Varsity conducting research to boost soap quality
By Oliver Musembi, November 14, 2023Research towards production of plant-based black soap is currently at an advanced stage at the Mount Kenya University in Kiambu County.
The initiative will see Aloe Vera and bamboo extracts used as additives to the soap, according to MKU Pro-Chancellor Dr Vincent Gaitho.
He said the University is conducting the research at its botanic garden at the Happy Valley campus in Thika that has over 300 indigenous plant species.
Dr Gaitho was speaking during the tree planting exercise by students and members of staff at the 103-acre land parcel adjacent to Thika River.
He was accompanied by the MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi and Co-Founder Dr Jane Nyutu. “During this rainy period, the university plans to plant and grow over 5,000 indigenous trees, shrubs and herbs. The plants will serve a triple purpose: mitigation of climate change, food security and improvement of people’s livelihoods,” Dr Gaitho stated, adding that the university has so far grown over 100,000 trees at different places.
Travels for research
Pro Jaganyi concurred that medicinal trees are not only a source of natural remedies but also play a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological balance of our surroundings.
“Mount Kenya University has always been a pioneer in promoting environmental consciousness, and the initiative to grow medicinal trees aligns seamlessly with our ethos,” asserted the VC.
“The biodiversity of provides a unique opportunity for us to cultivate a variety of medicinal trees, each with its own set of healing properties,
“Imagine a botanic garden adorned with the likes of Neem, Aloe Vera, Warbugia, Moringa, Eucalyptus, and many other medicinal trees whose leaves, bark, and extracts have been revered for their therapeutic benefits for centuries,” said Prof Jaganyi.
Moreover, the scholar added, the cultivation of medicinal trees aligns with global efforts to preserve biodiversity and combat climate change.