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Strategies Used by South Sudanese Diaspora in Kenya for Peacebuilding in South Sudan
(Editon consortium journal of arts, humanities and social studies, 2026-03) Onchomba, Macharius Zephaniah; Wekesa, Peter Wafula
The purpose of this article is to examine the strategies used by the South Sudanese diaspora in Kenya for peacebuilding in South Sudan between 2011 and 2023. Despite the ongoing conflict in South Sudan since its independence, limited scholarly attention has been devoted to the role of diaspora communities in supporting peacebuilding initiatives. This study, therefore, examines the role of the South Sudanese diaspora in Kenya in contributing to peacebuilding in their home country. The study was guided by transnationalism and social capital theories and adopted a case study research design. Qualitative data were collected using interview guides and focus group discussion (FGD) guides. The research was conducted in Nairobi City County, which hosts a large South Sudanese diaspora population, and in Juba, where several peacebuilding initiatives are implemented. A total of 102 participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling from South Sudanese embassy officials in Nairobi, Kenyan peace mediators, returnees, South Sudanese residents in Nairobi, and employees of non-governmental organisations involved in peacebuilding. Data were analysed thematically. The findings reveal that the diaspora employs several strategies for peacebuilding, including diaspora diplomacy, negotiation initiatives, educational support, mobilisation of women, promotion of socio-economic development and good governance, the use of remittances, and the promotion of cultural diversity. The study concludes that diaspora communities can play a significant role in peacebuilding and recommends policy frameworks that integrate diaspora contributions in post-conflict reconstruction, as well as further research on gender and youth diaspora peacebuilding initiatives.
Emergence and Growth of Islam among the Abawanga of Kakamega County, Kenya; 1880–2010
(Kenyatta University, 2025-09) Luchu, Reuben Pasa
The study examined the growth of Islam among the Abawanga in Kakamega County from 1880 to 2010. The research was guided by the following objectives; to examine the origin and development of Islam among the Abawanga up to 1899, to assess the trends in the spread of Islam among the Abawanga during the colonial period from 1900 to 1963, and to assess continuity and change in Islam among the Abawanga in the post-colonial era from 1964 to 2010. This study is based on three fundamental premises that: First, the intermarriages between the Arab-Swahili men and women from among the Abawanga influenced the penetration of Islam in Wangaland; second, Western education and Christianity hindered the spread of Islam among the Abawanga of Mumias, Kakamega County during the colonial period; third, globalization and modernization impacted the spread and practice of Islam among the Abawanga in the post-colonial era. The permeation and persistent existence of Islam in Wangaland, a region that is majorly rural and is predominantly Christian posed an interesting problem for study. The study was guided by Acculturation theory and Social Exchange theory. The theories proved invaluable in identifying areas of convergence and divergence between Abawanga socio-cultural practices, Islam and modernity. The study adopted a historical research design to document the emergence and subsequent growth of Islam among the Abawanga. The historical methods of data collection were used. Oral interviews, archival material and library research were used in identifying, collecting and collation of data for this study. Muslim sages, Muslim religious leaders, Muslim youth and Muslim elders, and Christians, all from the Abawanga community were the respondents of this study. The data collected was analyzed qualitatively using historical techniques of narration, description, inference and logical explanation and distributed to the relevant chapters. The study findings were presented as a critical narrative of the permeation, spread and changes and continuity of Islam among the Abawanga from 1880 to 2010.The research established that the increased trade and contact between the Abawanga and Arab-Swahili traders in the late 19th century played a significant role in spread of Islam among the Abawanga. The study recommended that Muslim leaders engage constructively with other faith traditions to maximize the benefits of their shared coexistence. The study suggested the need for further inquiry into the prevalence of Islamophobia and negative stereotypes about Islam among the Abawanga, and how these have influenced community relations
Corporate Governance and Profitability of Agricultural Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya
(International Academic Journal of Economics and Finance (IAJEF), 2026-03) Kieti, Winfred M.; Jagongo, Ambrose O.
The growing dissatisfaction among most stakeholders with the need for improved value in firms in which they have invested is a phenomenon that extends beyond individual firms and becomes a global issue. Most organizations have been forced to close due to prolonged periods of declining profitability, ultimately resulting in management losing control. Listed agricultural firms at the Nairobi Securities Exchange have experienced fluctuating profitability between 2015 and 2024. This volatility was attributed to multiple factors including commodity price fluctuations, exchange rate movements, climatic variability, operational inefficiencies and government structures. While external factors are unavoidable, corporate governance remains an internal mechanism that firms can control to enhance profitability. This study's main goal was to investigate the effect of corporate governance on profitability of agricultural firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Analysing the effects of board committees, remuneration, independence, and size on these companies' profitability, as well as examining the moderating effect of firm size in this relationship, were the specific objectives. The study was grounded on agency, stewardship, stakeholder, and resource dependence theories.
Determinants of Informed Consent Process for Cesarean Section in Kiambu County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-10) Sakuny, Raymond Tanui
Cesarean section (CS) is the most commonly undertaken operation in women that is associated with significant mortality and morbidity compared to normal vaginal delivery. Informed consent (IC) respects the patient's autonomy, offers collaborative care. Consenting for CS in sub-Sahara Africa is suboptimal since women receive limited, vague or no information on what the CS entails. The elements of IC process were infrequently considered at AIC Kijabe Hospital. The study sought to determine how the patient-related factors, communication related factors, information-related factors influence consenting as well strategies for ethical decision-making on consenting for CS as highlighted by patients post-delivery and clinicians. The mixed-method cross-sectional study design sought to assess IC for CS among women who delivered between periods of 12 to 72 hours in two tertiary level government facilities in Kiambu County, Kenya. The investigator applied a systematic random sampling technique to select (N= 159) post-natal women to participate in the study. Closed and open-ended questionnaires were incorporated to obtain the required information as well as findings of focused group discussion of clinicians. Data was analyzed using a computer software statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel and presented in descriptive statistics. Primigravidas were the majority participants with percentage of 37.7%. Most of the CS conducted in Kiambu County were emergencies at 69.9%. The findings indicated that as age and parity increase, the decision to have elective CS increases, going for elective CS was influenced by parity (18.7%) and age (8.3%) respectively. Patients with higher parity are more likely to understand the information given. Birth companion helped reduce the chances of experiencing emotional overwhelm particularly those who underwent emergency CS [r(156) =-0.230 p=0.004]. . Bivariate analysis showed the following factors were significantly associated with consenting process; active participation and information given on the consenting [r(158)=-0.345, p<0.001], companion and experiencing emotional overwhelm [r(156) =-0.230 p=0.004],parity and the ability to understand the information given [r(159)=0.162, p=0.041), Labor pain and active participation [r(111)=-.210, p=0.027). Active participation of the participant in consenting process contributed to better collaboration between clinician in making the decision for CS [r(83)=0.443, p<0.001]. The results demonstrated information given to participants was not balanced. The information given largely focuses on diagnoses and indication and less on benefits, risk, alternatives or the consequences of declining treatment. Antenatal consent was considered as a helpful strategy to consent for CS by 64.9% of the participants. The study found birth companion helpful in consenting; disclosure of information was partial, brief consenting time thus existing consent process has significant gaps but can be mitigated by antenatal consent. The study recommends clinicians to provide their clients with full information that focuses on diagnosis, available alternative treatment including benefits and risk. Clinicians should be trained on proper counselling to facilitate exchange of information for the patient or surrogate to make autonomous decisions. Antenatal visits are the appropriate time to engage the client about the possibility of CS delivery through integration within FANC program education as key component of birth preparedness
Contradiction in Immanuel Kant’s Hierarchical Racism and Egalitarian Humanism
(Kenyatta University, 2025-06) Ndole, Philip Ochieng
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804), a well-known and significant philosopher of the German Enlightenment, holds that white people are superior to non-white people. "White" (Europeans), "yellow" (Asians), "black" (Africans), and "red" (American Indians) are the four categories he separates humanity into. According to Kant, no race, apart from the white race, has the talent (a gift of nature) necessary to develop moral maturity. According to him, Native Americans are lethargic and uninterested, while Black people can obtain an education but only as slaves. White people, on the other hand, possess all the drive and skills. His egalitarian humanism conflicts with this. By arguing that everyone should be viewed and treated as "ends," rather than as means to a goal, he puts forth the ideas of universal democracy and categorical moral imperative. The adage "one would wish the action to be a universal law" also states that one should behave as one would like everyone else to behave toward oneself. In the absence of evidence of Kant denouncing his position on hierarchical racism, his advancing universal rights theory spells a conceptual contradiction. What is observed in our contemporary society is the political ideology that holds that Humans are divided into independent and exclusive biological entities, called races, which determine human traits and capacities. Therefore, the goals of this study are to: First, explain and explain Kant's idea of hierarchical racism; Next, explain and explain Kant's idea of egalitarian humanism; and finally, examine and assess the viability of egalitarian humanism on the one hand and Kantian hierarchical racism on the other. To examine and assess the viability of egalitarian humanism on the one hand and Kantian hierarchical racism on the other, the study employs the laws of thought, namely the principles of identity, non-contradiction, and excluded middle. The research is library-based. It involved logical analysis of particular works of Kant on race and morality. In this regard the work is fundamentally informed by conceptual analysis employing the typical philosophical approach of evaluation, analysis, synthesis, reflection, contemplation and dialectics, all that culminate in philosophical speculation. This work interrogates whether the apparent contradiction is a product of the law of challenge and response or a reconstruction of the Role of Teleology in Kant's Philosophy of History and Natural Law. Relevant literature including books, Journals, Encyclopedias and commentaries by other scholars have been used. In the end analysis, the thesis demonstrates that Kant contradicts himself with regard to the two positions he adopts by postulating Hierarchical racism and at the same time conceptualizing egalitarian Humanism, the implication being that either Hierarchical Racism holds or Egalitarian Humanism. The two positions cannot hold at the same time, in the same manner and the same circumstances