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Micro Finance Services and Financial Performance of Deposit Taking Saccos in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-09) Siameto, Margaret Kamurar
DT SACCOs are financial institutions which offer microfinance services to their members
and as a result pivotal contribution towards poverty eradication and creation of jobs arises.
However, the conceptual linkage between micro finance services they offer to their
members and the fluctuating financial performance is still controversial. The academic
focus of the current investigation was to interrogate the degree to which micro finance
services influence financial performance of those DT-SACCOs carrying out their ordinary
business activities in the County of Nairobi City Kenya. Specifically, it aimed to determine
the effect of micro credit on financial performance of DT-SACCOs in Nairobi City County,
Kenya, to evaluate the effect of micro savings on financial performance of DT-SACCOs
in Nairobi City County, Kenya and to examine the effect of micro insurance on financial
performance of DT-SACCOs in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Finance growth nexus
theory, microfinance theory and bank-led theory are the three key suppositions
underpinning the current investigation. Since the populace was made up of 42 DT
SACCOs operating in the City of Nairobi, located in Nairobi County, survey approach was
be relied upon by the researcher when collecting the necessary data. Questionnaires were
the tools dropped and picked by the researcher after they were duly filed. The unit of
observation was the corresponding 42 top management members of each SACCO
aforementioned. A data collection schedule was most appropriate and was used for
collecting the secondary data. Descriptive, correlational and inferential data analysis were
performed after the diagnostic test was completed. The key research findings were as
follows, micro credit influenced financial performance which was statistically significant
and of direct nature. For micro savings there was direct influence on financial performance
and for the case of micro insurance, there was statistically significant adjustment of
financial performance, which was direct. The management group of DT-SACCOs
domiciled in the Nairobi City County, Kenya will benefit from the research findings for
well-informed decision making will be much in order as far as financial performance
improvement is concerned. The point here is that those financial institutions will be able to
project the profitability in future with micro credit, micro savings and micro insurance
which they are aware of their prediction power when considered as a composite score and
not each in isolation. SASRA which is a government arm will benefit from the research
findings for it will establish user friendly policies which factor in techno innovation for
more job creation. In the academic frontier the empirical results act as a cornerstone to
guide them on identifying the other relevant contextually researchable areas. That is the
outcome depicts the philosophical linkage between other micro finance services and
profitability where by other unit of analysis such as commercial banks, Microfinance Banks
which are financial institutions can be brought to research books. Therefore, more suitable
empirical models may be created by factoring other micro finance service aspects which
significantly address each financial institution.
Relations Between Kamba and Somali Communities of Kitui County-Tana River County in Kenya 1850-1963
(Kenyatta University, 2025-09) Maluki, Kyavoa
This study examines the relations between the Kamba and Somali communities in Kenya from around 1850 to 1963. An analysis of these relations in the precolonial period was taken in an attempt to lay a foundation for assessing the relations in the colonial period. Colonial policies and their impact on the Kamba-Somali relations up to 1938 were investigated. Effects of the Second World War and decolonization process on the relations between Kamba and Somali up to 1963 were assessed too. The study argues that the initial settlement of both the Kamba and Somali communities in the area of study was majorly determined by environmental factors which in turn shaped the demand and supply of products and therefore relation between the two communities. With the onset of colonialism, relations between the two communities were heavily influenced by the policy of pacification which endeavored to create a rigid boundary between the two communities and so affected free interactions and trade. Later, during the Second World War and the period after the war, the relations between these two communities were characterized by tension, division, and suspicion. The trends of interaction were interpreted using constructivism and social interdependence theories. The study was justified in that it examined two communities instead of one and demonstrated trends that come from such dynamic interactions as contrasted with relations within one group. Literature on inter-ethnic relations was reviewed for sharper conceptualization of the study. Two research designs were used. These two included descriptive and historical research designs. Methodologically, a purposive sampling technique was employed. Snowball sampling technique was also used where knowledgeable informants referred the researcher to others who also had information about the study. Data for the study was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was verified against secondary information. Secondary data was obtained from books, journals, archives and newspapers
Solar Still Basin Measurements and Liner Material Variance for Improved Water Desalination Efficiency
(Kenyatta University, 2025-12) Njuguna, Ruth Njoki
Access to potable water is a persistent global challenge. To address this, clean drinking water can be obtained from the abundant saline sources through solar desalination. Solar stills offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution; however, their desalination efficiencies remain relatively low. The impact of basin width to length ration measurements and liner material variance on their performance have not been adequately evaluated. This study aimed to model the thermal performance of a single-slope solar still, assess the influence of basin liner materials and their thicknesses on desalination efficiency, and determine the optimal basin dimensions for improved freshwater production. This was done with the objective of improving the performance of a one-slope solar desalination still. MATLAB is employed in the model development and simulations. The developed model was validated using experimental data from literature. The analysis used Machakos Kenya (1.52 °S, 37.2 °E) climatic conditions as a reference. Five basin liner materials including aluminium, synthetic graphite, brass, galvanized iron and stainless steel were examined based on their thermal properties. Different width-to-length ratios ranging from 0.14 to 0.86 and basin liner thicknesses of between 2 mm and 6 mm were evaluated. A parametric study was conducted to determine the correlation between liner material thickness and basin dimensions, and their combined impact on freshwater yields. From the results, synthetic graphite exhibited the best performance, followed by aluminium, brass, galvanized iron and stainless steel with respective yields of 3835g/m2.day, 2626 g/m2.day, 1864 g/m2.day, 1545 g/m2.day and 1354 g/m2.day corresponding to efficiencies of 35.04%, 24.02%, 17.02%, 14.13% and 12.39%, respectively. Thus, synthetic graphite outperformed aluminium, brass, galvanized iron and stainless steel by 31.4%, 51.43%, 59.675 and 64.64%, respectively. A width-to-length ratio of 0.45 yields optimal results, while a liner material thickness of 4 mm is found to be ideal across all materials. The parametric study further revealed that width-to-length ratio has a higher significance on freshwater yields compared to liner material thickness.
Rapid Detection of Chlorpyrifos in Kale and Milk Using Machine Learning-Aided Raman Spectroscopy
(Kenyatta University, 2025-12) Maina, Thuku Jeremiah
Chlorpyrifos, a widely used organophosphorus pesticide in Kenya, is banned from use on vegetables due to its health risks; however, studies show it is still widely used and detected in food products. Conventional detection methods, such as gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), are accurate but costly, time-consuming, and destructive, making them unsuitable for rapid on-site analysis. This study aimed to develop a fast, non-destructive method for detecting chlorpyrifos in milk and kale using Raman spectroscopy and machine learning (ML). ML involves computational algorithms that analyze complex data patterns, improving prediction accuracy and classification. These techniques were crucial for efficiently processing spectral data, recognizing patterns, and building predictive models for chlorpyrifos detection. Raman spectroscopy was chosen for its solvent-free, non-invasive nature. Spectral preprocessing steps, including baseline correction, smoothing, and normalization, improved signal quality. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to identify Raman bands with statistically significant differences, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed the spectral fingerprint and reduced dimensionality. The 314-354 cm⁻¹ spectral band, centered at 342 cm⁻¹, was identified as the chlorpyrifos Raman fingerprint due to distinct C-Cl vibrational modes absent in untreated samples. Machine learning models, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Random Forest (RF), were trained using Principal Components (PCs) from the fingerprint. These models were used to classify chlorpyrifos levels in the samples with respect to the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), the highest permissible pesticide concentration in food for consumer safety, ensuring the models provided relevant food safety assessments. Classification models achieved high accuracy: SVM outperformed RF with 95.79% accuracy in milk and 92.61% in kale, while RF achieved 95.23% and 90.15%, respectively. In regression tasks, RF showed superior performance with a coefficient of determination (R²) > 0.9997 and a root mean square of prediction (RMSEP) < 0.0231 ppm, compared to SVR’s R² > 0.9961 and RMSEP < 0.0897 ppm. These results confirm that Raman spectroscopy combined with ML offers a highly accurate, rapid, and non-destructive alternative to conventional methods, enhancing real-time food safety monitoring and regulatory compliance
Land Use and Land Cover Change on Watershed Functions in Tungu-Naka River Sub-Catchment in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-12) Njage, Rose Kanana
Watersheds provide a main function of maintaining ecological balance and giving the most important services, like a home for biodiversity, water provision, and agricultural yields. The Tungu-Naka sub-catchment is an important hydrological unit that maintains different socio-economic activities for the communities in the watershed. The primary objective of this research was to assess the impacts of land use and land cover change (LULCC) on watershed functions in the Tungu-Naka River sub-catchment, Tharaka Nithi County. The specific objectives were to: (1) analyze the trends in land use and land cover in the Tungu-Naka watershed from 2002 to 2018, (2) identify and evaluate the driving factors of land use and land cover change in the Tungu-Naka sub-catchment between 2002 and 2018, and (3) assess the impacts of land use and land cover change on hydrological and ecological functions of the Tungu-Naka watershed. A mixed-methods research design combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches was employed. LANDSAT TM imagery from 2002, 2006, 2012, and 2018 was obtained from the Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Kasarani. These images were used to analyze LULCC over the study period and partially evaluate its impacts on the Tungu-Naka sub-catchment through supervised classification. The study targeted households residing within the Tungu-Naka watershed, as well as key informants. SPSS software was used to examine the relationship between LULCC and watershed functions, specifically employing Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient (r). Key findings revealed significant LULCC, including the conversion of wetlands for farming, deforestation, the destruction of riparian zones, and increased settlement. Population growth and planting of eucalyptus were identified as primary drivers of LULCC. The main impacts observed included drying of wetlands and reduced river water volumes. Population growth, urbanization, and shifts in farming practices were highlighted as significant contributors to land use changes. The research identified riparian land restoration through tree planting as a common watershed conservation strategy within the sub-catchment. However, this approach has been largely unsuccessful due to tree-cutting by farmers and its limited application in the upper watershed zones. The study rejected the null hypothesis and accepted the alternative hypothesis, confirming a statistically significant relationship between LULCC and watershed functions. There is a need for regulated water abstraction in the rivers and for strengthening the capacity of the community members on the importance of protecting riparian land. From the findings, there is a need for a debate on the suitable land use activities that can be considered in the different watersheds. Consequently, there should be proper channels of communication by the community members to the relevant authorities in case of an illegal activity within the watershed.