http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/201 2026-04-13T07:21:31Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2526 GENDER AND LIVELIHOOD DYNAMICS IN BAMBOO UTILIZATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION IN BUSIA AND ELGEYO MARAKWET COUNTIES, KENYA KAINO, JOYCE JELAGAT Bamboo has the potential to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, generate employment, and foster community development. However, despite government and institutional initiatives aimed at promoting bamboo commercialization in Kenya, its full potential remains underexploited. This study investigated the gender and livelihood dynamics influencing bamboo utilization and commercialization in selected counties. Specific objectives of the study were to assess: role of bamboo in livelihood improvement and environmental conservation in Busia and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties; factors influencing uptake of bamboo enterprise in farmlands within the study areas; gender dynamics affecting bamboo adoption and commercialization in the study areas; and finally, unique community perceptions and attitudes affecting bamboo utilization and commercialization in the study areas. The study was guided by SRL and INRM theoretical frameworks in addition to a mixed method research design. The target populations were farmers in Butula and Keiyo-South sub-counties who had received support towards bamboo planting in farmlands through the DutchSino Bamboo Development Programme-II and National Bamboo Demonstration Site respectively. Purposive sampling was used to identify key respondents, while systematic random sampling was used to select households for survey resulting in 398 questionnaires administered to respondents, alongside 10 key informants and 2 FGDs. Secondary data was sourced from existing literature, while primary data was collected using household questionnaires, KIIs, FGDs, and observations. Data analysis involved correlation analyses facilitated by SPSS and Chi-square tests to examine relationships between bamboo adoption, gender dynamics, socio-economic factors, and commercialization. Results indicated high awareness of bamboo benefits among respondents, with 87.3% and 37.8% actively utilizing bamboo within their households, respectively. Chi-square analyses revealed that bamboo utilization is significantly influenced by gender (χ² = 14.897, p < 0.001), age (χ² = 29.604, p < 0.001), education level (χ² = 71.122, p < 0.001), household size (χ² = 59.802, p < 0.001), and land ownership (χ² = 23.188, p < 0.001). Notably, 39.5% of respondents in Busia engaged in bamboo commercialization, compared to only 2.6% in Elgeyo Marakwet. Adoption was primarily driven by economic benefits (42.3%), environmental benefits (27.4%), and market access (30.3%), while it was hindered by limited knowledge (37.7%) and limited access to planting materials (10.1%). Bamboo commercialization was significantly associated with adoption of bamboo (p = .001, df = 2); bamboo utilization (p = .003, df = 2); social cultural factors (p = .000, df = 2), but not significantly associated with gender dynamics (p = .249, df = 2). While both men and women participate in bamboo activities (56.2%), women face barriers such as limited land access (75.9%), whereas financial constraints predominantly affect men (50.3%). Perceptions varied, with concerns about pests (59%), land wastage (24.8%), and soil depletion (20.3%), in addition to cultural beliefs such as associations of bamboo with sorcery (15.6%) in Busia. While bamboo demonstrates transformative potential for enhancing rural livelihoods, gender equity, and environmental resilience in Kenya, its full adoption is critically constrained by significant gender gaps, persistent market limitations, and negative socio-cultural perceptions. Targeted awareness and financial support are recommended to foster its broader adoption and commercialization. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2507 Modelling the impact of past and future land‐use changes on land cover degradation at territorial level in Eastern DR Congo Nteranya, Jean Nacishali; Kiplagat, Andrew; Ucakuwun, Elias K.; Nzabandora, Chantal Kabonyi Land use and land cover (LULC) changes are recognized as drivers of environmental changes at the local, regional, and global levels. Detecting these changes is essential in developing land management plans and strategies. More particularly, the LULC changes constitute one of the sub-indicators used for setting the baseline for land degradation neutrality (LDN) planning and assessing the progress toward the sustainable development goal 15.3. This study aims to determine the implication of LULC dynamics on land cover degradation in Eastern DR Congo. This region has been subjected to uncontrolled LULC changes over the last three decades but the impact of these changes on land degra- dation has not been assessed yet at the territorial level. To fill this gap, the territory of Kalehe has been used as a case study to monitor the LULC changes during the 1987–2020 period based on the classification of Landsat images, to forecast the future LULC for the 2030–2070 period through the hybrid Markov-Support Vector Machine modeling, to determine the extent of land cover degradation associated with these changes and to assess the impact of bio- physical and socio-economic factors on the occurrence of land cover degradation using the binary logistic regres- sion model. The results reveal that the overall trends of LULC changes during the 1987–2020 period are the increas- ing of built-up area, shrubland, and cropland at the expense of forestland, wetland, and grassland. This situation is expected to continue in the future and contribute to the degradation of land cover within the study area. Under the current situation of LULC changes, 34.17% of the land has been subjected to potential degradation. Further- more, under the business-as-usual scenario 28.28%, 27.28%, and 33.65% of the land will be degraded by 2030, 2050, and 2070 respectively. This land cover degradation is more likely to occur in the proximity of roads, localities, highly populated areas, mining concessions, and high-altitudinal zones. Since the current land use system is unsustainable, there is a necessity to implement sustainable land management strategies that take into account the biophysical and socio-economic specificities of this region to reverse the problem of land cover degradation. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2492 Modelling Habitat Suitability for African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) Preferred Forage in a Savannah Ecosystem in Kenya Kipkosge, Lynn; Kimanzi, Johnstone; Sudoi, Vincent Understanding the environmental determinants of habitat suitability for African elephants’ preferred forage plants is essential for effective conservation, especially in the face of climate change. This study assessed the current and future habitat suitability for elephant forage species within a savannah ecosystem in Kenya. An optimised Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modelling approach was employed using 152 spatially independent occurrence data points and eight noncorrelated environmental variables. The model used a Linear-Quadratic feature combination and a regularisation multiplier of 1.5. Occurrence data were collected through field surveys, while environmental layers were obtained from publicly available datasets including WorldClim, ASTER GDEM, USGS, HydroSHEDS, and OpenStreetMap. Future climate projections were based on the CanESM2 model under SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios for the periods 2041– 2060 and 2081–2100. Model performance was evaluated using the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC), yielding strong results (AUC = 0.883 ± 0.007). Precipitation Seasonality (bio_15), Precipitation of the Driest Quarter (bio_17), elevation, and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) were the most influential predictors. Under current conditions, unsuitable habitats dominate the landscape (73.42%), while low, moderate, and high suitability zones are relatively limited. Future projections indicate continued dominance of unsuitable habitats with minor changes (1.28%–3.78%), slight increases in high and moderate suitability areas, and notable declines in low suitability zones across all climate scenarios. These findings highlight the vulnerability of forage plant habitats to climate change and underscore the need for climate-informed conservation strategies to ensure the long-term availability of key food resources for African elephants in this dryland ecosystem 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2446 HUMAN HEALTH RISKS TO POTENTIALLY HARMFUL ELEMENTS EXPOSURE IN ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE GOLD MINING IN KENYA ONDAYO, MAUREENE AUMA Despite frequent safety concerns regarding artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities, comprehensive investigations are uncommon. This study filled a critical research gap by holistically quantifying exposure to potentially harmful elements (PHEs) from ASGM activities and the subsequent effect on public health in Kenya. Ores, soil, sediment, water, staple food crops, human hair, nails, and urine samples from 19 ASGM villages were collected and analysed for trace and major elements using ICPQQQ-MS. Soil bioaccessibility and the mineral composition of ores were examined. This thesis focuses on PHEs, for which exposure risk factors and potential health effects among 144 ASGM workers and 25 residents were investigated using questionnaires. The ore elemental and mineral composition analysis results revealed natural geological enrichment of major and trace elements in the gold belt, with ASGM activities being the primary mode of dispersing the elements. Pollution indices indicated significant PHE enrichment and pollution of soils, sediment, and water in decreasing order of As>Cr>Hg>Ni>Pb>Cd. Soil As, Cr, and Ni concentrations were 154, 9, and 4 times higher than background concentrations. Soil samples from mining and ore processing sites (96%) had As concentrations up to 7937 times higher than the USEPA 12 mg kg−1 standard for residential soils. Soil Cr, Hg, and Ni concentrations in 98%, 49%, and 68% of the samples exceeded USEPA and CCME standards, with 1–72% bioaccessibility. Total As concentrations in 18% of community drinking water sources exceeded the WHO guideline (10 µg L-1) by up to 36 times. Human exposure to PHEs was predominantly via inhalation of Hg vapours and contaminated dust, consumption of drinking water from mine shafts, springs, and shallow wells (for As>Pb>Cr>Al), and locally grown staple food crops (for As>Ni>Pb>Cr>Cd>Hg>Al) and incidental ingestion of soils via hand-tomouth transmission. Human biomonitoring data revealed ASGM workers’ and residents’ exposure above bioequivalents and reference upper thresholds for Al, As, Cr, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Pb with neurological, respiratory, cancers, skeletal, and cardiovascular health implications. Urinary As, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Sb in over 76% of ASGM workers and residents exceeded bioequivalents and reference upper thresholds, with median concentrations of 12.3, 0.4, 1.6, 5.1, 0.7, and 0.15 µg L-1, respectively. Overall, increased risks of non-cancer health effects (98.6) and cancer in adults (4.93×10−2) and children (1.75×10−1) were found in ASGM villages. In addition to observed exposure differences between ASGM workers, residents, and controls, positive associations were established between PHE concentrations in environmental, dietary, and human biomonitoring matrices. Urine As concentrations, for example, showed a strong positive correlation with As in drinking water (coeff. +0.958). This thesis highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in integrating environmental, dietary, and public health investigations to inform exposure pathways, better characterise the risks associated with ASGM, and better understand the trade-offs associated with ASGM activities relating to public health and environmental sustainability. The study's findings have been shared with Kenyan medical services and public health authorities for intervention, including technological improvements in ASGM processes, industrial hygiene, and policy formulation to safeguard residents' and workers' health. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2421 MAPPING THE RESISTIVITY VARIATIONS IN THE SUBSURFACE SURROUNDING AT KIPKENYO DUMPSITE, ELDORET TOWN, KENYA koima, Robert; Nyaberi, D.M; Chibole, K.O A geophysical investigation of groundwater contamination within the solid waste disposal site was carried out at Kipkenyo dumpsite which is typically non controlled solid waste disposal site. Total of twenty six (26) VES survey points were conducted at measurements of between 20 to 30 meters between the (VES) points. The schlumberger array was used to collect data, Earth Imager 1D software were used in analyzing data obtained. The purpose of the research was to determine whether the presence of the landfill compromises the quality of groundwater within a vicinity of the dumpsite. Profile 6 and 7 in the southeast direction showing low resistivities indicating possible dissolution of heavy metals, from depths of 1.96 to 4.32 m, 29.65 to 47.75, 3.75 m to 9.00m and 17.45 m to 47.75 m respectively, High a resistivities at the eastern wing of the study area demonstrates uncontaminated compared to northwest, west and southwest which have low values of resistivities resulting to high level of contamination, this could be attributed to varying hydraulic conductivity depending on the composition of the solid waste in the landfill, compaction and soil contaminant interaction. The region 80 m from dumpsite to the northwest, west and southwest show low resistivities across the profiles’ depths Profiles 5 and 8 were used as control points done at about 100 meters from the dumpsite and presents resistivities’ ranges of 141.7 Ohm-m to 2616.2 Ohm-m suggesting its uncontaminated zone. The contamination runs to a depth of 47.75 m. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2418 Public health assessment of Kenyan ASGM communities using multi-element biomonitoring, dietary and environmental evaluation Ondayo, Maureene Auma; et. al... The Kakamega gold belt’s natural geological enrichment and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) have resulted in food and environmental pollution, human exposure, and subsequent risks to health. This study aimed to characterise exposure pathways and risks among ASGM communities. Human hair, nails, urine, water, and staple food crops were collected and analysed from 144 ASGM miners and 25 people from the ASGM associated communities. Exposure to PHEs was predominantly via drinking water from mine shafts, springs and shallowwells (for As>Pb>Cr>Al), with up to 366 µg L− 1 arsenic measured in shaft waters consumed by miners. Additional exposure was via consumption of locally grown crops (for As>Ni>Pb>Cr>Cd>Hg>Al) besides inhalation of Hg vapour and dust, and direct dermal contact with Hg. Urinary elemental concentrations for both ASGM workers and wider ASGM communities were in nearly all cases above bioequivalents and reference upper thresholds for As, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb and Sb, with median concentrations of 12.3, 0.4, 1.6, 5.1, 0.7 and 0.15 µg L− 1 , respectively. Urinary As concentrations showed a strong positive correlation (0.958) with As in drinking water. This study highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in integrating environmental, dietary, and public health investigations to better characterise the hazards and risks associated with ASGM and better understand the trade-offs associated with ASGM activities relating to public health and environmental sustainability. Further research is crucial, and study results have been shared with Public Health and Environmental authorities to inform mitigation efforts. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2417 Artisanal gold mining in Kakamega and Vihiga counties, Kenya: potential human exposure and health risk Ondayo, Maureene Auma; et. al... 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 induc- tively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in soil, sediment and water samples from 19 ASGM vil- lages 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 decreas- ing 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 under- stand 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. 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2416 Review: Artisanal Gold Mining in Africa—Environmental Pollution and Human Health Implications Ondayo, Maureene Auma; et. al. About nine million Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) workers in Africa and people living near ASGM activities are highly exposed to geogenic and anthropogenic potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Despite the hazards and risks posed by ASGM being well characterized, coordinated multidisciplinary environmental characterization with combined public health studies are limited, with often piecemeal and snapshot studies reported, as highlighted by this review. Furthermore, studies are often not connected with efforts to minimize hazards holistically. Given this, we systematically reviewed the scientific literature on human health hazards associated with ASGM in Africa through Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Pubmed databases. One hundred and seventy-three peer-reviewed papers published between 1996 and June 2023 from 30 African countries were identified. Toxicological environmental hazards were reported in 102 peer-reviewed papers, notably As, Cd, CN, Cr, Hg, Pb, respirable SiO2-laden dust, and radionuclides. Exposure to PTEs in human biomonitoring matrices and associated health impacts were documented in 71 papers. Hg was the most reported hazard. Gaps in research robustness, regulation and policy framework, technology, risk detection, surveillance, and management were found. Despite international and in-country mitigation efforts, ASGM-related hazards in Africa are worsening. This review paper highlights the need for coordinated action and multidisciplinary collaborative research to connect dispersed isolated studies to better characterize the associated disease burden associated with ASGM in Africa and sustainably maximize the wider benefits of ASGM whilst protecting public health and the environmen 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2345 Evaluation of Groundwater Potential Using Electrical Resistivity Method, in University of Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya Chelule, Franklin Kipkoech; Nyaberi, Daniel Mogaka; Kipkiror, Loice J. The deployment of electrical resistivity method in mapping the subsurface has been instrumental globally in understanding groundwater occurrence. In this study Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) interpreted results have been instrumental in mapping the possible structural controls of groundwater in University of Eldoret. The apparent resistivity data collected from the area, was inverted by use of the AGI Earth Imager ID inversion automated computer program, resulting unto resistivities and thicknesses of geoelectric models. The analyzed VES data was further interpreted by curve matching technique whose results indicates the existence of curve types; H-type ρ1> ρ2 <ρ3; A-typeρ1<ρ2<ρ3; representing 3-Layer subsurface. There are four points mapped with each having five VES points, and the analysis shows distinctly a change from point to point. The analysis in general shows a deeper aquifer from the depth of about 206 metres to 251 metres. There also exists shallow aquifers though presents different depths from point to point, indicating a possible undulation in the subsurface which can be explained by possible existence of old land surfaces. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2321 Lead and Cadmium Pollution: Implications for Health in Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining in Senegal and Kenya Agan, Leonard; et. al... Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is a prevalent activity, characterized by lowtech equipment and inadequate Occupational Health and Safety Standards (OHS). The ASGM is a significant source of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs), which can result in potential health risks to humans and the ecosystem. The interconnectedness between human and environmental health have gained global attention from scientific communities, public health and planetary health regarding human-environmental continuum’s safety. This study aimed at assessing human and environmental health risks associated with mine pollution in Kedougou region of South Eastern Senegal and Kakamega region in Western Kenya. Purposive sampling was used to collect waste ores, agricultural soil, residential soils and surface water samples were taken from Kedougou region while secondary data on similar matrices were used from Kakamega region. Descriptive statistics, figures and tables were used to present the result. Health risks assessment were achieved using Enrichment Factors (EF), Index of Geo-accumulation (Igeo), Pollution Index (HPI), and Ecological Risk Assessment Indices (ERI); to ascertain the source and the burden of health risk as a result of contamination in the two regions. Distinct geological and mineralogical compositions contributed significantly to the difference in concentrations of these Pb and Cd across Eastern and Western Africa regions. Further, geographic variation in background concentrations contributed significantly to the natural Pb and Cd levels in environmental media between the different locales. This research concluded that ASGM is one of the contributors to human and ecosystem health risks associated with Pb and Cd pollution. There is urgent need for comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety Standards; implementation and training of miners to safeguard human health while maintaining the livelihood in ASGM operations as well as proper control of mine waste disposal and conservation measures around the ASGM areas. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z