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96
Research Publications
43
Postgraduate Theses

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    Item type:Thesis,
    Impacts of Land Use Types on Shallow Groundwater Quality Sources in Mathira East Sub-County in Kenya
    (Karatina University, 2025-10) MWANGI, WACHIRA CHARLES; Njambuya, Josephine; Ndiritu, George Gatere
    Globally, it is estimated that at least 72% of the fresh water in use originates from groundwater (UNICEF/WHO, 2012; State of World Population, 2014). Groundwater has been found to represent the quantitatively most important freshwater resource on Earth (Krauss et al., 2011). Indeed, groundwater accounts for 97% of the global most easily available freshwater and is used to provide industrial, rural, urban, and irrigation water supply for two billion people on Earth (Zuehlke, 2014). Due to the increased dependence on groundwater for municipal, domestic, agricultural, and industrial use, the demand for this resource is expected to continue rising globally (Storger & van Allen, 2014). Groundwater is of important value to human beings as it can remain stored within the aquifer for a long period of time with no evaporation loss (FAO, 2008). However, in recent years, contamination of the ground water sources has increased due to the numerous human activities in the vicinity of the water catchment basins (Johnson et al., 2013). For instance, the intensified agricultural land use (José–María et al., 2013; Gutzlera et al., 2015), continuous modification of riparian vegetation (Sakamaki and Richardson, 2011), discharge of untreated domestic and municipal sewage (Constanzo et al., 2011; Gartner et al., 2012), discharge of fish farm effluents (Dolenec et al., 2007; Camargo et al., 2011), and urban development near wetlands (Dong-xiao et al., 2012) are some of the activities that have been identified to affect groundwater. Changes in ground water quality resulting from possible human activities may further increase the need for serious rethinking of management of the water resources faced with increasing demands in response to sustain the ever-increasing population.
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    Item type:Thesis,
    Influence of Broadcast Advertising on Student Enrollment in Private Tvet Institutions in The Central Economic Bloc in Kenya
    (Karatina University, 2025-10) MUTHONI, WANJIRU CAROLINE; Macharia ,Juliet; Kiambati, Kellen
    In the competitive education industry, it has become imperative for private technical vocational education and training institutions to commit substantial resources to their advertising budget. The present research sought to determine the impact of broadcast advertising on student enrolment in private Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions inside the central economic bloc. The study aimed to assess the implications of radio advertising on student enrolment, evaluate the impact of television advertising on student enrolment, examine the contribution of 3D billboard advertising to student enrolment, analyse the influence of various social media advertising channels on student enrolment, and investigate the effect of peer influence on student enrolment. This research was grounded on the uses and gratifications theory. A mixed method approach was used. The research focused on private Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutes inside the central economic bloc. The respondents in the survey were the principals of these institutions and the heads of marketing. A comprehensive census of all 174 private Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions was performed. The survey had 348 respondents. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data for the studyDescriptive statistics and regression analysis were performed on the quantitative data. A thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data. Results were shown in tabular format. The research revealed significant use of social media and 3D billboard advertising. Nonetheless, the use of radio and television advertising, together with peer influence, was minimal. Television advertising (p=0.020), 3D billboard advertising (p=0.008), and social media advertising (p<0.001) were statistically significant. Social media advertising had the most significant impact (β=5.270), followed by deletion advertising (β=4.190) and 3D billboard advertising (β=3.794). The research determined that social media advertising is the most effective tool for engaging potential students and impacting their registration choices. The study recommended that radio and television advertising should be used occasionally but should not be allocated huge financial resources due to its cost and changing media consumption patterns. It was also recommended that peer influence should be encouraged but should not be relied on solely rather this strategy should be used in concert with other marketing strategies.
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    Item type:Thesis,
    Influence of Environmental Education in Fostering Sustainable Tourism in Southeastern, Kenya.
    (Karatina University, 2025-10) Mbutu, Amos; Nyawira, Reginah; Kagema, Josphat
    Globally, the escalating climate crisis and biodiversity loss threaten ecosystems and the communities that depend on them, especially those reliant on tourism. In Southeastern Kenya, a region where tourism is a vital economic pillar, advancing sustainable practices is imperative. This study assessed the role of Environmental Education (EE) in promoting responsible tourism in this critical region. The research aimed to: (1) assess the current state of EE programmes, (2) evaluate their influence on the attitudes and behaviors of tourists and local communities, (3) identify the key factors determining their effectiveness, and (4) explore local perceptions and suggestions for improvement. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the study integrated surveys from 351 participants with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The findings revealed that structured, school-based EE programmes were particularly effective in fostering positive environmental attitudes. However, a significant gap persisted between awareness and action; while awareness was high, only a minority of tourists consistently translated this knowledge into sustainable behaviors. The research identified that the most successful initiatives were those led by the community itself, which achieved substantially higher participation rates. The primary barrier to adopting sustainable practices, cited by the vast majority of respondents, was economic pressure. The implications of these findings are threefold. For policy, the study advocates for the formal integration of EE into national tourism and education strategies, supported by models that link conservation to livelihoods, such as ecotourism revenue-sharing. For community practice, it demonstrates that EE must evolve from a top-down information tool into a community-driven process that is culturally resonant and provides tangible economic benefits. For academia, the research provides empirical evidence from an African context on the mechanisms that bridge the "value-action gap" in environmental behavior. By repositioning EE as both an educational and a socio-economic intervention, this study offers a scalable framework for regions worldwide that are navigating the complex balance between economic development and environmental preservation.
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    Item type:Thesis,
    Ecological and Climatic Drivers of Wildlife Road Mortality in Kenya’s Athi-Kapiti Plains
    (Karatina University, 2025-10) Wanjofu, Chemwa Aggrey; Kimuyu, Duncan; Namu, Flora
    Roads and habitat fragmentation pose significant conservation challenges for many animals, yet the environmental factors that influence roadkill risk remain poorly understood. In Kenya, the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway cuts through the ranges of numerous wildlife species within one of the country’s most biodiverse regions, the Athi-Kapiti Plains. To investigate the environmental factors influencing roadkill risk in this region, remote sensing data were combined with long-term drought (Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, SPEI) and vegetation greenness (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) with 6,240 km of road transect surveys conducted in 2023 and historical roadkill records from 2020–2022, resulting to a total of 4 years of data. 218 wildlife roadkills involving 11 species were recorded, predominantly plains zebras (Equus quagga, 69%), spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), and Maasai giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi). Prolonged drought, reduced vegetation productivity, and wildlife use intensity emerged as key predictors of roadkill risk along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway across the Kenya’s Athi-Kapiti Plains. These factors interact to increase animal movement across roads, especially during dry periods when animals seek water and forage. Roadkills were found to be clustered near artificial water points, suggesting these sites may function as ecological traps by concentrating wildlife in high-risk zones. The findings suggest that drought-driven declines in food availability may force animals to travel farther and cross roads in search of resources, increasing roadkill risk. This interaction between drought and road mortality is particularly concerning, as both represent significant threats that may intensify under climate change. These results xiv highlight how climatic stress, habitat degradation, and wildlife use intensity jointly shape roadkill patterns.
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    Item type:Thesis,
    African Savannah Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) Distribution as a Function of Foraging Resources Around Lake Jipe Ecosystem
    (Karatina University, 2025-10) Mutinda, Muteti Zacharia; Kimuyu, Duncan; Ndiritu, George Gatere; Tiller, Lydia Natalie
    Understanding spatial and seasonal variations in elephant (Loxodonta africana) distribution is essential for informing conservation planning and mitigating human-elephant conflict (HEC) in human-dominated landscapes. This study examined elephant habitat use in the protected and unprotected areas surrounding Lake Jipe in southern Kenya. Using dung density as an index of elephant relative abundance, I conducted systematic quadrant surveys across three habitat zones in relation to proximity to the lake during the wet and dry seasons. I also assessed environmental variables, including vegetation structure, species diversity, and forage quality, to identify the potential ecological drivers of elephant distribution. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, generalized linear models (GLMs), and principal component analysis (PCA) in R, complemented by GIS for spatial mapping. While overall use went down the farther from the lake, an unexpected rise in dung density in unprotected mid-range habitats (Zone 2), suggested that elephants might still use some unprotected areas, which could raise the chances of human-elephant conflict (HEC). Vegetation structure varied across the landscape, with protected areas having more grass cover and unprotected areas having more woody plant species richness and variety, most likely due to diverse land-use practices and disturbance heterogeneity. However, principal component analysis revealed no clear environmental separation between protected and unprotected areas. Localised features or anthropogenic pressures may influence elephant space use more than broad ecological differences. These findings highlight the ecological importance of both protected and unprotected areas in supporting the elephant population. Around Jipe, conservation efforts should prioritise not only dry-season refugee protection but also community-based coexistence strategies and spatially targeted mitigation in conflict hotspots. Findings reveal that elephants were more abundant in protected areas, with seasonal shifts in forage availability and vegetation cover influencing their distribution. Proximity to Lake Jipe and nutrient-rich wetland vegetation emerged as key drivers of elephant presence and behaviour. Integrating ecological and social dimensions in landscape-level management is critical for sustaining elephant populations in increasingly humanised environments.

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