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  Sustainability of affordable housing programs in Kenya: A case of Meru and Embu Counties

  (plos one, 2026-07)

  Gatimbu, Karambu Kiende

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  Njiruh, Nthakanio P.

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  Amid rising urbanization and population growth, Kenya faces a critical housing shortage that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income populations. In response, the government launched the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) under the Big Four Agenda to address this housing gap. This study evaluates the sustainability of AHP projects in Meru and Embu counties, focusing on economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Using a descriptive research design, data were collected from 215 purposively selected participants comprising members of the public, academics, and contractors. Quantitative data were analyzed using Stata 18, including descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and Generalised Linear Models (GLMs). The results indicate that while the AHP has made significant progress in improving housing affordability and social safety, challenges remain, particularly in environmental sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and the use of local materials. Safety, security, and affordability ranked highest across respondents, whereas features such as lift access and energy-efficient systems were ranked lower. The findings also highlight demographic differences in sustainability preferences: older respondents emphasized safety and infrastructure reliability, whereas postgraduate respondents prioritized environmental sustainability. The study recommends stronger stakeholder involvement, localization of policy frameworks, and integration of green building standards. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and practitioners seeking to scale sustainable housing solutions in Kenya and similar developing contexts.

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  Maternal effects in Gadam and high-tannin sorghum varietal crosses

  (Springer Nature, 2026-06)

  Shinda,Cecilia A.

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  Runo,Steven

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  Gitari, Josiah N.

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  Muui, Catherine

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  Njiruh, Nthakanio P.

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  Maternal effects on agronomic traits in sorghum hybrids were studied through reciprocal crosses of Gadam with Serena, Seredo, and KARI Mtama 1. Reciprocal hybrids Serena x Gadam, KARI Mtama 1 × Gadam, and Seredo x Gadam were 9, 17, and 21 cm taller than their direct crosses.Query Reciprocal crossing delayed heading by 10, 8, and 14 days; flowering by 8, 6, and 16 days; and maturity by 16, 8, and 4 days in Serena x Gadam, Seredo x Gadam, and KARI Mtama 1 × Gadam, respectively. The hybrids also differed significantly in grain-filling percentage. These results emphasize the extent and direction of maternal effects on sorghum agronomic traits.

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  High Temperature Compensation to Make Pgms Completely Sterile Under Short Day Length Growth Conditions

  (Kenya Rice Researchers Forum, 2012-06)

  Njiruh, Nthakanio P.

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  Ireri,Kanya James

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  Kimani, John

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  Wanjogu, Raphael

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  Frequent food shortages in Kenya will require adoption of new technologies to overcome it. In rice production, one main problem contributing to this is low yield per hectare, which can be increased by use of hybrid rice seed technology. Among the methods used to produce hybrid rice seeds is by use of Photosensitive genic male sterile lines (PGMS) and thermosenstive genic sterile lines. These lines contain genes which make them to be sterile in long day-light length and high temperature growth conditions. Thus male emasculation is genetic. The objective in this research was to increase the day-light length to 14hours and to raise temperature to above 36°C and 20˚C day and night respectively so as to induce complete sterility in the PGMS and TGMS rice lines. Two PGMS (V1PGMS, V3PGMS) and one TGMS (v2TGMS) rice lines were obtained from International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and sown in greenhouse at Kari Mwea- Kimbimbi station. At premordial stage PGMS and TGMS were treated with long day length and high temperature. All the PGMS and TGMS grown under long day length and High temperature growth conditions recorded over 98% spikelet sterility indicating that they can be used as female parents during crossbreeding to produce hybrid seeds without risk of contamination by self bred seeds.

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  Evaluation of advanced common bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris l.) Breeding lines for multiple disease resistance and yield in western Kenya

  (African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2025-07-14)

  Shivachi A

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  R Otsyula

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  Arunga, Esther E.

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  Njiruh, Nthakanio P.

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  Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important legume crops in the world, grown for economical and nutritional value. However, its productivity is constrained by diseases such as angular leaf spot, anthracnose, common bacterial blight, halo blight and bean scab. Under favorable conditions, yield losses of between 50 -100 percent have been reported in susceptible cultivars. Identifying and using resistant common bean genotypes with broad resistance is the best economical and sustainable option to reduce the impact of such diseases. So far, no cultivars have been identified with desirable agronomic traits possessing multiple disease resistance (MDR) to these diseases for adoption by dry bean farmers in western Kenya. Field experiments were carried out to evaluate thirty-six advanced dry bean breeding lines for their resistance to major diseases and agronomic performances. The experiment was laid using 6 x 6 lattice design replicated 3 times during the long rain cropping season of 2020. Data on disease severity and agronomic traits were recorded and subjected to analysis using SAS statistical software. Major diseases observed in the field included Angular leafspot, anthracnose, bean scab, common bacterial blight and halo blight. Analysis of variance indicated significant (p < 0.05) variations existed among the genotypes for yield and disease resilience. Nine genotypes (CAL 110, CAL 97, RWR 2245, CAL 232A, CAL 51, CAL 70, CAL 94A, CAL 273 and CAL 257) were identified to possess anthracnose, ALS, CBB, halo blight and scab resistance. Among these, genotypes CAL 70, CAL 110, CAL 51, CAL 232A, RWR 2245 and CAL 257 executed well for grain yield. The identified genotypes possessing multiple disease resistance and with good yield potential stand out as potential candidates for release to farmers in the target area and other similar agro-ecologies in Kenya even though further evaluations on farmers’ fields are recommended.

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  Training in the Access, Evaluation and Exploration (AEE) of Satellite and Public Health Data Sets by using Giovanni System and Basic Statistical Packages

  (journal of the national technical association, 2018-09)

  Antony Kinyua

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  Kawira, Millien

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  Njiruh, Nthakanio P.

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  Richard Damoah

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  Jonathan Wilson

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  Space science and STEAM activities continue to offer many benefits that contribute to the sustainability and development of stations. We present experiences and solutions to the training of future National Technical Association (NTA) members from the USA, Ghana and Kenya. STEAM training of underrepresented minority students requires multiple strategies. First, it must start at the K-12 level and extend to college. Our department are “planting STEAM Seeds” by providing quality professional development training for teachers and parents that encourage students to pursue STEAM jobs careers. Secondly, the training should offer academic enrichment activities to students in form of in-school and after school STEAM activities or workshops such as our Science Mathematics-Engineering Fair, STEAM Expos [or K-I2 Students, and Science Olympiad competition. Thirdly, STEAM training should promote across disciplinary institutions linkages and partnerships with public and private sectors. Finally making use of satellite and public health data sets through data management packages such as Microsoft Excel and Geospatial interactive online visualization and Analysis Infrastructure (Giovani: https://giovanni.gsfc.nasa.gov/giovanni/) will allow students to address a variety of research questions. Innovative and practical training of future scientists, especially those who are a part of the NTA community can improve decision making in fields of STEAM and prepare the next NTA members.

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