https://repository.cuk.ac.ke/handle/123456789/567 DCEM Sun, 26 Jul 2026 04:28:12 GMT 2026-07-26T04:28:12Z https://repository.cuk.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1991 Assessing Climate and Disaster Risk Using Participatory Techniques: Experience from Pastoral Communities of Kenya Othoo, Ouko Calvince. Climate risks are increasingly finding expression in rural poor arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of East Africa with disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable of the communities including women, children, and the elderly. More often, the assessment of climate risk and vulnerability does not put the communities at the center of such investigations, with assessment mostly biased toward modeling among other scientific approaches. There is, however, increasing evidence that communities’ inclusion in climate risk assessment can achieve greater community good not only in articulating their climate-inflicted challenges, and identifying locally led adaptations, but also in building communities’ confidence and sense of ownership of proposed adaptation strategies. This paper presents a synthesis of climate risks facing pastoral communities living in the ASALs of Africa and recommends the use of the innovative PACDR in future community climate risk assessments among ASAL communities in East Africa. Furthermore, the paper presents a case study of a participatory research practice with the Maasai community in Kenya and the key adaptation pathways to climate change identified. A research article published in the Springer journal. Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.cuk.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1991 2025-06-05T00:00:00Z https://repository.cuk.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1990 Integrating Grey and Green Engineering in Infrastructure Risk and Resilience Assessment: A Case of Kangundo Road Mbengei, Caroline M.; Osano, Simpson.; Othoo, Calvince. This study assesses the climate change resilience of Kangundo Road, Nairobi, using an integrated modelling approach combining hydrological, geotechnical, and thermal analyses within the Fisher Climate Model framework. Historical climate data and future projections under SSP 4.5 and SSP 8.5 scenarios were used to evaluate the influence of precipitation variability, temperature change, and ex-treme events on road performance. Statistical results show rainfall variability (mean 77.761 mm, SD 201.410 mm) as the dominant hazard driver, with αSea level,a rainfall proxy, weighted at 0.9967, compared to αTemperature at 0.0027, reflecting low thermal variability (mean 18.70˚C, SD 0.627˚C). Sensitivity analysis revealed drainage deterioration (R) and hydrological flow (Qflow) as the most critical resil-ience determinants, with their exclusion reducing resilience scores by over 80% and 55%, respectively. Interaction between R and thermal expansion (ΔL) pro-duced non-linear risk escalation, indicating that multi-hazard impacts accelerate vulnerability beyond single-hazard effects. Grey engineering measures, including reinforced culverts, elevated embankments, and thermally resistant pavements,combined with green infrastructure such as bioswales, vegetative buffers, and permeable pavements, offer optimal resilience. The findings emphasize prioritiz-ing drainage and stormwater capacity in adaptation planning, while incorporat-ing thermally adaptive materials for long-term durability. Limitations include re-liance on model-based projections and focus on a single corridor, warranting ex-pansion to multi-route, socio-economic, and governance-integrated resilience assessments. An article published by the scientific research publishing Journal Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.cuk.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1990 2025-09-03T00:00:00Z https://repository.cuk.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1989 Evaluating the performance of selected CMIP6 GCMs for simulations of historical temperature over Ethiopia Alehegn Belay Tagele.; Temesgen Gashaw Tarkegn.; Pieter R. van Oel.; Ram Lakhan Ray.; Gebrekidan Worku Tefera.; Sintayehu Fetene Demessie.; Alemayehu Abate Shawul.; Othoo Calvince Ouko.; Daniel Berhanu.; Amare Haileslassie.; Abeyou W. Worqlul.; Amare Bantider.; Yihun T. Dile.; Abebe D. Chukalla.; Tazebew Abera Tadesse.; Enyew Adg. This study evaluates the performance of seven Global Climate Models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercom-parison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) and their Ensemble mean in reproducing historical maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) temperatures across five agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Ethiopia during 1995–2014. The assessment covers daily to annual time scales using observational and GCM datasets. Model performance was evaluated using Percent Bias (PBIAS), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and correlation coefficient (r), while the Comprehensive Rating Index (CRI) was applied for ranking. Results show substantial spatial and temporal variability in model performance. For Tmax, the Ensemble mean and EC-Earth3-veg performed best at the daily scale, while EC-Earth3-veg, MPI-ESM1-2-LR and BCC-CSM2-MR excelled at the monthly scale across most AEZs. Seasonally, top-performing models included Ensemble mean, MPI-ESM1-2-LR and MRI-ESM2-0 during Bega (October-January), EC-Earth3-veg, CNRM-CM6-1 and Ensemble mean during Belg (February-May) and CNRM-CM6-1 and MPI-ESM1-2-LR during Kiremt (June-September). For Tmin, CNRM-CM6-1, BCC-CSM2-MR and Ensemble mean ranked highest at both daily and monthly scales in most AEZs. At the annual scale, MRI-ESM2-0, Ensemble mean, MPI-ESM1-2-LR and CNRM-CM6-1 excel for Tmax, while EC-Earth3- veg, BCC-CSM2-MR and Ensemble mean lead for Tmin across most AEZs. MIROC6 consistently exhibited the weakest performance for both Tmax and Tmin across most AEZs and time periods. Thus, the Ensemble mean of all evaluated models does not consistently rank among the top three performers across all AEZs and time scales. The identified best- performing CMIP6 models provide valuable tools for assessing climate change impacts and developing region-and time- specific adaptation strategies in Ethiopia. Given the variability in GCM performance across AEZs and time scales, national or large-scale studies would benefit from using the Ensemble mean derived from the best-performing models. This study provides crucial insights into the strengths and weaknesses of different GCMs, supporting evidence-based decision-making and enhancing efforts to build climate resilience and adaptation strategies in the region. An article published in Springer journal. Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.cuk.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1989 2026-02-05T00:00:00Z https://repository.cuk.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1988 Research progress on climate change adaptation strategies to control invasive crop pest in sub-Saharan Africa: a bibliometric and systematic review Emeline Sessi Pelagie Assede.; Othoo Calvince Ouko.; Ahmadou Ly.; Gobena Bayisa.; Temesgen Gashaw.; Mègnissè Zohoun.; Anje-Jokebed N’goran. This bibliometric and systematic review assesses research progress and climate change adaptation strategies to control invasive crop pests in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientific publications on crop pest management in sub-Saharan Africa in the context of climate change adaptation were extracted from papers published between 1991 and 2024. A literature search was conducted on Scopus, Dimensions, and Google Scholar, followed by screening and data extraction in compliance with ROSES standards. Findings indicated that pests such as armyworms, fruit flies, and coffee berry borer cause huge losses. Communities are adopting integrated pest management, water harvesting, drip irrigation, resistant varieties, and improving production efficiency. Agro-ecological practices reduce pest invasions while preserving the environment. Meanwhile, chemical insecticide use remains an emergency solution as its effects on pest control would be more efficient. However, promising approaches emerge around biocontrol, agroforestry integrating pest management, and gender-tailored strategies. Nevertheless, regional disparities persist in scientific output. In conclusion, while invasive pests represent a major plant health crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, this review highlights innovative adaptation strategies. Their development will require coordinated mobilization to catalyze the sustainable agro-ecological transition that sub-Saharan Africa needs to address these multidimensional challenges. Future research should assess farmer’s perception on the effectiveness of the existing pest management practices for invasive crop pests. A research article written on climate adaptation published by Frontiers. Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.cuk.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1988 2025-02-03T00:00:00Z