Plant species use-value index (UVI) revealed 10 indigenous and wild woody species of high value in the study area. Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne had the highest UVI of 0.33, followed by Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. (0.17), Terminalia brownii Fres. (0.13), and Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. (0.12). There was a significant positive correlation between the reporting frequency for woody species and the overall UVI (P < 0.05). Economic development, climate change, and land use changes jeopardize distribution, utilization, and knowledge preservation of multipurpose woody species. There is a need for monitoring and adoption of gender-sensitive strategies for their sustainable utilization in order to safeguard these unique plant resources from degradation and overexploitation.
Social-economic factors influencing the adoption of improved energy technologies in Makueni and Machakos counties, Kenya
(World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023-04-07) Muloo, Samson M.; Kimiti, Jacinta M.; Mwinzi, Muusya; Muthike, George M.
Many peri-urban and rural households use traditional stoves which have low energy use efficiency leading to wastefuluse of woodfuel, increase in indoor air pollution and putting more pressure on biomass sources. Energy saving deviceshave been introduced which are environmentally friendly and economical. The main objective of this study was toestablish social-economic factors influencing the adoption of improved energy Multistage sampling technique was usedwhereby; locations and sub-locations were selected purposefully. Households from four sub-locations were chosenusing simple random sampling. A total of 232 households in the four selected study areas were interviewed. The studyused questionnaires and interview schedules for data collection. The collected data was coded and entered into thecomputer for analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and statistics and data software (STATA)presented using tables. Data forecasting analysis was done using the Time series Autoregressive Integrated MovingAverage (ARIMA) time series model for the period 1991 to 2052. Family size had a significant effect on use of LPG (χ2 =22.010, P = 0.001) and electric energy technology (χ2 = 20.482, p = 0.002). The result of this research further showedthat for the respondent to get kerosene lamps, in Unoa, Kilili and Mung’ala, they travelled more than 1 km whereas inKilili, they mainly (18.6%) travelled 101 – 600m for the energy device. This showed a significant different in the distancetravelled in the four areas (χ2 = 86.194, P = 0.0001). The outcome of the research is useful to many stakeholdersincluding the government, Ministries of Agriculture and Energy, Environmentalists, Market Suppliers of improvedenergy devices and Researchers.
Sustainable utilization of woodfuel in selected sites of Mwala Sub-county, Machakos County, Kenya
(IJRES, 2017-01) Maingi, Luke N.; Kimiti, Jacinta M.; Kilungo, Julius K.
Biomass energy provides 68% of Kenya’s national energy requirements and it is expected to remain the mainsource of energy for the foreseeable future (Mugo, F. and Gathui, T. (2010). The traditional stoves whichhappen to be very popular with most households wastes a lot of fuel due to its low energy efficiency and thisleads to negative environmental impacts such as deforestation and pollution. This study focused onunderstanding the sustainable utilization of woodfuel in two (2) Sub-locations of Mwala Sub-county namely:Mwala and Kibauni. The primary objective of this study was to determine if woodfuel utilization by thehouseholds in the study areas is sustainable. The specific objective of the study was to establish the level ofadoption of the energy saving techniques in the selected sub-locations. This study used survey methodology andobservation to collect data. The total household sample size was 160. Data collection instrument wasquestionnaires. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics and the software wasStatistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. The study revealed low adoption of rationing ofwood with majority of the respondents 84% in Kibauni and 65% in Mwala not practicing it. There wassignificant relationship between rationing of woodfuel and the number of days taken to consume a bundle ofwood (df=1 and 158, F=462.898, p=0.00 ). The study also revealed low adoption of splitting of wood with 70%of respondents in Mwala and 88% in Kibauni not doing the splitting. There was significant relationship betweensplitting of wood and pollution challenges ( df=1 and 158, F=28.456, p=0.00 ). Low adoption of the practice ofputting off fire after use was also revealed with 66% of respondents in Mwala and 80% in Kibauni not practicingit. The study revealed a significant relationship between putting off fire after use and the number of days taken toconsume one bundle of wood (df=3 and 156, F=57.292, p=0.00.). It was also found out that there was nosignificant relationship between the type of stove and pollution challenges (df=1 and 158, F=0.072, p=0.789).The study recommended that aggressive campaign in dissemination of improved stoves and related technologyin order to reduce pressure on forests, the Government to have a structured management in production ofcharcoal and fuel wood by small scale farmers so as to have a source of income, promote capacity of fieldextension staff in the energy sector and establish an Energy Centres in the Sub-county to help disseminateknowledge and materials related to energy conservation.
Water pollution in a Riparian community: the case of River Athi in Makueni County, Kenya
(SCIENCEDOMAIN International, 2017-02-10) Munyao, Joseph M.; Kimiti, Jacinta M.; Gikuma-Njuru, Peter
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of water pollution on riparian community alongRiver Athi in Makueni County. Specific objectives included; documenting the causes of pollution ofthe River Athi in Kathonzweni sub County, to access and establish the health effects resultingfrom the pollution of the River Athi in Kathonzweni district and finally to documentmeasures/interventions put in place by the government and residents in the study area to controlthe pollution of the River Athi. Data was collected using a sample of 51 households on five villagesliving along the River Athi 5 kilometer distance from the River was studied. Structuredquestionnaires, observation, and interviews were employed and the collected data was analyzedusing SPSS model and presented using tables. It was clear from the results that up-streampollution from industries and sewage was the highest River polluter having Iiani village (93%),Kikome village (62.5%), Mumbeeni village (60%), Kyase village (50%) and Kwanyaa village(33.3%) (Chi-square(X2)=1.7186). Results on the uses of River water within the five villagesrevealed that seven water uses including watering crops, washing, drinking, fishing, cooking,bathing, and brick making. Across the five villages, malaria was the commonest illness reported in Iiani village (46.7%), Kyase village (37.5%), Kwanyaa village (22.2%) and the lowest beingMumbeeni village (20%) (X2=0.0035).According to the results, contact with River water was thecommon cause of most illnesses with Kwanyaa village (55.6%) having the highest percentage ofillness caused by contact with River water. The study revealed that the residents’ measures tocontrol pollution were three that is observation of 30 m riparian reserve by farmers and developers,no disposal of refuse and pesticide cans in the River and not washing near the River by theresidents. This study can provide a basis for designing water policies aimed at rural livelihoodsecurity improvement within the County and also globally.
Water scarcity influenced water use coping mechanisms in selected sites of Makueni County, Kenya
(Archives of Current Research International, 2017-03-04) Nthenge, Anthony K.; Kimiti, Jacinta M.
Water constitutes a vital element of household food security for humans and livestock. Therefore,the general objective of this study was to establish the ease of water access, water scarcity andcoping strategies used by rural communities in selected study sites of Makueni (Kilili sub-locationin Makueni sub-county and Kyanguli sub-location in Kibwezi East sub-county), all located inMakueni County. The study involved a total of 70 households which were selected using clusterand simple random approach to gather quantitative data using household surveys. The data werecollected using a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews with key informants. Thecollected data was coded and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).Results from the analysed data were presented using tables. Results obtained revealed thatmajority of the households obtained water from rivers (78%), followed by shallow wells (31%),boreholes (28%), sand dams (24%) and springs (11%). However, most respondents at Kyanguliobtained water from rivers (94%) compared to Kilili (62%). Further, at Kilili sub-location, majority of the households got water within less than 1 km (46%) while at Kyanguli most respondents gotwater within 1-3 km (48%). Five major water access problems were documented in the study sitesincluded increasing distance to water sources, high cost of water, dirty water, water scarcity andconflict with neighboring communities. In overall water scarcity was the commonest problem inboth study sites (77%), followed by dirty water (62%), increasing distance to water sources (45%),high cost of water (44%) and conflict with neighboring communities (43%). Water use copingmechanisms identified in the study included use of water harvesting structures, soil conservationtechniques, diversification of crop types and varieties, irrigation, water reuse, reducing number oflivestock and reduced water use. In overall the commonly used water copying mechanismsincluded soil conservation (85%), water reuse (71%), reduced livestock (64%), reduced water use(55%) and crop diversification (54%). We concluded that water scarcity, dirty water, increasingdistance to water sources, high cost of water and conflict with neighboring communities were themain challenges which led the households to develop water coping mechanisms in the selectedsites of Makueni County. We recommend the results of this study to be used by policy makers inwater development projects in Makueni to improve water availability and access in the selectedstudy sites.

Browsing by Author "Kimiti, Jacinta M."

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