Journal of Research and Academic Writing
Journal of Research and Academic Writing is a peer-reviewed Journal relevant to all scholars in all disciplines, including graduate and post-graduate students. The journal covers the following key areas: Research application, Research spaces, Research Education, Research Methodology, Research methods, Research experiences, Research Philosophy, Research on research, Research and Artificial Intelligence (AI), History of research; and Research and Politics. It also documents the teaching, researching, developing, and implementing academic writing styles.
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Headteachers' Transformational Leadership and ICT Integration in Public Comprehensive Schools in Nyeri County, Kenya
The Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) was launched in 2016 by the Government of Kenya to pilot the rollout of digital devices to public primary schools. This study investigated the influence of head teachers’ transformational leadership practices on ICT integration in pedagogy in public comprehensive schools in Nyeri County, Kenya. Study objectives were to investigate the effect of head teachers’ transformational leadership practices, and to determine the leadership challenges head teachers encounter in the integration of ICT in pedagogy. The research was anchored on the Transformational Leadership Theory. The descriptive survey design was employed. Target population comprised 388 head teachers and 1,940 Grade 6 teachers (2,328 in total) from urban, peri-urban and rural strata. Eighty head teachers and 95 teachers were sampled using stratified random sampling. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Quantitative data were analysed using means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages. Teachers reported an overall mean transformational leadership score of 3.39 (SD = 1.16) across the twelve leadership indicators. 56.7% of respondent agreed, 29.3% disagreed and 14% neutral. Head teachers indicated an average of 3.36 (SD = 1.20) on leadership-related challenges to ICT integration, with 55.4% of responses indicating agreement that structural and institutional hurdles impede integration, 30.6% disagreement and 14% neutral. The study concludes that the integration of ICT in public comprehensive schools is not limited by a lack of leadership but by a specific and correctable gap within transformational leadership. The study would be significant to educational stakeholders for it provides theoretical and practical knowledge on ICT integration.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Institutional Factors Influencing Technical Skill Development Under Competency-Based Education and Training in Nyeri County
Despite the implementation of the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) programme in Kenya's technical institutions, trainees still lack adequate practical engineering tool-handling skills. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of institutional factors on the development of practical engineering tool-handling skills among trainees under the CBET programme in technical institutions in Nyeri County. The study was guided by Experiential Learning Theory of David Kolb. A descriptive research survey design was adopted in this study. The study targeted six principals, six Industrial Liaison Officers (ILOs), 265 trainers and 1,560 trainees from the six technical institutions in Nyeri County. Simple random sampling using 10% of the trainers' population was used to get a sample size of 27 trainers. Yamane's formula was employed to determine the sample size of 318 trainees using proportionate stratified sampling. The study employed questionnaires and an interview schedule to collect data, where institutional principals and ILOs were interviewed, while questionnaires were administered to trainers and trainees. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings of the study reveal that institutional factors moderately influenced practical engineering tool-handling skills, with 46.9%–59.1% of trainees and 48.1% -59.2% of trainers agreeing that institutional resources supported practical engineering training. The study's recommendations include strengthening industry partnerships and institutions to invest in modern training equipment. The study's findings will provide insights that can inform the improvement of CBET implementation and enhance practical engineering tool-handling skills development in TVET institutions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dancan Malenya Shivachi, Michael Wambugu Gachahi, Lucy Muthoni Murage https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Head Teachers’ Transformational Leadership and ICT Integration in Public Comprehensive Schools in Nyeri County, Kenya
Copyright (c) 2026 Esther Muthoni Rukungu, Lucy Muthoni Murage, David Gitimu Mugo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Rethinking Disability Assessment in Kenya: Towards a Participatory Model for Parents and Caregivers
Disability assessment in Kenya remains largely grounded in a reductionist medical model that prioritises diagnosis over the functional abilities of persons with disabilities. Although Kenya has progressive legislation promoting inclusive assessment practices, meaningful participation of parents and caregivers remains limited due to inadequate legal enforcement, professional gatekeeping, bureaucratic inefficiencies, inconsistent assessment procedures, and weak accountability. These systemic barriers restrict equitable access to disability certification, educational placement, rehabilitation services, and social protection programmes, particularly for vulnerable children and their families. Consequently, parents and caregivers, despite possessing essential knowledge of a child's daily functioning, are excluded from assessment processes, reducing the accuracy and comprehensiveness of assessment outcomes and limiting the delivery of sound interventions. This study employed a mixed-methods design, drawing on a qualitative phenomenological approach using semi-structured in-depth interviews and open-ended survey responses. Purposive sampling identified institutional stakeholders, while snowball sampling expanded participation to parents, caregivers, special needs educators, allied health professionals, and social workers across Nairobi, Kisumu and Meru counties. Data were analysed thematically to explore participants' experiences and perceptions of disability assessment. The findings identified four major categories of challenges: information gaps, unequal professional–caregiver power relations, socio-cultural stigma and institutional deficiencies. Despite these barriers, participants across stakeholder groups consistently agreed that active caregiver participation enhances early identification, improves service coordination, strengthens educational planning, and promotes inclusive assessment practices. The study proposes the Informed Participatory Model (IPM), a collaborative framework designed to bridge the policy implementation gap by institutionalising meaningful caregiver participation, promoting transparent, equitable and family-centred disability assessment.
Copyright (c) 2026 Joyce Njeri Kinyua https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
A Critical Discourse Analysis of Gendered Lyrics in Gor Mahia FC Fandom Songs
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-6a2c8230-ae44-83ea-ba8c-2da4f046bf5f-1" data-turn-id-container="request-6a2c8230-ae44-83ea-ba8c-2da4f046bf5f-1" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> Football fandom songs have become platforms through which fans and supporters of football teams express their identity, emotions, loyalty and social values. Gor Mahia fans and supporters, in particular, have used these songs to communicate their perceptions on gender. Fans have used these songs to linguistically express their perception on men and women. Images of men and women have been constructed in these songs through metaphorical expressions, thematic representations and lexical choices. Existing literature on Gor Mahia FC songs focuses on community identity and belonging, cultural identification. However, there is limited studies on how Gor Mahia FC songs linguistically portray masculinity and femininity. This study is, therefore, set to establish how masculinity and femininity are linguistically embedded in Gor Mahia FC songs. Data analysis was done using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). CDA views linguistic choices as a way of constructing how socio-cultural structures, identities, social power relations and gender relations are portrayed in texts. Through random sampling technique, thirty songs were audio-recorded. It is from the audio-recordings that twenty songs were purposively selected guided by song content of gendered and sexist Dholuo language. The selected songs were then descriptively analysed within the CDA framework. The finding of this study is that contents of Gor Mahic FC fandom songs are dominated by patriarchy and male chauvinism with women contemptuously displayed. Theoretically, this study contributes to the field of gender and linguistics by linking linguistic and discourse-analytic approaches to unveil the function of language as a tool of control and empowerment in gender-related contexts.
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
Understanding Customers’ Satisfaction with Solid Waste Management Services in Morogoro Municipal Council, Tanzania
The study aimed to understand the customers’ satisfaction with solid waste management services in Morogoro Municipal Council, Tanzania. The cross-sectional research design was used to collect data at a single point in time. The study used a mixed-method research approach to ensure both quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently. The study employed the simple random sampling technique to obtain 388 respondents for the household questionnaire survey method. The purposive sampling technique was used to get 12 key informants for in-depth interviews and 16 participants for the Focus Group Discussions. The quantitative data were analysed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, whereas the qualitative data were analysed by content analysis. The results show that the majority of both males (95%) and females (96%) respondents generated food waste, followed by plastic waste. Other solid wastes generated were paper and cardboard, glass materials, metal, textile, and e-waste. Also, most of the respondents (48%) reported that solid waste was collected from their households through roadside collection. Other methods were the door-to-door collection, informal waste collectors, and the communal collection points. The results further show that customers had higher satisfaction with solid waste management services in two aspects. Specifically, respondents were satisfied that solid waste collection service is available in their area (M = 3.11, σ = 1.40) and the collection vehicles and equipment are suitable (M = 3. 21, σ = 1.33). On the other side, they had low satisfaction with solid waste management services in the following aspects: Solid waste collection points are easily accessible (M = 2.93, σ = 1.32), waste collection is done regularly as scheduled (M = 2.79, σ = 1.48), waste is handled in a hygienic manner (M = 2.43, σ = 1.26), service interruptions are minimal (M = 2.71, σ = 1.19), service providers respond quickly to complaints (M = 2.76, σ = 1.13), and waste collection fee is affordable (M = 2.51, σ = 1.30). Additionally, the results from ordinal logistic regression model show that the collection schedules (B = -.619, p = .002, Exp (B) = 0.538, 95% CI: 0.364 - 0.797), coverage of services (B = -.425, p = .027, Exp (B) = 0.654, 95% CI: 0.449 - 0.953), cost of service (B = -.422, p = .033, Exp (B) = 0.656, 95% CI: 0.445–0.967), quality of equipment and vehicles (B = -.441, p = .027, Exp (B) = 0.643, 95% CI: 0.436–0.951), and response to complaints (B = -.390, p = .048, Exp (B) = 0.677, 95% CI: 0.460–0.997), had a statistically significant negative influence on households’ satisfaction with solid waste management services. These findings implied that the collection schedules that was not followed, partial coverage service, unaffordable service, poor quality of equipment and vehicles, and the delayed response to complaints were less likely to influence higher customer satisfaction compared to the followed schedules, full coverage service, affordable service, good quality of equipment and vehicles, and timely response to complaints. The study recommends that service providers and responsible authorities should improve the collection schedules, ensure full coverage of service, improve affordability of services, enhance complaint handling systems, and upgrade transport infrastructure to promote accessibility to all customers.
On the Verbal Functional Categories in Kisukuma: Polysemous Perspectives
This study investigates the semantics of the verbal functional categories in Kisukuma from a cognitive grammar perspective, highlighting their multifunctional roles in verbal constructions. The topic of verbal functional categories in Kisukuma is under-researched despite exhibiting a high degree of semantic flexibility, with meanings that vary according to phonological, syntactic, and contextual factors. The article used cognitive grammar theory whose selection depended on the semantic conceptualisation of the lexeme’s meaning. That is to say, the meaning of the factor can be core and peripheral. This work used a descriptive approach to describe the polysemous roles of the auxiliary. The study used six Sukuma native informants aged 50 -70 from the Geita rural District of Geita region, specifically from Nyamboge village. Three methods of data collection were applied, namely: focus group discussion, critical documents review, and intuitive knowledge. The data was analysed under cognitive grammar theory and presented using Leipzig Glossing Rules. It was found that verbal functional categories exhibit multifunctional roles in Kisukuma, which are triggered by contextual, syntactic, and tonal shifts in the language. The findings underscore the dynamic interplay between form and function in Kisukuma, revealing that polysemy is not marginal but central to the auxiliary system. This research contributes to broader typological discussions on auxiliary polysemy in Bantu languages and informs theoretical models of grammaticalisation.
Understanding Technology Transfer and Open Educational Resources Uptake Through the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovations Frameworks: Evidence from Secondary School Teachers in Tanzania
This study examines the key factors shaping technology transfer and the adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) among secondary school teachers in Kigamboni District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, anchored in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory as complementary analytical lenses. Using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, data were collected from 160 teachers across eight public secondary schools via structured questionnaires, of which 148 were correctly completed and returned (response rate 92.5%), supplemented by semi-structured interviews with all eight head teachers. The study finds a growing institutional awareness of OER and technology transfer, yet meaningful and sustained implementation remains constrained by poor infrastructure, inadequate professional development, and the absence of coherent institutional policies. Teachers strongly recognise the pedagogical value of OER (82.4%), yet actual adoption rates remain low (47.3%), revealing a persistent gap between awareness and practice. A chi-square test confirmed a statistically significant association between school-level infrastructure quality and OER adoption frequency (χ² = 14.23, df = 3, p = .003). Head teachers consistently attributed low adoption to structural rather than motivational factors. Findings call for coordinated responses: strengthened digital infrastructure, continuous professional development, and explicit policy frameworks supporting equitable technology integration. The study contributes locally anchored, empirically grounded evidence to regional and global conversations on OER uptake in low-resource educational contexts.
Family Communication Patterns and Academic Achievement in Public Secondary Schools in Nyeri County, Kenya
Family communication patterns play a critical role in shaping students’ academic outcomes by influencing motivation, emotional stability, and learning behaviours. This study examined how family communication patterns affect students’ academic achievement in public secondary schools in Nyeri County, Kenya. It focused on identifying dominant family communication styles—such as consensual, pluralistic, protective, and laissez-faire—examining their relationship with learners’ academic outcomes. The study was guided by family systems theory and adopted a mixed-methods descriptive correlational design. Data were collected from students, teachers, and parents using questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential techniques, including correlation analysis, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between family communication patterns and academic achievement (r=.581, p=.000, N=400). The consensual communication pattern was most dominant and had the strongest correlation, which was associated with higher academic performance. The study was limited to public secondary schools in Nyeri County, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other regions or private institutions. The study contributes to existing literature by providing context-specific insights into the role of family communication in academic achievement within Nyeri by showing how supportive communication combined with culturally grounded parental authority can influence students’ academic achievement in public secondary schools. The study established that positive family communication significantly drives students’ academic success, highlighting the urgent need for parents, educators, and policymakers to promote open, supportive parent-child interactions by strengthening parent-child communication strategies through school-based programmes, policy interventions, and strengthening family involvement in education to enhance learners’ performance and overall educational outcomes.
Drivers of Variance in Rural Water Service Sustainability: Evidence from Semi-Arid Tanzania
Despite significant investments in rural water infrastructure, many systems in semi-arid areas such as Chemba District continue to experience declining service levels, frequent breakdowns, and premature failure, raising critical concerns about the long-term sustainability of water service delivery. This study examined rural water service sustainability variation in semi-arid Tanzania using cross-sectional household survey data from This study examined rural water service sustainability variation in semi-arid Tanzania using cross-sectional household survey data from 384 respondents in Chemba District. Sustainability was assessed using a composite index of perceived service levels, namely water quality, quantity adequacy, reliability, accessibility, and affordability as proxies for the continued functioning of rural water services. Explanatory conditions were captured as composite indices representing financial conditions, institutional arrangements, technical performance, social organisation, and environmental stressors. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to estimate the incremental contribution of each domain to observed sustainability variation. Sustainability outcomes varied widely (mean 3.02; SD 0.95; range 1.00 to 5.00). The baseline model with socio-demographic controls explained a small and statistically insignificant share of variation (R² 0.095; p 0.227). Adding financial conditions produced the largest improvement in explanatory power (ΔR² 0.223; p 0.001). Institutional arrangements added a modest contribution (ΔR² 0.060; p 0.053). Technical performance did not improve model fit once finance and institutions were included (ΔR² 0.000; p 0.907), while social organisation and environmental stressors added small, statistically insignificant increments (ΔR² 0.017; p 0.306; and ΔR² 0.024; p 0.219). The final model was statistically significant and explained 41.9 percent of the variation in sustainability outcomes (R² 0.419; adjusted R² 0.297; p 0.005), with low multicollinearity. These results indicate that financial and institutional factors significantly explain variations in sustainability, reflecting the central role of effective management, timely availability of funds, and accountability mechanisms in maintaining service delivery. In contrast, technical performance did not significantly improve the model, suggesting that the mere presence of infrastructure is insufficient to ensure sustainable services in the absence of strong financial and institutional support. The study highlights the importance of strengthening governance and financing systems to improve rural water service sustainability in resource-constrained settings like Chemba.
Teachers’ Perception of Resource Allocation on Patterns of Social Stratification Among Learners in Peri-Urban Primary Schools in Nyeri County, Kenya
Public primary schools face noteworthy operating deficits due to constant delays in the distribution of state capitation subsidies. This study examined the teachers’ perception of resource allocation on patterns of social stratification among learners in peri-urban primary schools in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study adopted a mixed-methods research design. Target population comprised 24 schools, 24 headteachers, 240 teachers, and 1420 grade 6 learners. Yamane’s formula was used to select a sample of 150 teachers. Simple random sampling was used to get 10% of learners which yielded to a sample of 142 respondents while a census was used to select 24 headteachers. Questionnaire collected data from teachers and learners while headteachers participated in interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analysed thematically. Results revealed that 72.6% of teachers agreed that resource allocation was associated with patterns of social stratification, 4.6% remained neutral and 22.8% disagreed. An average of 72.4% of learners agreed with the survey items, 5.6% were neutral, and 22% disagreed. The study concluded that the current resource allocation framework satisfies the bare minimum physical needs of learners (textbooks) but fails to provide the digital infrastructure required for modern equity. The study recommended that government funding formulas should be updated to mandate that ICT infrastructure and internet access are classified as basic learners’ rights. The study would be significant to the educational stakeholder for it provides an empirical blueprint for navigating institutional scarcity.
Selecting Social Science Research Methods: A Literature Review of Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods Approaches
Despite growing recognition that methodological choices shape the credibility and relevance of social science inquiry, the field continues to grapple with three persistent gaps: inadequate methodological training, weak integration in mixed methods studies, and philosophical incoherence in research design. This literature review addresses these gaps by synthesising recent scholarship on methodological selection, examining how quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches are being deployed, integrated, and contested in contemporary social science research. The review reveals that methodological choices are driven by the nature and complexity of the research problem, philosophical alignment, data requirements, sampling logic, and practical feasibility. It further demonstrates that research objectives and questions function as the primary mechanism through which these criteria are operationalised into concrete design decisions. Quantitative methods are increasingly interrogated for reductionist tendencies; qualitative methods are being expanded and legitimised beyond exploratory roles; and mixed methods research is being refined through stricter integration frameworks and epistemological accountability. Recent studies indicate a shift toward methodological pluralism, problem-driven inquiry, and technology-enhanced research designs. Yet the field still lacks a systematic, design-stage tool for aligning research problems, philosophical assumptions, and analytical goals, a deficit that the Methodological Alignment Decision Framework (MADF) introduced here directly addresses, comprising three diagnostic tests: ontological coherence, integration necessity, and context adequacy.
Towards a Plural Epistemology: Qualitative Research and the Myth of Homogeneity in Fragile Contexts
Ethnographic research in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS) is frequently distorted by an implicit assumption of social and cultural homogeneity. In Somalia, a society defined by profound internal differentiation across clan structures, gender relations, generational identities, livelihood systems, geographic locations, and diaspora affiliations, this distortion is particularly consequential. This paper critically reviews thirty-one peer-reviewed sources published between 2023 and 2026 to interrogate what we term the ‘myth of homogeneity’: the methodological and epistemological tendency to treat internally differentiated societies as socially uniform units. Two guiding questions organise the review: first, how does the myth of homogeneity shape ethnographic knowledge production in fragile contexts? Second, what methodological alternatives can centre heterogeneity, reflexivity, and participatory knowledge production? Drawing on scholarship in ethnographic methodology, feminist research, decolonial epistemology, and fragile state governance, the paper argues that homogeneity-premised research designs produce epistemic distortion and contribute to misinformed policy and humanitarian interventions. The review reveals that a significant proportion of recent scholarship on Somalia relies on urban-centric, IDP-focused, or male-dominated samples, systematically excluding pastoralist, rural, coastal, minority-clan, and diaspora voices. The review is organised around five thematic areas: conceptual foundations, Somali heterogeneity, methodological challenges, ethical imperatives, and reconstructive methodological pathways. It concludes by proposing the Heterogeneity-Centred Ethnographic Framework for Fragile Contexts (HCEFF), built on five operational principles — intersectional sampling, multi-sited ethnography, reflexive positionality, participatory co-production, and attention to access economies as practical tools for rigorous, ethical qualitative inquiry in fragile contexts. Adopted systematically, this framework has the potential to reorient Somali studies and comparable FCAS scholarship toward epistemically accountable and policy-relevant knowledge production.
Reconceptualising Mixed Methods Research Design in the Social Sciences: From Typology-Driven Templates to Context-Responsive Inquiry
This paper presents a thematic narrative review of mixed methods research (MMR) design in the social sciences, critically examining its evolution, philosophical foundations, typologies, integration strategies, dimensions of validity, strengths, and limitations. Three guiding questions frame the review: (1) How can mixed methods design move beyond typology-driven templates toward context-responsive, problem-driven approaches? (2) What constitutes strong integration in practice, and how can it be systematically designed? (3) How should researchers navigate philosophical pluralism — Pragmatism, Transformative Paradigm, and dialectical pluralism — in concrete design decisions? Drawing on a thematic synthesis of peer-reviewed articles, handbooks, and methodological works published primarily between 2004 and 2024, the review argues that mixed methods research should not be treated as a menu of fixed designs. Instead, it advances five context-responsive design principles: starting from the problem and context; pre-specifying integration points across design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation; making philosophical stance explicit and reflexive; designing for genuine meta-inference rather than parallel reporting; and tailoring designs to social, cultural, and institutional contexts. The paper illustrates these principles with concrete examples of integration success and failure, provides a comparative framework contrasting typology-driven and problem-driven design, and translates findings into practical guidance for novice researchers, supervisors, and practitioner-researchers. The review concludes that MMR, when designed adaptively and implemented with deliberate integration and reflexivity, significantly enhances the depth, validity, and real-world applicability of social science inquiry.
Developing the STOE Framework and Implementation Architecture: A Dual Model for e-Health Implementation in Resource-Constrained Public Healthcare Settings of Western Kenya
Well-funded e-Health pilot projects in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) consistently fail to achieve sustainable integration into routine practice. Existing frameworks address single dimensions of this problem, lacking integrated, multi-level perspectives and actionable roadmaps. This paper presents the development and empirical validation of the STOE (Social-Technological-Organisational-Environmental) Framework and its complementary Implementation Architecture, a dual model for resource-constrained public healthcare settings. We employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design across three public healthcare facilities in Western Kenya. Following a deductive-inductive process, we deductively constructed the STOE Framework by synthesising Normalisation Process Theory, the Technology-Organisation-Environment framework, and the Four-in-Balance Model. This a priori model was then inductively tested through quantitative surveys (n=108 healthcare providers) and qualitative interviews (n=21 key informants). Empirical data confirmed the framework's validity. Implementation failures stemmed from structural disconnects across nested STOE contexts, not isolated technical deficits. Three disconnect patterns emerged: (1) environmental policy uncertainty paralysing organisational decision-making (E→O); (2) technologies procured without frontline user input leading to systematic social rejection (S↔T); and (3) fragmented funding creating unsustainable donor-dependent pilots that collapsed post-completion (E→O→S cascade). The validated dual framework offers a pragmatic two-stage approach for resource-constrained health systems: diagnose systemic weaknesses using the STOE lens, then target interventions precisely using the architectural blueprint. This moves the field beyond checklist-style models toward integrated diagnosis and action.
Bridging the Last Mile: County-Proximate University as a Local Implementation Anchor for Two Parallel Digital Systems in Western Kenya
This paper examines the role of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) as a County-Proximate University (CPU) in implementing two parallel digital systems in Kenya's Western Region: The Health Information System (HIS, funded by USAID) and the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS, supported by UNICEF). A case study approach documented MMUST's partnership with the University of Nairobi (UoN) and strategic donor funding, comparing implementation bottlenecks of fragmented vertical systems versus locally anchored support. The centralised national model failed to resolve frontline officers' unsustainable burden of these digital systems with distinct technical platforms, training requirements, and support channels. MMUST's CPU role enabled contextualised training, sustained support, and successful parallel system operation at county and sub-county levels, achieving DHIS2 reporting timeliness improvement from 68% to 91% and CPIMS case registration completeness from 47% to 83% within 18 months. The findings demonstrate that empowering regional universities as local implementation anchors is essential for equitable digital transformation, where multiple parallel systems must coexist effectively. This paper proposes a five-component replicable framework for using county-proximate universities as local implementation anchors in decentralised governance contexts.
Gendering the Child in Luhya Popular Songs: An Analysis of Vincent Ongidi’s ‘Mama Mulayi’ and Kennedy Khaemba’s ‘Mayi Mutiti’
The representation of children in song lyrics remains under‑explored, even though children are the primary recipients of gendered socialisation and thus a critical site for the reproduction or contestation of gender norms. This paper delves into the intricate relationship between popular music and the construction of gender roles within the Luhya community of Western Kenya. Drawing on a qualitative design that integrates thematic analysis with critical discourse analysis, we analyse the lyrics of selected Luhya popular songs - Vincent Ongidi’s ‘Mama Mulayi’ and Kennedy Khaemba’s ‘Mayi Mutiti’ - to determine how children are represented and how those representations either reinforce, contest, or subvert prevailing gender narratives. We aim to uncover how child narrators perceive gender and whether these portrayals, as perceived by the child narrators, uphold, question, or overturn dominant gender narratives. Guided by Judith Butler’s notion of gender as a performative act, we treat the songs as cultural texts that participate in the ongoing construction of children’s gender identities. The findings reveal that female characters are consistently positioned as domestic helpers and caretakers, responsible for household chores and child‑rearing, whereas male characters are portrayed as heads of household, custodians and inheritors of land, and primary economic providers. While both songs largely reinforce these conventional roles, Mayi Mutiti contains occasional counter‑narratives that suggest a nascent questioning of the male‑as‑authority trope. By foregrounding child narrators’ perspectives, the findings demonstrate that Luhya popular music not only mirrors prevailing gender norms but also contributes to their ongoing negotiation and, in limited cases, subversion. The paper fills a gap in the literature on children’s roles in Kenyan pop music and highlights the urgency of examining these representations amid ongoing societal transitions that render rigid gender scripts increasingly problematic.
Parents’ Approaches to HIV Disclosure in Dodoma, Tanzania: A Phenomenological Study
This phenomenological study explores the approaches used by parents to disclose their HIV status to their children. It investigates the lived experiences of 11 parents living with HIV who attend a care and Treatment Clinic (CTC) at the Dodoma General Referral Hospital, Tanzania. Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using Colaizzi's method. The findings indicate that disclosure is an intentional, staged process that involves managing content, context, and timing. In their disclosures, parents used both direct verbalisation and gradual prompts, such as showing medication, treatment cards, or brochures, and preferred to do so at home during 'happy family moments' to minimise their children's emotional distress. Although parents go through this process on their own because of the lack of formal professional guidance, reliance on trial and error increases the possibility of psychological distress. In response, this study calls for a shift towards longitudinal, family-centred counselling and the standardisation of guidelines. By capitalising on peer-led mentorship and home-based support, disclosure could be made a well-structured transition that reinforces family resilience.
Courtroom Interaction and the Representation of Judicial Authority in Tanzania: A Critical Discourse Analysis
The purpose of this study is to examine how the court is represented in the discourse of selected High Courts and Magistrate Courts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and to identify the discourse strategies employed by courtroom participants in constructing these representations. While prior research on Tanzanian courtroom discourse has addressed speech acts, interactional patterns, and power relations, the representational dimension has received comparatively limited scholarly attention. This gap restricts a comprehensive understanding of how judicial authority is discursively projected, how legal meanings are socially constructed, and how such representations influence public trust, legal literacy, and perceptions of judicial legitimacy within the Tanzanian socio-legal context. Guided by Fairclough and Wodak’s Critical Discourse Analysis framework, the study draws on data generated through participant observation, supported by detailed field notes recorded during live court proceedings. From the broader corpus, fifteen excerpts were purposively selected for close analysis. The findings indicate that the court is constructed through multiple institutional images, including as a supreme, democratic, presumptive, persuasive, welfare-oriented, and hierarchical authority. Six principal discourse strategies emerged: pronouncement or ruling, offering choices, imposing obligations, questioning, demonstrating consideration, and expressing deference. These strategies function as mechanisms of institutional power, enabling the court to adjudicate disputes, regulate behaviour, and sustain constructive interactional relations among participants in the maintenance of social order. These findings elucidate the discursive processes through which judicial authority is instantiated, negotiated, and legitimised. They contribute to ongoing debates on the decolonisation of legal discourse, inform considerations of judicial communication and professional training, and extend Critical Discourse Analysis scholarship within multilingual African legal settings.
Coverage of Organic Farming Practices by Kenya’s Leading Newspapers
This paper focuses on the coverage of organic farming practices by Kenya’s leading newspapers: The Daily Nation and The Standard. The study is anchored in an interpretivist research philosophy, which is qualitative in nature. The study targeted the two newspapers' weekend pull-outs (Saturday) on ‘Seeds of Gold’ and ‘Smart Harvest’. The coverage of ‘organic farming’ content in the two newspapers was determined by examining how much space (in terms of percentage) was dedicated to an A3 page of a newspaper. Analysis of results has been done using descriptive statistics. It was found out that whereas the two newspaper pull-outs were expected to highlight and report on organic farming, the content covered in six to eight-page articles was less than 25.0% with the rest being sponsored articles by pesticides and other inorganic farming organisations. Considering the two pull-outs are expected to inform the public (consumers and farmers) on matters about organic farming, they did not do so by having much of the information in sponsored articles. Only 9.4% of the articles received whole-page coverage. The debates on organic farming rarely featured in the two newspaper articles despite their wide readership around the country. It is therefore recommended that the two newspapers should give prominence to organic farming information as part of fulfilling ethical reporting systems towards addressing climate health challenges and attainment of the United Nations sustainable development goals by 2030.
Synergistic Effects of Learner Support Systems on the Success of Reintegration Project for Adolescent Mothers in the Lower Eastern Region of Kenya
Teenage motherhood has been found to frequently be a hindrance to young women’s education, attributed to social stigma and inadequate institutional support systems, as they struggle to get reintegrated into the school system. This paper examines the synergistic effect of learner support systems on the performance of the reintegration project for adolescent mothers in secondary schools in Kenya. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design anchored on the systems theory and ecological systems theory. The target population consisted of 21,524 individuals, including 18,079 teenage mothers, 1,370 teachers, and 2,055 student leaders from 685 girls and mixed-day and boarding secondary schools, as well as 20 education officers from the lower Eastern region of Kenya. A sample size of 384 respondents was further obtained. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and structured interview schedules and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that learner support systems significantly influenced the performance of the reintegration project (R² = 0.621). There was a strong positive correlation between the combined influence of learner support systems and the performance of the reintegration project for adolescent mothers (r = 0.788, p = 0.01). The findings underscore the need for integrated learner support frameworks combining institutional, community, and policy interventions.
Determinants of Post-Harvest practices adopted by smallholder horticulture farmers in Mashonaland West province, Zimbabwe
This study investigates the determinants of post-harvest losses (PHL) and the intensity of post-harvest technology adoption among smallholder vegetable farmers in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West Province. Utilising a multi-stage sampling technique, primary data were collected from 200 farmers across the Hurungwe and Makonde districts. The research employed a Multinomial Logit (MNL) model to analyse PHL determinants at four value chain stages—farm gate, transportation, storage, and marketing—and a Probit model to identify factors influencing the adoption of mitigation practices. Findings reveal that 70% of losses occur during storage, followed by farm-level and transportation stages. The MNL analysis highlights that farm gate sales and modern technology significantly decrease the likelihood of storage and marketing losses. The Probit model identifies farmer age, production volume, cooperative membership, and access to diverse information sources as significant positive predictors of technology adoption. Notably, radio ownership showed a negative correlation, suggesting a potential deficiency in broadcast technical advice. While limited to cabbage, rape, and tomatoes in two districts, the results advocate for a policy shift toward integrated post-harvest management. Recommendations include establishing decentralised, solar-powered cold storage, strengthening cooperatives for collective investment, and providing specialised technical training via extension services. Additionally, restructuring credit facilities to target post-harvest infrastructure, such as plastic crates and drying tools, is essential to minimise waste and enhance profitability.
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SEM-CFA Estimation of Factors that Influence the Growth of Mobile Virtual Network Operators: Case Study from Kenya
The core problem this research addresses is the puzzling underperformance of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Kenya. Despite a thriving mobile industry and an increase in the number of registered MVNOs, their collective market share has paradoxically declined from 4% to about 2% over the past decade. To investigate this, the study employed a robust statistical method known as Structural Equation Modelling and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (SEM-CFA) to pinpoint the key factors driving or hindering MVNO growth. The key findings revealed a clear divide: factors such as public perception, MVNO-specific strategies, and collaborative value chains positively influence growth, while barriers created by established Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and regulatory limitations from Government Agencies hold it back. Crucially, the discussion highlights that the sector's poor performance is primarily due to factors unique to the Kenyan market. In conclusion, this research provides a practical framework for launching and developing MVNOs by identifying these specific influences. The main recommendation is that for the Kenyan MVNO sector to thrive, stakeholders must directly address the 44% of growth factors that are unique to the local context, as solving these specific issues is the key to alleviating the sector's long-standing problems.
Availability of Mobile Virtual Network Operator Differentiated Services, Market Segments, and their Level of Utilisation in the Kenyan Market
The global market size of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in 2025 is a multibillion-dollar industry that provides flexible and cost-effective mobile services to millions of customers across the globe. The MVNO sector in Kenya has registered some success in the wireless mobile market, but it is not clear the extent to which they have embraced differentiated services, and distinct market segments that are core to their success. The aim of the study was to find the available MVNO differentiated services, market segments, and their level of utilisation in the Kenyan market through a qualitative method approach of literature review, interviews, observations, and content analysis from the Mobile Network Operator (MNO), MVNO sector, and the Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya. The study found that the MVNO market share in Kenya is low against global competitive values of (10%-50%). MNOs, MVNOs, and financial institutions partly targeted the same services and operated in the same market segments. The level of service differentiation and market segmentation is low, and so is the level of utilisation of differentiated services and market segments. Mobile money transfer services, and electronic airtime/data vending services in the financial and retail market segments, respectively, performed well and were gainfully utilised. Utilisation of differentiated services in the other market segments is insignificant. Key limitation was the lack of MVNO regulatory framework on which to critique the sector from a local perspective, and the lack of previous research to establish a baseline for new findings. The MVNO landscape, however, is virgin and promising.
Examination of the Effects of Imprisonment on Recidivism: A Review of Kisumu County, Kenya
High rates of recidivism continue to challenge the effectiveness of CZimprisonment as a tool for criminal rehabilitation and public safety in Kenya. In Kisumu County, a growing number of former inmates find themselves re-entering the prison system, raising questions about the role of incarceration in breaking the cycle of crime. This study examines the effects of imprisonment on recidivism rates. This study employed a mixed-methods research design, which enabled the integration of quantitative and qualitative data to comprehensively examine the effects of imprisonment on recidivism in Kisumu County. Data were collected from 700 ex-convicts, 85 prison officers, and 15 probation officers using structured questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. Quantitative findings revealed that 62% of ex-prisoners were re-arrested within three years, while only 18% had access to consistent rehabilitation programmes during incarceration. Additionally, 76% of recidivists cited unemployment and social stigma as major barriers to reintegration. The qualitative data supported these findings, highlighting overcrowded prison conditions, limited vocational training, and insufficient post-release support as key contributors to reoffending. The study concludes that imprisonment in its current form often fails to rehabilitate offenders and instead contributes to a cycle of repeat offending. It recommends increased investment in community-based rehabilitation, expansion of vocational programmes within prisons, and the establishment of structured reintegration frameworks to reduce recidivism and promote social reintegration.
Analysis of Physicochemical Properties and Nutrient Loads Affecting Water Quality in River Kuja, Migori County, Kenya
Rivers are among the most vital freshwater resources supporting mining and sugar processing industries. In Kenya, River Kuja plays a crucial role in sustaining industrial, agricultural, and domestic activities. However, increasing industrial activities related to artisanal gold mining and sugar processing runoff have severely affected the river’s water quality. This study was therefore undertaken to assess the impacts of mining and sugar processing activities on the physicochemical parameters and nutrient loads of River Kuja, thereby providing essential baseline data for sustainable watershed management. Water samples were collected weekly from nine sampling stations along the river, immediately upstream and downstream of major mining and sugar processing zones. Samples were analysed for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, alkalinity, Na⁺, K⁺, and ammonia. Descriptive and inferential statistics and multivariate analyses were applied to interpret spatial and temporal variations in water quality. The results revealed significant degradation of water quality downstream of mining sites. The mean pH was 5.8, indicating acidic conditions below the WHO-recommended range (6.5–8.5), suggesting acid mine drainage influence. EC and TDS showed a pronounced downstream increase (EC ≈ 1185 µS/cm; TDS ≈ 788 mg/L). There were high ammonia levels at the upstream in Macalder. The study concludes that mining and industrial activities are major contributors to River Kuja’s water quality deterioration. It underscores the urgent need for improved watershed management, stricter regulation of mining effluents, and adoption of sustainable land-use practices to safeguard this critical freshwater ecosystem.
Influence of Workplace Culture on Organisational Performance: Experience from Tanzanian Public Sectors
Workplace culture remains a crucial catalyst for enhancing performance within public sector organisations. This paper examines the influence of workplace cultural traits on the performance of Tanzania’s public sector institutions. It explores the prevailing workplace culture, highlights emerging trends, and addresses a significant gap in existing literature regarding cultural compatibility and organisational outcomes. The study specifically analyses practical experiences and insights on how workplace culture contributes to improved performance, while also identifying key factors that influence the accommodation of cultural values within Tanzanian public institutions. An integrative literature review (ILR) approach was adopted, encompassing five stages: problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, analysis, and presentation. Findings reveal that despite multiple reforms over the past three decades, public sector performance remains unsatisfactory, largely due to the misalignment between administrative controls, directives, and prevailing workplace cultural realities. This misalignment has weakened organisational commitment, reduced employee motivation, and undermined service delivery. Key factors identified for enhancing performance include ethical and transformational leadership, effective employee engagement, empowerment, fair remuneration, and alignment of organisational practices with workplace culture. The study concludes that fostering a positive and compatible workplace culture is essential for improving employee commitment, mitigating toxic work environments, and ensuring the effectiveness of institutional reforms and digitalised management systems such as PEPMIS. By integrating cultural understanding into organisational practices, public sector managers can enhance accountability, innovation, and overall performance.
A Pragma-Dialectical Approach to the Discourse Functionality of Presentational Devices in County Assembly Debates in Kenya
Politicians employ emotive rhetoric in parliamentary debates as a strategic communicative tool in order to appeal to audiences for purposes of agenda-setting and ideological positioning. Discussants in the Nairobi County Assembly overwhelm their audience by using language that appeals to their emotions in order to make the audience empathise with them. Therefore, this paper aimed to examine the functionality of presentational devices in the County Assembly Debates using the pragma-dialectical approach. A descriptive case study design was used with qualitative approaches to allow a deeper inquiry into the phenomenon of debates using data from online archival Hansard records of Nairobi County Assembly. The study systematically sampled 48 debate transcripts of the print version of the Hansard from a total target population of 132 debates from February to November 2023. The study then purposively sampled 20 debates, which consisted of motions of the Nairobi County Assembly for analysis. Public documents from the Nairobi County assembly registry, consisting of schedules of the sectoral committees and the Standing Orders of the assembly, were collected from the website. Qualitative data were analysed with speech acts forming the unit of analysis. The data were subjected to analysis using the criteria recommended in the pragma-dialectical theory. The study established that discussants used strategic manoeuvres deliberately and more often at the beginning of the debate to persuade the antagonists to agree to their standpoints. The study was useful in identifying cultural and traditional applications of strategic manoeuvres peculiar to language use in African settings.
From Theory to Practice: A Theoretical Model for Disruptive ICT Innovations in Developing Economies
The rapid evolution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has transformed economic and social systems worldwide, yet most theories of disruptive innovation remain tailored to developed economies. This paper develops a theoretical model for understanding disruptive ICT innovations in developing contexts, emphasizing the factors that influence their success and socio-economic impact. Drawing on the Theory of Disruptive Innovation, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study integrates these perspectives to establish a holistic framework linking technological architecture, competitive dynamics, and regulatory environments. Findings reveal that successful ICT disruptions in developing economies depend on three core drivers: adaptable technological architecture, supportive regulatory frameworks, and high user acceptance shaped by cultural and social norms. Empirical illustrations from Kenya’s mobile banking revolution, particularly M-Pesa and M-Shwari, demonstrate that context-specific innovations can enhance financial inclusion, stimulate competition, and accelerate digital transformation. The study concludes that tailoring innovation frameworks to local realities enhances sustainability and scalability, offering a pathway for policymakers and practitioners to foster inclusive, ICT-driven economic growth.
Influence of Financial External factors on Access to credit facilities among Local Civil Contractors in Tanzania
Local Civil Contractors (LCCs) in Tanzania play a vital role in the national construction industry but face persistent challenges in accessing credit facilities essential for their operations and growth. This study examined how the financial external factors influence LCCs’ access to credit facilities, focusing on coercive, mimetic, and normative institutional pressures, as conceptualised within Scott’s institutional theory. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative data from 353 LCCs and qualitative insights from 15 financial sector key informants across six major regions in Tanzania. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were employed to assess the strength and direction of each regulatory dimension. The findings revealed that mimetic pressures (β = 0.424, p < 0.001) were the strongest positive predictors of access to financial services, indicating that peer learning, imitation of successful contractors, and network influence significantly enhance financial inclusion. Coercive factors (β = 0.292, p < 0.001), including regulatory requirements related to licensing, audits, and reporting, also positively influenced access, though their effect was more variable. In contrast, normative pressures (β = –0.056, p = 0.033), such as rigid professional standards and documentation norms, had a statistically significant negative effect, implying exclusionary tendencies for smaller or informal contractors. The study recommends regulatory simplification, tiered compliance frameworks, strengthened peer learning platforms, and alternative credit assessment models. These findings underscore the need for context-sensitive regulatory reforms that align with LCCs’ operational realities, thereby improving financial access, competitiveness, and the contribution of local contractors to Tanzania’s construction sector.