http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/6443 2026-04-05T14:45:09Z 2026-04-05T14:45:09Z Nambafu, Godfrey Nakitare Museveni, Sikukuu khwa Kollongei, Naomi http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/6846 2026-03-24T13:23:16Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Understanding degradation of electroactive molecules in organic redox flow batteries: Decomposition analysis methods Nambafu, Godfrey Nakitare; Museveni, Sikukuu khwa; Kollongei, Naomi Organic redox flow batteries have attracted a lot of interests both in academics and industries. Accordingly, many organic materials and chemistries have been studied, providing a solid foundation for development of low-cost organic flow batteries. However, capacity loss/fade as a result of organic molecule decomposition/degradation is a major hindrance towards further advancement of this promising, sustainable and large-scale energy storage technology. Understanding the causes of decomposition as well as its mechanism is thus necessary to unravel this major challenge. Therefore, this perspective/views focus on highlighting the different methods that can be employed for decomposition assessment of organic molecules in flow battery systems. This will help in engineering and designing stable electroactive organic molecule to enable development of durable and long cycle life redox flow battery

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z Nambafu, Godfrey Nakitare Omondi, Emmanuel O. Engels, Christof Schreiner, Monika http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/6845 2026-03-24T13:16:01Z 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

Nutritional compound analysis and morphological characterization of spider plant (Cleome gynandra) - an African indigenous leafy vegetable Nambafu, Godfrey Nakitare; Omondi, Emmanuel O.; Engels, Christof; Schreiner, Monika Spider plant is among the important indigenous African leafy vegetables having the potential to contribute to food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa. The main objective of this study was to quantify the mineral concentration, to identify and quantify glucosinolates and flavonoids in spider plant and further to characterize spider plant entries using important morphological traits. Thirty spider plant entries from different African countries, comprising of farmers' cultivars, gene bank accessions and advanced lines were grown in a field experiment and harvested for leaves, stems, flowers and siliques at different developmental stages. Five plant types based on the stem and petiole colorations were identified. Significant genotypic differences were shown for all the morphological traits except for 100 seed weight and silique weight. High mineral concentrations in the leaf tissue were observed especially for potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, manganese and zinc. The aliphatic 3-hydroxypropyl glucosinolate was the main glucosinolate detected in all tissues with the highest concentrations in the reproductive organs. Glycosides of quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin were the main flavonoids. Isorhamnetin glycosides were detected in trace amounts in both, leaves and inflorescences, while quercetin and kaempferol glycosides were the dominant flavonoids in the leaves and inflorescences, respectively. This knowledge of beneficial nutrient contents is an incentive for promoting spider plant consumption for improved human health while the morphological diversity analysis will be important for the further development of the spider plant germplasm.

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z Nambafu, Godfrey Nakitare Hoeppner, Nicolai Onyango, Joseph Patrick Gweyi- Andika, Darius O. http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/6844 2026-03-24T13:09:14Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Influence of soil phosphorus fertilizer forms on phosphorus uptake, morphology, and growth of leafy vegetables Nambafu, Godfrey Nakitare; Hoeppner, Nicolai; Onyango, Joseph Patrick Gweyi-; Andika, Darius O. Background Phosphorus (P) is an essential plant nutrient that has continued to depreciate in most soils in sub-Saharan Africa, mostly due to adsorption, leaching, and crop uptake. Objective This study was carried out to determine the effect of phosphorus forms and its absence on P uptake, root traits, and growth of leafy vegetables. Methods Five African indigenous vegetable species alongside one exotic vegetable were grown in pots. Each pot was supplied with 49 milligrams of P in the form of KH2PO4, Phytate, rock P, and FePO4 with the control having no P. The P fertilizers were mixed with 1220 g of soil in a ratio of 60:1, sand and loam, to fill the pots before planting. Vegetable seeds were randomly planted and replicated four times, giving rise to 120 pots under investigation. Results All vegetable species actively utilized KH2PO4 and Phytate to grow and form the highest shoot and root biomass. Spider plants absorbed high levels of P from all the P treatments, but could not convert more of it to biomass formation. African nightshade performed well in KH2PO4 and Phytate, but poorly in the rock P and FePO4. Cowpeas performed well by yielding high-shoot biomass in all the treatments. Cowpea and Ethiopian kale had high biomass when grown in rock P and FePO4. Conclusion Vegetable species require P for optimal growth, although various species were seen to have different levels of P uptake and utilization efficiency on soluble and slightly soluble fertilizers as well as their ability to grow in P-absent or adsorbed soils.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Nambafu, Godfrey Nakitare Onwonga, Richard Ndemo Karuku, George Njomo Ariga, Emmanuel Safaris Vanlauwe, Bernard http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/6842 2026-03-24T12:53:27Z 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Used in the Control of Striga in Maize by Smallholder Farmers of Western Kenya Nambafu, Godfrey Nakitare; Onwonga, Richard Ndemo; Karuku, George Njomo; Ariga, Emmanuel Safaris; Vanlauwe, Bernard The production of maize is constrained by parasitic weeds, particularly Striga. A study was carried out to document farmers’ knowledge, attitude and practices on Striga control among smallholder farmers across three districts: Kisumu West, Busia and Teso South of Western Kenya. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the locations and farmers to be interviewed. A semi structured, open and closed ended questionnaire was administered leading to field experiment. Besides village meetings (39.2%), farmers got informed on farming methods under Striga weed farms and its control technologies through neighbours (2.5%), workshops and trainings (5.0%), field schools (3.7%), media (7.5%) and extension agents (10.8%). The attitudes of farmers towards Striga control varied but frequently cited: long term viability of the Striga seed (12.5%), difficult to control sharing of farm tools (10.8%), expensive technologies (13.3%), lack of adequate information (18.3%), labour intensive (15.0%), large farms for use of push and pull technology (1.7%) and time consuming (12.5%). Framers used various Striga control practices but traditional methods (25%) were among the most used (25%). Concerted effort involving researchers, extension agents and private sector are, therefore, required for wide scale dissemination and adoption of the existing modern control technologies.

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z