Student Short Biography:
2015 – 2020: MSc. Analytical Chemistry – UoN
2005 – 2009: BSc. Industrial Chemistry – UoN
Sep 2013 to Date: Deputy Quality Assurance Manager at the National Quality Control Laboratory (NQCL) for Drugs and Medical Devises a Semi-autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health, charged with Coordinate and monitoring Internal Audits, Drawing up guidelines and ensuring implementation of Internal Audits procedures, Editing and structuring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Maintenance of the Quality Management System in the laboratory.
June 2010 – Sep 2013: Pharmaceutical Analyst – Drug analysis both Assay and Dissolution of Tablets, capsules, injectable, suspensions and other formulations using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Titration, Friability, Disintegration, UV/Vis, Karl Fischer among others.
Project Summary
Thesis / Project Title:ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY FROM SELECTED BOREHOLES IN NAIVASHA SUB-COUNTY, NAKURU COUNTY.
Abstract:
This study was undertaken to assess the water quality of borehole water from Naivasha area in
the county of Nakuru. High fluoride levels and the economic activities surrounding the area have
raised a major concern over the quality of borehole water within the area. This study was
undertaken from June 2017 to September 2018. Water samples were taken from 7 different
boreholes namely: Matangi NNE (Karagita Area), Koinange Car Wash (Police Line Area),
Ushirika Water Project (Kayole Area), Shamba House (Kabati Area), Keroche Borehole (Karate
Area), Joywel School and a private borehole belonging to Geoffrey Kinyanjui. Each water
sample was tested for pH and electrical/specific conductivity using the pH/conductivity meter
(Model: Jenway 3540), turbidity using the bench top turbidimeter (Model: HACH TU 5200) ,
total suspended and dissolved solids (gravimetrically using dry filter papers and beakers), water
color using the color analyzer (Model: LUTRON RGB-1002), fluoride using the EXTECH ®
fluoride meter , chloride using the MOHR’s method with AgNO 3 standardized with M NaCl,
chlorine using the EXTECH ® chlorine meter, total hardness by complexometric titration with
EDTA standardized with CaCO 3 , alkalinity - acid-base titration with H 2 SO 4 standardized with
Na 2 CO 3 , manganese, cadmium, lead, copper, iron, chromium, sodium, potassium, zinc – using
the AAS (Model: Shimadzu AA-6300), with respective standards and hollow cathode lamps,
nitrates, sulfates – using the UV/Vis spectrophotometer (Model: Shimadzu UV-1800 ), and E-
coli – using the multiple tube fermentation technique (MTF). A comparison was made with the
East African Standard and the WHO drinking water guidelines. The results obtained were: pH
(7.03-8.45); electrical conductivity (412-1218 µS/cm); turbidity (0.095-0.355 NTU); total
suspended solids (1.93-48.00 mg/L); total dissolved solids (43-421 mg/L); water color (2-10
TCU); fluoride (1.20-5.00 mg/L); chloride (27.5-79.9 mg/L); chlorine (0.01-0.08 mg/L); sulfates
(154.88-263.88 mg/L); nitrates (6.04-9.94 mg/L); sodium (8.74-17.81 mg/L); potassium (11.80-
17.48 mg/L); alkalinity (168.62-511.35 mg/L); total hardness (28.6-85.78 mg/L as CaCO 3 );
manganese <0.01 mg/L; lead (0.0469-0.1962 mg/L); copper (0.1419-0.2139 mg/L); zinc
(0.0236-0.0374 mg/L); iron (0.0210-0.1369 mg/L); chromium and cadmium were not detected
and E-coli was found to be absent. The results were then compared with the East African
Standard and the WHO guidelines for drinking water. The study showed that the total suspended
solids, chlorine, fluoride and lead levels were higher than the WHO guideline values while the
rest of the parameters met the guideline values. Based on the East African Standard and the
WHO guidelines for drinking water, none of the sampled borehole water was suitable for
drinking purposes and therefore, there was need for some remediation before the water would be
safe for drinking.