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A community-oriented project for aquaculture in Kenya
(2004) Muchiri, Mucai; Ngugi, Charles; Hickley, Phil
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF FISH FARMING IN KENYA
(2004) Ngugi, Charles; Muchiri, Mucai
Developing an Early Warning System for Monitoring Drought and Ethnic Conflict for Poverty Alleviation in Tana River District, Kenya
(African Institute for Health and Development, 2006-06-18) Amuyunzu-Nyamongo, Mary; Mwenzwa, Ezekiel Mbitha
Internal and external conflicts have increased in African countries since independence and especially after the cold war. Whenever civil war occurs, it has often led to destruction of lives and property, leaving behind it a great trail of human suffering. In Kenya, where ethnic conflict has occurred in Rift Valley, Coast and North Eastern provinces, the impact has been devastating. Ethnic conflict in Tana River District can be traced back to 1948, which has resulted in the retardation of socio-economic development. It is against this background that the current study seeks to examine the timing, causes, consequences and the best practices to deal with drought and ethnic conflict. Specifically, it aims at developing an early warning system to monitor drought and ethnic conflict. The study will be carried out in the three divisions of Bura, Galole and Garsen in Tana River District, Kenya. This will be a collaborative study between the African Institute for Health & Development (AIHD), the government of Kenya and the communities. It will utilize participatory tools of data collection (historical timelines, seasonal calendar, problem analysis flow diagrams, focus group discussions and key informant interviews). An interviewer-based questionnaire will be administered to 685 respondents drawn from the three divisions. It is envisaged that minimizing the effects of drought and tensions that lead to ethnic conflict would significantly contribute to poverty reduction. Peace and security in this district would allow people to engage in agricultural and livestock production, and other income generating activities with minimal worries of possible attacks. The study is expected to contribute to the government’s and its development partners’ drought preparedness plans and conflict resolution not only in Tana River district but also in other areas with similar characteristics.
Analysis of Farmers’ Perceptions of the Effects of Climate Change in Kenya: The Case of Kyuso District
(Moi University Press,, 2012) Ng’ang’a, S. I.; Ndambiri, H. K.; Ritho, C.; Mbogoh, S.G.; Nyangweso, P.M.; Muiruri, E. J.; Kipsat, M. J.; Kubowon, P. C.; Cherotwo, F. H.; Omboto, P. I.
A cross-sectional analysis was carried out to evaluate how farmers in Kyuso District have perceived climate change. Data was collected from 246 farmers from six locations sampled out through a multistage and simple random sampling procedure. The logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess factors influencing farmers’ perceptions of climate change. The analysis revealed that 94% of farmers in Kyuso District had a perception that climate was changing. In this regard, age of the household head, gender, education, farming experience, household size, distance to the nearest input/output market, access to irrigation water, local agro-ecology, access to information on climate change, access to extension services, off farm income and change in temperature and precipitation were found to have significant influence on the probability of farmers to perceive climate change. Since the level of perception to climate change revealed by the study was found to be high (94%), the study suggests that more policy efforts should thus be geared towards helping farmers to adapt to climate change.
Analysis of Farmers’ Perceptions of the Effects of Climate Change in Kenya
(Moi University Press,, 2012) Ng’ang’a, S. I.; Ndambiri., H. K; Ritho, C.; Mbogoh, S.G.; Nyangweso, P.M.; Muiruri, E. J.; Kipsat, M. J.; Kubowon, P. C.; Cherotwo, F. H.; Omboto, P. I.
A cross-sectional analysis was carried out to evaluate how farmers in Kyuso District have perceived climate change. Data was collected from 246 farmers from six locations sampled out through a multistage and simple random sampling procedure. The logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess factors influencing farmers’ perceptions of climate change. The analysis revealed that 94% of farmers in Kyuso District had a perception that climate was changing. In this regard, age of the household head, gender, education, farming experience, household size, distance to the nearest input/output market, access to irrigation water, local agro-ecology, access to information on climate change, access to extension services, off farm income and change in temperature and precipitation were found to have significant influence on the probability of farmers to perceive climate change. Since the level of perception to climate change revealed by the study was found to be high (94%), the study suggests that more policy efforts should thus be geared towards helping farmers to adapt to climate change
Strategies Influencing Achievement in Mathematics and Competence in Soft Skills among Students in Technical Colleges in Kenya
(2012) Muthoni, D.M.; Okuro, S.G.; Mwaruvie, J.; Mutahi, I.W.
Mathematics is useful in daily life. It plays an important role in developing students’ logical, creative and critical reasoning, optimize industrial processes, solve problems, function with linear and non-linear thought processes and communicate solutions briefly and precisely among other soft skills. Despite the critical role played by mathematics, low students’ achievement in mathematics and low competence in soft skills had been witnessed. Low achievement and competence in soft skills had been a source of concern to stakeholders in technical and vocational education. That was because the input was not commensurate with the graduate output. Teaching styles in mathematics could be significant in determining the achievement in mathematics and competence in soft skills. Activity-based instructional processes and learning rather than expository means could improve achievement in mathematics and competence in soft skills. Yet, the use of multi-disciplinary approach that depends on using students’ experiences in mathematics and science, project-based teaching and industrial-based activities had not been fully exploited in Kenya at least in East and Central Africa. The purpose of the study was to establish what activities in multi-disciplinary approaches could stimulate interest and deepen understanding of concepts in mathematics in technical colleges in Kenya. The findings and recommendations are expected to inform policy decision in establishing quality and relevance in training and accreditation in mathematics in technical colleges in Africa and world over. The study was carried out by a descriptive survey design. Colleges were enlisted using stratified random sampling. Random numbers were used for picking the sample respondents. Lecturer’s questionnaire was administered to collect data on teaching styles. The results showed that multi-disciplinary approach with problem-solving in projects involving team-work with industrial staff and small group discussions of case studies in class deepened understanding of mathematics concepts served as the basis for industrial competence in soft skills and on-the job training for employability. The strategy of multidisciplinary approach for improving students’ achievement in mathematics and competence in soft skills in technical colleges in Africa and world over is recommended.
Effect of fire on habitat functional diversity and herbivore diversity in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya
(2012-08) Kimuyu, Duncan, M.; Mureu, Lucy, K.; Awiti, Alex; Wahungu, Geoffrey
Background/Question/Methods The African savanna biome supports a higher diversity of herbivore species than is found in any other biome or continent. In order to maintain the habitats necessary to support a large diversity of wildlife species, much emphasis has traditionally been placed on the role of fire as a management tool. We hypothesize that herbivore abundance, diversity, and habitat utilization patterns in Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Kenya are modulated through fire management and its effect on habitat functional diversity. Between 2005 and 2010, transect surveys were used to monitor patterns of wildlife abundance and species diversity across a functional diversity gradient; from pure grassland to pure bushland. Results/Conclusions Preliminary findings show that large herbivore (black rhino, elephant and giraffe) populations increase under bushland conditions. Conversely, small grazer abundance and diversity increased in open grassland but declined markedly in Euclea divinorun and Acacia drepanolobium dominated bushland. Intense fires shift vegetation from bushland to grassland state. Low fire frequency in turn allows resurgence of bushland and decline in both abundance and species diversity of small grazers. The effect of fire on the functional diversity of habitat within savanna ecosystems has a strong influence on herbivore diversity, distributed across body size classes and feeding guild (browsers/grazers). By explicitly characterizing the effects of habitat functional diversity on herbivore species abundance and diversity, our study underscores the need for promoting biodiversity as a goal of management and conservation of wildlife in the African savannas.
Technology Adoption in Rural Areas for Sustainable Economic Development
(2013) Ng'ang'a, S.I; Kiumbe, P.M.; Kabethi, J.M.
The Efficacy of Songs in the Acquisition of English Articles and Nouns in a Multilingual Setting in Kenya, Africa: A Case Study of Grade 4 Class in Kenyan Primary Schools
(2014) Njoroge, M.C.; Gathigia, M.G.
This research was conducted using a pretest / posttest paradigm to test the efficacy of songs in the acquisition of English articles and nouns by learners in a multilingual setting in Kenya, Africa. Two Grade Four classes in two elementary schools, one in an urban area and the other in a rural setting, were sampled for this study. A pretest on articles and noun plural formation was administered in each school, marked and results recorded. The experimental class was exposed to a Task-Based Language teaching method that utilised songs as a tool of teaching while the control class was exposed to regular teaching. A posttest, the same test administered as a pretest, was given to the two groups. The scores recorded in both tests were analyzed quantitatively using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences and analysis presented in tables and graphs. Levene's Test for Equality of Variances was then employed. The general finding is that the use of songs in the teaching of English as a second language is effective as attested by the high performance of the experimental classes in the two schools.
Examining the balanced scorecard approach to measuring performance of Five Star Hotels in Nairobi, Kenya.
(Akdeniz University, Tourism Faculty, 2014-12) Gesage, M. B.; Kuira, J.
Traditional models for determining the performance and effectiveness of employees rely heavily on financial accounting indicators. This study sought to measure the performance of five star hotels in Nairobi County using the balanced scorecard approach. The findings of the study revealed that 36% of the respondents used a balanced scorecard as a method of measuring performance. The use of a balanced scorecard for measuring performance resulted in improved quality of guest profiles for 73% of the managers in five star hotels in Nairobi County whereas 67% of the managers experienced an increase in training hours per employee.
Teachers' viewpoints on the use of ICT in the teaching of languages in Kenya
(2015-09-30) Waweru, Edward Kinyua; Gathigia, Moses Gatambuki
Introduction Some few decades ago chalk, blackboard, textbooks and teachers were the prominent components of teaching and learning in schools but recent development of ICT means that this landscape is rapidly changing not only in the education sector but in all sectors of the economy.  Information Communication Technology (ICT) is increasingly becoming important in our daily lives and in our educational system.  ICT tools are being integrated in the teaching and learning process in many learning institution of the world.  The pedagogical benefits and contributions to learning and teaching associated with ICT are numerous and will continue to be as new software are developed to aid in teaching and learning.  Teachers’ viewpoints are critical influence on students’ confidence and attitude towards ICT as teachers provide important role model to their students.  There is lack of study on teachers ICT perception, teachers’ ICT competencies and their views on ICT infrastructure as a tool in delivering teaching and learning of languages in secondary schools.
Impact of Electric Fence on Pastoralists Movement in Ol Pejeta Eco-System in Laikipia, Kenya
(2015-09-30) Mutahi, D. Muthoni; Mwangi, P. Gichohi; Mutura, R. Bariu
The challenge of human- wildlife conflict (HWC) in Ol Pajeta eco-system has been there since early 1980s. An electric fence was erected as a mitigation strategy to resolve HWC 2006. However, some parts such as southern boundary of Mutara ADC farm had not been fenced. By 2009 electric fence was installed on the southern boundary of Mutura ADC farm. The fencing closed out migratory corridors of elephants, interfered with pastoralists’ movement patterns and morans’ cultural rite activities. Persistent drought and increased elephants aggression in the eco-system has compounded the problem of HWC due to dwindling natural resources particularly water, vegetations and mineral licks. Consequently, tempering of fence by pastoralists and morans’ rites activities rendered electric fence ineffective hence elephants had easy access to farms. This led to increased farm raids incidences by elephants. These farm raids have consequently resulted to escalation of threats to human life, leading to low school retention rates and food insecurity. Moreover, food insecurity spread of zoonotics, livestock diseases and pests were a great source of concern to the major stake- holders. Hence, the problem of HWC related to threats on wildlife conservation, safety of human and their livelihood had continued to persist. The purpose of the study was to establish the impact of electric fence on pastoralist movement in Ol Pejeta conservancy. The general objective of the study was to assess the impact of electric fence on pastoralists in Ol Pajeta conservancy. Cross-sectional descriptive survey and purposive sampling were used to identify the respondents. Interviews and focused group discussions were used for data collection. The conservancy communities could conduct awareness campaigns on the benefits of local communities’ participation in conservation efforts and eco-tourism and address the water problem; introduce school feeding programs,pest control mechanisms. The community could be involved as key stakeholders in the conservancy by restoring and maintaining migratory corridors in partnership with the government among other stakeholders in OLpajeta ecosystem. This approach enhances acceptability of the electric fence because it upholds the communities values and priorities, thus eventually mitigating human- wildlife conflict in OlPajeta resulting to peaceful co-existence between the communities and wildlife. If this approach of community participation and involvement is enhanced and sustainably managed, such conservancy strategies can be replicated nationally and international as a creative and innovative mitigation strategy for restoration of peace and reconciliation in areas experiencing human- wildlife conflict hotspots. The approach of this magnitude can contribute immensely in biodiversity management, conservation of wildlife resources in Kenya and the rest of the world for socio-economic development now and in future.
Factors Inhibiting the Implementation of Digital Villages in Kenya
(2017) Karume, Simon; Shisoka, Dorcus Arshley
The achievement of an information-based society is one of the main priorities of the Government of Kenya (GoK) towards the realization of national development goals and objectives for wealth and employment creation. However, even in their efforts the ICT sector is still currently more active in urban areas, resulting in wide regional disparities in the distribution of ICT facilities. In order to address this disparity, the Kenya ICT Board (KICTB) supported the roll out of new “electronic centre’s” which were named Pasha Centre’s (and are also commonly referred to as Digital Villages).The Digital village’s initiatives in Kenya commenced with a lot of optimism in 2009 however five years down the line it cannot be recorded that they have been successful. The purpose of this study was to establish the factors that have hindered the successful implementation of digital villages in Kenya. For this study desk research methodology was adopted. The secondary data from published reports was discussed with emphasis on the area of interest to this study. The findings of this study indicated that there were various factors that hindered the successful implementation of digital villages in Kenya. The study recommended need for having a government policy for the digital village project. This policy if developed will serve to protect such projects in future enabling them to take off and function independently.
THE CHIEF MAU MAU IDEOLOGUE: GAKAARA WA WANJAU’S CONTRIBUTION TO POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE AGIKUYU, 1940 – 2001
(Karatina University, 2022) WAIRIMU, WAITHANWA LUCY
Effect of pre-harvest application of Chitosan and Silicon on growth, Lycopene content and shelf-life of tomato
(2022) Gatahi, D.; Chimoita, E.; Kihurani, A.; Wanyika, H.
Maize productivity in Kenya has reduced by 4.3 per cent, partly attributed to Fall Army Worm (FAW) infestation with yield losses of up to 37 % of the annual maize production over three years. Innovators have developed practices that manage FAW infestation and increase maize yield. Knowledge of these interventions is not available to all farmers and thus not applied. This occasioned for an investigation into the knowledge management and effectiveness of FAW control practices in maize producing regions of Kenya. This study conducted structured interviews with key informants and households in Kilungu, Makueni County. It sampled 387 respondents with a 95% confidence level and applied multi stage sampling. Statistical analysis using STATA found a significant influence of education and total income on the selection and adoption of FAW management practice. Handpicking recorded p values of 0.033 and 0.013 respectively. Analysis of adopted FAW management practices against maize output showed a significant effect from handpicking, use of pesticides, detergents and/or soil with p values of 0.099, 0.049, 0.025 and 0.075 respectively. Fellow farmers and workshops as sources showed a significant influence on maize output with p values of 0.012 and 0 respectively.
Knowledge management structure and effectiveness of interventions on fall army worm (FAW) management among smallholder maize farmers in Kilungu, Makueni County, Kenya
(RUFORUM, 2022) Aoko, P.; Chimoita, E. L.; Nzuve, M. F.; Maina, D.; Jadesola, E.; Syanda, J.
Maize productivity in Kenya has reduced by 4.3 per cent, partly attributed to Fall Army Worm (FAW) infestation with yield losses of up to 37 % of the annual maize production over three years. Innovators have developed practices that manage FAW infestation and increase maize yield. Knowledge of these interventions is not available to all farmers and thus not applied. This occasioned for an investigation into the knowledge management and effectiveness of FAW control practices in maize producing regions of Kenya. This study conducted structured interviews with key informants and households in Kilungu, Makueni County. It sampled 387 respondents with a 95% confidence level and applied multi stage sampling. Statistical analysis using STATA found a significant influence of education and total income on the selection and adoption of FAW management practice. Handpicking recorded p values of 0.033 and 0.013 respectively. Analysis of adopted FAW management practices against maize output showed a significant effect from handpicking, use of pesticides, detergents and/or soil with p values of 0.099, 0.049, 0.025 and 0.075 respectively. Fellow farmers and workshops as sources showed a significant influence on maize output with p values of 0.012 and 0 respectively.
Deep Transfer Learning Optimization Techniques for Medical Image Classification: A Review
(2022) Kariuki, Paul Wahome; Gikunda, Patrick Kinyua; Wandeto, John Mwangi
Medical image classification is a complex and challenging task due to the heterogeneous nature of medical data. Deep transfer learning has emerged as a promising technique for medical image classification, allowing the leveraging of knowledge from pre-trained models learned from large-scale datasets, resulting in improved performance with minimal training and overcoming the disadvantage of small data sets. This paper concisely overviews cutting-edge deep transfer learning optimization approaches for medical image classification. The study covers convolutional neural networks and transfer learning techniques, including relation-based, feature-based, parameter-based, and instance-based transfer learning. Classical classifiers such as Resnet, VGG, Alexnet, Googlenet, and Inception are examined, and their performance on medical image classification tasks is compared. The paper also discusses optimization techniques, such as batch normalization, regularization, and weight initialization, as well as data augmentation and kernel mathematical formulations. The study concludes by identifying challenges when using deep transfer learning for medical image classification and proposing potential future approaches for this field.
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF RABBITFISH (Siganus sutor) REARED IN INTERTIDAL BRACKISH WATER EARTHEN PONDS USING HAPA NETS
(Karatina University, 2022) Okemwa, M. D.; Ngugi, C. C.; Mirera, D. O.
“The Quest for Quality in University Education in the Post COVID-19 Era: Do Anti-plagiarism Tools Still Matter?”
(2022-06) Kavulya, Joseph M.; Kiilu, Vincent Bob; Kyengo, Bernadetta N.
Plagiarism is a major global challenge to quality assurance in higher education. Various efforts have been made to overcome the menace including the use of anti-plagiarism tools. At the same time, many questions have been raised about the efficacy of the current generation of tools in detecting, preventing plagiarism, and guaranteeing the quality of education. This paper examines the limitations of plagiarism detection tools in enhancing quality in academic outcomes and proposes measures for improvement. The paper argues that while anti-plagiarism software has a role in preventing plagiarism in academic writing and academic integrity, they are not the panacea to the plagiarism pandemic, especially in the COVID-19 era. It proposes that there is a need to reform methods of assessment and implement forward-looking policies to address the underlying causes of plagiarism, provide students with appropriate information literacy skills training, and above all cultivate a culture of academic integrity in higher education institutions (HEIs).
Open Access Publishing
(Karatina University, 2022-10) Anduvare, Everlyn M'mbone