http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5459 Proceedings of Conferences by Students of CoANRE Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:55:40 GMT 2026-04-07T01:55:40Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/6656 A reflection on challenges affecting youth empowerment programmes in Kenya Mbugua, Catherine For the past two decades, youth empowerment has remained a rallying call among development actors in addressing the perennial unemployment challenge among the youth. However, the concept is largely unspecific and is not understood by many. Over decades, a myriad of youth empowerment programmes (YEPs) have been rolled out in Kenya by both state and non - state actors amidst efficacy and sustainability concerns. Notably, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) in Kenya, is still operational since its establishment in 2007 by the government with pronounced wide presence overtly known for provision of micro - credit to youth. The programme has drawn attention of many scholars but there is need to examine the interplay of various YEPs. The study examined the impediments by specifically unpacking how YEPs have been propagated in Kenya over the years, and modest outcomes so realized. A mixed method; a comparative survey of Nairobi; an urban setting and Trans Nzoia; a rural setting. The cross- sectional survey covered 244 youth respondents; and Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were also done. The study established that nearly 70% had received post - school training through YEPs; predominantly on entrepreneurship/ business skills, with least focus paid to vocational and technical training. Majority were self-employed earning an average income of less than Kshs 10,000 a month (USD 80). Many YEPs are rolled out by both state and non - state actors but youth in disadvantaged areas have limited or no access. The state micro-credit model (YEDF) dominates the youth development space and that a near third of the respondents were beneficiaries of two or multiple YEPs (both state and non-state) latently promoting dependency syndrome. There is a weak linkage/minimal synergy of state YEPs to similar civil society owned programmes. Keywords Youth empowerment, disadvantaged areas, training Scientific, Technological and Industrialization Conference Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/6656 2025-04-07T00:00:00Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5825 Factors affecting production and market performance of Guinea fowls and Quails in Kenya Victor Kwesisi, 2Stephen Ogada, 2Stephen Kuria, 1Margaret Oloko, 3Philip Oyier, 4Phillista Malaki, 5Emmanuel Ndiema, 6Vincent Obanda, 4Bernard Agwanda, 7Kisa-Juma Ngeiywa , 7Jacqueline Lichoti, and 2Sheila Ommeh Emerging livestock like guinea fowls and quails are important alternative sources of poultry meat and eggs to chicken. These poultry species are also a significant source of income, especially to poor rural farmers. The study surveyed selected regions of Kenya to determine the factors influencing market performance of guinea fowl and quail products. A total of 652 guinea fowl and quail farmers participated in the study throughinterviews and filling questionnaires. Data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative procedures where descriptive statistics were conducted by calculating frequencies and percentages. The results identified the main stakeholders in the guinea fowl and quail value chain that play a significant role in influencing their market performance. This study reveals that product, market, capital, technology and disease interrelation factors positively influencethe market performance of guinea fowl and quail products. Therefore, we recommend that the involved relevant stakeholders should establish mechanisms that will streamline and improve guinea fowl and quail farming thereby making it sustainable and profitable for Kenyan farmers. Mon, 04 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5825 2022-04-04T00:00:00Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5824 Abundance and Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal (AMF) Spores Isolated from the Rhizosphere of papaya and other Different Cropping Systems in Central Kenya 1Jacinta Muiruri, 1Fredah K. Rimberia, 1Mwajita R. Mwashasha and 1Agnes Kavoo. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), obligate symbionts, are important in the majority of cultivated plant species in colonizing roots and supporting plant growth in adverse climatic conditions. However, the abundance and quality of mycorrhizal colonization is affected by land-use types, cropping systems and climate change. On the other hand, rhizospheric mycorrhizae present in rhizospheric soils can be isolated for enhancing plant performance. One such opportunity arises in the acclimatization of seedlings for adaptation to depleted field conditions. Isolation and characterization of rhizospheric AMF species is important in evaluating the efficiency of colonization especially in plants that have not been previously evaluated such as papaya, which is well known for its high nutritive value. In this study, soils were sampled from grass, banana and papaya plants’rhizosphere, from three different papaya growing regions in Kenya; Mwea, Mitunguu and Juja. Spores were isolated using the sucrose method. Spore abundance was done using a gridded Petri dish and morphologically characterized using the International Culture Collection of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (INVAM) database. At least 4 families, 10 genera and 41 species of glomeromycota phylum were isolated from the 3 sampling sites. The families of glomeraceae (16 species) and acaulosporaceae (14 species) dominated in Juja and Mwea Sub Counties. Glomus spp. isolated from the rhizosphere of banana and grass plants were the most abundant, at p≤0.05, in Juja while Diversispora spp(diversisporaceae)was the least abundant, at p≤0.05. Mwea Sub County had the most spore abundance, at p≤0.05, compared to Mitunguu and Juja. Mycorrhizal spores isolated from the grass family were the most abundant, at p≤0.05, (Mwea, 41; Juja, 37; Mitunguu, 35.2) as opposed to banana and papaya plants. The results showed that AMF spore abundance and diversity varies with different locations and the associating plants. Mon, 04 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5824 2022-04-04T00:00:00Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5823 Assessment of phenotypes, physiological and behavioural responses associated with heat tolerance among Galla goats in North Eastern Kenya. 1E. Mutindi, 2I. Ogali, 1S. Kuria, 1G. Moraa, 2E. Too, 3J. Kingoo, 1S. Ommeh Galla goats have great adaptation vigor to different environments. However, the outcomes of the ongoing climate change have subjected livestock including the Galla goats to harsh environmental conditions like high ambient temperatures. In this study, Galla goats were characterized in the selected areas based on phenotypic, physiological, and behavioural responses to high environmental temperature. One hundred and forty-nine Galla goats selected from Isiolo, Garissa and Tana River were scored for various features such as coat colour, horn colour, skin colour, horn shape, horn length, ear orientation, ear length, wattles and horn circumference. Data collected were entered in an excel spread sheet then analyzed in R statistical software version 4.0.4. White was found to be the dominant coat colour with a percentage frequency greater than 60.0% in the studied counties. The study revealed that both male and female Galla goats possess horns with more than 88.9% of goats being horned across the three counties. There was a strong relationship between horn presence and the environmental temperature with p=0.05. A positive correlation was also observed between environmental temperature and rectal temperature, horn length, ear length and horn circumference. The findings show the presence of an important gene pool from which guidelines on conservation of heat stress phenotypes as a result of the ongoing climate change can be put in place Mon, 04 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5823 2022-04-04T00:00:00Z