http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/1281 COPAS 2026-10-06T20:16:01Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/7140 Chemical Health Risks Exposure among Laboratory Staff in Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute in Mombasa County, Kenya Magara, Eric Okenagwa To ensure a safe and healthy work environment for employees, the occupational Safety and Health Act 2007 was enacted in Kenya, and employers are required to comply with the Act. Owing to the global increase in the production and use of chemicals and other related reagents, chemical health risks have significantly risen. While necessary measures are in place to ensure safety in the labs, laboratory personnel are still vulnerable to exposure due to nature of work. Chemical hazards contribute to health risks resulting in significant fatalities and injuries to laboratory personnel, hence the need to protect them against such. This study evaluated chemical health risks exposure to laboratory staff in Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in Mombasa County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to assess Occupational Safety and Health Awareness, Effective PPE usage and exposure to radiations from unstable radioactive chemicals on laboratory staff, and how they contribute to chemical health risks. The study employed descriptive cross-sectional research design. Structured questionnaires, observation checklists and radiation measurements were used for data collection from a sample of 110 personnel from each of the KMFRI laboratories. The staff were selected based on specific inclusion, exclusion criteria. Only technical personnel who had worked in the laboratories for more than 5 years and who consistently worked for at-least five hours per day were considered eligible for participation in the study. Exposure to radiation was assessed using a calibrated radiation detector (dosimeter badges) meter to determine the extent of radiation exposure in the affected laboratory section. Data was analyzed using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. The study found a positive correlation between Occupational safety and Health awareness (r=.945 N=97 p<.01), PPE Usage (r=.883 N=97 p<.01), Exposure to radiation (r=.955 N=97 p<.01) and exposure to chemical health risks. The Analysis of Variance revealed a strong positive relationship between OSH awareness, PPE usage, exposure to radiation, and chemical health risks. The variables were found to be statistically significant and found to influence exposure to chemical health risks; OSH awareness, PPE usage and exposure to radiation largely contributed to exposure to chemical health risks among the laboratory staff. This study also revealed non-compliance to the set standards, leading staff to being exposed to potential chemical risks. The study findings further indicated that OSH awareness creation was not effectively done; hence a majority of the laboratory personnel were not privy to what was expected of them in terms of ensuring their occupational safety. Levels of exposure to radiation ranged between 0.018mSv/Month - 0.642mSv with a mean of 0.289mSv. The exposure to radiation was found to be within acceptable limits set by the Kenya nuclear regulatory authority in conjunction with the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The study recommends; mandatory OSH awareness creation and training for all laboratory staff; adequate provisions be made for quality PPE in compliance with standards for effective use; stringent measures be put in place to ensure controlled or eliminated exposure to radiation. The findings from this study will help laboratory management, policy makers, and occupational health practitioners to develop and implement effective safety measures, improve work place health standards, and enhance compliance with occupational safety regulations. Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health 2026-09-29T00:00:00Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/7133 Drivers of Land Use, Land Cover Change, Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Options in Narok North Sub-County, Kenya Odonyo, Deborah Sialok Narok North Sub-County is experiencing significant changes in land use that are increasing its vulnerability to climate-related hazards, such as floods and droughts. These changes have weakened traditional coping mechanisms, exposing local communities to greater socio-economic and ecological risks. Despite the crucial role of land use in shaping environmental resilience and adaptation, there is limited understanding of its specific impacts on local livelihoods and adaptation options. Specifically, this study sought to: (i) examine current land use practices and identify the key drivers of land use and land cover change (LULCC) in Narok North Sub-County; (ii) analyze LULCC over the past 32 years using Landsat 5, Landsat 7, and Landsat 8/9 imagery and assess its influence on the occurrence of floods and droughts; and (iii) propose evidence-based strategies for enhancing community resilience and climate change adaptation. This study adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining remote sensing analysis of Landsat imagery (1990–2022) with household surveys and key informant interviews. Household surveys and KIIs were used to identify the key drivers of land use and land cover change, while satellite imagery analysis assessed the extent and patterns of these changes. The study also examined the impacts of land use transformations on extreme weather events such as floods and droughts, along with available adaptation options. Landsat 5, Landsat 7, and Landsat 8/9 imagery were utilized to detect and quantify shifts in LULCC, focusing on transitions from forests and grasslands to agricultural and urban land uses. The findings reveal the drivers of land use and land cover change as agricultural expansion, population growth and urbanization. These transformations are leading to a shift from sustainable land management practices to more intensive agricultural activities, resulting in the fragmentation of land, deforestation, and degradation of natural habitats. Such changes are exacerbating the region's vulnerability to climate-related hazards, which are projected to intensify due to climate change. Remote sensing analysis indicated that forest cover loss was most pronounced between 2000 and 2010, with 183.81 ha (7.3%) lost in that decade alone, and continued declining post-2010, resulting in a total loss of 329.46 ha (12.8%) over the 32-year study period, driven by increasing farmland demand and settlement expansion. While cropland showed fluctuations due to evolving land management practices, built-up areas steadily expanded in line with urban growth. The study identifies gaps in land use planning, including the absence of integrated spatial frameworks and weak inter-agency coordination, zoning enforcement, and disaster risk reduction. Plans for community preparedness and multi-hazard assessments are absent from disaster risk reduction initiatives which have contributed to further environmental degradation. The lack of access to real-time climate data and insufficient investment in climate-resilient infrastructure has heightened vulnerability in the region. These findings highlight the need for implementation of stronger governance frameworks and sustainable land management strategies to mitigate climate risks and enhance long-term resilience by both the National and County Government of Narok. Master of Science in Environmental Legislation and Management 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/7132 Drivers of Land Use, Land Cover Change, Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Options in Narok North Sub-County, Kenya Odonyo, Deborah Sialok Narok North Sub-County is experiencing significant changes in land use that are increasing its vulnerability to climate-related hazards, such as floods and droughts. These changes have weakened traditional coping mechanisms, exposing local communities to greater socio-economic and ecological risks. Despite the crucial role of land use in shaping environmental resilience and adaptation, there is limited understanding of its specific impacts on local livelihoods and adaptation options. Specifically, this study sought to: (i) examine current land use practices and identify the key drivers of land use and land cover change (LULCC) in Narok North Sub-County; (ii) analyze LULCC over the past 32 years using Landsat 5, Landsat 7, and Landsat 8/9 imagery and assess its influence on the occurrence of floods and droughts; and (iii) propose evidence-based strategies for enhancing community resilience and climate change adaptation. This study adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining remote sensing analysis of Landsat imagery (1990–2022) with household surveys and key informant interviews. Household surveys and KIIs were used to identify the key drivers of land use and land cover change, while satellite imagery analysis assessed the extent and patterns of these changes. The study also examined the impacts of land use transformations on extreme weather events such as floods and droughts, along with available adaptation options. Landsat 5, Landsat 7, and Landsat 8/9 imagery were utilized to detect and quantify shifts in LULCC, focusing on transitions from forests and grasslands to agricultural and urban land uses. The findings reveal the drivers of land use and land cover change as agricultural expansion, population growth and urbanization. These transformations are leading to a shift from sustainable land management practices to more intensive agricultural activities, resulting in the fragmentation of land, deforestation, and degradation of natural habitats. Such changes are exacerbating the region's vulnerability to climate-related hazards, which are projected to intensify due to climate change. Remote sensing analysis indicated that forest cover loss was most pronounced between 2000 and 2010, with 183.81 ha (7.3%) lost in that decade alone, and continued declining post-2010, resulting in a total loss of 329.46 ha (12.8%) over the 32-year study period, driven by increasing farmland demand and settlement expansion. While cropland showed fluctuations due to evolving land management practices, built-up areas steadily expanded in line with urban growth. The study identifies gaps in land use planning, including the absence of integrated spatial frameworks and weak inter-agency coordination, zoning enforcement, and disaster risk reduction. Plans for community preparedness and multi-hazard assessments are absent from disaster risk reduction initiatives which have contributed to further environmental degradation. The lack of access to real-time climate data and insufficient investment in climate-resilient infrastructure has heightened vulnerability in the region. These findings highlight the need for implementation of stronger governance frameworks and sustainable land management strategies to mitigate climate risks and enhance long-term resilience by both the National and County Government of Narok. Master of Science in Environmental Legislation and Management 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/7122 A Framework for Implementing Micro Frontend Architecture Wanjala, Sylvester Timona Web applications are a critical part of any enterprise business system. Recently, we have observed maturity in technologies that enable the separation of frontend and backend. While backend systems have largely evolved toward microservices architectures, frontend development has predominantly remained monolithic. Micro Frontends have emerged as a solution to the typical monolithic frontend. However, there is no predominant approach to implementation that satisfies the different practical requirements of a state-of-the-art web application. The goal of this work is to develop an architectural framework for implementing micro frontends to address challenges experienced in current implementations, such as inconsistent user experience, managing security and authorization among different micro frontends, and handling complexity in development. To achieve this, the study reviews both horizontal and vertical decomposition approaches for Micro Frontend design, examines the challenges associated with each method, and draws insights from existing implementations and practitioner literature. Based on this analysis, a coherent architectural framework is developed, encompassing team organization, domain decomposition, composition strategies, testing, and deployment design. In conclusion, the proposed architectural framework provides a formalized approach that reduces adoption risks for organizations considering Micro Frontend Architecture by making key architectural decisions explicit and traceable. The architectural framework is intended as a practical reference guide rather than a rigid prescription. MSc in Software Engineering 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z