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Effects of Mentoring and Inculcating Life Skills to University Students: A Case Study of Daystar University, Pre-University Programme
(2011-07) Olumbe, Roseline; Kiarie, Martha
Daystar University was established in 1974 in Kenya and was later chartered in 1994 by the Kenyan government.1 The University’s mission is “… to develop managers, professionals, researchers and scholars to be effective, Christian servant-leaders through the integration of Christian faith and holistic learning for the transformation of church and society in Africa and the world.”2 In line with her mission, the institution admits only born-again students to her various programs. Most of her graduates are in different job-markets transforming the society within which they exist. The institution runs various programs at the Pre-University, diploma, undergraduate, masters and doctoral level. This paper will be limited to the Pre-University program at Daystar University. Action research was used to establish the efficacy of mentoring and imparting lifeskills to school leavers enrolled in a two-semester bridging program. The aim of the program is help students bridge their grades and also to adjust to university life. During the survey, it was noted that mentoring and Life Skills education helped the students boost their self-esteem, improve their leadership skills, cope with university life and achieve academic excellence. The researcher therefore believes that mentoring and teaching of Life Skills is very important in the teaching-learning process. As a result, it is her recommendation that all institutions of higher learning need to lay down structures and offer mentoring to their students. In addition, these institutions need to streamline Life Skills education into their curricula.
Tracing African Mass Communication Research Trends from 1980 to 2009
(2012) Ireri, Kioko
A conference paper presented at the 2012 AEJMC CONFERENCE Chicago, Illinois by Kioko Ireri, lecturer at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, USIU-A.
News from Tripoli, Benghazi, Brega and Misrata: How Al-Jazeera and BBC Online News Framed the Libyan Revolution
(2012) Ireri, Kioko
The purpose of this research, which focuses on the framing of the 2011 Libyan Revolution on Al-Jazeera and BBC online news, is fourfold. First, it examines the use of the human interest frame on BBC and Al-Jazeera English news sites before and after the adoption of Resolution 1973, which paved the way for military intervention in the Libyan crisis. Second, the study investigates the prevalence of four media frames on the two sites - anti-war, attribution of responsibility, human interest, and military. Third, the study examines significant variations in the use of anti-war frame and military frames between the media outlets. Fourth, it investigates the type of sources attributed to the news about the Libyan Revolution, and whether the sources were linked to particular news frames. Results indicate an overall significant variation in the use of the human interest frame between the periods, pre-and-post Resolution 1973. In the prevalence of media frames, it is the military frame, which was the most occurring news frame. Whereas there was no significant variation in the use of anti-war frame between the two sites, the variation in the use of the military frame was significant. For source prevalence, it is the foreign leaders who were frequently quoted in news, followed by journalists. Moreover, such sources as civilians, Gaddafi leadership, journalists, military officials, NATO officials, and rebels were highly associated with the military frame. On the other hand, sources from foreign leaders, NGOs, United Nations, and other were linked to the human interest frame.
Comparing Agenda-Setting Roles of Newspaper Columnists and Editorials in Kenya
(2012) Ireri, Kioko
This research compares the agenda-setting roles of newspaper columnists and editorials in Kenya. It examines whether three newspaper columnists and editorials set the agenda on issues of national importance in 2008 and 2009. This was done by investigating whether there were any associations between issues given prominence in the opinion columns and editorials and what Kenyans, through public opinion polls, considered as the “most important problem” facing the country. The agendas of the columnists and editorials were also compared and investigated. Results show that there were no positive correlations between the agendas of the columnists and the public and between the agendas of the editorials and the public in 2008 and 2009. But there were moderate-positive and high-positive correlations when the agendas for columnists and editorials were matched and compared.
The Influence of Stakeholder Identification on The Quality of Corporate Environmental Reporting in Kenya
(The Clute Institute International Academic Conference, 2013) Wangombe, David
This study aimed at establishing the stakeholders that managers consider in the CER practices as well as the association between the quality of CER and stakeholder identification. The purpose is to find out if there is a difference in the attention that managers give to different stakeholders with respect to CER reporting decision and whether such difference may explain the variation in the quality of CER. A questionnaire was used to establish the stakeholder power, legitimacy urgency and salience in stakeholder identification. An assessment, using regression, was carried out to establish the association between the stakeholder identification attributes and the quality of CER. It is found that there are different stakeholders considered in the practice of CER but in varying measures. While Government, Shareholders, Customers and Environmental lobby groups are identified as the most significant stakeholder groups in CER reporting, only government is associated with relatively higher quality. There is thus a need for the government to use its special position in society to influence the production of CER that can achieve high quality. But there is also a need for other stakeholder groups to recognise their special place in demanding high quality CER through direct influence in terms of controlling flow of resources and markets to corporation but also petitioning government to continue playing its social role of guiding production of high quality CER. This research contributes to knowledge by establishing the significant stakeholders, the association of stakeholder identification to the quality of CER and by testing applicability of stakeholder theory in CER practices
Effects of Firm Resources on the Internationalization of Medium Sized Firms; Evidence from Kenya
(United States International University - Africa, 2014) Irungu, Dancan Njagi; Ndegwa, Joyce Watetu
The purpose of the study is to assess the effects of firm resources on the internationalization of medium firms taking evidence from Kenya. Resource Based View (RBV) is the main theoretical framework that has informed the study. The ownership of the unique resources is assumed to be the reason why Medium firms in the same industry and location respond differently to export stimuli; one initiating export business and is in a position to meet its export orders while another similar one is not. The argument is that the internal resources tangible or intangible are the main explanatory determinant of firm internationalization. Kenya Top 100 medium firms formed target population. The results of the study indicate that Medium firms that seek for internationalization should invest in developing rare and unique resources which are not imitable. The findings reveal that internal resources tangible or intangible are the main explanatory determinant of medium firm internationalization. The results of the study agrees with a lot of the existing literature on SMEs internationalization on that ownership of the unique resources is a major reason why firms in the same industry and location respond differently to export stimuli. To overcome the challenges of smallness, medium firms have to leverage on knowledge and network resources for they are rare, unique and are not imitable.
The prerequisite for degree courses through open and distance learning: a case of the university of Nairobi, Kenya
(University of Nairobi, 2015-06) Rugendo, John Chandi ; Ndiritu, Anne W; Rugendo, Caroline Marigu Nyaga
The government of Kenya has recognised education as an important pre-requisite for it to become an industrialised country. This realisation has necessitated the need to raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at all levels of education. The participation rate in higher education is of importance for the populace to be able to acquire high-level skills necessary for development. This is however not possible through the traditional conventional education methods only but also through Open and Distance Learning approaches to be able to reach a large number of students. In this regard, the University of Nairobi runs a course in distance education. It has been observed that many students fail to score a total of 40% in a given course and they re-sit the failed units. The failure rate goes up to 63% with 27% out of 38% cases, which is a very high failure rate. The high failure rate and the ever increasing time taken to graduate are chronic problems in distance learning. One of the reasons why there could be poor performance is lack of post-secondary experience of whatever kind. It is therefore worth finding out how efficiency in distance learning can be enhanced. To find out the relationship between postgraduate qualification and performance in B.Ed courses, a total number of 347 students were selected using stratified random sampling technique. This sample was taken from 4,500 University of Nairobi students who were registered for the B.Ed degree in different parts of study in the School of Continuing and Distance Education. A mixed mode method approach was used in data collection. The study investigated if the independent variables ( academic qualifications ) had a relationship with the dependent variables (academic performance). Pearson correlations were used to establish if there was a relationship between the variables. The analysis indicated a strong relationship between post-secondary qualification and academic performance
Balancing work and study: A necessity for successful distance learning
(University of Nairobi, 2015-06) Ndiritu, A; Chandi, Rugendo; Rugendo, Caroline Marigu Nyaga
As the country re- evaluates the achievement of Millennium goals, it becomes important for Kenya to take its toll. One of the intentions was to increase gross enrolment rate in higher education. The projection was to increase the number of students joining the universities to 450,000 by end of 2015 from 130,000 in 2008. This number was to be increased through expansion of courses done through distance education. The targeted population was of those already in employment. This group has to be able to balance the demands of their workplace and their social demands for the back to school agenda to be achieved. The University Of Nairobi School of continuing and distance education runs a course in distance education. However It has been noted that among the students who sit for university exams, many do not score 40% which is a minimum score for students to progress to the next level. The failure rate goes up to 63% with 27% out of 38% cases scoring below 40%, which is a very high failure rate. This failure rate prohibits students from graduating. it is worth finding out the cause of this failure rate. This study was carried out to find out if distance learners had a problem managing their time given the demands of the same among competing ends. An effort was also made to find out if this problem had an effect on their academic performance. From a total number of 4500 of students from the University of Nairobi in different levels of their B.Ed degrees, a sample of 650 students were selected using stratified random sampling technique .Data was collected using a mixed mode method and analyzed using Pearson correlations. The findings indicated a strong relationship between time management and academic performance (r=0.569)
AI Enhanced Education: Ethical Implications, Opportunities and Challenges
(Daystar University, Higher Education eLearning Technologies International Conference, 2016) Lwala, Donald Akumu; Owino, Elizabeth A
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most disruptive innovations of the modern times.In 2022 Open AI launched the first version of ChatGpt that changed the world’s view of the artificial intelligence. With the growth and prominence of AI various sectors of the economy have adopted and integrated AI in their daily functions and Education Sector is not exception (Chan & Hu, 2023). In the developed countries the adoption and use of AI in education and research has advanced significantly offering opportunities for adaptive learning and enhanced research
Influence of Media Messages on Self-efficacy Towards Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Aged 18-30 Years in Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology
(2016) Karaimu, Paul K; Kimotho, Stephen Gichuhi; Komen, Leah Jerop
Getting to Know
(The Children, Adolescents, and the Media division of the International Communication Association, 2016) Lando, Agnes Lucy
Tobacco control interventions and their impact on cancer prevalence in Kenya
(in EAMARC III Conference, 2016-11) Nyamasyo, E; Juma, Q; Wambua, Brenda Mueni
This presentation is based an on-going research on Tobacco control interventions and what impact these have on cancer prevalence in Kenya. It further identifies key gaps in both policy and research documentation and makes recommendations on priority areas required to strengthen existing tobacco control programs.
Journalists’ Frequent Movement from One Media House to Another Expose Emerging Challenges of Media Management in Africa in the Digital Age
(Springer International Publishing, 2017) Lando, Agnes Lucy
Job hopping is not a new phenomenon. World over, people have, and continue to move from one employer to another, or from one job to another, based on a myriad reasons. The media industry, therefore, is not an exception. However, it seems that with technological advancement, and with a much more variety of media to work for, Media Practitioners' (MPs) hopping is not only frequent but leaves an indomitable mark on the media house, employer, colleagues and the audiences. That MPs hop is not the essence of this study. But rather because hopping is more rampant in this digital age, due to the many media houses and opportunities available seems to be an indicator of emerging challenges of media management in the Continent. For instance, immediately after the 4th March 2013 General Elections in Kenya, a major media house lost 21 key MPs to a competitor. Such an abrupt occurrence definitely …
Optimal integrated solution on the rural digital: Adaptation from South Korea.
(Kenya School of Monetary Studies, 2018) Kagwaini, Dorothy Muthoka; Kinuthia, Francis Gitau
Rural Kenya has challenging environment for implementation of communication infrastructure, for data and Internet services, the situation drives network operators to establish network infrastructures in urban areas leaving rural areas as underserve. This paper seeks to identify and recommend an optimal integrated technical solution that utilizes television white space and fiber optic technology, to address the rural digital divide with respect to broadband internet in Kenya. Specifically, for farmers in championing of the Food Security pillar in the Big Four Agenda. With an argument that television white space and optical networks can be integrated and deployed, with the government support to deliver an optimal cost effective solution to reach the digitally unreached and underserved rural populations. The motivation for the study is that despite the potential socioeconomic benefits and growth in demand for broadband internet, rural areas remain isolated digitally. The study, will appraise various flavors of fiber optic technology, features of television white space before going on to recommend a deployment architecture informed by the results of county situation analyses and lessons learnt from South Korea which is recognized for its quality and technology innovativeness. The contribution of this study is to encourage researchers and technologists to partner and drive higher education to the next level. Also, to ensure cost effectiveness, the government is encouraged to partner with any operators of technology to provide incentives such as tax rebates and zero rated services to make the big four agenda a reality.
The End Game of Humans through “Grin” Technologies: University Educators’ Role
(Daystar University, School of Arts and Humanities, 2019) Kagwaini, Dorothy Muthoka
The rapid pace of emerging technologies is playing an increasingly important role in overcoming fundamental human limitations. While the new dispensation of Fourth Industrial Technology (4IR) introduced a realization of a successful and sustainable digital economy, it has not yet achieved a smart society of strengthening techno-ethical inquiry of technology advances in areas unseen by creators while the users change the intended use of the new technology. Technological Singularity Theory was used in this article to discuss the theoretical framework. On one hand, the end goal is to have the earth produce beings that will be immortal and be able to understand mysteries. On the other hand, the problem of immortality with self-awareness and ego will likely disrupt the business as well as the society. The main purpose of this paper is to examine the end game of humans through ‘GRIN’ technologies and the role of Educators in universities. A systematic selection of science fiction movies were selected based on secondary data collected through documentary white papers from World Economic Forum and recent European novels that formed the findings of the paper. The findings showed that ‘GRIN’ technologies was being propelled by the universities as the ‘think tanks’ and may usher in unprecedented social and political upheaval that could affect all corners of the globe. In addition, professors/lecturers could borrow ‘management by objectives’ strategy to engage students on the need for techno-ethics. In conclusion, the government and academicians’ interest in ‘GRIN’ technologies incorporated into the human body will merely provide a reimagining of what it means to be human. The paper recommended university stakeholders especially Daystar University which is a Christian university in Africa to spur guidelines for public policy towards morphological human enhancement and create awareness of this emerging technology
The Role of IASB on Corporate Reporting Disclosures: Use of Artificial Intelligence
(Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Ruhuna, 2019) Kagwaini, Dorothy Muthoka
In the year 2015 the International Accounting Standards Board made a decision to stick to their core business of financial reporting. However, the need for efficient and effective ways of measuring and communicating non-financial information is paramount to ensure the realization of corporate reporting disclosure that has been at loggerheads with the traditional financial reporting. The purpose was to provide clarity in how the International Accounting Standards Board could play a more proactive role on corporate reporting disclosures by focusing on artificial intelligence. This will enable preparers to have a clear understanding of which standards would be appropriate when evaluating non-financial information. The paper adopted a qualitative approach whereby white papers from the World Economic Forum as well as journal papers were used. Drawing from the use of artificial intelligence, this paper reported on the current developments of the Global Regulator‘s taxonomy, benefits of corporate reporting disclosures by firms along with practical guidelines for mentality change of Accountants in their profession. Finally, challenges advanced by the artificial intelligence such as societal impacts were argued. It was concluded that the Global Regulator could improve the current taxonomy to include non-financial information. This paper will contribute to the body of knowledge as there is scarcity of published data related to to corporate reporting disclosure in emerging economies as well as their responsiveness to country specific regulators.
“White Terror and Ghosts of Kenya”: Postcolonial, Socio-Political Imagery and Narratives of Kenyan Diasporas
(RAIS Conference Proceedings, 2019-04) Radoli, Lydia Ouma
“White Terror” (2013), a BBC documentary details colonial atrocities in Kenya and thereafter state of emergency. I argue, ghosts (memories) of the atrocities still haunt a few remaining colonial survivors. Socio-political colonial structures were inherited in post-independence Kenya. The documentary based on Harvard’s History Professor Caroline Elkins (2005) research was evidenced in a legal suit of five colonial survivors against the British government for torture. Post-2007 ethno-political conflicts in Kenya can be linked to misappropriations in the 1954 Swynerton land tenure reforms. British occupation of native land sparked an insurgency that resulted in a state emergency (1952-1960), and later turned into struggle for independence. To Kenyans, Mau Mau (largely Kikuyus) were freedom fighters, but inhuman savage terrorists to colonial agents. Geographical annexing of land placed the Kikuyu, a dominant ethnic group close to the colonial capital, while the rest of the tribes were disbursed in the peripheries. In postcolonial Kenya, political and economic disparities herald power struggles between dominant ethnicities, in the case of Kenya; Kikuyu, Luo and Kalenjin. Postcolonial theory was a result of colonial experience, “the testimonies of the third world countries and discourses of minorities within geographical and political divisions of “East and West”, “North and South” (Bhabha 1994). First generational Kenyans survived colonialism, but retain narratives of the struggle over colonial domination. Using a postcolonial and discourse theoretic qualitative methodology for documentary and interviews analysis, this paper traces narratives of postcolonial Kenya and impacts on present day social political challenges.
Factors Constraining Residents in Breaking Bad News at MTRH/MUSOM, Eldoret Kenya
(Roanoke VA USA, 2019-06) Chumba, David Kiprop; Ayiro, Laban Peter ; Ndaiga, Purity; Changach, John
Physician-patient communication should lead to collaboration for success in medical consultation and management. Breaking bad news (BBN) to patients is one of the most common and often difficult responsibilities in the practice of medicine especially in oncology setting. Knowing factors that constraint residents in achieving this goal of good outcome especially in cancer diagnosis is of great educational importance. Breaking bad news in an abrupt and insensitive manner can be devastating for both the patient and his or her family. The latter is associated with poor treatment outcomes. The study sort to identify factors that constraints residents while performing this important task in the African context and to assess the effectiveness of training intervention using SPIKES protocol. A quantitative research, quasi experimental approach, was utilized where a questionnaires were used to collect the data. A purposeful sample of 80 physicians who are residents and provide treatment for patients with life threatening diseases in MTRH were selected for the study. The physicians were randomly assigned into two groups; experimental and control groups. Both groups filled a questionnaire then the experimental group were trained on delivering bad news to patients diagnosed with cancer. T-tests and one-way ANOVA tests were used to test hypothesis. P-values of <0.05 is set as significant for all tests. A total of 80 residents from all departments with post graduate student in the school of medicine were recruited. There were more men than women male 44 (55%) and female 36 (45%). All the participants had worked below five years after graduation. Residents reported constraining factors affecting them in performing BBN tasks, among them were skills related, workplace related and personal factors. Residents in this study are confronted with this difficult communication early in their careers as seen in the findings where 100% of the residents break bad news to patients more than 5 times in a month. Among the skills, the most problematic or totally gruelling was how to be honest and not take away hope (20)25% and dealing with patient’s emotions (29)36.3%. Lack of skills to deal with patient’s emotions and being honest and not taking away hope. The perception of constraints did not change significantly after training when group A and B were compared and as seen in the current study, training in form a workshop, is not sufficient in difficult communication like breaking bad news. The findings in this study suggest that residents’ role in patient care may not be very clearly defined especially in breaking bad news tasks. Time was not found to be a constraint in this study though in other studies involving oncologists, time was found to be a constraint. Ethical Approval was sought and obtained from IREC, MTRH/Moi University.
The Role of Television Advertisements in Influencing Adolescents’ Sexual Attitudes and Behavior in Mathare, Nairobi County
(2019-07) Githinji, Scolastica Kariuki; Murage, Lucy
Television media impacts sexuality dispositions and preferences; the role was traditionally designated to parental figures and teachers. Populations Services International (PSI), Ministry of Health and National Televisions through the media have sort to empower adolescents in healthy sexuality in Kenya. This study assessed the role of television advertisements in influencing adolescents’ sexual attitudes and behaviors on healthy sexuality in Valley Bridge Primary School, in Mathare, Nairobi County. It was envisaged that the study would enhance policy in use of Television Media in promoting sexuality health among adolescents. A descriptive design using quantitive and qualitative approaches, a randomly stratified sample of 150 adolescent (boys and girls) out of a population of 960 pupils was employed. Questionnaires and focus group discussion were used to collect data. Data analysis involved SPSS Version (22). Findings were presented using graphs, percentages and tables. The findings indicated that 69% of the adolescents believed that the sexuality adverts were meant for them, 88.1% were aware of the ‘Nakufeel’ and 90.9% were aware of the Chill adverts while “Je Una Yako” and “Fungua Roho yako” was only known to 11.9% and 21% of the adolescents respectively. It seemed that an effective sex and HIV education programmes that focus on reduction of sex behaviour are more effectively perceived. Adolescents agreed that the adverts informed them on their responsibility in relationship (59%) on protection against pregnancy (71.92%), encouraged them on abstinence (59.03), educated them on sexual feelings (36%), 89% educated them that pregnancy at adolescence was wrong, but 12.4% said it was right for adolescents their age to have sex. Adolescents (81.1%) said condoms protect against pregnancy and HIV is good and 16.6% said having sex showed that they were grown up. Some 69.7% reported that a boy use of a condom showed respect to his girlfriend, while 73.3% said it was okay to say no to sex. The findings indicate television advertisements have a knowledge, attitude and behaviour influence on adolescents’ healthy sexuality. Sustained use television media for enhancement of healthy sexuality is reccomeded. Further research on technology social media influence on sexual attitudes and behavior is reccomeded. Key words Adolescents, Television advertisements, Healthy sexuality, attitudes, Behaviours
ICT Enabled Peace Network: Case Study of Conflict Early Warning System in Kenya
(Hal Open Science, 2019-09) Mukherjee Arunima & Mukoya Festus
Building peace in post-conflict societies is a contemporary and urgent humanitarian challenge facing the world. ICTs can potentially play a role in this process, but how and why this can be done has not attracted adequate research attention, especially in the ICT4D domain which should naturally be at the forefront of such efforts. Drawing upon Castells’ notion of counter-networks, this paper based on an empirical analysis of peace-building efforts in North-West Kenya, examines the role of ICTs in enabling effectively information flows to strengthen the efforts in building a “peace network.” Important lessons are discerned on how such counter networks can be cultivated, and some reflections are presented on how these lessons may or not be applied to other conflict-ridden areas.

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