Browsing by Author "Mutuma, E"

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EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON SOLID WASTE COMPOSITION AND MUNICIPAL CAPACITY IN OL-KALOU TOWN, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2021-12-04) Wairimu, V.N; Maina, K; Mutuma, E
The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has presented a threat to the global health sector, with many governments, healthcare, and waste management sectors being caught unprepared and unaware. With the outbreak of the infectious COVID -19 disease, many resources have been allocated to hospitals to help prevent the disease spread, leaving other crucial sectors such a waste management department with fewer resources to finance their waste management activities. The changes in quantity and composition of the wastes reaching the municipal waste stream have far-reaching effects on the waste collectors' health and the waste scavengers due to contamination by the COVID-19 virus. The households' failure to separate contaminated wastes and store the waste in safe containers for more than 72 hours can also facilitate disease spread. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the waste management sector will have to experience some opportunities in the aftermath of the disease. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on waste composition and municipal capacity Ol-Kalou municipal council. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of three officials in the waste management department in the Ol-Kalou municipal council. Primary data was collected through carrying out a waste composition analysis to determine the proportion of covid-19 related wastes in three OlKalou town market curbsides, while data on municipal capacity was collected through an interview to waste management officials. The study's findings indicated that the proportion of covid-19 related wastes comprises 1.05%, a high number, plastics 19.24%, metals 11.86%, glass 5.84%, papers 4.12%, food wastes 46.05%, 3.09% leather, 1.19% Rubber and others 7.56%. Similarly, the results of the interview indicated that the municipal council could not sustainably handle the waste amid the pandemic due to decreased budget allocations, a limited number of workers, lack of worker training to manage contaminated wastes, and limited vehicles to transport cover large areas per day. The study recommended that waste management sectors require additional budget allocations to finance their activities, develop disaster waste management plans, and create public awareness of the importance of waste separation
EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON SOLID WASTE COMPOSITION AND MUNICIPAL CAPACITY IN OL-KALOU TOWN, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2021-12-04) Wairimu, V.N; Maina, K; Mutuma, E
The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has presented a threat to the global health sector, with many governments, healthcare, and waste management sectors being caught unprepared and unaware. With the outbreak of the infectious COVID -19 disease, many resources have been allocated to hospitals to help prevent the disease spread, leaving other crucial sectors such a waste management department with fewer resources to finance their waste management activities. The changes in quantity and composition of the wastes reaching the municipal waste stream have far-reaching effects on the waste collectors' health and the waste scavengers due to contamination by the COVID-19 virus. The households' failure to separate contaminated wastes and store the waste in safe containers for more than 72 hours can also facilitate disease spread. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the waste management sector will have to experience some opportunities in the aftermath of the disease. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on waste composition and municipal capacity Ol-Kalou municipal council. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of three officials in the waste management department in the Ol-Kalou municipal council. Primary data was collected through carrying out a waste composition analysis to determine the proportion of covid-19 related wastes in three OlKalou town market curbsides, while data on municipal capacity was collected through an interview to waste management officials. The study's findings indicated that the proportion of covid-19 related wastes comprises 1.05%, a high number, plastics 19.24%, metals 11.86%, glass 5.84%, papers 4.12%, food wastes 46.05%, 3.09% leather, 1.19% Rubber and others 7.56%. Similarly, the results of the interview indicated that the municipal council could not sustainably handle the waste amid the pandemic due to decreased budget allocations, a limited number of workers, lack of worker training to manage contaminated wastes, and limited vehicles to transport cover large areas per day. The study recommended that waste management sectors require additional budget allocations to finance their activities, develop disaster waste management plans, and create public awareness of the importance of waste separation.
INFLUENCE OF VARIATION IN BIOPHYSICAL FACTORS ON TREE SPECIES STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION IN KAPSERET FOREST, UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA
(chuka university, 2022) Kutuny, G.K; Njeru, J.R; Mutuma, E
Forests are important for survival and development of human and other fauna. However, they are under degradation due to changes in biophysical factors which affects tree species structure and composition. Understanding these variations and their influence on tree species structure and composition guides conservation of forest. This study aimed at assessing the influence of variation in biophysical factors on tree species structure and composition. Ecological survey was used whereby, tree species and soil samples were studied from 12 sample plots identified through stratified sampling techniques within Kapseret forest. Tree species were enumerated and recorded by species name and Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), those with ≥3m height and DBH > 9.5 cm were classified as trees, while those with ≤3m height and less than DBH ≤ 9.5cm were recorded as saplings. Tree species attributes assessed included: tree DBH and diversity, while biophysical variables measured were: soil organic carbon (SOC), soil texture, phosphorous and potassium. A total of 148 tree species were identified with 62.16% being saplings while 35.14% were mature trees. The CCA results indicated positive correlation between tree species diversity with variation in biophysical factors, the presence of gaps with high P levels were associated with majority of the saplings, however, the DBH class distribution did not indicate an inverse J-shape portraying high degradation. The tree species-biophysical factors should therefore be utilized with other environmental factors such as topography,light intensity,temperature and wind when planning and choosing species for rehabilitation and restoration of degraded landscapes.