Masters Theses: Department of Humanities

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    Unyanyasikaji Wa Wanaume Katika Diwani Za Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Maskini Milionea na Hadithi Nyingine
    (UoEm, 2025-08-25) Waithaka, Elizabeth Wanjiru
    Literature as a mirror of the society uses language very effectively to give us a true picture of what is happening in the society. This research focused on the suffering of men in the selected literary works. The research investigated the issue of the violation of rights of men as depicted in selected Kiswahili literary works, that is, selected stories in Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine (2016) edited by Alifa Chokocho and Dumu Kayanda, and Maskini Milionea na Hadithi Nyingine (2012) edited by Ken Walibora. This research evaluated ways in which men suffer, effects of this suffering and the methods they use to free themselves. This research was guided by Intersectionality Theory. Purposeful sampling technique was used to get the samples. The research data was collected through reading the selected Kiswahili literary works and analysing it through descriptive method guided by the objectives of the research. The findings of the study indicate that men experience various forms of suffering, including extramarital infidelity, family break-ups, break- up of engagement, abuse, deprivation of food, carrying out domestic chores, and physical violence. The factors contributing to the perpetration of male suffering encompass economic status, gender, social class, and societal expectations. The effects of suffering manifested in several profound ways, including feelings of regret, hopelessness, disrupted peace of mind, experiences of physical assault, social isolation, family break-ups, and depression. The study further revealed that men fight against these adversities through mechanisms such as perseverance or stoicism, investigating ant taking risky actions, cultivating hope and optimism, intentional silence and indifference, and introspection and seeking solutions. Although men often employ these mechanisms to cope with their suffering, these methods prove to be inadequate. Consequently, it is important that they seek assistance from appropriate professionals. This study offers valuable insights for literary scholars by showing various dimensions of male suffering and its effects. Furthermore, it holds significance for male activists by underscoring the pivotal role of Kiswahili literature in addressing and articulating the experiences of male suffering both within Kenya and in a global context.
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    Determinants of Gender Based Violence Against Men in Tigania West Sub-County, Meru County Kenya
    (UoEm, 2026-01-15) Mburuki, John
    Gender-Based Violence (GBV) stands as a pervasive global phenomenon impacting individuals irrespective of their gender. Although traditionally, women have been predominantly recognized as primary victims, men also encounter diverse dimensions of GBV. This study was conducted in Tigania West, Meru County, Kenya, with the primary aim of investigating the determinants of GBV against men in Tigania West Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya. The study targeted a population of 135,980 individuals. An exploratory cross-sectional case study design was employed, involving a random sample of 398 respondents. Data collection methods included focus group discussions and questionnaires. The analysis utilized a mixed-method approach integrating qualitative analysis with descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The theoretical framework guiding this research comprised Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory, emphasizing how individuals learn behaviors through observation and imitation, complemented by Gender Theory, which explores societal constructs of masculinity and femininity. Key findings from the study revealed that GBV against men in Tigania West manifested in various forms, notably physical, emotional, and sexual violence. Sociocultural factors such as cultural norms and economic factors like unemployment and low education levels were identified as significant contributors to the perpetuation of GBV against men. Moreover, the research underscored the profound negative impact of GBV on men's mental health and well-being, highlighting issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and the underreporting of cases. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to the growing body of knowledge on GBV by shedding light on the often-overlooked experiences of male victims. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations to develop more inclusive intervention strategies, promote awareness, and foster a more gender-balanced approach to addressing GBV in Kenya.
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    Uchanganuzi wa Mtindo Katika Muziki wa Benga wa Jamii ya Wakamba Mkabala wa Umtindo
    (UoEm, 2025-10-01) Carolyne Muthini Mutuku
    Muziki ni njia mojawapo ambayo watu katika jamii hutumia kuwasilisha masuala kama vile mapenzi, kifo na siasa. Utafiti huu ulichanganua jinsi waimbaji wa muziki wa Benga wa jamii ya Wakamba hutumia vipengele vya mtindo kuwasilisha jumbe. Kwa kuzingatia kielelezo cha nadharia ya umtindo ya Geoffrey Neil Leech, utafiti huu ulichunguza viwango vitatu vya mtindo ambavyo ni udhihirikaji, umbo na semantiki. Nadharia ya umtindo hufasiri na kuhakiki tungo kwa kuzingatia mtazamo wa kiisimu kama taaluma iliyo na uhusiano wa karibu na fasihi. Utafiti ulilenga: kubainisha mikakati ya kimtindo wanayotumia waimbaji wa muziki wa Benga wa jamii ya Wakamba kuwasilisha ujumbe; kuchanganua wanavyoimarisha ujumi katika muziki wao; kueleza athari lengwa ya uchaguzi wao wa kimtindo. Ukusanyaji wa data ulitegemea mbinu ya uchanganuzi matini ili kuwezesha uchunguzi wa kina wa nyimbo za muziki wa Benga wa jamii ya Wakamba zilizoteuliwa kimakusudi. Data ilichanganuliwa kimaelezo kwa kurejelea mihimili ya nadharia ya umtindo. Kutokana na utafiti huu ilibainika kuwa Waimbaji wa muziki wa Benga wa jamii ya Wakamba hutumia vipengele vya kimtindo kama vile uradidi, urudiaji na tamathali za usemi kuwasilisha ujumbe. Vilevile utafiti uliweza kubaini kuwa waimbaji hao hutumia vipengele vya kimtindo kuimarisha ujumi wa kihalisia, kigothiki, kimapenzi, kisiasa na kitamaduni. Isitoshe, mikakati hii huwasaidia kufanikisha athari lengwa kwa hadhira zao. Utafiti huu unachangia maarifa mapya katika taaluma ya umtindo kwa kuonyesha jinsi vipengele vya kipekee vya lugha na usanii katika muziki wa Benga wa jamii ya Wakamba vinavyojenga maana, kuhifadhi lugha za asili na kuakisi utambulisho wa kitamaduni. Unaimarisha vitengo vya isimu, fasihi na masomo ya tamaduni za Kiafrika. Pia, unatambulisha muziki wa Benga wa jamii ya Wakamba kama mada yenye umuhimu katika utafiti wa fasihi na lugha, huku ukiwaongoza wanamuziki kutunga muziki unaoangazia masuala ya kijamii na ujumi wa kisanaa
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    Balagha Katika Hotuba za Wagombea Urais Kwenye Makongamano ya Wajumbe Nchini Kenya, Mwaka wa 2022
    (UoEm, 2025-10-01) Caroline Kathure Kamuru
    Balagha ni mkakati unaotumiwa katika mawasiliano ili kushawishi hadhira lengwa. Utafiti huu ulilenga kuchanganua matumizi ya balagha katika hotuba za wagombea wawili wa kiti cha urais, wakati wa makongamano yao ya kitaifa ya wajumbe nchini Kenya, mwaka wa 2022. Lengo kuu la utafiti huu lilikuwa kutathmini matumizi ya balagha katika hotuba za wagombea urais kwenye makongamano yao ya wajumbe nchini Kenya, 2022. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na nadharia mbili. Nadharia ya balagha ya Aristotle iliongoza uchunguzi wa matumizi ya maadili, kigusahisi na mantiki kama zinavyothibitika katika hotuba zile. Nadharia ya vitendoneni ya Austin iliangazia vitendo dhamiriwa katika hotuba hizo nne. Data ya utafiti huu ilikusanywa kutoka kwa rekodi rasmi za hotuba hizo kutoka kwa mtandao wa YouTube. Mtafiti alitumia mbinu ya kimakusudi kuteua hotuba zilizodhihirisha matumizi ya balagha na vitendo dhamiriwa katika hotuba za wagombea wawili wakuu wa urais. Hii ni kutokana na uzoefu wao wa muda mrefu katika siasa na nafasi yao ya kipekee katika uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 2022. Mtafiti aliyateua makongamano haya kwani humpa mgombea nafasi nzuri ya kuwasilisha sera za chama na pia kuomba uungwaji mkono. Data ilichanganuliwa kwa njia ya kimaelezo kwa kufuata vigezo vya nadharia ya balagha ya Aristotle na nadharia ya vitendoneni ya Austin. Uwasilishaji wa matokeo ulifanywa kwa njia ya kimaelezo na jedwali. Matokeo ya utafiti yalionyesha kuwa wagombea walitumia aina tatu kuu za balagha: mantiki, kigusahisi, na maadili ili kushawishi hadhira yao. Utafiti uligundua kuwa balagha ilitumika hasa kujenga imani, kugusa hisia, kuumua mihemko miongoni mwa wasikilizaji, kudhihirisha mantiki, kujenga imani mbele ya hadhira, kudhihirisha tajriba katika utekelezaji wa majukumu, kujinasibisha na hadhira, kuelekeza mtazamo wa hadhira na kushinda uchaguzi. Utafiti uligundua kuwa balagha ilitumika hasa kujenga imani ya wagombea, kugusa hisia na kueleza sera zao. Uchanganuzi wa vitendo dhamiriwa ulionyesha kuwa hotuba zilihusisha vitendo vya uwakilishaji, uelekezaji, uwajibikaji, uelezaji na matamko yaliyolenga kuathiri tabia ya wapiga kura. Utafiti ulihitimisha kuwa balagha ina jukumu muhimu katika mawasiliano ya kisiasa na ushawishi wa hadhira lengwa. Watafiti katika uwanja wa sayansi ya siasa, lugha na mawasiliano watapata maarifa muhimu kutoka kwa kazi hii yatakayochangia masomo yao na kazi ya utafiti katika viwango tofauti. Utafiti huu unapendekeza tafiti za baadaye ziangazie: Ulinganishaji wa mikakati ya balagha inavyotumika na wahusika malimbali wa kisiasa katika miktadha tofauti za kisiasa na kitamaduni na uchunguzi wa jinsi vyombo vya habari vya kijamii vinavyoshawishi ufanisi wa mikakati ya balagha. Utafiti huu unachangia katika kukuza mbinu bora za uongozi zinazohitajika kwa maendeleo endelevu nchini Kenya (SDG 16). Kinadharia, matokeo haya yanakuza uelewa kuhusu mbinu za mawasiliano katika muktadha wa kisiasa na jinsi zinavyotumika katika kuishawishi hadhira.
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    Upole Katika Mawasiliano ya Wahudumu wa Bodaboda na Abiria: Uchunguzi Kifani wa Kaunti ndogo ya Mbooni, Makueni, Kenya
    (UoEm, 2025-10-01) Faith Mbithe Kathukya
    Bodaboda ni baadhi ya vyombo vya usafiri ambavyo hutumika kote ulimwenguni ili kukidhi utashi wa usafiri kwa wanadamu. Utafiti huu ulijikita katika kuchunguza mikakati ya upole na namna wahudumu wa bodaboda wanaizingatia au kuikiuka wanapoingiliana na wateja wao. Mawasiliano mema huchochea uwezo wa wahudumu wa bodaboda wa kuvutia na kudumisha uhusiano wao na abiria. Ufanisi wa mazungumzo haya hutegemea uwezo wa wanaohusika kutumia mikakati ya upole. Wanajamii hutumia mikakati ya upole ili kujaribu kulinda nyuso zao au za wanaotagusana nao. Utafiti huu ulitathmini mikakati ya upole kama inavyotumika katika mawasiliano baina ya wahudumu wa bodaboda na abiria katika eneo la Mbooni lililo katika Kaunti ya Makueni. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na Nadharia ya Upole. Usampulishaji ulifanywa kimakusudi ili kupata sampuli ya data iliyokuwa na sifa za kuwezesha ufikiaji wa malengo ya utafiti. Utafiti huu wa kithamano ulihusisha uchunzaji wa mawasiliano 26 kati ya wahudumu wa bodaboda na abiria kisha mahojiano 58 yaliyohusisha wahudumu wa bodaboda 30 na abiria 28 kutoka kwa vituo vitano. Idadi hii ya sampuli ilitokana na ufikiaji wa kiwango kifu kwenye mchakato wa ukusanyaji data. Mbinu za kukusanya data katika utafiti huu zilikuwa ni uchunzaji na mahojiano ya moja kwa moja ambapo mawasiliano yalirekodiwa kwa kutumia kinasa sauti. Mawasiliano yaliyokuwa yamerekodiwa yalisikilizwa na kunakiliwa kwa ajili ya uchambuzi. Uchanganuzi wa data katika lengo la kwanza ulihusisha kuhakiki na kuelezea kwa kina kauli zilizotumika katika mawasiliano ili kubainisha mikakati ya upole kwa kuzingatia mihimili ya nadharia husika. Kwa lengo la pili na la tatu, data kutoka kwa watafitiwa ilihakikiwa na kuelezwa kwa kuelekezwa na nadharia ya upole. Kulingana na matokeo ya lengo la kwanza, mikakati yote ya upole ilitumika katika mawasiliano ya wahudumu wa bodaboda na abiria ila mkakati chanya wa upole, mkakati ndani ya rekodi na mkakati nje ya rekodi ulitumika kwa wingi. Mkakati hasi na wa kutosema chochote ulitumika kwa kiwango cha chini. Lengo la pili lilidhihirisha kuwa, ili kuzingatia matumizi ya mikakati ya upole wahudumu wa bodaboda na abiria huchochewa na faida au matokeo tarajiwa, tofauti za mahusiano kama vile ya umri, haja ya kutaka kuonyesha heshima kwa sababu ya tofauti za kimamlaka na hali ya kutaka kukabiliana na uzito wa tendo la kutishia uso. Hata hivyo, matumizi ya mikakati ya upole hukiukwa kwa sababu ya machukulio, madharau na haraka. Matokeo katika lengo la tatu yalidhihirisha kuwa, matumizi ya mikakati ya upole huwa na athari chanya kwa mawasiliano kama vile; kudumisha heshima, kuleta athari ya raghba, kuokoa muda, kufanikisha mawasiliano, kupoza hisia za hasira na kujenga mahusiano thabiti kati ya wahudumu wa bodaboda na abiria. Kwa upande mwingine, ukiukaji wa matumizi ya mikakati ya upole ulidhihirisha athari hasi kwa mawasiliano kama vile kuzungumzia mada nyeti hadharani na kusitisha mawasiliano baada ya nyuso kutishiwa. Matokeo haya yanaonyesha umuhimu wa mikakati ya upole katika kuboresha mawasiliano ya wahudumu wa bodaboda na abiria. Utafiti huu unawapendekezea watunga sera katika sekta ya bodaboda wabuni na watekeleze sera zinazolenga kuhimiza matumizi ya lugha ya upole kama mkakati wa kuboresha uzoefu na hali ya kuridhika kwa abiria. Vilevile, utafiti huu unatoa mchango muhimu katika taaluma ya Isimujamii na Pragmatiki, hivyo ni wenzo muhimu kwa tafiti za baadaye.
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    Discursive Construction of Covid-19 Pandemic in Kenya's Newspaper Headlines
    (UoEm, 2024-09) Munyao Mulonzi, Brian
    This thesis explores the discursive construction of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya's newspaper headlines. This study was guided by the following objectives: to examine how metaphors were used to discursively construct the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya's newspaper headlines; to analyze syntactic structures that were used to discursively construct the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya's newspaper headlines and to examine themes covered to discursively construct the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya's newspaper headlines. A total of 101 newspaper headlines from The Standard and the Daily Nation, published between March, 2020 to December, 2020 were purposefully sampled using The Top-Down Approach. The Daily Nation contributed 52 headlines and The Standard 49 headlines. The study focused on these two newspapers because they have the widest readership in Kenya. Data analysis was done using CDA which is both a theory and a method. This study adopted three theoretical perspectives; Van Dijk’s Socio-cognitive Model, Fairclough’s CDA approach and Lakoff and Johnson’s CMT. Van Dijk's approach involves analyzing texts at the micro and macro levels, where the micro level focuses on linguistic items such as metaphors and the macro levels deal with themes. Fairclough's CDA approach was employed because it explicitly demonstrates how syntactic structures are utilized in media discourse to shape and frame social issues. CMT was used since it shows how media texts affect the reader’s cognition. Together, these three theories combine to reveal the media’s role in shaping public perception. Additionally, this theoretical triangulation highlights and exposes ideologies embedded in media discourse. The findings reveal that COVID-19 is discursively constructed using metaphors of war, bondage and death. It is clear from these metaphors that the print media tended to concentrate on the danger posed by the virus heightening the sense of urgency and crisis. Moreover, the newspapers discursively constructed COVID-19 using the following syntactic structures: grammatical process and participant types, nominalization, modes of sentences and modality. These syntactic structures reveal the same discursive trend where, for example, COVID-19 is constructed as an agent capable of creating crises, disrupting lives and even causing death. A few of the syntactic structures, however, give people agency and discursively construct pandemic as conquerable. The themes captured in the headlines logically arise from the linguistic choices made at the syntactic and lexical levels, and therefore, fall within the same frame of constructing the pandemic as a formidable enemy. The study argues that this largely negative discursive construction of COVID-19 has a dual purpose; while it serves as a warning to the populace to take protective measures, it may also lead to pessimism and despondency. This study holds great importance, specifically because it combines perspectives from CDA and CMT. This merging of theories unveils how media language exposes our thinking patterns and beliefs. Moreover, it is hoped this research will contribute to the fields of discourse, communication, and media studies. Furthermore, this analysis has implications for the medical field, as it demonstrates the impact of media discourse on our understanding of diseases and our actions in response to them.