Browsing by Author "Gichuki, Dennis Karugu"

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An Investigation of the Impact of System Virtualization on Green ICT Deployment in Kenyan Public Universities
(International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 2018-04-28) Gichuki, Dennis Karugu; Wechuli, Alice Nambiro; Wabwoba, Franklin
The activities of public universities in Kenya today are heavily dependent on software and hence, the systems hosting them. This has resulted in an increased hardware acquisition which has led to increased implementation and maintenance costs as well as increased technical difficulties. This threatens the very sustainability of IT implementation. The purpose of this study was to formulate a system virtualization framework for sustainable IT deployment in public universities in Kenya. The study used mixed method. A survey was conducted in four public universities and one University College. The findings showed that system virtualization encourages hardware reduction, improved software reuse and improved security through the use of system virtualization. These findings imply that system virtualization reduces IT deployment costs as well as reduce amount of hardware components to be disposed. Challenges related to green ICT implementation in universities and university colleges include uncertainty in return on investment, limited financial support and limited collaboration. The study recommends that public universities and university colleges in Kenya to focus on a green IT framework in deploying ICT systems to ensure sustainability of the same.
Assessing Preparedness for Smart Farming and Technology Adoption among Kenyan Farmers
(International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, 2024-09-16) Gichuki, Dennis Karugu; Mbuguah, Samuel Mungai; Owoche, Patrick Oduor; Oyile, Paul Oduor
Agriculture is crucial in reducing poverty, promoting economic prosperity, and ensuring food security for the world’s growing population, which is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. This sector is vital to the global economy, contributing significantly to GDP and providing jobs for a large workforce. Precision agriculture and e-commerce advances have proven beneficial, boosting crop yields and rural incomes. Sub-Saharan Africa faces similar agricultural challenges as it anticipates a population of 2.1 billion by 2050. Although the region has made strides in expanding farmland and labour, improvements in crop yields have been limited. The digital revolution offers new opportunities to tackle issues such as undernutrition by improving access to information and technology. In Kenya, with a population projected to reach 95 million by 2050, expanding food production is a pressing challenge. Significant hurdles include declining soil fertility, inadequate water management, and a lack of technical support. While technologies like Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and Machine Learning (ML) have the potential to enhance agricultural productivity, their adoption is constrained by infrastructure issues, high costs, and a shortage of technical expertise. Addressing these barriers and improving farmer education is essential to fully realising these technologies' benefits.
Online Agricultural Extension Based on Internet Communication Principles
(International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 2020-04-28) Gichuki, Dennis Karugu; Wechuli, Alice Nambiro
The important role agricultural growth plays in mitigating poverty, economic growth stimulation as well as development in emerging economies like Kenya cannot be over stated. Available literature shows that agriculture is a key driver of economic growth and development strategies in attaining sustainable poverty reduction. ICT acts as an enabler when addressing food security with such factors as legal framework, policy, knowledge, markets, technology, and research among others. Information and skills gaps have kept most subsistence farming systems to much less productive and lucrative than they could be. Further, extension services are always often faced with the problem of underfunding, weak link between farmers and agricultural research agencies as well as lack acceptable contact to farmers. The problem is exacerbated by lack of coordination along the agricultural value chain from farm inputs to food processing, which increases the cost of production and lowers farmers’ revenue. The aim of this paper is to investigate the perception stakeholders in agricultural value chain have on online agricultural extension services as well as the challenges associated with the same.
Performance Evaluation of Machine Learning Algorithms in Smart Agriculture
(International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering, 2024-08-26) Gichuki, Dennis Karugu; Owoche, Patrick Oduor; Mbuguah, Samuel Mungai
This study explores the integration of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) and Machine Learning (ML) in smart farming to address critical agricultural challenges. By leveraging real-time data collection and advanced analytical tools, the research demonstrates the potential of ML algorithms—Decision Trees, Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Logistic Regression, and Random Forests—in enhancing crop management, including yield prediction, soil quality assessment, and pest and disease detection. The study finds that Naive Bayes achieves the highest accuracy and balanced precision-recall metrics, while ensemble methods like Random Forests effectively reduce overfitting and improve prediction accuracy. Despite the promising results, the research identifies challenges such as data accessibility, model integration, and user interface design that must be addressed to fully realize the potential of smart farming technologies. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights into optimizing resource utilization, reducing crop losses, and promoting sustainable farming practices, thereby supporting global food security and economic stability.