Strategic Planning in the Higher Educational Sector of Kenya

This paper provides an overview of the strategic planning process, the dynamics involved in university-based strategic planning and the need for strategic thinking in the higher education sector of Kenya. The paper challenges current planning systems that do not appear to be changing with the times. The paper relies mostly on secondary data but also used primary data. Primary data was collected through interviews of knowledgeable individuals. The paper recommends that strategic planning in universities could be improved through incorporation of strategic thinking and acting in the process, and through incorporation of key stakeholders such as industry, faculty, and students in the process of planning. It also makes recommendations on how current planning systems could be improved in Kenyan universities. The paper suggests a model of strategic planning that could prove useful if applied in strategic planning in Kenyan universities

Determinants of Tree Planting and Cover Retention in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of East Africa: The Case of Machakos County, Kenya

Rapid human population growth, increased demand for land, overexploitation and the degradation of local natural resources have led to serious socio-economic and environmental challenges in Machakos County, Kenya, East Africa. This has led to a drastic reduction in tree cover in arid and semiarid areas over the years. To reverse this trend it is important to understand the socio-economic factors that determine household tree planting and cover retention in Machakos County. Based on a structured questionnaire targeting 412 respondents as well as focus group discussions and key informants, we assessed the determinants of tree planting cover retention using a logistic regression model. The study found that socioeconomic variables that significantly influenced tree cover adoption in Machakos County in Kenya included gender (p=0.011), household size (p=0.030), and title deed ownership (p=0.023). The respondents used tree products to enhance their socio-economic resilience. In total, 58 different types of tree species were planted or retained on the farms. The major tree species included Eucalyptus saligna, Grevillea robusta, Mangifera indica, Persea americana, Croton megalocarpus, and Terminalia brownie. Based on our findings we recommend more involvement of women and youth in tree planting activities in Matungulu Sub-county

Determinants of Tree Planting and Cover Retention in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of East Africa: The Case of Machakos County, Kenya

Rapid human population growth, increased demand for land, overexploitation and the degradation of local natural resources have led to serious socio-economic and environmental challenges in Machakos County, Kenya, East Africa. This has led to a drastic reduction in tree cover in arid and semiarid areas over the years. To reverse this trend it is important to understand the socio-economic factors that determine household tree planting and cover retention in Machakos County. Based on a structured questionnaire targeting 412 respondents as well as focus group discussions and key informants, we assessed the determinants of tree planting cover retention using a logistic regression model. The study found that socioeconomic variables that significantly influenced tree cover adoption in Machakos County in Kenya included gender (p=0.011), household size (p=0.030), and title deed ownership (p=0.023). The respondents used tree products to enhance their socio-economic resilience. In total, 58 different types of tree species were planted or retained on the farms. The major tree species included Eucalyptus saligna, Grevillea robusta, Mangifera indica, Persea americana, Croton megalocarpus, and Terminalia brownie. Based on our findings we recommend more involvement of women and youth in tree planting activities in Matungulu Sub-county

Assessment of pesticide use and application practices in tomato based agrosystems in Kaliluni sub location, Kathiani district, Kenya

Pesticides are of great benefit to agriculture in Kenya by decreasing crop losses due to insects, weeds, plant diseases, rodents and other pests. They also save lives through control of disease carrying insects and increase the quality and quantity of agricultural produce. However, pesticides are poisons and can affect human health and contaminate the environment. This paper reports on the findings of an assessment of pesticide use, application and practices in Kaliluni, Kathiani district in Kenya. The dominant activity in the area is intensive irrigated tomato farming for local and other markets. Due to the sensitivity of the crop to pests invasion and abrupt changes in temperature pesticides and other agrochemicals are in rampant usage. The area has over 400 households that engage in tomato farming. A total of 72 households were involved in a cross‐sectional survey to assess the pesticides usage, frequency of application, in small holder tomato production. Structured pre‐tested questionnaires were administered through personal interviews and focused group discussion among the tomato farmers in the study site. The aim of the study was to establish whether banned or restricted pesticides were still in use. The study showed that the pesticides used in the region include pyrethroids, organophosphates and carbamates. It was found that 36.8% of the respondents used and applied pyrethroid formulated pesticides while 31.5 % applied carbamate based pesticides. It was also found that some respondents used more than one pesticide in one application. The study also showed that 26.4% of the respondents applied Dithane M45 (fungicide) as their main pesticide while 13%, 12% and 12% used Karate (insecticide), Ridomil (fungicide) and Bestox (insecticide) respectively. Surprisingly 1.9% of the respondents used and applied Dimethoate (insecticide) whose use has been restricted for use in fruits and vegetables while 0.5% used and applied Mocap (insecticide) which has also been banned. The farmers who used the banned chemicals claimed that they were more effective than the other pesticides. On the frequency of application of pesticides, the study showed that 86.1% of the respondents used pesticides on weekly basis whereas 12.5% apply fortnightly. The study therefore recommend that strict measures be taken to safeguard the environment and human health by the enforcing the law on use of pesticides.Key words: Pesticides, carbamates, pyrethroid, dimethoate, Kathiani, Agrosystems, tomatoe

Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Its Effects on Tree Cover in the Drylands of South Eastern Kenya: The Case of Matungulu Sub-County, Machakos County

Matungulu Sub-County is a semi-arid region in Kenya that is prone to frequent droughts, water shortages and food insecurity. Rapid population growth, coupled with climate change, has led to not only an increasing demand for more land, but also to over-exploitation and degradation of local natural resources, leading to a myriad of socio-economic and environmental challenges in the area. The objective of this study was to assess farmers’ perceptions of climate change and its effects on tree cover in Matungulu Sub-County. A structured questionnaire, FDGs, key informants and direct observations were used to collect household socio-economic data from 412 randomly selected households in two locations, namely, Sengani and Koma. Temperature and rainfall data from the Kenya Metrological Department was used to study changes in climatic trends over the three-decade period between 1987 and 2017 in the study area for comparison. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the data analysis. Farmer-perceived climatic patterns were collaborated by data from the Kenya Meteorological Department.  84% of respondent farmers perceived climate change to have affected species composition, density and distribution of tree cover. The farmers unanimously indicated climate change was real in the region. Keywords: farmers, climate change, effects, perceptions, livelihoods, indigenous knowledg

Prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology among women infected with HIV in Machakos County Hospital Kenya

Background: Cervical cancer is increasingly becoming a major threat to health among women in the world particularly in developing countries where screening programs are not well established. In Kenya, cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer deaths in women of reproductive age.Studies have shown that women infected with HIV especially those with low CD4 counts or decreasing immunity are at a higher risk of developing pre cancerous cervical lesions and invasive cervical cancer than those in the general population without HIV infection.Objective: To determine the prevalence of abnormal Pap smears in HIV positive women attending Comprehensive care clinic at Machakos Level 5 Hospital.Design: Cross sectional descriptive studySetting: Machakos County hospital.Subjects: Women infected with HIV attending Machakos County Hospital Comprehensive care clinic.Results: 295 women infected with HIV were enrolled in this study and cervical smear taken for cytology screening. 22 were excluded from the analysis due to unsatisfactory smears. The prevalence of cervical cytology abnormalities was 14 out of 273 (5.1%) with HSIL being the most prevalent at 5 out of 273 (1.8%). Other lesions were ASC-H 4 (1.46%), LSIL 3 (1.05%), SCC and Adenocarcinoma both with 1(0.36%).In this study, age and Pap smear findings had no statistically significant association, X²=6.262, p=0.618.Conclusion: This prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology among HIV infected women in this study was 5.2%. There was no statistically significant association between age and Pap smear findings

Effects of Agroforestry Practices on Soil Properties in the Drylands of Eastern Kenya

Drylands, which are home to about 2 billion people face a myriad of problems among them low land productivity. Agroforestry is one of the land use practices that is perceived to be sustainable with beneficial effects on soil properties. However, the effects of agroforestry practices on soils especially in the drylands have rarely been quantified and studied in details. The study determined the effects of selected agroforestry practices on soil properties in Makueni County of Kenya where agroforestry has been promoted by various organizations. Four soil samples were collected at 0-15cm, 15-30cm, 30-45cm and 45-60cm depths in a zigzag pattern at each 10 x 10m plots established along line transects laid in woodlots established in 2007, 2010 and 2013 and their adjacent parkland and grazing land. Seven randomly selected farms were sampled. The samples were analyzed using laboratory methods for soil nutrients and physical properties. Density of tree species in these established plots were also determined using quadrat technique. Tree density was higher in woodlots followed by grazing area and parkland .Soil samples showed that Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen were significantly higher in the woodlots than in the parkland and grazing lands ((p≤0.05). Soil Organic Carbon was significantly higher in woodlots established in 2007 than those established in 2013. Phosphorus was significantly higher in cropland compared to woodlots and grazing land. Phosphorus and Potassium were significantly higher at 0-15 cm depth compared to other soil depths. Bulky density was significantly higher with a corresponding lower total porosity in grazing lands than in the woodlots and parklands. The results suggest that different agroforestry practices contribute differently to soil properties. Mixed tree woodlots contributed significantly to improving soil properties and could be considered as a strategy to sustainably restore degraded and infertile soils in the drylands

Open data in developing countries : understanding the impacts of Kenya open data applications and services

The Kenya Open Data Initiative was launched in 2011 and received great government support to provide access to and utilization of open datasets by the population. Technology tools have also been built to synthesize and visualize the data in simple formats in order to improve access to this government information. Three years later, there has not been substantial documentation of level of use of these datasets or of technology applications built using this data. Further, there is little or no recorded evidence to support consequential social impact of these initiatives and technologies or the way grassroots citizens engage with government data

FARMER-PREFERRED LEARNING METHODS AND UTILISED TEACHING APPROACHES BY EGERTON UNIVERSITY, KENYA

Universities are centres of frontier knowledge and skills, with the capacity to transform communities,when appropriately and adequately transmitted to users. The aim of this paper was to compare farmer-preferred learning methods and those utilised in teaching during Egerton University\u2019s outreach activities, with a view to drawing useful insights for more effective community future engagements. A cross sectional survey was conducted in 2017, using researcher-administered questionnaires, on a sample of 84 farmers purposefully selected from communities where Egerton University implemented extension outreach programmes. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also conducted for community leaders and extension officers in the selected Wards, to supplement data collection. Results showed that the decision to participate in the outreach activities implemented by Egerton University was personal, with nearly all the respondents (99%) citing acquisition of new knowledge and skills as the major reason. Demonstrations were the most preferred and utilised methods (90 and 92%, respectively); while the use of group discussions were preferred by 51% of the respondents and utilised in 86% of the outreach activities. Results also showed significant relations for demonstration (\u3c72 = 17.21, P<.001), touring university model farms (\u3c72 = 68.11, P<.001) and use of training videos (\u3c72 = 40.98, P<.001) between farmer-preferred learning methods and utilised teaching methods. This explains the popularity of demonstrations as a teaching and learning method of Egerton University in connecting theoretical and scientific aspects, to practice. Learner centred teaching methods, with the capacity to facilitate collaborative or cooperative learning, should be enhanced.Les universit\ue9s sont des centres de connaissances et de comp\ue9tences, capables de transformer les communaut\ue9s lorsqu\u2019elles sont transmises de mani\ue8re appropri\ue9e et ad\ue9quate aux utilisateurs. L\u2018objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de comparer les m\ue9thodes d\u2019apprentissage privil\ue9gi\ue9es par les agriculteurs et celles utilis\ue9es dans l\u2019enseignement pendant les activit\ue9s de sensibilisation de l\u2019Universit\ue9 d\u2019Egerton, en vue de tirer des enseignements utiles pour des engagements futurs plus efficaces dans la communaut\ue9. Une enqu\ueate transversale a \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9e en 2017, \ue0 l\u2019aide de questionnaires administr\ue9s par des chercheurs, sur un \ue9chantillon de 84 agriculteurs d\ue9lib\ue9r\ue9ment s\ue9lectionn\ue9s dans les communaut\ue9s o\uf9 l\u2019Universit\ue9 d\u2019Egerton a mis en oeuvre des programmes de vulgarisation. Des entretiens avec des informateurs principaux et des discussions de groupe ont \ue9galement \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9s \ue0 l\u2019intention des dirigeants communautaires et des agents de vulgarisation des quartiers s\ue9lectionn\ue9s, afin de compl\ue9ter la collecte de donn\ue9es. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que la d\ue9cision de participer aux activit\ue9s de sensibilisation mises en oeuvre par l\u2019Universit\ue9 d\u2019Egerton \ue9tait personnelle, presque tous les r\ue9pondants (99%) citant l\u2019acquisition de nouvelles connaissances et comp\ue9tences comme principale raison. Les d\ue9monstrations \ue9taient les m\ue9thodes les plus pr\ue9f\ue9r\ue9es et utilis\ue9es (90 et 92%, respectivement); tandis que le recours aux discussions de groupe a \ue9t\ue9 pr\ue9f\ue9r\ue9 par 51% des r\ue9pondants et utilis\ue9 dans 86% des activit\ue9s de sensibilisation. Les r\ue9sultats ont \ue9galement montr\ue9 des relations significatives pour la d\ue9monstration (c2 = 17,21, P <0,001), les fermes mod\ue8les universitaires en tourn\ue9e (c2 = 68,11, P <0,001) et l\u2019utilisation de vid\ue9os de formation (c2 = 40,98, P <0,001) entre les m\ue9thodes d\u2019apprentissage privil\ue9gi\ue9es par les agriculteurs et les m\ue9thodes d\u2019enseignement utilis\ue9es. Cela explique la popularit\ue9 des d\ue9monstrations en tant que m\ue9thode d\u2019enseignement et d\u2019apprentissage de l\u2019Universit\ue9 d\u2019Egerton pour relier les aspects th\ue9oriques et scientifiques \ue0 la pratique. Les m\ue9thodes d\u2019enseignement centr\ue9es sur l\u2019apprenant, avec la capacit\ue9 de faciliter l\u2019apprentissage collaboratif ou coop\ue9ratif, devraient \ueatre am\ue9lior\ue9es