Browsing by Author "Waswa, Fuchaka"

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    Determinants of Self-Esteem, Educational Performance and Career Prospects among Secondary School Students in Navakholo Constituency, Kakamega, Kenya
    (International Knowledge Sharing Platform, 2019) Wangia, Joyce; Waswa, Fuchaka; Waudo, Judith
    In the quest to identify challenges to students’ educational performance, cross-sectional study was carried out on 350 randomly selected students of St. Kizito and Sivilie secondary schools in Navakholo Constituency. A social survey design using closed and open-ended questionnaires was used to gather data, which was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that students’ self-esteem is mainly negatively influenced by demeaning comments from both class teachers and parents. These negative pronouncements eventually lead to poor schooling outcomes and difficulties in making career choices. In particular, students appeared to avoid pursuing competitive courses and careers like engineering, medicine and law. Further, they indicated having had little information regarding career choices during their school years. This study recommends that evaluation of teachers and parents/guardians by students should be encouraged albeit confidentially so that appropriate counselling could be extended to these inter-related tripartite stakeholders in pursuit of better learning environment, educational outcomes and ultimately career choices.
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    Enhancing benefits from biomass wastes within smallmedium scale coffee processing factories in Kiambu County, Kenya
    (2017) Kanyiri, Gituma; Waswa, Fuchaka
    Coffee processing is associated with various sustainability challenges largely due to high water and energy demand, biomass waste generation and lately low returns to farmers. The number of farmers actively involved in coffee production in Kenya is declining. Despite this trend, this paper reports on the potential of maximising benefits to coffee farmers by using coffee processing wastes (pulp and husks) in energy and agricultural services. A survey research design targeting six small to medium scale factories selected based on common criteria and 252 respondents was used. Results showed that about 210 tons of unprocessed coffee was received cumulatively in all the six factories surveyed per year. Processing generated approximately 51% biomass waste from the total input. Direct disposal of this waste to land contributes to direct environmental pollution. Accumulation of coffee husks and pulp was attributed to low awareness of the various uses these wastes have been successfully put elsewhere in the world. Opportunities for increasing benefits to farmers and reduced environmental loads exist in the conversion of coffee husks into branded briquettes for domestic energy supply, and pulp into fortified organic fertilizer for increased land productivity. Kiambu County government needs to invest in these two options through technological innovations and commodity specific extension service that is aligned to global sustainable production and consumption patte
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    Heavy Metal Contamination of Water, Soil and Vegetables in Urban Streams in Machakos Municipality, Kenya
    (Elsevier, 2020) Tomno, Rose M.; Nzeve, Julius K.; Mailu, Stephen N.; Shitanda, Douglas; Waswa, Fuchaka
    Pollution of the environment by heavy metals emanating from rapid economic growth and improper waste and effluent disposal is a major concern. In this study, heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr) in vegetables, soil and water in two urban streams in Machakos municipality were analyzed. Physicochemical parameters; pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity (EC) were also measured on-site. Oneway Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for the significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) of heavy metal concentrations in the vegetables, soil, and water across the different sampling sites. The relationship between the heavy metals in the soil, water and vegetables was investigated using Pearson correlation. Temperature (21.58 – 23.05 °C), pH (7.5 – 8.45) and TDS (577.5 – 865.83 mg/L) mean values were found to be within WHO acceptable limits for surface water while EC (864 – 1778.5 μS/cm) exceeded the set limits. Results showed that the mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Cd (BDL – 0.0011), Cu (0.0034 – 0.0055), Pb (0.0012 – 0.007), Zn (0.0232 - 0.1351), and Cr (0.0036 - 0.0292) in water and Cd (0.0058 - 0.0534), Cu (10.39 – 27.5), Pb (4.23 - 8.35), Zn (20.1 – 28.8) and Cr (8.17 – 10.03) in soil were within WHO permissible limits. Mean concentration values of (Zn (9.05 – 11.8), Pb (0.28 – 0.636), Cr (BDL – 1.002)) in spinach exceeded WHO permissible limits while Cd (BDL – 0.1285) and Cu (3.07 – 14.5) were within recommended levels. Cd (0.004 – 0.243), Cu (0.909 – 3.60) and Pb (BDL – 0.458) concentration levels in kale were within WHO safe limits for human consumption while Zn (12.06 – 18.8) and Cr (BDL – 1.62) exceeded WHO set limits. Presence of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cr) in the vegetables signifies a health risk hazard from consumption of these vegetables. Continuous monitoring of heavy metals in stream water, soil and vegetables is critical towards safeguarding public health.
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    Irrigation water quality analysis of Mitheu Stream in Machakos Municipality, Kenya
    (Academic Journals, 2020) Kitulu, Linge; Nzeve, Julius Kioko; Waswa, Fuchaka; Kitur, Esther; Shitanda, Douglas
    Water samples for physico-chemical, heavy metals and bacteriological analyses were collected from 4 selected points along Mitheu Stream flowing through Machakos Municipality once every month from June 2019 to September 2019. The samples were analyzed in Kenya Plant and Health Inspectorate Service and Water Resources Authority laboratories then data subjected to one-way analysis of variance to test significant differences (P≤0.05). The results were compared with World Health Organization guidelines to assess the suitability of the water for irrigation use. Results showed that the levels of the Biological Oxygen Demand and the Chemical Oxygen Demand in Mitheu Stream were higher than critical values permitted by the World Health Organization for irrigation water. Nitrates and Sulphates were within critical limits; however, Phosphates were higher than permissible limits at all the sampling points. Heavy metals concentrations for Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr were within allowable limits for irrigation water, but Cd was above the limit. Both total coliforms and Escherichia coli counts exceeded allowable limits for irrigation water. As such, Mitheu Stream can be considered polluted and the water unfit for irrigation farming. The Municipal authorities, working with other relevant stakeholders should take appropriate measures to mitigate stream pollution from untreated effluent discharged into the stream.
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    Perceptions and Truism of Climate Variability within Smallholder Farming Communities in Meru County, Kenya
    (SCIENCEDOMAIN international, 2016) Muthee, Mwoga; Obando, Joy Apiyo; Waswa, Fuchaka
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    Researching Religion-Terrorism Nexus for Sustainable Global Security Management: Is Islam Being Falsely Accused?
    (Chemchemi International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2020) Waswa, Fuchaka
    There is no doubt that terrorism is a peculiar and serious threat to global peace, security and by extension human well-being. Despite concerted military efforts by governments that have borne the brunt of its attacks, suppressing let alone elimination of terrorism has remained elusive. This limited success that has been achieved by seemingly targeting the terrorist per se implies that the root cause may not have been identified. While terror attacks have been done by people of various political and religious persuasions, the frequencies with which perpetrators appear to directly or indirectly invoke the great religion of Islam is worrying. Accordingly, it is this paper’s hypothesis that the root cause of terrorism particularly the kind meted in non-Muslims is inherent in the religious doctrine that the terrorists have embraced. Therefore, independent global research agenda needs to focus on this dimension in order to prove or dispel the above hypothesis. This paper makes reference to reported terror attacks where responsibility has been somehow claimed by people who profess the Islamic faith, whether rightly or otherwise in order to hopefully open debate on the possible role doctrine in directly or indirectly encouraging violence against people of other faiths – whether for religious or socio-political goals. Ultimately this dialogue should yield insights on how to effectively eliminate terrorism from its root causes and enhance peaceful coexistence in today’s multi-cultural dispensation across the world and in particular, Kenya
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    Soil and Water Conservation- KRM 406 and KRM 808
    (Kenyatta University, 2025-02-05) Waswa, Fuchaka
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    Value-Addition in Biomass for enhanced Household Energy Security in Navakholo Sub-County, Kenya
    (The Journal of Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, 2024-01-15) Waudo, Stacey; Waswa, Fuchaka
    Although firewood is still the dominant source of energy in the majority of rural households in Navakholo, its sustainable availability is threatened by a steady decline in tree cover as much land gets converted to agricultural use. Opportunities for expanding energy security in such places reside in previously untapped potential for value addition on biomass energy sources. The broad objective of this research was to enhance availability and access to biomass energy while at the same time conserving tree cover for posterity. The specific objective was to assess opportunities for energy security through value-addition on available biomass energy sources. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey and focus group discussions in each of the five Wards of the Sub-County. Descriptive statistics and content analysis of responses were used to analyse the data and generate knowledge to inform future decision-making. Although Navakholo sub county is a maize and sugarcane zone, results showed that value-addition practices on these two biomass energy sources such as through briquetting are non-existent. Much of the maize cobs are directly used as low energy fuel or simply left to rot away. Cow dung, which has a potential for energy provision through conversion into energy balls is usually used as manure in the farm. In addition, investment in biogas production is untapped because of the high initial costs. Only rudimentary approaches such as use of saw dust in cook stoves, and extinguishing firewood and charcoal after the day’s cooking are used to ease the pressure on available firewood. Although charcoal is a value-added product on wood fuel, respondents did not see it from that perspective. It was instead viewed as an energy alternative for those who could afford it. Opportunities for other value-added products like briquettes from charcoal, dust, saw dust and sugarcane cutting singly or in blended form remains unexploited. With appropriate exposure and capacity building on binder material and supply of press equipment, availability of biomass energy can be increased through the conversion of readily available maize cobs into briquettes. Secondary feedstock like cow dung, charcoal dust and saw dust may also be converted or used as binder material.