March Newsletter 2014
Vol. 4 No. 1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
LAVICORD Project Launched in
Kisumu 1
Renovation of LAVICORD
Laboratory 3
RESTECH Health research
Partnership 3 February 2013 in a
Governors’ pledge to facilitate
Dear readers, welcome to
adoption
another of new
exciting technology
edition of the
RESTECH newsletter.
4 4
Our main story in this issue is
about the Lake Victoria
Comprehensive ecosystem
and Aquatic Environment
Research for Development
(LAVICORD) Project Launch.
Also in this issue is a
collaborative research study
between Maseno University,
Nagasaki University and
RESTECH investigating the
relationship between climate
change and incidences of
malaria and diarrhoea.
We also look at the pledge of
the Kisumu, Homabay and
Siaya county governors to
facilitate the adoption of new
technology in the Region.
This issue in addition
contains a story on
LAVICORD laboratory
renovation that will ensure
smooth research processes.
Prof. Wellington Otieno, Exec.
Dir. RESTECH
LAVICORD Project Launched in
Kisumu City, Western Kenya
After several months of
meticulous planning, the
LAVICORD Project was
finally launched on 3rd
colorful ceremony held at
Kisumu Hotel and
attended by The
President of Nagasaki
University, Prof. Shigeru
Katamine and His
Excellency Ambassador
Tatshuti Terada, the
Japanese Ambassador to
Kenya.
Speaking during the
event, The Governors
from the Counties of Some of the participants at the LAVICORD Launch.
Kisumu, Siaya, Busia,
Homabay and Migori
Counties expressed their
environment as well as Kenya Marines and
support for the project
the Project will also Fisheries Research
promising to set aside
ensure that the riparian Institute (KMFRI) and
funds in their next
communities have access Centre for Research and
financial year to support
to clean water for Technology Development
the Project in meeting its
domestic consumption (RESTECH).
objectives.
and food security.
The two year Project Also present at the
The Project is launch was Mr. David
which is sponsored by
implemented in Jakaiti, Director of
the Kenyan Government
partnership between Administration at the
in partnership with the
Maseno University and Ministry of Environment,
Government of Japan
Nagasaki University, Water and Natural
seeks to find solutions to
Japan as the main Resources.
problems facing Lake
collaborators with other
Victoria. These are
collaborating institutions
mainly attributed to
being Moi University,
pollution of the
Page 2 March Newsletter

H.E. Jacktone Ranguma

hailed Maseno University
for joining hands with
Nagasaki University to
expose researchers to
practical applications of
the knowledge that they
have acquired in solving
societal problems instead H.E. Ambassador Tatshuti Terada giving a Paper Presentation
of emphasizing on
theories.

He said that the

LAVICORD Objectives
are in tandem with
Kisumu County
Development pillars
which focus on securing
food supply and
commercialization of
agriculture. He promised
that his government will
support LAVICORD
towards meeting this
objective.

Plenary Discussion session at the Launching Ceremony

 March Newsletter
Renovation work on LAVICORD
Laboratory
Renovation work on theand
proposed LAVICORD
Resource
The
laboratories are now
ready for use by the
Laboratory and Resource
Centre are now complete.
The renovation work
involved installation of
work stations and
benches in the
laboratories, replacing the
floor tiles and setting up of
equipment.
RESTECH embarks on a joint health
research with Nagasaki and Maseno
Universities diseases, data from this (RESTECH) and Prof.
The Centre for Research
and Technology
Development (RESTECH)
has embarked on a three
month study of incidences
of malaria and diarrheal
diseases in the Winam
Bay of Lake Victoria.
The study which is
conducted in collaboration
with Maseno University
and Nagasaki University
of Japan will study patient
records for the past 20
years with the aim of
comparing incidences of
the two diseases in
relation to climate change.
If it is confirmed that there
is indeed a relationship
between climate change
and incidences of these
Centre
are
Plans to
set up an in-
researchers.
The Resource Centre
which is located at the 3rd
floor of Varsity Plaza will
house the offices of the
Project Manager as well
as a library and a data
repository on Lake
Victoria.
Rosebella Onyango of
study will be very useful in
predicting future
outbreaks of the two
diseases using
computerized simulation
and remote sensing which
will then inform policy
makers on what
appropriate action should
be taken to avoid these
outbreaks.
The study is being
conducted in nine sub-
county hospitals in the
region.
The Principal Investigator
in the Project is Prof.
Masahiro Hashizume of
Nagasaki University with
Prof. Wellington Otieno of
Centre for Research and
Technology Development
Page 3
now
house server that can be
used to upload and
download information from
the repository are at an
advanced stage.
Researchers are now able Prof. Makawiti, Vice
to access high speed Chancellor Maseno
internet from the Centre. University expressed
the pleasure in seeing
the dream of having a
comprehensive
research project on
Lake Victoria come to
pass. He said that the
launch of the Project
was a culmination of
various activities by
collaborators in the
project who sacrificed
their time, resources
and skills to planning
Maseno University as the
for the Project.
Co-investigators.
He acknowledged the
The Project also involves
various teams and
a study on methods used
institutions which
by Kenyan doctors in
worked tirelessly to
diagnosing Malaria and
make the launch a
Diarrhea which is currently
success and urged
on-going at Mbita and
them to put in even
Sindo Sub-County
more effort in
hospitals being led by
ensuring the success
Doctors from Graduate
of the implementation.
School of Tropical
Medicine, Nagasaki
University.
 Page 4 March Newsletter

Lake County
mjjiiiiik
Governors pledge To Work
March 2014 Newsletter
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Editorial Team
closely with RESTECH to promote adoption
omecd
Prof. W.Otieno
of new technologies in the region.
Governors from the
Prof. J.I.Jondiko
counties of Busia, Siaya,
Ms. Rachel Okwar Kisumu, Homabay and
Migori have pledged to
Mr. Daniel Ominde work closely with The
Centre for Research and
Operational Editor Technology Development
to ensure that appropriate
Mr. Daniel Ominde technologies which are
backed up by scientific
Contributors research are adopted by
the counties.
Prof. W.Otieno
The Governors were
Mr. Daniel Ominde speaking on the sidelines
of the launch of
H.E. Jack Ranguma H.E. Cornel Rasanga
LAVICORD Project which
is being implemented by
Executive Dir. Prof. W. Otieno Maseno University and residents face such as
Nagasaki University of food security, tropical
RESTECH Centre, Japan in collaboration Universities to come up
diseases among others. with a working group that
with Moi University,
P.O.Box 3105-40100, Kenya Marines and The Governors requested will meet regularly to
Fisheries Research RESTECH to accelerate design an executable
Kisumu. Institute and RESTECH. the process of framework between the
engagement between the collaborating institutions.
E-mail: info@restechkenya.org RESTECH had County Governments,
previously held a one day Policy Research Prof. Wellington Otieno
workshop with support of RESTECH welcomed
restechmaseno@yahoo.com Institutes and Institutions
from FORD Foundation. the recommendations of
of Higher Learning to the Governors saying
Telephone: (057) 2022071 This brought together ensure support for the
representatives of County policies being that research based
Mobile: 0720819576 Governments in the Lake implemented by the policies will ensure that
Region, Local the County residents
www.restechkenya.or.ke County Governments are fully benefit from
Universities and other arrived at after extensive
Development partners. devolution.
This Newsletter is a publication research.
The aim of the workshop For more information on
of the Centre for Research and was to find ways in which RESTECH is currently RESTECH Projects
Technology Development. the County Governments preparing to hold a please visit:
can benefit from the second stake-holders
wealth of knowledge that forum that will bring www.restechkenya.or.ke
is available at the together County
Universities and Policy in Executive Committee
ensuring that the counties members from the five
find solutions to the counties as well as
problems that the county representatives from the