Student Demographic Factors on Perception of The Influence of Guidance and Counselling and School Adjustment in Keiyo North Sub-County, Kenya.

The purpose of the study was to investigate student demographic factors on perception of the influence of guidance and counseling and school adjustment in Keiyo North Sub-County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were: to determine gender type and students’ perceptions on the influence of guidance and counselling on school adjustment, school type and students’ perceptions on the influence of guidance and counselling on school adjustment and class level and students’ perceptions on the influence of guidance and counselling services on their overall school adjustment. The study was guided by the self-perception theory. The ontology was pragmatism and the epistemology was realism. The research method was mixed method. The research design was ex post-facto, random sampling and stratified techniques were applied. A sample of 21 schools and 367 out of the 8001 students in the sub-county secondary schools were selected. A further, 16 participants were purposively selected (one from each class level of the type of school). Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data. The hypotheses were tested at a significance level of 0.05. The qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The major finding of the study was that female students had a higher mean perception (3.6391, SD .06308) than the male students (3.4000 SD .07159). The study concluded that consistency and competence in provision of guidance and counselling services is wanting in secondary schools in the sub-county. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that since there exists’ significant differences in demographic factors on students’ perceptions on the influence of guidance and counselling on their school adjustment, there was need to address the challenges and shortcomings that exist in the provision of guidance and counselling, and encourage the male students to participate in guidance and counselling activities

Students’ Co-Curricular Participation Perception and Academic Performance in Kenyan Secondary Schools

The study sought to investigate students’ co-curricular participation perception and academic performance. The research objectives of the study were: to investigate the relationship between students’ co-curricular participation perception and their academic performance and to investigate the relationship between gender, co-curricular participation perception and academic performance. The study was guided by the perception theory of Kurt Lewin as espoused by smith. The ontology was realist/ objectivist and the epistemology was post-positivism. The research method was quantitative. The research design was ex-post-facto. A total of 72 volleyball players, 124 football players participated in the study. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select the sample. The data was collected using a Likert scaled questionnaire. Data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, t-test, Pearson r and a two way ANOVA at p >.05 level of significance. The major findings of the study showed that: (59.7%) of the participants (students) had low academic performances; the participants in football were academically superior to those who participated in volleyball and the analysis further revealed that participation in co-curricular activities has no significant relationship with academic performance, [t(194) = -1.36, p = .176]. Based on the findings, it was recommended that since sports participation accommodates the less endowed students academically to succeed; there was need to use it to enhance the students’ well being. It was also recommended that schools need to provide sufficient opportunities for co-curricular participation as it helps improve the self-concepts of the students. The study showed that there was need to explore on a theory that can guide co-curricular participation perception. Keywords: Secondary Schools, Academic Performance, Kenya

Secondary School Students’ Perceptions of the Influence of Guidance and Counselling Services on Their Overall School Adjustment in Relation to School Type

Secondary school adjustment is the process of students coping in school environment in order to attain the individual and school’s set goals and aspirations.  All public secondary schools (day and boarding) are required to implement guidance and counselling services to assist students in school adjustment (emotional, social and academic). This study looks at the perceptions of students on the influence of guidance and counselling on overall school adjustment based on school type. This study used causal comparative research design. The target population involved students in single- sex boarding schools, mixed sex boarding schools and mixed day schools in Keiyo North Sub County, Kenya. Students in form one to four participated in the study. Stratified and simple random sampling methods were used to select students from 7 (3 single sex, 1 mixed boarding and 3 mixed day secondary schools). Data was collected through the use of questionnaire and interview. This is because the study adopted a mixed approach research methodology. Research findings showed that there existed significant difference on students’ perceptions of the influence of guidance and counselling services on school adjustment in relation to the type of schools they came from. Students from girls’ schools had higher perception scores compared to those from mixed schools and those from boys’ schools. The study recommends that there is need for teacher counsellors in mixed and day secondary schools to devise guidance and counselling activities to meet the needs of students who need emotional, social and academic adjustments. Keywords: overall, school, adjustment, school typ

Adequacy of ventilation systems: An explorative study of the perspectives of designers and occupants of high rise buildings in Nairobi, Kenya

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Intersectoral allocation in the Tana river basin (Kenya)

Water is fundamental for economic productivity and social well-being in a river basin.Water allocation decisions are therefore needed to be made in such a way that benefits aremaximized for all water users. However the water flow and water resourcesdevelopments create an asymmetry situation in the river basin whereby upstream waterusers cause impacts to downstream water users. This is the case for Seven Forks Project,the largest water resource development in Kenya that was started in the late 60ies togenerate hydropower. It consists of a cascade of seven reservoirs and hydropower stationslocated in the middle part of the Tana River basin and currently generating three quartersof Kenya's electricity. However the most upstream reservoir, Masinga is experiencinghigh rates of sedimentation accelerated by increasing agricultural activity in the uppercatchment. Irrigation water withdrawals from the reservoirs have also increased and thesituation for the basin is expected to be even more complex with plans to develop a largesugarcane irrigation scheme of approximately 200,000ha downstream of the Seven ForksProject. Understanding the impacts either positive or negative of these developments (orwater use) is important for the planning of inter-sectoral allocation especially involvingagriculture (rainfed and irrigation) and hydropower that maximizes water productivity atthe same time satisfying the social needs of the river basin.The methodology used to analyze the operations of the Seven Forks Project relies on thestochastic dual dynamic programming model (SDDP), an optimization tool thatmaximizes the net benefits for the Seven Forks system under different conditions. Itderives the monthly operating rules for each development scenario and then simulate fora given planning period. The optimal allocation policies and marginal water value at eachelement of the multi-reservoir system are therefore available to evaluate the impacts ofthese developments or plans and also formulate a benefit sharing arrangement..The study found thata) Masinga reservoir plays an important role in regulating inflows downstream as acascade and thereby governs the energy production in the Seven Forks Project.b) The existing irrigation water withdrawals at the Seven Forks Project do not affectthe hydropower productionc) Water availability downstream of the Seven Forks Project reveals a high risk offailure to meeting the future irrigation requirements in periods when the irrigationdemands exceeds the regulation flows of the reservoirs.d) The current high sedimentation rate of Masinga dam will result in a reduction of5% (200GWh) of hydropower production or average revenue loss of US{dollar} 8Million per year by the year 2020 in Seven Forks Project.e) Hydropower company is recommended to pay utmost 5% of annual hydropowerrevenue to RBO for catchment conservation and redistribution of benefitsThe study further proposes future research on how to fully institutionalize the benefitsharing arrangement for sustainable management of Tana River basin

Managing basin interdependencies in a heterogeneous, highly utilized and data scarce river basin in semi-arid Africa : the case of the Pangani River Basin, Eastern Africa

For integrated water resources management both blue and green water resources in a river basin and their spatial and temporal distribution have to be considered. This is because green and blue water uses are interdependent. In sub-Saharan Africa, the upper landscapes are often dominated by rainfed and supplementary irrigated agriculture that rely on green water resources. Downstream, most blue water uses are confined to the river channels, mainly for hydropower and the environment. Over time and due to population growth and increased demands for food and energy, water use of both green and blue water has increased. This book provides a quantitative assessment of green-blue water use and their interactions. The book makes a novel contribution by developing a hydrological model that can quantify not only green but also blue water use by many smallholder farmers scattered throughout the landscape. The book provides an innovative framework for mapping ecological productivity where gross returns from water consumed in agricultural and natural vegetation are quantified. The book provides a multiobjective optimization analysis involving green and blue water users, including the environment. The book also assesses the uncertainty levels of using remote sensing data in water resource management at river basin scale. For integrated water resources management both blue and green water resources in a river basin and their spatial and temporal distribution have to be considered. This is because green and blue water uses are interdependent. In sub-Saharan Africa, the upper landscapes are often dominated by rainfed and supplementary irrigated agriculture that rely on green water resources. Downstream, most blue water uses are confined to the river channels, mainly for hydropower and the environment. Over time and due to population growth and increased demands for food and energy, water use of both green and blue water has increased. This book provides a quantitative assessment of green-blue water use and their interactions. The book makes a novel contribution by developing a hydrological model that can quantify not only green but also blue water use by many smallholder farmers scattered throughout the landscape. The book provides an innovative framework for mapping ecological productivity where gross returns from water consumed in agricultural and natural vegetation are quantified. The book provides a multiobjective optimization analysis involving green and blue water users, including the environment. The book also assesses the uncertainty levels of using remote sensing data in water resource management at river basin scale

Managing Basin Interdependencies in a Heterogeneous, Highly Utilized and Data Scarce River Basin in Semi-Arid Africa: The case of the Pangani River Basin, Eastern Africa

For integrated water resources management both blue and green water resources in a river basin and their spatial and temporal distribution have to be considered. This is because green and blue water uses are interdependent. In sub-Saharan Africa, the upper landscapes are often dominated by rainfed and supplementary irrigated agriculture that rely on green water resources. Downstream, most blue water uses are confined to the river channels, mainly for hydropower and the environment. Over time and due to population growth and increased demands for food and energy, water use of both green and blue water has increased. This book provides a quantitative assessment of green-blue water use and their interactions. The book makes a novel contribution by developing a hydrological model that can quantify not only green but also blue water use by many smallholder farmers scattered throughout the landscape. The book provides an innovative framework for mapping ecological productivity where gross returns from water consumed in agricultural and natural vegetation are quantified. The book provides a multi-objective optimization analysis involving green and blue water users, including the environment. The book also assesses the uncertainty levels of using remote sensing data in water resource management at river basin scale.Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Board for Doctorates of Delft University of Technology and of the Academic Board of the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education.Water Resource

Evaluating the adequacy of installed ventilation systems in high rise buildings in Nairobi, Kenya

Sustainable passive ventilation has been promoted as the way forward in ventilation systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Whether this is real or factual will be determined by this investigation on how well installed ventilation systems meet the comfort needs of office building occupants. The study gave an indication of the priorities that were attached to climatic suitability of ventilation designs in high rise office buildings. The study investigates the use of both mechanical and natural ventilation systems in some high rise office buildings. It provides information on one hand, on the level of adoption of ventilation systems in office buildings located in the Central Business District (CBD) in Nairobi, Kenya, and on the other hand, the adequacy of the installed ventilation systems as perceived by the building occupants. 34 tenants of high rise buildings located in the CBD area were purposively sampled and were the units of the study analysis. Analysis of their responses was presented using simple descriptive and interpretative techniques. The study finds that installed ventilation systems were inadequate and rarely meet tenants' needs in high rise buildings. Occupants require greater flexibility in ventilation design and desire ventilation systems that could incorporate some measure of individual control of air circulation to enhance their general comfort

Adequacy of ventilations systems: perspectives of designers and occupants of office buildings in Nairobi, Kenya

Passive ventilation systems have the potential for reduced operating costs in office buildings while maintaining ventilation rates consistent with acceptable indoor air quality. There is a surge of interest in more developed economies for passive ventilation technology but much work is needed before this potential can be realized in sub-Saharan Africa. This explorative study reviews the adoption and adequacy of alternative ventilations systems in office buildings located in the central business district (CBD) of Nairobi, Kenya. Data for the study was obtained through questionnaires and interviews with architects and office building occupants purposively sampled. Thirty four tenants and thirty two architects of these high rise buildings were selected as units of the study analysis. Analysis of their responses is presented using simple descriptive and interpretative techniques. The study concludes that installed ventilation systems rarely meet the needs of occupants and that greater flexibility in ventilation design could provide a measure of individual control of air circulation that would enhance their general comfort