Department of Social sciences

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Analysis of Corruption Risky Areas in Public Secondary Schools in Nyandarua and Nakuru Counties in Kenya
(American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research (AJHSSR), 2020) Ngatia, Richard; Njoka, Johannes Njagi; Ndegwa, Lucy
Citizens and stakeholders in education continue to express great concerns regarding the escalating cases of academic dishonesty, misappropriation and misuse of resources in education in the world and Kenya in particular. Corruption activities manifest themselves in all areas of education especially in teaching and learning processes, academic dishonesty, and utilization of educational resources as well as in the development of policies.The purpose of this study was to analyse the corruption risky areas in public secondary schools in Nyandarua and Nakuru Counties in Kenya. Specifically the study sought to establish the corruption risky areas in public secondary schools and compare the levels of corruption in public secondary schools in Nakuru and Nyandarua counties in Kenya. The study tested the null hypothesis that there is no statistically significant difference in corruption risky areas in public secondary schools in Nyandarua and Nakuru Counties. The descriptive survey research design was used to guide the study. The target population for the study comprised all secondary school principals, heads of departments and bursars. The sample size was determined using the Cochran sampling formula which yielded a total of 321 respondents. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to analyse data with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results of the study revealed thecorruption risky areas in public secondary schools as thecharging of extra levies, teachers missing lessons, unreported teachers absenteeism, falsification of information on student enrolment data and irregular procurement of goods and services. Hypothesis testing revealed that corruption risky areas in public secondary schools in Nakuru and Nyandarua Counties were largely similar, thus the null hypothesis (Ho1) was accepted. The study recommended the need to broaden the scope of school auditing to cover all areas of academic life as opposed to the current practice that only focuses majorly on financial management.
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.
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
Challenges Faced by Student Leaders in Managing Student Affairs in Public Universities in Kenya
(International Journal of Education & Literacy Studies, 2019-01) Murage, Lucy Muthoni; Njoka, Johannes; Gachahi, Michael
Effective management of student affairs in public universities continue to pose a major challenge to university administrators and student leaders in many parts of the world including Kenya. Public universities are perpetually ravaged by rampant incidences of student unrests and strikes yet innovative approaches meant to curb such incidences have been adopted that involved student leaders in governance of institutions of higher learning. The effectiveness of these innovative approaches in university governance is not clearly documented. The rationale of the study was to analyse the challenges faced by student leaders in managing student affairs in public universities in Kenya. The study employed descriptive survey research design. Stratified random sampling was used to select student leaders from public universities in Kenya. The sample size comprised of 19 members of student governing councils, 50 class representatives and 73 clubs and society leaders, making a total of 142 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires. Analysed data revealed that 50.4% of the student leaders experienced challenges while executing their functions. The major challenges included conflict between academic pursuits and leadership roles, lack of teamwork among student leaders and students’ ignorance of university policies and statutes. The study further established a strong and statistically significant relationship between the challenges faced by student leaders and effective student affairs services in public universities at 0.05 levels of significant with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.789. The study concluded that challenges experienced by student leaders may impede effective discharge of their duties and may result in poor service delivery leading to incidences of riots. The study recommends that student leaders should be assisted to solve internal problems that may affect the effective discharge of their duties as a way of addressing unrests in public universities.
Challenges Facing Corruption Prevention Activities in Public Secondary Schools in Nakuru and Nyandarua Counties Kenya
(International Journal of Recent Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 2019-09) Ngatia, Richard; Njoka, Johannes Njagi; Ndegwa, Lucy
This study sought to examine the challenges facing corruption prevention activities in public secondary schools in Nakuru and Nyandarua counties Kenya.The study was informed by the Lucifer Effect Theory. The study used the correlational research design. The target population comprised of 420 principals, 840 heads of departments, 420 bursars in public secondary schools, two county directors of education and six school auditors making a total of 1688 school respondents. The study employed the formula of Cochran to get a sample of 313 respondents while the two county directors of education and six school auditors were purposively sampled, to give a sample size of 322 respondents. Data wascollected using the questionnaire constructed on a five point Likert scale. The research instruments were Pilot tested.Data was analysed using both the descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences.The study established that there was no significance difference between the challenges facing principals’ in the prevention of corruption in Nyandarua and Nakuru Counties.
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.
The Changing of African Traditional Celebration of the Living Dead and its effects of Cremation in Kenya
(2023-08) Kavulavu, Leen; Achar, George Okumu
This paper investigates the effects of cremation on African traditional celebrations of the living dead in Kenya. The study examines bereavement and mourning practices in communities, with a particular focus on traditional modes of mourning, grieving, and remembering the living dead. According to the study, African traditions, the spread of Christianity, the influence of the Hindu culture, and Islamic beliefs all conflict with the changing culture that is slowly embracing cremation. The methodology for this study involved secondary data. The conclusion drawn from the study is that even as the scarcity of land pushes societies to consider the option of cremation, cultural and religious perceptions have painted the practice unethical and term it “un-African.” In Kenya, the majority of the population still opts to bury their dead in their ancestral homes in order to perform ritual and religious burial rites.
Correlates of Loneliness in Single Gender and Coeducational Boarding Schools in Murang’a County, Kenya
(African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, 2020-07-15) Baru, M. P; Mbugua, Z. K.; Ndegwa, L. W; Njoka, J. N
Loneliness remains a challenge among learners all over the world especially at adolescence stage. Major correlates of loneliness in schools have been identified as teacher-learner relationships, sense of belonging to school and learners’ peer relationships. The interplay of these factors has not been widely studied in the gendered context of schools. The purpose of this study was to establish power of determination of learners’ peer relationships, sense of belonging to school and teacher-learner relationships on loneliness, in single gender and coeducational sub county public secondary schools in Murang’a County of Kenya. The Krejecie and Morgan table was used to determine sample size of 435 participants from a population of 13,572 students in the sub county coeducational and single gender secondary schools in the county. Stratified random sampling method was used to select 231 boys and 204 girls, each type of school formed a stratum. A cross sectional survey research design was used in the study. Loneliness was measured using Perth aloneness loneliness scale while learners’ peer relationships, teacher-learner relationships and sense of belonging to school were measured using scales developed for this research, with reliability index (α) of 0.81, 0.68, 0.79 and 0.82 respectively. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) program version 20. Lerner (1991) developmental contexualism theory was applied in interpreting the findings. The results indicated that girls were adversely affected by the presence of boys in all variables under observation except in learners’ peer relationships. Learners’ peer relationships, sense of belonging to school and teacher-learner relationships were protective against loneliness. Recommendations are that approaches to improve school climate and alleviate loneliness be anchored
Cutting with Words: Kick out Corruption with Swahili Proverbs
(African Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (AJHSS), 2019) Mwangi, L.; Maitaria, J.N.
Corruption is a thorny issue that has (and still) is being discussed by the people and features prominently in social media: not a single day passes without it being mentioned either openly or in secrecy. In Kenya and in other African countries in general, corruption has become a real menace to the citizens. It has brought social-political havoc and economic chaos to the country. A day hardly passes without it having a place in peoples’ discussions. Therefore, it is an issue that needs to be urgently addressed. The question that lingers is: how can we address corruption issues so that people view it as a national disaster? People need to be educated and awakened about the need to wipe it out in our society by invoking the ‘cutting words’ of proverbs. This will engage people in an open and fruitful discussion with an aim of arriving at an agreed stand on the issue of corruption. In addition, an enabling environment has to be created where people are encouraged to voluntarily give their suggestions and views without fear so that the root cause of corruption can be unearthed, and the way forward found. This calls for individual and collective discussion using popular statements, and this is where proverbs come in handy. Though, in Kenya (like other East Africa countries) there are diverse ethnic groupings but as a community the region has a shared vision and philosophy in use of the available proverbs that are embedded in Kiswahili language. These contextual and popular statements have been in use informally as custodian and an expression of people’s culture. They can, therefore, be invoked and made use of when an issue that endangers the fabric of unity and their well-being as a people arise. This article proposes that, Swahili proverbs as culturally accepted statements when used appropriately, can give a broad picture of the various causes and manifestations of corruption in Kenyan situation. It is on the basis of this that the root cause will be laid bare and citizens will not only be widely enlightened on how corruption is manifested but also on how to be alert (without use of force) so as to curb the menace of this magnitude at individual and collective level.
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.
The effect of environmental change on sustainable energy in Olkaria geothermal and Kenya power station, Nakuru County, Kenya
(INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, 2020) Gichuhi, David; Gesimba, Paul; Kipsiele, Gideon
Energy is one of the most important resources in the growth of an economy. The generation of power is key to the effectiveness of sustainable energy management. Energy production warrants production hence connected to economic development. Environmental change has an impact on the sustainability of renewable energy. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of environmental change on sustainable energy in Olkaria Geothermal and Kenya Power Station, Nakuru County, Kenya. The study was informed by two theories namely; Socio-technical Transitions Approach Theory and Coevolutionary Approach to Transitions. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 359 employees with a stratified sample design. The sample frame was 108 employees being 30% of the total population. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The preliminary data was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented in the form of tables. Inferential statistics were employed through Pearson’s Correlation analysis and regression analysis was used to test the study hypothesis at a 5% significance level. The findings indicated that was a statistically significant relationship between environmental change and sustainable energy (r=0.286; p=0.005). Further, the study revealed that environmental change has a statistically significant effect on sustainable energy in Olkaria Geothermal and Kenya Power Station, Nakuru County, Kenya (p<0.05). The study recommends that institutional environmental changes should be examined and their influence on sustainable energy management.
Euphemistic Sugarcoats of Bribe in Dholuo: A Cognitive Integration Model
(African Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (AJHSS), 2019) Ogal, G. O.; Macharia, K.T.
The supposition by cognitive linguists that certain language data requires analysis above conventional provisions of grammar is the take-off point in the studies exploring the relationship between cognition and language. This article examines the euphemisms of bribe in Dholuo using cognitive integration theory, a fabric dealing with human experiences and how individuals conceptualize them. The study adopted a descriptive research design in which respondents were asked to mention euphemistic and dysphemistic alternatives of bribe in Dholuo. An interview schedule was used to collect data which was transcribed, categorized, quantified and then processed using CIT to get the metaphorical mappings of the emergent structures. For a better understanding of these euphemisms, the study considered how local contexts work with mental spaces to produce a network of pragmatic inferences in the human brain. The general finding of this study is that bribe is food, bribe is fuel and bribe is utility. The article, therefore, recommends that for a better understanding of euphemisms, one should consider contexts expressed in language since such yield novel meanings. The study concludes that euphemistic expressions are common ways of conceptualizing bribe in Kenya. The study further establishes that a euphemism, when subjected to inadequacies of grammar alone, robs one of the full ability to appreciate new interpretations. On these grounds, the study invokes the lenses of a cognitive linguist.
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.
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.
GENDER, LAND OWNERSHIP AND FOOD PRODUCTION NEXUS IN MBEERE DRYLANDS, KENYA: IMPLICATIONS ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY
(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.
Human Capital Development and Services Delivery of Public Health Facilities
(International Journal of Commerce and Finance, 2020) Kiambati, Kellen; Chege, Agnes Kabithe; Mwenja, Dominic; Mbugua, Levi
Healthcare provision stipulated by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a relatively new concept in many developing countries SubSaharan Africa part of Asia. Therefore, this study examined the influence of human capital development on the service delivery of devolved County Health Facilities. The path coefficients were positive and significant at 0.05 level of significance. The path coefficient beta value was β = 0.50. These findings indicate that for every 1-unit increase in human capital development, service delivery is predicted to increase by 0.5 in public county health facilities in Kenya. The study concluded that measures contributed to the positive relationship between human capital development and service delivery in these facilities. As the hospitals lacked funding of further training for their staff and also failed to pay competitive salaries and allowances, the study recommends that for improved service delivery within these facilities, promotions should be on performance, as well remuneration. Most employees will work hard when they know that they get rewards for it. The hospitals should also promote staff and offer scholarships for training to the high performing staff
Influence of Budget Efficacy on Household Effects in Kenya
(2019) Munyua, Cyrus M
The purpose of this study is to find out whether Budget Efficacy influences household effects under Fiscally Decentralized economy as it is today in Kenya. The study was anchored on the theory of fiscal federalism and Agency Theory and adopted a positivist research philosophy in determining the research strategy and method of this strategy. A Census involving the 47 county governments was conducted based on population size, nature of the county i.e rural or urban set up and size of the annual budget support from the national government. The Study adopted the Survey and Evaluation Program (NASSEP V) frame that the Kenya Bureau of Statistics currently operates to conduct household-based surveys to also conduct a household survey in the county governments on household effects in Kenya. The study employed an inductive ex post facto cross sectional quantitative survey design. Secondary panel data was collected from County Treasuries while Primary data was collected through household surveys and Fiscal and Monetary Departments of county assemblies. Data for the period 2015-2017was used to run an univariate and multiple regressions using STATA software. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were generated and provided results for interpretation. The study established a significant association between budget efficacy and household effects. The findings of this study are expected to empower citizens through access of information on the real meaning and effects of fiscal asymmetric decentralization while policy makers will know the strength of the correlation between fiscal asymmetry and household effect in order to match monetary policy with the needs of lower government levels for implementation of the country’s financial framework.
Influence of Leadership on Innovation Efficiency in Manufacturing Firms in Kenya
(International Journal of Management, Knowledge and Learning, 2020) Gachanja, Isaac Muiruri; Nganga, Stephen Irura; Kiganane, Lucy Maina
The purpose of this paper is to determine the influence of leadership on Innovation Efficiency (IE) in manufacturing firms in Kenya. A mixed research methodology was and cross-sectional design was applied. The target population was 2484 leaders and multi-stage sampling was used to sample 345 respondents. Primary data was collected. The results revealed that leadership has a significant influence on IE. It is concluded that management should practice and encourage creativity, exploration, inspiration, exploitation and entrepreneurial mindset to promote IE. Further research should be conducted to find out how leadership should balance the trade-off between risk management and IE.
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.