Kenya's black rhinoceros population declined by more than 98% from 20,000 individuals in the 1970s to around 400 individuals in 1990 due to the effects of poaching, at which time the surviving individuals were isolated in a series of demographically inviable subpopulations. An initial management exercise translocated the survivors into four high security sanctuaries to control poaching and enhance breeding, and this measure successfully arrested the decline. Subsequently, new sanctuaries were established and the metapopulation size reached 650 animals by 2008. However, translocations and the current management strategy that partitions the metapopulation into 'montane' and 'lowland' rhinoceros may have substantial consequences at the population level and their impact on population genetic diversity has not been investigated. In this study, 12 of the 16 extant subpopulations were analysed using 408 bp of mitochondrial control region sequence (n = 170) and nine microsatellite loci (n = 145). Both markers detected moderate to high genetic diversity (h = 0.78 ± 0.027, n = 170; H O = 0.70 ± 0.087, n = 145) consistent with previous studies on Diceros bicornis michaeli. However, mtDNA and nDNA diversity varied substantially between subpopulations. The results suggest that the Masai Mara is more differentiated, inbred and isolated than other subpopulations. It also suggests that there are neither distinct montane and lowland groups nor other detectable historical barriers to gene flow. Instead the large majority of genetic diversity was partitioned at the level of individuals; highlighting the need to conserve as many individuals as possible. Future translocations should consider the genetic profile of individuals and the demographic history of both the donor and recipient subpopulations.

This study focused on the analysis of metals in water and fish from Nairobi River. Water from Kikuyu, Kawangware, Chiromo, Eastleigh, Njiru and Fourteen Falls along the Nairobi River was analyzed for the presence of metals. Most of the metal levels in water were below the critical limit of World Health Organization and Kenya Bureau of Standards except for lead, chromium, iron and manganese. Isolated cases of mercury and aluminium pollution were recorded. Except for iron, sodium and potassium, there was no significant difference in the concentration of metals at different sites. This study also analyzed metal levels in fish organs and tissues of fish caught from downstream (Fourteen Falls). The highest zinc concentration (360 µg/g) was in the scales, copper recorded the highest concentration in the kidney (45 µg/g), while cadmium recorded high values (167 µg/g) in the heart. Lead recorded high values (178 µg/g) in the heart and mercury recorded high values also in the heart (1000 ng/g). Most of these organs, are however, not eaten by man as food. Although metal levels were within normal levels in the water at Fourteen Falls, mercury, copper, lead and iron recorded higher than accepted levels in some fish organs. This calls for caution in the consumption of fish from Fourteen Falls.

Groupers are apex predatory fishes playing important local economic roles and ecosystem functions worldwide. The Kenyan coast Indian Ocean waters have been a good landing centre for 30 Epinephelus genus species groupers. However, of late, their natural populations have greatly decreased with most being caught when still either juveniles or sub adults. Their individuals mean length and weights also showing drastic reductions. Thus, to avert this alarming population decline, length and weight reductions, information data is needed for use in the initiation of conservation measures for these prized premium fishes. This study therefore elucidates the population structure, conditions and length-weight relationships of 10 highly sought vulnerable Epinephelus genus grouper fishes off Kenyan inshore marine waters. The study results indicate declining population abundances, varying significant conditions (p<0.001) and negative allometric Length-Weight Relationship (LWR) growth regression coefficients (r 2 ) appearing stronger (r 2 >0.7048) for 9 of the species. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) between the regression line intercept (a) and slopes (b) among the species however revealed equal regression line slopes (p>0.05) demonstrating that all came from populations with equal slopes. The consistent non isometric patterns shown by the r 2 analyses in the plotted power curved data also suggests that unless stringent management measures are implemented to restrict further over-exploitation of these International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) vulnerable listed fishes; it is likely that the species already categorized as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN red list would soon become 'Endangered' while those 'Endangered' extinct. This can greatly result into the alteration of the ecosystems' ecological health as the fishes constitute important apex predators in the demersal food web and their stock depletions would be disastrous to the ecosystems.

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Background: Injury among high school students has received disproportionately little attention as a public health concern in Kenya. Objective: To establish the prevalence of injuries occurring among high school students in Kieni West District, Nyeri County, Central Kenya. Methods: A Cross sectional study design was adopted where stratified random samples were recruited disproportionately to ensure adequate representation of most of segments of student population. Data was collected from 498 students (n = 294) girls and (n = 204) boys who were Original Research Article