The Role of Conformity to Masculinity Norms on Alcohol Use among Male Teachers in Public Secondary Schools in Murang’a County, Kenya.

Alcohol addiction is a problem that continuesto affect the global population. Being male has been reported as higher risk to alcohol consumption compared to being female. This has been linked to many male related factors with limited studies done on the role of conformity to masculinity on alcohol consumption. Alcohol abuse is considerably rampant among teachers and has impacted negatively on teaching and learning especially in public schools where productivity of teachers is extremely low, giving rise to a worrying trend. This study sought to establish the relationship between conformity to masculinity norms and alcohol abuse among male teachers in Murang’a County, Kenya. The study adopted the correlational research design targeting 2642 male teachers employed by teacher service commission in secondary schools in Murang’a County with a sample size of 422 participants. The quantitative data was collected using standardized masculine behaviour scale (MBS) and alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) selfadministered questionnaires. The study found statistically significant correlation between conformity to masculinity norms and alcohol use disorders on all the domains of the Masculine Behavior Scale. This study may be significant to rehabilitation centers in developing and implementing men-centered interventions for treatment and control of alcohol consumption among patients

Social Networking Sites and Their Influence on the Self Esteem of Adolescents in Embu County, Kenya

As technology improves and advances, social networking sites have an even bigger impact on society and human relationships, both positive and negative.  Social networking sites have influence on teenagers in the way they develop socially. The way teenagers are connected to these global SNSs is both a frightening prospect for parents and educators and an intriguing area for social science research. Further there is no comprehensive knowledge of the activities adolescents do on these sites as well as how they impact their social life. This study therefore sought to specifically investigate the influence of social networking sites on the self-esteem of adolescents in secondary schools in Embu County Kenya. The researcher adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population of the respondents for this research was secondary school students and teachers in Embu County. Random sampling technique was used to select five boarding schools for the study sample. From each school, fifteen students and three teachers was selected for each unit of analysis to make a total sample of one fifty students and 15 teachers selected from the target population. The data collection instruments designed for the researches were questionnaires, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and interview schedules. The questionnaires and Rosenberg self-esteem scale was designed for the students while interview guides were for teachers. Data collected was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The study concluded that almost all the students use social network sites, therefore that social networking is very common among students who are in secondary schools. Facebook topped the list of the most common social site used by secondary schools students. The study further concludes that various students have different motivation for visiting the social networking sites. The study further concluded that social networking influence the self-esteem and psychological wellbeing of secondary school student. The study recommends that secondary schools students should be given guidance and counseling on how to positively utilize the social networking sites to their advantage and not to have a negative impact on their self-esteem.   Keywords: Social Networking Sites, Self-esteem, Psychological well-being

Green Building Technology and Energy Efficiency: The Case of High-Rise Buildings in Karura Area in Westlands Constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya

<p><i>Construction industry is not only a leading consumer of energy for lighting, cooling and other purposes but also ranks among the largest sources of toxic gas emissions. This has raised the demand for energy efficient building with low utility bills, healthy indoor environmental quality, and minimal ecological footprints. So far, an increasing number of experts, policymakers, governments and multinational agencies led by the UN are advocating for adoption of green building technology. However, the shift to the environmentally-friendly building practices is relatively slower in Kenya as compared to other nations across the globe. This study, therefore, focussed on the adoption of green building technology (GBT) in one of Kenya's high-end markets, Karura, Westlands Constituency, in Nairobi. The study's main objective was to establish the correlation between GBT adoption and energy efficiency of the high-rise buildings in the area between 2013 and 2018. The specific goals of the study were to determine the factors affecting the adoption of the technologies, as well as, the challenges and strategies for addressing the obstacles to embracing GBT in the pursuit of socioeconomic benefits associated with energy efficient high-rise buildings. The study adopted descriptive research design. Digital and printed questionnaires were used to collect data from 350 out of the 4,392 industry stakeholders including surveyors, architects, house owners, engineers and real estate agents. Their input was analysed using SPSS V.26. It was found that, more than 298 of the respondents used various types of green building innovations such as eco-friendly materials, smart HVAC systems and renewable energy to improve the energy efficiency of their latest projects. While the factors affecting the adoption of the sustainable development concepts included costs savings associated with green building technology, level of awareness and lack of adequate support by the relevant governmental agencies.  Consequently, the study recommends dissemination of information to the stakeholders via various awareness programs such as regular conferences, webinars, training programs, and trade shows and exhibitions. The policymakers should also move with speed in providing subsidies and related legal framework to hasten the shift to the green building innovations.</i></p&gt