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This paper explores the role of housing in the achievement of prosperity from a capabilities perspective. Prosperity, according to Jackson (Prosperity without growth: economics for a finite planet, Earthscan, Oxford, 2009), is built on Amartya Sen's notion of capabilities for flourishing. Then, in the pursuit of understanding the role of housing as an enabler of capabilities for the achievement of prosperity, this paper investigates the gaps in the views/concepts of housing through comparisons of the ten central capabilities, the right to adequate housing, and meanings of home. Data from a recent qualitative study in rural and urban Kenya is used for empirical analysis as a way to develop a localised application of the discussion. Looking through the lens of the Capabilities Approach brought a useful framework that made it possible to capture human and social housing values that are many times neglected. In that sense, the paper explores housing both as the physical conditions of the house and as the social and psychological dynamics that construct the meanings of home. The research demonstrated that the extent to which housing enables the enjoyment of capabilities for flourishing increases or diminishes insofar housing acknowledges and incorporates both material and non-material functions. Hopefully, this exercise can serve to inform and enrich future localised housing design, research and policy, where a more comprehensive understanding and conceptualisation of housing seems imperative: Housing, as House + Home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Journal of Tropical Insect Science (Int J Trop Insect Sci) is a peer-reviewed journal established in 1980 to promote insect science mainly in the tropics. This study aimed to provide a Bibliometric overview of Int J Trop Insect Sci publications and citations between 2012 and 2020, ending September 2020. A sample of 488 documents extracted from the Web of Science (WoS) was analysed using widely used bioclimatic indicators. The articles were written by 1726 authors. During this period, the most productive authors comprised S Roy, followed by S Ekesi, S Subramanian and M Tamo. The dominant keyword was 'resistance', followed by 'Homoptera'. India took a leading position in Single Country Publications (SCP) while Kenya took the lead in Multiple Country Publications (MCP). Bibliometric analysis reveals vibrant collaboration between African and Western countries and active publication of multi-country authored articles. We conclude that there is an increasing trend for collaboration among different countries on the general topic of insect science. Research in insect science has the potential to impact both academic researchers and practitioners the knowledge use chain. This study will help researchers, journal editors, science policy makers managers, and others working in the biodiversity space and potential research gaps needing for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important commercialised food crop in Kenya. Recently, Kenya has realised a huge increase in the number of formally released potato varieties. The performance of these varieties is not clear and their adoption across various growing environments is low. This study explored how availability, access, quality and systems of seed and storability and market demand of potatoes influence farmers' decisions on choice of varieties they grow and how they select seed for planting in the different seasons. Focus group discussions (83 farmers) and a household survey (225 farmers) were conducted in three major potato growing areas (Lelan, Saboti and Kaptama) in north-western Kenya. Results showed that farmers mainly used farm-saved seed and only 4.9% had used certified seed, while 71% indicated that certified seed was not available locally. Almost all farmers ensured they used healthy seed by visually examining the seed tubers while most farmers also examined the health of the crop in the field before harvest. Farmers renewed their seed depending on the number of cycles used, infection, decline in yield and availability of clean seed. Seed was usually renewed for up to after 5 years of recycling, and generally involved the varieties Shangi, Kabale and Arka. Farmers ranked five variety traits: tuber yield, disease resistance, market demand, early maturity and storability as most important in the choice of a variety. Farmers understood the importance of dormancy and had methods for managing dormancy, but their knowledge was biased to the few varieties they had, particularly Shangi, the predominant variety in the market. Despite agronomic attributes, market demand featured as a primary determinant of variety choice amongst farmers. The findings from this paper can guide use of seed, adoption of new varieties and future breeding of potato varieties for Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under what conditions do incumbents support, tolerate, or try to rein in armed groups within their borders? The paper argues that incumbents strategize toward armed groups in ways that help them manage the ruling coalition and remain in power. I find that incumbents support armed groups in provinces where provincial politicians have defected from the ruling coalition to opposition parties, recruiting armed groups to deliver the province in national elections with fraud and violence and punish elite defectors. Where incumbents are not fighting to keep provinces in the ruling coalition, I show that they tolerate non-dissident groups that enjoy social contracts with local communities, and try to contain their dissident counterparts. Incumbents are likely to repress predatory armed groups, dissident and non-dissident alike. Doing so helps boost elite and mass support for incumbents and project central government power into the province. The argument was inductively built with comparative case studies from Nigeria and then evaluated in Kenya. The findings contribute to an important research agenda on government-armed group relationships and carry implications for security sector aid and reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many developing countries implemented inheritance rights reforms, aimed at abolishing any forms of gender discrimination in the arena of property rights. A few studies examine the interrelationship between inheritance rights reform and qualitative indicators of women's well-being in terms of bargaining power at the household level, exposure to domestic violence, health outcomes and participation in labour markets. However, quantitative evidence on the second-generation effects of these inheritance reforms, in terms of influencing health and well-being outcomes of the children born to beneficiary women is scant, particularly in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. This paper examines the effects of a statutory law reform that grants Kenyan women equal inheritance rights on children's health outcomes using a difference-in-differences framework. Using the Kenyan Demographic and Health Surveys, this study exploits variation in the timing of the 1981 reform and the 1990 amendments as well as differences in religious affiliation to estimate the effect of the reform on child health outcomes. This study finds that exposure to the inheritance rights reform is associated with a decline in poor health outcomes in children. We identify potential channels through which changes in inheritance rights law can affect children's outcome to include women's human capital, marital matching, intra-household bargaining, and women's labour supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the overall effect of the Kenyan free maternity policy (FMP) on the main outcomes (early neonatal and neonatal deaths) and intermediate outcomes (delivery through Caesarean Section (CS), skilled birth attendance (SBA), birth in a public hospital and low birth weight (LBW)) using the 2014 Demographic Health Survey. We applied the difference-in-difference (DID) approach to compare births (to the same mothers) happening before and after the start of the policy (June 2013) and a limited cost–benefit analysis (CBA) to assess the net social benefit of the FMP. The probabilities of birth resulting in early neonatal and neonatal mortality are significantly reduced by 17–21% and 19–20%, respectively, after the FMP introduction. The probability of birth happening through CS reduced by 1.7% after implementing the FMP, while that of LBW birth is increased by 3.7% though not statistically significant. SBA and birth in a public facility did not moderate the policy's effects on early neonatal mortality, neonatal mortality, and delivery through CS. They were not significant determinants of the policy effects on the outcomes. There is a significant causal impact of the FMP in reducing the probability of early neonatal and neonatal mortality, but not the delivery through CS. The FMP cost-to-benefit ratio was 21.22, and there were on average 4015 fewer neonatal deaths in 2013/2014 due to the FMP. The net benefits are higher than the costs; thus, there is a need to expand and sustainably fund the FMP to avert more neonatal deaths potentially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to determine the dormancy and physiological age characteristics of diverse potato genotypes as influenced by growing altitudes and seasons for future breeding strategies and optimal patterns of use. Dormancy and sprouting characteristics have an impact on tuber production, storability and seed quality for planting and ware for consumption and the market. This study presents the results of dormancy and physiological age measurements conducted on 47 potato genotypes grown at three altitudes with three replications at each location and in two contrasting growing seasons. The seed tubers were evaluated at low altitude under darkness on moist sand storage conditions to assess their dormancy release, number of sprouts, sprout weight, sprout length and percentage tuber weight loss. Results showed significant (p < 0.001) differences among genotypes, locations and seasons, and significant interactions between these factors for days to dormancy release, number of sprouts per tuber at dormancy release and at 45 days after dormancy release, length of longest sprout, weight loss percentage of unsprouted and sprouted tubers at dormancy release and at 45 days after dormancy release, respectively. There was a wide variation in time to dormancy release (54 to 136 days); most genotypes showed medium to long dormancy. Seed tubers grown at low altitude showed longer dormancy than those grown at higher altitudes, while genotypic differences in dormancy were very consistent across environments. Genotypes strongly differed in sprouting characteristics and weight loss. There were highly significant interactions between altitude and season for all variables assessed, except for the number of sprouts 45 days after dormancy release and the weight loss after sprouting. Generally, the genotypic effects were larger than those of altitude, season and the interaction effects for all variables evaluated. This paper will allow variety selection to optimize seed quality at planting and minimize storage losses while providing new targets for breeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the phenomenal growth of urban centres in developing countries, cities have become important sites for engaging with environmental issues. Among the many issues, the prevalence of informal settlements in cities and their implications on environmental sustainability have emerged as a growing concern. However, the significance of these spaces in the environmental sustainability function has not been adequately considered. Policy makers and urban planners have often failed to recognize informal settlement upgrading processes as one of the most important avenues for realizing environmentally sustainable cities. As a result, these projects have not only failed to improve the inherent poor environmental quality, but they have also aggravated consumption inefficiencies, waste management problems and disrupted the social structures through which environmental management can be propagated. This paper evaluates the environmental sustainability performance of government led informal settlement upgrading projects in Kenyan cities in an effort to determine the extent to which environmental sustainability outcomes are evident in upgraded settlements. The evaluation focuses on environmental performance of 11 upgraded informal settlements in three cities on resource consumption domain based on 5 indicators using comparative performance rating. Data was collected through multistage cluster and simple random sampling of 600 household; coupled with key informant interviews, observations and focus group discussions. The results indicate low resource consumption environmental sustainability performance in the upgraded settlements in Kenya. There is need for deliberate action to integrate environmental sustainability in informal settlement upgrading processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pastoralist adaptation strategies have to address multiple, overlapping, and often inter-related processes of socio-ecological change. The present study addresses the need for inter-regional comparative studies that account for different geographic, climate, and socio-economic contexts in order to understand how pastoralists adapt to changes in livelihood conditions. The paper uses data from a unique survey study of pastoralist households in four neighbouring counties in dryland Kenya. Taking our point of departure from an empirically based classification of the livelihood strategies available to pastoralists in the Horn of Africa, the survey offers novel insights into adaptation and fodder management strategies of pastoralist individuals and households. The results show that the use of migration as a strategy is more dependent on the ability to migrate than climate conditions. This is the case in localities where a substantial part of the land is subdivided, the population density is high, and where opportunities for migration are subsequently restricted. Diversification of livelihoods as a strategy is largely defined by opportunity. Intensification through active fodder management is mainly common in areas where there has been a proliferation of managed enclosures. Climate change will test the adaptive capacity of pastoralists in the studied region, and diversification and intensification strategies of both herd composition and livelihoods can be seen as strategies for increased climate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The considerations of how Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to global climate action under the Paris Agreement are ambitious and fair, or equitable, is expected to guide countries' decisions with regards to the ambition and priorities of those contributions. This article investigates the equity aspect of the NDCs of four cases (Canada, the EU, Kenya, and South Africa) utilizing a combination of document analysis and expert interviews. It interrogates both the NDC documents themselves and, uniquely, the role of international and domestic equity considerations within the domestic policy processes that led to the formulation of the NDCs. For this, 30 participants and close observers of these processes were interviewed. We find countervailing effects of equity on ambition, with an enabling, or ambition-enhancing, effect resulting from international equity, in that these four Parties show willingness to do more if others do, too. In contrast, tempering effect appears to result from domestic equity concerns, for example with regards to real, perceived, or anticipated adverse distributional impacts of climate action across regions, sectors, and/or societal strata. Political cultures differ across the four case studies, as do the key actors that influence domestic policies and the preparations of NDCs. This paper also demonstrates that research on equity in NDCs can benefit from expanding its scope from the contents of NDC submissions to also examine the underlying decision-making processes, to generate insights that can contribute to future NDCs being both equitable and ambitious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, crickets are gaining recognition as a valuable alternative protein source for human consumption due to their lower resource requirement and ecological footprint compared to traditional livestock. In this paper, we examine strategies that may expedite the sustainable domestication of crickets as a food source. Using survey data from 306 households in western Kenya, we find that supplying cricket production starter kits, granting access to credit facilities, encouraging participation in farmer groups, and fostering partnerships can enhance the adoption of cricket farming. Moreover, we provide new evidence that institutional training significantly increases cricket yields while embracing cricket consumption (i.e. entomophagy) increases market supply. These findings underscore the importance of technical training, provision of production starter kits, and raising awareness about entomophagy to achieve sustainable mass production and adoption of cricket farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) represents 20% of gold supply and 90% of gold mining workforce globally, which operates in highly informal setups. Pollutants from mined ores and chemicals introduced during gold processing pose occupational and inadvertent health risks to the extent that has not been well elucidated in Africa. Trace and major elements were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in soil, sediment and water samples from 19 ASGM villages in Kakamega and Vihiga counties. Associated health risks for residents and ASGM workers were assessed. This paper focuses on As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb for which 96% of soil samples from mining and ore processing sites had As concentrations up to 7937 times higher than the US EPA 12 mg kg−1 standard for residential soils. Soil Cr, Hg and Ni concentrations in 98%, 49% and 68% of the samples exceeded respective USEPA and CCME standards, with 1–72% bioaccessibility. Twenty-five percentage of community drinking water sources were higher than the WHO 10 µg L−1 drinking water guideline. Pollution indices indicated significant enrichment and pollution of soils, sediment and water in decreasing order of As > Cr > Hg > Ni > Pb > Cd. The study revealed increased risks of non-cancer health effects (98.6) and cancer in adults (4.93 × 10−2) and children (1.75 × 10−1). The findings will help environment managers and public health authorities better understand the potential health risks in ASGM and support evidence-based interventions in ASGM processes, industrial hygiene and formulation of public health policy to protect residents and ASGM workers' health in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant evidence indicates that exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE) tend to cluster among children and adolescents. Considering that adolescents from African countries present higher risk of being exposed to multiple ACE compared to other countries, the identification of victimization profiles in this population is clearly warranted. The aim of this study was to determine meaningful clusters of individuals with similar experiences of ACE in a sample of Kenyan adolescents. Latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify latent classes of exposure to ACE. In addition, the relationships between the latent classes and gender, parental education, living arrangements and diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were estimated. A three-class solution was found to be the best description of ACE, and the classes were labelled "Low Risk", "Intermediate Risk", and "High Risk". Compared with the Low-Risk class, the High-Risk class was found to be significantly more likely to have a diagnosis of PTSD and being a female may be an antecedent risk factor for high exposure to ACE. The Intermediate Risk class was significantly less likely to have parents with high school or college education. This paper indicates that Kenyan adolescents present higher risk of being exposed to multiple ACE and that trauma research may turn its focus on the individual as the unit of analysis rather than traumatic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the challenges of implementing antibiotic stewardship – reducing and optimizing the use of antibiotics – in agricultural settings of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) as a strategic part of addressing the global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It does so through analysis of the rapidly transforming yet diverse Kenyan poultry sector, characterized by growing commercial operations alongside traditional smallholder farming. Our research involves interviews with farmers, processors, policymakers, and agro-veterinary stores in these settings. We blend Chandler's (2019, p. 8) notion of "antibiotics as infrastructure" with value chain frameworks to understand how the structural role of antibiotics in agriculture plays out through contrasting value chains, with different implications for stewardship. Weak regulation and intense market-based pressures are shown to drive widespread antibiotic use in poultry value chains involving small- and medium-sized farms supplying open markets. Antibiotic stewardship through adherence to agricultural and food safety standards is more evident, though unevenly observed, in value chains involving large commercial farms and processors supplying corporate buyers. Our findings reveal the complex structural roles of antibiotics in maintaining producer livelihoods in an intensely competitive and heterogeneous Kenyan poultry sector. This highlights challenges with applying global AMR policy to transforming food systems in LMICs without appropriate translation. We argue that attempts to reduce and optimize the use of antibiotics in agriculture must be informed by nuanced understandings of the roles of antibiotics in food systems in specific places including where very different scales and models of farming and value chain co-exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The future of work has become a pressing matter of concern: Researchers, business consultancies, and industrial companies are intensively studying how new work models could be best implemented to increase workplace flexibility and creativity. In particular, the agile model has become one of the "must-have" elements for re-organizing work practices, especially for technology development work. However, the implementation of agile work often comes together with strong presumptions: it is regarded as an inevitable tool that can be universally integrated into different workplaces while having the same outcome of flexibility, transparency, and flattened hierarchies everywhere. This paper challenges such essentializing assumptions by turning agile work into a "matter of care." We argue that care work occurs in contexts other than feminized reproductive work, namely, technology development. Drawing on concepts from feminist Science and Technology Studies and ethnographic research at agile technology development workplaces in Germany and Kenya, we examine what work it takes to actually keep up with the imperative of agile work. The analysis brings the often invisibilized care practices of human and nonhuman actors to the fore that are necessary to enact and stabilize the agile promises of flexibilization, co-working, and rapid prototyping. Revealing the caring sociotechnical relationships that are vital for working agile, we discuss the emergence of power asymmetries characterized by hierarchies of skills that are differently acknowledged in the daily work of technology development. The paper ends by speculating on the emancipatory potential of a care perspective, by which we seek to inspire careful Emancipatory Technology Studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domestic wastewater collection and treatment rate of Nairobi, Kenya are not high. The wastewater in the Kibera slum on the outskirts of the city that is directly discharged to the environment and pollution of the surrounding water body is a serious problem. This paper takes the domestic wastewater in the slum area as the research objective and researches on the wastewater characteristics, collection, and treatment, therefore providing the reference for the wastewater collection and treatment technology in the region. In this paper, domestic wastewater in the Kibera slum of Nairobi was sampled and investigated to find out the characteristics of wastewater discharged, the way of discharge of the household wastewater, and the management in this area. The study shows that there are differences in the concentration of main pollutants such as nutrients and organic matter in the wastewater from the household discharged to the residential river in the slum area. The domestic wastewater in this slum area contained a high concentration of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus and other organics, total suspended solids (TSS), total coliforms and color, and with no treatment methods. Therefore, economic and feasible treatment technology needs to be developed. A pilot study was conducted on the treatment of domestic wastewater in the slum area by combining the seed extract of the natural plant Moringa oleifera as a coagulant and vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) at Tongji University, Shanghai, China. The VFCW system was efficient in chemical oxygen demand (COD), TSS, turbidity, total phosphorus (TP), and phosphates (PO4-P) removal, but the removal efficiency of nitrogen (total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), and nitrate (NO3-N)) was poor, and the effluent pH reached the required discharge country's standard of the water. The average removal efficiencies for COD (79.99%), TSS (86.84%), turbidity (87.35%), TP (61.29%), PO4-P (65.66%), TN (14.11%), NH4-N (18.17%), and NO3-N (93%) were achieved by the treatment system. Furthermore, the removal efficiencies of pollutants such as TP, PO4-P, TN, and NH4-N were carried out by using the fruit extract of Moringa oleifera as raw material and zeolite as an auxiliary agent. The comprehensive effect of zeolite combined with VFCW and natural coagulant in the treatment of domestic wastewater was investigated. The COD removal efficiency was increased by (9%). TN by (46%), NH4-N by (67%), TP by (19%), and turbidity improved by (9%). In short, the domestic wastewater in the Kibera slum was collected and pretreated with natural plant coagulant, and then purified by vertical flow constructed wetland, which can not only significantly reduce the pollutant concentration but also basically meet the discharge standards. It is a low-cost sewage treatment technology suitable for poor areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the Concentrated Solar Collector (CSC) technologies, Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) is the most mature and commercialized CSC technology today. Currently, solar PTC technology is mainly used for electricity generation despite its huge potential for heating, especially in industrial process heat (IPH) applications. Though the technology is well-developed and successfully used in many developed countries, there is barely any development in Kenya. This paper studies the techno-economic feasibility of a solar PTC-assisted tea drying process in one tea factory that currently relies on biomass for process heat, in the tea producing area of Kericho, Kenya. The plant integrating parabolic troughs is modelled and a yearly simulation performed using System Advisor Model (SAM) software. The weather data are derived from ground measurements at Kericho meteorological weather station. SAM is used to model the impact of the principal design parameters, i.e., solar multiple (SM), thermal energy storage (TES) and hybridization percentages, on solar–biomass plant configurations, and to reveal the optimum case. The studied impacts are linked to the annual energy production and the optimal size which minimizes the levelized cost of heat (LCOH). Analysis of monthly variations of energy production by the solar PTC reveals that even when the solar system is designed to its maximum capacity (SM of 3 and TES of 24 h), some months will still require hybridisation with biomass to fully meet the energy demand. TES must also be incorporated in the solar PTC design to maximise on energy production. The hybrid solar–biomass plant with TES provides optimal performance when SM is 1.8 and TES is 24 h. This results in LCOH of 1.85 US cents/kWh, which is 25% cheaper than using biomass only as is the current practice. Furthermore, integration of solar PTC has a positive impact on carbon footprint and considerably reduces annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 9817 tons of CO2-eq, and annual fuel wood consumption by 16,462 m3 (equivalent to 23.51 acres of mature grown trees). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to social and fiscal contract theories, governments provide core social services largely to maintain their legitimacy. But does the state itself have to provide the services? In most developing countries, both nonprofit and for-profit schools and health clinics exist alongside those of the state. However, limited research has measured the relationship among citizens' use of these services and attitudes about state legitimacy. This paper examines whether nonstate service provision is associated with decreased government legitimacy. We find a negative relationship between the use of for-profit services and state legitimacy, but no clear relationship between nonprofit service provision and legitimacy, even when controlling for satisfaction with services provided. We propose several explanations for why for-profit service provision could affect legitimacy that are not present in nonprofit services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite much research on the topic, persistent difficulties remain around the adoption of modern cookstoves. This study aims to increase understandings of the complex decision making processes behind stove and fuel choice and identify barriers and opportunities to facilitate transitions to improved cookstoves. Taking an inductive, explorative approach to gather rich detail, in-depth interviews were conducted with 75 urban and rural people in Kenya which were then analyzed using adaptive theory to determine key issues. The study found the better off urban respondents all engaged a cookstove stacking approach, but contrary to previous understandings, this was less about an unwillingness to give up a traditional stove than it was a result of only being able to afford modern fuels for some of their cooking needs. They would then ration out the use of a modern stove to the meals when the perceived benefits of the stove were most in need, such as speed during busy periods, and use the traditional stove to fill in the gaps more cheaply. People in the poorer, rural group were very optimistic about the process of moving to modern stoves and fuels but completely unable to afford them. These findings indicate that price rather than preference is the dominant factor to the purchase and continued use of modern cookstoves. The paper frames these results to reemphasize the need to address price barriers of modern cookstoves, through subsidization, to facilitate increased adoption rates among the poorest users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines alternations in demonstrative ordering in Kikuyu, a Bantu language spoken primarily in Kenya. An interesting effect is found: direct objects may not have prenominal demonstratives in transitive constructions, but may have prenominal demonstratives in a number of ditransitive constructions. I argue that this alternation is tied to Case. It is shown that these alternations can be accounted for using a theory of dependent Case in which Case has a licensing function. In Kikuyu, direct objects and subjects are too distant in the structure for the former to be assigned Case, and therefore the N head of the direct object must be adjacent to the verbal complex at the surface in order to be licensed (Levin 2015). However, the presence of a medial argument allows direct objects to be assigned Case since the two are sufficiently local, thus obviating the requirement for N-V adjacency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civil society in Gramscian conception is an arena of hegemonic contestations and therefore essentially political. Development is also a political process inasmuch as it involves power in the allocation of resources and values. Yet, some African states as elsewhere globally, attempt to create and reproduce a legal–policy environment that favours an 'apolitical' 'development'-oriented civil society while disabling those perceived 'political'. This article argues the state–civil society relationship ambivalence is a product of competing visions of what constitutes 'politics' and 'development' and their governmentalities. Drawing on existing literature, primary interviews and media articles, the paper attempts to bring into conversation discourses on the political and development roles of civil society and how these have shaped state–civil society relationships from colonial period to the present day Kenya. Reflecting on manifestations of assumed role dichotomy and implications for state–civil society relations, the paper argues that the dual roles are complimentary and mutually reinforcing. The dual roles have also resulted in multiple relationships between state and civil society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on establishing actors and their roles in the slaughterhouse processes in the Nanyuki slaughterhouse of Laikipia County. This is understood through the lens of the food system approach, based on the study findings of an anthropological study of pastoralism in Laikipia County, Kenya. This paper is guided by the specific objectives aimed at establishing the actors and their roles and describing the effects that institutional settings and changes have on slaughterhouse operations. Using a new institutionalism approach in social anthropology, the paper focuses not only on the actors and their roles but also on how externally shaped beef prices and standards shape the rules regulating access to the food processing processes for pastoral actors. We argue that this has an impact on pastoral economies and the question if and how pastoralists are able to benefit from this change in the food system. The study also identifies institutional settings and changes related to management, security and health concerns that impact the slaughterhouse operations and processes resulting from the dispensation of the devolved system of governance in the country. Data collection was through key informant interviews and unstructured observation of the slaughterhouse. The findings reveal economic and social relationships among actors involved in slaughterhouse operations and processes. The study also identified changes in formal institutional settings that impact the slaughterhouse operations, notably movement and no-objection permits as well as transportation and condemnation certifications. As a result, increased scholarship is recommended into slaughterhouse operations and processes as a means to understand the value addition that pastoralism has on the economic and food sustainability of the pastoral regions, counties and the nation as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giraffe (Giraffa spp.) numbers and their habitat have drastically declined throughout Africa over the last century due to various threats linked to anthropogenic impacts including habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, poaching, and climate change. In Kenya, the Nubian giraffe (G. camelopardalis camelopardalis) population decreased significantly up until the late 1980s. As a result of increased conservation efforts, the Nubian giraffe population has rebounded since the early 1990s, however, it remains predominantly extralimital and/or restricted to closed protected areas in central and western Kenya. In this paper, we set out to assess historical and current population numbers and trends of Nubian giraffe in Kenya, and highlight the conservation efforts that are applied to conserve this Critically Endangered taxon. We reviewed published manuscripts and grey literature, wildlife authority records and interviewed landowners with Nubian giraffe populations. We also conducted photographic surveys in three national parks and reserves where anecdotal reports suggested that the largest populations of Nubian giraffe occurred. We found that from a low of 130 individuals remaining in the wild and near extinction in the mid-1970s, the Nubian giraffe population has rebounded to 1,042 in 14 populations in Kenya, which represents an increase of more than 700%. This conservation success story is attributed to targeted management efforts, in particular conservation translocations and the increased monitoring of populations. At the same time, various factors including habitat loss and fragmentation, and infrastructure developments, linked with the increasing human population continue to pose a threat to their survival in the country. We place our findings in the broader context of population ecology and present opportunities for conservation research as well as recommendations that inform the management of this critical population of concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-COVID-19 era has witnessed intensive engagements on latest datasets on COVID-19 experiences and the need for robust data systems to understand emerging policy pathways. There have also been extensive deliberations on how public organisations can deliver beyond immediate concerns with economic recovery and improved livelihoods. This paper draws insights from the Afrobarometer round 9 dataset on how different African governments' economies have been recovering from COVID-19 and how this has affected citizens' well-being in Kenya. The results show that despite the good recovery progress, the government has yet to stabilise high food prices, inflation, debts, job creation, etc. While national policy priorities may explain how this situation plays out, these challenges remain complex and linked to external factors that African governments may have little control over. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor waste management and unsustainable institutional and individual behaviors, have led to the accumulation of plastic litter in many habitats worldwide. Assessment of plastic pollution in Kenyan marine environment was conducted focusing on the impact of banning the single-use plastic carrier bags in Kenya. The quantification, composition, and distribution of plastics were determined at nine (9) beaches along Kenyan coastline using standing stock method. A total of 750 plastic items were collected and categorized with only 47 pieces being single-use plastic carrier bags. A great number of plastics (n = 383), were identified by their original use, with packaging plastics being the most common (n = 155). Macroplastics were the overall dominant plastics at 76%, mesoplastics, 21% and microplastics, 3%, which were altogether dominated by low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at (46%), followed by polypropylene (PP), 30%; polyethylene tetraphthalate (PET), 9%; polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 8%; and polystyrene (PS), 7%. The absence of identifiable single-use plastic carrier bags in 6 out of 9 beaches signified the effectiveness of the ban in Kenya. Monitoring of trends and sources of plastic debris is encouraged to help enhance the science-policy linkage aimed at reducing marine plastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulation is the characteristic feature of successful currency systems, from community currencies to cryptocurrencies to national currencies. In this paper, we propose a network analysis approach especially suited for studying circulation given a system's digital transaction records. Sarafu is a digital community currency that was active in Kenya over a period that saw considerable economic disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We represent its circulation as a network of monetary flow among the 40,000 Sarafu users. Network flow analysis reveals that circulation was highly modular, geographically localized, and occurring among users with diverse livelihoods. Across localized sub-populations, network cycle analysis supports the intuitive notion that circulation requires cycles. Moreover, the sub-networks underlying circulation are consistently degree disassortative and we find evidence of preferential attachment. Community-based institutions often take on the role of local hubs, and network centrality measures confirm the importance of early adopters and of women's participation. This work demonstrates that networks of monetary flow enable the study of circulation within currency systems at a striking level of detail, and our findings can be used to inform the development of community currencies in marginalized areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal management of scarce transboundary water resources among competitive users is expected to be challenged by the effects of climate change on water availability. The multiple economic and social implications, including conflicts between neighbouring countries, as well as competitive sectors within each country are difficult to estimate and predict, to inform policy-making. In this paper, this problem is approached as a stochastic multistage dynamic game: we develop and apply a novel framework for assessing and evaluating different international strategies regarding transboundary water resources use, under conditions of hydrological uncertainty. The Omo-Turkana transboundary basin in Africa is used as a case study application, since it increasingly faces the above challenges, including the international tension between Kenya and Ethiopia and each individual country's multi-sectoral competition for water use. The mathematical framework combines a hydro-economic model (water balance, water costs and benefits), and an econometric model (production functions and water demand curves) which are tested under cooperative and non-cooperative conditions (Stackelberg "leader–follower" game). The results show the cross-country and cross-sectoral water use—economic trade-offs, the future water availability for every game case, the sector-specific production function estimations (including residential, agriculture, energy, mining, tourism sectors), with nonparametric treatment, allowing for technical inefficiency in production and autocorrelated Total Factor Productivity, providing thus a more realistic simulation. Cooperation between the two countries is the most beneficial case for future water availability and economic growth. The study presents a replicable, sophisticated modelling framework, for holistic transboundary water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyse the transformations faced by pastoralists in coping with the uncertainties of their livelihoods, this paper analyses the evolutions of the marketing of camel milk, which has turned from a local taboo into a critical asset for the pastoral communities of Isiolo, a county typically associated with the rearing of cattle. Camel milk marketing (CMM) challenges several assumptions about pastoral societies and their supposed embedding conservativeness, inefficiency and risk aversion. A high-reliability perspective has been instrumental in revealing the ongoing dynamics that are reconfiguring pastoral resource management and livelihood patterns in Isiolo. Through this approach, the management practices and contractual relationships that underpin CMM production and marketing have been explored, with a view to unveiling the rationale inspiring the networks through which camel milk is transacted, and the related socially-regulated arrangements and practices. The social and political embeddedness of CMM networks is central to their ability to adapt and function in constantly changing local conditions. The marketing of camel milk provides an intriguing insight into how pastoral systems are informed by a high-reliability approach to operating under conditions of volatility and uncertainty. Political economy matters will have a significant influence on the evolution of this important enterprise. Adequate investments in infrastructure and public facilities would be crucial to further develop CMM and to enable its operators to respond and adapt to local dynamics, with a view to fairly share the associated risks, costs and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the toponymic heritage used in Kenya's Authoritative Geographic Information (AGI) toponyms database of 26,600 gazetteer records through documentation and characterization of meanings of place names in topographic mapping. A comparison was carried out between AGI and GeoNames and between AGI and OpenStreetMap (OSM) volunteered records. A total of 15,000 toponymic matchings were found. Out of these, 1567 toponyms were then extracted for further scrutiny using AGI data in the historical records and from respondents on toponyms' meanings. Experts in toponymy assisted in verifying these data. From the questionnaire responses, 235 names occurred in more than one place while AGI data had 284. The elements used to characterize the toponyms included historical perceptions of heritage evident in toponyms in their localities, ethnographic, toponymical and morphology studies on Kenya's dialects. There was no significant relationship established between the same place name usages among dialects as indicated by a positive weak correlation r (438), = 0.166, p < 0.001 based on the effect of using the related places and the distance between related places. The weak correlation implies that the one name one place principle does not apply due to diverse language boundaries, strong bonds associated with historical toponyms in the form of heritage and significant variations on how names resist changes to preserve their heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Trichomonas tenax (T. tenax) is a commensal flagellated protozoan found in periodontal microenvironment of the oral cavity, with a possible role in periodontal diseases. The purpose of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the worldwide prevalence of T. tenax infection and to show the neglected association of this parasitic infection with oral diseases. Methods: To find literatures published until August 2020, five English databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar) were explored. Finally, 65 papers were qualified to be included in the current study. Results: Our results revealed a global pooled prevalence of 17% (95% CI 14–22%) for T. tenax infection. The highest prevalence was estimated at 56% (42–69%) in Chile, while the lowest prevalence was related to Kenya with 3% (1–6%). The age-based analysis found that the infection was most common in 46–55 mean age group with 15% (0–100%). The overall prevalence regarding culture method, molecular method and direct method was 21% (12–32%), 19% (8–35%) and 17% (12–23%), respectively. Moreover, the subgroup analysis showed the pooled prevalence in patient with candidiasis [22% (3–52%)], gingivitis [21% (9–36%)] and periodontitis [27% (10–48%)]. Conclusion: Our study specified a connection between T. tenax protozoa and periodontitis disease. However, more epidemiological studies as well as clinical trials are needed to precisely identify this relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2018, a large fissure closely parallel to the eastern rift belt of the East African Rift (EAR) system in Kenya emerged across the highway near Mai Mahiu town. It raises the possibility of rift tectonics aided by subsurface erosion. A thorough investigation was made based on remote sensing-based lineament analysis, land surface deformation by spaceborne geodetic techniques, and rainfall pattern vs denudational processes in the affected area in relation to local geology to adjudge the cause of the aseismic fissure. By conventional and advanced differential interferometric SAR (DInSAR and ADInSAR) and GNSS data analyses aided by the knowledge of generalised rift direction obtained from remote-sensing based lineament analysis, we inferred miniature dike intrusion and reactivation of pre-existing fault in a transiently elevated extensional regime. Episodic magmatic inflation in the Mt Longonot volcano and sudden increase in hydrological loading due to prolonged torrential rainfall led to the elevated extension and fracturing of the magma chamber, which prompted to miniature dyke intrusion along the pre-existing NNW-SSE fault, reactivation of faults and fractures and subtle rifting on SW dipping normal fault. Further, internal erosion in porous and permeable sandy soil and volcaniclastic deposits led to cavity formation along the reactivated weak plane, which finally led to the emergence of the ground fissure. In this paper, we presented our observations on volcano movements (due to magmatic inflation), reactivation of the pre-existing fault(s)/fracture(s) and, finally, their linkage with the formation of the surface fissure in an area with favourable geomorphology, rock and soil properties for internal erosion during heavy torrential rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether agricultural supply chains (ASC) can be simultaneously sustainable and resilient to ecological disruptions, using the Planetary Boundaries theory. The nine different Planetary Boundaries i.e. climatic change, biodiversity loss, biogeochemical, ocean acidification, land use, freshwater availability, stratosphere ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosols and chemical pollution are examined in relation to ASC sustainability and resilience. Kenya's tea upstream supply chain sustainability and resilience from the ecological point of view is questioned. This study adopts a multi-case study analysis approach of nine producer organisations from Kenya's tea supply chain. The data from the in-depth semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion are analysed using thematic analysis. The Kenyan tea supply chain producers are not aware of all the nine planetary boundaries, although these impact on their resilience practices. They are engaged in pursuing both sustainability and resilience practices. They implement mainly environmental practices in relation to sustainability, while only a few of them are implementing resilience practices. The sustainability and resilience concepts were found to be interrelated, but resilience does not improve at the same pace as sustainability. It is suggested that the relationship between sustainability and resilience is non-linear. Limitations and future research avenues are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper advances knowledge of how national culture affects firm behavior. From the perspective of Hofstede's cultural dimensions and Meyer's culture scales, we predict differences in the awareness-motivation-capability framework of competitive dynamics across four national cultures. A survey sample of 263 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in France, India, Kenya, and the United States provides evidence of the hypothesized competitive differences. The cultural traits of individualism and indulgence often lead to a reduced sense of competitiveness. Moreover, within individualistic cultures, motivation is linked with an uptick in competitive ability but a decline in competitive consciousness, implying that companies in such cultures tend to take action without extensive deliberation. This investigation addresses two significant gaps in research. Firstly, it combines the research areas of competitive dynamics and culture, which have not previously been intertwined in empirical studies, despite culture's known influence on various business practices. Secondly, it sheds light on how varying levels of competition impact businesses by bridging the gap between research on competitive dynamics and SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global spread of the coronavirus pandemic has particularly dramatic consequences for the lives of migrants and refugees living in already marginalised and restricted conditions, whose ongoing crisis is at risk of being overlooked. But refugees are not only extremely vulnerable and at risk of infection, as several reports show, quickly develop their own protection measures like the production of hygienic products, the publication of their situation and calls for action and help. Therefore, this paper aims to research the effects of the coronavirus crisis on refugees in camp settings with a special ethnographic focus on how refugees actively deal with this crisis and if they, through already developed resilience, are capable of adapting to the restrictions as well as inventing strategies to cope with the difficult situation. To account for the variety of refugee camps as well as the different living conditions due to their locality, history and national asylum politics, we will look at three different locations, namely refugee asylum homes in Germany, hotspots on the Greek islands as well as one refugee camp in Kenya. The main questions will be how, under structurally and institutionally framed conditions of power and victimisation in refugee camps, forms of agency are established, made possible or limited. The goal is to show which strategies refugees apply to cope with the enhanced restrictions and exclusion, how they act to protect themselves and others from the virus and how they present and reflect their situation during the coronavirus pandemic. Finally, this discussion offers a new perspective to consider refugees not only as vulnerable victims, but also as actively engaged individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, is one of the fastest-growing cities on the continent. The rapid expansion of human activities has resulted in the overexploitation of natural resources, such as water. In the past, Nairobi had been identified as a vulnerable area to environmental hazards, such as land subsidence. Due to the lack of a functioning deformation-monitoring system in Kenya, the subsidence in Nairobi has yet to be empirically quantified. In this paper, we report the results of the first InSAR-based spatial assessment of land subsidence in Nairobi. Our analysis indicates both localized and regionalized subsidence in several locations in the west and north west of Nairobi. The largest deforming unit in Nairobi's western part is subsiding at approximately 62 mm/yr. Land subsidence can be attributed to groundwater overexploitation because it coincides with regions with the highest decline in groundwater levels. However, subsidence can also be attributed to consolidation associated with rapid urbanization in other areas such as east of Nairobi. This evaluation corroborates previous hydrogeological investigations which indicated that Nairobi was at risk of subsidence, contributing to flooding in some residential areas. The findings will help guide future decision-making in several agencies as well as provide an effective tool for planning mitigation measures to prevent further subsidence. A few of these include regulating borehole drilling, planning of roads and buildings, and locating groundwater observation wells. In addition, the observed significant land subsidence stresses the need for an updated geodetic reference system. Since Nairobi plays a significant role in the economy of Kenya, the effects of subsidence may be devastating and it is imperative that steps are taken to minimize their impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural mechanization is on the rise in Africa. A widespread replacement of manual labor and animal traction will change the face of African agriculture. Despite this potentially transformative role, only a few studies have looked at the effects of mechanization empirically, mostly focusing on yields and labor alone. This is the first paper that explores perceived agronomic, environmental, and socioeconomic effects together, thereby revealing linkages and trade-offs, some of which have been hitherto unknown. Data were collected using a novel data collection method called "participatory impact diagrams" in four countries: Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, and Mali. In 129 gendered focus group discussions, 1330 respondents from 87 villages shared their perceptions on the positive and negative effects of agricultural mechanization, and developed causal impact chains. The results suggest that mechanization is likely to have more far-reaching agronomic, environmental, and socioeconomic consequences than commonly assumed. Most perceived effects were positive, suggesting that mechanization can help to reduce poverty and enhance food security but other effects were negative such as deforestation, soil erosion, land-use conflicts, and gender inequalities. Accompanying research and policy efforts, which reflect variations in local agro-ecological and socioeconomic conditions, are needed to ensure that mechanization contributes to an African agricultural transformation that is sustainable from a social, economic, and environmental perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high internet penetration as well as the increasing digital platforms in Kenya has led to the transformation of many organizations in Kenya. Further, organizational followers are adopting digital technologies, and leveraging on digital platforms while working within organizations. Due to digitization, organizational followers are now collaborating, working flexibly (i.e. from home and other contexts away from work) and sharing content with people in different geographical locations. Consequently, many followers are influencing their organizational leaders. The digital transformation in the country, and among workers, suggest that organizational leaders should develop effective workable strategies and ensure they have conducive cultures that are in tandem with the digital transformation in place. This paper, based on Social Impact Theory (SIT) focuses on digitized organizational followers and their effect on firm leaders within Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Drug use during pregnancy can have negative effects on maternal and child health. However, there is a dearth of data regarding drug use among pregnant women in Kenya, where illicit drug use is on the rise. In this paper, we report factors influencing women's decisions to use drugs during pregnancy. Methods: In 2015, we conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 45 women who inject drugs and five key stakeholders involved in provision of services to people who use drugs in coastal Kenya. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to draw out themes related to key determinants of drug use during pregnancy. Results: Four key themes emerged outlining determinants of drug use during pregnancy: (i) the use of drugs to cope with the stress of unexpected pregnancy, (ii) the continued drug use during pregnancy to manage withdrawal, (iii) the dual effect of pregnancy on drug use either as a facilitator or as a moderator of drug use, and (iv) the role of male intimate partner in influencing women's drug use during pregnancy. Conclusion: Our paper reports women's drug use during pregnancy and the factors influencing this phenomenon. To safeguard the health and well-being of pregnant women and their unborn children, there is a need for education and awareness raising, implementing couple-based harm reduction approaches to leverage on positive male influences, improving availability of drug treatment, and provision of family planning interventions for women who use drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation, loss of access to land resources, climate variability, socio-economic changes, and population increase are among the factors that contribute to forage shortage among the pastoral communities. The loss of forage is critical, especially when droughts are frequent and prolonged. Interventions to improve pastoralists' resilience include policies that encourage livelihood diversification, that is, promoting enterprises that are less impacted by climate variability. This paper evaluates a reseeding project among pastoralists from Lake Baringo, Kenya, with the goal of rehabilitating degraded lands. Field owners participated in a survey and answered both quantitative and qualitative questions relating to their field and household characteristics. We use livestock herd size to assess households' conditions. We hypothesize that field characteristics including total land size reseeded, the total number of fields and the number of field locations, years of experience of working in reseeded fields, type of management, fencing, and the number of income-generating activities have an effect on herd size maintenance during drought. We find that the total number of fields and the number of income-generating activities have significant explanatory power in predicting a household's ability to maintain its herd size during drought. These factors are related to fine-scale control over land use which contributes to maintaining herd size. These findings suggest that reseeding by local pastoralists could be replicated and up-scaled into other dryland counties of Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa as a promising intervention to improve resilience to climate variability, alleviate poverty, and improve environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the coming into force of the Competition Act (2010), Kenya entered the world of modern competition policy. The 10 years that has passed since has seen a great level of activity in the competition space in Kenya, including: the staffing up of a modern competition authority; the rolling out of an ambitious advocacy campaign; the drafting of key guidance documents; the passing of a number of key amendments to plug gaps and open up new avenues for cases, and of course the pursuit of numerous cases including some related to cartels, abuse of dominance and mergers. Through all this, Kenya has become a leader in competition policy in Africa. This paper provides a critical review of many of these developments—with a particular focus on current challenges and opportunities. It also offers reflections on how competition policy may need to be different in a developing country, based on Kenya's experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper characterization of total electron content (TEC) and scintillation is very important to global positioning system (GPS) users in communication, navigation, ionospheric or atmospheric studies. Quiet time variation of TEC is useful in the estimation and removal of ionospheric delay for global navigation satellite systems single-frequency positioning. During geomagnetic storms, the variations of ionosphere deviate from their quiet day pattern and can cause significant effects on short-term prediction of various ionospheric parameters. The dynamics of the ionosphere change from region to region; therefore, in order to evaluate and improve the performance of global models of the ionosphere, numerous studies of variations using measured ionospheric parameters from stations globally are useful. This paper presents for the first time variations in the TEC and scintillation at Maseno University (geomagnetic coordinates, 9.64°S, 108.59°E), Kenya, investigated using a NovAtelGSV400B GPS receiver for the high solar activity year 2014. The GPS-measured TEC values were compared with the modeled TEC values by the latest International Reference Ionosphere model (IRI-2016), with a view to evaluate the performance of this version of the model. The largest TEC values were observed from 1300 to 1500 h local time throughout the year with the largest diurnal values occurring in March equinox and smallest during June solstice. The largest TEC values are attributed to extreme ultraviolet radiation coupled with upward E → × B → plasma drift velocity. Nighttime enhancements in TEC attributed to the 'fountain' effect occurred during some months. Scintillation correlated with depletions in TEC occurred in the period between 1600 h local time to 1900 h local time (post-sunset) sector during some months, with the strongest value of − 0.91 being experienced in March equinox. Scintillation was absent during geomagnetic storms studied mainly as a result of the time of onset of the recovery phases of the storms. In addition, the geomagnetic storms were manifested in GPS-measured TEC as negative ionospheric storms. The IRI-2016 model gave a good prediction of measured values except for its overestimation of measured TEC in the months of May and June. Further, a new insight shown by the results is the ability of the IRI-2016 model to predict post-sunset TEC enhancements during some months contrary to previous versions reported by other researchers in East Africa. However, model is not quickly sensitive to transitions from one season to another. This result contributes to the improvement of the current IRI model by recommending the introduction of an input into the model that is sensitive to transitions in seasons in future versions of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Nutrient-rich neglected and underutilized plant species could help transform food systems, provided science and policy are better connected, and greater coordination exists among the diverse stakeholders working with these species. Why have our food systems come to rely on such a narrow range of plant species of limited nutritional value? Today three staple crops (rice, maize and wheat) account for more than 50% of calories consumed while we continue to disregard the huge diversity of nutrient-rich plant species utilized by humanity throughout our history. The reasons for this situation are complex and challenging. Creative approaches are required to ensure greater integration of these plant species in agriculture and food systems, and ultimately greater food diversity on our plates and in our diets. This paper presents an overview of the nutritional value of select neglected and underutilized species (NUS) before describing in detail the work undertaken in four mega-diverse countries—Brazil, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Turkey—to increase the knowledge, appreciation, awareness and utilization of this nutrient-rich biodiversity encompassing both orphan crops and wild edible plant species. The paper highlights the novel and ingenious approaches these countries have used to prioritize a rich diversity of NUS for healthier diets and improved nutrition, and how this knowledge has been used to mainstream these plant species into production and consumption systems, including linking NUS to school meals and public food procurement, dietary guidelines and sustainable gastronomy. The paper concludes with some perspectives on the way forward for NUS and the community working on them (including researchers, universities and government agencies, national ministries, municipalities, producers, and civil society) in meeting the challenges of malnutrition and environmental sustainability in the 2030 sustainable development context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horticultural exports are among the key drivers of economic development in Kenya. Their production either complements that of the Northern Hemisphere on a seasonal basis or provides more cost effective supply of vegetables, flowers and fruits throughout the year. The aim of this paper is to investigate the factors that determine horticultural exports of Kenya using a gravity model analysis. The paper reviews both the theoretical development and empirical application of the gravity model. The research findings will provide more knowledge on the potential ways in which the gravity model can be applied in geographical studies. The results of the study may also assist in trade policy formulation in order ensure that the country's horticultural export potential is fully exploited to promote national development. The study analysed data on the value of horticultural exports to the top 10 major trading partners with Kenya. These countries included the UK, and selected members of the European Union. The GDP and population of the two countries and the distance between their capital cities were used in the gravity model analysis. The colonial ties and use of common language were used as dummy variables in the model. Kenya was a former colony of the UK and both countries share a common language. The results reveal that the values of Kenya's horticultural exports are higher in the European Union. Great Britain's share of the horticultural exports by value is also significant. Therefore, Kenya should explore ways of improving its trade relations with the countries concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how regulatory, owner-specific, firm-specific and support factors influence participation in domestic trade by Kenyan firms owned by men and women with a view to informing policy action. Data from the 2016 survey on micro, small, and medium enterprises supported empirical estimations. Two models were estimated using the probit regression. The first was on participation in domestic trade by firms owned by women, while the second was on participation in domestic trade by firms owned by men. I controlled endogeneity and heterogeneity using the control function approach. The findings revealed that firm size, access to credit, goodwill, firm registration status, and university education attainment were significant in influencing participation of Kenyan firms in domestic trade. The evidence indicates a need to mainstream gender issues in making of trade policy; and enforcement of laws guaranteeing women improved access to trade credit and property including land rights. Improving access to incubation and capacity building support among female-owned firms could drive growth, specialization, and knowledge accumulation for enhanced participation in trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College students in Kenya have experienced many mental health issues, and there is little well-grounded research on this topic. Therefore, in this current study, we aimed to explore college students' biopsychosocial spiritual wellbeing and problems from an Ecological Systems Theory (EST) perspective. Due to lack of previous well-grounded mental health research and services, we collaborated with the college students from the beginning of the study and acted with them to shape the research. Based on all these, we called our theoretical framework for this current paper as exploring college students' biopsychosocial spiritual wellbeing and problems from the EST perspective. We examined college students' (N = 518) mental health experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through six items to measure psychosomatic problems (sadness, anxiety, frustration, stress, loneliness, and withdrawal) and their coping mechanisms (talking to family/friends, physical exercise, social media, reading books, hobbies, spiritual activities, alcohol/drugs, COVID-19 information). Gender and age explained a trivial amount of variance, about 1%, in psychosomatic problems in model one. With the inclusion of the coping strategies and demographic factors (age and gender), the second model explained 24% of the variance in psychosomatic problems. In the second model, the highest effect size originated from talking to family/friends and use of social media. In addition, change in sleeping patterns, sadness, anxiety, and frustration were reported with one in three reporting "poor" or "fair" mental health. In light of the larger COVID-19 and college students' mental health literature, we discussed the present findings and provided recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the post-election violence in Kenya an attempt to bring about educational change through a peace education programme was launched by the MoE, UNICEF and UNHCR. The programme, which was aimed at building peace at the grassroots level, targeted the areas most affected by the post-election violence. Teaching plans were designed for all levels in primary school, and teachers and head teachers at schools in the Rift Valley were trained in the materials. Whereas the MoE assumed that the schools, having recently experienced the post-election violence, would have an innate motivation to implement the programme, this paper argues that the reality on the ground was more complicated. The formation and the implementation of the programme will be analysed from the perspective of policy makers and school populations. The paper argues that there are challenges related to additive and reactive peace education policies. Further, the paper argues that perceived relevance, school location, school leadership and perceived policy influenced the implementation processes on school level. In sum, the paper argues that the top-down approach taken when designing and implementing the programme led to less impact than the programme otherwise could have had, due to the lack of adjustment to local school contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize crop (Zea mays) is one of the staple foods in the East African (EA) region. However, the suitability of its production area is threatened by projected climate change. The Multimodel Ensemble (MME) from eight Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) models was used in this paper to show climate change between the recent past (1970–2000) and the future (2041–2060), i.e., the mid-twenty-first century. The climatic suitability of maize crop production areas is evaluated based on these climate datasets and the current maize crop presence points using Maximum entropy models (MaxEnt). The MME projection showed a slight increase in precipitation under both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 in certain places and a reduction in most of southern Tanzania. The temperature projection showed that the minimum temperature would increase by 0.3 to 2.95 °C and 0.3 to 3.2 °C under RCP4.5 and 8.5, respectively. Moreover, the maximum temperature would increase by 1.0 to 3.0 °C and 1.2 to 3.6 °C under RCP4.5 and 8.5 respectively. The impacts of these projected changes in climate on maize production areas are the reduction in the suitability of the crop, especially around central and western Tanzania, mid-northern and western Uganda, and parts of western Kenya by 20–40%, and patches of EA will experience a reduction of as high as 40–60%, especially in northern Uganda, and western Kenya. The projected changes in temperature and precipitation present a significant negative change in maize crop suitability. Thus, food security and the efforts towards the elimination of hunger in EA by the mid-twenty-first century will be hampered significantly. We recommend crop diversification to suit the new future environments, modernizing maize farming programs through the adoption of new technologies including irrigation, and climate-smart agricultural practices, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale development interventions have long failed to accommodate the needs and preferences of pastoralists or the systems of resource governance and land tenure upon which they rely. However, advocates of rights-based approaches to development emphasise the importance of community participation in planning and agenda-setting, and in Kenya, public participation is a formal constitutional requirement for government decision-making processes. In 2015, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees concluded negotiations with local stakeholders about the use of 15 km2 of communal rangelands to build a new refugee settlement in Turkana County, Kenya. Negotiations entailed a community dialogue process involving local people living in the vicinity of the proposed settlement. This paper retrospectively examines the inclusivity of the dialogue process, with particular attention to the involvement of pastoralists and the representation of their interests. Interviews and focus groups conducted with a range of key informants and community stakeholders highlighted two key problems. First, negotiations relied upon a simplistic approach to communal land tenure that overlooked the complexity of overlapping and often contested access rights. Second, there was an over-reliance on urban professionals and politicians as intermediaries between rural communities and development actors. Even where elite intermediaries act in good faith, they may introduce an 'oppidan bias' into development policies, thereby marginalising the viewpoints of non-urban, non-sedentary demographics, such as pastoralists. I conclude with recommendations for the UNHCR to develop a more explicit strategy for direct engagement with host community stakeholders in Turkana and with increased attention to the interests of livestock producers and the nuances of pastoralist land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV remains a significant concern in Africa despite earlier progress. Early infant diagnosis (EID) of HIV is crucial to reduce mortality among infected infants through early treatment initiation. However, a large proportion of HIV-exposed infants are still not tested in Kenya. Our objective was to investigate whether weekly interactive text-messages improved prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV care outcomes including EID HIV testing. This multicentre, parallel-group, randomised, open-label trial included six antenatal care clinics across western Kenya. Pregnant women living with HIV, aged 18 years or older, with mobile phone access, were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to weekly text messages that continued until 24 months postpartum, asking "How are you?" ("Mambo?") to which they were asked to respond within 48 h, or a control group. Healthcare workers contacted participants reporting problems and non-responders by phone. Participants in both groups received routine PMTCT care. The prespecified secondary outcome reported in this paper is EID HIV testing by eight weeks of age (blinded outcome assessment). Final 24-months trial results will be published separately. We estimated risk ratios using Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Between June 2015–July 2016, we screened 735 pregnant women, of whom 600 were enrolled: 299 were allocated to the intervention and 301 to the control group. By eight weeks of age, the uptake of EID HIV testing out of recorded live births was 85.5% in the intervention and 84.7% in the control group (71.2% vs. 71.8% of participants randomised, including miscarriages, stillbirths, etc.). The intention-to-treat risk ratio was 0.99; 95% CI: 0.90–1.10; p = 0.89. The proportion of infants diagnosed with HIV was 0.8% in the intervention and 1.2% in the control group. No adverse events were reported. We found no evidence to support that the WelTel intervention improved EID HIV testing. A higher uptake of EID testing than expected in both groups may be a result of lower barriers to EID testing and improved PMTCT care in western Kenya, including the broader standard use of mobile phone communication between healthcare workers and patients. (ISRCTN No. 98818734. Funded by the European-Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership and others). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]