Articles: Department of Humanities

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Exploring The Mutuality Between Religious Leadership and Community Engagement in Enhancing Livelihoods Among Rural Communities Embu, Kenya
(UoEm, 2025-06) Mutugi, Jessee; Mwaniki, Silas Maina
In rural Embu County, Kenya, where poverty and limited access to resources pose significant challenges to sustainable livelihoods, religious institutions serve as vital pillars of social, spiritual, and economic support. This research project, titled "Exploring the Mutuality Between Religious Leadership and Community Engagement in Enhancing Livelihoods Among Rural Communities in Embu, Kenya," investigated the synergistic relationship between religious leadership and community engagement in fostering socio-economic development. By leveraging the influential role of religious leaders and the participatory power of community engagement, the study sought to uncover how their mutual interaction can drive transformative livelihood outcomes in rural settings. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrated qualitative methods—such as key informant interviews and focus group discussions with religious leaders, community members, and stakeholders—with quantitative household surveys to assess socio-economic impacts. The study focused on four rural sub-counties in Embu (Mbeere South, Mbeere North, Runyenjes, and Manyatta), targeting a diverse sample of 200 participants, including religious leaders from various denominations, community members involved in livelihood initiatives, and representatives from local government and NGOs. The research objectives were fourfold: to evaluate the role of religious leaders in promoting community engagement, to identify effective forms of community participation that align with religious leadership, to measure the socio-economic outcomes of their collaboration, and to explore challenges and opportunities in strengthening this mutuality. The findings highlight how religious leaders mobilize communities for initiatives such as agricultural cooperatives, savings groups, and skill-building programs, while community engagement enhances ownership and sustainability of these efforts. The study will contribute to academic discourse on religion and development, offering actionable insights for policymakers, development practitioners, and religious institutions to design inclusive, sustainable interventions that alleviate poverty and enhance livelihoods in rural Embu and similar contexts across Sub-Saharan Africa. By illuminating the dynamics of this partnership, the research underscores the potential of faith-based frameworks to catalyze community- driven development in resource-constrained environments.
Investigation of Research Data Maturity in Academic Libraries of Developed Countries
(University of Embu, 2025) Masinde, Johnson M; Wambiri, Daniel M; Goudian, Gwademba; Sanya, Otuoma
A major development in academic libraries has been their recog- nition of the need to support research data services (RDS) to ad- vance knowledge and science, augment novel solutions to social and economic impediments, and amplify immense potentials for com- petitiveness, productivity, and livability. This study investigated research data service maturity in academic libraries of developed countries with the intent to provide valuable insights and implica- tions for other academic libraries. The maturity model informed the study. The study used in-depth web analysis and literature re- view to examine research data services in top-rated 100 university libraries of developed countries. Study findings showed a clear and well-developed landscape of research data services in these aca- demic libraries; 81 (94%) of the investigated universities offered a wide array of both informational and technical services. The most common services consisted research data curation and storage ser- vice 81 (94%), research data management and training service 81 (94%), research data management reference service 80 (93%), re- search data introduction service 80 (93%) and data management plan and guidance 79 (92%) respectively. The least common service was the resource recommendation service 64 (74%). Study findings, therefore, suggest that the current services are extensive, robust and mature, signifying an overall maturity of the RDS landscape in academic libraries of developed countries
Big data and personal information privacy in developing countries: insights from Kenya
(University of Embu, 2025-04-04) Masinde, Johnson; Mugambi, Franklin; Muthee, Daniel Wambiri
The present study examined the correlation between big data and personal information privacy in Kenya, a developing nation which has experienced a significant rise in utilization of data in the recent past. The study sought to assess the effectiveness of present data protection laws and policies, highlight challenges that individuals and organizations experience while securing their data, and propose mechanisms to enhance data protection frameworks and raise public awareness of data privacy issues. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, which included a survey of 500 participants, 20 interviews with key stakeholders, and an examination of 50 pertinent documents. Study findings show that the regulatory and legal frameworks though present are not enforced, demonstrating a gap between legislation and implementation. Furthermore, there is a lack of understanding about the risks posed by sharing personal information, and that more public education and awareness activities are required. The findings also demonstrate that while people are prepared to trade their personal information for concrete benefits, they are concerned about how their data is utilized and by whom. The study proposes the establishment of a National Data Literacy Training and Capacity Building Framework (NADACA), that should mandate the training of government officials in best practices for data governance and enforcement mechanisms, educate the public on personal data privacy and relevant laws, and ensure the integration of data literacy into the curriculum, alongside the provision of regular resources and workshops on data literacy. The study has significant implications for policymakers, industry representatives, and civil society organizations in Kenya and globally
Syntactic Structures used in the Discursive Construction of Covid-19 Pandemic in Kenya’s Newspaper Headlines
(UoEm, 2024-10-16) Mulonzi, Brian Munyao; Ngumo, Cyrus Mugambi; Omoke, Lillian Kemunto
Media scholars have noted that texts are loaded with ideologies and are therefore never neutral. Yet, the way media texts were used to communicate COVID-19 information in Kenya has been given little attention. Thus, this study examines how syntactic structures in The Standard and the Daily Nation newspapers were used to discursively construct the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. Using Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the study reveals the syntactic structures employed by the newspapers serve important discursive functions. The grammatical processes used in the headlines largely seem to give agency to COVID-19, while Kenyans are presented as grammatical patients. Giving COVID-19 agency, is a way of warning Kenyans against taking the pandemic lightly. The article also shows structures like modality construct the newspapers as having overwhelming authority over readers. Through these syntactic choices, the media wields immense power, and may influence the way people think and act concerning the pandemic.
Themes Used to Discursively Construct the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kenya’s Newspaper Headlines
(UoEm, 2024-09) Mulonzi, Brian Munyao; Ngumo, Cyrus Mugambi; Omoke, Lillian Kemunto
This study investigates the themes that discursively construct the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya’s newspaper headlines, specifically focusing on their role in structuring communication related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While prior research has examined news discourse in various contexts, thematic analysis in Kenya’s news reporting has received limited attention. The study examines 59 COVID-19-related headlines drawn from The Standard and the Daily Nation newspapers. The methodology draws from the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) model, and specifically employs the Top-Down Approach of sampling texts as espoused by Mautner. Van Dijk argues that those who control discourse indirectly manipulate people’s thoughts and actions. This observation is corroborated by the study’s findings which reveal that Kenya’s print media shaped the COVID-19 discourse through the choice and framing of themes such as bondage, death, economy, education and COVID-19 research and search for vaccines. The analysis shows that Kenya’s print media largely constructed the themes in a negative way and this created a sense of crisis and fear among the populace. These feelings of fear and crisis were heightened because the themes encapsulate the things that are dear to Kenyans and which were under threat because of COVID-19. Proactive measures such as online learning during the pandemic were almost wholly excluded from the COVID-19 discourse. The media created unequal power relation with the readership by constructing itself as the reservoir of knowledge about COVID-19. The reader was positioned as subordinate and in dire need of guidance. This was an important discursive strategy for legitimizing the authority of the media about the pandemic. It is hoped that this study will make significant contribution to the fields of discourse, communication and media, as it reveals how media discourse plays a key role in shaping our understanding of pandemics.
Parental Involvement Influence on Education Participation for Learners with Hearing Impairments in Special Public Primary Schools in Meru and Isiolo Counties- Kenya
(UoEm, 2024-05) Nthuku, Purity Karegi; Kibaara, Tarsilla; M’Ngaruthi, Timothy Kinoti
Globally need for education, as a measure of one's ability to function fully in today's society, is an important motivator for efforts to achieve the highest level of education in the world. The persistent under achievement of deaf students in Kenyan schools is of great concern as evidenced by final average scores in their formative and summative scores in their assessments. This study aimed to find out how parental involvement influences education participation for learners with hearing impairment. The study was guided by Maslows theory of motivation in learning. A phenomenological research design was utilized. The study targeted three primary schools handling learners with hearing impairments in Meru and Isiolo counties that is Kaaga, Njia, and Isiolo school for learners with hearing impairment. A thematic approach was used to analyze the qualitative data. The study revealed that parental involvement was minimal. Based on the study findings, collective effort should be made to sensitize the parents on their roles in the education of their children. Employers of parents of students with hearing impairments should be given days off with pay when going to attend to their children's issues in school like closing days, opening days, and clinic days for their children. The school should provide some incentives to parents like meals during the school meetings to help reduce parents’ expenses. The government should ensure tax waivers for parents of students with hearing impairments. The stakeholders should help change parental attitudes that their children will not make it.
Staff Profile: Dr. Wanja Kangangi
(UoEm, 2023-12-19) WANJA, KANGANGI
Research Interests: FOLKLORE/ORATURE/ PERFORMING ARTS/FILM
Discursive metaphorical representation of COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya’s newspaper headlines.
(UoEm, 2023-10-16) Mulonzi, Brian Munyao; Ngumo, Mugambi Cyrus; Omoke, Lilian Kemunto
This study aimed to address the dearth of knowledge regarding the portrayal of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenyan print media, focusing specifically on newspaper headlines. Employing Van Dijk’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Lakoff & Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), the research examined 39 headlines from The Standard and The Daily Nation newspapers, applying inferential statistics via STATA version 15. Van Dijk’s categorization of texts into micro and macro levels and Lakoff and Johnson’s assertion that our ordinary conceptual system relies heavily on metaphors underpin the methodology. The analysis combined CDA with Pragglejazz Group’s Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) to uncover that the majority of metaphors in these headlines constructed COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya in a grim light, associating it with war, death, and bondage. While these metaphors serve as cautionary messages, they fall short in capturing the proactive measures employed to combat the pandemic. This study’s significance lies in its fusion of insights from CDA and CMT, shedding light on how media language exposes cognition and ideology while also revealing the media’s influence on public perception of the pandemic.
Bibliometrics, Scientometrics, Webometrics / Cybermetrics, Informetrics and Altmetrics - An Emerging Field in Library and Information Science Research
(Shanlax International Journal of Education, 2018)
This Article discusses the features and the use of Metrics such as Bibliometrics, Scientometrics, Webometrics, Informetrics and Altmetrics in the field of Library and Information Science Research at present
Uyahe na Raghba ya Jinsia kama Mikakati ya Propaganda Uchunguzi Kifani wa Mdahalo wa Urais wa Kenya, 2013
(2022) Wanyama, John K.
Lengo la kazi hii ni kutathmini matumizi ya uyakhe na raghba ya jinsia kama mikakati ya propaganda katika mdahalo wa urais wa 2013. Wanasiasa hutumia mbinu anuwai kuelekeza uelewa wa suala la kisiasa. Mara nyingi, mbinu hizi huishia kuwachanganya wapiga kura kiasi cha kuwafanya kuchagua watu wasiofaa. Mikakati ya propaganda ndiyo hutumika zaidi katika kampeni za kisiasa. Kazi hii imechunguza namna mikakati miwili ya uyahe na raghba ya jinsia ilivyotumiwa na wagombea kwa lengo la kushawishi wapiga kura na kujipa umaarufu. Utafiti uliongozwa za nadharia ya Uchanganuzi Hakiki wa Usemi na ya Uamilifu. Data ilikuwa kauli zilizoingiana na mikakati ya uyahe na raghba ya jinsia. Uchanganuzi ulizingatia maarifa ya kithamano, ya kimaudhui na kiuhakiki. Matokeo yalionyesha kuwepo matumizi ya mkakati wa uyakhe na wa raghba ya jinsia katika mdahalo wa urais wa mwaka wa 2013. Mikakati hii ilitumiwa na wagombea kwa lengo la kujijengea sifa njema huku wakilenga kubomoa sifa za wapinzani. Pia ilitumiwa kwa dhamira ya kuuza sera za vyama vyao huku wakidhamiria kudhalilisha sera za wapinzani. Kazi hii ni mchango muhimu kwa taaluma ya uchanganuzi usemi na mawasiliano ya kisiasa. Ina manufaa kwa wanafunzi wa uchanganuzi usemi, sayansi ya siasa na mawasiliano. Politicians use various communication styles to direct and determine how voters understand their political messages. Often, these communication styles end up blurring the voters understanding of the issues to the extent that they end up electing undeserving people. Of the many styles available, propaganda techniques are the most used in political campaigns. This study analyses how two propaganda techniques; plain folk and appeal to gender were used by candidates in the 2013 Kenyan presidential debate to both woo voters and establish their preferability. Two theories guided the research; the Critical Discourse Analysis theory and the Functional theory. Data was words and statements that fall in the categories of plain folk and appeal to gender techniques. Critical, content and qualitative approaches were used to do the analysis. Results showed that the two techniques used by candidates, on one hand built their supposedly good leadership qualities, and on the other, destroyed qualities of their opponents. The candidates also used the two techniques to sell their policies and those of their parties while belittling those of the opposing parties as well as their opponents. This work is valuable to the study of discourse analysis and political communication. It forms a good reference for students of discourse analysis, political science and communication. Further research can be undertaken to establish the use of other styles like rhetoric under a different theory.
Ubandikaji Majina na Majumlishi Memeto kama Mikakati ya Propaganda Katika Mdahalo wa Urais wa Kenya 2013
(2018-12) Wanyama, John K.; Wandera, P. Simwa
Wanasiasa hutumia mbinu anuai kuelekeza uelewa wa suala la kisiasa; mikakati ya propaganda haswa ndiyo hutumika zaidi katika kampeni za kisiasa miongoni mwa wanadamu wote ulimwenguni. Shida kubwa ni kama jamii ya kistarabu na kibinadamu inaweza kuendelea kuthamini na kushiriki katika propaganda katika shughuli za uteuzi wa uongozi: kwani kwenye propaganda huwa kupiga chuku,uongo, chuki na mambo mengi ambayo ni kinyume na kutangamana kwa wanadamu kama washiriki wenza katika jamii. Kazi hii imetathmini namna mikakati miwili ilitumiwa na wagombea wa kiti cha urais nchini Kenya, mwaka wa 2013, kwa lengo la kushawishi wapiga kura na kujipa umaarufu. Utafiti uliongozwa na nadharia ya Uchanganuzi Hakiki wa Matini. Data ilikuwa kauli zilizoingiana na mikakati ya propaganda. Uchanganuzi ulizingatia maarifa ya kithamani, ya kimaudhui na kiuhakiki. Matokeo yalionyesha matumizi ya ubandikaji majina na majumlishi memeto. Tekniki hizi zilitumiwa na wagombea kwa lengo la kujijengea sifa njema huku wakilenga kubomoa sifa za wapinzani. Pia zilitumiwa kwa dhamira ya kuuza sera za vyama vyao huku wakidhamiria kudhalilisha sera za wapinzani. Kazi hii ni mchango adimu kwa taaluma ya uchanganuzi matini na mawasiliano ya kisiasa. Aidha ni ya manufaa kwa wanafunzi wa uchanganuzi matini, sayansi ya siasa na mawasiliano. Tafiti zaidi zinaweza kufanywa kuhusu mbinu nyingine kama vile balagha, na pia kuzingatia nadharia zingine tofauti zinazohusu uchanganuzi wa matini.
Fear Mongering and Appeal to the Name of God as Propaganda Techniques in the Kenyan 2013 Presidential Debate
(2018-11) Wanyama, John K.; Wandera, Sheila Simwa; Mayaka, James Gwachi
Politicians use different types of language to control and direct the way the electorate perceive political issues. The most commonly used is propaganda techniques. This work examined two techniques, Fear mongering and appeal to the name of God in the presidential debate of 2013. It sought to establish how they were used by candidates to validate their desirability to voters. The research was based on the Critical Discourse Analysis theory. The data was collected from statements that fitted in the category of fear mongering and appeal to the name of God. The analysis applied the knowledge of three approaches: qualitative, critical and content analysis. Results showed that there was the use of fear mongering and appeal to the name of God as propaganda techniques in the debate. The techniques were used by candidates for self praise, to malign opponents and to protect themselves from any malignment. They were also used with the intention of scaring voters against voting for certain candidates and positioning themselves as the right candidates. This work is a significant contribution to the study of Discourse Analysis and political communication in universities, colleges and schools. It is also important to the voters who consume the political messages that are normally generated during political campaigns. Another research on the use of other propaganda techniques, and a comparison done to establish the most preferred by candidates and why, is recommended.
Upambanuzi wa Miundo ya Toponemia katika Jamii: Mfano kutoka Jimbo Dogo la Maara nchini Kenya
(2022) Mutegi, David Micheni; Mugambi, Allan; Kinoti, Timothy M.
Makala hii imewasilisha uchunguzi uliofanywa kuhusu michakato na mbinu zilizotumika katika uundaji wa toponemia katika jamii. Lengo mahsusi la utafiti huu lilikuwa kupambanua miundo ya toponemia katika eneo la Mwimbi na Muthambi jimboni dogo la Maara. Maeneo haya yaliteuliwa kwa vile yalihusiana kilugha na kiutamaduni hasa katika suala la onomastiki. Nadharia ya Ujinaishaji ndiyo ilitumiwa kuongoza utafiti huu. Data ya utafiti huu ilikusanywa kwa kupitia kwa ya mahojiano ya ana kwa ana pamoja na hojaji. Mahojiano yalimwezesha mtafiti kupata data ya kutosha na halisi moja kwa moja kutoka kwa wahojiwa. Hojaji ilimwezesha mtafiti kukusanya data kwa urahisi katika maeneo mengi na kutoka kwa sampuli kubwa. Walengwa katika utafiti huu walikuwa wakaazi wa Mwimbi na Muthambi. Usampulishaji ulifanywa kimaksudi kwa kuhusisha machifu 5 wa kata 5 za Mwimbi na Muthambi na manaibu wa chifu 25 kutoka kata ndogo 25 za eneo hili. Watawala hao walichaguliwa kwa sababu wao ni wenyeji wa eneo hili walio na habari kuhusu maeneo yao ya utawala, na hivyo wangetoa habari kamilifu kuhusu maswali ya utafiti. Sampuli nyingine ya Wazee 20 wenye umri wa miaka sabini na zaidi walichaguliwa kimakusudi kwa kutumia mbinu ya kimtandao ili kutoa habari kuhusu michakato ya uundaji wa toponemia za shule za msingi katika eneo la Mwimbi na Muthambi. Sampuli ya wazee iliweza kupatikana kwa urahisi kwa sababu ndio wanaopata pesa za wazee na walijulikana katika vijiji vyao. Uchambuzi na uwasilishaji wa data ya utafiti huu ulitumia mkabala wa kimaelezo kulingana na madhumuni na swali la utafiti. Matokeo ya utafiti huu ni marejeleo muhimu kwa watafiti wengine watakaoshughulikia vipengele vya onomastiki katika lahaja ya Kimwimbi na Muthambi. Aidha, utafiti huu ulibainisha michakato mbalimbali ya uundaji wa toponemia katika jamii.
Ubainishaji wa vigezo vya Utoaji Wa Toponemia katika Jamii: Mfano kutoka Jimbo Dogo la Maara nchini Kenya
(2022) Mutegi, David Micheni; Mugambi, Allan; Kinoti, Timothy M.
Utafiti huu wa kionomastiki ulilenga kuchanganua vigezo vya utoaji wa toponemia za shule za msingi katika jamii. Utafiti ulifanyika katika eneo la Mwimbi na Muthambi, jimboni dogo la Maara kwenye Kaunti ya Tharaka-Nithi, nchini Kenya. Nadharia ya Ujinaishaji pamoja na nadharia ya Uchanganuzi Hakiki Usemi na Matini ziliongoza utafiti huu. Data ilikusanywa kupitia mahojiano ya ana kwa ana pamoja na hojaji. Mahojiano yalimwezesha mtafiti kupata data ya kutosha na halisi moja kwa moja kutoka kwa wahojiwa. Hojaji ilimwezesha mtafiti kukusanya data kwa urahisi katika maeneo mengi na kutoka kwa sampuli kubwa. Walengwa katika utafiti huu walikuwa wakaazi wa Mwimbi na Muthambi. Usampulishaji ulifanywa kimaksudi kwa kuhusisha machifu 5 wa kata 5 za Mwimbi na Muthambi na manaibu wa chifu 25 kutoka kata ndogo 25 za eneo hili. Watawala hao walichaguliwa kwa sababu walikuwa wenyeji wa eneo la utafiti na iliaminika kuwa wangetoa habari kamilifu kuhusu maswali ya utafiti. Sampuli nyingine ya Wazee 20 wenye umri wa miaka 70 na zaidi ilichaguliwa kimakusudi kwa kutumia mbinu ya kimtandao ili kutoa habari kuhusu michakato ya uundaji wa toponemia za shule za msingi katika eneo la Mwimbi na Muthambi. Sampuli ya wazee ilipatikana kwa urahisi kwa kuwa walikuwa wakipokea marupurupu maalum kutoka kwa serikali, na hivyo walijulikana katika vijiji vyao. Uchambuzi na uwasilishaji wa data ya utafiti huu ulitumia mkabala wa kimaelezo kulingana na madhumuni na swali la utafiti. Utafiti huu ulibainisha kuwa toponemia hutolewa kwa kuzingatia vigezo vya kimaumbile, kiuchumi na kijamii. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yatatoa marejeleo muhimu kwa watafiti wa baadaye watakaoshughulikia vipengele vya onomastiki katika lahaja ya Kimwimbi na Muthambi na lugha nyinginezo.
Uhusiano wa Kifahiwa katika Leksia za Kîîtharaka: Mtazamo wa Leksika Pragmatiki
(2022) Mwembu, Kimathi; Mugambi, Allan; Kinoti, Timothy M.
Makala haya yanalenga kubainisha jinsi fahiwa zinavyohusiana katika leksia za Kîîtharaka kwa kuzingatia mtazamo wa leksika pragmatiki.Ubadili maana katika leksia mbalimbali husababisha kutokea uhusiano wa kifahiwa katika leksia moja, na kati ya leksia mbili au zaidi. Katika makala haya, ubadili maana unaozua uhusiano wa kifahiwa katika leksia za Kîîtharaka umeangaziwa. Data ya kimsingi kutoka wazungumzaji asilia wa Kîîtharaka, imechanganuliwa kwa kutumia nadharia ya Leksika-Pragmantiki. Matokeo yanabainisha kwamba ubadili maana ukitokea katika leksia za Kîîtharaka, mahusiano ya kifahiwa yafuatayo hutokea: uhusiano wa kipolisemia, kihomnimia, kisinonimia, kihaiponimia, kimeronimu na kiantonimu. Makala haya yanahitimisha kwamba, maana ya leksia huwa na uhusiano na maana nyingine ya leksia iyo hiyo au leksia nyingine tofauti. Pia, kuna mwingiliano baina ya maana kimatumizi na maana kimuktadha ya leksia.
Ubadili Maana katika Leksia za Kîîtharaka: Mtazamo wa Kifonolojia na Kimofolojia
(2022) Mwembu, Kimathi; Mugambi, Allan; Kinoti, Timothy M.
Makala haya yanalenga kubainisha jinsi ubadili katika vitamkwa na mofu unavyoathiri maana ya leksia katika Kîîtharaka. Maana katika leksia hutegemea kipengele cha kiisimu na vile vile kile cha kijamii ili ieleweke vilivyo. Katika hali hii, mabadiliko ya kifonolojia, kimofolojia, pamoja na kileksia yanayoathiri maana yameangaziwa. Data ya kimsingi kutoka wazungumzaji asilia wa Kîîtharaka, imechanganuliwa kwa kutumia nadharia ya Leksika-Pragmantiki. Makala haya yanabainisha ubadili wa kifonolojia pamoja na kimofolojia ambao huchangia katika kuibuka kwa maana fulani katika leksia za Kîîtharaka. Makala haya yanabainisha kwamba maana katika leksia za Kîîtharaka hutegemea kwa njia moja au nyingine mabadiliko yanayohusisha usilimisho, kuimarika na kudhoofika kwa fonimu, uchopekaji, uyeyushaji, hapololojia, kanuni ya Dahl na Ganda. Aidha, ubadili unaoathiri maumbo ya mofu huchangia pakubwa kutokea kwa maana katika leksia. Mofu za ngeli, ukanusho na uambishaji ni miongoni mwa zile ambazo zimebainika kuathiriwa na ubadili, ambao huzua maana fulani. Makala haya yanahitimisha kwamba, maana ya leksia huwa na misingi yake katika kiwango cha fonimu na mofimu zinazotumika kuunda neno. Pia, kuna mwingiliano baina ya maana kimatumizi na maana kimuktadha wa leksia..
The Role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Enhancing Agricultural Productivity in Kenya
(2019) Muthee, Daniel W.; Gwademba, Goudian Kilemba; Masinde, Johnson M.
This paper gives an insight into the role of indigenous knowledge systems in improving agricultural productivity in Kenya. It examines how application of indigenous knowledge can help to scale up sustainable agricultural intensification in order to increase production, protect the environment and reduce poverty. The paper describes different forms of indigenous knowledge and recognizes the important role that indigenous people and their knowledge of the environment, can play in the enhancement of agricultural productivity and environmental protection. While indigenous knowledge has been the basis for local-level decision-making in many rural farming communities in Kenya, the paper finds that, its application has not been wholly integrated into the farming systems not only by local farming communities but also by researchers, extension service providers, scientists, policy makers and planners striving to improve conditions in rural areas and suggests how indigenous knowledge can be applied in improving agricultural productivity among smallholder farmers in Kenya. The paper considers the broad knowledge indigenous people have on how to live sustainably, but discerns that formal education systems sometimes disrupted this sound knowledge by creating an assumption that it is outdated and irrelevant in addressing present-day agricultural challenges. The findings of this paper will help agricultural stakeholders change the perceptions and attitudes they have towards various Indigenous Knowledge Systems in enhancing agricultural productivity and should, therefore, be promoted and that awareness of this importance should be created through policy formulation and implementation in order to foster consciousness among smallholder farmers in Kenya.
Utilization of Mobile Phone and the Ethical Implications on University and Government Services: a Case of Post Graduate Students at Kenyatta University, Kenya
(Association for Computing Machinery., 2021) Masinde, Johnson M.; Muthee, Daniel W.
This study investigated access and usage of mobile phones by postgraduate students. Mobile phone technology has greatly contributed to the quick access and sharing of information in the contemporary world. However, the issue of integrity in the usage of mobile phone remains a paradox. The data was collected using a questionnaire that was administered to 165 post graduate students in the Schools of Education and Business. The respondents were purposely selected because the researchers were interested in post graduate students working in government institutions and departments. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 18. The results indicated that mobile phone usage for information sharing and research is very high. All the students sampled used mobile phones to access, share, and search information since all of them had smart phones. It was noted that the University lacked a policy on use of mobile phones to access and read educational materials. Interestingly, it was noted that mobile phone is a handy technology for most examination malpractices and dishonesty. The study highly recommends policy issues on usage of mobile technology by students particularly in enhancing learning and information sharing as well as maintaining sanctity of examinations and individual student integrity.
Gender and cognitive factors influencing information seeking of graduate students at Kenyatta University Library
(2020-07) Masinde, Johnson M.; Wambiri, Daniel M.; Jing, Chen
Background: Gender has been identified as a possible influencing factor in users’ information- seeking process. Previous studies have alluded to the fact that gender as a variable may be useful for a better understanding of the cognitive and social background of human information processing and may have important implications in the information-seeking process. Although a number of studies have investigated gender, amongst other variables, as having an effect on the information-seeking process of users, no attempt has been made to investigate the relationship between gender and cognitive factors on the information-seeking patterns of graduate students of Kenyatta University Library. Objective: The study investigates gender and cognitive factors influencing the information- seeking process of graduate students at Kenyatta University Library. Methodology: To achieve this objective, the study developed a theoretical framework which can be used by academic libraries as a basis for implementing both digital and reference desk services in order to meet the dynamic user needs. The study then investigated whether there were any gender differences through the correlation coefficient in the context of expectancy theory. The motivational process amongst the male and female users was then examined to establish whether there was any difference. Results: This study found no gender difference in all the variables considered, including interaction service quality, outcome (need satisfaction,) service satisfaction, users’ performance of service, past experience, expectancy and effort. Conclusion: This study found no gender difference in all the variables investigated. The implication of the findings was that there is no need for mainstreaming gender in service programming in the library service.
Researchers’ Perceptions of Research Data Management Activities at an Academic Library in a Developing Country
(2021-12) Masinde, Johnson M.; Jing, Chen; Muthee, Daniel W.
This study investigated researchers’ perceptions of RDM activities at the Mahatma Gandhi Graduate Research Library (MGGL) to recommend measures to enhance managing, sharing, and reusing research data. The study was underpinned by the DCC curation lifecycle model and the community capability model framework (CCMF), which enabled the investigator to employ a descriptive research design to capture data from a broad cross-section of 330 researchers purposively. The data was analyzed using SPSS to generate descriptive and inferential statistics that enabled the investigator to address the research problem. Though the library had policies on research data, quality assurance, and intellectual property, study findings evidenced no explicit policies to guide each stage of data curation and capabilities. There were also inadequacies in the knowledge and skills capability, technological infrastructure, and collaborative partnerships. Overall, RDM faced challenges in all examined capabilities. The study recommends establishing an RDM unit within the library to oversee the implementation of RDM activities.

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