Department of Social sciences

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Post-2015 Development Planning: Adaption of a Holistic Approach to Planning and Research - a Commentary from a Practitioner’s Perspective
(International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development, 2004) Kiambati, Kellen; Itunga, Julius
In this article, we analyse the argument that lack of holistic approach in planning and research have contributed to the lack of sustainable development in Africa. We base our discussion on the speech by the special advisor on the national consultation on the post-2015 development as it relates to Uganda and other African Context (held on 8th August 2015). The advisor was convinced that there is a need to adopt a more integrated and comprehensive planning approach to reinventing traditional development tools, and meeting persistent and emerging challenges. Efforts must be made to start putting in place the practical measures, markers, mechanisms and partnerships that make sustainable advancements possible. Scholars and managers are called upon to take the challenge of demonstrating how the adoption of a holistic approach in planning, and research can contribute to sustainable development.
Putting on a Brave Face: The Experiences of Women living with HIV and AIDS in Informal Settlements of Nairobi Kenya
(Taylor & Francis, 2007-03-07) Amuyunzu-Nyamongo, M.; Okeng'o, L.; Wagura, A.; Mwenzwa, E.
This paper examines two key dimensions of HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, namely poverty and gender, within the particular context of informal settlements. The study, conducted in five informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya explored the challenges facing women living with HIV and AIDS (WLWA) in informal settlements in Nairobi in terms of the specific risk environments of informal settlements, the support they receive and their perceptions of their future. The data were gathered through an interviewer-based questionnaire administered to 390 WLWA and 20 key informant interviews with Kenya Network of Women with AIDS (KENWA) project personnel. The results show that for WLWA in informal settlements, poverty and poor living conditions combine to increase the risk environment for HIV infection and other opportunistic infections and that the WLWA then face HIV- and AIDS-related problems that are exacerbated by poverty and by the poor living environments. In response, the WLWA had devised coping strategies that were largely centred on survival, including commercial sex work and the sale of illicit liquor, thus increasing their susceptibility to re-infections. Insecurity in informal settlements curtailed their participation in income generating activities (IGAs) and increased their risk of rape and HIV re-infection. Recognising the disadvantaged position of communities in informal settlements, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) provide a range of services including HIV and AIDS information and therapy. Paradoxically, living in urban informal settlements was found to increase WLWA's access to HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment services through NGOs and social networks that are not found in more established residential areas. The sustainability of these services is, however, questioned, given the lack of local resources, weak state support and high donor dependency. We suggest that the economic and tenure insecurity found among WLWA demands in response consistent support through comprehensive, sustainable HIV and AIDS services complemented by social networks and community sensitisation against stigma and discrimination. Fundamentally, the upgrading of informal settlements would address the wider risk environments that exacerbate the poor health of the WLWA who line in them.
Isochronal Map of Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Transportation from the Mt. Kenya Region to Nairobi
(Journal of Maps, 2011-01) Dannenberg, Peter; Nduru, Gilbert; Kunze, Manuela
Developing countries like Kenya face problems of poor transportation networks, which make the time distance relationship in the transportation of fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV) products to be of great importance in determining whether the products reach the market fresh and in marketable quality. This map demonstrates that relationship using the case of the Mt. Kenya region. It highlights the quality and extent of the road infrastructure in the region and the relative time and distance that FFV producers and transporters take to transport their products to the main export point at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
Nepad from below: Towards Intra-country Peer Review Mechanism (iprm) in Kenya
(Elixir, 2012-01) Mwenzwa, Ezekiel
Kenya is administratively divided into forty-seven (47) counties each of which shall be under the stewardship of a County Governor once the new constitution is finally implemented. These officers shall be tasked with the coordination of governance and development in the respective administrative areas. Like specific country Heads of State in the case of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), County Governors shall be regarded as peers and hence accountable to both the government and the local community for any development activities. In the NEPAD development thinking, specific countries are required to undertake in-house reviews of their development policies and performance in governance, human rights and social service provision among others. The resultant data are presented to other African Heads of State and Government for peer review and the particular Head of State/Government made to answer for any development shortcomings. Similarly, to improve governance and accountability of leaders in areas under their purview, County Governors in Kenya could be subjected to the same peer review, hence NEPAD from below. This paper examines the APRM philosophy as a development archetype and argues for its intra-country domestication in Kenya focusing on the County
Augmenting proletariat governance: lenses on chapter eleven of the constitution of Kenya, 2010
(Elixir, 2012-06) Mwenzwa, Ezekiel
Since independence, the governance of development in Kenya has for the most part been centralised under the armpit of government officials. As such devolution is vaguely understood especially by grassroots leaders and communities. Consequently, central government officials have continued to determine the path of development at the grassroots especially so since they also control financial resources through the district treasury. However, the government has recognized this top-down development archetype as a major bottleneck to welfare and has been implementing policies to bring on board the beneficiaries. One major attempt was the District Focus for Rural Development Strategy of the early 1980s, which made the district the local level planning and development coordination and implementation unit. This policy faced several challenges which necessitated more focused strategies to move decision-making powers from the center to margin. The early years of the 21st century marked increased resource devolution and decentralized decision-making to the grassroots including Constituencies Development Fund, recruitment of some cadre of staff, management of health facilities and water resources among others. The Constitution of Kenya endorsed by about 70% of votes cast during the August 4th 2010 Referendum and subsequently promulgated by the president on August 27th 2010 is yet another devolution stab to enhance development and governance at the grassroots. This paper highlights the devolution proposals and the envisaged benefits to grassroots communities in Chapter Eleven of the Constitution of Kenya.
Challenges faced by grandparents in managing emotional and behavior problems of orphans in the era of hiv/aids
(IJSSE, 2013) Kinyua, Joyce Njeri
Practices in International Value Chains: The Case of the Kenyan Fruit and Vegetable Chain beyond the Exclusion Debate
(TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR ECONOMISCHE ENSOCIALE GEOGRAFIE, 2013-02) Dannenberg, Peter; Nduru, Gilbert
The emerging role of private standards as new forms of regulation and co-ordination in international trade and production is discussed in various fields including economic geography. A prominent example is the impact of the European standard GlobalGAP (former EurepGap) in Kenyan export horticulture. While today this standard is a quasi mandatory precondition for entering the EU market, several studies came to conclude that its high requirements led to market exclusion of most Kenyan farmers. This paper analyses how far farmers have in fact been excluded or have found alternative ways to enter the chain. Based on our own surveys, we identify and analyse different informal possibilities that are frequently used to produce for EU markets without a GlobalGAP certificate. Here we argue that informal production flows can take place even in highly standardised sophisticated consumer markets and should therefore be integrated into analyses on global value chains.
Kenya’s Social Development Proposals and Challenges: Review of Kenya Vision 2030 First Medium-Term Plan, 2008-2012
(2014-01) Mwenzwa, Ezekiel
Kenya faces several development challenges including poverty, disease, unemployment, negative civic engagement among others. The development bottlenecks worsened following the introduction of the IMF/World Bank-propelled Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) of the late 1970s and early 1980s. While the SAPs had envisaged benefits, they largely became part of the problem rather than the solution to development in Kenya. Accompanying these were negative civic engagements, particularly, ethnic conflict and political maladministration especially after the re-introduction of multiparty politics in the early 1990s. These drawbacks notwithstanding, development planning went on culminating in the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERSWEC) 2003-2007 in 2002 and its successor, the Kenya Vision 2030 in 2007. While the former was implemented, the latter is on course with the First Five Year Medium-Term Plan running from 2008 to 2012 recently concluded. The blueprint is driven by three pillars, namely; The economic, social and political pillars aimed at transforming the country into a middle income nation status by 2030. In the social pillar of the Vision are envisaged development projects for social transformation of the country. This paper reviews the proposed projects in the social pillar that were to be implemented by the year 2012 and points out the possible challenges that stood on the way of the envisaged transformation and suggests the way forward
Kenya’s Social Development Proposals and Challenges: Review of Kenya Vision 2030 First Medium-Term Plan, 2008-2012
(American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 2014-01) Mwenzwa, Ezekiel Mbitha; Misati, Joseph Akuma
Kenya faces several development challenges including poverty, disease, unemployment, negative civic engagement among others. The development bottlenecks worsened following the introduction of the IMF/World Bank-propelled Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) of the late 1970s and early 1980s. While the SAPs had envisaged benefits, they largely became part of the problem rather than the solution to development in Kenya. Accompanying these were negative civic engagements, particularly, ethnic conflict and political maladministration especially after the re-introduction of multiparty politics in the early 1990s. These drawbacks notwithstanding, development planning went on culminating in the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERSWEC) 2003-2007 in 2002 and its successor, the Kenya Vision 2030 in 2007. While the former was implemented, the latter is on course with the First Five Year Medium-Term Plan running from 2008 to 2012 recently concluded. The blueprint is driven by three pillars, namely; The economic, social and political pillars aimed at transforming the country into a middle income nation status by 2030. In the social pillar of the Vision are envisaged development projects for social transformation of the country. This paper reviews the proposed projects in the social pillar that were to be implemented by the year 2012 and points out the possible challenges that stood on the way of the envisaged transformation and suggests the way forward.
Challenges Facing Home Based Care Projects on HIV/AIDS Management in Africa
(2015-04) Nderitu, Rose W.; Ndung’u, H. Wachira; Ampah, Samuel N.
HIV/AIDS has continued to pose a major challenge to the social-economical development of Africa since the infection was first diagnosed in Kenya in 1984. All the sectors of the African economy have been negatively affected by the epidemic as exemplified by rising numbers of orphans and vulnerable children and currently estimated 2.4 million loss of household goods, reduction of labor and thus productivity. As a result, several NGO’S have come up with Home Based Care programmes to care for the affected and the infected. Irrespective of the objectives set by these home based care programmes, members that are less privileged in the community and in the country are still languishing in untold suffering, they live in abject poverty. The objective of the study was to establish the challenges of Home Based care projects in HIV/ Aids management in Africa. The specific objectives included: establishing how project monitoring and evaluation affected home based care projects, determining the effects of funding policies, assessing how training of human resources influenced home based care projects and finding out how advocacy initiative and community mobilization affected home based care project in HIV/Aids management in Africa. Descriptive research design was used to carry out an in-depth study of the various NGOS in order to come with relevant findings. The study targeted employees of the NGO’S in African Countries using questionnaires and carried out a census. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the data was presented in the form of percentages and tables. Among the key findings established in the study were that advocacy initiative and community mobilization had a major effect on home-based project in HIV/Aids management. Project monitoring and evaluation was also found to have a relatively high influence on home-based projects in HIV/Aids management (77.9%). Training of human resource had a relatively low influence HBC projects in HIV/Aids management, (75.5%) when compared to funding policies (67.3%). The researcher recommends that all the necessary efforts should be made to fund the HBC projects, impart skills on monitoring and evaluation, donors should also get flexible reporting formats, and beneficiaries of these projects should be active in those Projects activities.
Influence of Political and Cultural Factors on Education in Kenya: Approaches to Build Competencies
(IJCEM International Journal of Computational Engineering & Management, 2015-05) Kiambati, Kellen; Itunga, Julius
Education has received considerable attention worldwide; however, its low success rate in Kenya both in terms of quality and quantity warrants further investigation. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of political and cultural factors on education. The political factor constitutes government resource support, internet and policy on quality of teachers whereas the cultural factor focuses on early marriages, polygamy and female genital mutilations. Drawing on the theory of source-positionperformance, source of education should be promoted through various approaches. In the paper we propose a couple of approaches to build capability.
From Center to Margin: An Appraisal of the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) as a Decentralization Strategy in Kenya
(2015-09-30) Mwenzwa, Ezekiel Mbitha
Since independence in 1963, the governance of development in Kenya has faced numerous challenges leading to poor economic performance and hence negative consequences on Kenyans. The poor-rich gap has not only widened over the years, but the poverty situation has worsened. Consequently, the government has identified centralized planning as a serious development bottleneck and devised strategies for gradual devolution of decision-making power to the local level. Among other development blueprints is the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF), which aims at decentralizing development planning to enable grassroots communities maximize their welfare in line with their needs. This fund is a consequence of the Constituencies Development Fund Act of 2003, which provides the governance framework for a transparent and accountable utilization of the funds. Although CDF is a noble decentralization strategy, it is still prone to centralized planning and hence cannot holistically be regarded as having moved the decision-making power from center to the margin. The paper examines the governance framework availed by the Act in the context of decentralization paradigm, the possible impact of passive civic participation and proposes strategies towards effective local level participation in the utilization of the fund.
Transparency and Accountability in Kenya: A Review of the Institutional Framework for Public Service Delivery
(2015-09-30) Mwenzwa, Ezekiel Mbitha
Ethics and integrity that presuppose honesty and openness are integral components of any undertaking to ensure efficiency in the utilization of resources and effectiveness in service delivery. This requires a minimum threshold of transparency and accountability in the conduct of public affair. For this to occur, a measure of moral standing among individuals and institutions must exist to check on their excesses and more so when these act in contradistinction to their calling. The foregoing is expected to arrest such vices as corruption, enshrine appropriate work ethics and prevent other underhand deals that disadvantage the public with regard to service delivery. Corruption, which is deep-rooted in Kenya, has largely been blamed for scaling down domestic saving and investment and the misallocation of inventive talent. While in the last few decades transparency and accountability have been catchwords in the Public Service of Kenya, this is yet to completely tame corruption therein. In response to the foregoing, the government of the Republic of Kenya while acknowledging that corruption is serious development bottleneck, has come up with several control mechanisms to fight it. The foregoing is the institutional framework that is expected to provide the necessary guidelines on the conduct of government business as well as check against individuals and institutions that act otherwise. This is a review paper whose gist is to appraise and analyze the existing institutional framework for transparency and accountability with particular emphasis on the Public Service of Kenya. It henceforth points out the challenges inherent in implementing the institutional framework and suggests the legalpolicy reforms as panacea to augment transparency and accountability in public service.
Economic Assistance to Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Community-Based Projects in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties: Challenges, Opportunities and Evolution
(International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society - Springer Link, 2015-10) Skarlato, Olga; Byrne, Sean; Ahmed, Kawser; Karari, Peter
The International Fund for Ireland and the European Union (EU) Peace III Fund have provided external economic resources to local community projects in Northern Ireland and the Border region to support intercommunal relations, community development, economic development, peacebuilding and reconciliation. The British and Irish governments, the EU, and the USA see the economic aid as their commitment to support the peace process, nurture the local voluntary sector, and build the peace dividend. The research findings demonstrate that the reality on the ground is more complex. Some believe that the economic assistance has created employment opportunities, built capacity, and localized peacebuilding knowledge. Others are more sceptical and perceive that the aid has created dependency, facilitated a competitive milieu, and has not transformed relationships in a sectarian environment.
Managerial Skills and Corporate Strategic Planning
(International Journal of Management Science and Business Administration, 2016) Kiambati, Kellen; Itunga, Julius
The aim of this study is to establish the relationship between managerial skills and corporate strategic planning. The study was premised on increased call to meticulous strategic planning in all organizations across all sectors in Kenya. A close examination of existing literature showed that very little has been done in the area of evidence-based strategic planning. Public and private institutions participated in this study. The findings showed a positive and significant relationship between managerial skills and corporate strategic planning. The implication of the findings for management is to give more attention to managerial skills.
The Oscillating State’s Role in the Provision of Social Welfare Services in Kenya
(International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2016-05) Mwenzwa, Ezekiel Mbitha; Waweru, Sammy Mwangi
The provision of social services in the global south has largely remained the role of governments with the private sector playing a peripheral role. At Kenya’s independence in 1963, provision of social services was solely the role of government. This was to remain so until the adoption of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) as prescribed by World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), which called on government to roll back in provision of social services. Guided by neoliberal theory, provision of social services was later to be characterized by the introduction of user charges, cost sharing initiatives and privatization to augment the role of the private sector in this regard. However, over time Kenya has witnessed the resurgence of the state, especially during the President Mwai Kibaki era (2002-2012), in the provision of these services. Since then the Government of Kenya has continuously strengthened its role in this endeavor as it were conceived at independence. The gist of this paper is to examine the oscillation of the state in provision of social welfare services in independent Kenya. It is observed that politics has weighed heavily on the provision of social welfare services even as external prescriptive pressure has undermined state functioning in this regard. Nevertheless, increased tax collection has given Kenyan state leverage to sustain provision of welfare services. However institutionalization of welfare provision still faces challenges of resources, capacity and accountability. Finally, the paper evaluates merits and demerits of each welfare regime and recommends the way forward to revitalize provision of social welfare services and augment human welfare in the country.
The Relationship between Psychosocial Preparation for Retirement and Quality of Life of Retirees in Kenya
(Research Publish Journals, 2016-09) Thuku, Pauline; Maina, Lucy; Gecaga, Margaret
As the Kenya government works towards improving the Quality of life (QoL) of all people, that of retirees requires special attention. This is because they have to undergo the retirement transition that significantly influences QoL. Research has established a significant positive relationship between retirement preparation and QoL. Hence, the relevant policies and institutional frameworks to promote QoL in retirement have been put in place. However, studies show that retirees in Kenya continue to experience many challenges. This study was therefore conducted to assess the relationship between psychosocial retirement preparation and QoL with a view to delineating the significant predictors of QoL. From a target population of 4,469 retirees, ten percent was sampled for the study. Purposive, cluster, simple random and stratified random sampling methods were used to select 447 respondents. Quantitative data was collected using interview schedules and analyzed quantitatively. FGD guides were used to collect data from participants and analyzed thematically. The study found that most respondents (82.25 percent) had not adequately prepared for retirement in the psychosocial domain. Consequently, less than half (41.5 percent) of them experienced a high QoL in retirement. QoL was found to be positively related to social support and a diversity of pre-retirement activities that translated in greater satisfaction at retirement. In view of this, the study recommends that psychosocial preparation for retirement be emphasized as a critical component of the retirement preparation process.
Assessment of Student Leaders’ Performance of Functions in Managing Student Affairs in Selected Public Universities in Kenya
(Kenya Journal Of Educational Planning, Economics & Management, 2017) Murage, Lucy Muthoni; Njoka, Johannes; Gachahi, Micheal
The Universities Act, 2012 outlines the responsibilities of student leaders in the provision of student services in universities in Kenya. Despite the universities having student leaders to oversee and plan the welfare of students, there are still regular complaints over the unsatisfactory students’ services provision causing students’ protests. The study sought to assess how student leaders performed their functions for effective management of student affairs. Descriptive survey research design was adopted and stratified random sampling was used to select student leaders. Data collection instruments were questionnaires. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results from the study revealed low performance as 52.4% of student leaders did not effectively execute their leadership mandate in managing student affairs and only 47.6% effectively performed their functions. This means that to a greater extent, student leaders are ineffective in management of student affairs. The low performance might have contributed to the constant conflicts between the students and university management in the recent past over the management of student affairs. The study recommends that student leaders should take their leadership responsibility more aggressively by being proactive in organizing welfare activities that address students’ concerns.
Student Leaders Involvement in Decision Making Processes on Management of Student Affairs in Selected Public Universities in Kenya
(Nairobi Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2017-09) Murage, Lucy Muthoni; Njoka, Johannes; Gachahi, Micheal
Management of student affairs continues to be a major challenge to student affairs’ professionals, university management, ministry, government and all stakeholders of university education in Kenya. Students’ protests over the provision of student services have caused incalculable destruction both financial and social to the public and university. The study established that effectiveness in management of student affairs could be increased to a high level with increase in level of student leaders’ involvement in university decision making process. The result indicated that change in involvement in decision making by one unit can affect effectiveness in student affairs management by 0.275.
Gender, Land Ownership and Food Production Nexus in Mbeere Drylands, Kenya: Implications on Household Food Security
(European Journal Of Social Sciences Studies, 2018) Mwenzwa, Ezekiel; Cheserek, Grace; Kiptui, Mark
Land ownership gives an individual the confidence and dignity required to be active in society. Indeed, land ownership and rights are important for effective utilization of farmland for food production to alleviate food insecurity and revitalize household welfare and national development. While the foregoing is the ideal situation, the reality is that culture and gender dictates who owns land especially when customary laws seem to override any legal and policy provisions regarding land ownership, access and control. In particular, women are largely land caretakers, with men owning most of the land, titled or otherwise. Based on the foregoing, this paper sought to identify gender and land ownership structures in the context of dryland farming and their implications on household food security in the Mbeere drylands of Embu County. It utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods of social investigation and concluded that while many factors combine to determine food production and food security, inadequate access to and control of land and related resources by women in the Mbeere drylands is significant. Consequently, and given the environmental and cultural milieu on which land is utilized, measures have been proposed to augment dryland farming and alleviate food insecurity in the Mbeere drylands.