Daystar University Repository

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Class Projects and Student Articles 3
A collection of Class Projects and Student articles showcasing innovative ideas and diverse perspectives from our talented student community at Daystar University
Conference/ Workshop/ Seminar/ Proceedings/ Lecture Series 93
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 38
An archival collection chronicling the institutional history, academic achievements, and diverse heritage of Daystar University.
Daystar University Publications 1459
A collection of Publications by faculty and staff showcasing research, academic achievements, and institutional insights of Daystar University.
Lectures and Speeches 6
A collection of Lectures and Speeches from distinguished speakers across various disciplines of Daystar University.

Recent Submissions

The Faculty and Postgraduate Publication Spotlights
(Daystar University, 2025-07) Directorate of Research , Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship
Our May 2025 semester is off to a successful start, and we are happy to be highlighting the faculty and postgraduate publication accomplishments in this July 2025 Directorate of Research, Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship (DRICE) Bulletin. Take a look at their achievements. Please congratulate them when you see them or send them a text. Please read, cite and share their works. We are sure that you will be inspired and impressed, just as we are. The May semester is always a busy time as we work to close out the trimester and transition to our new academic year. We are therefore honoring and spotlighting our faculty and postgraduate students who have contributed to Daystar’s visibility through publishing their research and innovations. The DRICE is committed to providing faculty and postgraduate opportunities that complement their research, innovation, scholarship, and creative activities. The DRICE recognizes that supporting faculty members’ career development and skill-building opportunities, as well as promoting and nurturing a climate of inclusive excellence, help forge pathways to enhanced academic excellence and scholarship at Daystar University. Challenged to work on research, innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship strategic initiatives, the work, DUIRIG must also align with individual professional development goals and interests. All full-time faculty, associates, and full professors are eligible to apply to DUIRIG and must include a postgraduate student as part of their research team. For more details and directions, keep reading our communication and calls for this grant.
Psychosocial Needs of Children Affected by HIV and AIDS in Compassion Assisted Projects A Survey of Bushenyi Cluster
(Daystar University, School of Applied Human Sciences, 2007) Ouma, Gilbert
The study was carried out to identify the psychosocial needs of children affected by HIV and AIDS in Bushenyi cluster of Compassion International assisted projects in Uganda. Compassion International certainly plays an important role in addressing physiological needs of children affected by HIV and AIDS. Despite this, the problem has not been explicitly addressed. So scarce is the information about this aspect that it is very difficult to even establish the very needs the affected children face. From a sampling of 103 affected children, the researcher administered semi structured questionnaires to a total of 100 out of which 70 were returned. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were also done with Church leaders, project workers and affected children in the projects. The findings were analyzed using Survey Gold, a web based programme. Themes were drawn and statistical information used to make inferences. Findings show that the process used for allocating new homes for the affected children in Bushenyi cluster leads to psychosocial distress among the children and recipient caregiver. One outstanding issue to note is the fact that children between 9-12 years exhibited more psychosocial needs than any other group. Secondly, in spite of the fact that children seemed emotionally well adjusted and socially more competent than would be expected, there was a general feeling of anxiety and lack of knowledge regarding their parents' death. The role played by project staff, church leaders, sponsors and teachers in encouraging and listening to the affected children seemed to have greatly influenced the way the children coped with death, loss and attendant risk factors prevalent in their social environments. 150 Abstracts The study recommends that Compassion International works closely with its church partners towards instituting training of parents/guardians in the areas of disclosure of sero status, succession planning and positive parenting. In addition to establishing community counsellors familiar with local realities to offer security and supportive coaching to the children, the component of child counselling with a specific bias towards addressing psychosocial needs should be considered. Lastly, the age group 9-12 years showed psychosocial needs that demand immediate
The Widow and Property Inheritances Issues among Kikuyu and Luo Widows in Kenya
(Daystar University, School of Arts and Social Sciences, 2007) Gethi, Angela Wairimu
This study examined the Luo and Kikuyu communities of Kenya with regard to their practice of property inheritance among widows. The study examined the role played by the government, church and other related institutions in assisting widows or creating awareness about the poor treatment widows at the hands of those entrusted with their welfare. Information was obtained from existing literature including articles from newspapers, policy documents, publications and professional reports. Primary data was obtained by conducting key informant interviews using guided interviews, and focus group discussions. The major respondents included women who have been widowed. The study exposed major challenges facing widows in Kenya which include lack of recognition by the society, the church and the government. The effects of these include poverty, dispossession of home and property, declining sources of income and exclusion from key welfare programmes such as children's education and health care. The study found out that there is lack of clear government policy on sharing of property. There is also inadequate mechanisms in the identification of who should be allowed to follow up on the benefits of deceased husbands. This is particularly important if the husband was away from home for employment. During the research, the challenges identified were mainly associated with the traditional role of women as perceived by the Luo and Kikuyu communities where a widow is deemed not qualified enough to follow up issues regarding her husband's estate on her own. Secondly, women are generally not perceived as inheritors of property. In fact when people were counted, the numbers did not include women as they were deemed to have been "absorbed" in their husband's clan. Abstracts 147 The data obtained showed that in all the cases involving the Kikuyu widows, only one widow in the entire sample was able to access her nd's property. Among the Luo, the cause of dispossession is the real by the widows to be inherited and "cleansed". Such refusal, viewed as a curse to the family and relatives, is used against the widow who is accused of being uncooperative and uncaring about her larger family. The research shows that upon the death of the head of a household, the children appear to be illegitimate and the widow non-existent. When it comes to sharing out property, the widow is deemed to have no rights and in some cases, she may not even be allowed to build a house on the family land.
The Role of Personality Traits in HIV Risk Behaviour A Study Among HIVSero-positive Single Individuals in Selected Support Groups in Nairobi
(Daystar University, School of Applied Human Sciences, 2007) Sirima, Margaret Wambui
The study explored the personality traits portrayed by HIV positive single individuals that would have put them at risk of HIV infection. The study sought information from HIV positive single males and females from two support groups of single persons living with HIV infection in Nairobi. The respondents were selected through purposive sampling technique; snowball method was used to recruit the HIV positive males and females to the sample. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire that had a section of a personality test based on Costa and McCrae five factor model, and a focus group discussion. Data analysis was undertaken using the statistical package of social sciences. The study found out that the personality traits that place individuals at risk of HIV behaviour include extroversion, neuroticism, openness to experience and agreeableness. Those who scored low on conscientiousness were also at risk of HIV infection. A combination of extroversion and neuroticism traits puts one even at a higher risk engaging in HIV risk behaviours. Personality traits such as openness to experience predisposes one to substance use especially alcohol. The effects of alcohol when one is under intoxication predispose one to engage in behaviour that will put one at risk of HIV infection because alcohol lowers the inhibition of an individual. The study also found that family dynamics may play a role in the development of personality traits that predisposes one to engaging in HIV risk behaviour. Most significant in the study is the importance of parents in early childhood development and especially the importance of the presence of the father in the developmental stages of the girl child. The respondents also stated that the social environment especially Abstracts 145 in the slum situation also has a part to play in the predisposition to HIV risk behaviour. The study recommends that the church, government, society, non- governmental organization and the individuals that are living with the HIV infection have a role to play in the fight against this infection. Daystar University in particular can assist through offering counselling services to these youths that have tested HIV positive.
Factors Determining Behaviour Change in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
(Daystar University, School of Applied Human Sciences, 2007) Mbotela, Wanjiru C.
There has been increased attention on adolescent sexual and reproductive health partly due to the high rates of HIV/AIDS infection. A cross- sectional study collected data on adolescent sexuality and reproductive health among youth aged 10-19 in August 2005. A total of 210 respondents participated in the study and a sub-sample of 30 parents were purposively sampled and participated in the focus group discussions. The focus of the study was to collect information that would measure knowledge, attitude, behaviour change and practice (KABP). The sample was obtained using simple random sampling. The degree of precision was set at 95% confidence level. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, and focus group discussions. Each respondent had an opportunity to make an informed decision to participate in the study. Once the data was generated, epidemiological information was used to clean and analyze the data. It was evident from the study that sexual initiation starts very early and is usually unprotected. Although there was a high response rate on issues of sexual purity, the study showed that a good number of adolescents claimed to be "born again" (20%) but they still faced the challenge of maintaining sexual purity. Knowledge about sexuality, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS was evident, but adolescents were not using the information to make informed decisions about their sexuality. About 11% of the respondents were currently involved in pre-marital sex. It was clear that peer information is important for the youth. The need for peer educators therefore cannot be over-emphasised. A higher number of girls engaged in boy/girl relationships due to peer pressure when compared to boys. Parents were cited as the single biggest barrier to service provision to adolescents. They played a low role in both provision of information and socio-emotional support. This study recommends that parents need Abstracts 143 to be helped to build their capacity, skills and the information to help young people deal adequately with sexuality-related issues. The study notes that adolescents, who do not reach their full potential, are destined to make few contributions to society. Careful efforts to improve the conditions that most directly affect a child's ability to cope with social and environmental challenges should be made