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Item Farm Household Typology Based on Soil Quality and Influenced by Socio-Economic Characteristics and Fertility Management Practices in Eastern Kenya(2023) Wawire, Amos; Csorba, Ádám; Zein, Mohammed; Rotich, Brian; Phenson, Justine; Szegi, Tamás; Kovács, Eszter Tormáné; Michéli, ErikaThe smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are highly diverse and heterogeneous in terms of biophysical and socio-economic characteristics. This study was conducted in upper Eastern Kenya (UEK) to categorize farm households and determine the influence of socio-economic characteristics (SeC) and soil fertility management practices (SFMP) on soil fertility across farms. Conditioned Latin hypercube sampling (cLHS) was performed to determine 69 soil sampling sites within Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties. From each household (whose field soil sample was obtained), data relating to resource endowment and soil fertility management were collected through a household questionnaire survey. Standard laboratory procedures were used to analyse soil samples. Data reduction was performed using categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA) (for SeC and SFMP) and standard principal component analysis (PCA) (for soil properties). Two-step cluster analysis identified three distinct farm categories or farm types (FT), namely, low fertility farms (FT1), moderately fertile farms (FT2), and fertile farms (FT3). The correlation of clusters against soil properties was significant across pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), available P, plant available K, and exchangeable bases. FT1 had low SOC, pH, CEC and available P (soil characteristics), low usage of fertilizer and manure (soil fertility management), and smaller household size, lower income, and smaller farm size (socio-economic). FT2 had lower SOC (compared to FT3) and available P. In terms of soil fertility management, FT2 had higher cases of fallowing and composting with moderate fertilizer usage. Households in this category had moderate income, family size, and land size (socio-economic). FT3 had relatively high SOC, pH, CEC, and mineral nutrients. This farm type was characterized by high fertilizer use (soil fertility management) as well as larger household size, higher income, and larger farm size (socio-economic). The results indicate the importance of nutrient management in enhancing soil quality. Delineation and characterization of farms based on the various parameters including resource endowment reveal imbalanced farm resource flows, suggesting a need for locally tailored interventions suited for location-specific conditions to facilitate improved targeting of soil fertility-enhancing technologies and sustainable crop production regimes. While fertilizer is one of the most critical inputs for enhancing agricultural production, it is a major contributor to nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture and can have negative environmental effects on soil biota and water sources. Farmers’ knowledge on the use of fertilizer is thus necessary in developing strategies (such as integrated approach) to promote its efficient use and minimize its detrimental impacts.Item A Critical Evaluation of the Environmental Effects of the Existing E-Waste Management Practices in Kenya(2019) Simiyu, Peter Wamalwa; Wabwoba, Franklin; Ronoh, RichardInformation Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets and other electronics are extensively being used in the health, industries, education, homes, communication and trade sectors. With the expected introduction of use of laptops in primary schools in Kenya, the use of these electronics is expected to drastically increase, thus, leading to an increase in electronic waste. Although e-waste has parts and components of value, they contain many toxic components, which prompt a potential need of this research to assess the contents, qualities and impact of e-waste material. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the environmental implications of the existing e-waste management practices. The study adopted survey research design. The sample population included 18 policy officers in County Government of Bungoma, 28 electronic shop repairs, and 61 institutions and collectors of e-waste material. The study is expected to provide guideline on Green ICT practices and e-waste management as a platform for evaluation, policy enforcement, guidelines and further research on electronic waste management.Item Students Selection for University Course Admission at the Joint Admissions Board (Kenya) Using Trained Neural Networks(2011) Wabwoba, Franklin; Mwakondo, Fullgence M.Every year, the Joint Admission Board (JAB) is tasked to determine those students who are expected to join various Kenyan public universities under the government sponsorship scheme. This exercise is usually extensive because of the large number of qualified students compared to the very limited number of slots at various institutions and the shortage of funding from the government. Further, this is made complex by the fact that the selections are done against a predefined cluster subjects vis a vis the student’s preferred and applied for academic courses. Minimum requirements exist for each course and only students having the prescribed grades in specific subjects are eligible to join that course. Due to this, students are often admitted to courses they consider irrelevant to their career prospects and not their preferred choices. This process is tiresome, costly, and prone to bias, errors, or favour, leading to disadvantaging innocent students. This paper examines the potential use of artificial neural networks at the JAB for the process of selecting students for university courses. Based on the fact that Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have been tested and used in classification, the paper explains how a trained neural network can be used to perform the students’ placement effectively and efficiently. JAB will be able, therefore, to undertake the students’ placement thoroughly and be able to accomplish it with minimal wastage of time and resources respectively without having to utilise unnecessary effort. The paper outlines how the various metrics can be coded and used as input to the ANNs. Ultimately, the paper underscores the various merits that would accompany the adoption of this technique. By making use of neural networks in the university career choices, student placement at JAB will enhance the chances of students being placed into courses they prefer as part of their career choice. This is likely to motivate the students, making them work harder and leading to improved performance and improved completion rate. The ANN application may also reduce the cost spend on the application processing and the time the applicants have to wait for the outcome. The ANN application could further increase the chances of high quality applicants getting admission to career courses for which they qualify.Item Classifying Program Visualization Tools to Facilitate Informed Choices: Teaching and Learning Computer Programming(2012) Mutua, Stephen; Wabwoba, Franklin; Ogao, Patrick; Anselmo, Peter; Abenga, Elizabeth1Program Visualization (PV) is a technique that has been found useful in teaching computing programming. This has seen proliferation in development of PV tools with an aim of enhancing teaching/learning programming over the last two decades. However, the tools usage has remained minimal. Perhaps because it becomes challenging to ascertain the appropriate tool for the right task. This paper presents a classification of program visualization tools with the focus of aiding teachers and students in choosing the most appropriate tool for an interesting experience in the classroom. The paper is based on six various PV tools evaluated over a period of two consecutive academic years in a Kenyan public University. The classification augments the Price’s taxonomy of software visualization arm of PV by presenting four basic levels which are further subdivided into lower levels. Index Terms– Classification, Pedagogy, Program Visualization and TaxonomyItem Virtual reality in education trends and issues(2013-01-01) Omieno, Kelvin K.; Wabwoba, Franklin; Matoke, Nahasoncommon form of education in institutions of higher learning (IHL). Many IHL in developing nations, such as Kenya, have greatly experienced an increase in demand for higher education. On the other hand, the ability to connect people with required sets of skills, regardless of their location in the world has been enabled by advances in information technology over the past 20 years. Use of virtual learning systems (VLS) has rapidly emerged as a very promising technology that will probably match the innovation of technologies such as multimedia/hypermedia. These VLS have the potential to provide opportunities for active, flexible, and increasingly individualized learning experiences. It also explains virtual reality principle, describes the interactive educational environment, highlights the challenges higher education face in the traditional mode of delivery and discusses educational benefits of implementing virtual learning environments in IHL. The paper makes a number of recommendations for successful adoption of VLS in higher educationItem Barriers to Implementation of Green ICT in Kenya(2012) Wabwoba, F.; Wanyembi, Gregory W.; Omuterema, StanleyABSTRACT Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is playing an increasingly important role in both business and private undertakings. Its use in several areas in the world economy has brought about increased demand for electronic equipment. The rapid pace of technology advancement and the drop in hardware prices has led to increased demand and acquisition resulting in increased production and use of hardware. However, the increased ICT uptake has increased costs and demand for energy where electricity is the main power source. Electricity notably is a major contributor to climatic change because the coal or oil that helps generate it does releases carbon dioxide, pollutants, and sulphur into the atmosphere. With environmental degradation, rising costs of doing business and power demand and demand for social responsibility, going green is no longer an option. There are green ICT technologies in the market to mitigate the concerns but unfortunately they are not bearing fruit that calls for an understanding of barriers to implementation of the same in developing nations like Kenya. The study used multiple case study approach. The study population included ICT managerial, technical and end user human resource and public university ICT graduate students. The multiple study was conducted in one leading sugar manufacturing industry, a communication commission regulatory body and one public university offering ICT from certificate to PhD level. Respondents were either interviewed or responded to a questionnaire. The study established that green ICT technologies are available in Kenya and are not barriers to its implementation. The paper highlights the barriers to implementing green ICT in Kenya. The paper recommends alignment of ICTItem Influence of employer-employee relationships on service quality in the hospitality industry in Nakuru County, Kenya(2020) Mburu, Ben K.; Koome, Peter; Gichuhi, DavidEmployees are the backbone of the hospitality industry, and the people in service are inseparable from the service they provide. This research investigated the influence of employer-employee relationships on service quality in the hospitality industry in Nakuru County, Kenya. Descriptive design was used to gather both quantitative and qualitative data through the use of questionnaires and interview guide as the key informants. The target population was 73 respondents comprising of 55 employees’ operational employees and 18 supervisors at Nuru Palace and the Legacy Hotel in Nakuru County. The findings also reveal that coaching and mentorship as well as mutual trust between employees and their superiors affect service quality positively. The study recommends that hospitality establishments should facilitate more on the job training and provide technical support to their employees. They should also work on establishing trust between the management and the workforce.Item The effect of a company’s innovation orientation culture on employee turnover among selected non-governmental organizations in Samburu(2021) Lentawa, Julius; Gesimba, Paul; Gichuhi, DavidThis paper examines the effect of a company's innovation orientation culture on employee turnover among selected non-governmental organizations in Samburu, Kenya. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 78 NGOs operating in Samburu County for the analysis, the study population comprised 11 senior management teams, 14 technical teams and 78 junior staff in 24 selected and active NGOs in Samburu. The analysis gathered both qualitative and quantitative data. A structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data and an interview guide was used to collect qualitative data. Thematic data analysis was used to interpret qualitative data, which included common terms, phrases, themes, and patterns. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics which includes frequencies, means, and standard deviation. Findings Results showed that innovation orientation is positively correlated with employee turnover (r=0.375, P=0.01). This supports Chow et al’s (2001) study which revealed that innovation orientation as part of an organization's culture has a significant effect on employee turnover. This study also discovered that an innovation orientation culture embedded in an NGO's ideology will help to reduce turnover because workers feel valued when their work is recognized for creativity and innovation.Item Effect of team diversity on team cohesion in faith-based organizations: Acase of St. Martin catholic social apostolate in Nyahururu, Kenya(2022) Wanjiku, Daniel Kabiru; Gichuhi, David; Mwaura, Peteream diversity management helps to improve the cohesion of a team and ultimately, organizational development is enhanced. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of team diversity management on team cohesion at St. Martin Catholic Social Apostolate, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population for the study was 115 employees at the St. Martin Catholic Social Apostolate in Kenya. Stratified and simple random sampling procedures were used to sample 92 employees. Data was collected using a questionnaire and the collected data was analyzed through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 21. Descriptive statistical analysis involved the calculation of percentages and frequencies while inferential statistical analysis involved Pearson correlation in establishing the association of the variables under investigation. and Chi-square tests. Data was presented in the form of tables and charts. Qualitative data were analysed thematically and presented in the form of narratives. The study ensured that ethical considerations were adhered to. The study found a statistically significant relationship between team diversity management and team cohesion (p<0.05). The study concludes that each team member is held accountable for their activities and the decisions they make regarding the team and is included in team activities. The study recommends that the team leaders ensure that all team members are included in all team activities. This can be achieved through creating environments and opportunities that allow the team members to provide their opinions openlyItem The Traditional Cook Stoves and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in Kenya.(2021) Biwott, carolineThe achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is hampered by slow adoptions of new technologies. The Improved cook-stove has been designed to offer many benefits that lead to the achievement of food security, and the green, renewable and affordable fuel dimensions of the SDGs. However, there is low adoption of improved cook-stoves among the rural populations in Kenya. The rural population still rely on traditional cook-stoves. This study therefore sought to analyse how the traditional cook stove is not fully contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals as it should. The Research Questions of the study were: What are the socio - economic realities of the communities in the use of cook stoves? What are the aspects in the traditional cook-stoves that do not allow it to fully contribute towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in Uasin Gishu County? The study utilised Qualitative research approach and it is a case study of U asin Gishu County in Kenya. There were 20 respondents for the study who were selected using purposive sampling technique. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. Primary data was collected using interviews and observation data generation tools. The data was then analysed qualitatively using the thematic data analysis. The study reviewed the theoretical and empirical literature on the traditional cook-stoves. The secondary data was then analysed to determine how the traditional cook-stove is a barrier to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). From the study findings, the study concludes that to a large extent the traditional cook-stove is a barrier to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) especially in issues related to poverty, health, energy, climate change and sustainable forest management. It is anticipated that the study will be significant in emphasising the adoption of improved cook-stoves and the use of Biogas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or other alternative cooking energy. The study will also have policy implications for energy and environment conservation in Kenya as well as promote the achievement of Sustainable Developments Goals.