Mara Region Research Articles

A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a community-based rabies vaccination strategy.

Approximately 60,000 people die from dog-mediated rabies annually. Low and heterogeneous coverage reduces the effectiveness of dog vaccination campaigns that can eliminate rabies. Campaigns typically involve teams travelling annually to villages to deliver cold chain stored vaccines from centralized headquarters. Thermotolerant vaccines enable novel decentralized delivery of locally-stored vaccines by communities throughout the year. We compared the effectiveness of annual team-based versus continuous community-based dog vaccination strategies. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial across Mara region, Tanzania. Trial clusters were administrative wards (112, on average four villages each). For the team-based arm vaccinators hosted annual static-point clinics, whilst for the community-based arm, a ward-based animal health officer with a village community leader managed vaccinations using vaccines stored within the ward. We measured vaccination coverage, the primary outcome, twice annually per cluster (month 1 and 11) through household surveys over three years (November 2020 to October 2023) and examined spatial and temporal coverage variations as secondary outcomes. Community-based delivery achieved significantly higher coverage (49-62%) than team-based delivery (22-46%), and consistently exceeded the critical threshold for herd immunity (40%), Odds ratio (OR): 1.48-3.49. The lower less uniform coverage achieved through team-based delivery had a higher monthly probability of falling below the critical threshold (0.6, 95% CI: 0.38-0.81) vs 0.18 (95% CI: 0.04-0.40). Greater declines in coverage over the year were recorded in the team-based arm compared to the community-based. Community-based mass dog vaccination achieves higher more consistent coverage than team-based delivery across settings typical of many sub-Saharan African countries. This approach could play an important role in national rabies elimination programmes aiming to end human rabies deaths by 2030 as part of the global 'zero by 30' strategy. Department of Health and Human Services of the National Institutes of Health (R01AI141712), Wellcome Trust (207569/Z/17/Z, 224520/Z/21/Z) and MSD Animal Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Psychological, Informational, and Material Factors Impacting Girls’ Menstruation-related School Absenteeism in Rural Tanzania

Girls’ education remains a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa as it is estimated that 1 in 10 adolescent girls miss school during their menstrual cycle. In Tanzania, girls must attend school regularly to be sufficiently prepared for the National Examinations that serve as gatekeepers to higher education levels and advanced careers. Our current study focuses on contextual factors that limit Tanzanian girls’ school attendance during menstruation (ADM). Using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques and survey data from post-menarche adolescent girls (N = 610) in the Mara region of Tanzania, the findings revealed that psychological, physiological, informational, and material factors increase the likelihood of girls’ school absenteeism during menstruation. The results from this study indicate that generalized anxiety, depression, worry about menstruation, menstruation preparation, and menstrual pad material have a direct impact on ADM. The findings from this study have implications for educational policy and school leadership

Predator becomes prey: Martial eagle predation of lion cubs in the greater Mara region, Kenya.

In many intact African savannah ecosystems, martial eagles are the top avian predator, while lions are the top terrestrial predator. Here, we report seven records of martial eagle predation or attempted predation of lion cubs in the greater Mara region, Kenya. These events resulted in the death of nine lion cubs, most of which were at least partially consumed, and are the first detailed records of this behaviour to be published. While these observations represent intraguild interactions, we suggest that they reflect neither intraguild predation nor interspecific killing. Rather, the ecology of both species coupled with the details of our records suggest that martial eagles opportunistically kill lion cubs purely to eat them. We hope that by publishing these records we will encourage others to share their observations of raptors predating on large mammalian carnivores, thus improving our understanding of a behaviour that we suspect may be more widespread than the current lack of evidence suggests.

Extensiveness of Teachers in Applying Role Modelling Strategy to Enhance Retention of Children under Complementary Basic Education in Tanzania in Selected Districts of Mara Region

Extensiveness of Teachers in Applying Role Modelling Strategy to Enhance Retention of Children under Complementary Basic Education in Tanzania in Selected Districts of Mara Region

The prevalence of vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and associated factors among exposed infants in Eastern Lake zone and Southern Highland of Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Background Globally, the rate of antiretroviral therapy coverage for pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increased by 38% between 2010 and 2015 but only by 2% between 2016 and 2020. Objectives We aimed to determine the prevalence of vertical transmission of HIV among infants from mothers living with HIV and associated factors in the Eastern Lake Zone and Southern Highland of Tanzania from January to December 2022. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study extracted data from the Open Laboratory Data Repository database collected from January to December 2022 at 93 health facilities. A total of 1,411 infants exposed to HIV from the Mbeya (851), Songwe (304), and Mara regions (256) were enrolled. Results The prevalence for vertical transmission of HIV was 2.48% (35/1411). We observed a non-significant difference in the prevalence of vertical transmission in children whose first test was done below six weeks of life (1.89%) and other age groups (2.52-2.62%) (p < 0.917). Children not given antiretroviral prophylaxis had eleven times higher odds of acquiring infection (AOR 11.39, 95% CI: 3.61–35.97). Mothers who were not on ART during pregnancy had three times the odds of transmitting HIV to their infants (AOR 3.03, 95%CI: 0.91–10.15). Conclusions We found a low prevalence of vertical transmission of HIV compared to previous studies done in Tanzania. The use of ART prophylaxis for infants exposed to HIV is significantly associated with the low rate of HIV transmission.

Relative constructions and the Bantu Relative Agreement Cycle in Western Serengeti

Relative constructions and the Bantu Relative Agreement Cycle in Western Serengeti

Africa's overlooked top predator: Towards a better understanding of martial eagle feeding ecology in the Maasai Mara, Kenya

Raptors exert top‐down influences on ecosystems via their effects on prey population dynamics and community composition. Most raptors are sympatric with other predators, thus complicating our understanding of their relative influence in these systems. Estimates of kill rates and prey biomass recycling have been used as predation metrics that allow quantitative comparison among species and assessment of the relative role of single species within complex food webs. Few studies have produced findings of kill rates or prey biomass recycling for raptors. We used a supervised machine learning algorithm to behaviourally classify high resolution accelerometer informed GPS locations of tagged adult non‐breeding martial eagles Polemaetus bellicosus in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya to estimate kill rates and prey biomass recycling. Eagle locations classified as feeding were clustered using distance and time thresholds to identify kills and calculate kill rates. Identified kill sites were quickly ground‐truthed to confirm kills and identify prey species. We estimated kill rates for martial eagles at 0.59 kills day‐1 for males and 0.38 kills day‐1 for females, and we estimated biomass recycling per ground‐truthed kill at 1796 g for males and 3860 g for females. From our sample of identified ground‐truthed kills, ‘gamebirds' was the most frequently recorded prey category for male eagles and ‘small ungulates' was the most frequently recorded prey category for female eagles. These results position martial eagles close to sympatric mammalian top predators in trophic pyramids and provide evidence for their classification as a top predator.

Engaging Fathers for Effective Child Nutrition and Development in Tanzania (EFFECTS): study protocol for a five-arm, cluster-randomized trial

BackgroundGlobally, 144 million children under 5 years are undernourished and 250 million do not meet their developmental potential. Multi-input interventions, such as bundled nutrition and parenting interventions, are designed to mitigate risks for multiple child outcomes. There is limited evidence that bundled interventions have additive benefits to nutrition, growth, or development outcomes. These outcomes share common risks; therefore, designing interventions to tackle these risks using a common theory of change may optimize effectiveness. Emerging evidence suggests explicit engagement of fathers may benefit child outcomes, but few trials have tested this or included data collected from fathers.MethodsEngaging Fathers for Effective Child Nutrition and Development in Tanzania (EFFECTS) is a community-based cluster-randomized controlled trial that will be implemented in the rural Mara Region, Tanzania. The trial aims (1) to test a bundled nutrition and parenting program delivered to mothers’ groups, with or without fathers’ groups, over 12 months on child and caregiving outcomes compared to a nutrition program alone, and (2) to test nutrition or bundled nutrition and parenting programs delivered to mothers’ and fathers’ groups over 12 months on child and caregiving outcomes compared to programs delivered to mothers alone. The trial comprises five arms: (1) mothers’ groups receiving a nutrition program, (2) mothers’ groups receiving a bundled nutrition and parenting program, (3) mothers’ and fathers’ groups receiving a nutrition program, (4) mothers’ and fathers’ groups receiving a bundled nutrition and parenting program, and (5) control receiving standard of care health services. The primary outcomes are child dietary diversity and early child development (mental and motor development). Parents with a child under 18 months will be enrolled in peer groups and receive twice monthly intervention by trained community health workers. Data will be collected from mothers, fathers, and children at baseline (pre-intervention), midline, and endline (post-intervention).DiscussionEFFECTS will generate evidence on the effects of bundled nutrition and parenting interventions on child nutrition, growth, and development outcomes; determine the benefits of engaging fathers on child, caregiving, and caregiver outcomes; and investigate common and unique pathways between treatments and child outcomes.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03759821. Registered on November 30, 2018

The Anaphoric Relations in Jita: A Government and Binding Perspective

This paper delves into anaphoric relations in Jita, a Bantu language spoken in the Majita area in Mara region, Tanzania. Majita is situated to the southwest of Musoma town and on the southeast bank of Lake Victoria, specifically in the Butata and Makojo villages where the study was conducted. The study drew inspiration from Universal Theory of Government and Binding, focusing on Binding theory. It employed a qualitative research approach and snowball sampling technique to select informants. Data collection methods included sentence questionnaires and grammaticality judgments, and the data were analysed descriptively using a code system and geometry tree. The findings reveal that in Jita, reflexive and reciprocal anaphors are expressed as verbal affixes (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;-i-&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; and &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;-an-&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) respectively, and also subject markers such as &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;ni- &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;‘I’, chi- ‘we’, &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;a-&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; ‘he/she’, mu-/u- ‘you’ and bha- ‘they’ behave like anaphors while pronominal can be realized as both verbal affixes such as &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;chi-&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; ‘us’, &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;m-&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; ‘me’, &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;mu-&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; ‘him/her’ and &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;bha-&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; ‘them’ and personal pronouns such as&amp;lt;i&amp;gt; anye ‘me’, awe ‘you’, amwe&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; ‘you’ in syntactic constructions. The paper also delves into the relationships between the anaphors and their antecedents in syntactic constructions, shedding light on the intricate nature of anaphoric relations in Jita.

Determinants of Repayment for Youth Development Fund Loans in Tanzania

The study intended to identify factors influencing youth group loan repayment for the Youth Development Fund (YDF) in Tanzania. This study utilizes cross-sectional primary data from structured questionnaires and interviews with 388 individuals in the Butiama District of the Mara Region. The analysis involved descriptive statistics and econometric estimation using the ordinal logistic regression model. As per descriptive analysis results, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of socio-economic and institutional factors distinguishing loan defaulters from non-defaulters among youth participants in Tanzania's loan programs. Significant variations, supported by p &lt; 0.05, highlight that non-defaulters possess more leadership experience, exhibit superior business performance, undergo increased training, and are in closer proximity to lending institutions. The study reveals noteworthy differences in demographic factors such as marital status, education, belief in societal employment, and types of financed projects between the two groups. Misappropriation of funds, peer pressure, and economic shocks are identified as key contributors to loan defaults, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and vigilant monitoring for enhanced loan repayment and project success. Moreover, the econometric estimation using the ordinal logistic regression model, with statistical significance at a 5% level, demonstrates that independent factors account for 85.5% of the variation in loan repayment performance among youth groups. The study encounters societal views favoring employment over entrepreneurship, revealing a negative impact on youth loan repayment. Factors like loan diversion, peer pressure, group size, and entrepreneurship training emerge as significant determinants of loan repayment performance, providing valuable insights. In conclusion, the study underscores the critical importance of tailored interventions for addressing challenges faced by youth borrowers. Misappropriation of funds, peer pressure, and economic shocks require nuanced mitigation strategies. Policy recommendations encompass refining loan structures, enhancing training programs, and challenging societal norms favoring employment over entrepreneurship. Tailored interventions with strengthened monitoring, addressing socio-cultural attitudes, and internal control reinforcement are suggested for sustained success in youth-focused financial initiatives through continuous research and policy adaptation.

Gender and Social Exclusion in Lake Victoria Basin: A Case of Mara and Simiyu Regions, Tanzania

Tanzania has undertaken several deliberate measures to address the social exclusion of traditionally marginalised groups. Yet, it is still felt by some people that good measures, strategies, and plans implemented in health and education are not handled at the household level. The study was conducted in Bunda TC, Bunda DC, and Busega DC to assess gender and social exclusion in the Lake Victoria basin. Specifically, examining disparities in household children’s education expectations by gender and investigating gendered differentials in health status and care. This study employed a multistage sampling method, combining random and purposive techniques, to select 447 households. Key informants were purposefully chosen for interviews, and 30 households per village were systematically surveyed. Data were collected through various methods, including documentary review and computer-aided personnel interviews, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Findings revealed that the sex of a child influenced the household expectation of the highest education level of children. Financial expectation determines who should be educated. The girls were on the disadvantageous side. The sex of the household head did not distinguish health status, and the exclusion of health care lies not in differential treatment between males and females but in differing affordability and the availability of health facilities. It is recommended that: the right to education of a girl child should be addressed at the household level; measures to improve health care affordability and availability of health facilities should be ensured; the provision of health insurance for all and free health services for complicated health problems of women should be emphasised.

Intimate partner violence influences modern family planning use among married women in Tanzania: cross-sectional study

BackgroundMarried women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) are less likely to negotiate with their partners on modern family planning (FP) use. This study aimed to determine the influence of intimate partner violence and sociodemographics on modern family planning use.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Mara region, Tanzania from April to July 2020. A total of 366 married women were interviewed. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Analysis was done using SPSS version 25, and a binary logistic regression model was used to determine the predictors of modern FP use. The significance level was set at a p-value less than 0.05.ResultsThe overall prevalence of IPV was 73% with 54.1% physical, 36.3% psychological, and 25.4%, sexual violence. The prevalence of modern FP use was 62%, and the most (49.1%) common method practiced by married women was injection (Depo Provera). Physical violence (AOR = 0.32, p = 0.0056), and psychological violence (AOR = 0.22, p = 0.0022) had significantly reduced odds of modern FP use. Religion (AOR = 4.6, p = 0.0085), and availability of preferred modern FP methods (AOR = 9.27, p < 0.0001) had significantly increased odds of modern FP use.ConclusionIn this study, there is a positive association between the use of modern FP methods and IPV. To prevent IPV and its negative health consequences, it is crucial to involve community leaders and primary healthcare workers. They can help in identifying the best strategies to prevent IPV and promote the use of modern FP methods. It is equally important to involve male partners in reproductive health decisions, including the use of modern FP methods. This approach will help reduce reproductive coercion.

Ethnomedicinal study of medicinal plants used for treatment of urinary tract infections in Mara region, Tanzania

Ethnomedicinal study of medicinal plants used for treatment of urinary tract infections in Mara region, Tanzania

Factors associated with adherence to oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among female sex workers in the Mara Region, Tanzania: A 2022 cross-sectional study.

Female sex workers (FSWs) have a higher risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection compared with the general female population. Tanzania adopted pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use for HIV-negative key populations in 2019 as a strategy to reduce HIV transmission. We aimed to identify factors associated with PrEP adherence among FSWs in Tanzania. We conducted a cross-sectional study of FSWs using oral HIV PrEP from June-July 2022 in 5 Mara Region districts. Stata software was used to analyze the quantitative data. Poor overall PrEP adherence was observed among FSWs, with adherence of 48.3% (174/360) and 43.3% (156/360) according to pill count and self-reports, respectively. Participants living with family members had 2.32 higher odds of PrEP adherence (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27-42.23, P = .006) versus participants living alone or with friends. Moreover, FSWs who preferred pill packages had 1.41 higher odds of adherence (aOR = 2.43, [95% CI = 1.41-4.19, P = .001]); participants with a good perception of PrEP had 1.71 higher odds (aOR = 1.71, [95% CI = 1.01-2.91, P = .047]) of PrEP adherence. We found that living with family, pill packaging, and PrEP perception played significant roles in PrEP adherence among FSWs. Interventions to improve pill packaging, social support, and the perception of PrEP among FSWs should be intensified to increase adherence in this vulnerable population.

Impacts of climate-resilient push–pull technology on farmers’ income in selected counties in Kenya and Tanzania: propensity score matching approach

BackgroundAgricultural research and technology adoption play a key role in improving productivity and therefore generate impact on household livelihoods. The push–pull technology developed by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology and collaborators/partners has been recognized for its multiple roles in productivity improvement and income generation. However, the subsequent impacts after its adaptation to drier agro-ecologies have not been ascertained. An ex-post study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the climate-resilient push–pull technology on farmers’ income.MethodologyThis study was conducted in eight counties in Kenya and Mara region in Tanzania, involving 486 farmers; half were climate-resilient push–pull technology adopters. The study adopted the propensity score matching (PSM) technique in order to correct the self-selection bias in adoption.ResultsFrom the results, education of the farmer, household size, Tropical Livestock Unit and group membership positively and significantly influenced adoption. The average treatment effect on the treated was positive for all the matching methods; USD 455.8 for Nearest Neighbor Matching, USD 474.2 for the Kernel Matching and USD 439.1 for the Radius/Caliper Matching. The balancing test for self-selection bias showed that none of the observed covariates was significant after matching. The results demonstrate that adopting climate-resilient push–pull technology has a positive impact on the adopter farmers’ income. Adopter farmers were able to earn much more in terms of gross margin.ConclusionThe positive change in income for adopters was attributable to the technology. With increased incomes, farmers were able to access alternative foodstuff, hence had more food security and diversity than those without. Efforts to expand dissemination and adoption of climate-resilient push–pull technology will have positive impacts on adopting families and hence to the economy.

Receiving antenatal care components and associated factors in Northwestern Tanzania.

Tanzania had an estimated 5.400 maternal deaths in 2020. Suboptimal quality of antenatal care (ANC) presents a major challenge. It is not known what precisely the uptake of the various ANC components is, such as counseling on birth preparedness and complication readiness, preventive measures and screening tests. We assessed the level of receiving the various ANC components and associated factors in order to identify opportunities to improve ANC. A cross-sectional household survey using a structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews, was conducted in April 2016 in Mara and Kagera regions, Tanzania, applying a two-stage, stratified-cluster sampling design. The analysis included 1,162 women aged 15-49 years who attended ANC during their last pregnancy and had given birth not longer than two years prior to the survey. To account for inter- and intra-cluster variations, we used mixed-effect logistic regression to examine factors associated with receiving essential ANC components: counseling around birth preparedness and complication readiness (with presumed effects on knowledge about danger signs) and preventive measures. About In 878 (76.1%) women preparedness for birth and its complications was observed to exist. Overall counseling was low where 902 (77.6%) women received adequate counseling. Overall knowledge of danger signs was low in 467 women (40.2%). Uptake of preventive measures was low, with presumptive malaria treatment in 828 (71.3%) and treatment of intestinal worms in 519 (44.7%) women. Screening test levels varied for HIV in 1,057 (91.2%), any blood pressure measurement in 803 (70.4%), syphilis in 367 (32.2%) and tuberculosis in 186 (16.3%) women. After adjusting for age, wealth and parity, the likelihood of receiving adequate counseling on essential topics was less in women without education versus primary education (aOR 0.64; 95% CI 0.42-0.96) and in women who had <4 ANC visits versus ≥4 visits (aOR 0.57; 95% CI 0.40-0.81). Receiving care in privacy or not (aOR 2.01; 95% CI 1.30-3.12) and having secondary education as compared to primary education (aOR 1.92; 95% CI 1.10-3.70) were associated with receiving adequate counseling. Odds of receiving adequate care in at least one ANC visit were lower in women with joint decision making on major purchases versus decision making by male partner or other family members alone (aOR 0.44; 95% CI 0.24-0.78), similar to being less knowledgeable on danger signs (aOR 0.70; 95% CI 0.51-0.96). Overall uptake of various essential ANC components was low. Frequent ANC visits and ensuring privacy are all essential to improve the uptake of ANC.

Strategies to Enhance Teachers’ Job Satisfaction in Secondary Schools in Butiama District, Mara, Tanzania

Education prepares skilful citizens that bring political, social, and economic development to the country. These are accomplished when the components of the educational systems are in good condition and the most important component is teachers’ job satisfaction. Thus, the study investigated the strategies used to enhance teachers’ job satisfaction in secondary schools in Butiama District, Mara Region in, Tanzania. A descriptive survey design was adopted under a mixed research approach. A total of 94 respondents who participated in the study were obtained by simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Questionnaires and interviews were adopted as the methods of data collection. Quantitative data was analysed through descriptive statistics with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social sciences (SPSS) version 20, while thematic analysis was employed in the analysis of qualitative data. The study discovered that a supportive working environment, motivation, high teacher pay, equal distribution of duties, teacher development programs, healthy interpersonal relationship and effective leadership are the strategies employed to enhance teachers’ job satisfaction. That is to say, effective working conditions, good pay and high teacher salary were found to have value for enhancing teacher job satisfaction. The study recommended that the government should invest much in improving working conditions for teachers, remuneration and teacher training programs

Indigenous Knowledge and Use of Medicinal Plants Among the Kuria Communities in the Tarime and Serengeti Districts of Mara Region, Tanzania

ABSTRACT This study documented indigenous knowledge and use of medicinal plants among the Kuria communities in Mara Region, Tanzania. Ethnobotanical data were collected in collaboration with 20 traditional healers (THs), by jungle-walk-and-identify, field guides and observation, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and scientific identification of plants. Kuria medicinal plant healers reported 100 medicinal plants from 34 families. Asteraceae (15%) prevailed, followed by Fabaceae (13%) and Lamiaceae (12%). Herbs constituted the largest fraction (41%), followed by shrubs (27%), trees (24%), grasses (4%), climbers (4%), and ferns (1%). Leaves were the most used plant part. Healers listed about 53 diseases treated with plants.

The noncausal/causal alternation in the Western Serengeti languages

This paper takes a look at the noncausal/causal alternation in a sample of about 30 verb pairs in the Western Serengeti languages (WS) Ikoma, Ishenyi, Nata and Ngoreme, spoken in the Mara region of Tanzania. Based on the data presented, these languages can be said to favour a strategy of causativization, i.e. deriving the causal verb from a noncausal base, in coding this alternation. In a preliminary cross-linguistic comparison, this preference for causativization seems to be stronger than in other (Tanzanian) Bantu languages for which data is available. The data also shows that the reflexive prefix is used more often than the neuter suffix in anticausative pairs. While the latter has a widespread use across Bantu languages to derive noncausal verbs, it is unproductive in WS.

Capacity Building and Empowerment of Communities Through Development of Irrigation Schemes in Kenya

The goal of this study was to explore the effect of Irrigations Schemes Development (as rooted in; Vision 2030, Kenya Big Four Agenda, ASTGS and National Irrigation Authority Strategic Plan 2019-2023) on capacity building and empowerment of communities. Specifically, the study sought to access the effect of irrigation scheme development on; Education and Training, Clean Water and Sanitation, Youth Access to Funds, Housing Type, Food Security, Job Diversity, Access to Health Care Services, Changing Demand, Irrigation Orientation and Water Harvest. Descriptive design was used as a road map of the study. A sample size of 395 respondents was drawn from a target population of 35,041 households living around the irrigation scheme in Mara Region, Tharaka-Nithi County-Kenya, subjected to a 95% confidence level. Convenience sampling was adopted to drum up participants. Primary data was collected using interview method. A semi-structured interview guide with Likert scale rating was used as a checklist. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the data. Study results indicated that Development of Irrigation Schemes contributed to capacity building and empowerment of Kenyan communities by; facilitating access to clean water and sanitation within homesteads (77%) enabling sufficient food and balanced diet throughout the year (197; 56%). Statistically, the study showed that infrastructure was significantly associated with capacity building (ρ=0.03). In addition, the irrigation scheme improved the lifestyle of the locals through access to health care services and comfortable housing. From the income earned from farming, out of 395, only 105 (30%) and 47 (12%) could afford to educate their families to secondary and tertiary level respectively. According to the study, an acre of irrigated land employees an average of eight people on a full-time basis. The study highlighted challenges in water storage and maintenance which can be addressed by involving Kenyan government agencies, County government agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders in the development and provision of sufficient water storage facilities. From the results finding there is need for comprehensive research within the irrigation scheme through agricultural research and development to address the concerns of the future effects of chemical use on the health of the locals. The study recommends that local authorities renew the engagement of agricultural extension workers. Additionally, to counter the bargaining power of middlemen, farmer welfare organizational structures should be operationalized.