Kenyatta University Repository
Kenyatta University Institutional Repository is a digital archive that collects, preserves and disseminates scholarly outputs of the Institution
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Institutional Factors Influencing Career Advancement of Women Faculty: A Case of Kenyatta University, Kenya
(International Academic Journal of Arts and Humanitie, 2017-02) Malelu, Abigael Mwende; Ngare, Grace Wamue; Okemwa, Pacificah
This study examined the institutional factors
militating against career advancement of
women faculty: A case of Kenyatta
University. The study was based on the
premise that there are some hidden
institutional challenges slowing career
progress of women faculty. This exists
despite the many attempts by universities to
implement government calls to gender
equality and equity. The promotion criteria
at the universities is said to provide equal
opportunities to women and men, yet the
former are unable to comply with it. The
study, therefore, set out, to analyze KU
policies and practices governing promotion,
as well as, suggest strategies of enhancing
women upward career growth. The study
was guided by Socialist Feminist Theory
and Gender and Development approach. The
study targeted all women faculty employed
in KU on full time basis. Stratified random
sampling in combination with purposive
sampling was used and total of 104
respondents took part in the study. Two
senior administrators and members of
promotion and appraisal committee served
as key informants. Primary data was
collected through semi-structured
questionnaires and interview guides.
Secondary data were obtained from policies
governing promotion and appraisal.
Qualitative data was analyzed into themes,
while quantitative was organized into
frequency counts and percentages. The
research found that career advancement of
women faculty at the upper ranks is slow
and that they are faced with several
challenges such as a busy university
schedule, vast institutional physical set-up,
biasness in the promotion criteria and in
minimal leadership experience, as well as
financial and time constrains. Women
faculty lacked adequate opportunities to
network and gain recognition, they also
lacked mentors and faced a lot of negative
office politics. To address these challenges
the study recommends the following
measures: provision of scholarships for
studying and research, introduction of
flexible working schedule, capacity
building, affordability of university press
and journal, transport and child care services
as well as accommodation facilities within
the institution. Gender sensitization of all
stake holders, enforcement of affirmative
action and reviewing of the promotion and
appraisal criteria is also needed. The
institution should embark on employing
more teaching staff and facilitate pairing
women faculty with mentors, as well as,
imparting them with skills on time and
stress management. This will go a long way
in enhancing the career growth of women
faculty in Kenyatta University
Assessment of the Wellness of Young Women Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in Kenya
(Journal of the KenyaNationalCommission for UNESCO, 2022-12) Opara,Jacob; Ngina, P.; Nyambura,Salome; Njuki Githethwa; Nyambala,Marceline; Otieno Ombok
Interventions by human rights defenders (HRDs) in society are critical in the development of society but little has been done to support HRD’s wellness. This study addresses this gap by examining the wellness challenges for young female HRDs in the course of their work in Kenya. Mixed method approach and purposively sampling was used targeting 53 respondents sampled from a cross-section of young female and male HRDs, CSOs working in human rights advocacy, and senior male and female HRDs. Results indicated that the most challenging issues for HRDs was financial constraint (38%) followed by discrimination (29%) and sexual exploitation (24%). 67% indicated to have experienced abuse in their work with 43% of the abuse faced being of sexual nature. 64% of the abuse cases were not reported for redress and of the 36% reported, 58% were not adequately addressed. The study also found that there were gaps in CSOs’ success in effecting their own policies against abuse to enhance HRDs wellness and concludes that HRDs wellness requires both structural and institutional mainstreaming to help young female HRDs in their activism. Key recommendation for the study calls for institutionalization of wellness support for HRDs within the civil society space in Kenya.
Disparities in Access to Public Open Spaces for Children in Nairobi City, Kenya
(Public Administration and Governance Research Journal, 2025) Okubo, Everlyne Amile; Mireri, Caleb; Aloyo, Paul
Public open spaces are essential for children’s health, learning, and social interaction, yet their provision and quality remain uneven in rapidly urbanising cities. This study examines disparities in the availability, safety, and usability of public open spaces for children in Nairobi, Kenya. The study sampled three Nairobi neighbourhoods to represent different socioeconomic contexts: high-income (Loresho), middle-income (Nairobi West), and low-income (Kibera). A mixed-methods approach included surveys, FGDs, KIIs, field observations, and spatial analysis, engaging 417 respondents (198 children, 61 parents, 158 other open space users). Purposive sampling identified key institutions based on their relevance, including Nairobi City departments (Talents, Skills Development and Care; Green Nairobi; Built Environment and Urban Planning), sports subcounty officers, ward managers and local user groups. Results show that all three areas fall far below the World Health Organization benchmark of 9 m² of open space per capita. Provision is lowest in Kibera and Nairobi West, where population density, poverty, poor infrastructure, and weak enforcement of planning laws limit access. Safety risks include overcrowding, poor lighting, lack of fencing, proximity to traffic, and encroachment of informal activities. Usability is further reduced by poor maintenance, competition from organised groups, and the exclusion of children from available facilities. In Loresho neighbourhood, private amenities compensate for the limited public open spaces but do not eliminate exclusion. These disparities constrain physical activity and social development, particularly for children in the low-income areas, and highlight gaps in urban policy implementation. The paper calls for stronger planning, investment, and management to create equitable, safe, and inclusive open spaces, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 11.7 and Kenya’s Vision 2030.
Governance And Functionality of Children’s Public Open Spaces in Nairobi City
(International Academic Journal of Arts and Humanities, 2025-06) Okubo, Everlyne Amile; Mireri, Caleb; Aloyo, Paul
Public open spaces (POS) are important for
children’s physical, social, and cognitive
development. In rapidly urbanising cities
such as Nairobi, access to safe and
functional open spaces is uneven among
neighbourhoods. This study examines how
governance influences the availability,
safety, and usability of public open spaces
for children, using political ecology theory
to explain disparities across
neighbourhoods.
The study sampled three neighbourhoods in
Nairobi City to represent different
socioeconomic contexts: high-income
(Lavington), middle-income (Buruburu),
and low-income (Huruma). A mixedmethods approach included surveys, FGDs,
KIIs, field observations, and spatial
analysis, engaging 444 respondents (208
children, 70 parents, 166 other open space
users). Purposive sampling was used to
sampled key institutions based on their
relevance, including Nairobi City
departments (Talents, Skills Development
and Care; Green Nairobi; Built
Environment and Urban Planning), sports
subcounty officers, ward managers and
local user groups.
The findings of this study show that
functionality of POS depends more on
governance and financing than on the
presence of physical infrastructure. In
Huruma informal settlement and Buruburu
neighbourhood, informal volunteer-based
governance, irregular funding, lack of
recurrent budgets, and absence of
structured participation result in unsafe,
poorly maintained, and unattractive spaces.
Children reported broken play equipment,
lack of supervision, and exclusion from
decision-making. Parents cited safety risks
as a major reason for discouraging
unsupervised play. In contrast, Jaffrey
Sports Club in Lavington, managed by a
trained team with sustained financing and
structured user engagement, provided safe,
clean, and engaging environments.
The findings of this study demonstrate that
unequal governance and resource allocation
produce disparities in children’s public
open spaces. Without reforms to funding
and participatory planning, these disparities
will worsen, increasing the likelihood of
obesity among children and limiting
progress toward SDG 11.7 and equitable
urban development
Study Time Management as a Predictor of Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students in Mombasa County, Kenya Rehema
(Open Access Library Journal, 2025-12) Yaki, Nthenya; Kigen, Edward; Mutweleli, Samuel Mutua
The central problem of this study is academic underachievement of second ary school students over the years. Schools in Kenya, especially in Mombasa
County are facing a big problem of poor quality grades which may be at tributed to students’ spending minimal time on school activities and giving
up easily when faced with difficulties. Poor quality grades have been consist ently realized due to students’ inability to identify with academics and failure
to connect current school performance to future outcomes. Therefore, the
study sought to find out the extent to which study time management predicts
academic achievement of secondary school students. The Future-Oriented
Motivation and Self-Regulation Theory was used to explain the study. This
study used an ex post facto design. Purposive, stratified and simple random
sampling were employed. Nine schools were purposively selected from a pop ulation of 49 public secondary schools from which a total of 542 students
were selected in Mombasa County. Document analysis and self-report ques tionnaires were used. The questionnaire comprised the following scales: As sessment of Time Management Scale was used to measure study time man agement; identification with academics was measured using the identifica tion with academics Scale and Students’ academic achievement was measured
using examination records obtained from school. Data was analysed using
quantitative approach. Study time management significantly and positively
predicted achievement. Findings help to inform policy makers, teachers, par ents, and students on the importance of valuing academics for optimal aca demic achievement