Egerton dons secure Sh194m grants for research projects

Three Egerton University lecturers have won grants worth Sh194 million for research projects.
The director in charge of Research Prof Nancy Mungai said Prof Josiah Omollo had won a two-year International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe) Bioinnovate Africa grant worth USD 999,516 (Sh128.1 million) for developing and commercialising environmentally friendly bio-insecticide products.
Prof Omollo is also a beneficiary of the USD 20,000 (Sh256,400) Alliance for African Partnership Transforming Institutions Strategic Funding towards the operationalisation of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Regional Research Centre based at Egerton University’s Njoro campus.
Prof Wilkister Moturi of the Environmental Science department secured a three year grant of 400,000 British pounds (Sh62.2 million) from the European Commission to explore ways of mitigating the effects of climate change and development of policies and strategies aimed at conserving the environment and promoting sustainable development.
Dr Miriam K Charimbu’s research on the nutritional value and commercial potential of an African leafy vegetable locally known as Togotia had attracted 32,319.57 British pounds (Sh4.9 million) funding from Innovate UK KTN Award 2022.
“The grants will bolster our efforts to provide sustainable solutions to challenges facing our communities. We look forward to the positive impact of the research for our communities and beyond. We commend our staff for conducting exemplary research which has enabled the university to continue being visible globally,” Prof Mungai said.
Chemical residues
Prof Omollo will work with Prof Joshua Ogendo, Prof George Owuor, Dr John Nduko and Dr Bernard Kirui.
The project also involves external collaborators, including Dr John Bwire and Dr Xavier Cheseto from International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) Dr Teresiah Njihia and Dr Samuel Muchemi of Farm Track Consulting Limited, Dr Matobola Joel Mihale and Prof Leonia Henry from The Open University of Tanzania and Dr Adrien Turamyenyirijuru and Dr Chantal Mutimawurugo of University of Rwanda.
The 12 will examine ways of promoting the use of non-chemical pest-fighting measures to shield consumers from excessive chemical residues in food and protect the environment.
According to Prof Omollo besides excessive chemicals being a danger to human health, they also eat into farmers’ profits and are demotivators, therefore, threatening food security.
The Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry said he and the team will be working towards a situation where use of chemical pest control will be a last resort.
Studies have found that residues of toxic pesticides used in crop production have been finding their way into and wreaking havoc on human body systems.
“Toxicity is an obstacle to the right to food. Pesticides can persist in the environment for decades and pose a threat to the entire ecological system. Excessive use and misuse pollute water resources, causing loss of biodiversity, destroying beneficial insect populations and reducing the safety of our food,” stated Prof Omollo.
In the one year Alliance for African Partnership Transforming Institutions Strategic Funding towards promoting the use of biotechnology and supporting scientific research in the East African region, Prof Omollo will team up with Prof Guo-qing Song of Michigan State University (MSU).
Crop diseases
He said operationalization of International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Regional Research Centre comes at an opportune time.
“Biotechnology might simply be the solution to Kenya’s future and current agricultural problems like adverse climate and weather changes, feeding an ever growing population and converting the huge bare chunks of land to be arable,” he said.
Kenya, he noted, has potential to grow crops bio technically like Africa’s top countries namely South Africa, Egypt and Burkina Faso.
“Various studies show biotechnology in Kenya can be improvised to help farmers even diagnose crop diseases by incorporating mobile technology,” said the don.
Prof Moturi from the Faculty of Environment and Resources Development will be collaborating with Sorbonne University in Paris, France in exploring interventions aimed at reversing environmental degradation, combating climate change through mitigation and adaptation, improving people’s health outcomes and saving costs.
The study will not only aim at strengthening environmental sustainability and stewarding natural resources for future generations, but also improving the lives and livelihoods of people through clean energy transitions.
Prof Moturi underscored the importance of supporting farmers to adopt Climate Smart Agriculture technologies such as solar water pumping, solar irrigation systems, bio-digesters for biogas production and bio-slurry application, post-harvest loss management, energy efficiency solutions for households, industries and institutions through interventions like solar water heating, retrofits and replacement of polluting fuels used by industries with cleaner and environmentally friendly alternatives.
She noted that empowering local communities on sustainable farming practices, environmental conservation and reforestation will enable them to protect and preserve the forests on which they depend.
The professor of Environmental Health indicated that it is crucial to look at the entire ecosystem and develop new strategies which encourage economic growth and development while also protecting natural resources.
Hidden hunger
In the grant-winning project titled “Exploring the potential of Togotia, a forgotten African leafy vegetable for nutritional security and climate adaptation in Kenya” Dr Charimbu will oversee establishment of demonstration plots of the crop at both Egerton University and local farmers’ fields.
“The project aims to address the twin pressing issues of nutritional security and climate adaptation in Kenya. Neglected native food crops, plant species such as Togotia that are little used, or which were grown traditionally but have fallen into disuse, can help alleviate hunger and malnutrition in afflicted populations,” Dr Charimbu explained.
The Crop Pathologist, Production and Protection specialist stated that the neglected species have proved food or energy value, have been widely cultivated in the past or are currently cultivated in a limited geographical area.
Dr Charimbu added: “Togotia has enormous potential for contributing to improved financial situations, food security and nutrition, and for combating ‘hidden hunger’ caused by micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) deficiencies,’’
She said the indigenous vegetable was inexpensive to produce and well adapted to the environments in which it grows.