Knowledge is Power: the Internet and the Kenyan Public Sphere.

The Internet will… serve multiple functions as the world’s favourite public library, school classroom and medical database, post office and telephone, marketplace and shopping mall, channel of entertainment, culture and music, daily news resource for headlines, stocks and weather, and heterogeneous global public sphere.(Norris 6

Policy paper media under pressure: The trouble with press freedom in Kenya

Press freedom in Kenya has undergone significant changes over the past few decades. This resulted in a complex and evolving landscape, where the country boasts of a diverse and lively media landscape, with numerous newspapers, television and radio stations, and a growing online presence giving a credible impression of a plurality of perspectives and voices in the media. Further, the 2010 Kenyan Constitution is recognized as one of Africa‘s most progressive in terms of press freedom protections. It calls for an independent regulator – the Media Council of Kenya – to oversee the media and its standards and safeguard journalists‘ independence and safety

Mapping Digital Media: Kenya

The Mapping Digital Media project examines the global opportunities and risks created by the transition from traditional to digital media. Covering 60 countries, the project examines how these changes affect the core democratic service that any media system should provide: news about political, economic, and social affairs.The new constitution of Kenya, promulgated in August 2010, is considered a major positive development in ensuring the free flow of information. It provides for freedom of media as a right and fundamental freedom. Section 34 guarantees the independence of electronic, print, and all other types of media. The government has also pledged to enhance Kenya's technological infrastructure by investing in the roll-out of fiber optic cable throughout the country and working on "digital villages" to enable people in remote parts of the country to access broadband internet. Stiff competition in the mobile phone market has also lowered access costs and there is a significant increase in news diversity as a direct result of the convergence of internet, television, and radio on mobile platforms.In online journalism, the virtues associated with ethics—accuracy, honesty, truth, impartiality, fairness, balance, respect for autonomy of ordinary people—are barely respected, largely because there is no effective way of policing this, and there are no legal penalties. Concentration of ownership has increased in the last five years and transparency in ownership of media has improved only slightly over the past five years. The government controls media licensing—a process that is shrouded in secrecy, so that it is difficult to establish who owns which media house.The overall framework of policy and law is not yet adequate for digitized media in Kenya. The national ICT policy of 2006 committed the government to support and encourage pluralism and diversity. While this led to a proliferation of channels, it did not do much for content diversity due to the level of concentration of media. A lack of resources to build the digital infrastructure, consumer ignorance of what the switch means and whether the public can afford the end-user devices are some of the challenges faced in Kenya's digital switchove

Nutrient and organic carbon losses by erosion, and their economic and environmental implications in the drylands of Kenya

Erosion causes soil nutrients and financial losses, and negatively impacts the environment. We sought to assess the effects of integrated soil fertility and soil & water management practices on nutrient losses, their equivalent economic losses, and environmental disturbance in the drylands of Tharaka-Nithi County. An experiment was set in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Six treatments implemented included manure + fertilizer + tied ridging under 120 kg ha−1 and 30 kg ha−1 nitrogen (N) application rate, manure + fertilizer + minimum tillage with crop residue mulch under 120 N kg ha−1 and 30 N kg ha−1, Managing Beneficial Interactions in Legume Intercrops with 60 N kg ha−1, and conventional control. A two (120 N kg ha−1 and 30 N kg ha−1) by two (Minimum tillage with mulch and tied ridges) split-plot arrangement was used to evaluate the interaction effect of soil fertility, and soil & water conservation practices. Soil & water conservation and soil fertility management practices reduced soil nutrients and organic carbon losses, ecosystem disturbance, and monetary nutrient losses when isolated or integrated. Minimum tillage with mulch had a higher reduction in the nutrient loss by 20–165% compared to tied ridges. The 120 N kg ha−1 reduced nutrient loss by 16–19% more than 30 N kg ha−1. The enrichment ratio (ER) under all the treatments was above unity, which indicated ecosystem disturbance. Minimum tillage with mulch reduced ER more than the tied ridges, whereas 30 N kg ha−1 had lower ER than 120 N kg ha−1. The equivalent monetary losses of nutrients were as high as 30 US$ha−1for soil organic carbon, 28 US$ ha−1 for nitrogen, 73 US$ha−1 for phosphorus, and 140 US$ ha−1 for potassium per season. The combined treatment with the least economic losses was manure + fertilizer (120 N kg ha−1) + minimum tillage with mulch. Hence, the technology should be promoted for sustainable agricultural productivity. Erosion causes soil nutrients and financial losses, and negatively impacts the environment. We sought to assess the effects of integrated soil fertility and soil & water management practices on nutrient losses, their equivalent economic losses, and environmental disturbance in the drylands of Tharaka-Nithi County. An experiment was set in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Six treatments implemented included manure + fertilizer + tied ridging under 120 kg ha−1 and 30 kg ha−1 nitrogen (N) application rate, manure + fertilizer + minimum tillage with crop residue mulch under 120 N kg ha−1 and 30 N kg ha−1, Managing Beneficial Interactions in Legume Intercrops with 60 N kg ha−1, and conventional control. A two (120 N kg ha−1 and 30 N kg ha−1) by two (Minimum tillage with mulch and tied ridges) split-plot arrangement was used to evaluate the interaction effect of soil fertility, and soil & water conservation practices. Soil & water conservation and soil fertility management practices reduced soil nutrients and organic carbon losses, ecosystem disturbance, and monetary nutrient losses when isolated or integrated. Minimum tillage with mulch had a higher reduction in the nutrient loss by 20–165% compared to tied ridges. The 120 N kg ha−1 reduced nutrient loss by 16–19% more than 30 N kg ha−1. The enrichment ratio (ER) under all the treatments was above unity, which indicated ecosystem disturbance. Minimum tillage with mulch reduced ER more than the tied ridges, whereas 30 N kg ha−1 had lower ER than 120 N kg ha−1. The equivalent monetary losses of nutrients were as high as 30 US$ha−1for soil organic carbon, 28 US$ ha−1 for nitrogen, 73 US$ha−1 for phosphorus, and 140 US$ ha−1 for potassium per season. The combined treatment with the least economic losses was manure + fertilizer (120 N kg ha−1) + minimum tillage with mulch. Hence, the technology should be promoted for sustainable agricultural productivity

Soil water use efficiency under integrated soil management practices in the drylands of Kenya

Soil moisture scarcity and soil fertility decline in the drylands contribute to declining crop productivity. The possible synergistic effects of integrating soil & water conservation, and soil fertility management practices on soil moisture, and hence water use efficiency (WUE) in the drylands of Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya was assessed. The experiment was laid in a three by three split plot arrangement, with four replications, for four cropping seasons. Minimum tillagewith mulch, tied ridges, and conventional tillage formed the main plot factors. The sub-plot factors included animal manure plus fertilizer at 120, 60, and 30 N kg ha−1. There was significant improvement in soil moisture by 35 and 28% by minimum tillage with mulch and tied ridges, respectively, compared to conventional tillage. Manure plus fertilizer rates of 120 and 60 N kg ha−1 had significantly lower soil moisture by 12 and 10%, respectively than the 30 N kg ha−1across the seasons. The WUE was significantly enhanced by 150 and 65% under minimum tillage with mulch and tied ridges, respectively, compared to conventional tillage. Compared with 30 N kg ha−1, the 120 N kg ha−1 and 60 kg ha−1significantly enhanced the WUE by 66 and 25%, respectively. Across the seasons, the best treatment combination for improving WUE was minimum tillage with mulch at 120 N kg ha−1 rate of manure plus fertilizer

Pathways to African feminism and development

The African Women Studies Centre is a training, research, evidence-based policy, advocacy and lobbying institution of the University of Nairobi. The Centre is committed to promoting African Women’s experiences and worldview in scholarship, policy and institutional development. Among the Centre’s publications are - The Beginnings; Rebuilding the Broken African Pot; Gender and Policy Analysis Tools; Making Women’s Perspectives Count in Policy Development and Implementation; and Status Report on the Kenya National Food Security. In the spirit of the multi-disciplinary nature of the AWSC, Pathways to African Feminism and Development promotes African women’s studies in all aspects of scholarship and development. In this issue: Technology and Changing Gender Roles Mary Lou Williams Examined in the Context of Race and Gender The Implications of Religion and Culture on Gender Equality Parents’ Social and Financial Status as Determinants of Child Gender Preferences Persistent Gender Inequity in Academic Employment at Makerere University An Expansive Realization Perspective

Farmers’ innovativeness and positive affirmation as main drivers of adoption of soil fertility management practices : evidence across sites in Africa

Purpose: Declining soil fertility is worrying in sub-Saharan Africa. Various technologies serve to mitigate or rebuild soil fertility, butuptake by farmers, especially smallholders, is low. The study addresses this adoption problem in a novel way, assessing empirically many factors from various domains (economic, socio-demographic, individual, institutional, networks and information sources) to identify what drives adoption. Design/Methodology/Approach: The panel study used data frombaseline and endline surveys with 1870 smallholders in Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Zambia. Quantitative data were analysed simultaneously via logistic regression, complemented by qualitative interviews. The study demonstrates the advantage of panel studies, as they can measure changes in practice or in farmers’ attitudes. Findings: Individual factors, for example innovativeness, perception about soil fertility and correct knowledge, have the biggest influence on adoption. Socio-demographic and economic factors, by contrast, play hardly any role, as do individual information sources. Practical implications: Future research should focus on in-depth studies of individual factors, e.g. innovativeness and knowledge, and on the information environment of farmers. Communication efforts must primarily target innovative farmers, ensure high quality, address competing messages, and communicate through many different channels. Theoretical implications: The importance of ‘intrinsic’ factors that have previously been overlooked in adoption studies in SSA becomes clear. Originality/Value: The study is one of very few that empirically assesses a wide range of independent variables to identify the drivers of adoption. It reports not only significance but also effect sizes

Determinants of Farmers’ Knowledge on Soil and Water Conservation Technologies in Dry Zones of Central Highlands, Kenya

Agricultural productivity has been on the decline globally and in sub-Saharan Africa. This is as a result of soil nutrient depletion and low soil water availability. To curb this problem various soil and water conservations have been recommended, but there is still low uptake among farmers. The farmer’s knowledge level influences uptake and eventual adoption of these technologies. Therefore, we carried a cross-sectional survey from 400 farming households to assess farmer’s knowledge levels on the selected ISFM and SWC technologies and to determine the household’s socio-economic determinants influencing farmers’ level of knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in the dry ones of the Central Highlands of Kenya. Knowledge levels were assessed by asking farmers questions that demanded a true or false answer. Knowledge index was then calculated and data analyzed using multinomial logistic regression model. Results showed that majority of the farmers had inadequate and insufficient knowledge on the use and benefits of soil and water conservation technologies. The socio-economic factors that influence knowledge levels of the knowledge-intensive technologies were education level, gender, perceptions on soil fertility, farmer group membership, access to training, farm size, access to credit, livestock keeping, and access to farm equipment. This implies the need to come up with an all-inclusive policy that can be employed in improving farmer’s level of knowledge through the use of more innovative methods of information dissemination. This can be done by strengthening the existing farmer groups, enhancing extension services, and also formulating gender-friendly policies

Determinants of Farmers’ Knowledge on Soil and Water Conservation Technologies in Dry Zones of Central Highlands, Kenya

Agricultural productivity has been on the decline globally and in sub-Saharan Africa. This is as a result of soil nutrient depletion and low soil water availability. To curb this problem various soil and water conservations have been recommended, but there is still low uptake among farmers. The farmer’s knowledge level influences uptake and eventual adoption of these technologies. Therefore, we carried a cross-sectional survey from 400 farming households to assess farmer’s knowledge levels on the selected ISFM and SWC technologies and to determine the household’s socio-economic determinants influencing farmers’ level of knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in the dry ones of the Central Highlands of Kenya. Knowledge levels were assessed by asking farmers questions that demanded a true or false answer. Knowledge index was then calculated and data analyzed using multinomial logistic regression model. Results showed that majority of the farmers had inadequate and insufficient knowledge on the use and benefits of soil and water conservation technologies. The socio-economic factors that influence knowledge levels of the knowledge-intensive technologies were education level, gender, perceptions on soil fertility, farmer group membership, access to training, farm size, access to credit, livestock keeping, and access to farm equipment. This implies the need to come up with an all-inclusive policy that can be employed in improving farmer’s level of knowledge through the use of more innovative methods of information dissemination. This can be done by strengthening the existing farmer groups, enhancing extension services, and also formulating gender-friendly policies

Determinants of Farmers’ Knowledge on Soil and Water Conservation Technologies in Dry Zones of Central Highlands, Kenya

Agricultural productivity has been on the decline globally and in sub-Saharan Africa. This is as a result of soil nutrient depletion and low soil water availability. To curb this problem various soil and water conservations have been recommended, but there is still low uptake among farmers. The farmer’s knowledge level influences uptake and eventual adoption of these technologies. Therefore, we carried a cross-sectional survey from 400 farming households to assess farmer’s knowledge levels on the selected ISFM and SWC technologies and to determine the household’s socio-economic determinants influencing farmers’ level of knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in the dry ones of the Central Highlands of Kenya. Knowledge levels were assessed by asking farmers questions that demanded a true or false answer. Knowledge index was then calculated and data analyzed using multinomial logistic regression model. Results showed that majority of the farmers had inadequate and insufficient knowledge on the use and benefits of soil and water conservation technologies. The socio-economic factors that influence knowledge levels of the knowledge-intensive technologies were education level, gender, perceptions on soil fertility, farmer group membership, access to training, farm size, access to credit, livestock keeping, and access to farm equipment. This implies the need to come up with an all-inclusive policy that can be employed in improving farmer’s level of knowledge through the use of more innovative methods of information dissemination. This can be done by strengthening the existing farmer groups, enhancing extension services, and also formulating gender-friendly policies