Kenyatta University Repository
Kenyatta University Institutional Repository is a digital archive that collects, preserves and disseminates scholarly outputs of the Institution
IMPORTANT LINKS
Communities in DSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Phytochemical and Elemental Composition, Ameliorative Potential and Safety of Aqueous Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants against Pyrexia, Inflammation and Pain
(Kenyatta University, 2025-10) Chumba, Careen Ihazano
Prunus africana and Melia azedarach are traditionally used in Kakamega County, Kenya, for the management of fever, pain, and inflammation. However, their efficacy and safety remain scientifically unverified. Establishing preliminary data on these plants is important to guide further research and inform their safe use. Hence, this study’s purpose was to assess the antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity and safety of Prunus africana and Melia azedarach of aqueous leaf extracts in animal models. Fresh leaves of both plants were processed into aqueous extracts. Antipyretic activity was tested using turpentine-induced fever, while anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects were assessed using the formalin model. For each study, the animals were split into six groups each comprising of six animals: positive, normal and negative controls and three experimental groups for extract doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight administered orally. Diclofenac (15 mg/kg) served as the positive control. Acute toxicity was examined at single doses of 450-2000 mg/kg for fourteen days, while sub-acute toxicity was assessed at 150–450 mg/kg for four weeks with hematological, biochemical, and organ weight analyses. Phytochemical and mineral composition of the extracts was also determined. Both extracts demonstrated antipyretic and antinociceptive effects at all tested doses. Melia azedarach exhibited anti-inflammatory activity across doses, whereas Prunus africana lacked activity at the highest dose (150 mg/kg). Acute and sub-acute exposure produced some dose-dependent changes in body weight, relative organ weights, and hematological and biochemical parameters, though no severe toxicity was observed at the tested levels. Phytochemical analysis revealed flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, and amino acids, while trace element analysis identified thirteen minerals in concentrations below recommended daily allowances. This study provides preliminary pharmacological and toxicological evidence supporting the traditional use of Prunus africana and Melia azedarach in managing fever, pain, and inflammation. The extracts demonstrated biological activity, though acute and sub-acute studies produced physiological changes that warrant caution. The new knowledge contributed by this study is the first experimental demonstration of both efficacy and safety profiles of aqueous leaf extracts of these plants in animal models, alongside identification of their phytochemical and mineral constituents. These findings support further mechanistic and long-term studies, including clinical evaluation, before safe therapeutic use in humans can be confirmed.
Capital Structure and Profitability of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-10) Abduba, Godana Dida
The profitability of SACCOs in Kenya has become a growing concern despite their critical role in promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Many SACCOs continue to record fluctuating and, in some cases, declining profitability levels, with increasing financing costs, inefficient capital utilization, and weak liquidity positions undermining their sustainability. The total ROA has significantly decreased from an average of 2.01% in 2017 to 1.01% in 2022. Inefficient management of debt and equity financing has limited operational performance and profitability, yet there is limited empirical evidence on how different capital structure components influence SACCO profitability in Kenya. Adopting a positivist philosophy and an explanatory research design, the study undertakes a census of all 42 formally registered deposit-taking SACCOs in Nairobi City County, analyzing secondary financial data spanning the period 2018–2023. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics to summarize financial performance, correlation and regression analysis to test hypothesized relationships, and moderation analysis to explore the influence of liquidity, all conducted using STATA software. The findings reveal that long-term debt and internal equity have a significant positive effect on SACCO profitability whereas short-term debt and external equity do not exhibit significant effects (p > 0.05). Liquidity significantly moderates the, highlighting its critical role in financial stability. The study concludes that SACCOs should adopt a conservative approach to long-term debt financing, prioritize internal equity for sustainable growth, limit reliance on short-term debt, and maintain adequate liquidity to optimize profitability. These findings provide practical insights for SACCO managers, policymakers, and regulators seeking to strengthen the financial performance and resilience of Kenya’s SACCO sector.
Parenting Practices and Perceived Social Support as Predictors of Problem Behaviour among Form Two Students in Embu County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-10) Ngari, Evalusia Mukami
Problem behaviour in secondary schools is an issue of concern all over the world. The increase in problem behaviour among secondary school students continue to raise concern in educational and community settings. Parenting practices and perceived social support have been identified as key predictors of such behaviour. In particular, majority of secondary school students in Mbeere south sub-county, Embu County have been exhibiting problem behaviour at an alarming rate. These problem behaviour have been attributed to school factors and very little has been done on perceived social support and parenting practices which may be contributing a lot to the student problem behaviour. This study examined the extent to which parenting practices and perceived social support predict problem behaviour among secondary school students in Mbeere sub-county, Embu county, Kenya. The objectives of the study were; to determine the relationship between parenting practices and problem behaviour, to establish the relationship between perceived social support and problem behaviour and to determine the predictive model of parenting practices and perceived social support on problem behaviour. The research was anchored on social learning theory and Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory. Correlational research design was employed in this study. The study location was Mbeere South Sub-County, Embu County and the study was conducted among form two students. The target population consisted of 32 secondary schools and 8822(5302 boys and 3520 girls) form two students. The sample size of the study was 383(199 boys and 184 girls). Purposive sampling, simple random sampling, stratified and proportionate sampling were used to select the schools and the respondents. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative data. A pilot test was conducted using 38 form two students from a secondary school in Mbeere South Sub-county to assess the validity and reliability of the research instruments. This school was excluded from the actual study. Descriptive, inferential statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Multiple were used to analyze the data. The results of this study indicated that there was a negative and significant relationship between parenting practices and problem behaviour (r=-0.46, p<.05), perceived social support and problem behaviour (r=-0.65, p <.05). The results from multiple regression analysis indicated that parental practices are the best predictors of problem behaviour since they had the highest predictive index of (β=-0.45) followed by perceived social support which had the least predictive index (β= -0.33). The equation for predicting problem behaviour from parenting practices and perceived social support was found to be significant (F (3, 271) = .00 P <.05). In addition, the sub-scales of the two independent variables were found to have a significant predictive weight on problem behaviour. The study recommends the ministry of education should establish parent-school partnership and that teachers should strengthen school based social support system so as to help the students deal with problem behaviour.
Saliva and Blood Glucose Parametric Analysis among Individuals Attending Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital in Nairobi County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-11) Njogu, Duncan Ndegwa
Diabetes mellitus occur due to defect in glucose metabolism. It is characterized by the body’s inability to regulate blood glucose. Abnormally high glucose in the blood is poisonous to the body organs and can lead to its failure and subsequent death. Two thirds of diabetes cases in Africa remain unrecognized. The objective of this study was to determine the level of saliva glucose, analyze the relationship between saliva glucose and blood glucose and describe the association between glucose in saliva and HbA1c. A cross sectional study with a sample size of 105 volunteers at Kenyatta university teaching referral and research hospital was conducted. Study participants were recruited using stratified and convenience sampling methods. Approximately two millilitres (2mls) of fasting and random unstimulated saliva specimen were separately collected in a universal bottle. Approximately three millilitres (3mls) of fasting and random blood samples were collected in a fluoride vacutainer. The measurements of glucose in blood and saliva specimens were done using Mindray BS 120 auto analyser. HbA1c was analysed using Clover A1c. The mean glucose levels in random blood samples of diabetic individuals was 13.49±0.61 millimole/litre whereas the random blood sample of non-diabetic individuals had a mean glucose level of 5.57±0.10 millimole/litre (p<0.001).The mean glucose levels in random saliva samples of diabetic individuals was 0.367±0.040 millimole/litre whereas the random saliva sample of non-diabetic individuals had a mean glucose level of 0.023±0.002 millimole/litre (p<0.001). A positive correlation was observed between random blood glucose levels and HbA1c (r =0.76; p<0.001) in diabetic participants. Random saliva glucose levels and HbA1c percentages of diabetic patients showed a significant correlation (r =0.48; p=<0.001). A significant correlation was observed between random blood glucose levels and HbA1c level (r =0.59; p<0.001). Random saliva glucose levels and HbA1c showed a significant positive correlation (r =0.36; p=<0.01) in non-diabetic patients. Whereas fasting saliva glucose levels of non-diabetic patients with HbA1c level was (r =0.20; p=<0.17). The study concluded that saliva has a measurable level of glucose both in fasting and at random state. However, at fasting state, the glucose level is too low. Blood glucose has a stronger positive correlation with Hba1c than saliva glucose. The relationship is stronger when samples are taken at random. Blood glucose showed a strong correlation to saliva glucose. The correlation is stronger in random samples than in fasting samples. This study recommends manufacture of Prototype test kit for saliva glucose for trial purposes. Further, saliva glucose level can be used to screen for diabetes mellitus but should not be used for glycemic control measure. Blood glucose and HbA1c are the gold standard. This study also recommends development of a formula to amplify the low glucose readings made in saliva specimen as compared to blood.
Financial Risk Hedging and Financial Performance of Commercial Banks Listed in Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-11) Mohamud, Ahmed Mohamed
Commercial bank contributes economic growth that is the GDP worldwide but there is no clearly compounded percentage to show how much contributed by commercial banks worldwide each country has its own percentage in UK 177% GDP and USA 184% of GDP in 2021 as same as African no single percentage but each country has its own percentage like south Africa 58.6%.In Kenya financial institutions specially commercial banks play key role in economy development by contributing 47.1% growth of GDP in 2021; they receive and lend money to the investors. Due to the nature of their function’s commercial banks face financial risks that originate from the market which affects their financial performance. In the past 10 years, the commercial Banks reported decline of Return on Asset. The hedging techniques are tools used to minimize the financial risks that can affects value of firms. This study's specific goal is to determine whether financial risk hedging and Kenyan commercial banks' financial performance which are publicly traded on the Nairobi Security Exchange (NSE) are related. The study's specific objectives include forward contract, future contract, currency diversification of currencies, and swaps hence bank size is used as moderating variables. The agency theory, profit maximization theory, Modern portfolio theory, Enterprise risk management theory and capital asset pricing theory are all supporting hypotheses in the study. The study used a descriptive correlational approach to target all publicly traded commercial banks in Kenya and conducted a census. Secondary data was gathered annually over a five-year period (2017-2021) from publications by the Nairobi Securities Exchange and the respective commercial banks using a data collection form. Normality, multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, and stationarity tests were performed as part of the diagnostic process, where hence the data collected shown normality. Means and standard deviation were used for descriptive statistics. Correlation and regression analysis were used to test hypotheses and develop conclusions. The correlation analysis revealed that using forward contracts as a hedging strategy has a strong positive and significant impact on financial performance. The futures, swaps, and currency diversifications also they had positive correlation against financial performance,hence they significantly related. The regression anaylsis was used to test the hypothesis hence the study shiown that the null hypothesis was rejected and indicated that there was strong and positive relationship between the indepedent variables; forwad contructs,future contracts swaps and currency diversifications and dependent variables which is financial performance of commercial banks. Size had a strong impact on between risk hedging and financial performance which was the larger size the higher the risk. The study suggested that the commercial bank to use on more financial derivatives as risk hedging hence it mitigates the risk and adds value to firms . the CBK Kenya and other regulatory bodies should encourage and offer more traning in financial derivatives since it indroduced recenctly that is 2019.