School of Education and Social sciences

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    The Influence of Institutional Resources on Doctorate Degree Enrolment and Completion Rates in Selected Public Universities Kenya
    (Micro-think Institute, 2023-10-16) Motanya, Jared Ochwangi; Nyambura, Salome; Gathara, Peter Mugo
    Doctorates are fundamental pivot towards facilitating the social and economic transformation of a nation. Nevertheless, research on doctorate education point out that most candidates in Kenyan public universities spend lengthy period of time to earn their doctorate degrees. Furthermore, data of those enrolling in selected Kenyan public universities demonstrate that less students enroll for doctorate programmes in contrast with those who register for Master and Bachelors’ programmes. Institutional resources have been cited as a critical ingredient toward enhanced students’ enrolment into doctorate programmes. The purpose of this paper was, therefore, to establish the influence of institutional resources on doctorate degree enrolment and completion rates from selected Kenyan public universities. The study sought to analyse institutional resources influence on doctorate degree programmes enrolment and completion rates from selected public universities in Kenya for the last fifteen years. The study employed the mixed methods research design. Data was collected from four purposively sampled universities using questionnaires, analysis of documents (on enrolment, completion and staff enrolments) and interview schedules. Qualitative data was coded and then thematically analysed guided by the study objectives while quantitative data was analysed using percentages and graphs. The study revealed that institutional resources influence enrolment and completion rates at doctorate level. Availability of qualified and sufficient academic staff, funding, mentorship programmes, well equipped libraries, reliable internet connections and ambient social environment to be critical in determining where one enrolls for a doctorate programme and how long it will take to complete. The study furthermore established that between 2003 and 2017, there was low doctorate programmes enrolment and completion rates at the selected public Universities Kenya. This was demonstrated from trends in the numbers of those who enrolled and those who graduated. The trends revealed that more males than females enrolled and completed their studies with the highest being between 2008 and 2013. The findings of this research would be resourceful to university policy makers, administrators and lecturers to improve on institutional policy framework with regard to institutional resources which could be used to enhance doctorate programme enrolment and completion in Kenyan public universities
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    Assessment of the Contribution of Various Family Structures on Juvenile Delinquency in Embu County, Kenya
    (2023-08) Miruka, Florence Gesare; Thuku, Pauline; Osamba, Joshia
    Juvenile delinquency has been on the increase all over the world. Research has established a positive correlation between juvenile delinquency and family violence. However, few studies have assessed the relationship between the various family types and juvenile delinquency in Kenya, hence the need for this study. A descriptive survey research design that employed quantitative techniques was utilized. The target population was 360 juvenile delinquents in Embu County. Using Krejcie and Morgan’s Table for Determining Sample Size from a Given Population, a sample size of 176 respondents was arrived at. Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. A questionnaire with both open and closed ended questions was utilized in data collection. Cronbach’s Alpha measured the instrument's reliability. A reliability coefficient of 0.805 was achieved indicating that the instrument was reliable. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Data was described using frequencies and percentages. ANOVA was conducted in hypothesis testing and found a significant relationship between family structure and juvenile delinquency. The type of family in which a child was born and bred determines so much whom he becomes in adulthood. Most juvenile delinquents grew up in dysfunctional families characterized by violence, lacking role models from whom the children were to emulate. This study recommends the formulation of parental education programmes to sensitize parents on the role of family in addressing juvenile delinquency. Family being the smallest unit from whence community sprung, there is need to strengthen families of whatever type.
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    Who is Against Sino-African Relations? Evolving Perceptions on Chinese Engagement in Kenya
    (Chinese Journal of International Review, 2020) Waweru, Sammy Mwangi
    Rise of China and increased Chinese engagement across the globe, have attracted mixed and varied reactions of approval and disapproval in a number of host countries. Against this background, this study brings into perspective rise of anti-Chinese sentiments in Africa, with a Kenyan case study, examining who, why and where anti-Chinese sentiments are most prevalent. The study finds anti-Chinese sentiments being most prevalent among Kenya’s small scale traders who have been displaced by Chinese capital flow and trade in the country. The finding is contextualized within broader framework of globalization and its resultant effects on free movement of capital, trade and investment. More precisely, Chinese capital flow and trade have had distributional consequences of winners and losers with potential to displace Kenya’s small scale traders hence the rise of anti-Chinese sentiments. The anti-Chinese sentiments are equally evident among section of Kenya’s politicians and intelligentsia, who have questioned the viability of Chinese built infrastructure. Further, anti-Chinese sentiments have been found among ordinary citizens who have experienced, albeit isolated, incidences of Chinese misconducts in the country. Notwithstanding these negative reactions, Chinese engagement in Kenya is still pronounced and has popular support from government, general citizenry and among classes of Kenyan who have benefited from Chinese This is an Open Access article, copyright owned by World Scientific Publishing Company (WSPC) and School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Shanghai International Studies University (SIRPA of SISU). The article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 (CC BY-NC) License which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited and is used for non-commercial purposes.involvement in the country. The segmented nature of anti-Chinese sentiments has not been strong enough to undo general goodwill, attitude and perceptions, that ordinary citizen hold towards Chinese engagement in Kenya
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    Physical Planning and Growth of Private Primary Schools in Kenya
    (Journal of Management and Business Education, 2020-11) Kiambati, Kellen; Njiri, Julius; Mbugua, Levi; Mwenja, Dominic
    In Kenya, the number of private schools has increased more than four times since the introduction of the Free Primary Education (FPE) policy in 2003. The number of children attending private primary schools increased from 4.6% in 2004 to 11.5% in 2007. With such increment, there has been challenges on the determinants of growth of education institutions. It is against this background that the study examined the influence of physical planning on the growth of private primary schools in Kenya. the study was anchored in the resource dependency view where the managers of institutions have the ability to acquire, Plan and maintain resources that are important to the growth of an organization. The target population in this study comprised of 7,418 private primary schools in all eight regions of Kenya. Cluster sampling technique was employed of 50% of the target regions were sampled, leading to four out of eight regions being selected. From these regions random sampling was then used to select 320 respondents who were either the principals’/Head teachers or deputy principal of the schools. A questionnaire was used to collect data and Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyse data. The study found a strong and significant correlation between physical planning and growth of primary schools. This study therefore recommended that physical planning was an important factor in determining growth of private schools. The study further recommends that owners of private primary schools should be aware of the facilities that are crucial and most important to students in the teaching and learning. This will intern influence the growth of the private primary schools in Kenya.
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    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.
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    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.
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    Psycho-Social, Financial and Health Predictors of a Quality Retirement Life: A Kenyan Case
    (International Journal of Education and Research, 2019-07-07) Thuku, Pauline
    Research has established a positive correlation between pre-retirement life and quality of life (QoL) in retirement. Yet, many retirees in Kenya continue to experience endless challengesand a lowQoL. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the pre-retirement predictors of retirement satisfaction with a view to making appropriate recommendations. Amulti-dimensional approach was utilized to assess retirement preparation in the psychosocial, financial and health domains and its influence on the overall QoL of retirees. Ten percent of the target population was randomly sampled, giving 447 respondents. Quantitative data was collected using interview schedules and analyzed using SPSS. QoL was found to be positively related to retirement preparation in the psychosocial, financial and health domains. Most respondents were found to be inadequately prepared for retirement and consequently experienced a low quality retirementlife. The study recommendsa multi-faceted retirement preparation framework that ismore responsive to QoL needs.
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    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.
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    Frequency of Use of Information and Communication Technology Equipment by Secondary School Heads and Teachers in Nandi and Uasin Gishu Counties, Kenya
    (The Africa Premier Research Publishing Hub, 2016-10) Kimosop, Maurice K.; Chemwei, Bernard
    Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) generally refer to landline and cellular telephones, wireless technologies, computers, Internet, computer software and hardware, as well as older communication technologies such as radio and television. The study examined the frequency of use of ICT equipment by secondary school heads and teachers in Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties, Kenya. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. All the 8 districts of Nandi and Uasin Gishu Counties were included in the study. A total of 63 schools with functional ICTs were purposively selected and, in each school, one class teacher, 2 subject teachers and 2 heads of department were selected using stratified random sampling to give a total of 315 teachers. All head teachers from each of the 63 schools were selected through purposive sampling. The total sample of the study was, therefore, 378 respondents. Triangulation approach was employed in which both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained and analysed. The main data collection techniques included the use of two questionnaires for teachers and head teachers and an interview schedule that was administered to the head teachers. Data was analysed using SPSS Version 17 and presented through descriptive statistics by use of frequencies and tables. The significance of relationships and differences of variables were tested using Pearson Correlation, Multiple Regression and Independent Samples T-test. From the study findings, the most utilised ICTs in schools were the printer, photocopier and computer while the curriculum management activity that highly utilised the use of ICT was the preparation of and the analysis of exams. This implies that ICTs in schools were mostly used as gadgets for typing and producing exam materials. Little seems to have been done in the utilisation of ICTs for curriculum delivery and the management of data that could be utilised for informing decision making. It is recommended that ICT trainers need to broaden the users’ understanding of the concept of ICT integration to into the management of curriculum in secondary schools. Most head teachers and teachers understood integration of ICT to mean the training of users on ICTs in order for them to be able to type and produce teaching and learning materials.
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