Nyeri County Research Articles

Prevalence and Epidemiological Profile of Cervical Cancer Patients Attending Nyeri County and Referral Hospital, Kenya: a Review of Records

Objective: This study aimed to establish the prevalence and epidemiological characterization of cervical cancer patients registered in Nyeri County and Referral Hospital, Kenya. Methods and analysis: This was a retrospective observational design that involved the systematic collection and analysis of data from 2328 patient records. Relevant variables, including demographic characteristics, clinical features, treatment modalities and survival outcomes, were extracted and analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of cervical cancer, while Chi-square test was performed to assess the association between various factors and survival outcomes. Multivariate analysis was conducted to control for confounding variables and determine the independent effects of predictors. Ethical clearance was obtained and ethical principles maintained. Results: Records of 2328 cancer patients were analyzed, out of which 120 were cervical cancer. Majority of cervical cancer patients were aged 50-59 years with majority residing in Nyeri County. The prevalence of cervical cancer was 5.16%. The overall survival rate for cervical cancer patients was 58.33%. Advanced age and late-stage diagnosis were factors associated with lower survival rates. Conclusion: The study revealed a prevalence of 5.16% of cervical cancer among patients attending Nyeri County and Referral Hospital in Kenya from the year 2017 to 2022 with an overall survival rate of 58.33%. Age and latestage diagnosis were found to be influential factors in survival outcomes. Therefore, improving early detection and initiation of early treatment for all cervical cancer patients is required in order to improve survival status.

Effect of Working Capital Management On The Profitability of Women Owned Small And Medium Enterprises In Nyeri Town, Kenya

Working Capital management is one crucial element used to analyze the performance of organizations in their daily operations by ensuring that the there is a balance between profitability and liquidity. This research evaluates the effects of working capital management on the profitabilityof Small and Medium Enterprises. Specifically the study looks at the effect of cash, accounts receivables, accounts payables management on the performance of women owned Small and Medium Enterprises in Nyeri Town, Kenya .The target population was 10 Women owned Small and Medium Enterprises registered by the County Government of Nyeri Kenya and had been in business for more than 5 years. Secondary data for a period of 5years between 2018 and 2022 was collected and analyzed using a panel regression analysis model. The study results indicated that all the three variables under observation, that is cash accounts receivable and payables management had a negative and significant effect on profitability of Women Owned Small and Medium Enterprises in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study recommends that the Enterprises should reduce their average collection period in order to improve their profitability. Data collected showed that the average accounts receivables collection period in the period of 2018 to 2022 was 182.4715 days. Thus to boost profitability the study recommends the Women Owned Small and Medium Enterprises should reduce the account receivables collection period by using incentives to encourage the debtors to pay on time.The average accounts payables payment period was 79.9924 days which was quite high.A firm with a long account payment period frustrates the supplier from supplying any more goods or services to the firms.Thus, the accounts payable period needs to be maintained as low as possible and the firms need to pay any debts promptly if possible.

Experiences of Professional Autonomy Among Critical Care Nurses in Kenya: A Qualitative Study

Background: Exercising autonomy allows nurses to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. However, more information is needed about the critical care nurses' perceptions of their professional autonomy in rural areas. Objective: To explore the perceptions, facilitators and barriers to professional autonomy among critical care nurses in rural Kenya. Methods: The hermeneutic phenomenological study design was used in this study. Data were collected in a critical care unit using a semi-structured interview guide. A sample of 10 participants were recruited. The study was conducted in Nyeri County Referral Hospital. Results: Three themes emerged from the study on the nurses' experiences of professional autonomy, perceptions of autonomy, facilitators of autonomy, and barriers to autonomy. Conclusion: Autonomy undeniably plays a pivotal role in defining the professional status of the nursing profession. Perceptions, facilitators and barriers to professional autonomy form the background of the current professional status. Nurses, therefore, exercise autonomy effectively when it aligns with patient care needs and when a conducive environment supports it.

Moderating Influence of Monitoring and Evaluation Strategies on the Quality of Privatized Artificial Insemination Services in Cattle in Nyeri County, Kenya

Moderating Influence of Monitoring and Evaluation Strategies on the Quality of Privatized Artificial Insemination Services in Cattle in Nyeri County, Kenya

Socio-Cultural Dynamics Influencing Domestic Violence in Nyeri County, Kenya

For many years, domestic violence has been stereotyped as violence against women and girls, with men as perpetrators. However, in recent times, men have also become victims. Domestic violence is a violation of human rights and should not be condoned. Nyeri County has experienced tremendous development and, therefore, changes in terms of education, occupation, and economic activities, making it one of the richest counties in Kenya. With these changes in society, there is a high level of education, strong cultural adjustments, and economic endowment, and the expectation is that there should be harmony in the homes. On the contrary, as researchers and the media have documented, there is a lot of domestic violence. Therefore, this study is intended to answer the question "why" by interrogating the influence of socio-cultural dynamics on this domestic violence. This paper presents a discussion of the results of the objective, which was to investigate the nexus between socio-cultural dynamics and domestic violence in Nyeri County. The study used descriptive and evaluative research designs. The following respondents were sampled to participate in the study: 384 household heads, 12 assistant chiefs, 15 police officers, 30 religious leaders, 12 NGOs/CBOs, 3 sub-county administrators, and 20 village elders. The primary methods of data collection were interviews, focus group discussions, and observation. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic narrations, and findings were presented using narrations and descriptions. The study show that the main socio-cultural factors that influence domestic violence are chauvinism, gender role exchange, alcoholism, and the MAU impact. The study recommends that there should be sensitization in the study area to help people utilize the positive changes in society, such as high education levels, to make a harmonious society instead of using it to fight among spouses.

Effects of Tax Incentives on Financial Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Nyeri County

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to ascertain how tax incentives affected the financial performance of manufacturing firms in Nyeri County. The study's goal was to look into the impact of tax incentives, corporate income tax incentives, capital allowance incentives, and custom duty incentives on the financial performance of manufacturing firms in Nyeri County.
 Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design. The population for the study comprised of all the 15 manufacturing firms in Nyeri County that were registered by Nyeri County finance department; licensing office 2023. The target population's information was gathered using census methodologies. The data was gathered using questionnaires with likert scales to capture the primary data. The questionnaires were split into two sections that captured the demographic information in the first part, and the second part capturing data on the study variables. The study collected secondary data from the audited annual financial reports for the targeted manufacturers and the internal sources for a six-year period, focusing on the specific variables under investigation. Drop and pick method was used to distribute the questionnaire to the participants. Descriptive statistics including the mean, standard deviation, and frequency were used to analyse the data.
 Findings: The study findings established that there exists a significant relationship between capital allowance and the financial performance of manufacturing firms in Nyeri County. Capital Allowance emerged as the most crucial predictor of Financial Performance (Beta = 0.766), followed by Custom Duty Incentive (Beta = 0.498) and Tax Holiday (Beta = 0.359). On the other hand, Corporate Income Tax Incentive had the least effect (Beta = 0.323) on the financial performance of these firms. Participants expressed a positive perception regarding the influence of capital allowances on their respective firms' financial performance, with strong agreement on investment deductions, wear and tear allowance, capital allowance incentives, and overall satisfaction with the current level of capital allowances. The study concluded that customs duty incentives positively affect the financial performance of manufacturers in Nyeri County.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: It recommends revisiting customs duty tax policies to gain industry support. Strategic custom duty incentives aligned with economic goals can boost industrial enterprises and stimulate growth. Tax holiday incentives have the potential to increase employment and profitability, encouraging investment and job creation. Corporate income tax incentives were found to enhance manufacturing firms' financial performance, suggesting their prioritization and offering additional incentives, like reduced tax rates, to foster growth. The study suggested further research to explore factors beyond tax incentives that influence the financial performance of manufacturing firms. Additionally, the research recommended conducting similar studies in sectors other than manufacturing to assess the effects of these tax incentives across different businesses. This comparison could help identify the most suitable incentives for each organization.

Fostering Market Penetration Strategies for Sustainable Conservation of Heritage Sites in Nyeri County, Kenya

Sustainable conservation has become popular in tourism, accepted by developers and stakeholders as an economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally friendly model for heritage tourism development models. However, heritage tourism encounters challenges like cultural commercialization, deterioration, development pressure, marketing gaps, and insufficient maintenance. Consequently, Kenya has prioritized long-term heritage tourism development goals to realize Vision 2030. This paper examines how market penetration strategies can leverage the sustainable conservation of heritage sites in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design, targeting the local community members, tourists visiting the heritage sites, key informants from the local government of Nyeri, officials from the National Museums of Kenya, and site supervisors. The sample size was 762 respondents, 11 were interviewed, and 752 were administered questionnaires. The results of correlation analysis revealed that market penetration strategies exhibited a positive and statistically significant relationship with sustainable conservation (r=0.620, P=0.000), explaining 38.4% of heritage sites' sustainable conservation variations. The study concludes that market penetration catalyzes the sustainable preservation of heritage sites. The study recommends integrating heritage sites into the County's economic plans and employing a comprehensive approach that engages the local community at all stages. This approach should encompass these sites' social, cultural, and economic importance for the local population. Furthermore, the findings highlight the need for a collaborative effort involving multiple government levels and diverse agencies to develop, expand, and market heritage products, with due consideration for biodiversity conservation. Keywords: Biodiversity, Heritage Sites, Market Penetration Strategies, Nyeri County, Sustainable Conservation, Tourism.

Challenges and Opportunities of Domestic Violence in Nyeri County, Kenya

For many years, domestic violence has been stereotyped as violence against women and girls, with men as perpetrators. However, in recent times, men have also become victims. Domestic violence is a violation of human rights and should not be condoned. Nyeri County has experienced tremendous development and, therefore, changes in terms of education, occupation, and economic activities, making it one of the richest counties in Kenya. With these changes in society, there is a high level of education, strong cultural adjustments, and economic endowment, and the expectation is that there should be harmony in the homes. To the contrary, there is a lot of domestic violence, as captured by scholars and the media. The objective of the study was to assess the challenges and opportunities resulting from domestic violence in Nyeri County, Kenya. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions. The study was underpinned by the frustration-aggression theory and the social learning theory. Descriptive and evaluative research designs were used. The study was conducted in Nyeri County, which has a population of 759,164. The study used random, purposive, convenience, and census sampling techniques. The following respondents were sampled to participate in the study: 384 household heads, 12 assistant chiefs, 15 police officers, 30 religious leaders, 12 NGOs/CBOs, 3 sub-county administrators, and 20 village elders. The primary methods of data collection were questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and observation. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 25 to give frequency distributions, means, and percentages, and findings were presented using tables, graphs, and charts. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic narrations, and findings were presented using narrations and descriptions. Challenges to domestic violence include a lack of political will (16%), modernity (15%), the influence of social media (20%), societal victimisation (29%), and high poverty levels (20%). There are some opportunities for enhancing the resolution of domestic violence, such as boosting moral values, strengthening the justice system, enacting social programmes and sensitization, and providing psychosocial support. The study recommends that the government, civil society, and the general public should work together to end domestic violence in the county, as it is a major threat to human rights.

Assessment of Debt Securities on Performance of Commercial Banks in Nyeri County, Kenya

The study investigated the effect of debt securities on performance of commercial banks in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study used quantitative descriptive research design and target population comprised 16 commercial banks in Nyeri County, Kenya. The respondents comprised 194 respondents in various departments. The study analyzed descriptive statistics like frequencies, percentages and mean. Inferential statistics including correlation and regression analysis were also used. The result of secondary data on financial performance pointed the gross profit had the highest average mean of 3.2 while net profit had the lowest mean. An observation of the years indicated that the gross and net profits for the banks were highest in 2019, followed by 2022 while 2020 recorded the lowest annual profits. Debt securities had a Pearson correlation coefficient r=0.312** at α < 0.000 and a 99% significance level. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected since the R-value was less than 1. The study concluded that performance was positively impacted but some products such as commercial papers were unattractive to clients due to high risks of poor performance in wealth generation. This situation was fueled further by the low training on its applicability towards boosting the income levels of both the bank and client’s portfolio. The study recommends that the branch managers should develop policy structure that requires mandatory frequent training on staff to understand how not only main stream banking products operate but also securities such as commercial papers. Further, the board of management should assess the risk-return aspect of selected debt securities like the types of commercial papers to ascertain the ones which are riskier than the rest.

Toxicological evaluation of aqueous extracts of Clematis hirsuta and Rhamnus prinoides

_Clematis hirsuta_ leaves and _Rhamnus prinoides_ roots have a long history of medicinal use in Nyeri County, Kenya. However, there is no evidence to back up their safety. The acute and subacute toxicity of _Clematis hirsuta_ aqueous leaf and _Rhamnus prinoides_ aqueous root extracts in _Wistar_ rats was investigated in this study. Changes in body weight, feed and water consumption were used as toxicity indicators in the acute toxicity study, while changes in weight, biochemical and hematological parameters were used as toxicity indicators in the subacute toxicity study. The data from the acute toxicity study was summarized as mean±standard deviation and analyzed using the unpaired Student’s t-test. The data from the subacute toxicity study was summarized as mean ±standard deviation and analyzed using Two Way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. The significance level was set at _p≤0.05_. The extracts reduced feed and water consumption in rats but caused no physical signs of toxicity or death, nor did they have any significant effects on weight, biochemical, or hematological parameters when compared to controls. These findings indicate that oral administration of _Clematis hirsuta_ aqueous leaf and _Rhamnus prinoides_ aqueous root extracts to _Wistar_ rats is generally nontoxic.

Non-Verbal Language Contributing to Stigma towards Involuntary Childless Women in the Gikùyù Community, Kenya

Putting women in a position where motherhood is associated with womanhood has led to stigma towards women who are involuntary childless. They are viewed as outsiders and language is used to advance the ideologies that justify their discrimination. Language has had a significant role in stigmatising and stereotyping childless people. Non-verbal communication, in addition to spoken discourses, which are frequently used in the stigma, is quite important. Nonverbal language communicates our unconscious ideas, feelings, and hidden beliefs. The context of the situation is created by the nonverbal cues. Women are subjected to extremely severe linguistic stigma through nonverbal communication. The paper's main focus was on nonverbal linguistic expressions that spread stigma towards involuntary childless women. The work was informed by Fairclough and Van Dijk's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). According to CDA, grammar, vocabulary, and semantics should not be analysed separately. Instead, their roles are more important and should not be disregarded. The study set out to evaluate and investigate the linguistic stigma that involuntary childless women experience. The study used a purposive sampling technique to pick communities in Tetu sub-county of Nyeri County. These were the villages: Ihithe, Ihῠrῠrῠ, Mῠthὶnga and Kangaita. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and interviews supplemented by an audio recorder were used in the study to collect data. For the FGD, twenty involuntarily childless women participated as respondents. The study will be important in shedding light on important facts about the discourses used to spread linguistic stigma and how it is done. Most importantly, the results of the study will help the general public in understanding infertility concerns and discourage them from using discursive discourses to spread stereotypes about childless women. According to the study, just as vocal language, non-verbal language is used in the infertility discourse as a tool to stigmatitise the involuntary childless women.

Effect of Training and Development on Employee Productivity in Private Hospitals in Nyeri County, Kenya

Purpose: To explore the effect of training and development on employee productivity in private hospitals in Nyeri County, Kenya 
 Methodology: The study adopted descriptive research design to collect data using closed-ended questionnaires in 10 private hospitals in Nyeri County, Kenya. Ten (10) human resources managers and 79 departmental heads from the hospitals participated making a total of 89 respondents selected using census method. The collected data were analyzed quantitatively with SPSS Version 23 and the results presented descriptively using frequency, percentage and mean. Inferential statistics such as linear and multiple regression analysis were done whereas tables and explanations were used
 Results: The questionnaire responses on employee productivity indicated that a combined total of 58(77%) respondents were in agreement that there were employee productivity policies. Nevertheless, a combined total of 60(80%) did not agree that employees were usually very effective in reporting the duties performed at a particular time. The questionnaire responses on training indicated that a combined total of 59(79%) were in agreement that there was a culture of employee on job training in the organization. However, a combined total of 60(80%) did not agree that employees were allowed time off to enable for training and development. Further, the R-square was 0.224 hence indicating that training had a 22.4% influence on employee productivity.
 Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: The study concluded that in as much as employees purported to have achieved their targets there was laxity on formally reporting on what they done. Additionally, when the staff requested to be given some time off to attend a personal training it was rejected since it would result to overburdening of other staff with more duties. The study recommends that hospital management should frequently conduct an audit on the procedures and processes required to be attained by the employee.

Discursive Strategies Contributing to Stigma towards Involuntary Childless Women in the Gikùyù Community

Positioning women in a situation where motherhood is associated with womanhood has led to stigma towards those who do not have children. They are perceived as outsiders in their communities, and language is used to advance the ideologies that support their discrimination. The use of discursive techniques has been essential in stigmatising and categorising childlessness. Linguistic stigma has been created by language and other ideas. Degrading discourse strategies that are language-based have a significant impact on how childless women are viewed. The paper’s discursive approaches were centred on the stigma that involuntarily childless women in the Gikùyù community experience. The study was informed by Fairclough and Van Dijk’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). Different elements like vocabulary, grammatical structure, and semantics ought not to be examined individually, according to CDA and their functions should not be disregarded. The purpose of the study was to assess the discursive techniques stigmatising involuntarily childless women. The study used purposive sampling to choose the villages in the Tetu sub-county, Nyeri County. They were Kǐandu, Ndǔgamano and Kǐgogoinǐ. The researcher used focus group discussions (FGDs) in order to collect data. Twelve involuntarily childless women participated in the FGD as respondents, four in each FGD. The data was then audio recorded, analysed, and categorised into themes. The study will benefit linguists since it will educate them on the extent to which language may be used to stigmatise social groups and prepare them to advocate for language change when needed. This discussion will highlight the connection between language and gender and motivate curriculum designers to include discussions on linguistic stigma, which will benefit researchers who focus on gender issues. Involuntary childless women are stigmatised linguistically according to the study, and these women should rebrand themselves by accepting their situation and reclaiming their identity

Leadership Practices and the Performance of Public Organizations in Kenya: A Case of Nyeri County Headquarters

Despite the central role leadership plays in achieving set objectives for organizations, leadership practices can sometimes be an impediment to achieving those goals and objectives. The study examined influence of leadership practices on performance of public organisations in Kenya, Nyeri County Headquarters. Predictor variables included communication, leadership support, accountability, and delegation. Out of the 159 randomly selected participants, 113 successfully participated, translating into 71% response rate. From the findings, 53%, 76%, 73%, and 64% of the respondents respectively agreed that communication, leadership support, accountability, and delegation influenced performance of public organizations. Inferential statistics showed that communication (p=0.002<0.05), leadership support (p=0.001<0.05), accountability (p=0.004<0.05), and delegation (p=0.003<0.05), all significantly influenced organizational performance in the public sector in Kenya. In conclusion, leadership practices generally significantly influenced organizational performance in the public sector. The study recommended good leadership practices in Kenyan public sector through effective HR policies and management structures for better performance.

Consumer Perceptions on the Introduction of Genetically Modified Food Products in Kenya: A Qualitative Study in Nyeri and Meru Counties

The introduction of genetically modified (GM) food products in Kenya has raised concerns among consumers, as well as regulatory authorities and industry players. This study aimed to explore the attitudes and perceptions of consumers towards GM food products in Kenya, using a qualitative research design and thematic content analysis. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of consumer perceptions towards GM food products in Kenya. Data was collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) with participants drawn from Meru and Nyeri Counties. The data was analyzed using Nvivo software and thematic content analysis. The major findings of the study suggest that consumers in Kenya have limited knowledge and understanding of GM food products. Participants expressed concerns about the safety, health implications, and environmental impact of GM foods. Cultural and religious beliefs also played a significant role in shaping consumer perceptions of GM foods. Despite the concerns raised, participants acknowledged the potential benefits of GM foods, including increased food production and improved nutritional content. Based on the findings, this study recommends that the government, industry players, and other stakeholders should collaborate to develop clear and transparent regulations for GM food products. This should be coupled with targeted education and awareness campaigns to promote public understanding and acceptance of GM foods. Further research is also needed to investigate the potential long-term effects of GM foods on human health and the environment with an underscore of impartial awareness endeavor

Influence of Hotel Green Energy Practices on Competitive Advantage of Hotels in Nyeri County, Kenya

The hotel industry is one of the major economic segments to achieving the Kenya Vision 2030. The hotel sector is a significant contributor to GDP and a source of employment for thousands of Kenyans. However, many hotels have relied much on the quality of products as an avenue to achieving competitive advantage, disregarding the role of green energy influence on competitive advantage in the hotel sector. This study aimed to determine the influence of green energy practices on the competitive advantage of tourist hotels in Nyeri County. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to guide the study. The study population was 170 tourist hotels and nine government officers concerned with tourism. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and interview schedules. A reliability test was employed to measure the questionnaire's consistency and adequacy by using the Cronbach alpha coefficient technique with only items of 0.70 and above selected. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis. A p-value of 0. 005 determined the overall significance of the study. The study revealed that green energy conservation practices and competitive advantage are significantly and positively related (β= 0.838, p=0.000). The study found that every unit change in energy conservation practices leads to an increase in competitive advantage. The study concluded that green energy practices reduce hotel operation costs, leading to a competitive advantage. The study recommends that hotels consider implementing energy conservation practices and using renewable energy, such as solar power. Keywords: Green energy practices, Competitive advantage, Hotels, Nyeri County, Kenya   &nbsp

Entrepreneurial Production Technology and Growth of Smallholder Dairy Enterprises in Kenya

This study investigated influence of entrepreneurial production technology on growth of smallholder dairy enterprises in Kenya. The enterprises continuous respond to increasing demand for dairy products in the market from rising global populations. Dairy industry has introduced technologies, and adoption has increased productivity. In an attempt to gain and retain competitive advantage in the market, amidst environmental challenges, some related to climate change, enterprises have adopted entrepreneurial production technology. This study proposed that growth of smallholder dairy enterprises depends on the adoption of these technologies. The hypothesis was tested using a field survey on the actual technologies adopted by smallholders and extent of the adoption. Open and closed ended questionnaires were administered to a study sample of 395 smallholder dairy farmers, proportionately drawn from among active members, currently supplying milk to Githunguri, Wakulima and Nyala dairy cooperative societies in Kiambu, Nyeri, Nyandarua and Laikipia counties in high potential Central Kenya. The study established a significant positive influence of entrepreneurial production technology on growth of smallholder dairy enterprises in Kenya, supporting the idea that growth of smallholder dairy enterprises in Kenya is positively correlated to the extent of adoption of entrepreneurial production technologies in breeding, feeds production and feeding, and in waste handling. The results imply that smallholder dairy enterprises are poised to achieve greater growth when they adopt more entrepreneurial production technologies for breeding dairy cattle, feeds production and feeding and in handling waste from their dairy farms Key Words: Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial Production Technology; Enterprise Growth

Time Series Analysis and Forecasting of Household Products’ Prices (A Case Study of Nyeri County)

Inflation has a significant impact on both consumable and non-consumable products and plays a critical role in determining the cost of living. The study aimed to investigate the trend of household consumable and non-consumable prices over the past three years and identify the best ARIMA model for future price predictions. The results showed that consumable goods played a greater role in determining the national inflation compared to non-consumable goods. A relationship was found between the changes in local-level prices and national monthly inflation rates, with consumable goods being fitted to an ARIMA (1,2,2) model and national inflation rates to ARIMA (3,1,0). Non-consumable goods were found to be a white noise. The models were found to be adequate in forecasting changes in prices, with their validity confirmed by the Box-Ljung test and autocorrelation coefficients of model residuals. This study demonstrated the importance of analyzing changes in products’ prices at a local level and how it affects the national inflation rate. In future, similar studies can be carried out in different counties and with a more comprehensive model to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prices of household consumable and non-consumable goods at the local level.

Time Series Analysis and Forecasting of Household Products’ Prices (A Case Study of Nyeri County)

Time Series Analysis and Forecasting of Household Products’ Prices (A Case Study of Nyeri County)

Molecular characterization of microorganisms with industrial potential for methane production in sludge from Kangemi sewage treatment plant, Nyeri county–Kenya

Microbial consortia under anaerobic conditions are involved in oxidizing organic matter in the sludge to produce methane gas. However, in developing countries like Kenya, these microbes have not been fully identified to target them for the efficient harnessing of biofuel. This study collected wet sludge from two anaerobic digestion lagoons 1 and 2 that were operational during sampling at Kangemi Sewage Treatment Plant, in Nyeri County, Kenya. DNA was extracted from samples using commercially available ZymoBIOMICS™ DNA Miniprep Kit and sequenced using Shotgun metagenomics. Samples were analyzed using MG-RAST software (Project ID: mgp100988), which allowed for identifying microorganisms directly involved in various stages of methanogenesis pathways. The study found hydrogenotrophic methanogens, such as Methanospirillum (32%), Methanobacterium (27%), Methanobrevibacter (27%), and Methanosarcina (32%), being predominant in the lagoon communities, whereas acetoclastic microorganisms such as the Methanoregula (22%) and the acetate oxidazing bacteria such as Clostridia (68%) were the key microbes for that pathway in the sewage digester sludge. Furthermore, Methanothermobacter (18%), Methanosarcina (21%), Methanosaeta (15%), and Methanospirillum (13%) carried out the methylotrophic pathway. In contrast, Methanosarcina (23%),Methanoregula (14%), methanosaeta (13%), and methnanoprevibacter (13%) seemed to play an important role in the final step of methane release. This study concluded that the sludge produced from the Nyeri-Kangemi WWTP harbors microbes with significant potential for biogas production. The study recommends a pilot study to investigate the efficiency of the identified microbes for biogas production.