Daystar University Repository

Welcome to the Daystar University's Digital Repository. Here we preserve and disseminate the University's Intellectual output.

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Conference/ Workshop/ Seminar/ Proceedings/ Lecture Series
A collection of conference, workshop, seminar, proceedings, and lecture series showcasing diverse topics and cutting-edge research from faculty and staff of Daystar University.
Daystar Archives
An archival collection chronicling the institutional history, academic achievements, and diverse heritage of Daystar University.
Daystar University Publications
A collection of Publications by faculty and staff showcasing research, academic achievements, and institutional insights of Daystar University.
Lectures and Speeches
A collection of Lectures and Speeches from distinguished speakers across various disciplines of Daystar University.
Policies
A collection Policies and Operational Manuals from different departments of Daystar University.

Recent Submissions

Eco-Innovative Frameworks for Climate-Resilient Healthcare Systems: Lessons from Kenyan Health Facilities
(Daystar University, School of Communication, 2025) Yugi, Onyango James
Climate change is affecting public health systems, evidenced by the increasing disease burden from heat stress, vector-borne diseases, water scarcity, and malnutrition. These issues strain healthcare systems, especially in resource-limited regions. While healthcare systems are at the forefront in addressing climate-related health challenges, they also contribute to environmental degradation through high energy consumption, inefficient waste management, and resource- intensive operations. This dual role positions them as culprit and victim of climate change, emphasizing the need for eco-innovative frameworks that build resilience and reduce the sector’s ecological footprint. This study explores the eco-innovative frameworks that enhance climate resilience in Kenyan health facilities by examining infrastructure readiness, staff capacity, and sustainable resource utilization, to offer practical insights for similar healthcare systems. The objectives are to: (1) synthesize the best global practices and local case studies on eco-innovative infrastructure retrofitting for climate adaptation, (2) assess adaptive staff capacity development programs that prepare health personnel for climate-sensitive crises, and (3) evaluate strategies that optimize resource utilization and minimize ecological footprints within the healthcare systems. This study conducts a thorough review of secondary data from peer-reviewed articles, as well as global health reports and publications, and case studies from Kenyan Health Facilities to identify eco-innovative frameworks for climate-resilient healthcare. The paper argues that implementing eco-innovative strategies in Kenyan healthcare facilities enhances climate resilience and reduces ecological footprints through sustainable practices and policy development.
Building Climate-Resilient Rural Economies Through Rural Road Infrastructure: Effect of Rural Road Infrastructure on Climate Resilient Livelihood Outcomes among Small- Scale Farmers in Kenya
(Daystar University, School of Communication, 2025) Kainda, Riunguh Stellah
The increasing impact of climate change in Africa, that is manifested through observed frequency in droughts, floods, and extreme weather events have increased the vulnerability of rural economies, especially those that depend on small-scale farming. Traditionally, rural road infrastructure was considered as a catalyst for rural development and market access. However, currently, the rural road infrastructure is recognized as an important climate resilience element. This is because roads do not just facilitate the sharing of climate-smart agricultural methods but also enhances timely responses to climatic shocks through improved mobility and enhanced access to essential services. This study explored how the rural road infrastructure can work as a conduit for improving the small-scale farmers climate resilient livelihood outcomes. This research assessed the economic effects of market costs, agricultural diversification, access to social services, and non-farm economic activities enabled by rural roads, as the key means for strengthening the adaptive capacities of small-scale farmers. It further examined how general transportation costs within the rural road sector moderate these resilience outcomes. To measure the climate resilient livelihood outcomes of small-scale farmers, the study focused on the household health, household income security, and household food security. The study found out that access to social services had a statistically insignificant effect on the three dependent measures. On the other hand, market costs had a statistically significant effect on climate resilient livelihood outcomes. Further, the findings also showed a negative relationship of non-farm activities with food security, household income, and household health.
Climate Finance Landscape in Kenya: A German International Corporation (GIZ) Multi-faceted Survey
(Daystar University, School of Communication, 2025) Recha, John; Ayiro, Laban Peter; Wanyonyi, Emmanuel; Radoli, Lydia Ouma; Katua, Charles; Ageyo, Joe
This research addresses these gaps in climate finance in Kenya through a dual approach. First, it analyses Kenya's climate finance architecture to identify opportunities in the media sector through policy reviews, financial flow mapping (drawing on OECD-CPI and FLLoCA datasets), and stakeholder consultations with media representatives, policymakers, and donors. Second, it implements practical capacity building via a Climate Change Masterclass for journalists, building on previous GIZ-Kenya Editors' Guild collaborations that developed training materials and institutional partnerships. The study's significance is multifaceted. It establishes the first evidence base for media-specific climate financing in Kenya, while strengthening policy alignment with NCCAP and Paris Agreement commitments. The research develops sustainable funding models to transition media organizations from ad-hoc donor dependency and enhances gender-responsive climate reporting. Crucially, it bridges the knowledge gap between climate finance mechanisms and media practitioners, enabling more strategic engagement. By combining rigorous research with hands-on training, this initiative empowers Kenyan media to evolve from passive observers to active participants in climate adaptation. The study will employ a convergent mixed-methods design (Creswell & Creswell, 2018), which strategically combines qualitative and quantitative methods to provide a comprehensive assessment of climate finance accessibility in Kenya's media sector. This approach incorporates innovative techniques across six key components to ensure robust and practical findings.
Decolonising Climate Governance: Centering Indigenous Knowledge and Regional Innovations for Planetary Health
(Daystar University, School of Communication, 2025) Tarus, Yvonne
Contemporary climate policy is largely rooted in Western epistemology, marginalizing indigenous knowledge systems that have sustained the health of the planet for centuries. The study evaluates the necessity of decolonizing climate policy through the recognition and inclusion of indigenous ecological knowledge in global and national climate policies. Changing geographical focus to African realities, and Kenya's indigenous populations specifically, the article demonstrates how indigenous traditional environmental management practices facilitate biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods. It stresses indigenous activities' spiritual, cultural, and communal character, and advocates for their worth per se over utility. Using a qualitative comparative approach, the study investigates regional case studies like Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative that embodies reforestation and sustainability models founded upon local and indigenous practices. The study underscores how such practices resonate with global goals like the Paris Agreement, showing their flexibility in different contexts. The study also examines the transformational potential of incorporating indigenous ecological knowledge into regional innovation systems, facilitating adaptive governance and long-term resilience amidst the climate crisis. The results show that the exclusion of indigenous knowledge reinforces historical injustices, increases socio-environmental injustices, and reduces the effectiveness of climate action. The paper demands a decolonized model of governance that hears indigenous peoples as co-authors of climate solutions, local innovations, and knowledge pluralism in global policies. By merging context-based innovations with local knowledge, this study promotes fair, equitable, and sustainable global planetary health outcomes by placing marginalized voices at the forefront of designing a sustainable future.
Assessing Impact of Thermal Stress in Poultry Production in the Tropics
(Daystar University, School of Communication, 2025) Ngema, Hellen; Opeyio, Charles
Temperature regulation is crucial in poultry production, directly influencing bird health, productivity, and survival. This study investigates the relationship between temperature fluctuations and mortality rates and egg production in poultry farming systems. Sudden changes in ambient temperature, particularly in semi-arid and tropical regions, were observed to significantly increase stress levels in birds, leading to higher incidences of disease, reduced feed intake, and elevated mortality rates. Data were collected over a 7-month period from broiler and layer units, monitoring temperature variations, bird behavior, and mortality records. Results indicate that extreme heat or cold spells especially during the brooding and finishing stages correlated with noticeable spikes in bird mortality. Broilers were found to be more vulnerable to temperature stress compared to layers, particularly in deep litter systems with poor ventilation. Fluctuation in temperatures accounted to up to 36.4% mortality rate in broiler chicks during brooding. High temperatures reduced egg production by 41.70% and caused 35% eggs to get spoiled after 7 days. Conversely, consistent temperature control through proper housing, ventilation, and brooding management significantly reduced mortality rates. The findings underscore the importance of climate control and early-warning systems in poultry production, particularly in areas prone to temperature extremes. Incorporating adaptive climate-smart practices can improve flock survival, productivity, and overall resilience under changing climate conditions.