Agritech News...Issue No. 54 April - June 2013 Volume 43 Agritech News A Magazine from the Office of the Vice Chancellor Varsity Launches Gender and Disability Policies G raduations

Issue No. 54 April - June 2013 Volume 43

Agritech NewsA Magazine from the Office of the Vice Chancellor

Varsity Launches Gender and Disability Policies

raduations are important events. And to the over G2,406 JKUAT graduands who certified the University's senate for the award of various

degrees, the 21st Graduation is a great milestone, as we usher them into the competitive world. This Graduation marks a turning point in their lives. They have been tried and tested, hence the Chancellor's final endorsement “to read and to do all that appertains to their calling.”

We warmly applaud all the graduands and we are confident that they have planned well for this inevitable transition which will require them to apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired at JKUAT to face and confront global challenges. As they venture out in the world of work, we challenge each one of them to face the world with confidence, and sense of focus.

As graduands, your Alma Mater (JKUAT) believes in your ability to effectively perform, irrespective of the tasks at hand. It is common knowledge that people guided by self-efficacy are healthier, more effective, and generally become more successful than those with low self-efficacy expectations. The University is satisfied that they discovered their full potential while taking their studies and are now prepared to exploit the same to the maximum.

As we wish the graduands well in pursuit of their next calling, we urge them to always approach the future with an open and positive mind, know who they truly are, and learn to honour themselves without compromising their personal values. It is our hope and prayer that they will always strive to be their best self, good ambassadors. JKUAT was only able to guide and give you what you have rightly achieved; the next step is entirely in your control. Once again, congratulations!

Hindzano Ngonyo

From the Editor

Views expressed in this publication are those of individual contributors and do not in any way represent those of the publishers.

The publisher will therefore not be held responsible for any incorrect or otherwise of the information herein. The Editor however welcomes contributions from the readers on subjects of interest .

Agritech News Magazine is a quarterly publication published by the Office of the Vice Chancellor

All Correspondence to the EditorAgritechNews Corporate Communications OfficeP. O. Box 62000-00200, NairobiTel: +254 67 52711, Fax: +254 67 52164Email: [email protected]: www.jkuat.ac.ke

C o v e r P i c t u r e(From Left to Right) Dr. Johnson Kinyua, Director of Gender and Mentoring Centre, Prof. Imbuga, JKUAT VC (second), and Prof Esther Kahangi, Deputy Vice Chancellor (RPE) presenting a gift to the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, while Hon. Mwaura Maigwa, Nominated MP and Convenor of the National Assembly Caucus on Disability looks on during the official launch of the University's Gender Mainstreaming and Disability Policies.

Editorial Team

Hindzano NgonyoOgeke ArakaPatrick Amunavi Gerald GichuraCavince AdhereMargaret Were

Design, Layout & PrintLavinda [email protected]

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April - June 2013 Volume 43


Varsity Launches Gender and Disability Policies

Issue No. 54

Induction Retreat for Council

Professorial Appointments

UN-HABITAT on Urban Planning

Noodles Industry at JKUAT

The Bedbugs’ Menace

KUSA Women’s Championship

The University Choir

and many more...

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Issue No. 53 January - March 2013 Volume 42


Crowning Excellence Inside:

Fresh Charter

New JKUAT Council

Sports: JKUAT at World Lifesaving Contest

By Hindzano Ngonyo and Cavince Adhere

COVER STORY

First Lady Calls for Sensitivity to Plight of People with Disabilities

he First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta Thas called on Kenyans to be mindful and responsive to the

needs of people living with disabilities. She added that holistic development can only be achieved if both gender, regardless of physical orientation, are included in all aspects of public and private life.

“It is disheartening that some members of our families are hidden away in order not to be seen or heard, instead of embracing them with love and understanding that they need,” She noted.

The First Lady was speaking at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and

Technology (JKUAT), where she presided over the launch of two policies on Gender Mainstreaming and Anti-Sexual Harassment.

“This event is in line with the social pillar of Vision 2030, which emphasizes inclusivity of all citizens in development towards improved life quality,” averred the First Lady.

She lauded the institution for taking a proactive role in gender and disability mainstreaming, through targeted affirmative action in student admission and staff employment.

Speaking at the same function, JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga reported that the University plans to establish a Centre for Rehabilitation and Disability Prevention.

The Centre will be instrumental in d i sab i l i t y p reven t ion bes ides developing technologies, tools and knowledge to serve the needs of people living with disabilities.

On his part, Mr. Isaack Manyonge, a disability mainstreaming consultant with National Council for Persons with Disabilities, lauded the Jubilee government for impressive budget allocation, which he said, would positively impact the plight of the disabled.

“The nomination of Ms. Josephta Mukobe to the position of Principal Secretary is further pointer that the government is keen on promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in Kenya,” noted Manyonge.

While commending the increased budgeta r y a l loca t ion by the government for persons living with albinism, Nominated MP, Hon. Isaac Maigua called on Society to be compassionate to the disabled. Hon. Maigua added that the Parliamentary Caucus on those living with disabilities, where he is the convener, is keen on legislative frameworks on the needs of those living with disabilities.

This year's edition of the Gender and Disability Week was marked a series of activities, sensitization sessions and road show on gender and disability mainstreaming, punctuated by thematic performances from various institutions from Kiambu County.

Dr. Johnson Kinywa, Director, Gender and Mentoring Centre took the participants through the historical trajectory of gender agenda in Kenya, urging them to look beyond women

Agritech News 1Setting Trends in Higher Education, Research and Innovation

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta plants a commemorative tree when she presided over the launch of Disability Mainstreaming Policy at JKUAT

Continued on page 5

NEWS

By Agritech News Reporter

Agritech News2

total of 24 senior lecturers have Aclimbed the academic ladder following interviews held at the

University mid June. Out of these, eight are now full Professors while 16 were appointed Associate professors.

Those who have become professors include: Prof. Rosebella O. Maranga from the Department of Zoology; Prof. Jackson Kioko Kwanza, Pure and Applied Mathematics; Prof. Anne W. T. Muigai, Botany; Professors Glaston Mwangi Kenji and Anselimo O. Makokha, Department of Food Science and Technology; Prof. Gabriel N. Magoma, Department of Biochemistry and Prof. Silas Onyango from the

Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.

The 16 appointed to Associate Professorship included Dr. Hellen Lydiah Kutima, Dr. Rebecca Waihenya and Dr. Mary Gikungu, all from the Department of Zoology, Dr. Robert W. Gituru and Dr. Vivien Matiru who belong to the Department of Botany.

Others are Dr. Patrick G. Kareru, Dr. Erick R. Okong'o and Dr. Erustus G. Gatebe from the Department of Chemistry. Dr. Ronald Waweru Mwangi is now an Associate Professor Department of Computing, while Dr. Aggrey B. Nyende, Dr. Luseenge Turoop and Dr. Elijah M. Ateka are now Associate Professors in the Department of Horticulture.

There is Dr. Naomi W. Maina who becomes an associated Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Matilu Mwau and Dr. Kariuki in Medical Microbiology, while Dr. Robert Kinyua is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics.

In her congratulations to all appointed, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga wished them well in their well earned appointments.

Detailed profiles of Professors and Associate Professors will be carried in our sister publication, Agritech News Update. By the time of going to press, we had not received comprehensive information and current mugshots of the professorial appointees as most of them were not available.

Professorial Appointments

Prof. NyendeProf. Kwanza Prof. Muigai

Prof. Ngamau

Prof. Ateka

Prof. MagomaProf. Maranga

Prof. Kenji

Prof. Kutima Prof. Okong'o

Prof. Waweru Prof. Kinyua

Professors Associate Professors

NEWS


The former Universities Non-Teaching Staff Union (UNTESU) has rebranded and shall be known as the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU). Following this move, a new Executive Committee has been elected to head KUSU – Jomo Kenyatta University Chapter after elections which were conducted in April, 2013. The new office bearers are: Bildad F. Masinde (Organizing Secretary), Teresia M. Kirangu (Assistant Treasurer) and Emma M. Njau (Trustee). Nickson Chege,

New Union Officials ElectedKUSU Secretary – JKUAT Chapter says, the officials should be accorded access to members for purposes of transacting Union business as set out in the recognition act and enshrined in the International Labour Organization Charter and Convention. The new changes have been registered by the Registrar of Trade Unions. Eng. James Makori Magoka, the new KUSU National Treasurer, while welcoming the new officials, advised them to redouble their efforts in strengthening the union.

Digital Learning takes Root

o cater for the increased demand Tfor higher education, the University has diversified its

delivery modes to include the eLearning mode of delivery. School of Open, Distance and eLearning (SODeL) has paved the way in digital-era learning.

The School has enrolled 1600 students in the elearning portal accessible at http://elearn.jkuat.ac.ke, 1550 of them are first years admitted in the current semester (May-August) and the rest are on the Open, Distance and eLearning programme.

About 45 Distance learning students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels were recently inducted on delivery methods and online facilitation at JKUAT Main Campus, Juja where they interacted with course facilitators from different departments who made a number of presentations which included: accessing the elearning system; resources, content and how to create accounts and where to access the eLearning system.

The distance learning mode of delivery has become an attractive alternative besides the traditional format due to its easy accessibility, flexibility and affordability.

SODeL handles students enrolled at the Main Campus and the Open, Distance and eLearning ones who benefit from the blended learning. The School has recorded critical successes in the past two years since the transformation from Continuing Education Programme Centres to its current status.

By Agritech News Correspondent

One of the eLearning laboratories at JKUAT


Eng. Magoka Mr. Chege

By Patrick Amunavi and Margaret Were

NEWS

Agritech News4

iambu County Governor Mr. KWilliam Kabogo has hailed the Jomo Kenyatta University of

Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the Women Enterprise Fund for their enduring partnership in empowering women in Kenya through financial and entrepreneurial skills development.

Mr. Kabogo was presiding during the official opening of this year's Women In-country Training Programme at JKUAT in early June, 2013 whose theme was: “Incubating Grassroot Women Capacity for sustainable Socio-economic Empowerment and livelihoods Transformation.”

The Governor reiterated that the Jubilee government was committed to develop Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASALs) taking cognizance of the fact that 80% of Kenyan land is arid or semi-arid, hosting about ten million people” majority of whom were women.

Mr. Kabogo said he was proud of the training initiative because “JKUAT had remodeled the program to include business incubation services” which “will create a platform to ensure knowledge gained during training enhances growth of competitive rural based SMEs and cottage industries that will consequently raise household incomes, reduce poverty and promote entrepreneurship.”

In her address, Kiambu County Women Representative Ms. Annah N y o k a b i a p p r e c i a t e d t h e transformative role of education and entrepreneurial training programme which she emphasized, will “help to lift women from poverty,” noting women

were saddled wi th enormous responsibilities in the family across the country. “Women carry a significant load, if we help women, we will have significantly empowered the whole country,” observed Ms. Nyokabi.

Ms. Nyokabi encouraged the trainees to “ask the right questions so as to acquire the requisite knowledge that will impact on the other women in the rural areas of the country thus opening their eyes to new opportunities especially given that women own only 2 percent of the resources.” and appealed to the County government's support in sourcing for markets for the services and products developed by the graduands of the programme. JICA Chief Representative Mr. Hideo Eguchi recalled that the In-Country Training Programme was started in 1994 to “empower women for enhanced agricultural productivity' and has since been modified to address “ the socio economic challenges” prevalent among the grassroots women.

Mr. Eguchi fur ther said, JICA recognised the significant role women played in the country's socioeconomic development and life transformation especially in the rural areas.

He told the participants that his organization was very encouraged by the fact that, “despite the numerous c h a l l e n g e s a n d h o u s e h o l d responsibil i t ies the par ticipants encountered, the knowledge and skills acquired in the past had been applied profitably for the improvement of rural livelihoods.”

He thanked the Kenya government for cooperating and supporting JICA during the implementation of the Agency's supported programmes at JKUAT. He underscored the need to acquire requisite skills, experiences for social economic transformation as a means to minimize inequalities among communities.

In her welcoming address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga said,

Governor Hails Varsity's Rolein Poverty Alleviation

Continued on page 7

Mr. Kabogo (centre) and Ms. Nyokabi (right) exchange views with Prof. Imbuga after the official opening of the Women’s In-country Training Programme

Continued from page 1

and children in an effort to expedite gender mainstreaming in the society.

Besides addresses by various personalities, Federation of Kenya Women Lawyers (FIDA) provided free legal advice to vulnerable women, with the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya creating awareness o n c a u s e s , p re v e n t i o n a n d management of various disabilities.

The event, now in its fourth year, is a proactive measure by the university to meet both national and institutional requirements on gender and disability mainstreaming. This year's edition was themed: Gender and Disability Mainstreaming for Sustainable Development.

NEWS


Plight of People with Disabilities

A section of participants at the ceremony

he recently inaugurated JKUAT TCouncil undertook a three day induction workshop in which the

members familiarized themselves with the various instruments governing University management namely; the Universities Act 2012, the University Statutes and Charter and the Strategic Plan.

Council Concludes Induction

Members of the Council, highest p l a c e d o rg a n i n u n i v e r s i t y management, equally grounded t h e m s e l ve s i n o t h e r c r i t i c a l management areas including, the Role of Audit Communication and Risk Management and Per formance Contracting.

Speaking during the event held at Sarova Whi tesands Hote l i n

Mombasa, Dr. Ekuru Aukot, the Council Chairman, challenged colleagues to remain focused, always seek to be guided by relevant statutory documents in discharging their duties. “ We a re c h a rg e d w i t h t h e responsibility of providing leadership to the institution, something that can only be achieved through, cooperation, dialogue and constant reference to guiding documents,” noted Dr. Aukot.

The Council Chair also urged Varsity Scholars to devote time for applied research and publish in refereed Journals; actions that would not only contribute to the country's development agenda but also enhance university visibility in the global map.

While at the Coast, the Council also visited Taita Taveta University College in Voi, JKUAT constituent college and Mombasa CBD Campus.

By Hindzano Ngonyo

Mr Kareithi Murimi, CEO and Team Leader, JMG Strategy Innovations Ltd makes a presentation during the Council retreat in Mombasa

Continued on page 7

NEWS

Agritech News6

By Ogeke Araka

s part of its strategy to provide Ai m p e t u s t o K e n y a ' s industrialization, the University

has embarked on implementing identified projects that would contribute to the attainment of Vision 2030, the country's development programme launched in 2008 and anticipated to transform Kenya to a middle income economy by the year 2030.

To support the national agenda, JKUAT has initiated a total of seven projects that include two flagship projects with the potential to generate multiple enterprises and five high priority ventures. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga, has appointed a committee chaired by the Principal, Co l lege o f Eng inee r i ng and Technology, Prof. Alfred Mayabi, to coordinate the initiative.

For Kenya to achieve the Vision 2030 goals, training of engineers will remain central in the development of the country's manufacturing sector and JKUAT's College of Engineering and Technology had been tasked to increase students' enrollment by 10 percent as a flagship project, an assignment that was surpassed during the 2012/2013 academic year. The

College reported an increase of 84 percent enrollment of 1261 students during 2012/ 2013 academic year, up from 685 students in the previous academic year.

A second Vision 2030 flagship project that the University is currently implementing is in the sphere of the

establishment of centers of

specialization that has been fast-tracked through the opening at JKUAT of the Pan African University Institute of Basic Sciences Technology and Innovation (PAUISTI).

PAUISTI, an African Union initiative which has already taken off with 56 pioneering graduate students, seeks to advance Africa's development through

higher training and research in specialized fields of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; Civil E n g i n e e r i n g & C o n s t r u c t i o n Management and Electrical & Electronics Engineering.

Under the high priority version of Vision 2030, the University is undertaking three projects that include the establishment of a centre of excellence in Engineering and Technology to promote the development and a p p l i c a t i o n o f e n g i n e e r i n g technologies.

The setting up of the Nairobi Industrial and Technology Park on a 32 acre land in Juja will be instrumental in

Varsity at the Centre of Vision 2030 Enterprises

Continued on page 9

High Status for Mr Kiswii

Mr. Kiswi

ong serving administrator, Mr. LAnthony Kiswii has been elevated to the position of Registrar in the

Academic Division to replace Dr. Suleman Okech who is expected to retire in June, 2013.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga in a letter to Mr. Kiswii said, “I am pleased to appoint you the Acting Registrar (Academic Affairs) with effect from May 1, 2013.”

As an educationist, Mr. Anthony Mutua Kiswii has had a long and rewarding career in the education sector in Kenya as a teacher and Univers i t y administrator. Except for his years of infancy, all his past life has revolved around the educational environment initially as a primary and secondary school pupil, a University student, a secondary school teacher and University administrator, feats that have given him rare bureaucratic credentials that have over the years not only served

him well but also helped him to scale through the ladder of university administration practice.

By Ogeke Araka

Continued on page 11

Prof ChunLi Bai, President, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Partners in Sino-Africa Research Centre ) waters a commemorative tree during a recent visit to JKUAT

the In-country Training programme “has seen a number of deserving Kenyan rural women get a lifeline through technology transfer and extension services on a wide range of social and economic issues” and that some beneficiaries had become successful household names in the political and socio-economic spheres.

The Vice Chancellor said, the programme, now in its second phase, “was conceived to respond to the needs of the rural women, who in many ways continue to bear the brunt of poverty, ignorance and disease despite the pivotal and dynamic roles they play in the society.”

Through the programme, “the university hopes to build the capacity of the rural women, by equipping them with requisite skills, competencies and attitudes necessary for socio-economic empowerment” said the VC adding that JKUAT believes that transforming the livelihoods of the rural poor, particularly women, will substantially contribute to the wealth creation n a t i o n a l g o a l . S h e f u r t h e r acknowledged the Government of Japan through JICA for its continued commitment and suppor t and commended Kenya Women Enterprise Fund for coming onboard to help actualize the programme.

Prof. Esther Kahangi, the JKUAT Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Research, Production and Extension Division (RPE) where the training programme is domiciled, underscored the philosophy behind this year's focus on the ASALs which she observed were endowed with beef cattle, skins and hides, mining, tourism among other products and services which were not found in high potential areas yet they (ASALs) faced drought, conflict and cultural barriers that could be turned around to create sus ta inable deve lopment and opportunities for the improvement of livelihoods.

Prof. Kahangi revealed that the Training of Trainers (ToTs) would move to other regions and help in training others in order to create the much needed critical mass of women who can impart in others similar skills.

The 21 day-training has attracted over 50 women (ToTs) drawn from the ASALs.

Also present during the function were: Deputy Vice Chancellors, Professors Francis Njeruh (Administrat ion, Planning and Development) and Romanus Odhiambo (Academic Affairs); Director of Extension Services Dr. David Kagima, Finance Officer, Mr Titus Wasike among others.

Meanwhi le , Ju ja Member o f Parliament Hon. Francis Munyua Waititu visited the University to familiarize himself with the operations of the computer assembly facility of the institution.

Hon. Waititu said he will mobilize Members of Parliament to visit the Un i ve r s i t y be fo re Pa r l i amen t deliberates on the provision of laptops


Varsity's Role in Poverty Alleviation

JKUAT Council comprise of Dr. Ekuru Aukot (Chairman), Prof. Mabel Imbuga (Vice Chancellor), Dr. Rosa Muraguri (Vice Chairperson), Dr. Bertha Dena (Treasurer), Dr. Khadija Sood, Amb. Steven Loyatum, Eng. John Tanui, PS Ministry of Education, and PS Ministry of Finance.

The meeting was also addressed by Prof. Crispus Kiamba, the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

Present at the induction included Deputy Vice Chancellors in charge of Admin i s t ra t ion , P lann ing and Development (APD) Prof. Francis Njeruh, Prof. Esther Kahangi of Research, Production and Extension Division and the University's Registrar (APD), Mr. Muchai Mbugua.

Council InductionContinued from page 5


Ms. Nyokabi interacts with a section of the Women In-country Training participants


NEWS

It is certain that pupils joining Standard One next year (2014) will have every

reason to smile following the setting aside of Kshs. 17 Billion annually for four years by the J ub i l ee Gove r nmen t t o actualize a promise of a Laptop per child project it made to Kenyans during the presidential campaigns. The money, set aside during this year's budget, will go towards the purchase of laptops, building computer laboratories and training teachers.

JKUAT has offered to make this promise a reality by offering to take up the challenge of assembling the laptops.

Given its past assembling experience of assembling computers, the University is a sure bet to carry out the national assignment. In October 2007, the University exhibited its computer assembling pioneering capability when it spearheaded the assembling of Madaraka computers ini t iat ive dubbed, E-MADDO.

The project funded by the Ministry of Information and Communications is part of Vision 20130 flagship and is aimed at capacity building in ICT as well as assembling af fordable computers that would be available to the public.

During the said period, over 1200 M a d a ra ka C o m p u t e r s w e re assembled with the main clients being the University itself, e-government offices and the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC).

In the new Jubilee Laptop initiative which is President Uhuru Kenyatta's

policy commitment to the country, the University would put mechanism in place to provide technical support to users of locally assembled laptops and assist teachers maximize the use of devices. The University will work closely with the Teachers Service Commission to accelerate capacity building of teachers, while in the local assembly project, it would inbuilt an e-waste management programme to deal with environmental issues of the electronic waste that would originate from the project.

According to the University's Vice Chancellor Prof. Mabel Imbuga, the free Laptop per child project would among other benefits, promote innovat ion and in tegrat ion of technology in education, promote employment and wealth creation for the Kenyan people, as well as promote Public, Private Partnership (PPP).

But the University is not only keen in assembling laptops locally; it is also eyeing the broad computer chain activities. In fact, the University is working with partners to ensure that besides the assembling of computers

locally, the teachers are trained adequately to enable them to assist learners benefit from the use of the laptops, and to ensure technology is used as a tool to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

The programme also seeks to ensure that before the computers are delivered to schools for use, relevant digital curriculum, digital content and e-books are pre-installed on to the devices. JKUAT is partnering with the Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development (formerly KIE) to provide digital curriculum and national digital content for all the school levels. It is also partnering with the Kenya Literature Bureau to provide e-books to be preloaded onto the laptops.

The University is already working with a consortium of partners such as the Ministry of Education, Technology giants such as Microsoft and Samsung to assemble laptops locally at JKUAT's – Nairobi Industrial and Technology Park based in Juja.

JKUAT Ready to Assemble Jubilee LaptopsBy Hindzano Ngonyo

Going Digital: Mich Maloch, a primary school pupil at Thika Christian School demonstrates his ICT skills on a laptop.

Agritech News8

NEWS

he Vice Chancellor Prof. Mabel TImbuga has challenged university students to leverage on the

a p p l i c a t i o n o f I n f o r m a t i o n Communication Technology (ICT) as a source of global development, and warned them against its “unintended” potential to derail young people” from achieving career ambitions if misused.

Prof. Imbuga said this during her welcoming statement to new first year students who reported to the University, to launch their academic careers following their admission to the alternative degree programme in May, 2013.

She further urged them to uphold high moral standards and reminded them that they were responsible for whatever they did, and the need to “make the best out of ICT” by emulating some of their peers who had “applied their ICT knowledge to come up wi th outstanding innovations which have earned them recognition at JKUAT, Kenya and beyond.”

The VC told the over 1700 new first year students comprising 62 per cent male and 38 per cent female that, two of the newly introduced programmes namely, Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bachelor of Science in Logistics

New Students urged to Leverage on ICT Application

By Patrick Amunavi and Fleet Management had “made a progressive attempt to bridge the gender gap”, adding the programmes “reflected 50 percent gender parity,” terming it a welcome development because it was a pointer to “the university's efforts to address the traditional asymmetrical gender re p re s e n t a t i o n i n a c c e s s i n g educational opportunities at university level which has and is still skewed in favour of the male gender.”

Prof. Imbuga further underscored the University's commitment in addressing gender disparity by supporting government efforts through the Joint Admissions Board through the implementation of the affirmative action strategy to increase the female gender's access to educational opportunities in institutions of higher learning.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Administration, Planning and Development Prof. Francis Mwihurih Njeruh told the first years that joining the university was “a great milestone” in their academic life and challenged them “to count themselves among the very best of the best” owing to the fact that only a small percentage managed to transit to university.

Drawing from his vast experience in the university system, Prof. Njeruh reminded students that “to be the best calls for humility.”

A first year student makes a contribution during the Vice Chancellor's address in May 2013

showcasing the evolution of various technologies planned to generate some 500 enterprises in the next decade. The development at the University, of the Sino-Africa Research Centre, a joint project between the governments of Kenya and China is projected to spearhead biodiversity conservation research in East Africa.

JKUAT has also set out to accelerate University/ Industry linkages through collaborations with other state corporat ions including, Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute, Numerical Machining, Numerical Machining Complex and Kenya Industrial Estates to specifically develop parliamentary bills for m a n u f a c t u r i n g i n f r a s t r u c t u re development under the Ministry of Industry.

The University is as well implementing two other Vision 2030 projects namely, the implementation of the Business P rocess Ou t sou rc i ng t ra i n i ng programme at the School of Human Resource Development and the establishment of a centre of excellence in engineering.

Varsity at the Centre of Vision 2030 Enterprises

He advised the students that everything they needed had been “provided to them by God and nature for a particular purpose” and therefore called for “humility in the way we conducted ourselves” and to consider others better than ourselves.”

The DVC advised the students to observe prudence in the management and utilization of scarce resources at their disposal while at the university because lack of it translates to “an added cost to the university.”




NEWS

He also dissuaded students from the practice of cooking in the hostels, and reminded them to take personal safety, e spec ia l l y avo id i ng dange rs associated with crossing the ever busy Thika Super-highway, and instead to use the designated pedestrian crossing points to avoid being hit by speeding vehicles.

Prof. Njeruh appealed to the students to familiarize themselves with the university's fees payment policy, and also spoke on a wide range of issues ranging from the need to cherish responsible behaviour including the need to shun drunkenness and urged them to be critical thinkers by exercising their brains adding that they were free to “criticize and interrogate issues in fur therance of the tradition of intellectual rigour.”

On his part, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs Prof. Romanus Odhiambo said the university was committed to quality assurance and encouraged the students to internalize the university's vision and mission statement.

Prof. Odhiambo further wished them “God's guidance and protection” as they prepared to “confront the challenges that come with being a University student.”

Prof. Esther Kahangi, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Research, Production and Extension (RPE), expressed optimism that the new students were “ready to tackle university life” and wished them a successful beginning of their academic journey.

In her remarks, Prof Kahangi introduced the fresh students to the critical aspects and major areas of the research oriented division that is RPE namely, Research, Innovation, Production, and the opportunities available to them at JKUAT and further implored them to use their time wisely in order to “extend the

frontiers of knowledge” and to work towards developing their ideas into great innovation projects.

The students have been admitted to undertake studies in 38 undergraduate programmes offered in the various colleges, schools and faculties. School of Human Resource Development attracted the highest number of 646 students, Faculty of Science 329, while the Institute of Computer Science and Information Technology (ICSIT) and School of Architecture and Building Sciences admitted 266 and 16 students respectively. The function was also attended by several senior university officers.

Meanwhile, the Joint Admissions Board (JAB) will admit a total of 53,010 candidates who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination in 2012 to the country's public universities and constituent colleges.

According to JAB, candidates who scored a minimum aggregate of B (plain) of 61 points and above will be admitted to the public universities and their constituent colleges. The Board also resolved that in addition, all female candidates with an aggregate of 60 points and B-(minus) of 59 be admitted under the JAB's gender affirmative action admission criteria.

This was revealed in mid May, 2013 when JAB held its first 2013/2014 meeting at Jomo Kenyatta University of

Agriculture and Technology to consider admissions for the 2012 KCSE candidates to the country's 22 public universities and 9 constituent university colleges.

During the meeting, Prof. Mabel Imbuga, the Vice Chancellor of JKUAT took over the mantle of the Chairperson of the Joint Admissions Board for 2013/2014 academic year from Prof. James K. Tuitoek, who is also the Vice Chancellor of Egerton University.

Prof. Imbuga said, JAB had also resolved that all the 2012 KCSE candidates who met the agreed minimum cut-off point of B(plain) of 61 points for males, and the female candidates with B of 60 and B- (minus) of 59 points will be given an opportunity to revise their degree choices.

Out of the 53,010 candidates who will join the public universities in September under JAB, 2131 candidates will be admitted to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology to pursue various undergraduate programmes. Under affirmative action, 2794 girls and 94 students from arid lands will be considered for admission to the public institutions of higher learning.

The meeting was attended by among others; Mr. B. M. Waweru, JAB Secretary and Mr J. M. Muraguri Member of the Board's Secretariat.

Students on ICT ApplicationContinued from page 9

Agritech News10

NEWS

JAB Chairperson, Prof. Imbuga (behind the mic) responding to questions from the press. On her right is Prof. Tuitoek (Former JAB chair) flanked by Mr. Waweru (JAB Secretary) and Mr. Muraguri (Member of the Board’s Secretariat).

Mr. Kiswii trained as a teacher at the University of Nairobi, graduating in 1978 with a Bachelor of Education degree that enabled him to secure a job with the Teachers Service Commission as an English Teacher at Kitui High School, Kitui County, where he taught for six years before receiving a posting on promotion to Masii Secondary school, Machakos County where he served as the Deputy Principal.

For 26 years, Kiwsii has been a university administrator having started

off at the University of Nairobi in 1987 where he had a 3-year stint before bagging another appointment at JKUAT where he has risen through the ranks for the last 23 years. In 1996, Mr. Kiswii benefitted from the World Bank University Investment scholarship project that enabled him to proceed to the high profile U.K based University of Manchester, where he successfully studied for the Master of Education deg ree i n h ighe r educa t i on administration and management.


Mr Kiswii Elevated

esearch output in scientific Rscholarly publications in Kenya has been on the increase yearly,

by 10% since 2006. The rise has been attributed to thirst for education and improvement in technology.

This was conveyed by Dr. Jacco Flipsen, Editorial Director Life Sciences at Springer, during a library workshop dubbed; Publishing Scientific Research held at JKUAT Main Campus, Juja.

Dr. Flipsen said, the research publications in Kenya were mostly in the field of Biomedical, Life Science, Medicine, Engineering/Physics, Humanities and Social Sciences. He added that the importance of publishing research is to advanced scientific knowledge and exchange ideas amongst peers.

He advice those keen to publish in journals to consider the readership, aims, scope, impact (geographically)

and cost in order to be competitive with other scholars globally. He advised that peer refereed papers already published needed to be posted on the university website to give the institution more visibility.

The University's Dean of Agriculture, Prof. Ngamau Kamau who was represent ing the Deput y Vice

Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs said, the workshop could not have come at a better time as it was a requirement for postgraduate students to publish the results of their research dissertations in order to graduate.

Prof. Ngamau advised students to take heed of the guidance given by the facilitators in order to produce high impact research papers and journals and also help to demystify the whole process of publishing research work.

In his remarks, Rone Robbetze, Springer V ice Pres iden t L ib rar y Sales , Northern/West Europe and Africa, said the forum was an eye opener to Springer, particularly on how journals were processed in the country's higher education sector and recommended students to utilize more electronic journals.

Present during the workshop included the University Librarian, Mr. Lawrence Wanyama and Springer Senior Accounts Development Specialist, Diana Alkema and Senior Publishing Editor, Maryse Elliot.

Publishing Scientific Research on the Rise in Kenya

By Gerald Gichura

A section of participants follow the proceedings during the workshop.


NEWS

huo cha Taita Taveta kimepiga Chatua kwa kasi mno tangu kilipofunguliwa mnamo tarehe

22/10/2008. Maendeleo yameanza kuchomoa kama jua la alfajiri. Chuo kimeshuhudia mabadiliko makubwa mbalimbali kama vile ujenzi wa kiwanja kikubwa cha kipekee ambacho kitakuwa kimeziba pengo katika County ya Taita Taveta. Kiwanja hiki kimejumuisha viwanja mbalimbali kama vile raga, kikapu na kile cha mchezo wa magongo.

Mbali na viwanja hivyo vya michezo mbalimbali, kuna kidimbwi cha kuogelea ambacho kitakuwa kimetoa fursa kubwa kwa waogeleaji katika chuo hiki. Wakati mwingi wanafunzi wal iopenda kuogelea wal ikuwa wakitoka nje ya Chuo kutafuta hoteli zenye vidimbwi vya kuogelea. Ukarabati huu ambao unajumuisha uwa wa chuo, barabara na njia za kupitia chuoni, umegarimu kitita cha fedha milioni 410.

Mjengo wa afisi na madarasa ya Chuo, unaoendelea utatoa afueni kwa uhaba wa afisi ambayo kwa sasa ndio changamoto kubwa. Mjengo huu umeleta sura mpya tangu usimika mahali hapo, ambao utagarimu milioni 47. Tangi kubwa la kuhifadhia maji lita milioni 4.5, litagarimu kiasi cha fedha milioni 16. Tangi hili linaenda sambamba katika ujenzi unaoendelea, ambalo litapunguza kero kubwa la uhaba wa maji katika Chuo hiki.

Mandhar i ya Chuo yameanza kupendeza zaidi pale unapoingia mahali hapo; mkabala unakumbana na mahali pa kuegeshea magari. Mwanzo ilikuwa shida kubwa kwani mahali pa kuegeshea

Chuo cha Taita Taveta Kupiga Hatuamagari ilikuwa hakuna. Ujenzi huu umeanza kutoa sura mpya ya kuvutia, ambapo sasa unaweza kuegesha gari lako bila shida yoyote.

Chuo cha TTUC, kiliianza kuajiri wafanyikazi wake pale kililipopata baraza lake la chuo la kwanza mwaka jana. Wafanyikazi hao walikuwa msimamizi wa chuo ambaye ni Prof. Hamadi Boga na manaibu wake wawili ambao ni Prof. Fred S. Barasa, anayesimamia mambo ya utawala, mipango na fedha na Prof. Christine Onyango ambaye ni msimamizi wa mambo ya taaluma na utafiti.

Baada ya kuajiriwa kwa mafisaa hawa watatu muhimu katika chuo; waliofuatia walikuwa wafanyikazi wengine katika idara mbalimbali katika chuo. Hili lilifanyika mwezi wa kumi na moja na mwezi wa kumi na mbili. Ilitakiwa litekelezwe haraka iwezekanavyo ili chuo kiweze kuwa na wafanyikazi wake. Mwanzoni chuo hiki kilitegemea wafanyikazi kutoka Chuo kikuu cha Kilimo na Technolojia cha Jomo Kenyatta ambacho kilikuwa ndicho muhimili wake mkubwa.Baadhi ya wafanyikazi walihiyari kurudi Juja katika Chuo cha Kilimo na Tekinolojia cha Jomo Kenyatta.

Katika maendeleo Chuo cha TTUC, kimeanza kuwa na mapatano na m i u n g a n o n a v y u o v i n g i n e ulimwenguni, kama vile Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam(UDSM) na chuo cha Curtin Australia.

Mikataba hii ilihusu vyuo vitatu, ambavyo ni chuo kikuu cha Chuo kikuu cha Kilimo na Technolojia cha Jomo Kenyatta (JKUAT), chuo cha Taita Taveta (TTUC) na chuo cha Ctripatite

Curtin Australia. Hatimaye Prof. Boga, na Bw. Ndegwa walikwenda Chuo kikuu cha Dar es Saalamu (UDSM) kwa kusahini nyaraka nyingine za miungano na mapatano mengine. Hii itaweza kutoa nafasi ya kuweza kukua kwa idara hii kiutafiti, na kuweza kupokea wataalamu wa kutoka nje katika mambo ya taaluma ya madini.

Katika ubadilishanaji, hivi karibuni chuo kitapata waadhiri 4 wa mambo ya madini kutoka Ctripatite Curtin Australia, Chuo cha Madini na Tekinolojia Nigeria (UMAT) na mtaalamu mwingine kutoka National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) India, Prof. Swatantra Prakash.

Vyuo vitaweza kutoa nafasi za ubadilishanaji wa wataalamu na wanafunzi. Sekta hii ya madini ambayo sasa serekali imeipa kipaumbele kwa kuiwekea wizara kamili; itafungua nafasi za ajira na kwa wawekezaji, na pia kuweza kuletea serekali mamilioni ya fedha. Hii imekuwa bahati kubwa kwani ukanda wa sehemu hii ya Taita Taveta mpaka Arusha Tanzania, unajulikana kuwa imesheheni madini a ina mbalimbali yenye vito vya thamani. Madini kama yale ya green gannet, a m b a y o y a n a t h a m a n i k u b w a ulimwenguni yanapatikana kwa wingi sehemu ya Taita Taveta.

Kwa sasa Chuo hiki kimepata mwenyekiti mpya wa baraza, Bi. Lucia Omondi. Prof. Lucia Omond ambaye anatoka chuo kikuu cha Nairobi, alichukua nafasi hii kutoka kwa Prof. Florence Nyamu ambaye sasa nimwenyekiti wa Chuo cha Kabianga.

-Bwana Hassan Njama ni mfanyikazi katika Chuo Kikuu cha Taita Taveta

Na Ali Hassan Njama

Agritech News12

HABARI

n f o r m a t i o n T e c h n o l o g y Iundergraduate courses offered at Jomo Kenyatta Universit y of

Agriculture and Technology have been updated as a result of a curriculum review undertaken in conjunction with International Business Machines (IBM).

The new curriculum which rolled out starting with the May 2013 semester, adds great value to the entire IT programme with special focus on Computer Sc ience, Computer Techno logy and I n fo rma t i on Technology, ICT Director Dr Joseph M. Wafula revealed when addressing a visiting media team from IBM, United Stated of America.

The review involved integrating new database management aspects into

the courses offered with a view of equipping students with knowledge and skills that will make them relevant to the local and international markets upon graduation.

Information Technology Curriculum ReviewedBy Margaret Were

To facilitate the successful rolling out of the curriculum, IBM conducted a workshop which was attended by members of the academic staff on the latest tools of teaching database management.


A total of 2, 406 graduands are set to be awarded diplomas and conferred with degrees

during the 21st graduation ceremony Friday June 28, 2013, at the University pavilion, Juja Campus. Up to 22 doctorate degrees, seven masters degrees, and 1762 undergraduate degrees will be awarded during the event to be presided over by the Chancellor. Seven graduands will also be awarded post graduate diplomas besides 453 diploma recipients.

Ten female doctorate degrees will be awarded during the June 2013 graduation ceremony translating to an increase of 50% compared to the 20th Graduation. Male doctorate degrees

have however dropped by 20% to 12 from 15 in the previous pass out. The number of female graduands in S c i e n c e , M a t h e m a t i c s a n d Techno logy cou r se s rema i n s worryingly less compared to the male contemporaries. Out of 426 students graduating from the College of Engineering and Technology, for instance, only 56 are female, translating to 13%. The situation is more forlorn at the Institute of Biotechnology Research, where all the three masters graduands are male.

Ladies have however posted stronger showing in social sciences and enterprise development programmes. The School for Human Resource

Weak Show by Females in

Engineering and Technology

Development (SHRD) which has presented the highest number of graduands has 244 female graduands out of 593, represent ing 41%. The Institute of Energy and E n v i r o n m e n t a l Technology is also a l a d i e s d o m a i n , claiming 80% with 4 ou t o f f i ve graduands.

T h e s e c o n d graduation this year will be held in November

st21 GraduationBy Cavince Adhere


RESEARCH & TRAINING

here are areas in Kenya where Trainfall is scarce but mists and fog occur particularly at night and

early morning. Such areas include Mt. Kenya, the Ngong hills, Aberdares and parts of the coast.

Conventional sources of water such as rivers are either too far away, while ground water is either unavailable or too expensive to exploit. That fog could prov ide water a t sus ta inable proportions remains largely untested, untapped and thus, a lost opportunity. This perception is set to change, going by the success of a project to obtain water from fog, currently being implemented by JKUAT researchers, working with other partners around Kiserian in the Ngong Hills.

What is Fog?Fog is a concentration of water droplets which are so small, that they "float" in the air. Scientifically, fog is really a cloud that touches the ground. Indeed, fog is very light rainfall that hangs in the air until the weather is warm enough for the droplets to evaporate back to the sky. These tiny droplets are easily blown by wind, making fog harvesting possible.

What is Fog Harvesting?Fog harvesting is an innovative technology based on the fact that water can be collected from fogs under favourable climatic conditions. The tiny water droplets present in fog precipitate or gather when they come

Rural Drinking Water could be Provided by Fog

By Bancy Mati in contact with objects. Fog harvesting is achieved using simple, low-cost collection equipment known as fog collectors. How do fog collectors look like?

Components of a Fog CollectorA fog collector consists of a single or double layer mesh-net supported by two posts rising from the ground. The mesh panels vary in size, from 1 m2 for experimental work to over 100 m2 for real fog collection. The material used for the mesh is usually nylon, polyethylene or polypropylene netting (shade cloth). Fog collectors can also harvest rain, drizzle and mists and are suited to high-elevation rural areas. When the fog rolls in, the tiny droplets of water cling to the mesh, and as more clusters gather, they drip into a gutter below which channels the water to a storage tank. Question is, how much water can be collected from fog?

Quantities of Water Harvestable from FogThe typical water production rates from a fog collectors range from 200 to 1,000 litres per day, depending on net size, mesh/fibre design, fog density and wind.

The fog collectors currently installed at the test sites in the Ngong hills are for research work. They are small, measuring 1 x 1 sq. m to harvest small quantities of water. If funding can be available, it is possible to install full size fog harvesters in the Ngong Hills measuring 40 sq. metres (two paired nets each 20 sq. m). Depending on location and fog availability, this could collect about 400-1,000 litres of water per day. This could provide enough drinking water for about 600 school children per day.

Advantages of Fog Harvesting It captures atmospheric water

which is generally clean, does not contain harmful micro-organisms and is suitable for drinking or

irrigation purposes. The environmental impacts of

installing and maintaining the technology are minimal.

The construction process is not labour intensive, only basic skills are required and, once installed, the system does not require any energy for operation.

The fog collectors can be fabricated locally, creating jobs.

Water can be collected from fog e.g. in June, July, August when there is no rain, p rov i d i ng d r i n k i ng wa te r t o communities affordably. What is JKUAT doing about it?

Collaboration on Fog HarvestingJKUAT's Water Research and Resource Center (WARREC) is leading a project on Participatory Assessment and Promotion of Fog Harvesting for Drinking Water in the Ngong Hills.

Other project partners include: Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), the Pastoralists Organization for Water and Environmental Research (POWER), an NGO based at Kiserian and Ped-World, a German NGO.

They have already installed Test Fog Collectors at Olteyani Primary School, Olteyani Village, Ilmasin Primary School and Kiserian.

The project aims to: (i) provide drinking

A standard fog collector unitContinued on page 15

Agritech News14

RESEARCH & TRAINING

water through fog harvesting, (ii) gather data and scientifically verify the potential of fog to provide freshwater if harvested, (iii) raise awareness on the inherent potential of fog harvesting for suitable areas in Kenya, and (iv) build t he capac i t y o f bene f i c i a r y communities in the Ngong Hills on fog collection technologies. Who are the target beneficiaries?

Beneficiaries of the fog harvesting project are communities, school children and teachers.

Target Beneficiaries include (i) Communities, teachers and school children in the project pilot areas of Ngong Hills, (ii) Policy makers, development partners, funders, NGOs and other decision makers to understand fog harvesting and thus support it, and (iii) Scientific community and researchers, through generation of new knowledge.

We seek support to turn this research into action and to provide water from fog. Fog is Water!

-Prof. Mati is the Director, Water Research and Resource Centre (WARREC)

For further details, contact: [email protected] or [email protected])


Fog is Water

New Variety of Button Mushroom Introduced

A new variety of commercial Button mushroom spawn, Agaricus Bitorquis, has been

introduced for the first time in Kenya by the Jomo Kenyatta University of

Agriculture and Technology's research laboratory. The new variety of Button mushrooms thrives well in warmer areas.

According to Mr. Patrick Kanyi Muchiri, a research scientist from the University's Institute of Biotechnology Research (IBR), the variety is most suited to grow and produce desirable yields in warm or hot weather conditions.

Kanyi states that he has for the past two years researched on various soils and found that the months of October and March are ideal seasons for growing this particular mushroom spawn variety because most parts of the country are usually warm.

He, however, singled out Mombasa, Kisumu and the northern parts of Kenya, which experienced either warm or hot weather conditions throughout the year as places where the variety would do tremendously well.

For about four decades now, farmers in Kenya have been able to grow Agaricus Bisphorus, and for the small farmer, this has been a challenge as they are not able to regulate and bring the temperatures down to the required

o o19 C or 20 C to enable them get the desired yields, save for the large scale farmers who are able to do so.

Mr. Kanyi points out that although the characteristics of the new Button mushroom var ie t y (Agrar icus Bitorquis) was the same as Agaricus Bisphorous, i.e. in terms of its pasteurization, incubation which

o oranges from between 23 Cand 30 C, the difference is found in the fruiting

ostage which occurs at 5 C above the Agaricus Bitorquis despite the fact that the fruit body looks the same.

Mr. Kanyi further reveals that the taste of the new variety is superior to that of

B i s p h o r o u s and it is also quite resistant to m u s h r o o m diseases such a s f u n g a l , bacterial and viral.

“ T h e n e w v a r i e t y h a s better handling characteristics as i t has a longer shelf life

By Hindzano Ngonyo and therefore, suitable to the small scale farmers who do not have good facilities for preservation,” stated Mr. Kanyi.

The two commercial button mushroom spawn are now readily available at the University's Research, Production and Extension Unit. Other types of mushroom spawn available at the university's laboratories include Shiitaki and Reishi, both of which are grown for medicinal purposes, and oyster.

Mr. Kanyi inspecting growing Oyster mushrooms in the farm house's demonstration farm.

Mr. Kanyi preparing the Button mushroom spawn assisted by other colleagues.


RESEARCH & TRAINING

Graduate students in urban planning at the School of Architecture and Building

Sciences will now benefit from modern global urban planning practices that will be made available by UN-Habitat, the Nairobi based UN specialized agency for human settlements that has p l e d g e d t o o f f e r i n t e r n s h i p opportunities to urban planning students of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

The internships will specifically focus on successful UN-Habitat global projects and programmes with the hallmark of inclusiveness and sustainable urban development.

Dr. Joan Clos, UN-Habitat Executive Director who spoke at JKUAT in May, 2013, on the theme: “Challenges of Urbanization,” linked urbanization to development, stressing that rural –urban migration was a mark of development.

He however emphasized that developing countries will continue to witness increased urbanization in the near future, and advised governments to embrace modern urban planning practices that are the only available path in “mitigating mushrooming of slums.”

Dr. Clos who signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow UN-Habitat and JKUAT to collaborate in agreed areas of interest, said over 800 million people in the world live in slums

with Africa harboring the lion's share of 62 per cent.

The UN official advised urban planners in Africa to involve their citizens in town planning as part of legitimacy building. Good urban planning practices, he said, had to allocate between 45 to 50 percent of land to public space that was crucial in increasing value. He added that planning should encourage integrated facilities, avoid social segregation and ensure adequate proximity to the factors of production.

In her statement, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga welcomed JKUAT/UN-Habitat collaboration which she said, would eventually lead to the establishment of a graduate Academy at JKUAT to spearhead

specialized training and research in urban studies.

According to the Vice Chancellor, the Centre would as well serve as a national urban forum and think-tank for the forthcoming UN-Habitat World forum expected to work closely with Kenya's private sector and other stakeholders to promote innovation in urban planning. The collaboration is also expected to enrich the graduate programme in urban planning at JKUAT.

The ceremony was also addressed by among others; Permanent Secretaries; Philip Siika, Dr. Gideon Mulyungi of the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan and the Ministry of Public Works respectively

UN-Habitat boosts Urban Planning TrainingBy Ogeke Araka

Prof. Imbuga and Dr. Clos exchanging an MoU between JKUAT and UN-HABITAT.

Agritech News16

RESEARCH & TRAINING

hen ripe, it is the preferred

Wfavorite breakfast and dessert fruit served to both

children and adults in Kenya while in Asia, some people prefer to cook its green fruits as a vegetable. In Latin America, people eat its leaves. Yet, despite its great demand in Kenya, papaya production which is also popularly known as paw paw, and known for its ability to support the human body against several types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases and micro-nutrient deficiencies, has for years been declining due to several constraints. Concerned by the declining production of the fruit that is also a source of household income in Kenya, scientists at the Department of Horticulture have, through a study launched recently been able to come up with interventions that would improve papaya productivity and its fruit quality.

Led by Fredah Wanzala, the principal investigator, the team of seven researchers was able to identify three main causes responsible for the sluggish production of papaya in the country.

Dr. Wanzala attributes the decline in papaya production in the country to lack of improved varieties and

d e v a s t a t i n g v i r a l diseases. Farmers too, Dr. Wanzala says, lacked a re l iab le method of picking the required sex of seedlings at planting time. “Papaya exists in 3 sex types, male, female and hermaphrodite. Pr ior to flowering, the seedlings look alike, making it impossible for farmers to plant the desired ratio of 1male to 9 females for optimal productivity.”

The study involved the collection of plant samples comprising mature fruits and tender leaves from different papaya plants from a cross section of the country's counties. Morphological data of 60 plant samples based on visual appraisal such as height, colour, and size was subjected to Neighbor-Joining cluster analysis. Seeds of randomly selected plants were used to establish new plants at JKUAT that were evaluated for height, fruit yield and quality. The researchers employed tissue culture approach to develop protocols for mass propagation.

Morphological characterization revealed considerable diversity among 60 representative sample of papaya material used. The plants were variable in traits like height from the soil level to the first flower, fruit yield and quality. However, molecular tools revealed that genetic diversity among Kenyan

By Ogeke Araka

Study to boost Papaya Production

papaya varieties is limited. This means, Kenyan scientists cannot rely on the local gene pool for comprehensive papaya improvement.

It is therefore imperative for local researchers to collaborate with their counterparts from other papaya

producing countries in germplasm exchange for further improvement of fruit production and quality.

The project, jointly funded by the University and Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, has reported encouraging outputs. One such product has now led to the development of efficient p r o t o c o l s f o r papaya shoot tip culture while oil with high oleic acid ex t rac t ed f rom papaya seeds is now used to make ant i fungal soap and lotion.

Papaya seed oil soap lotion Papaya seed oil soap

Dr. Wanzala


RESEARCH & TRAINING

or any university don committed to Fthe long-established call of duty, nothing is more precious and

fulfilling than making inroads to the advancement of knowledge. This perhaps explains the enthusiasm and venerable devotion that university dons attach to the endeavor to publish their research undertakings.

Goaded by the adage, publish or perish, the phrase coined to describe the pressure in academia to consistently publish their research works to sustain their careers, it is not hard to appreciate that the most historic moments in the life of a don are the occasions when their painstaking research findings pass the rigorous test, granting consent for the work to be published in a refereed journal.

For Daniel Sila of the Department of Food Science and Technology, such moments are not rare during his short research career at the university. To his credit, he has been fairly successful in putting his shoulder to the research whee l , gene ra t i ng nume rou s pioneering and rewarding projects, with an output of 27 scholarly papers published in peer referred journals.

It is however, Dr. Sila's latest research f inding that has brought h im unprecedented honour likely to remain memorable for a long time; not only because it was published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology, an influential US-based peer referred journal, but because of its icing on the cake which is the interest that the article

has generated among scholars in the world; making it the most sought and cited paper of the journal for two successive years since 2009, when it was published.

It is this popularity that led the journal publishers to recently invite Dr. Sila to Las Vegas, US, where he was decorated and awarded a certificate for his widely cited scientific article.

Commenting on the article, Dr. Sila says, it was a culmination of intensive studies that he had conducted as part of his post-doctoral work at Katholieke Universiteit, Belgium, focusing on the current knowledge of pectin, a plant cell wall compound commonly found in vegetables and fruits that is vital in providing the thickening attributes of processed fruits and vegetable products in the form of gel as found for instance in jams, and cherries and other related foodstuffs.

In his analysis, Dr. Sila was able to establish a crucial relationship between texture of fruit and vegetable and their processed products such as juices, pudding, cherries, pastes and their corresponding consumer sensory preferences.

'It is the Pectin polymer that is to a large extent responsible in determining the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables and their processed products in terms of c o n s u m e r t a s t e a n d m o u t h compatibility,' the don explains.

Convinced that pectin manipulation hold the key to increased food production and diversification, Dr. Sila embarked on a series of studies

aimed at breaking down the compound using enzymes and forming pectin aggregates using other chemicals.

The purpose, he argues, is to regulate the properties of the plant cell wall substance to foster production of vegetable and fruit products that would

Don's Research Shines in America

By Ogeke Araka

“There are consumers who

prefer clear juices while others desire

fruit drink with purple or pink

finish.”

Agritech News18

RESEARCH & TRAINING

Dr. Sila at the JKUAT

meet stipulated market demands such as shelf life stability, accelerating or slowing down of vegetable and fruit ripening rates, extraction of juices and other consumer specifics preferences. Pectin too, he says, would be easily designed to produce juices and related vegetable and fruits products with consumer friendly colours and nutrients.

Dr Sila adds, “There are consumers who prefer clear juices while others desire fruit drink with purple or pink finish.”

The don is upbeat that his finding that falls in the discipline of pectin engineering, a specialized branch of food science technology is likely to find widespread applications where it would for instance be used to slow down the softening or hardening of fruits and vegetables to control their freshness.

The technology, according to the scholar, can be applied to accelerate the degree of softness of similar food products to benefit export oriented manufactures, “who would employ the knowledge to accelerate mango ripening or vice versa for use as a fruit or for the production of juice to meet deadlines for export or even for local retail outlets.”

Another sector likely to benefit from the pectin technology is the horticultural sector in Kenya which Dr. Sila says, has continued to witness massive post-harvest losses of between 30 to 50 percent, with mangoes accounting for 43 percent of the total production which he laments, translates to Kshs. 12 billion annually.

The technology which Dr. Sila is perfecting is expected to serve as a key intervention measure to the food security dilemma in the country.

E m b o l d e n e d b y t h e encouraging results arising from the studies, Dr. Sila has now extended h is the pect in technology to other foods such as beans where he has been funded to the tune of Kshs. 30 m i l l i o n by t he Be lg i um government to help him unravel the puzzle of the “hard to cook beans attribute,” a characteristic behaviour typical of categories of beans that take prolonged period of time to cook or do not cook at all.

Through the manipulation of the pectin polymer, Dr. Sila has reported encouraging results that have so far seen the reduction of cooking time of the hard to cook beans reduced by 50 percent.

The four year project that commenced last year has also provided equipment boosting facilities at the University in addition to an opportunity it has provided for training four JKUAT graduate training, two of them at

PhD level. Meanwhile, Dr. Sila's star continues to brighten following the addition of one more feather on his research cap by the Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) which declared Dr. Sila as their most outstanding research partner during the year 2012. In a communiqué, Dr. Appolinaire Djikeng, ILRI Interim Director described Dr. Sila as diligent, enthusiastic and self motivated partner who has admirably steered a joint JKUAT/ILRI research project aimed at adding value to Amaranth, an African indigenous vegetable, through the development of new Amaranth based food products. Through the project, Dr. Sila has been able to identify the best Amaranth seeds in terms of yield and nutrition to improve farmers nutritional and income status


Food Science vacuum evaporator lab used to separate solvents to extract specific food compounds.

RESEARCH & TRAINING

The DB2 workshop conducted at the new IBM innovation centre in Nairobi is an actualization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed to facilitate collaboration between IBM and JKUAT in areas of IT development to enable the Universit y of fer programmes that are tailored for both local and international markets.

Components of the MoU include partnership developed under IBM academic initiative, education and research fields.

Dr. Wafula said the partnership was particularly crucial to the IT department because students and academic staff will have access to cutting edge technology brought on board to facilitate benchmarking with graduates from other universities across the globe.

JKUAT will as a result, have access to e-b o o k s o n I T a n d e m e rg i n g technologies in addition to tools available for practical use in the computer laboratory.

Dr. Wafula informed the media team led by Ms. Melisa Turesky of IBM that the challenge is now left with the University's academia and students to innovatively use the provided tools and access to technology to come up with efficient and effective solutions to local and international IT challenges.

The media team was on a visit to record interviews with different IT faculty members and students on the anticipated changes resulting from signing the MoU.


IT Curriculum he culture of making learning Tpractical and interesting by encouraging students to rely on

concrete life activities which has taken root at the University has received new impetus following increased interest from the student community.

Launched two years ago as part of a five year collaborative venture between Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Canadian-based Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, the project dubbed case study approach because of the practical nature it adopts to learning, has gained widespread approval among JKUAT students going by the large number of students who participated in the 2013 programme that ended at the University in May, 2013.

The main plank of the three-week training project lies in its autonomy to allow students who work in groups to analyze challenges confronting the growth of small-scale enterprises within the community and provide their own appropriate business decisions that would alleviate the problem.

It is this business advantage provided by the training that caught the attention of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga who in a speech during the official closing of the 2013 session, underscored the importance of the programme saying it offered students the much crucial management skills that would put them ahead of their colleagues in the job market.

In a speech read on her behalf by then acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zipporah Ng'ang'a, Prof. Imbuga urged the beneficiaries to use the learnt skills to tap into the immense business opportunities that were readily available in the country.

Prof. Imbuga lauded the programme, adding it was much superior to the common theoretical approach that often left students with lingering queries. She reminded the recipients they had also benefitted from the rich Canadian-Kenyan cultural mix, which she said, was useful in fostering relations among the two societies.

This year, over 110 students drawn from various disciplines have benefitted from the programme, up from 85 students drawn mainly from School of Human Resource and Development (SHRD) in the previous year.

The ceremony was also addressed by Prof. Kamau Ngamau, Acting DVC, Academic Affairs; Prof. Elegwa Mukulu, Dean SHRD; Dr. Margaret Oloko, Chai r, Depar tment of Commerce and Economic; Prof. Wariara Kariuki, Director, Alumni and International Students Office and the Course Coordinator, Pamella Owour, among others.

Prof. Kamau praised the case study approach, and recommending that it should be implemented at all JKUAT faculties while Prof. Mukulu lauded the project for raising the University's international reputation.

Project coordinator, Pamella Owour hailed the case study approach to learning, saying it was students-based, more participatory and enabled students to build self confidence in whatever they were undertaking. Unlike the theoretical approach, the case study technique, Owour added, was instrumental in advancing students' experiential learning since it explored management challenges in existing business. “Above all, it built students' capacity in managerial decision making,” said the Coordinator.

JKUAT and Ivey School of Business Case Study Project

By Ogeke Araka

Agritech News20

omo Kenyatta Universi t y of JAgriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in partnership with Nissin Foods

Limited of Japan are engaged in a joint venture to manufacture Instant noodles for the local market.

The products, tailored to suit the Kenyan people's palates and taste flavours to be produced will include Chicken flavor and Nyama Choma flavour which research has proved to be the favorites with the local population.

The joint company into which Ksh. 500 million has been invested was registered in January 2013 in the name of JKUAT NISSIN FOODS LIMITED and is located at Juja in Kiambu County. This is the first Public Private Partnership between Japan and the Republic of Kenya.

JKUAT NISSIN FOODS LIMITED M a n a g i n g D i re c t o r D a i s u ke

Okabayashi revealed that the first batch of noodles will hit the market in September 2013.

JKUAT will train and familiarize engineers and scientists with the instant noodles technology and culture and provide knowledge of raw materials, quality improvements using whole wheat flour and sorghum which are healthy foods.

The market being targeted as consumers covers the East Africa and Sub Saharan regions including Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda with an estimated population of 130 million consumers.

There is an increasing demand for instant noodles which are currently imported generated by the now urbanite's lifestyle which rely more on convenient foods that are tasty and quick to make.

Noodles Industry Established at JKUAT

By Margaret Were

The foundation of the joint venture was born in 2008 when Nissin Foods with the cooperation of JKUAT started the Oishi project in Kenya through which needy pupils were offered free instant noodles for school lunch.

In addition, Nissin donated machines t o J K U A T a n d p r o m o t e d entrepreneurship in instant noodles business to Kenya for sustainable economic growth. The target sales are expected to reach 500 million packets annually by 2030.

he collaborative initiative

Tbetween Jomo Kenyat ta University of Agriculture and

Technology (JKUAT) and the National Youth Service (NYS) in Marine Engineering training programme has been accorded formal recognition following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions.

In a ceremony conducted at Main Campus, Juja in May, 2013, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga lauded the move by the two

National Youth Service Formalizes Marine Training

By Patrick Amunavi



PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATIONS

NYS Director General, Mr. Rugutt exchanging Agreement documents with Prof. Imbuga. Looking on is NYS Commandant Mr. Osore (far left) and Prof. Kahangi (right)

PARTNERSHIP & COLLABORATION

institutions to formally establish an MoU, a development that she reckoned was long overdue and reiterated that, “the signing of the MoU has come at the right time as it demonstrates a bottom up approach to collaboration in which activities of corporat ion s tar t and then formalizing agreements follow. Training of marine cadets is one major collaboration activity.”

Noting that the cadet marine engineering training of JKUAT students has gone on smoo th l y, t h e V i c e Chancellor cherished the positive and enduring efforts of members of staff from JKUAT and NYS who she said, have tirelessly worked towards the success of the now official collaboration.

Prof. Imbuga further underscored the “strong relationship that exists between physical fitness and mental alertness,” a d d i n g , t h e t w o institutions could latch onto this competence to develop jointly with the aim of giving graduates of JKUAT and NYS a competitive edge in the job market. She also urged NYS to explore ways of rolling out their training to members of staff in the University observing that the move would impact positively in their performance at the work place and in their lives.

While acknowledging the unique facilities at NYS, the Vice Chancellor said members of staff will be more than happy to utilize them under the sealed collaboration and equally urged “NYS to take advantage of the MoU to benefit from JKUAT's numerous training programmes offered in various colleges and campuses spread across the country. The VC also revealed that after s i gn ing t he MoU, a Jo i n t

Management Committee will be formed to fully operationalize the agreement and challenged members of JKUAT and NYS to take full advantage of the collaboration for the betterment and growth of the two institutions.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Research, Production and Extension Prof. Esther Kahangi said, NYS was a “highly respected institution in Kenya and everyone is eager to hire NYS graduates

because of the high standards of discipline inculcated in them,” adding, it was very exciting that the collaboration with NYS in training Marine Engineering students had remained an active and viable initiative that stood out from the rest.

In his statement, the NYS Director General, Japhter K. Rugutt said he was pleased with the MoU which he said, “would go along way in cementing the already existing engagement with JKUAT activities and programmes.”

The Director General who was a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e N Y S Commandant Mr. Edward Osore, further hailed the sealed deal which

he emphasized, fitted well with the Youth Agenda as espoused in the Jubilee Manifesto which seeks to address critical areas of acquisition of skills, knowledge, training, and opening up the minds of the youth in Kenya a fact he recalled, “would enable the youth perceive the globalised world in a more positive way while remaining focused in the development of the country.”

Citing the case of Self Employment Promotion Units (SEPU) programme

at NYS, the Director General said, NYS and JKUAT could partner and take up the challenge of leveraging on the facilities that the twin institutions have to address the c h a l l e n g e o f unemployment, adding that t h e r e a r e m a n y opportunities that can be explored by both institutions to make their presence felt in every corner of the country.

The two collaborating parties will partner in the areas of sharing facilities, ins t i tu t iona l capac i t y building, staff exchange and attachment, student t r a i n i ng a t t a chmen t ,

r e s ea r ch , i n no va t i on s and technology development among other areas, aimed at enhancing the provision of quality training in marine engineering, navigation and related studies.

Present at the function included: the then Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs Prof D a v i d M u l a t i ; C h a i r m a n , Depa r tmen t o f Mechan i ca l Engineering Dr. Hiram Ndiritu; a Senior Extension Officer in the Research, Production and Extension Division Dr. Kaibui Muikamba and the University's Legal Officer Ms. Vivian Waithaka

Marine Engineering TrainingContinued from page 21

Agritech News22

Prof. Imbuga sharing a light moment with NYS team.

tudent innovators have been Schallenged not to relent in identifying problem gaps in the

society but to redouble their efforts in coming up with great innovations w h e t h e r b u s i n e s s - o r i e n t e d , technological or agricultural and seeking appropriate solutions geared towards addressing the identified needs while at the same time achieving global recognition.

This message was delivered in a speech read by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Research, Production and Extension (RPE), Prof. Esther Kahangi on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Mabel Imbuga during

the “Tech Expo Winners Award Ceremony” held at the University's Juja Main Campus end of April, 2013.

Addressing the winners who had emerged tops in various categories during the 2012 Edition of the JKUAT

Tech Expo Exhibition whose theme

was:“Harnessing Technology and

I n n o v a t i o n s t o A t t a i n

Industrialization, Sustainable

Economic Growth and Food

Security,” Prof. Kahangi said, beside awarding “JKUAT brains with a token of appreciation, my passionate appeal to you is to sustain this creativity by coming up with first class innovations

while aware of the fact that innovations are at the core of the realization of Vision 2030.”

The biotechnology scholar also reaffirmed the University's commitment in advocating for the “enhanced participation of women in fields that have traditionally been largely male dominated including innovation” adding that she was deeply encouraged by the fact that “during last

year's Tech Expo, about 18 female students participated, a number which was indeed higher than those who participated in the previous year's Tech Expo.

Terming the trend “very heartening,” Prof. Imbuga urged more female students at JKUAT to continue engaging in such endeavors so as to scale upwards, the number of projects submitted for Tech Expo to match their male counterparts.

During the ceremony, Director of Extension and Technology Transfer, Dr. David Kagima reaf f i rmed the commitment of RPE Division to support and market students' innovations and further appealed to all the winners to redouble their efforts in their areas of innovation.

Dr. Peter Kihato, speaking on behalf of

the Tech Expo Panel of Judges,

commended the victors for coming up with great innovations and urged them to aim even higher.

The highlight of the ceremony that brought together a galaxy of JKUAT's young innovators was the award of certificates and cash prizes to the winners in four categories namely; Agriculture, Embedded Systems, Engineering, and Software Design.

Each innovator who topped in each of the categories took home cash prize money worth Ksh. 100,000, while the second placed innovators bagged Ksh.50, 000 and those who clinched third position pocketed Ksh.30, 000 each respectively.

The judges who presided over the competition were also recognized for their contribution in entrenching and enhancing the culture of innovation at the University.

The Tech Expo is an annual event organized by JKUAT as a viable platform for University students in Kenya to showcase their exquisite creativity through inventions developed in the course of their studies, and it has now become instrumental in providing students with requisite skills to support them accomplish tasks beyond their classroom scores.

Galaxy of Young Innovators Feted

By Patrick Amunavi


STUDENTS’ FORUM

Agritech News24

our students from Kenya, three of Fthem from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and

Technology (JKUAT) will represent Africa at a global food security competition to be held in Berlin, Germany.

The three students from JKUAT, Kashyap Gohel and Sila Kapting'eig both f rom the Depar tment of Architecture, and Chintan Gohel of Department of Electric and Electronic Engineering (JKUAT) participated in a competition that drew students from other universities across Africa to emerge the finalists in the “Thought for Food Challenge, 2013.”

The JKUAT team is currently undergoing a process of constructing a life-sized module in preparation for the presentation of their project idea

entitled, Desert Farms in the summit in Berlin, for a grand prize funding of $.10, 000.

Desert Farms are projects revolving around the harnessing of water from the ocean to the mainland. According to Gohel, the team leader, the idea is to turn salty water into fresh water for use, using energy efficient methods.

He further noted that they were utilizing their architectural skills to design the project to solve food problems in Kenya.

“Thought for Food Challenge” runs the annual competition to encourage university students from all fields of study to learn more about the challenges surrounding food security and to inspire creativity towards developing new ideas to solve the food problems in the world.

Team to fly Africa's flag at

Food Security Contest

By Agritech News Reporter

Kashyap Gohel explains how the concept works to a group of students.

he 2nd Annual Career Fair was Theld in mid June, 2013 at the Juja Main Campus where students

interacted with both national and international companies on ways to increase possibilities of securing job opportunities in the competitive job market through linking the young scholars with potential employers.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of

the three-day event themed, Career

Development in Line with Vision

2030, the Director of Vision 2030 Secretariat (Social and Political Pillars) Dr. Gituro Wainaina said, to achieve Vision 2030, universities need to develop programmes that are not only responsive to the needs of the society, but also empower them.

Dr. Wainaina told students that while they were an important cog in the national transformational agenda, they could also be a major drawback in the achievement of Vision 2030. He challenged scholars to examine current trends and adapt to them, urging them to borrow the Singapore experience in conducting business.

JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof. Mabel Imbuga, in a speech read on her behalf by the JKUAT Director of Quality

Varsity Marks

Annual Career Fair

Prof. Mulati (right) at the launch of the annual University Career Fair with a section of organizers.

By Gerald Gichura


STUDENTS’ FORUM

tudents from Jomo Kenyatta SUniversity of Agriculture and Technology ( JKUAT) wi l l

represent the African continent in a cultural interaction and exchange programme at Yamagata University Corporation, Japan, in July 2013.

This was disclosed by Kiyoshi Yaguchi, the Director of Social Cooperation, International Exchange, Libraries and ICT Planning Division, Yamagata University, when he paid a courtesy call to the University in early May, 2013. The Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Romanus Odhiambo, speaking during the meeting when he hosted Mr. Kiyoshi Yaguchi, thanked Yamagata University for selecting JKUAT students to be part of a group of 30 students drawn from around the world representing Indonesia, China, Japan, Kenya, Vietnam, Peru among others who will visit Japan for an international cultural exchange programme at Yamagata University from July 31st to August 10th, 2013.

Prof. Odhiambo lauded the existing exchange programme between JKUAT

and Yamagata University in the areas of Agriculture and further underscored the University's desire to “see more fields of study such as engineering, medicine among others, being incorporated in the exchange programme.”

Mr. Kiyoshi Yaguchi said, “The exchange programme will enable the par ticipating students to learn Japanese language and culture and interact with people from diverse cultural background across the world with the objective of enhancing positive humanism and influence.”

During the meeting, both parties were unanimous in their aspiration to sustain the bilateral ties and engagement

Students to Represent Africa at Global

Exchange ProgrammeBy Patrick Amunavi

between their institutions and the need for them to work towards increasing the number of s tudents and s taf f par t icipat ing in the exchange programme. The Director's visit to JKUAT was also meant to explore the modalities of the cultural exchange programme ahead of the Japanese students and staff from Yamagata University's visit to JKUAT scheduled for August / September 2013.

Present during the meeting was Dr. Rober t K ip l imo f rom JKUAT's D e p a r t m e n t o f M e c h a n i c a l Engineering and Joan Kiplimo, a Japanese Language Tutor and interpreter.

Prof. Odhiambo (left) with Kiyoshi Yaguchi during the latter’s visit to JKUAT. On Yaguchi’s right is Joan Kiplimo.

Assurance, Prof. David Mulati, said the annual event encourages “students to take their academic work, training and career choices seriously” and provides “feedback to the teaching fraternity on the kind of training that is required in the ever competitive labour market.”

Prof. Mabel Imbuga further said, the platform provided by Career Fair will enable the University to steer clear of

scenarios where graduates could be rendered irrelevant to the needs of the corporate world, adding, it was the reason why the University, through the Dean of Students Office and Student Welfare staged the event in very high esteem.

The comedian Felix Odiwour, better now as Jalang'o who gave an electrifying performance told students

they had an opportunity to explore the ever growing entertainment industry.

The event was graced by the Country Manager, East African Cluster Nestle, Ms. Svetlana Obruchkova, Sales Manager for Techno Brain, Ms. Aekta Bhatt, and University Programme Specialist, Middle East and Africa Google Mr. Sila Awad.

Annual Career FairContinued from page 24


STUDENTS’ FORUM

EDUCATION

Agritech News26

n the last volume of Agritech News, I Iadvanced the philosophy of criticism and self-criticism in relation to

Universities' Academic Staff Union (UASU). In the same article, I mentioned in passing, the quality of university education. Both private and public universities have been on the spot over the quality of training for a while now.

The issue also found its way to the floor of the August House. In reaction the then Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission for Higher Education Prof. Everett Standa directed all universities (public and private) to continuously review their training programmes to suit market demands.

JKUAT has taken heed of the directive and depa r tmen ta l rev i ews o f programmes are not uncommon. At the Entrepreneurship and Procurement Department of the School for Human Resource Development, we conduct periodic evaluations and reviews. The question is: do we effectively implement the findings of the evaluations? Are there any road blocks in the way of implementation?

I will stick to the area I know best – e n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p . W h a t i s entrepreneurship? You guessed, – it is many things to dif ferent people. Economists, from classical to the contemporary ones, frequently mix the terms entrepreneurship and entrepreneur. To some, entrepreneurship is business and an entrepreneur is a business person. All can be excused.

There may be no universally accepted definition of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneur. Nevertheless, there are commonalities in all definitions. Put together, the commonalities indicate that entrepreneurship is the act and art of being an entrepreneur and the entrepreneur is one who undertakes innovations or introduces new and better things.

Entrepreneurship is the process through which an entrepreneur creates new or revitalizes existing organizations in response to a perceived opportunity. T h e m o s t o b v i o u s f o r m o f entrepreneurship is that of starting new businesses. However, in recent years, the term has been extended to include: social, political, academic, public, re l i g i ou s and o t he r fo rms o f entrepreneurial activity.

That entrepreneurship is about starting new businesses clarifies why it was introduced in Kenya. Old and existing businesses had been, as are still, overstretched in terms of creating employment.

The unemployment rate in Kenya has systematically risen from 12% in 2007 to 40% in 2013. Over 70% of the unemployed are the youth, out of this, a large percentage are unemployed graduates. This brings to the fore the question: what happened to the entrepreneurship education started in 1990 with the aim of enabling self - employment to alleviate unemployment?One common excuse given for lack of self-employment is lack of capital. It is partially, if not mainly for this reason that

initiatives such as the Youth Development Fund, Women Development Fund and Kazi kwa Vijana were born. But is it really capital that matters in entrepreneurial success?

The Kenya Institute of Management carried a survey of the beneficiaries of the Youth and Women funds in 2011. The report shows that 61.3% of the women beneficiaries and 48% of the youth surveyed have less than 50% likelihood of business success.

This, according to the report, explains why 1 in every 3 new businesses fails within the first 6 months. A revelation of concern is that overall, 98% of the beneficiaries scored 26-50% on entrepreneurial spirit, 97.3% of the youth fund beneficiaries scored 26-50% whereas 100% of the Women Fund beneficiaries scored the same.

In a scale of 1(low) and 3 (high) majorities of the beneficiaries rated their knowledge on strategic focus and team independence as low. Clearly, even with capital, success cannot be guaranteed w h e r e t h e r e i s n o o r l o w entrepreneurship.

I n Ke ny a t h e d e b a t e s , “ c a n entrepreneurship be taught?” and “are entrepreneurs born or made?” were settled when the country introduced entrepreneurship education which is now compulsory in all tertiary non-university public colleges. The relevant debate is, “how should entrepreneurship be taught?” This is what this article is about

(To be continued in the next issue of Agritech News Magazine)

-Henry Bwisa, a Professor, lectures in the School of Human resource Development, JKUAT. (www.professorbwisa.com; www.mukmik.com).

Entrepreneurship Education:

New Wine in Old Wineskins?By Henry Bwisa

In a two part series, Professor Bwisa (pictured above) interrogates Kenya's higher education sector in respect to the teaching of entrepreneurship education.

In this first section, Prof Bwisa raises pertinent pedagogical issues starting off by contextualizing and attempting an understanding of what entrepreneurship education is all about since the classical times to its introduction in Kenya. Backed by statistics, he questions why a majority of youths (including graduates) remain unemployed 23 years since the introduction of entrepreneurship education in our learning institutions. (Read on…)

The University plans to plant over 30,000 trees within Juja Campus and the neighboring community.

A meeting of the University and the stakeholders from the Juja community resolved to make the area a green neighborhood as par t of the beautification programme.

T h e V i c e Chance l lo r, Prof. Mabel I m b u g a observed that m a n y members of the University f r a t e r n i t y reside outside the Campus and i t was important for them to live in a neighborhood that is healthy, friendly and conducive.

Prof. Imbuga expressed fear that with the increase of hostels being built in the area, many trees may be cut down, leading to environmental degradation.

Working under the auspices of the University Community Collaboration Department headed by Prof. P. G. Ngunjiri, the University has set aside funds to beautify the link road from Thika Superhighway and the University's main gate in a bid to enhance accessibility.

Addressing the meeting, area Chief, Chege Gachigo complemented the University for the role it had played in assisting young people who did not make it to the University by putting up Juja Farm Youth Polytechnic.

“JKUAT has provided the technical know-how and other resources to make the polytechnic a reality, resulting in several youths undertaking various courses which they apply to be self employed upon completion of their training,” noted Mr. Chege.

The beautification project will involve landscaping and re-carpeting of the pathways used by pedestrians and

cyclists.

Meanwhile, staff from the Institute o f C o m p u t e r S c i e n c e a n d I n f o r m a t i o n T e c h n o l o g y ( I C S I T ) ' s Computing and I n f o r m a t i o n T e c h n o l o g y d e p a r t m e n t s

planted about 200 trees of different species at Gachororo Health Centre and Juja Police Station as one way of instilling a sense of environmental awareness amongst ICSIT staf f members and the Univers i t y's neighbouring community.

The two sites where trees were planted were in dire need of the trees, and varsity staff and the community had shown their readiness to take care of the trees and the project.

Interest and positive response of the staff in the project indicates their awareness in conserving nature, eagerness to work with a similar project in future.

- Francis Thiong'o, an Assistant Lecturer in the department of Information Technology

Varsity embarks on Greening Project

By Margaret Were and Francis Thiong’o

to standard one pupils next year as promised by President Uhuru Kenyatta.The initiative to assemble the laptops local ly wi l l not only provide employment to Kenyans but also build human capacity in Information Communicat ion Technology in readiness for future projects.

During the visit, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga rei terated the University's commitment to spearhead the computer assembly project dubbed the Madaraka Computer Initiative, as part of Vision 2030 flagship project funded by the Ministry of Information and Communications which aims at capacity building in the ICT sector as well as assembling af fordable computers that would be available to the public.

Currently, JKUAT is in partnership with Nottingham University to manage e-waste which is anticipated to increase as a result of the introduction of more computers into the country.

The Vice Chancellor further revealed that special warehouses will be constructed at the Nairobi Industrial Park for proper storage of the laptops. The Park, an initiative of JKUAT, is a flagship project under Vision 2030. JKUAT is partnering with Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to provide national digital curriculum and content for all school levels and Kenya Literature Bureau for e-books contents. The University will also partnered with Kenya Literature Bureau to provide e-books to be preloaded onto the laptops, she said.

JKUAT will also equip teachers with the skills required to effectively use the new technology, by offering short certificate courses to be staggered to fit the teachers' busy teaching schedules

Varsity's Role in Poverty AlleviationContinued from page 7


ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENT

Agritech News28

he biodiversity and the ecosystem Tprovided by the preservation of environment were central to

achieving the vision of a water secure world, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has said. Ecosystems, he noted, influenced the local, regional and global availability and quality of water.

The observations were made in a speech read on his behalf by Mr. Carlos Martin, Head of UNEP's Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, during the International Day for Biodiversity 2013 held at JKUAT.

The Secretary General singled out the importance of forests which he emphasized, helped regulate soil erosion and protected water quality and supply.

Wetlands, he further pointed out, deserved to be safeguarded as they played a major role n reducing floods risks adding that soil biodiversity helped maintain water for crops.

“Integrating nature – based solutions into urban planning can also help us build better water futures for cities, where water stresses may be especially acute given the rapid place of urbanization,” he told the well attended celebration organized by JKUAT E n v i ro n m e n t a l M a n a g e m e n t Association, (JEMA). The occasion which marked a historic day on the UN environmental calendar, and whose theme was “Water and Biodiversity” was also attended by students from different institutions of higher learning across the country.

Prof. Mwangi Kenji representing the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Admin i s t ra t ion , P lann ing and Development (APD) Prof. Francs Njeruh outlined some of the environmental

conservation programmes being implemented by the University. He cited t ree plant ing, water resource management and waste separation technique as some of them. He disclosed that JKUAT was the only university which consistently provided its water management report to Water Resource Management on a quarterly basis. He lauded the JEMA group for complementing the University to realize its goal of achieving ISO 14001:2004 environmental management systems.

Suzanna Owiyo, the UNEP goodwill ambassador noted that water was a critical component of sustainable development and urged the students to a c t i v e l y p u r s u e b i o d i ve r s i t y conservation as a long term measure to curb water resources depletion.

JEMA Chairman Samuel Atula acknowledged t ha t h i s c l ub recognized the country's forest biodiversity was threatened with the cover falling below the recommended 10%. This, he stated was not only a threat to the communities that depended on the forests for survival but also to the achievements of Kenya's vision 2030. “In order to counter the threats posed by climate change,

maintenance of at least 10% tree cover of land area is important,” he told the gathering.

Others who spoke included, Mr. Peter Odhengo, Coordinator of Greening Kenya Initiative, an authority under the Kenya Water Towers Agency, who challenged the audience to adopt new attitudes and behaviors which were environmentally friendly.

Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, the Head of Environmental Education Training Unit, UNEP outlined how his division was engaged with universities toward sustainability, while Mr. Nickson Otieno, the President of the World Student Community for Sustainable Development told the participants that his organization would oversee the establishment and maintenance of a tree nursery in each of the universities and schedule periodic planting and caring days through the yoUNite for water campaign done in partnership with UNEP.

The climax of the event was marked by the colorful launch of the JKUAT E n v i ro n m e n t a l M a n a g e m e n t Association Tree Nursery.

Ban-Ki-Moon Calls for Preservation of EnvironmentBy Agritech News Reporter

Mr. Carlos Martin delivering Ban-Ki Moon’s message during during the International Day for Biodiversity 2013 held at JKUAT. Right is Prof. Kenji and Suzanna Owiyo (left).

Mathematics, more than any other subject, engenders anxiety which has often led

to its evasion by many students particularly at the basic education levels.

It is a dreaded subject, and to many students, the mere mention of 'maths' sends shivers down the spine!

But for Dr. Waweru Kamaku, the new mathematics kid on JKUAT PhD bloc, the mathemat ics phobia was

s o m e t h i n g t h a t h e conquered early enough, a fact that has enabled him to thoroughly enjoy the subject right from his

primary school days to the present at the university where he has pursued the subject to

its logical academic zenith, earning him a PhD degree,

awarded during JKUAT's 21st Graduation Ceremony in June 2013.

Kamaku, a lecture at the Department o f P u r e a n d A p p l i e d

Mathematic s ,

acknowledges t h a t mathemat ics has been his f a v o u r i t e subject right f r o m h i s primary school days, although the defining moment that fundamentally endeared him to the subject presented itself while he was in high school.

“It is during my time in secondary school at Karugo Secondary School in Muranga County that I became clearly aware of my abilities in mathematics, the subject that is anathema to many students.”

The don attributes his capacity to scale up in mathematics to his elder brother, who was at that time, two classes ahead. He says, “He took time to explain to me the subject's basic concepts sometimes using my mother tongue to overcome the language barrier.”

With frequent practice and his regular participation in secondary school science congress, that allowed him to

express his mathematical ideas, Dr. Kamaku has never looked back, as

de mon s t ra t e d by h i s excellent 'O' level

results that earned him a place at JKUAT to study Mathematics a n d C o m p u t e r Science in 2002.

Upon completing his undergraduate studies, Kamaku

e m b a r k e d o n p o s t g r a d u a t e

programme in pure mathematics which he

successfully completed in 2006, allowing him to undertake his PhD studies in 2009, in a rare area of mathematics known as number theory.

His thesis titled: Error deletion and correction the international standard book number which he has successfully defended, focuses on examining the errors that occur on ISBN code, the unique number used to identify a book. According to Dr. Kamaku, each ISBN number used to recognize books is generated to certify a certain condition that makes it easy to locate books for instance in a library or bookshop environment.

His study revealed that the current ISBN code was weak in detecting error, a situation that commonly led to confusion that often led one to a wrong book title. To address the problem, Kamaku developed a new ISBNM code, a multimillion sustainable cord capable of detecting and correcting ISBN code errors surpassing the existing code that he says is limited due to its small dictionary that renders it to run out.

His findings can as well be used to correct errors related with cracking of security cards such as visa cards and telephone pre-paid cards thus minimizing fraud. These cards are now popularly used in banks to transact f inancial business and modern telephony.

Scholar who juggles Mathematics and Football

By Ogeke Araka

Dr. Waweru during a football match



FEATURE

STAFF WELFARE

Agritech News30

At 30, Dr. Kamaku is the youngest don in the rare and “endangered” field of pure and applied mathematics that is avoided by many owing to its abstract nature. The discipline has hardly over ten scholars in Kenya and yet it defines the fundamentals of mathematics.

Perhaps, his active interest in sports developed from his youthful days has helped him to release steam from the abstract studies.

He has remained active in sports and soccer in particular, where he has made remarkable progress that has

seen him in action both as a football player and now as umpire in the Kenya national league where he has officiated for six premier league matches in recent times in the country.

Dr. Kamaku who served JKUSO, the students' governing body as sports secretary during his undergraduate days, is now training his eyes on international sports and Fifa in particular, hoping to serve as a referee for the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup in 2017 and 2018 respectively


Mathematics and Football

here are approximately 650 Tmillion persons with disabilities in the world, this accounts for about

10 per cent of the global population. An estimated 80 percent of these persons live in developing countries, in conditions of poverty.

However, the awareness and efforts created by various global disability bodies and institutions have continued to make these persons be viewed differently. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is not an exception.

The University's proactive approach to gender and disability mainstreaming which takes care of students as well as employees diversity, has won immense praise from the affected persons.

Disability mainstreaming is a statement of commitment to improve services and protection of persons with disabilities by providing a conducive environment that will facilitate their enjoyment of their rights as guaranteed in the Persons with Disabilities Act. No. 14 of 2003 of the Laws of Kenya.

To achieve this, JKUAT established a directorate of Gender and Mentoring centre which handles issues related to people with disabilities who include students, staff and in some cases, their dependants.

For ease of administration, the directorate requires the affected persons to first register with the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).

Once registered, the concerned persons are assured of various benefits which include tax exemption, access to ramps, special toilets, vehicles for transporting students to classes as well as halls of residence, non-discrimination

in academic, as well as employment front among other benefits.

The University has over 20 members of staff in addition to numerous students registered with the NCPWD, who the directorate takes care of.

Notable staff members include Mr. Peter Maina, a Senior Technician in Botany Department. Mr. Maina who suffered a stroke some few years back, commends the University's approach to disability. He says, since his predicament, he has received immense support and faces no discrimination while performing his duties.

On his part, Timothy Cheruiyot Bett, a Bachelor of Commerce student echoes Mr. Maina's sentiments by affirming the University's immense support to the physically challenged. “The University has come out strongly to support issues that face physically challenged persons, and this is very encouraging,” he affirms.

This in essence has enabled the University attract large numbers of

students and staf f due to this indiscriminate action.

Samuel Wahome Karigithi, a Senior Tailor at the University's Tailoring Unit is all praises for the University. Mr Wahome, who is also the Chairman of t h e D i s a b i l i t y E m p owe r m e n t Development Initiative (Dedi) in Thika, urges people with disabilities to feel free and safe while at the University. The father of two who dropped out of school while in Form One due to lack of school fees is determined to see to it that his children get better education.

Simeon Kamau, an alumnus of the University and a Senior Clerk attached

Varsity's Proactive Approach in Gender and

Disability Mainstreaming

By Hindzano Ngonyo and Richard Mugera


Cheruiyot in a computer lab

to the Registry, was also born physically challenged. He is appreciative of the support he gets from his seniors during the cause of his duty. While he acknowledges that it is quite a challenge to live with a disability, the encouragement he gets from all makes him feel appreciated and useful and singles out Meshack Kimondo, his closest long time University-mate at JKUAT who by twist of fate, also got employed at the Jomo Kenyatta Univers i t y o f Agr icu l tu re and

Technology Enterprises as his strength and pillar. In fact, he describes Kimondo as a true friend, trustworthy, selfless and faithful. Kamau says, “Kimondo has supported me in many ways. He used to wash my clothes, wheeled me to wherever I needed to go at my convenience, even at times

sacrificing his assignments while in college. He is one man who has been ready to give up his life.”He describes the University as one of the unmatched institutions that accepted to offer him a job despite his condition, unlike many that turned his request down. He is all praise for the University administration which he notes, is busy responding to the needs of the physically challenged.

On the other hand, Catherine Chebett Sitonik walked to the University for Employment in 1991. She worked tirelessly with so much zeal and

enthusiasm until 2010 when the worst happened. She was diagnosed with, as she says, tuberculosis in her right leg bone marrow. That totally changed her life. She was confined to a wheelchair with good Samaritans coming to her assistance. Today, the then ever charming woman cannot do most of what she used to. She only handles light assignments such as receiving and dispatching files from the School of Human Resource Development where she works, while operating from her wheelchair.

Beaming with appreciation and excitement, Chebett says, though her status had now changed, the University never terminated her services. Instead, she was assigned light duties, a move she says, has given her so much hope. “I thank the University management for this,” she concludes.

Wahome at his tailoring work place

Varsity’s recognition of Gender and Disability


Kamau, Senior Clerk

Chebett in her office

he welfare of Jomo Kenyatta TUniversity of Agriculture and Technology members of staff is

set for better things following the registration and establishment of Fundilima Housing Society Limited.

Already, the Housing Society, which was registered in the 2010, with a membership of 60 now has a membership of over 300.

The objective of the Housing Society is to facilitate the members to access affordable housing and real estate.

Some of the Cooperative Society's investment activities include: (1) Investment in real estate: buying and selling land at a commission. The accrued profits are (credited) to members as a dividend/rebate, (2) Construction of houses which entails financing and construction of housing estates, hostels, business centers or commercial buildings for members at more concessionary rates in a structured and organized manner, (3) Estate agency which involves the management of commercial buildings such as leases, rent collection and so on at a fee.

In the near future, the society plans to expand into other investment areas such as: Transport and hiring services for schools, weddings and other events through a modern and luxurious fleet of buses; and acquisition of adjoining land within the vicinity of the university in order to develop a (self) modern business centre.

Fundilima Sacco

Members to benefit

from new Housing

Scheme



STAFF WELFARE

STAFF WELFARE

Agritech News32

Anyone listening to the melodious renditions of the Association of Students and Staff University

Choir blaring tunes like the University's Anthem and ISO 9001:2008 Celebrations just to mention some of the group's favourite compositions, one will agree that there is so much in store that is yet to be unpacked.

The choir has composed various songs in praise of Kenya and the University. It has performed every year during the University graduation and other per formances . I t s ou ts tanding performances have always seen even the top members of the University management show their best dancing styles.

While the choir has existed since the advent of the University, then a middle level college, during the leaderships of Prof. George Eshiwani, Prof. Ratemo Michieka, and Prof. Nick Wanjohi as Vice Chancellors, it was during the leadership of Prof. Mabel Imbuga that the choir put the best foot forward in both internal and external functions organized by bodies outside the

The Choir that Lulls Varsity Souls with Scintillating Tunes

By Hindzano Ngonyo

university such as state sponsored events or ceremonies.

Joseph Kinyua Gachari, the founding choir leader says, Prof. Imbuga has enriched the choir. It is during her time t ha t t he cho i r ha s re t a i ned management support as well as become part of the university's public relations strategy of image building and sustenance.

Kinyua has steered the choir from 1995, leading it to performances in all

state functions, University graduation among other ceremonies upon invitation. He is assisted by Ben Mwangangi.

It is today almost impossible to organize a ceremony in the university without involving the choir whose renditions generate standing ovations.The choir was initially started as a club to entertain the University fraternity whenever there was need, as part of a recreational activity for students from their busy academic work.

Kinyua (on keyboard), the choir leader who has been instrumental in the group’s success.

earing lightning strokes? Well, Ffear no more for a team of technologists from Jomo Kenyatta

Univers i t y o f Agr icu l tu re and Technology (JKUAT)'s High Voltage Training Laboratory in the College of Engineering and Technology may soon be at your locality as they try to enhance public safety by applying research results on how important it is to protect your lives and structures from lightning strokes.

Varsity's Lightning Experts on a MissionBy Caroline Anyango Oywer


According to technologists in the University's Laboratory, Mr. Benson Mutheka Muoki and Mr. Stephen Mumo Mwangangi, lightning has continued to cause untold sufferings due to either man's ignorance or lack of information as such dangers/damages could be avoided.

They claim one can now install lightning protection systems to economically viable structures like commercial, residential and industrial building structures, antennas, communication masts, commercial trees among others.

This, they note, is done by installing electrical conducting material like copper or aluminum strips, tint copper ropes together with graded lightening protection spikes and rods on the structure to capture the lightning discharges meant to hit the structure and its environs thereby guaranteeing them protection from ruin, and safety of the inhabitants.

The team observes that lightning has become a major cause for worry because of global climatic changes. In

owadays, it is practically Nimpossible to find an office or a shop-f loor without a

computer workstation. In fact, typical office work involves interaction with the computer a greater portion of the time each working day, necessitating high level of awareness of of f ice ergonomics. The need to use computers increases as computer technology advances and software and compu te r packages are continuously being developed. As a result, occupational health and safety problems are continuously increasing. This can lead to reduced performance and dissatisfaction.

Ergonomics is the science and technology of fitting the activities and environment to the abilities, dimensions and needs of people to improve performance while enhancing comfort and health and safety.

The efficiency of human-computer interaction, comfort, health, and the user's safety can be improved by applying ergonomic principles. Eason developed a classical ergonomic framework and identified factors that affect human performance. These

Office Ergonomics: Effects and Advances

in Recent ResearchBy Daniel Omondi


factors include: task characteristics, user issues, environmental factors and human-computer interaction.

The elements of a work system, such as the worker, equipment, environment, task, and organization interact when work is performed. A research model that incorporated these variables was developed. The study found that screen glare, fatigue, and awkward posture were the most important factors contributing to ocular, general musculoskeletal, upper body, and physical symptoms.

Workstation designs significantly affect working posture, which in turn, contributes to physical symptoms. Another model of a work system with c o m p o n e n t s , t e c h n o l o g y , organization, person, task and environment shows that the objective of work system design is to optimize the whole system rather than maximize just one component.

People should be the central focus and the other factors should be designed to help the person work effectively and comfortably. Research studies showed that many cases of shoulder and neck pain were caused by inappropriate design or use of furniture. Users should position their heads so that minimum stress is put on the neck muscles. The recommended viewing angle is 15°–30°. The position of a video display terminal (VDT) relative to eyes can influence visual strain. The two main parameters of VDT position are the viewing distance from the eyes to the screen and the height of the visual target relative to the eyes.

Lighting is an important visual environmental factor for a computer workstation. Salvendy described various types of glare and recommended methods of reducing glare for reflected and direct glare by proper positioning of the screen, using a light-focusing diffuser, adding an antiglare filter, controlling the light source, and a proper adjustment of the screen. Noise can disrupt the ability to concentrate and may produce stress. Salvendy provided solutions to handle noise problems in computer workstations.

Keyboard and mouse are the common interfaces used these days. The optimal posture of the wrist is to keep the wrist straight and free from extension or

Engineering workshop staff at work

Noise can disrupt the ability to

concentrate and may produce stress.


WORKPLACE & SAFETY

WORKPLACE & SAFETY

Agritech News34

flexion and ulnar deviation so as to minimize stress. Salvendy made recommendations for an ergonomic and comfortable use of a keyboard and a mouse. They include stability, slope, force, wrist pad, surface, and space for movement.

Occupational illnesses such as back, neck, shoulder, arm, and hand and wrist pain were related to intensive keyboard work, chair and workstation character i s t ics , increased job demands, poor psychological work environment and being female.

Matias, Salvendy, and Kuczek

reported that cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) of the hand and wrist was the most common disabling injury experienced by VDT operators. Recent advances in office ergonomics research present some new ways of working at a computer workstation. These are summarized below:

Monitor distance: The best distance between the eyes and the monitor should be “as far away as possible while still being able to read it clearly.” Longer distances relax the eyes. The “ c o n v e n t i o n a l ” 18 - 2 4 i n c h recommendation is unnecessarily close. Failure to observe this may lead to eyestrain and neck pain.

Effects and Advances in Recent Office Ergonomics Research

Continued from page 33 Keyboard distanceThis should be approximately at the front of the work surface. There's nothing wrong with pushing the keyboard back farther if the forearms are supported, provided the wrist is kept straight and the elbows aren't resting on anything hard or sharp. Usually, to make a pushed-back keyboard work, the work-surface should be higher than elbow height


their sensitization strategy, the group hopes to visit lightning prone areas such as Nyanza, Western, Upper Rift and Coast to educate residents on simple methods of arresting lightning and sharing information on how lives and property could be saved when calamities strike.

“Our research experience has shown us how impulse voltages occur, and we have demonstrated to students how they can mitigate to reduce the


Experts Set to Enlighten Society on Lightning Dangers

destructive effects in micro-seconds.”

This, he said, was what they now wanted to share with the general public through their visits which may take the form of barazas, shows, exhibitions, and addresses to schools among others.

Already, demonstrations by the team have been a crowd puller at several exhibitions, shows and open days organized by the University.

As you await for their arrival, here are a few tips on what one should do or not

do while outside during thunderstorm lightning: Never take refuge

in an enclosed shelter such as buses, cars

Should you be in an open place, crouch down, put feet together, put hands over ears, lower your head, and get as low as p r a c t i c a l l y possible, but do not touch the

ground.For your safety, the following should not be done: Never take shelter at external

corridors, verandas, entrances, or canopies,

Avoid the temptation of taking shelter under trees, open vehicles, or caravans

Do not run in an open uninhabited field

Do not cloud together in open places

But there are things you should at all times try to avoid: Avoid proximity to others in open

places Avoid running water Avoid high grounds Avoid isolated open places Avoid all metallic objects and

electric wires Avoid carrying metallic sharp

objects or implements facing up.

- Anyango is a Technician in Electrical and Engineering Department

Mr. Mumo (left) and Mr. Muoki explain how the lightning protection earthing clamp works

By Simon K. Njagi

edbugs are increasingly becoming Ba common problem worldwide within residents of all kinds, including

homes, apartments, hostels and hotels.

What are Bed bugs?Bedbugs belong to the family of Hempitera, a group of insects known as the 'bugs'. Two of this family of bugs contains members whose mouth parts have been adapted to feeding on blood.

These include Cimididae containing the bedbugs (cimex species) and Ruduviidae or triatone bugs. The cimex species feed preferably on humans but may feed on other worm-blooded animals, including birds, rodents, bats and pets.

Adult bedbugs are oval, wingless, flattened insects 4-5 mm long. When unfed, it is pale brown in colour but is a much darker brown when full of blood.

Why are they important?Bedbugs are parasites that feed on blood of people, using blood meals to grow and reproduce. They infest dirty and clean residential areas and all people are vulnerable. The bites of the bugs cause considerable irritation and swelling in susceptible humans and may result in significant loss of sleep, embarrassment, lowering of general health and moral. However, bedbugs are not known to transmit disease to people.

What is their life cycle?Bedbugs multiply rapidly. An individual bedbug can lay up to 500 eggs in her life time. The eggs are laid in cracks and crevices in furniture, bed, walls paneling, ceiling, and behind loose wall paper.

After mating, the female lays 1-12 eggs per day, which hatch in about a week. Immediately, immature nymphs seek blood in order to molt. They molt 5 times and need a blood meal to feed at least once before each molt. The adult bedbug lives approximately one year and there may be three or more generations per year.

What are their habits?Bedbugs are temporary ecto parasites of human beings that feed mostly at night when their host is asleep. When hungry, bedbugs search for a host. They are attracted by the host warmth and carbon dioxide. They crawl from their hiding place and attack, spending 10-15 minutes taking a blood meal.

Thereafter, the bug crawls back into its hiding place and begins to remove excess fluids by evacuating semi-digested blood on feaces. These appear as dark sports around the hiding place which may serve as indicators of an infestation. They typically cluster together in favourable dark, protected sites but near to the host. They may hide in crevices, in beds, window and door frames, floor cracks, ceiling molds, loose wall paper, seams, folds of mattresses, boxes wardrobes, chairs and desks.

What are the prevention and control measures?Control of bedbugs is best achieved by following an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. IPM approach involves preventive measures, non-chemical control and insecticide treatment.

PreventionThe increased prevalence of bedbugs world-wide, appear to be associated with increased travel as many of the early infestations is identified in hotel guest rooms and hostels. In Kenya, most hostels if not all are infested with bedbugs. Prevention is therefore a difficult but possible goal to achieve. The most basic step is to carefully inspect clothing, baggage, beddings and furniture of those being admitted in a hostel or hotel room.

Also, the occupant need to inspect the new premises: bed, door frames, floor cracks, carpet, furniture, wall hangings and crack for evidence of bedbugs. It is important to report infestation of bedbugs to relevant authorities for early pest control action.

Non-chemical controlHot water has been used to kill bed bugs. Recently, machine washing and dryer done for 20 minutes has been found effective.

However, mattresses steam cleaning is not recommended because it is difficult to get rid of excess moisture which can lead to problems with mold and house dust mites.

Hot water in hostels is further discouraged because the bugs and the eggs are well hidden in cracks, ceilings, baggage, and frames where hot water treatment may not be feasible. Moreover, accidents have been reported of hot water scalds among non professional managers. And if indeed, one managed to kill all bed bugs using hot water, how do you ensure that the fast-moving insects from the neighbour's will not make their habitation on your bed?

Insecticide treatmentPyrethroids, organophosphate and carbonates are commonly used. Even then, there is increasing resistance to insecticides due to wide scale usage of pesticides such as DDT and Malathion. In such an event, a combination therapy may be used to spray resistant strains under expert supervision. In an institutional hostel where access to students' bags and personal belongings are dif f icult , fumigation tends to be the most effective strategy. The belongings should be clearly labeled and marked and placed in an air tight container for 5-10 days for fumigation. Fumigation has no residue effect.

In addition, whole scale and regular spraying treatment of all hostel is key to control of the bed bug menace. Individuals are discouraged from treating bed bugs themselves. Often, insecticides which are cheaply available in the market are ineffective in controlling bedbugs. For example, reports reaching the Health facility show that some individuals use dust or powder pesticides. These individuals inhale these pesticides chemicals in their sleep and thus impact their health negatively.

The greatest risk for dispersal of bedbugs appears to be human movement with their belongings. Inspect your new dwelling, be aware o f any unexplained bites, and report any suspicious bedbug infestation for appropriate control measure.

-Mr. Njagi is a Clinician/Public Health Scientist, JKUAT Health Services

The Bedbugs' Menace: Prevention and Control


HEALTH MATTERS

17 year-old young man went to Asee a doctor (ophthalmologist) for what he considered a

serious health problem. He told the doctor: “Every time I smoke marihuana, my eyes get red. I'm really worried. What can you prescribe for my condition?”

The doctor said: 'Well, stop smoking marihuana!' And the young man answered, 'Anything but that,' then turned and walked away.”

This young man's behaviour is representative of the conscious and unconscious attitude that thousands of people have about their health: They want clear lungs, free of any risk of cancer, yet refuse to stop using tobacco; they want a functionally healthy liver, free of any risk of cirrhosis, yet they keep drinking alcohol; they long to enjoy a heart that serves them by beating warmly in the chest for many years, yet insist on eating habits that stop it before its time as result of blockages from cholesterol within the fragile arteries nourishing it; they want a clear mind that allows them to make sound decisions in our complex world, yet insist on denying it the nocturnal rest that it desperately needs for better functioning; they want to have an attractive figure and strong muscles, bones and joints that allow them to move freely from place to place, yet never dedicate time to a programme of regular physical exercise; basically, they want to enjoy good health, but are not willing to pay the price for a lifestyle that brings them closer to such a worthy goal.

Good health is not a matter of sheer coincidence, and does not come by chance. In most cases, it is the result of respect or obedience to the laws of human and happiness; it is the result of decisions that we incorporate into daily

living, about certain widely recognised factors that are essential to a longer, healthier life. The way we live today determines, in many cases, the health we will enjoy tomorrow.

As Robin Sharma, author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, puts it “With awareness we make better choices, with better choices we get better results.”With better awareness on foods that help maintain our health and

those that treat various diseases we shall make better choices and decisions on what to eat and hence get better results – healthier life.

To lead a healthier life and to preserve the body's machinery in a healthy state, Dr George D. Pamplona-Roger, Doctor of Medicine and Surgery and a specialist in health education, recommends a daily maintenance program based on eight remedies provided by nature:

1. Take Deep Breaths – Just getting up is an ideal time to take some deep breath. During the night, breathing movements are shallow, and secretions tend to build up in the airways. With deep breathing, the brain becomes oxygenated and alert, the bronchial tubes are cleansed, and the entire respiratory system becomes prepared to provide the body with its most pressing need: oxygen.2. Drink Water and Take a Shower – After doing the breathing

exercise, it's good to start the day by drinking a glass or two of water. This hydrates the body, cleanses the s tomach and promotes good circulation after a night of rest. These are just the first of the 6-8 glasses of water that are needed throughout the day, primarily before meals. Water should be on the outside of the body as well as on the inside. Therefore, it is good to take a shower that cleanses and hydrates the skin and promotes good circulation. Scottish showers, which are done by alternating hot and cold water, are especially good for building up the immune system and protecting against colds, flu and other infections.

3. Get Some Sun – Each day it is necessary to be under the sun for a little while. If only the face and hands are uncovered, half an hour can be enough for light-skinned people to synthesise enough Vitamin D. Dark-skinned people may need 50-60 minutes of exposure. In addition to promoting Vitamin D synthesis in the skin, which is needed for calcium absorption and strong bones, sun exposure stimulates b lood p roduc t ion and f igh t s depression.

4. Eat Well – Each day, our bodies need certain chemical substances called nutrients, which can only be obtained properly through food. Meat is food that is neither needed, nor recommended for children as well as adults. As the adage goes, “We are what we eat.”


- Mr. Madivoli is a Senior Assistant Caterer, Department of Catering and Accommodation, JKUAT.

Leading a Healthier LifeBy Madivoli Gerishom

We are what we eat.

Agritech News36

HEALTH MATTERS

he second edition of KUSA Women TNational Championships was held in May, 2013 at Jomo Kenyatta

University of Agriculture and Technology Grounds, Juja.

The two day tournament, whose theme was, “Gaining Momentum through Sports,” kicked off on 25th to 26th May and brought together teams composed of only female university student-athletes from over 27 universities and university colleges, both public and private, took part in the event, and competed for top honors in 16 sports disciplines namely; Soccer, Basketball, Chess, Scrabble, Badminton, Karate, Tae Kwon do, Hockey, Softball, Handball, Volleyball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Netball, Athletics and Swimming.

JKUAT emerged position 1 in Karate, Chess and Badminton, position 2 in Tennis and third in softball and was ranked position 5 out of the 27 participating institutions.

To celebrate the efforts made by women in the field of sports, KUSA grants a special award every year. This year's special

KUSA Women's Championshipaward, dedicated to celebrating the efforts made by women in the field of sports, was presented to Valerie O n y a n g o - S p o r t s Coordinator at Jaramogi O g i n g a O d i n g a University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), in recognition for her o u t s t a n d i n g a n d exemplary service in the line of sports and games in various Institutions and Sports Federations in Kenya.

The closing ceremony was graced by the Chief Gues t , P ro f . Es ther Magiri, Principal, JKUAT Nairobi Campus, Dean of Students (JKUAT), Mrs E. Omulokoli, Prof. Hellen Kutima representing the Gender Office, Paurvi Rawal of NOCK among others.

In her statement, Prof. Esther Magiri encouraged women to continue taking an

By Hellen Ngethe

Dean of students Mrs Omulokoli flags off the Handball final match

active role in sports and thanked KUSA for organizing such an event specifically for women.

Through the championship, KUSA aims at empowering university sportswomen

The much anticipated Zuku University Basketball League kicked off with an exhi larat ing and enter tain ing

competition at the Nyayo National Stadium on May 18th 2013.

This league has received massive backing after East Africa Pay TV provider-Zuku, who injected KSh50 Million to run the league countrywide that includes coaches and referee clinics and a basketball magazine show 'Baqe' airing on Zuku Sports. The sponsorship is further evidence of Zuku's

commitment to supporting and nurturing local talent. As a homegrown East African brand, Zuku is perfectly positioned to provide a platform that supports local sport in the region.

Zuku Chief Executive Officer Richard Bell said that a basketball League is an ideal platform to engage the youth right from university in a bid to nurture their talent; “The youth are very energetic and require an engaging forum to grow their talents even as they compete and enjoy themselves.”

In addition, Samsung Electronics will support the league through a $100,000 sponsorship in the tournament that will bring together over 33 universities countrywide.

Samsung Electronics East Africa Chief Operating Officer Mr. Ngeru said, “We, at Samsung, are very passionate about supporting young sporting talent in the country.

Through Kenya University Basketball league, we are delighted to be able to provide young promising basket ballers' a chance to hone their inherent capabilities.”

“Basketball has a wide audience among youth, and we hope that our partnership with Zuku will inspire the players to give their best performance and reach accomplishments, aiming to create a new generation of professional players,” he added.

The launch event featured a game between JKUAT “Straycats” and Maseno University “Challengers”. Our Straycats did us proud after thumping the visiting Maseno University “Challengers” 74-59. Other university male and female basketball teams played through the evening in the league that will run across the Nairobi, Western, Coast and Central regions.

Bell said that the university league has a lot of untapped potential and will be a force to be reckoned with, as it progresses

Zuku University Basketball League


SPORTS

Basketball teams battling it out

Are you looking for products that can enhanceyour status?

CPC, a Centre that can actualize your dreams

Visit JKUAT Chemistry Products Centre (CPC)

for all Detergents, Disinfectants, Paints and

Beauty Products including herbal soaps.

(Our products are KEBS Certified)

CHEMISTRY PRODUCTS CENTRE

Documents

Agritech News...Issue No. 54 April - June 2013 Volume 43 Agritech News A Magazine from the Office of the Vice Chancellor Varsity Launches Gender and Disability Policies G raduations