Egerton University

E-resources (electronic resources) are critical components of teaching and learning at universities today. Even though universities continue to put a lot of money into online information and digital databases, evidence shows that undergraduate students do not always take full advantage of these resources when using them. At Laikipia University, there have been concerns about the difference between the subscribed e-resources and their actual use. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine whether or not user training has an effect on how much undergraduate students use e-resources. Using the Diffusion of Innovations theory, a descriptive research design was employed in this study. Undergraduates were selected by stratified random sampling so as to be represented across all years of study. Data were collected using questionnaires and were analysed using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (correlated with training and regression analysis) to set up a relationship between user training and user levels of e-resource utilisation. The findings in this study indicate that user training is a good predictor of how much university students will use e-resources. The students who participated in user training reported they would use the databases more frequently than those who did not receive user training; they also reported they were able to search for information better than those who did not receive user training; and, finally, that they felt more confident conducting research after having received user training than they did before having received user training. However, user training only occurred during orientation classes, with minimal practical engagement and limited follow-up support. Limitations of the use of digital resources have hindered the potential for sustained use of e-resources in a strategic way. The overall results of the study revealed that although training users effectively impacts their use of digital resources, the frequency, intensity, and institutional support provided by an institution impact the effectiveness of training. Consequently, the study recommends integrating training for both digital literacy and e-resources into the university curriculum, enhancing hands-on training to be conducted on a more frequent basis, and greater collaboration between librarians and faculty to assist in promoting ongoing use of digital resources.

Wetlands are vital for mitigating climate change, but widespread conversion to agricultural land has disrupted their functioning in terms of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. This study examined the impact of land-use/cover change on soil N, C, their thermal stability, and C composition in Yala Wetland. Using a stratified random approach, soil samples were collected from permanently flooded, seasonally flooded, sugarcane, maize, and vegetable farms, across depths of 0-50 cm. Multi-Element Scanning Thermal Analysis (MESTA) was used to quantify C and N thermal stability, while solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy characterized C composition. Results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in SOC, nitrogen, and C:N ratios across land uses. Vegetable farms had highest SOC (117.83 ± 16.54 g kg-1) and N (7.34 ± 1.07 g kg-1), while sugarcane fields had the lowest (SOC: 13.58 ± 0.97 g kg-1; N: 1.07 ± 0.04 g kg-1). Seasonally flooded wetlands stored more SOC (98.51 ± 20.55 g kg-1) and N (5.31 ± 1.12 g kg-1) than permanently flooded wetlands, suggesting that alternate wet-dry cycles enhance humification and organic matter (OM) stabilization. Data showed dominance of thermally labile C (C < 400 °C) over thermally stable C (C> 400 °C). This was highlighted by high R400 in all land uses, (0.73-0.82). Carbon composition results indicated dominance of O-alkyl C in all land-use types. This was consistent with dominance of low-thermally stable C and a High R400 index. Overall, findings show that both wetland conversion and hydrological conditions strongly influenced OM quality and stability in the Yala wetland.

There is limited evidence on household-level co-occurrence of aflatoxins across foods consumed simultaneously, despite numerous studies documenting aflatoxin contamination in individual food commodities in Kenya. This cross-sectional study assessed household-level co-occurrence of aflatoxins in maize and milk among 123 smallholder farming households in Baringo County, Kenya. A household food frequency questionnaire was used to identify the most consumed staples among aflatoxin-prone food groups, informing maize and milk sample selection. Total aflatoxins in maize (n = 110) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk (n = 93) were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Total aflatoxin concentrations in maize ranged from 0.769 to 1,649.105 µg/kg (mean ± SD: 41.079 ± 166.789 µg/kg), while AFM1 concentrations in milk ranged from 0.001 to 6.139 ng/mL (0.170 ± 0.697 ng/mL). Among households that provided both maize and milk samples (n = 85), 12.9% simultaneously exceeded the Kenya Bureau of Standards regulatory limit for total aflatoxins in maize (≥10 µg/kg) and the European Union maximum limit for AFM1 in milk (≥0.05 ng/mL). These findings provide evidence of household-level co-occurrence of aflatoxin contamination across staple foods consumed within the same dietary context, underscoring the need for integrated post-harvest and animal feeding interventions at the household level.

ABSTRACT Climate change poses significant challenges for agricultural systems in Africa, particularly affecting agro‐pastoral communities dependent on crops and livestock for their livelihoods. This study investigates the impact of adaptation strategies on climate resilience among agro‐pastoral communities in Laikipia County, Kenya. It applies the Food and Agriculture Organization's RIMA‐II framework to analyze data collected from 308 households selected through multistage sampling. Factor analysis is used to cluster adaptation strategies, Principal Component Analysis to calculate resilience pillars, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with instrumental variable regression (IVR) to estimate the Climate Resilience Index. Our findings reveal that household resilience is significantly influenced by: Access to basic services ( β = 1.643, p < 0.05), assets ( β = −3.422, p < 0.01), and adaptive capacity ( β = −4.034, p < 0.01). Farm risk reduction, diversification, and access to agro‐weather information demonstrated strong positive associations with resilience, while households with higher education levels and larger adult equivalent size showed greater capacity to implement effective adaptation. The negative influence findings imply the use of only the agricultural mitigation mechanism. Policies aimed at emphasizing the use of informal and non‐economic approaches as pillars could significantly boost the resilience of agro‐pastoral communities in similar arid and semi‐arid regions.

Abstract Chloroplast genomes are invaluable resources for plant genomic research, providing insights into genome evolution and molecular adaptation. With the growing scientific and economic interest in Adansonia digitata , a comprehensive characterization of its chloroplast is timely and necessary. A complete chloroplast genome of A. digitata was assembled, annotated, and characterized. Comparative structural analysis was conducted against other Adansonia species, and the assembly was validated through phylogenetic placement within Malvaceae. The assembled genome exhibits the canonical quadripartite organization, spanning 160,061 bp with a GC content of 36.88%, 79 protein-coding genes, 32 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. Repeat analysis identified 100 simple sequence repeat motifs, predominantly A/T-rich mononucleotide types (76%), alongside 50 long sequence repeats dominated by forward (26) and palindromic (17) repeats. Comparative analysis with other Adansonia species revealed conserved genome structure, with minor IR boundary shifts involving the ndhF gene, and ycf1 duplication in A. gregorii and A. grandidieri. Average nucleotide identity exceeded 99% across all Adansonia species, with near-complete similarity (ANI ≈ 99.96%) observed with the putative A. kilima. All predicted RNA editing events were nonsynonymous, dominated by C→U conversions (55.02%). Codon usage showed non-random synonymous preferences biased toward A/U-ending codons, driven primarily by mutational pressure with detectable gene-specific translational selection. Nucleotide diversity (π) was higher in intergenic spacers (0.00490 ± 0.00574) than in coding regions (0.00167 ± 0.00199), with the majority of genomic regions showing no sequence variation (π = 0). Substitution patterns indicated pervasive purifying selection, with relatively high but insignificant signals in matK, ycf1, accD , and rpoB . Phylogenomic analyses placed the assembled A. digitata chloroplast genome within the Adansonia lineage, consistent with its established systematic position. This study provides detailed insight into the chloroplast genome of A. digitata , and the findings will contribute towards advancing its genomic research.

Abstract This study investigates aflatoxin contamination in peanut products and associated socio-demographic, knowledge, and handling factors among retailers in Rwanda. A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 300 retailers across five provinces, employing structured interviews to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, aflatoxin awareness, and handling practices. Quantitative analysis of aflatoxin levels in peanut flour and kernels was performed using a portable, ISO-validated Raptor Reader Neogen Model 9680 (Neogen Corporation, Lansing, MI, USA), which interprets results obtained from lateral flow immunoassays. Data were analysed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings revealed that awareness of aflatoxins was limited, with only 28.3% of retailers cognizant of their presence in peanut products and 21.0% are aware of their health implications. Handling practices showed a high prevalence of kernel sorting before sale or processing (98.6%), yet inadequate packaging materials, such as buckets (44.7%) and polypropylene bags (35.3%) were commonly used. Aflatoxin concentrations in samples were substantially elevated, with a mean of 62.75 μ g/kg, exceeding international safety thresholds. Statistically significant differences in aflatoxin levels were observed between sample types ( P < 0.05), with peanut flour exhibiting higher contamination (mean 92.47 μ g/kg) than peanut kernels (mean 35.31 μ g/kg). Notably, 69.4% of peanut flour samples and 44.2% of peanut kernel samples surpassed the Rwandan regulatory limit of 10 μ g/kg. Geographical analysis indicated significant inter-provincial variation, particularly between Kigali City and the Western Province. These results highlight a critical public health concern due to elevated aflatoxin levels, exacerbated by limited awareness and substandard handling practices. To mitigate exposure, targeted educational campaigns, improved storage practices, and stricter regulatory enforcement, potentially facilitated by rapid on-site screening using lateral flow immunoassays coupled with portable readers, are urgently needed to enhance food safety and protect consumers.

Oreochromis species are of economic importance in fisheries and aquaculture but threatened by human-mediated activities. Effective conservation and their sustainable management require genetic monitoring tools that can assess genetic variation across species. Various neutral markers have been used to monitor biodiversity in organisms, but they are limited in cross-amplification among various taxa. Non-neutral markers such as Exon-Primed Intron Crossing (EPIC) not only cross amplify various taxa but also target gene regions that are likely to be involved in adaptive responses to selective pressure. This study therefore developed 50 EPIC markers from Oreochromis niloticus reference genome targeting immune related genes to assess their potential to cross-amplify Oreochromis species. Genetic diversity, population structure, and differentiation was measured among Oreochromis niloticus, O. jipe, O. esculentus and O. leucostictius species and their respective populations from eleven African water bodies and two aquaculture farms. 45 EPIC markers successfully amplified target regions across the four Oreochromis species. O. niloticus exhibited the highest diversity (He = 0.50), followed by O. jipe (He = 0.29), O. leucostictus (He =0.28) and O. esculentus with the lowest (He = 0.25). The highest differentiation values were observed among populations of different species while the lowest was among farmed O. niloticus. This was supported by AMOVA results that showed highest genetic differentiation among species. Population structure analyses were concordant with species boundaries while showing detailed intraspecific clustering patterns among the O. niloticus populations that reflected geographical origin. The observed genetic diversity, gene flow, and population differentiation confirms the applicability of EPIC markers as molecular tools for monitoring biodiversity and guiding the conservation of Oreochromis species under increasing anthropogenic and environmental pressures.

A field experiment was carried out during the 2024/2025 season at Baraka Farm in the Lanet area of Nakuru County, Kenya, approximately 10 kilometers northeast of Nakuru city center. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of different fertilizers, BSF frass (black soldier fly excreta), KUZA, and NPK 17:17:17 on the growth, yield, and postharvest quality of the Chandler strawberry variety under field conditions. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was used. Data were collected on the number of leaves and flowers, plant height, yield, total soluble solids (TSS), firmness and titrable acidity. Results indicated that the number of leaves and flowers per plant, plant height was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced by both season and fertilizer treatment. NPK (17:17:17) consistently produced the highest leaves counts at all growth. High fruit firmness values were obtained in the strawberries subjected to NPK 17:17:17 followed by BSF frass. BSF frass also resulted in relatively high acidity suggesting it can maintain acidity close to that of NPK. Application of frass, particularly from BSF frass substrates, led to improved strawberry vegetative growth, higher yields, and enhanced postharvest fruit quality. The study offers important insights into the potential of BSF frass as a suitable organic fertilizer, its role in reducing synthetic inputs and its contribution to improving both productivity and quality of strawberry.

Introduction: Non-road traffic accidents (NRTAs), including burns, drownings, falls from height, electrocution, and falls from trains, are an under-recognized cause of preventable deaths in Nairobi, Kenya. Young adults are particularly vulnerable to these accidents due to occupational hazards, unsafe recreational activities, and inadequate safety measures. Objective: To analyze the patterns, age and gender distribution, and causes of non-road traffic fatalities in Nairobi from 2020 to 2025.