New Consumption Patterns of Marijuana and Their Implications for Law Enforcement in Kenya

New consumption patterns of marijuana have emerged in the recent past alongside the conventional ones. In the jurisdictions like Kenya where marijuana is outlawed, these new patterns of consumption comprise the edibles and have posed detection challenges to law enforcers leaving them open to possible abuse and attendant health risks. This manuscript set out to uncover the new patterns of marijuana consumption and their implications on law enforcement in Kenya. The study adopted a mixed methods design to collect data in Siaya and Vihiga counties of Western Kenya. Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were used to identify 327 survey respondents, 20 key informants and 8 FGD participants at the community level. The FGDs included women and men of different age groups while the key informants were different State and Non-State actors at the national and county levels. Semi-structured interview guides were used to collect data from FGDs and key informants. Findings suggest that consumption patterns are changing and new patterns of substance preparations and administration have emerged alongside the conventional ones. Top among the new patterns include using marijuana as an ingredient in cakes and other confectioneries, boiling and blending it into juice, and using it as tea leaves and additive in other alcoholic beverages. A majority of the young people were found to use the drug currently and with no limitation of time for its use contrary to the past when the old were the majority partakers with self-regulation capacity and norms around time, place and occasion of use. Finally, the study unveiled that the law enforcement agencies lack the capacity and tools to detect the new consumption patterns and there is a tendency to over-focus on the low-end traditional consumers and traffickers. The study concludes that there is need for more studies to unravel the new consumption patterns especially in urban centres and train and resource the law enforcement agencies on their detection mechanisms

Emigration and Remittances Utilisation in Kenya

This study unpacks the contribution of the emigrants in homeland development through utilization of remittances send to households of origin. It analyses the mobility levels and patterns, and extent of remittances utilization in Kenya, using the 2009 Kenya Population and Housing census data. It establishes that sizable shares of migrant workers emigrate because of employment and seeking for education opportunities. More so, that the human capital accumulation is crucial to development in the countries of origin as illustrated by the increasing trend in the amounts of remittances. Remittances were invested in household consumption, education, entrepreneurship, and health; however, it is underscored that the impact of remittances is dependent on time dimension as it takes time for some impacts to be realized. To that end, longitudinal surveys would provide a more plausible follow-up of remittances utilization across time and places of origin. More so, human mobility and remittances are critical variables for wealth creation, economic growth and development. Key words: Emigration; Remittances; Remittances Utilization; Development

Fait accompli: legitimizing the illegitimate in elections outcomes Does the legality of the electoral process matter in Kenya?

Credibility of the electoral process across the world is both a means and a necessity to peaceful and stable democracy as credible elections serve to anchor functional legitimate democracy. It also serves as a vehicle that affords citizens an opportunity put in place a people-responsive government that mirrors the people’s will. Elections in most African states, however, have over time tended to validate evidently glaring constitutionally flowed outcomes. This trend is further aggravated by seemingly complicit and dysfunctional constitutional and electoral bodies and institutions. With a focus on the 2013 general elections in Kenya, this paper raises the question of the role of these bodies and institutions tasked with overseeing and ensuring credible electoral outcomes and their ability to live up to their expectations. Key words: Constitutionalism; Elections; Legality of electoral proces

Assessing the role of law in reducing the practise of FGM/C in Kenya

Criminalization is an important aspect of anti-FGM/C policies and programs. In countries where FGM/C is practiced, the enactment of a law prohibiting the practice is an important indicator of progress toward abandonment. Criminalization is often seen as playing an important role in the declining prevalence of FGM/C. However, there is not much research on the link between the enactment of laws that prohibit and criminalize FGM/C and declining prevalence of the practice. The objectives of this study, therefore, were to assess the extent to which people obey the law on FGM/C; to investigate the reasons and causes that motivate people born into a tradition of FGM/C to obey or not to obey a law prohibiting FGM/C; and to establish the legal, policy, and program responses, across varying contexts, that would most effectively reduce the practice of FGM/C. The study was conducted in Kenya, where FGM/C is criminalized under the 2001 Children’s Act and the 2011 Prohibition of FGM Act

Opportunities and Challenges in Export Horticulture as an Agro-industrial Food System: Case Study of Northwest Mount Kenya Region

Export horticulture in Kenya viewed as an agro-industrial food system is currently the fastest growing agricultural sub-sector in terms of foreign exchange earnings. Increased demand for horticulture products led to production spreading beyond the traditional mountainous high yielding areas into arid and semi-arid zones as in Northwest Mount Kenya. This food system competes with other food systems for common pool resources needed for the production of food. We argue that local actors, especially poorer households lack the power to influence the institutions (‘rules of the game’) of production and resource ownership by which the dominant agro-industrial system impacts their livelihoods.This paper is structured to include the following sections: the introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion and conclusions on the challenges and opportunities in export horticulture as an agro-industrial food system: case study of Northwest Mount Kenya region

Beyond the ‘Remedial’ measures: Re-thinking ‘Normalization’ of women’s election as part of political experience in Kenya

Normalization of women’s election is a noble target toward fulfilling the demands of international conventions amongst them the UDHR (1948) on gender and participatory democracy. It is a pathway that also fulfils the tenets of a functional democracy under various declarations. The adoption of the remedial measures and quotas in specific remain an acceptable strategy with respect to fast-tracking and strengthening such achievements with extant literature proving an average 20.9% women’s representation in parliament through quotas as of July, 2013. While the foundations of approach and progress so far remain philosophically sane, it is the thesis of this paper that such remedial measures might provide quick fixes without being socio-economically and politically tenable over long period of time. Borrowing widely from institutional based approaches used in post-revolution Egypt, Tunisia and contextually, the Kenya’s March 4th 2013 general elections outcome, the paper advocates for gender-nuanced complementary approaches that seek a bottom-up strategy as to be able to dismantle the socio-cultural norms heavily anchored by patriarchy that have over the years played against the ‘electability’ of women in political offices within Kenya’s geopolitics. These complementary strategies are seen to be able to yield to the theories of equality of results and competitive equality but also remain culturally and economically tenable in the long run. Key words: Participatory democracy, Remedial measures, Gende

Attitudes and practices on induced abortion among Igembe Women in Meru County, Kenya

This study sought to investigate beliefs about induced abortion in the Igembe community, Meru County. Purposively sampled individuals provided data via case narratives, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. Transcripts were generated verbatim, and data was thematically analyzed in accordance with the objectives of the study. Inducing abortion was culturally acceptable and recognized in Igembe, particularly when an uncircumcised girl became pregnant or when an uncircumcised boy got a girl pregnant. Such abortions were obtained by men who had been specifically trained by elders for the purpose. Isolation of the pregnant girl/woman from family and peers, counselling in preparation for the abortion, cleansing of the girl and family after the procedure, use of herbs, rolling of banana stalks on the girl's/stomach, woman's and insertion of objects in the private parts were all practices used to induce abortion. According to the study, women were subjected to induced abortion in order to ensure adherence to social norms and reduce pre-marital sex. Women in Igembe continue to obtain abortions, and traditional approaches and legislation have been ineffective in eliminating the practice. Furthermore, religious beliefs, traditions, and socio-cultural norms continue to stigmatize and condemn abortion-seekers. Furthermore, the decision to have an abortion is motivated by both internal and external forces that are carefully considered by the concerned women

Health-seeking pathway and factors leading to delays in tuberculosis diagnosis in West Pokot County, Kenya: A grounded theory study.

BackgroundPatients' health-seeking behaviour can lead to delays in tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, however little is known about the experiences and treatment pathways of patients diagnosed with TB in Kenya. The aim of this study is to explore the health seeking practices and factors contributing to delay in TB diagnosis.MethodsThis study was based on explorative qualitative research using a constructivist grounded theory approach. A total of 61 TB patients in the intensive phase of treatment were recruited as informants in the study. Six focus group discussions and 15 in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Data were analysed through three step coding using the grounded theory approach.ResultsParticipants adopted different treatment pathways as they sought care from a pluralistic health care system involving traditional healers, herbalists, private clinic, drug shops and the public health sector. The study revealed an explanatory model of factors leading to delay illustrated by the participant's expression "I suffered for a long time." The model is comprised of three categories that lead to delays, namely individual, social-cultural and structural factors.ConclusionThere is a need to improve timely diagnosis of TB through innovative approaches such as intensive case finding. Similarly, the health-care system should decentralize TB services as much as possible and offer free diagnostic services to increase accessibility

Opportunities and Challenges in Export Horticulture as an Agro-industrial Food System: Case Study of Northwest Mount Kenya Region

Export horticulture in Kenya viewed as an agro-industrial food system is currently the fastest growing agricultural sub-sector in terms of foreign exchange earnings. Increased demand for horticulture products led to production spreading beyond the traditional mountainous high yielding areas into arid and semi-arid zones as in Northwest Mount Kenya. This food system competes with other food systems for common pool resources needed for the production of food. We argue that local actors, especially poorer households lack the power to influence the institutions (‘rules of the game’) of production and resource ownership by which the dominant agro-industrial system impacts their livelihoods. This paper is structured to include the following sections: the introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion and conclusions on the challenges and opportunities in export horticulture as an agro-industrial food system: case study of Northwest Mount Kenya region

Ethnography of the slaughterhouse: A case of Nanyuki slaughterhouse in Laikipia County, Rift Valley, Kenya

Abstract This paper focuses on establishing actors and their roles in the slaughterhouse processes in the Nanyuki slaughterhouse of Laikipia County. This is understood through the lens of the food system approach, based on the study findings of an anthropological study of pastoralism in Laikipia County, Kenya. This paper is guided by the specific objectives aimed at establishing the actors and their roles and describing the effects that institutional settings and changes have on slaughterhouse operations. Using a new institutionalism approach in social anthropology, the paper focuses not only on the actors and their roles but also on how externally shaped beef prices and standards shape the rules regulating access to the food processing processes for pastoral actors. We argue that this has an impact on pastoral economies and the question if and how pastoralists are able to benefit from this change in the food system. The study also identifies institutional settings and changes related to management, security and health concerns that impact the slaughterhouse operations and processes resulting from the dispensation of the devolved system of governance in the country. Data collection was through key informant interviews and unstructured observation of the slaughterhouse. The findings reveal economic and social relationships among actors involved in slaughterhouse operations and processes. The study also identified changes in formal institutional settings that impact the slaughterhouse operations, notably movement and no-objection permits as well as transportation and condemnation certifications. As a result, increased scholarship is recommended into slaughterhouse operations and processes as a means to understand the value addition that pastoralism has on the economic and food sustainability of the pastoral regions, counties and the nation as a whole