Department of Urban & Regional Planning
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/3216
2024-03-29T07:26:15ZThe soil microbiomes of forest ecosystems in Kenya: their diversity and environmental drivers
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6041
The soil microbiomes of forest ecosystems in Kenya: their diversity and environmental drivers
Lorine Akinyi Onyango, Florence Atieno Ngonga, Edward Nderitu Karanja, Josiah Ochieng’ Kuja, Hamadi Iddi Boga, Don A Cowan, Kennedy Wanjau Mwangi, Marianne Wughanga Maghenda, Pedro Bixirao Neto Marinho Lebre, Anne Kelly Kambura
Soil microbiomes in forest ecosystems act as both nutrient sources and sinks through a range of processes including organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and humic compound incorporation into the soil. Most forest soil microbial diversity studies have been performed in the northern hemisphere, and very little has been done in forests within African continent. This study examined the composition, diversity and distribution of prokaryotes in Kenyan forests top soils using amplicon sequencing of V4-V5 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. Additionally, soil physicochemical characteristics were measured to identify abiotic drivers of prokaryotic distribution. Different forest soils were found to have statistically distinct microbiome compositions, with Proteobacteria and Crenarchaeota taxa being the most differentially abundant across regions within bacterial and archaeal phyla, respectively. Key bacterial community drivers included pH, Ca, K, Fe, and total N while archaeal diversity was shaped by Na, pH, Ca, total P and total N. To contextualize the prokaryote diversity of Kenyan forest soils on a global scale, the sample set was compared to amplicon data obtained from forest biomes across the globe; displaying them to harbor distinct microbiomes with an over-representation of uncultured taxa such as TK-10 and Ellin6067 genera.
2023-05-02T00:00:00ZThe soil microbiomes of forest ecosystems in Kenya: their diversity and environmental drivers
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5801
The soil microbiomes of forest ecosystems in Kenya: their diversity and environmental drivers
Lorine Akinyi Onyango, Florence Atieno Ngonga, Edward Nderitu Karanja, Josiah Ochieng’ Kuja, Hamadi Iddi Boga, Don A Cowan, Kennedy Wanjau Mwangi, Marianne Wughanga Maghenda, Pedro Bixirao Neto Marinho Lebre, Anne Kelly Kambura
Soil microbiomes in forest ecosystems act as both nutrient sources and sinks through a range of processes including organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and humic compound incorporation into the soil. Most forest soil microbial diversity studies have been performed in the northern hemisphere, and very little has been done in forests within African continent. This study examined the composition, diversity and distribution of prokaryotes in Kenyan forests top soils using amplicon sequencing of V4-V5 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. Additionally, soil physicochemical characteristics were measured to identify abiotic drivers of prokaryotic distribution. Different forest soils were found to have statistically distinct microbiome compositions, with Proteobacteria and Crenarchaeota taxa being the most differentially abundant across regions within bacterial and archaeal phyla, respectively. Key bacterial community drivers included pH, Ca, K, Fe, and total N while archaeal diversity was shaped by Na, pH, Ca, total P and total N. To contextualize the prokaryote diversity of Kenyan forest soils on a global scale, the sample set was compared to amplicon data obtained from forest biomes across the globe; displaying them to harbor distinct microbiomes with an over-representation of uncultured taxa such as TK-10 and Ellin6067 genera.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33993-4
2023-05-02T00:00:00ZAssessing the Influence of the Community Leadership in Monitoring and Evaluating Community Safety in Lamu West Sub-County, Kenya
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5658
Assessing the Influence of the Community Leadership in Monitoring and Evaluating Community Safety in Lamu West Sub-County, Kenya
Madoya Micah , George Wagah , Isabella Asamba
Despite the fact that community leadership as a key community policing element has been mentioned as a factor influencing
monitoring and evaluation of community safety, there is limited research to ascertain this in Lamu West Sub County. The
purpose of this study was to establish the effect of community leadership in monitoring and evaluating community safety in
Lamu West Sub-County. The study adopted quantitative design where data was collected from a sample of 405 respondents
drawn from 32,873 of Lamu West Sub-County residents with the aid of a questionnaire. Correlation and regression
analyses were adopted in data analysis to help in establishing the relationship between the dependent and independent
variables. The findings of this study demonstrated that there was statistically positive relationship between community
leadership and monitoring and evaluating of community safety at (β=0.106; p<0.05). The study concludes that community
leadership significantly influences monitoring and evaluating community safety. the study recommends that effective
collaborations between law enforcement and community stakeholders are critical to public safety, and it's critical that
government agencies, community organizations, nonprofits, companies, and private citizens all see public safety as a shared
duty. It is recommended that community leadership should be people centered in order to enhance accountability that seeks
to promote community safety. There is need for more involvement of all key stakeholders in maintaining security. The
government agencies in charge of community policing should consider ensuring that community leaders have the skills and
competency of resolving security matters
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra12229
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZAssessing community perception of post-mine brownfield’s effects on the physical environment in Kisumu, Kenya
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5651
Assessing community perception of post-mine brownfield’s effects on the physical environment in Kisumu, Kenya
K’oyoo Edwin Oluoch, Onyango Leah, Midheme Emmanuel
Urban development has overtime spread into areas where mining/quarrying activities were once
carried out. This has resulted into presence of degraded landscapes referred to as post-mine
brownfields within the urban landscape. Brownfields constitute a poor fit into the urban realm and
are considered as problem spaces. They are a safety concern due to crime and hazards associated
with abandoned sites. They also take up vital urban land that could be used more productively,
besides not being aesthetically appealing to residents of the neighborhoods. While there is need to
rehabilitate Kisumu’s brownfields into more productive urban land uses, public perception of the
effects of these sites on the living environment is not clearly understood. In accordance, this study
postulates that rehabilitation of post-mine brownfields lies in understanding the effects they pose
within the neighborhoods they are found in and which should not be neglected. The purpose of this
paper was to assess the public perception of the effects of post-mine brownfields on the physical
environment in Kisumu. Cross sectional research design was used, with the unit of analysis being
the brownfields and households living within a 500-metre radius of each brownfield site. A total
of 96 willing participants selected randomly were involved in the survey within four brownfield
neighborhoods that were purposively selected in the study due to long history on quarrying thus
resulting into post-mine brownfields. The survey used questionnaires and the findings were
analyzed using percentages and presented in tables. The study found out that the post-mine
brownfields were characterized by waterlogging and illegal dumping of wastes, which presented
health hazards within the residential neighborhoods they were sited in. Since the sites are currently
used as illegal dumpsites, the study recommends that alternative waste management practices
would need to be planned for. The findings should inform both policy and practice on the
rehabilitation of post-mine brownfields in Kisumu City.
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZAssessing the influence of community partnership In monitoring and evaluating community safety in Lamu west sub-county
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5624
Assessing the influence of community partnership In monitoring and evaluating community safety in Lamu west sub-county
Madoya Micah, George Wagah, Isabella Asamba
Though community policing elements such as community partnership have been mentioned as possible CP elements that can influence monitoring and evaluation of community safety, there is limited research to ascertain this in LamuWest Sub County. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of community partnership in monitoring and evaluating community safety in Lamu West Sub-County. The study adopted quantitative design where data was collected from a sample of 405 respondents drawn from 32,873 of Lamu West Sub-County residents with the aid of a questionnaire.Correlation and regression analyses were adopted in data analysis to help in establishing the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Thefindings of this study demonstrated that there was statistically positive relationship between community partnership and in monitoring and evaluating community safety in Lamu West Sub-County at (β=0.619; p<0.05). The study found that community has been inthe forefront of collaborating with the police. The study also shows that there was need for a partnership between police and thecommunity for a sustained peace and harmony in the society. Majority of respondents agreed that partnering with the police has enabled easy identification of criminal activities.The study concludes that community partnership significantly influences monitoring and evaluating community safety. The study recommends that effective collaborations between law enforcement and community stakeholders are critical to public safety, and it's critical that government agencies, community organizations, nonprofits, companies, and private citizens all see public safety as a shared duty. There is need for more involvement of all key stakeholders in maintaining security
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra12171
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZAssessing effect of community problem solving on evaluation of community safety in Lamu West sub-county, Kenya
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5614
Assessing effect of community problem solving on evaluation of community safety in Lamu West sub-county, Kenya
Madoya Micah , George Wagah, Isabella Asamba
Even though community policing elements such as community problem solving have been mentioned as a possible
factor influencing monitoring and evaluation of community safety, there is limited research to ascertain this in Lamu
West Sub County. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of community problem solving on evaluation of
community safety in Lamu West Sub-County. The study adopted quantitative design where data was collected from a
sample of 405 respondents drawn from 32,873 of Lamu West Sub-County residents with the aid of a questionnaire.
Correlation and regression analyses were adopted in data analysis to help in establishing the relationship between the
dependent and independent variables. The findings of this study demonstrated that there was statistically significant
positive relationship between community problem solving and monitoring and evaluating community safety (β=0.634;
p<0.05). The study found that aspects such as consultation, participation, engagement, professionalism, problem
identification, proactive problem solving and mediation improves community safety. It is recommended that
community problem solving should be strengthened because it builds trust, enhances information flow, and leads to the
discovery of new areas where the police and the community may work together. Finally, community leadership should
be people centered in order to enhance accountability that seeks to promote community safety. The study concluded that
community problem solving significantly influence monitoring and evaluating community safety The study
recommends that effective collaborations between law enforcement and community stakeholders are critical to public
safety, and it's critical that government agencies, community organizations, nonprofits, companies, and private
citizens all see public safety as a shared duty. Community leadership should be people centered in order to enhance
accountability that seeks to promote community safety
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra12170
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZLegal and policy framework affecting the development of a market in Eldoret Municipality, Kenya
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5441
Legal and policy framework affecting the development of a market in Eldoret Municipality, Kenya
Kamwele, H.W., Wagah, G.G., Onyango, G.M. & Nyström, M.
Globally the UN Development Program estimates that 800 million people are involved in urban farming worldwide. Of these, 200 million produce food primarily for the market, providing 15 to 20 percent of the world’s food. But the majority raises food for their own families. With the increase in urban poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition in urban areas due to increasing urbanization, many citizens have turned to urban agriculture as a livelihood strategy and source of income for a substantial number of urban households. However, many urban farmers operate without formal recognition of their main livelihood activity and lack the structural support of proper municipal policies and legislation. Contradictions exist between legislation, policy and actual practice. This paper examines legal and policy framework affecting development of urban agriculture. Using Eldoret Municipality case study, purposive sampling was employed and targeted Land Use Policy of 2009, Urban Areas and Cities Act 2011, Physical Planning Act Cap 286, Public Health Act Cap 242, Environment Act, Agriculture Act Cap 318, Local Government Act Cap 265 and Eldoret Municipal Bylaws. Key informant interviews were conducted with top government officials of the Ministries of Lands, Public Health, Local Government, Environment, and Agriculture, Eldoret Municipal Authority and Physical Planning Department. Data was analyzed by reviewing the contents, identifying contradictions between the laws and describing them as correctly as possible in finding out how the existing policies and acts have affected the development of urban agriculture According to the national legislation in Kenya, urban agriculture can be forbidden, restricted, allowed, controlled, facilitated or even promoted as expressed in the various policies and acts.. But there is no specific policy on urban agriculture. Eldoret Municipality recognizes the importance of urban farming as an important livelihood component, by tolerating the practice though it is illegal. But the translation of this awareness into a formal recognition in by-laws and ordinances has not been done. The study recommends that policy on Urban Agriculture should be enacted and the Physical Planning Act Cap 286 revised and municipal by laws harmonized in line with Urban Areas and Cities act 2011, and the New Land Policy(2009) to legalize the activity to enable maximum realization of its benefits and ensure sustainable land use management.
The article can be accessed in full via:https://www.mistraurbanfutures.org/en/publication/legal-and-policy-framework-affecting-development-market-eldoret-municipality-kenya
0011-01-01T00:00:00ZSpatial Location Factors Affecting the Integration of Urban Agriculture into Land Use Planning of Eldoret Municipality, Kenya
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5440
Spatial Location Factors Affecting the Integration of Urban Agriculture into Land Use Planning of Eldoret Municipality, Kenya
Kamwele Hellen W, George M Onyango, George G Wagah
Urban agriculture is an activity being practiced globally in it as a survival strategy. The question of
organized urban land use has therefore become critical. The purpose of this study is to examine spatial
location factors affecting the integration of UA into land use planning. The study found out that
availability of land, physical access, affordability of land, security, convenience, security of tenure, and
proximity to production site and market affected the integration of UA into land use planning. The spatial
location factors are critical for successful integration of UA into land use planning and should be
considered during planning phase. A model of multifunctional land use is the most viable while embracing
innovative ways of farming. This knowledge will help towards better understanding spatial land use
planning and urban agriculture practices, by the County Governments of Kenya. This would lead to optimal
and sustainable use of land while empowering citizens.
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZApplication of GIS in Agriculture in Promoting Evidence-Informed Decision Making for Improving Agriculture Sustainability: A Systematic Review
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5438
Application of GIS in Agriculture in Promoting Evidence-Informed Decision Making for Improving Agriculture Sustainability: A Systematic Review
Mwehe Mathenge, Ben GJS Sonneveld, Jacqueline EW Broerse
The objective of this review was to synthesize existing evidence on GIS and RS application in agriculture in enhancing evidence-informed policy and practice for improving agriculture sustainability and identifying obstacles to their application, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Systematic searches were conducted in the databases SCOPUS, Web of Science, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, COnnecting REpositories (CORE), and Google Scholar. We identified 2113 articles published between 2010–2021, out of which 40 articles met the inclusion criteria. The results show that GIS technology application in agriculture has gained prominence in the last decade, with 66% of selected papers being published in the last six years. The main GIS application areas identified included: crop yield estimation, soil fertility assessment, cropping patterns monitoring, drought assessment, pest and crop disease detection and management, precision agriculture, and fertilizer and weed management. GIS technology has the potential to enhance agriculture sustainability through integrating the spatial dimension of agriculture into agriculture policies. In addition, GIS potential in promoting evidenced informed decision making is growing. There is, however, a big gap in GIS application in sub-Saharan Africa, with only one paper originating from this region. With the growing threat of climate change to agriculture and food security, there is an increased need for the integration of GIS in policy and decision making in improving agriculture sustainability
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZMapping the spatial dimension of food insecurity using GIS-based indicators: A case of Western Kenya
https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5437
Mapping the spatial dimension of food insecurity using GIS-based indicators: A case of Western Kenya
Mwehe Mathenge, Ben GJS Sonneveld, Jacqueline EW Broerse
Food insecurity elimination is a major focus of the Sustainable Development Goals and addresses one of the most pressing needs in developing countries. With the increasing incidence of food insecurity, poverty, and inequalities, there is a need for realignment of agriculture that aims to empower especially the rural poor smallholders by increasing productivity to improving food security conditions. Repositioning the agricultural sector should avoid general statements about production improvement, instead, it should tailor to location-specific recommendations that fully acknowledge the local spatial diversity of the natural resource base that largely determines production potentials under current low input agriculture. This paper aims to deconstruct the complex and multidimensional aspect of food insecurity and provides policymakers with an approach for mapping the spatial dimension of food insecurity. Using a set of GIS-based indicators, and a small-area approach, we combine Principal Component Analysis and GIS spatial analysis to construct one composite index and four individual indices based on the four dimensions of food security (access, availability, stability, and utilization) to map the spatial dimension of food insecurity in Vihiga County, Kenya. Data were collected by the use of a geocoded household survey questionnaire. The results reveal the existence of a clear and profound spatial disparity of food insecurity. Mapping food insecurity using individual dimension indices provides a more detailed picture of food insecurity as compared to the single composite index. Spatially disaggregated data, a small area approach, and GIS-based indicators prove valuable for mapping local-level causative factors of household food insecurity. Effective policy approaches to combat food insecurity inequalities should integrate spatially targeted interventions for each dimension of food insecurity.
2022-01-01T00:00:00Z