Technical University of Mombasa

Long-term monitoring of mangrove ecosystem changes and their impact on local communities is challenging due to the need for decades of fieldwork. Gazi Bay, Kenya, has become a model site for studying long-term mangrove dynamics and social-ecological transitions, thanks to ongoing scientific research since the 1980s. This study analyzes mangrove use in the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s through 262 semi-structured ethnobiological interviews covering mangrove utilization, fisheries, and environmental perceptions. Findings reveal a local ecological taxonomy based on mangrove species traits, with usage patterns evolving over time. While some species remained constant or increased in use for construction and fuelwood, others declined significantly in applications such as construction, medicine, material treatment, and food/fodder (including fisheries). These shifts, along with changing gender roles, signal a loss of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Community members reported perceived increases in mangrove cover, attributing them to natural regeneration, planting efforts, cutting bans, and conservation awareness. Continued research is essential to inform sustainable management, understand evolving human–mangrove relationships, and navigate the trade-offs between conservation and TEK erosion.

This study reviews and synthesizes existing literature on the effect of supply chain contract governance on organizational performance, especially in the public universities in Kenya. The evaluation was prompted by the growing importance of contractual governance in enhancing procurement efficiency, supplier collaboration, accountability, and overall organizational effectiveness and the absence of synthesized evidence in Kenya's higher education sector. The research adopted a systematic narrative literature review methodology, using peer-reviewed journal articles, books, conference proceedings, theses, and policy documents published between 2022 and 2026. The references were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Emerald Insight, Springer Link, Taylor & Francis Online, Wiley Online Library, JSTOR, and Google Scholar. We proceeded with a deductive thematic content analysis, based on four established dimensions of contractual governance: enforcement of contracts, monitoring of contracts, mechanisms for dispute resolution, and sharing of information. The results reveal that good contractual governance has a positive association with procurement performance, operational effectiveness, supplier relationships, organizational resilience, and accountability. However, considerable differences can be observed in the governance structures, theoretical perspectives, methodologies, and performance indicators in the reviewed studies. The analysis also reveals that existing studies have focused mainly on sectors such as manufacturing, construction, agro-processing, county administrations, and other public entities, while public universities in Kenya have been largely ignored. Major deficiencies still exist in context, concept, theory, method, and empirics. The analysis contributes to the literature by identifying these gaps and laying the foundation for future empirical work on contractual governance and organizational effectiveness in Kenyan public universities.

Organophosphorus (OP) compounds are widely used in livestock farming to control external parasites. However, their extensive application has led to significant environmental contamination, including soil, water, and air pollution, as well as adverse effects on non-target organisms and disruption of ecosystem processes. These challenges necessitate the development of sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approaches for OP detoxification. Compared to conventional remediation methods such as chemical treatment, incineration, and landfill disposal, which are often costly and environmentally harmful, microbial-based bioremediation offers a promising alternative. This study aimed to isolate and characterize fungi from OP-contaminated soils collected in Kilifi County and assess their potential for molecular identification and future bioremediation applications. Fungal isolates were obtained using an enrichment culture technique and purified through repeated sub-culturing. Morphological characterization was performed to confirm isolate purity. Genomic DNA was extracted from pure cultures, and its quality and concentration were evaluated using a Nano Drop spectrophotometer, while agarose gel electrophoresis was used to assess DNA integrity. Molecular identification was conducted by amplifying the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using ITS1-F and ITS4 primers. The amplified PCR products were purified and sequenced using the Sanger dideoxy sequencing method. Sequence analysis using BLASTn against the NCBI database revealed that most isolates showed 100% similarity with known fungal species. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using the Maximum Likelihood method in MEGA X software. The findings confirm the successful isolation and molecular identification of OP-tolerant fungi from contaminated soils, highlighting their potential application in the bioremediation of organophosphate-polluted environments. These results provide a foundation for further studies on the development of efficient fungal-based systems for chlorpyrifos and related OP degradation.

Understanding juvenile fish distribution across habitat mosaics is essential for interpreting ecosystem connectivity and function. This study assessed seasonal variations in juvenile reef fish assemblages across a mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum in Shimoni, southern Kenya. Using a beach seine net, sampling during the Northeast Monsoon (NEM) and Southeast Monsoon (SEM) seasons, a total of 8,575 individuals representing 228 species and 52 families were recorded. Species richness and diversity (H') were highest in the coral associated site (n = 168; H' = 3.77), followed by the seagrass associated site (n = 132; H' = 3.69) and the mangrove associated site (n = 119; H' = 3.64). Two-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed significant differences in diversity and mean species richness, respectively across habitats, with post-hoc pairwise tests identifying the most pronounced differences between coral and mangrove sites. While 69 species were common to all three habitats, multivariate analysis demonstrated distinct species-habitat associations, particularly in the mangrove associated habitat, influenced by salinity and temperature. The Kolmogorov-Smirnoff test further confirmed differences in the trophic signatures of the assemblages between mangrove-coral and seagrass-coral interfaces. These findings underscore the importance of the coastal habitat mosaic in sustaining fish recruitment and population dynamics, highlighting the need for integrated seascape management in the Western Indian Ocean.

The relationship between systemic inflammation, autoimmunity, and patient-reported outcomes in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains poorly understood, particularly in African communities experiencing delayed diagnoses and limited access to biological treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships among circulating inflammatory biomarkers, disease activity, and patient-reported outcomes in a cohort of individuals attending Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya. We conducted a case–control study involving 44 patients with RA and 44 healthy controls at the Kenyatta National Hospital. We measured plasma levels of cytokines (tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1)), autoantibodies anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF), and acute-phase reactants C-reactive protein (CRP) using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Disease activity was assessed using the disease activity score-28 with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), while patient-reported outcomes were captured using the pain visual analogue scale, health assessment questionnaire, and duration of morning stiffness. Statistical analyses involved Spearman’s correlations, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and multiple linear regression. All biomarker levels (ACPA, CRP, RF, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were significantly higher in patients with RA than in controls (p < 0.001). Strong correlations were observed between inflammatory biomarkers (ACPA-CRP ρ = 0.70) and joint counts (ACPA-tender joints ρ = 0.56). ESR demonstrated the greatest discriminative ability for both high disease activity (AUC = 0.778) and severe pain (AUC = 0.775), whereas cytokines performed poorly (AUC < 0.60). Multiple regression revealed that ESR (β = 0.67) and tender joint count (β = 0.54) were the strongest predictors of DAS28-ESR (R2 = 0.92). This study revealed a significant dissociation between systemic inflammation and patient-reported symptoms in individuals with RA. Although biomarkers, such as ESR, autoantibodies, and cytokines, effectively reflect inflammatory burden and disease activity, they are poorly correlated with pain and functional outcomes. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of RA symptoms and support the need for integrated assessment strategies that combine objective biomarkers with patient-reported measures to guide comprehensive therapeutic approaches. Study limitations included a modest sample size and a predominantly late-stage disease cohort.