CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION IN KENYA: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF STATE-SPONSORED SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the principal citizenship issues identified by scholars as significant with regard to the African experience were addressed in state-endorsed Kenyan social studies instructional materials. This study also determined whether or not the treatment of the principal citizenship issues was consistent with the recommendations in the citizenship literature. In addition, this study analyzed and evaluated the pedagogical exercises present in social studies instructional materials. A qualitative content analysis was used for the study. Content in the social studies materials was read iteratively to determine patterns and generate themes. The generated themes were evaluated against the scholars\u27 recommendations. Pedagogical exercises in social studies instructional materials were also identified and classified into two categories, passive and active learning exercises. For the purpose of analysis, data were collected separately from the elementary and secondary textbooks. The analysis of data was done through descriptive and critical analysis. Although the textbooks addressed virtually all the citizenship issues at some level or to some degree, some important trends emerged. For example, the textbooks gave more coverage to democracy and human rights, secondary school textbooks contained more complex content than primary school textbooks, and the textbooks contained descriptive and superficial content on the main citizenship issues. The analysis of data revealed that most of the recommended pedagogical methods such as debates, role play and discussions recommended by scholars were found in learning activities. Although the textbooks contained a higher percentage of learning activities that promoted active learning, most practice questions at the end of each chapter required students to memorize the same content form in the textbooks. The study had a number of implications. Some of these were that the ministry of education needs to include content on diversity in secondary school textbooks, there is need for more elaborate discussions of the citizenship issues, and the ministry of education ought to recommend the inclusion of content on ethnic conflicts and skills in content resolution in the contemporary Kenyan society

Towards alternative media as critical media in Africa

Social media have enhanced and reshaped alternative media in Africa. It was unsurprising, for example, that the February 2016 edition of New African magazine dedicated its cover to protesters from South Africa, under the heading ‘The #ashtag generation: Inside the new protest movements’. It referred to hashtags such as #RhodesMustFall, #FeesMustFall and #ZumaMustFall as having played a critical role in shaping the struggles from below (Nyamnjoh, 2016). [...

Effect of Domestic Saving on Capital Formation in Kenya

Kenya’s average rate of gross capital formation of 20.13% of GDP over the period 2006-2017 falls short of at least 25% necessary for developing countries to experience sustainable growth. The attendant effects of low capital formation have entrenched unemployment rate above 39% line and consigned more than 65 per cent of the country’s population to living on less than $ 2 a day. The statistics suggest the need for urgent policy intervention aimed at accelerating capital formation in Kenya. But whether the government should respond by mobilizing more domestic saving or not is the question which this study sought to answer. This is because majority of the previous studies that investigated the effects of domestic saving on development indicators limited themselves to growth-saving nexus. Those that investigated the effect of domestic saving on capital formation either restricted themselves to a bivariate framework or controlled for a few sources of capital formation. This implies that the effect of domestic saving on capital formation is not clear. Besides, the response of capital formation to shocks in domestic saving is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of domestic saving and the response of capital formation to shocks in domestic saving. The study was anchored by Solow’s capital accumulation model within a correlational studies research design. Data over 1974-2017 period was sourced from the World Bank. ARDL bounds test found the existence of cointegrating relationship among gross capital formation, gross domestic saving and the controlled variables when gross capital formation was specified as the target variable. The short-run dynamic model estimates indicated that ECM term corrects 39.56% of deviations from long run equilibrium in one year. ARDL estimation indicated that in the long run, gross domestic saving has positive significant effect on gross capital formation. The results were robust for IRFs analysis which found the response of gross capital formation to innovations in gross domestic saving to be positive and significant. The study concluded that in the long-run, Kenya’s capital formation will be driven by domestic saving. Therefore, to achieve high capital formation in the long-run, the study recommended policies that enhance positive effects of domestic saving for consideration by the government of Kenya. Keywords: Kenya, Capital Formation, Domestic Saving DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-16-17 Publication date: August 31st 201

Young African diaspora: Global African narratives, media consumption and identity formation

This study focused on identity formation and media consumption among first-generation young Africans in the diaspora. It investigated what it means to be African and the impact of multiple identities and forms of belonging within diasporic communities. Emphasis was on how they experience the diaspora as liminal spaces and subsequently negotiate relationships with other Africans in indeterminate diasporic spaces to construct, redefine, negotiate and even contest identities. Using snowballing and purposive sampling, the study analysed first-hand accounts and interviews informed by personal histories and lived experiences of (1) what they know about Africa; (2) their sense of belonging to Africa; (3) how Africa is represented in the media and (4) their views/attitudes on markers of African identity. Findings indicate that young Africans in the diaspora have a strong sense of belonging to Africa and are actively engaged with different forms of African media such as music and films

Genetic diversity and population structure of the indigenous sheep in Kenya based on microsatellite analysis : implications for their conservation

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Audiences to Users: The Paradigm Shift in the Role of Audiences in the Execution of Mobile Money Transactions in Kenya

Mobile money systems have increasingly demonstrated a paradigm shift in the role played by audiences in the execution of transactions now dominantly characterized by independent manipulation of virtual accounts as opposed to receptivity and exposure functions previously attributed to audiences. This paper discusses findings of use experiences by both urban and rural dwellers undertaken in Kenya in 2012 documenting the added value mobile money has brought to the lives of users as well as demonstrating the active role audiences played in managing their financial accounts. It further discusses mobile money attributes that call for new theorization and in effect prompting a deviation from the traditional analysis of users as recipients of information to actual initiators of information. It illustrates the need for alternative descriptions of passivity and activity of users in mobile money.  The new roles call for a deliberate strategy to enhance usability and usefulness of their engagement through suitable products in terms of access, affordability and ease of use. Keywords: mobile money systems, role of audiences in mobile money transactions, uses and gratifications

Production and use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculum in sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and ways of improving

Article purchasedUse of inorganic fertilizer is an essential practice to optimize crop productivity in the poor fertility soils in sub-Saharan Africa, but it has been linked to high cost of crop production, contamination of surface and/or ground water by nitrate leaching and eutrophication of surface water by phosphate run-off. Besides, secondary effects on soil biotic community and soil impoverishment have weakened cropping systems making them increasingly dependent on external chemical fertilizers. Efficient plant nutrition management should ensure both enhanced and sustainable agricultural production and safeguard the environment. Improved production and adoption of bio-inoculants such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is an emerging soil fertility management practice with potential to increase and cheaply improve crop yields. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculum production and adoption in sub-Saharan Africa smallholder systems is however, still limited mainly by research capacity and technological challenges. This study provides the state of the art in production and use of the technology and highlights the challenges and opportunities for its advancement. To experience the benefits of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, sound investment on research in low input systems and technical support from the government, the public and the private sectors should be considered. Nevertheless, adequate training of extension workers, agro-dealers and smallholder farmers through agricultural, academic and research institutions will solve the challenges of production and adoption of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculum technology hence improve crop production

Combined application of biofertilizers and inorganic nutrients improves sweet potato yields

Open Access JournalSweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam] yields currently stand at 4.5 t ha−1 on smallholder farms in Uganda, despite the attainable yield (45–48 t ha−1) of NASPOT 11 cultivar comparable to the potential yield (45 t ha−1) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). On-farm field experiments were conducted for two seasons in the Mt Elgon High Farmlands and Lake Victoria Crescent agro-ecological zones in Uganda to determine the potential of biofertilizers, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to increase sweet potato yields (NASPOT 11 cultivar). Two kinds of biofertilizers were compared to different rates of phosphorus (P) fertilizer when applied with or without nitrogen (N) and potassium (K). The sweet potato response to treatments was variable across sites (soil types) and seasons, and significant tuber yield increase (p 30 t ha−1. The results also show that to realize significance of AMF in nutrient depleted soils, starter nutrients should be included

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Indigenous Sheep in Kenya Based on Microsatellite Analysis: Implications for their Conservation

ABSTRACT Knowledge of the genetic relationship and admixture among neighbouring livestock populations is crucial for conservation efforts. This study analyzed the molecular diversity of fifteen sheep populations (both indigenous and exotic) in Kenya. Blood samples from 582 individuals were genotyped across the 15 microsatellite markers. The expected heterozygosity and Mean number of alleles ranged from 0.596 to 0.807 and 6.67 to 9.33 respectively. Most populations showed significant heterozygote deficiency due to a moderately high level of inbreeding, f IS (0.109). Population genetic differentiation was reasonably high (θ ST = 0.101). Four population clusters majorly based on geographical proximity and interbreeding among populations were detected. These results indicate levels of admixture warranting institution of conservation measures. However, a more encompassing study including all regions in the country as well as more microsatellite markers is necessary to comprehensively understand the dynamics of genetic introgression

Composition and spore abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sweet potato producing areas in Uganda

IntroductionFarming systems influence composition and abundance of microbial communities.MethodologyA study was conducted using morphotyping and enumeration methods to determine the composition and spore abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in sweet potato producing regions in eastern Uganda. Sampling was done from fields with crop types (CTs) including legumes (groundnuts, common beans, cowpea, soybeans, green grams), sorghum, sweet potato, and fallowed fields which were used as a control. Three agro-ecological zones (AEZs) i.e., Mt. Elgon High Farmlands (MEHF), Lake Victoria Crescent (LVC), and Southern and Eastern Lake Kyoga Basin (SELKB) were considered.Results and discussionA total of 6 AMF genera comprising of Glomus, Acaulospora, Scutellospora, Entrophospora, Archaeospora, and Gigaspora were isolated from the study sites. Agro-ecological zones had a significant (p<0.05) effect on Entrophospora spp. while crop types had a significant (p<0.05) effect on Gigaspora spp. although all the AMF genera were present in all AEZs and CTs. Spore abundance was similar across the AEZs except for MEHF (177) which was lower while spore abundance lowest in sweet potato (177) and largest in fallow (224), attributed to soil properties and similar crops included in the crop rotation program. The AMF can be isolated, identified, and multiplied to produce bioinoculants for the regions