Award of Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

Wetlands are areas on the surface of the earth that are either seasonally or permanently saturated with water or have soil moisture higher than the surrounding uplands. Wetlands attenuate peak flows, reduce sediment loads in surface water bodies, recharge ground water and are home to a wide range of biodiversity. Wetlands in Murang‟a County are under stress due to agricultural intensification and urbanization, which have resulted in the shrinkage of wetlands. This study aimed at evaluating the status of wetlands in Maragua watershed and their effect on stream flow and sediment yield. Landsat images and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) were used to identify and map the wetland conditions in 1987, 1999 and 2018. Index-based classification method was adopted for wetland identification using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) indices and the ERDAS Imagine software. Interviews, a focus group discussion, a stakeholder workshop, storytelling events and observation were used to gather data on community‟s perceptions of wetlands and the challenges facing wetland conservation. Stream flow data for Githanja catchment was generated using the Australian Water Balance Model (AWBM), a hydrological model with Karurumo catchment as the donor catchment while the GeoWEPP model was used to determine the effect of land use in wetland on stream flow and sediment yield in Githanja catchment. Three modeling scenarios were done in the study: (i) Cultivated wetlands on 9.5% of the catchment area (CULT9.5%); (ii) Wetlands with tall grass on 9.5% of the catchment area (GRASS9.5%); and (iii) Wetlands with tall grass with on 16.6% of the catchment area (GRASS16.6%). AWBM simulated stream flow data and TSS data from WRA was used to calibrate and validate GeoWEPP model. Between 1987 and 2018, the area under wetlands decreased by 58% from an area of 24.1 ha. Wetland cultivation, planting of exotic tree species and fodder crops were the main human activities taking place within the wetlands. However, residents were not aware of the adverse effects their activities have on wetlands. Also, conflict in existing land ownership policies and wetland regulations and inadequate community awareness creation were the main impediments against wetland conservation. The simulation study showed the annual average runoff in Githanja catchment for CULT9.5% was 190,121m3 /year while the annual average runoff for GRASS9.5% was 161,886m3 /year which worked out to about 15% reduction in runoff. For 16.6%GRASS, the annual average runoff 134,817 m3 /year which was 29% reduction compared to CULT9.5%. Furthermore, the average annual sediment yield in Githanja catchment for CULT9.5% 2,201Tonnes/ha/year while for GRASS9.5% it was 1,423Tonnes/ha/year, which works out to about 35% less sediment yield. For the 16.6%GRASS average annual sediment yield was 1,103Tonnes/ha/year which is about 50% the sediment yield under CULT9.5%. Transforming wetlands from cultivated land units to conserved grassland attenuates peak flows and reduces sediment yield. Finally, reclaiming lost wetlands will further reduce sediment yield and runoff.

The Award of Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Linguistics

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that damages cells of the body‟s immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from damages caused by HIV in the immune system. HIV/AIDS affects both the young and the old regardless of their gender, economic or social status. It is a killer disease which has continued to pose a grave threat to the health, economic, social and living standards of the community and more so to the young people living with HIV/AIDS. The social and economic well being of young men and women living with HIV/AIDS is in one way or the other influenced by their status. The core aim of the study was to establish the effects of gender on the economic status and social interaction of HIV/AIDS infected youth in Kaptembwo Location. It further aimed to establish the social, demographic and economic characteristic of HIV/AIDS infected youth as well as to determine the social interaction pattern of the said youth in Kaptembwo Location. The location has an estimated total of 36,404 households out of whom 80 infected persons were sampled. The research instruments used to collect primary data were interviews where 30 people living with HIV/AIDS were interviewed, face to face interview was done to 10 people, and focus group discussions comprised of 10 while questionnaires were administered to 30 people of which 25 came back comprising a good sample. Secondary data was used to supplement primary. Snowball method was used to identify the sample whereby the researcher made contact with two cases in the population with the support of medical personnel and community social workers who later linked the researcher to the members to get the desired sample. This study adopted the social action theory which explains the way an individual reacts to phenomena that affects them. Data analysis was done using both interpretations of raw data, critical analysis and inferential statistics with the help of statistical package for social scientist (SPSS). The study found out that majority of the male respondents had poor social interaction as compared to females. Further the females felt less appreciated and loved than the male counterparts. The results of this study shows there is a need for the government and relevant stakeholders to develop strategies that enhances interaction activities for youth living with HIV/AIDS.

On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak a public health emergency of international concern requiring global attention and action by heads of state. On the 30th, of March 2020, Uganda confirmed its first SARS-CoV-2 infection in a traveller from the United Arab Emirates. By April 15, 2020, 54 cases had been reported in the country, (Migisha, R., Kwesiga, B., Mirembe, B. B., & Amanya, G., et al…2020). In Uganda, a lockdown was announced by President Yoweri Museveni on 1st April, and it entered into force a few days later after the announcement the lockdown also involved the closure, among others, of universities, and recreational spaces (including sports clubs). To investigate the effects of COVID-19 lockdown effects on behavior change among students of Africa Renewal University.

Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies, Department of Economics and Development Studies

AThesis Submitted in partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the award of the Degree of Doctor of philosophy in Business Administration

Abstract

Seedling damping off caused by Pythium aphanidermatum is an important disease in tomato production in Kenya. The disease causes seedling losses up to 100% in most tomato growing regions in Kenya. A study was conducted from 2012 to 2014 at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to assess the efficacy of two biological control agents (BCAs), Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma asperellum, against P. aphanidermatum. The antagonistic activity of the B. subtilis and T. asperellum isolates against P. aphanidermatum was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. The storability of the two BCAs when applied as a seed dress was also determined at 25 °C ±2. Bacillus subtilis and T. asperellum significantly (P≤0.05) inhibited the in vitro radial growth of P. aphanidermatum by 68% and 69% respectively. Similar results were observed in the greenhouse test with fewer post-emergence damping off cases for seedling coated with B. subtilis and T. asperellum (20.19% and 24.07% respectively) while 65.89% of the control (non-coated) developed damping off symptoms. The antagonistic ability of B subtilis significantly (P≤0.05) declined in the presence of Mefenoxam 1g/l to 60.09%, and to 32.4% in presence of Propineb/cymoxanil 15.6 g/l. Trichoderma asperellum declined in the presence of Mefenoxam 1g/l to 6.7%, and to 3.7% in presence of Propineb/cymoxanil. Coating of seed with B. subtilis and T. asperellum at concentrations of 1013 and 109 CFU/ml resulted in drastic decline in the concentration compared with a coating concentration of 106 CFU/ml. A combination of NPK fertilizer and biocontrols in seedling management resulted to a significantly higher dry mass compared to the use of either biocontrol agent or fertilizer alone (P<0.001). The study recommends that B. subtilis BS01 and T. asperellum T900 be considered among the strategies for controlling damping off in tomatoes. It also recommends that seed coating with BCAs at 106 CFU/ml should be used for damping off control before the 7th week to prevent loss of efficacy due to decrease of BCA concentration below the effective concentration. 1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the study Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a crop of economic importance worldwide.

abstract