Edward Ontita

Current status on production and utilization of spider plant (Cleome gynandra L.) an underutilized leafy vegetable in Kenya

Spider plant exists as semi-cultivated indigenous leafy vegetable with ecological, social and cultural values in most home gardens in Kenya. It plays a significant role in the food and nutrition security of local communities. The tender leaves are usually consumed as a cooked vegetable while the roots, stem and whole leaves are used for medicinal purposes. The importance of spider plant has been discussed in the context of biodiversity conservation and food security because the vegetable is rich in micronutrients and phytochemicals associated with antioxidant, anti-malaria, and anti-microbial properties.

Climate Change and the Emergence of Helter-Skelter Livelihoods Among the Pastoralists of Samburu East District, Kenya

Due to climate change, northern Kenya is experiencing intense droughts at shorter intervals with intermittent high precipitation and flooding. This has a major impact on livelihoods of the pastoral community, whose ways of life revolve around the availability of pasture and water for their livestock. Our study set out to determine the Samburu people’s perception of climate change and how they cope with its effects. Such information is important in developing evidence-based policies on adaptation strategies for African dry-lands. Our study undertook a survey of knowledge, attitudes and life histories among the Samburu communities using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Respondents indicated that climate change leads to soil erosion, local extinction of some faunal species, water and pasture scarcity, and intensification of conflicts over resources. This has negatively impacted on their livelihoods due to food shortage, human and livestock diseases, social and family instability, and general insecurity.

Local Church and Livelihood Construction: Interlocking Social Domains and Evolving Scenarios of Synergy for Mission in Nyamira, Kenya

Dominant Northern development expertise acknowledges religion mostly as impeding development processes and aim to secularize and ‘modernize’ the South. This paper seeks to map out the various intersections of church and actors’ livelihoods, and explain those nodal points through villagers’ eyes. The study employed ethnographic interviewing to weave life-histories of households, and analyzed data to locate patterns and concepts at intersections of church and livelihood. The paper reports that actors employed church as arena to construct, extend and defend livelihoods; and re-engineering a resource-system church is promising. Thus church interlocks with livelihood construction processes, presenting opportunities for synergy in mission.