Books, Book Reviews and Book Chapters
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This Collection contains Books locally produced/published in Kenya and by Kenyan Authors
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Item Customer Relationship Management - Contemporary Concepts and Strategies(2024-10-30) Wanjau, Kenneth; ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3146-5324This chapter explores the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in fostering customer loyalty. The chapter begins by introducing the concept of emotional intelligence (EI) and some models of EI and its relevance in customer service. It highlights how businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of emotional intelligence in building strong customer relationships. The chapter then delves into the key components of EI and its impact on customer loyalty. It discusses the concept of customer loyalty and subsequently provides an insight of how an entrepreneur can use the customer loyalty funnel to influence customer loyalty. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the significance of EI to an entrepreneur and encouraging businesses to prioritize its development as a key driver of customer loyalty. On the whole, this chapter aims to provide insights and practical guidance for entrepreneurs seeking to enhance customer loyalty through the cultivation of emotional intelligence.Item Effectiveness of Reference Management Software in Enhancing Research Quality in Universities in Nairobi County, Kenya(SCECSAL, 2024-04) Kairigo, Samuel; Anduvare, EverlynReference management software (RMS) application is highly emphasised in academic research to improve research quality. However, studies raise concerns about their effectiveness since they have errors in functionality, language limitations, and inaccuracy of the citations and references generated. This study aimed to establish how effective RMS is in improving research quality. The study objectives were to investigate what reference management software is in use in the universities in Nairobi County, Kenya and to establish if reference management software programmes are effective in enhancing the quality of research in the selected universities. The study adopted a descriptive research design. This assisted the researchers in gathering data through a survey where an online questionnaire was administered to 18 respondents. All the universities within the County of Nairobi constituted the target population. The unit of analysis was the University Librarians because of their crucial role in promoting research quality in Kenyan Universities. In the analysis, insights were derived using a computer-based statistical package for social science (SPSS). The study revealed high satisfaction with RMS, particularly in terms of necessity, visual appeal, integration capabilities, and automatic formatting of references. While University librarians reported ease of navigation, there was limited awareness of alternative referencing approaches. Continuous institutional training programs for librarians and researchers on RMS usage, covering basic and advanced functionalities, are recommended.Item Children's participation in Khat production: Educational implications(Lambert Academic Publishing, 2014) Mukami, FaithThis book is about children's participation in khat production. It describes the push and pull factors for children's participation in khat production and their implications for schooling. It also describes the perceptions on their participation in khat production and on schooling. Their Participation in khat production is depicted as child work and not labour. This book also depicts children as having agency and not as passive victims of exploitation. It presents the children as people who are capable of examining issues in life and who make decisions on how to act depending on how they interpret the situation.Item The Diasporean II: Perspectives from Beyond Southern Africa(CSSALL Publishers (Pty) Ltd, 2024) Mutula, Stephen M. (Editor)Preface World-historical events such as the fall of the Berlin wall, and the fall of ideologies such as apartheid, opened borders for world travel and the global movements of people, like seldom before. Often driven to move away from drought and disaster-prone geographical areas, some people also move to new countries in search for better education, working, or health opportunities. For whichever decisions people move, and especially when they move with their immediate family, such movements themselves are often perilous, in addition to which one then has to set up a home, and become a member of the population of the new country of adoption. Conceptualised by the late Katie Mutula, these two volumes of The Diasporean, are together, simultaneously, a prime sample of research excellence and, the power of inter-, and multidisciplinary research, focused on such a fluid social and historical phenomenon as human movement, migration, as well as challenges that accompany our diaspora communities of the world. The Diasporean I: The Southern African Perspectives, covers five main sections, all together presenting 11 exceptional chapters. The main topics covered are, • financial integration, that covers issues related to financial development dynamics in both home and host countries, and access to credit; • xenophobia and Afriphobia in the contexts of increasing forms of local nativisms and populist xenophobia on social media; and family language policies of home country languages; • feminisation and gendered roles in migration, within transnational relations; how it impacts family life, and how diasporean experiences are also in themselves gendered, in the transnational space; and • the significance of technology and skills transfer for developing sustainable livelihoods, and also the significance of education, in this context, especially postgraduate education. • The final chapter in The Diasporean I, covers food security challenges that migrants experience in South Africa. The Diasporean II: Perspectives from Beyond Southern Africa, likewise cover five main thematic focuses. These are, the study of existing diaspora policy in Africa, including how these determine challenges concerning ‘capital structure’ and the growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, as well as philanthropy in rural areas; • Foreign remittances bring data and related arguments to the fore, on the impact of COVID-19 on remittances, the nature, size and scale of foreign remittances from elite migrants, and how remittances also impact rural development in home countries. • Section three develops topics on immigration policy, analyzing how diasporeans’ human dignity is harmed in how they are portrayed and framed in the press, how it impacts family structures and careers, and how repatriation or deportation are portrayed by the online press in South Africa and in Britain. • This is followed by a section on the notion of the ‘brain drain’ and skills transfer related to possibilities for multi-sectoral collaboration in the medical field, and challenges of skills transfer in diaspora contexts. • The final section on the digital economy, addresses the acceleration of the digital economies world-wide during the COVID-19 pandemic, and investment opportunities that accompany the diaspora movements of peoples. Each in its own way, but also as a two-volume collaborative research project, The Diasporean I and The Diasporean II, are comprehensive and are the result of incisive scholarship in a critical field of study both in South Africa and Africa more further afield. We are thankful, that Prof. Stephen Mutula and the team who was working with the late Katie Mutula, saw the project through to its conclusion. The project itself as well as the quality of the research for the two volumes, stand as a testimony to Katie’s character and a monument in her name on behalf of all those mentioned or not mentioned, who formed part of the project, and too, those who have passed on due to migratory experiences, and the nameless ones, who got lost at sea or in sandy deserts or forests or strange countries. Prof Johannes A. Smit, Chair: College of Humanities, Institute University of KwaZulu-NatalItem The Surge of Africa’s Digital Economy during COVID-19: Impact on the Diaspora Communities(CSSALL Publishers (Pty) Ltd, 2024) Anduvare, EverlynThis chapter focuses on the surge in Africa’s digital economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The author examines how digital technologies were adopted and used to enhance economic development during the pandemic. The research is based on a thorough literature review conducted using the Google Search Engine, focusing on literature that explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the digital economy in Africa. The reviewed literature demonstrates that the pandemic adversely affected economies in Africa and globally. Specifically, it significantly impacted Diaspora communities, particularly regarding their income and home remittances. Additionally, the literature highlights that digital technologies present an opportunity to transform business models and services across various sectors of different countries’ economies. In light of these findings, it is recommended that Diaspora communities adopt a strategic approach to create an enabling environment for adopting and utilizing digital technologies, thereby advancing their economic activities and providing a buffer against potential future shocks like COVID-19.Item Mainstreaming Digital Platforms in Curating Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Development in Kenya(The Technical University of Kenya, 2024) Chepchirchir, Sally; Kagoiya, RachelThe rapid evolution of digital platforms is an opportunity for custodians of indigenous knowledge (IK) to utilise digital spaces to enhance IK for promoting sustainable development in Kenya. IK refers to skills, systems, and practices developed and used by indigenous people over generations to sustain livelihoods, manage natural resources and preserve cultural heritage. Safeguarding IK in Kenya involves recognising, respecting, and protecting the IK for posterity. Unfortunately, indigenous communities in Kenya continue to be ignored and forgotten in policy. Therefore, implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should include protecting IK. The objectives of this paper are to (i) describe the digital platforms currently used in Kenya to curate IK; (ii) analyse the effectiveness of digital platforms in preserving and disseminating IK; and (iii) propose recommendations for policymakers to consider when integrating digital platforms in curating IK and implementation of SDGs in Kenya. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Quantitative data was collected through bibliometrics analysis. Qualitative data was collected using a systematic literature review. Data was collected from Google Scholar using Harzing’s “Publish or Perish” software, analysed using Microsoft Excel, Notepad, and VOSviewer, and presented using tables, graphs, and figures. The study findings would be helpful in providing recommendations to inform policymakers on the importance of using digital platforms to curate IK for the promotion of SDGs in Kenya. The study demonstrates that digital platforms can be used to promote the sharing of knowledge and best practices amongst different indigenous communities in Kenya and for policymakers to enact and review policy frameworks on the use of digital platforms to prevent IK from potential loss or exploitation. The research is original in scope and coverage. Keywords: Innovation, community-led development, human rights, emerging trends.Item Characteristics and Growth Performance of Kuchi Indigenous Chicken(2016-08) Chesoo, Ben; Oduho, George; Kios, DavidAbout This Book RECOMMENDATIONS To Poultry Breeders: To avoid genetic dilution and erosion of local chicken genetic resource, it is recommended that further characterization of the Kuchi ecotype is made(phenotypic and molecular), through within and between ecotype selection in order to utilize and conserve these indigenous genomes in a sustainable way, To Policy Makers: It is recommended that the line department in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, collaborates with Animal Scientists who are interested in researching into indigenous chicken, particularly the Kuchi, for the purpose of patenting, conservation (Gene-banking) and production since this ecotype has the potential of being harnessed towards rural livelihood improvement, not only in Kenya but also in other developing tropical countries; and, To Farmers: Findings from this study, the researcher recommends that the farmers select and line breed ecotypes which are high body weight gain and plumage colours not attractive towards predators. Kuchi IC ecotype satisfies all these attributes; thus, the researcher highly recommends it to the farmers.Item Analysis of the Genetic Variability and Population Cluster in Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes of Kenya(Multimedia University of Kenya, 2023-06) Chesoo, B. K.; Wanga, J. O.; Nandwa, A.Indigenous chicken (IC) provides a viable enterprise to rural and peri-urban settings in Kenya. An analysis using microsatellite markers was carried out to determine the genetic variability and population structure between and within six IC ecotypes of Kenya. A total of 284 eggs were sourced, incubated and artificially hatched as follows: Elgeyo Marakwet (EM, n=68); Turkana (TR, n =51), Homa Bay (HB, n =33), Meru (MR n =45), Nandi (ND=38); (LM, n =49) and Lamu (LM, n =49). EM, n=68) ;( TR n =51) ;( HB, n =39) ;( MR, n =45) and (LM, n =49), respectively. Hatched birds were raised up to 14 weeks of age. Then 50 birds, each ecotype: n=10, had their feathers plucked for a PCR - DNA analysis. Results showed that alleles per primer ranged between 2 (MCW0097) and 8 (ADL0328). Allele frequency ranged between 0.25 and 0.81 with a mean of 0.49. All the markers used in the study were polymorphic, ADL0328 was the most polymorphic marker (PIC = 0.79) while MCW0097 was the least polymorphic (PIC = 0.25), the mean polymorphic content was 0.58. Expected heterozygosis ranged from 0.202 in TR to 0.453 in ND. Mean fixation index (FST) ranged between 0.003 and 0.057 for ND and TR; respectively. Mean fixation index for the whole population was 0.0296. The greatest variation in the study was between ecotypes (62.78%), while within the ecotypes was 37.22%. Both factorial and phylogenetic population analyses showed a mixed genetic background. PCA results did not segregate IC ecotypes into distinct geographical groups discerning a rich genetic diversity of Kenyan IC hence the need to protect the indigenous genotypes against genetic erosionItem The Critical Onion Growth Stages For Selective Protection From Thrips Tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera:Thripidae) Infestation(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Nairobi (Kenya), 2006-01) Waiganjo, M. M.; Sithanantham, S.; Mueke, J. M.; Gitonga, L. M.Field trials were conducted during 2000-2001 at KARIandrsquo;s Mwea-Tebere and Kiboko farms to establish the effect of onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman on onion bulb yields and to identify the critical onion growth stage for selective protection from the pest infestation. Yield reductions of 59 and 27% were recorded in the first and second crops respectively at Mwea-Tebere, but no significant yield reductions were observed in a third crop grown at Kiboko with low thrips infestation. A significant onion yield response to thrips infestation was observed during the 2nd month after transplanting (bulb-formation) and 3rd month after transplanting (bulb-enlargement), but no significant response was observed during the 1st month (pre-bulbing) and 4th month (maturation stage). Onion protection during bulb-formation and enlargement stages only, resulted in higher marginal returns than full season pesticide application. The studies suggest that control recommendations for onion could be refined to optimize need-based protection.Item People's Responses to COVID-19 Containment Measures in Selected Areas in Nairobi County, Kenya: Dynamism of Nairobians in Response to COVID-19(IGI, 2022) Wanjau, Kenneth Lawrence https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3146-5324