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Item A Sociolinguistic Account of Language Loyalty among Kamba Speakers in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County(Kenyatta University, 2025-11) Musyoki Carolyne MueniThis sociolinguistic study examined language loyalty among speakers of an indigenous language in Kenya. The study dealt with the preservation of the Kikamba language and culture among Kikamba speakers in Yatta sub-county, a rural area in Machakos County. The objectives of the study were to identify the language use patterns among the Kikamba speakers in different domains in Yatta sub-county, establish the effect of age on Kikamba language usage across different domains in Yatta sub-county, and lastly to determine the perceptions and attitudes of Kikamba speakers in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County, toward their mother tongue. The study was grounded in two theoretical frameworks: Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory and Domain Theory. The research design consisted of mixed methods, since the questions raised by the research required the use of both qualitative and quantitative data. At first, the semi-structured interviews were implemented to research emotions and viewpoints among the participants, which then led to the use of structured questionnaires for recording the patterns of language use across the different domains. Furthermore, participant observations were conducted parallelly to provide the researchers with scattered insights into the world of everyday language practices. The research considered the language practices not only of the younger Kikamba speakers (those aged 18 to 25 years) but also of the older Kikamba speakers (those above 50 years old) in order to give a complete picture of how the language lives among the Kikamba speakers in Yatta and to provide an idea of the language loyalty in the region. The language use patterns of the respondents, as per the research, revealed that Kikamba is the first language in family interactions which again signals its great use in domestic communication. Nevertheless, apart from the younger speakers, who were quite a few, all the others had already made the switch to Kiswahili in home. This in turn, pointed to the fact that Kiswahili has already gotten quite a strong hold increasing its sphere from educational institutions and media to the whole societal interaction area. Besides, the study found that age is a determining factor with regard to the language use patterns among the various domains. While the older respondents mostly used Kikamba, especially during family and community contacts, it still is a strong sign of cultural attachment and language continuity. On the other hand, the younger participants showed a stronger tendency to use Kiswahili and English, particularly in educational, social, and professional contexts, while keeping Kikamba for home use. Still, this pattern does not imply that the younger speakers have a negative view of Kikamba. Instead, their ongoing use of the language in family settings indicates a deep cultural bond and an acknowledgment of its role in identity and heritage preservation. These results demonstrate the variety of language use in different contexts, the influence of age on communication habits, and the gradual shift of linguistic identity within the community.Item Use of Cohesive Devices among Second Language Learners of English in Secondary Schools in West Pokot County(Kenyatta University, 2025-09) Odari, Geoffrey AgesaCohesive devices are essential for creating unity in writing, which is crucial for effective communication and academic success. Despite the significant emphasis on teaching this skill to learners many of them are unable to utilize these devices effectively in their written texts. The issue is reflected in national examination results, where students require additional support to clearly express ideas as they are poor users of cohesive devices and it is the area where interventions in education are required. This study investigates written texts from secondary school students in West Pokot County with a view to establishing the nature of cohesive devices they use. The study was guided by the theoretical framework proposed by Halliday and Hasan (1976). The research design of this study was descriptive and a combination of both quantitative and qualitative approaches.The study used stratified random sampling whereby 40 students in Form Four within four school clusters namely national, extra-county, county, and sub-county schools were sampled. The way data were collected was through essay writing and questionnaires to determine what students know and how they apply cohesive devices. Fourty essays and fourty questionnaires obtained from the 40 sampled students were analyzed. The first objective of this study was to determine the types of cohesive devices that students in Form Four in the secondary schools in West Pokot County use. The results indicate that students employed different types of cohesive devices namely: reference, substitution, ellipsis and conjunctions. The second objective was to find out how various cohesive devices were employed by students from different cluster schools in West Pokot County. It was also noted that a wider and more precise range of cohesive devices was shown by students in national and extra-county schools than by those in county and sub-county and there were more frequent and often inconsistent uses of simpler devices in the latter group. The third objective was to establish the most commonly used cohesive devices of all schools. Our data shows that the simplest additive conjunctions, in particular and and or, were the most frequent cohesive devices among secondary school learners in the four cluster schools in West Pokot County. The improper use of students and inappropriate use by students signify the requirement of specific measures of training. It is suggested that, learners be taught guided lessons on cohesive devices in English language with the aim that they use these devices differently in their English language essays. Such measures would help enhance the writing abilities of learners, which, in turn, would boost their competence as well as the level of communication in the English language in general.Item Compliance with Ethical Standards by Civil Servants and the Effectiveness of Public Services in the Context of the Government of Bomet County (Kenya)(EANSO, 2026-01) Chepkoech, Helen; Minja, DavidThe challenges associated with ethical lapses in public service delivery are increasingly becoming evident in Kenya and globally. The enforcement of ethical standards within public service is, therefore, a critical issue that significantly impacts the effectiveness and efficiency of government operations and service delivery. Ethical breaches not only undermine public trust but also hinder the overall development and well-being of a country. This study aimed to determine the effect of the enforcement of ethical standards on public service delivery by Bomet County Government in Kenya. The study objectives were to examine the effects of compliance with laws, regular monitoring of employees, and the implementation of ethics training programs on public service delivery in Bomet County, Kenya. Institutional Theory and Agency Theory guided the research. A descriptive research design was adopted. The research targeted 165 employees. The research used a statistical technique to determine the sample size of 120 respondents. A stratified sampling technique was used to pick the study respondents. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilised to analyse the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The findings revealed that compliance with laws, regular monitoring and implementation of ethics training programs among employees had a positive and statistically significant effect on public service delivery as indicated by a p-value of 0.002, 0.002 and 0.004, respectively. The study concluded that compliance with laws promotes transparency and accountability among employees. Regular monitoring of employees enhances adherence to standards and prompt correction of deviation, while implementation of ethics training programs positively influences service quality by fostering ethical behaviour and professionalism among staff. The study recommended that the government should strengthen and enforce national-level ethical frameworks and codes of conduct across all public institutions. This includes harmonising anti-corruption policies, establishing a centralised ethical oversight unit, and conducting regular monitoring and audits to ensure adherence to public service values.Item Resilience and Resistance: Women’s Agency in Aidoo’s Our Sister Killjoy and Ousmane Sembene’s Xala(EANSO, 2025-05) Barasa, Remmy ShiunduThis paper provides a comparative examination of women’s agency and intertextuality in Ama Ata Aidoo’s Our Sister Killjoy and Ousmane Sembène’s Xala, focusing on their roles within post-colonial African societies. The analysis explores how both authors portray the struggles of African women against the backdrop of cultural, social, and colonial oppression. In her work, Aidoo presents Sissie, a young Ghanaian woman who navigates the complexities of colonialism, diaspora, and migration. Sissie’s journey from Ghana to Europe exposes her to racial discrimination and cultural dislocation, highlighting her struggle for identity and agency. Conversely, Sembène’s work satirizes the power dynamics and polygamy in post-colonial Senegal through the character of El Hadji, a businessman whose impotency symbolizes his moral and societal corruption. The women in Xala reflect varying degrees of submission and resistance to patriarchal norms, with characters like Rama showing a nascent challenge to these structures. Both West African novels use interior monologues and flashbacks to depict the protagonists' inner conflicts and societal constraints. While Aidoo’s Sissie actively confronts and critiques the racial and cultural prejudices she encounters, the women in Sembène’s narrative are primarily portrayed within the confines of traditional and neocolonial expectations. The paper argues that despite these differences, both works underscore the persistent patriarchal subjugation and the nuanced ways African women navigate and resist these constraints. The comparative analysis reveals a shared theme of women's resilience and the therapeutic power of female solidarity, illustrating a progression from traditional subjugation to modern self-assertion in the face of ongoing patriarchal oppression. The study concludes that while resistance methods differ, Aidoo and Sembène emphasize the critical need for women's agency in overcoming the multifaceted challenges of post-colonial African societies.Item Policy Implementation and Information Communication Technology Integration in Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions in Homa Bay County, Kenya(EANSO, 2025-08) Ojala, Florence Akinyi; Minja, David M.The world is rapidly adopting ICT, and as it is now a basic element of high - quality education, ICT must be incorporated into education and training. This study looked into the policy implementation challenges concerning ICT integration in Homa Bay County. Through the governments, countries implement ICT policies aimed at achieving the high standard of education required for global competitiveness. The ICT policy in the education ministry has not been fully implemented in Homa Bay County's training instituti ons, particularly in the study's focus area of TVETs. This reduces the quality of education and training and subsequently the employability possibilities of the trainees in the aforementioned location by causing learning gaps between them and their peers i n other places. Three theoretical frameworks — the Top - Down Approach, Street - Level Bureaucracy, and Stakeholder Management theories — shedding light on the hitches and procedures of implementing policies were the foundation of this study in line with the study ’s goals. The study used a mixed - method approach for a population of 15085 drawn from the aforementioned institutions in Homa Bay County, with a sample of 384 respondents employing a multistage sampling technique. Closed - ended questionnaires and semi - struc tured interviews were utilised to gather data, and SPSS was used to display and analyse the data using descriptive analysis. The study showed that although ICT policies exist, implementation remains haphazard due to insufficient institutional capacity, poo r stakeholder coordination, inadequate ICT infrastructure, and poor monitoring mechanisms. However, the adoption of ICT was highest at institutions where leadership was powerful, training was structured, and stakeholders were involved. The study then recom mends from these results that institutional capacity can be fortified with continuous ICT training, collaborating with the stakeholders positively, investment in accessible infrastructure such as purpose - built internet connectivity, and laying down effecti ve monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Sustainability requires that the government also strengthen its partnerships with the Non - Governmental organisations and the private sector. The result, moreover, gives useful suggestions to policymakers, educators, and stakeholders who wish to build a more digitally inclusive and effective learning environment throughout the educational institutions in the region .Item Impact of Migration Spaces on the Prostitute Character in on Black Sister Streets(EANSO, 2026-01) Muturi, Agatha; Murimi, Gaita; Macharia, MwangiMigration has a traumatic effect on individuals as they are in a foreign space, more so on female persons. The paper interrogates the complex ways in which migration intersects with social factors such as gender, ethnicity, class and sexuality to shape experiences for migrant characters in African literature. In On Black Sisters' Street, Chika Unigwe explores the complex realities of migration through the lives of four African women trafficked to Belgium to work as prostitutes, foregrounding the often-unspoken challenges and trauma associated with migration. This paper explores how the prostitute character navigates foreign and urban spaces, particularly as an immigrant, and how space both enables and restricts her movements and agency. Drawing from Hubbard’s view that the construction of space shapes both human sexuality and the identity of places, Persak and Vermeulen describe space as a nexus that focuses on the dynamics of prostitution, drawing on Hubbard’s (1997) view that the construction of space shapes both human sexuality and the identity of places. The study adopts Luce Irigaray’s poststructuralist feminist concept of “women on the market,” which frames women as commodities in a system of exchange, while also drawing on Kimberlé Crenshaw, Intersectionality theory to explore how overlapping systems of gender, class, race, immigrant status, education and other social categories further compound the commodification and marginalisation of women within the selected African novel. This research uses purposive sampling to identify relevant texts and a qualitative approach to analyse and present its findings. The paper aims to highlight the critical perspectives on immigrant characters as portrayed in the literary works of African female writers.Item Characters' Reaction to Torments in Coetzee’s Selected Novels(African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 2025-10) Chebet, Carolyne; Mugo, Wanjiru; Mutie, Stephen; Rutere, Albert MugambiThis study aimed to demonstrate how selected literary texts by John Maxwell Coetzee portray how the characters react to torments surrounding the narration of social life and cultural order to embody and evoke characters’ cultural intricacies and anxieties. The study sought to explore the hidden tensions of the characters fighting within the self. The study also tried to examine how the characters are able or unable to deal with the trauma caused by the contemporary issues of violence, sexuality, and psychological distress. The texts, namely, Disgrace (1999), Slow Man (2005), and Waiting for Barbarians (1980), were purposefully chosen because of their suitability in data that exposes the characters’ torments. The most appropriate theoretical framework that allowed the selected texts to be read, interrogated, analysed, and interpreted, located within the lenses of Psychoanalytic Literary Theory and Concepts related to trauma by Sigmund Freud and Pallavi Sugoy. These theories allowed the analysis of all the important aspects of characters’ psyches, their psychological trauma, thematic concerns, and textual ideologies. The study was not necessarily focusing on trauma per se, but it sufficed to examine the concept of trauma briefly when analysing the characters in the selected texts. The qualitative research method was employed to explore how the characters react to torments in Coetzee’s selected texts. The study employed purposive sampling to select primary texts that vividly depict the specific torments of interest. Consequently, Coetzee’s works - Disgrace, Waiting for the Barbarians, and Slow Man - were chosen for their depth in illustrating these themes. An analytical research design was utilised to examine these literary texts, along with any supplementary secondary data that would facilitate a qualitative analysis of the material. The study aimed to offer insights that would enrich the discourse in the literary realm, particularly concerning the interplay of power dynamics, cultural conflict, and the quest for personal redemption. Since the characters’ experiences are based on the behaviour and incidents of real people, suffering from psychological, dysfunctional sexuality issues and identity, the study can be used in mental institutions to help patients with such problems.Item Narrative Techniques Used to Portray Torments in Coetzee’s Disgrace, Slow Man, and Waiting for Barbarians(East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 2025-10) Chebet, Carolyne; Mugo, Wanjiru; Mutie, Stephen; Rutere, Albert MugambiThis study aimed to demonstrate how selected literary texts by John Maxwell Coetzee dramatise the idea of torments surrounding the narration of social life and cultural order to embody and evoke characters’ cultural intricacies and anxieties. The study sou ght to explore the hidden tensions of the characters fighting within the self because there is a detachment between the individual and the sociocultural context, resulting to torments. The texts, namely, Disgrace (1999), Slow Man (2005), and Waiting for Ba rbarians (1980), were purposefully chosen because of their suitability in data that exposes the characters' torments. The most appropriate theoretical framework that allowed the selected texts to be read, interrogated, analysed, and interpreted is located within the lenses of Psychoanalytic Literary Theory and Concepts related to trauma by Sigmund Freud and Pallavi Sugoy. The theories aided in foregrounding the concepts in the three selected texts, the exploration of the unconscious conflict and its complex ities on individuals. The qualitative research method was employed to explore how the characters negotiate torments in Coetzee’s selected texts. The study employed purposive sampling to select primary texts that vividly depict the specific torments of inte rest. Consequently, Coetzee’s works - Disgrace, Waiting for the Barbarians, and Slow Man - were chosen for their depth in illustrating these themes. An analytical research design was utilised to examine these literary texts, along with any supplementary se condary data that would facilitate a qualitative analysis of the material. The data identified from close reading was coded and decoded appropriately for literary analysis. These works explored profound themes such as the effects of empire and colonialism, the human condition in the face of societal and personal upheaval, and the quest for personal redemption. The study aimed to offer insights that would enrich the discourse in the literary realm, particularly concerning the interplay of power dynamics, cul tural conflict and personal conflict. It is hoped that the study’s conclusion will make a significant contribution to the ongoing dialectics surrounding motivations behind human behaviour and relationships.Item Unmasking Metaphors of COVID-19 Pandemic in Kenya’s Virtual Space: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach(IJRISS, 2024-12) Mwangi Gachara; Ituma, Joshua; Nzomo, Nancy MwikaliThe outbreak of COVID-19 in late 2019 led to the emergence of metaphorical framing. Life almost came to a standstill for more than two years. As a result, the entire world was engaged in combat with an elusive enemy widely seen as a warning sign. The study explored the metaphors employed in the fight against the virus in Kenya’s virtual space when it became a public health concern. Since this pandemic was the first in a century, people came up with new vocabulary and mental analogies to describe it. This study aimed to identify and describe the lexical items used in the Citizen TV Twitter handle, Kenya, to construct COVID-19 metaphors. The Conceptual Metaphor Theory by Lakoff and Johnson (1980/2003) was adopted in the study. The study utilized the descriptive qualitative research design. The data obtained from the Citizen TV Twitter handle, using Python code, was subjected to the Metaphor Identification Procedure developed by scholars at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam (MIPVU). This criterion identifies the metaphorically used linguistic items. The identified metaphors were classified into their domain following source-target domain analysis. Based on the selected metaphors, the macro domains obtained were WAR, PATH, and ORGANISM. The study revealed that conceptual metaphor was extensively employed in Kenya. Metaphors were found to be widespread in discussions on COVID-19. People consistently associate certain aspects of reality with others, transferring the characteristics of one domain to another. They naturally and instinctively think in terms of metaphors. The abundance of metaphors in the discourse around COVID-19 may have been employed to motivate Kenyans to confront the challenges presented by the pandemic and show how COVID-19 was conceptualized in Kenya.Item Unmasking Metaphors of COVID-19 Pandemic in Kenya’s Virtual Space: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach(International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2024-10-29) Nzomo, Nancy Mwikali; Mwangi. Gachara; Itumo, JoshuaThe outbreak of COVID-19 in late 2019 led to the emergence of metaphorical framing. Life almost came to a standstill for more than two years. As a result, the entire world was engaged in combat with an elusive enemy widely seen as a warning sign. The study explored the metaphors employed in the fight against the virus in Kenya’s virtual space when it became a public health concern. Since this pandemic was the first in a century, people came up with new vocabulary and mental analogies to describe it. This study aimed to identify and describe the lexical items used in the Citizen TV Twitter handle, Kenya, to construct COVID-19 metaphors. The Conceptual Metaphor Theory by Lakoff and Johnson (1980/2003) was adopted in the study. The study utilized the descriptive qualitative research design. The data obtained from the Citizen TV Twitter handle, using Python code, was subjected to the Metaphor Identification Procedure developed by scholars at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam (MIPVU). This criterion identifies the metaphorically used linguistic items. The identified metaphors were classified into their domain following source-target domain analysis. Based on the selected metaphors, the macro domains obtained were WAR, PATH, and ORGANISM. The study revealed that conceptual metaphor was extensively employed in Kenya. Metaphors were found to be widespread in discussions on COVID-19. People consistently associate certain aspects of reality with others, transferring the characteristics of one domain to another. They naturally and instinctively think in terms of metaphors. The abundance of metaphors in the discourse around COVID-19 may have been employed to motivate Kenyans to confront the challenges presented by the pandemic and show how COVID-19 was conceptualized in KenyaItem Dramatization of Agency and Ecological Consciousness in How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue and Oil on Water by Hellon Habila(East African Nature and Science Organization, 2024-04) Mwaga, Robert; Mutie, Stephen; Murimi, GaitaThis paper interrogates how authors deploy characters to represent ecological consciousness. The paper draws illustrations from Imbolo Mbue’s How Beautiful We Were andHellon Habila’s Oil on Waterto examine how agency is dramatized through characterization. The paper explores character agency within the subversive space of Bakhtin’s carnival laughter to represent their ecological consciousness. To ground the paper into an analytical perspective, the discussion identifies and discusses the distinct characterizations the two texts' authors employ to represent the characters’ ecological consciousness. The article argues that the writers of the chosen texts effectively use characterisation to create compelling ecological narratives that teach about the need to address environmental degradation. Additionally, the discussion revealshow the two writers depict ecological awareness via the characteristics of carnival shown by the characters. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that characters have a crucial role in delivering sermons about the gruesome consequences of environmental degradation. As a result, the components of carnival, such as craziness, clowns, and heroic characterizations, are used to undermine and challenge the impact of environmental degradationItem Conversational Implicature on Selected Episodes of Jklive Talk Show on Citizen Television, Kenya(The International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2024-09) Opiyo, Margaret Anyango; Mwai, Loise WamaithaThe study involved an analysis of Conversational Implicature on sampled episodes of the JKLive talk show of Citizen TV in Kenya. The research objective was to determine the observance of cooperative principle maxims on selected episodes of the JKLive talk show. The study used a descriptive research design in which judgmental sampling was employed in selecting the episodes in the talk show that were more relevant to the study. A sample size of two episodes which had a runtime of one hour each, were used for conversational data and then subjected to analysis. Data was collected through audio and video recording based on naturalistic observation of the talk show. The data was then transcribed orthographically to identify the language features required for the study. Data analysis was guided by the theory of Conversational Implicature by Grice (1975), which he termed as an indirect speech whereby, what is meant by an utterance may go beyond what is communicated. As a theory, Conversational Implicature advocates that, in order to simplify the use of language, rules are needed to govern how we bring out information and at what stage, for effective communication to occur. This theory was used to account for observance or violation of cooperative principle maxims, in line with the objective of the study. Prevalence of violations of cooperative principle maxims were observed, particularly instances of quality, quantity, manner and relevance maxims being disregarded in political discourse, and instances of quantity and relevance maxims also being disregarded in economic discourse. Addressing violations of these maxims can improve clarity and coherence, with the host playing a crucial role in moderating discussions to foster mutual understanding, prevent conflicts, and promote constructive exchanges, ultimately enhancing the viewer experience.Item Literary Study of Invectives in Selected Works of H.K. Bidi Setsoafia(Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Book Publishing, 2021-09) Dogbey, Emmanuel; Mbithi, Esther Katheu; Maina, Oscar MachariaThis study explored invective expressions, their cause, effects and gradations in defining literary elements and roles in literary works of Bidi Setsoafia. Since textual efficacy rather than material quantification is the phenomenon under investigation, this qualitative study offers a pristine understanding that invective usages form the anchor of literary works, communicative competence and language proficiency. Three literary works of Setsoafia, ‘Fia Tsatsala’ ‘Togbui Kpeglo II’ and ‘Mede Ablotsidela’ were closely studied for their invective embellishments. The study observes invective usages as expressions about real life activities. It focuses on the concept of optimal performance that the usage of a language form (invectives) depends on and defines the performer’s(character) mindset, communicative setting and its components that welcome and support actions, and the reflections that unearth meanings in diversity. The study tends to argues that every action is a performance and a reflection of personality and society; revealing themes and totality of norms and behaviours. Here, every invective use is a performance engineered by a purposed mindset to identify and respond to invective dynamisms, interrogate invective causes, effects, themes, aesthetics and cautions earthed by characters. The study found invectives as unavoidable language forms controlling meaning, actions and life and invective competence is a critical aspect of language and culture, traditionally enshrined in moral education, entertainment, across disciplines, in literary works as well as in everyday life activities. Invective competence seems a mark of language proficiency and cultural competence and every native speaker seems to be groomed right from childhood to be conscious of invectives and to appropriately engage in performances involving them. However, invective usage is heavily frowned upon. Finally, the novelistic use of invectives define tropes, establishes the efficacy of language in influencing character, character roles and actions, themes, aesthetics among others in literature. The study hypothesizes that literary elements are controlled by invective mindsets and every form of advice, persuasion, praise, edification, entertainment, responsibility or literature depends on invectives. The findings further reveal ethnophaulism, dehumanisation, sex, stereotype, body parts, and humour are invectives usage fields in the texts. They also contribute to mark the categorisation and gradations of invectives for specific roles, effects, and interpretations. The study concludes that humans naturally refuse to accept truth and when expressions expose their weaknesses or threaten their status and emotions, they regard it as invectives. The study suggests that invectives should not be treated as language usages that violet one’s rights but as useful tools for correcting, reprimanding, teaching, commending, and making fun of people and situations.Item The Beauty of Insults amongst the Ewe People(Royallite Global, 2021-03-29) Dogbey, Emmanuel; Mbithi, Esther K.; Kpodo, Pascal; Maina, Oscar MachariaAmong the Ewes, insult is a mark of linguistic competence and culture consciouness. People receive praise for knowing how to insult. There are context appropriate insults and there are context inappropriate insults. The consideration of a particular utterance as an insult is dependent on the communicative situation. The medium through which insult as a verbal art is performed is varied and diverse among the Ewes and every native speaker is groomed right from childhood to appropriately engage in the performance of insult. This study conducts an aesthetic analysis of insults among the Ewes. The study draws data from four native speakers each from the Anlo, Tongu and Ʋedome dialect groups of Ewe. Data was collected through interviews, observations and native speaker intuitions. The study establishes that insult is not only a verbal art but also a verbal game that is played by the speakers, and that how well one can play this game marks the linguistic competence and cultural literacy of the speaker. The study also finds that literary devices such as simile, metaphor, exaggeration, synecdoche among others are employed in insult performances. Verbal and nonverbal acts including varied kinesics, silence, songs are media for the performance of insult amongst the Ewe people.Item Reordering For Prominence and Consequent Reconfiguration of the Mood Structure in Gikuyu Clauses(Journal of Languages, Linguistics and Literary Studies, 2025-03) Wakarindi, Peter MainaCertain communication situations may need emphasis on specific sentence elements. Speakers utilise their linguistic competence to choose from various emphatic structures for the need, structures resulting from reconstruction of the basic sentence. This reconstruction could be through reordering of clause elements through processes like: passivisation, cleft and pseudo-cleft structuring, topicalisation, and inversion of clause elements. This paper aimed at establishing the realization of these processes in Gĩkũyũ and their effects on the syntactic analysis of the mood structure in the clause as exchange analysis within Functional Grammar theory. The data for the paper was Gĩkũyũ clauses portraying the reordering processes. The paper adopted a descriptive research design, purposively sampling the clauses and their sources. The clauses were grouped under the various reordering processes and subjected to clause as exchange analysis, which was compared to that of their kernel sentences for the effect of the reordering on the mood structure. The reordering processes were found in Gĩkũyũ and the processes discovered to affect the mood structure of the kernel clauses, either in the reconfiguration of the structure or reconstitution of its elements. Some instances of passivisation were discovered to drop some mood elements like Complement, while the subject-complement inversion led to a Mood Residue inversion. The paper concludes that Gikuyu has resources enabling its users to strategically place specific elements for prominence as required by a given communication context. The findings significantly revealed the flexibility of Gikuyu clauses and the applicability of Systemic Functional Linguistics in analyzing Gikuyu emphatic clauses.Item Role of Local Water Institutions in Water Resources Management in Sanya-Kware Sub-catchment of the Pangani Basin,Tanzania(JOBARI, 2025) Mwakalila Esau S.; Muneeni Jeremiah MutukuThis study investigates the role of local water institutions in water resource management in the Sanya-Kware sub-catchment of the Pangani River Basin, Tanzania. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from a sample of 96 traditional furrow committee members representing 20 villages across highland, midland, and lowland zones. The research examines the contributions and limitations of traditional furrow committees and their interactions with newly established Water User Associations (WUAs). Results reveal that traditional institutions, deeply rooted in cultural norms, provide effective localized solutions for water allocation and conflict resolution. However, they face challenges such as limited adherence to Integrated Water ...Item Characterization and Presentation of Capitalist Environmental Destruction: A Critical Reading of Austin Bukenya’s A Hole in the Sky (2013) and Okiya Omtatah’s Voice of the People (2007)(EANSO, 2023-12) Edwin, Kiplangat; Chetambe, Mark; Mugo, MuhiaThis paper investigates how playwrights employ characterization to illuminate acts of capitalist environmental destruction in Austin Bukenya’s A Hole in the Sky (2013) and Okiya Omtatah’s Voice of the People (2007). The central idea is to examine the presentation of environmental destruction and the critical responses as dramatized through character articulation. The paper is premised on Ecofeminist and Eco-Marxist theoretical frameworks. The proponents of Ecofeminist theory are Karen J. Warren, Vandana Shiva, Greta Gaard, Carolyn Merchant and Ynestra King, whereas those of the Eco-Marxist framework are John Bellamy Foster, Herbert Marcuse and Paul Burkett. Ecofeminists argue that there is a close interrelation between women and nature. The theorization is that there is an interconnection between women and nature, particularly regarding their nurturing abilities, exploitation, and liberation. The paper contends that the twin-exploitation aspect of ecofeminism portrays acts of domination wrought by patriarchy and capitalism. Eco-Marxists expound on the exploitation aspect by linking ecological destruction to unbridled capitalism. The article uses qualitative methodology whereby the plays were purposively sampled and thematic analysis was done to examine the articulation of characters in depicting environmental destruction. The study establishes that playwrights have appropriately used their characters to illuminate environmental degradation. The depiction of characters as either conservationists or agents and orchestrators of environmental destruction helpItem Verbal Extensions in Sheng: An Examination of Variation in Form and Function(Linguistics Vanguard, 2024) Kariuki, Annah; Gibson, Hannah; Jelpke, Tom; Ochieng, Merceline; Poeta, TeresaThis paper investigates verbal extensions in Sheng, a youth language originating in Nairobi, Kenya. Sheng has received scholarly attention since the 1980s, primarily with a focus on its sociolinguistic traits. Our study aims to advance the linguistic description of Sheng and its morphosyntax by investigating verbal extensions in Sheng. Specifically, we look at the causative, applicative, reciprocal, and passive suffixes, as they are applied to coined and metathesized verbs and verbs which have their origins in Swahili, English, or Gikuyu. We present examples from speakers in Kibera and Umoja neighbourhoods of Nairobi. We find that, while many of the extensions can be applied to elicited verbs, such examples were often considered odd by speakers. In some cases, our consultants suggested alternative strategies, typically employing the use of periphrastic constructions or different verb forms. The use of verbal extensions sometimes resulted in changes in interpretation, requiring us to re-consider the function of these extensions in Sheng more broadly.Item Satirical Strategies Employed on NTV’s the Wicked Edition: A Comprehensive Analysis(IJRISS, 2024-03) Mugo, Rose Kendi; Mwai, Loise W.Comedy has long been appreciated as a powerful form of communication that not only entertains but also offers a platform for addressing serious societal challenges The language used in comedy, particularly in satirical comedy, is essential in implicitly conveying social commentary. The Wicked Edition show, is known for its use of satirical language to address societal issues indirectly. This study looks into the relationship between language, satire, and social criticism, with an emphasis on the satirical approaches used in the show. The study illuminates the purposeful and intended use of satire as a powerful tool for communication, entertainment, and social criticism by conducting a thorough investigation of verbal humor, irony, sarcasm, and hyperbole. The Wicked Edition show skillfully employs humorous strategies to communicate essential messages, engage the audience in thought-provoking conversations, and inspire reflection on societal expectations and behaviors. The show successfully analyzes sensitive topics such as politics, government policies, work ethics, and community responses to the Covid-19 pandemic through the use of irony, sarcasm, and hyperbole. Furthermore, this study delves into the socio-pragmatic aspects of the language style employed in The Wicked Edition show, emphasizing on the incorporation of both monologue and dialogue structures. By employing the General Theory of Verbal Humor (GTVH), this study seeks to analyze the implicit meanings conveyed through the comedian’s linguistic style.Item Question Typology in Kenyan TV Argumentative Talk Shows(Professional Discourse & Communication, 2024) Mwai, Loice W.; Maroko, Geoffrey M.; Orwenjo, Daniel O.; Ogutu, Emily A.The argumentative talk on radio and TV has become a popular feature of media discourse in Kenya. Question-answer sequences as the talk unfolds through the joint participation of co-participants in the talk have emerged as a means to put argumentative talk into effect. Yet, the nature of questions and their categorization remain little understood. Given the recursive nature of question-answer sequences, this paper investigates question typology that sets apart argumentative talk shows from other types of talk. The data consists of transcripts from two Kenyan TV argumentative talk shows: Checkpoint on KTN and Opinion Court on Citizen TV. A question classification scheme by Schirm [2008] was used to discuss the incidence and usage of questions in argumentative talk shows. Findings revealed that clashing, rhetorical, classic clarifying, and opinion-eliciting questions were the most frequently used types in the data sets. It was also noted that different question types served unique rhetorical purposes leading to the conclusion that argumentative talk shows on TV exhibit recursive interactional resources qualifying it as a genre.