3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions

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    Correlations between self-reported ethnicity and language with genetic clustering in Kenya
    (2024) Wolberg, Yonatan Ariel
    Kenya is a highly diverse country, where a combination of recent local migrations and admixture have contributed to a complex population structure. This structure creates a dilemma when trying to assess the allele frequencies of disease-associated variants within the country as different groups will show different frequencies. Additionally, ethnic groups in genetic studies are often defined on the basis of self-reported identity but certain individuals may align genetically to another ethnic group. It is necessary to properly characterize Kenyan diversity for population level risk estimation and the implementation of public health approaches. This study aimed to determine how self-reported ethnicity correlates to genetic clustering in a Kenyan cohort. The effect of the discordance between the two on the frequencies of key malaria- and trypanosomiasis-associated variants was then determined. This study leveraged Kenya AWIGen dataset, comprising 1,703 individuals (of the Kikuyu, Kamba, Luhya, Luo, Kisii and Somali ethnic groups) recruited in Nairobi. Combining a bootstrap approach for allele frequency estimation and centroid-based filtering, this study was able to show that small discordances are able to significantly impact allele frequencies of disease-associated variants. More robust approaches to compare genetic- and ethnicity-based clustering might reveal further differences. Overall, the results indicate that while self-reported identity can provide reasonably reliable categorization for the Kenyan dataset, inclusion of additional variables, such as language, geographic origin, and both parental and grandparental identity, might be necessary for more accurate estimates.
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    Towards a Kenyan legal and ethical framework on surrogacy
    (2015) Lumbasyo, Robai Ayieta
    Surrogacy motherhood, an arrangement involving one woman gestating a baby to be raised by another, is still a relatively ‘new’ technology in Kenya seeing as the first surrogate birth in Kenya happened in August 2007. Being a new technology therefore, the practice is still stifled in uncertainty thereby raising a complex web of legal and ethical issues. The fact that there is no legal and ethical framework to regulate surrogacy arrangements in Kenya, exposes the practice to corruption and other exploitative activities. Lapses and lacuna in the legal framework makes it hard to standardize the practice of surrogacy in Kenya, leaving the consumers of the service (technology) at the mercy of personal interpretation of the service providers. It is therefore essential that a legal and ethical framework is formulated to not only curb the rising incidences of exploitation but to also safeguard the interests of all parties involved. It is under this background that I intend to normatively assess the current practices of surrogacy in Kenya and make recommendations based on best practices internationally to guide the development of a legal and ethical framework on surrogacy in Kenya.
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    Religious affiliation and contraceptive use in Kenya.
    (2014-09-08) Abdulla, Saira
    Background Religion is widely known to affect the acceptance of modern contraception among people, thus affecting their reproductive behavioural outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. The significance of religion on the use of contraceptives has been currently neglected in SSA. Fertility transitions have been widely attributed to the increased use of contraceptives among women worldwide. Given that religion plays an important role in post-colonial Kenya, this study examined the differentials in contraceptive use by religious affiliation as well as the demographic and socio-economic factors that affect the use of contraceptives in Kenya. Methodology The study obtained data from the Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS, 2008-2009) that uses a national cross sectional study design. The study population was women of reproductive ages (15-49 years) who were sexually active and the sample size was 4, 207. This study made use of descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results Religious affiliation is a significant predictor of contraceptive use in Kenya. Muslims were 51% less likely to use modern methods of contraceptives compared to Christians. There was no significant difference in the use of contraceptives among Roman Catholics and Protestants. Demographic and socio-economic factors - specifically age, education, number of living children, fertility intention, wealth and marital status - were significantly associated with the use of modern methods of contraceptives. Conclusion Religious affiliation affects the use of contraceptives and plays a vital role in the reproductive behaviours of women in Kenya. The low levels of contraceptive use among Muslims are accounted for by their low socio-economic characteristics in addition to Islam’s pro-natal doctrine. The lack of contraceptive use differentials among Roman Catholics and Protestants is as a result of their similar socio-economic characteristics, regardless of Roman Catholics pro-natal doctrine. Thus, a frontier for further study is to examine how religious involvement affects contraceptive use in addition to religious affiliation.
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    Female genital cutting and sexual behaviour in Kenya and Nigeria.
    (2014-09-08) Mpofu, Sibonginkosi
    Context: This study seeks to examine the relationship between female genital cutting (FGC) and the sexual behavior of women in Kenya and Nigeria. Although research evidence has shown that female genital cutting is a serious problem in many countries and needs to be eradicated, prevalence in many countries remains high. One of the reasons given for the continuation of this harmful practice, despite widespread global campaigns against it, is that it is deemed an essential aspect of grooming the female child in preparation for marriage. It is supposed to control female sexuality thereby ensuring that a girl remains a virgin until marriage and it enhances her chances of marriage. Little research has been carried out to evaluate how far FGC tempers the sexual behavior of women. Methods: The study uses the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey of 2008/09 as well as the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey of 2008. The population being examined is sexually active women who knew about circumcision and were thus asked if they had been circumcised or not to which the response was either yes or no. The sample size for Kenya is 5 187 women while in Nigeria it is 12 253 women. The study hypothesis is that there is a difference in the sexual behaviour of women who are circumcised and those who are not circumcised. Multiple linear regression, logistic regression as well as Poisson regression were used examine the effect of selected predictor variables on sexual behaviour. The outcome variable is sexual behavior which was measured using age at first intercourse as well total lifetime number of sexual partners. Findings: The study results suggest that there is no association between female genital cutting and the sexual behaviour of women in Kenya and Nigeria. There was no difference in the age at which women first engage in sexual intercourse and in the number of sexual partners for women who were circumcised and those who were not. Thus there is no scientific evidence that the practice of FGC could control the sexual activities of women. Conclusions: Female genital cutting does not have any effect on the sexual behaviour of women in Kenya and Nigeria. There is no difference in the sexual behaviour of women who are circumcised and those who are not circumcised in both countries. This is an indication that FGC does not serve the purpose it is purported to serve and should therefore be eradicated.
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    Stock price reaction to earnings announcements: a comparative test of market efficiency between NSE securities exchange and JSE securities exchange
    (2013-08-22) Rono, Hilda Chepchumba
    This study examined stock market reaction to annual earnings announcements using the most recent data from the Nairobi Securities Exchange (Kenya) and JSE Securities exchange (South Africa). The period of study is 1 January 2005, to 31 December, 2011. Using the event study methodology, the magnitude of market reaction to the earnings announcements for a sample of 261 listed firms on NSE and JSE is tested. Abnormal returns (ARs) were computed for each firm and tested how announcements impact a firms’ share price. The results show positive and significant returns on the announcement month for JSE, whereas the returns for NSE are negative and significant on the second month after announcement. In our study, JSE and NSE observed mean CAR of (+1.64%) and (-1.8606) respectively, suggesting that earnings contain important information for the market. We find that there is no post earnings announcement drift observed over the next six months after the announcement. The results are consistent with the efficient market hypothesis, thus suggesting that the Johannesburg securities exchange and Nairobi securities exchange are informationally efficient to earnings announcements by the sample of listed firms. Furthermore, our results show NSE firms performed better than JSE firms during the economic boom and meltdown, whereas JSE firms observed a good performance during the economic recession compared to NSE firms.
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    Predicting intention to participate in mobile crowdsourcing initiatives : a study of local Kenyan communities
    (2013-02-22) Gatara, Maradona
    Crowdsourcing is the outsourcing of a job or task to a large group of individuals. Crowdsourcing has emerged from the concepts of Outsourcing, Open Source Software (OSS) Collaboration, Open Innovation, and User Innovation. While Crowdsourcing has provided an innovative way in which work can be outsourced to a large group of people, the advent of Mobile Telephony in Africa has provided a whole new dimension. This is the merging of the concepts of Crowdsourcing and Mobile Telephony, to form Mobile Crowdsourcing. Mobile Crowdsourcing has the potential to contribute significantly to the use of Information Technology (IT) in developing countries by providing a platform that would enable people such as those in peri-urban Kenyan communities, to utilise their mobile handsets to perform a set of mobile-based tasks. Payment for these tasks is made possible through mobile money platforms such as “M-Pesa”. Such innovation could provide a means for social empowerment for many of these unemployed technology users. This study sets forth to examine a set of factors that are likely to predict the “participation intention” of peri-urban Kenyan youths in Mobile Crowdsourcing. Motivational Theory, and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) form the core of the theoretical framework used for this study. The McKnight Model is used as a supporting theory, to examine “trusting beliefs”. In addition, the constructs “perceived credibility”, “social influence” and “community identification” are derived from prior studies that use Socio Cognitive Theory and an extended version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). These also play a supporting role. Using a survey instrument, data was collected from peri-urban youths in four peri-urban communities, and 279 usable responses were obtained for this study. Findings show that “self-development”, “integrity”, and “reputation” are the most significant predictors of “participation intention”. These three variables account for 17% of the variance in “participation intention”. Contrary to suggestions made in prior literature on Crowdsourcing, “monetary compensation” was not found to be a key motivator. This finding will no doubt spark future debate as to the role money plays in Crowdsourcing, especially in Africa. Additional findings show that “attitude” was found to be a strong mediator of the relationship between “technology anxiety” and “participation intention”. Moreover, “community identification” was found to be a full moderator of the relationship between “social influence” and “participation intention”. Findings made uncovered new insights about the perceptions and attitudes of mobile phone users in developing countries. Contributions made to theory and practice are also discussed.
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    The power and limits of social movements in promoting political and constitutional change: the case of the Ufungamano Initiative in Kenya (1999-2005)
    (2012-07-25) Mati, Jacob Mwathi
    The Kenyan political landscape has, since the 1990’s, been tumultuous and characterised by multiple political and social struggles centred on embedding a new constitutional order. This thesis is a qualitative case study of the Ufungamano Initiative, a powerful movement involved in these struggles between 1999 and 2005. Emerging in an environment of deep societal divisions and multiple sites of struggle, the Ufungamano Initiative is a remarkable story of how and why previously disjointed and disparate individuals and groups came together in a ‘movement of movements’ to become a critical contender in Kenyan constitutional reforms. The movement utilised direct citizens’ actions and was directly in competition with the Moi/KANU state for control of the Constitution Reform Process. This direct competition and challenge, posed a legitimacy crisis on the state led process forcing an autocratic and intolerant regime to capitulate and open up space for democratic engagement of citizens in the Constitution Reform Process. But the Ufungamano Initiative is also a story of the limits of social movements. While holding so much power and promise, movements are limited in their ability to effect fundamental changes in society. Even after substantial gains in challenging the state, the Ufungamano Initiative was vulnerable and agreed to enter a ‘coerced’ merger with the state-led process in 2001. The merger dissipated the Ufungamano Initiative’s energy. This study therefore speaks to the power and limits of social movements in effecting fundamental changes in society. Applying a socio-historical approach, the study locates the Ufungamano Initiative within the broader social, economic and political struggles to argue that contemporary constitutional reform struggles in Kenya were, in Polanyi’s (1944) terms, double movement type of societal counter-movements to protect itself from an avaricious economic and political elites. Engaging the political process model, this thesis analyses seventy in-depth interviews and secondary data to explain the dynamics in the rise, operations, achievements and decline of the Ufungamano Initiative as illustrative of how movements emerge, take on a life of their own and sometimes metamorphose into phenomenal forces of change, or just fizzle out.
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    A marriage of inconvenience: comparing the implementation of the Kenyan and Zimbabwean power sharing agreements
    (2012-07-20) Beardsworth, Nicole Anne
    The past two decades have seen the rise of power sharing agreements as a means to end protracted civil wars. Following from the perceived success of these agreements, power sharing has become an important tool in the mediator’s arsenal and has increasingly been advocated in periods of democratic deadlock and civil strife following highly-contested elections. The viability of this model has rarely been questioned. This study will undertake a deep analysis of the success or failure of the power sharing agreements undertaken in Kenya and Zimbabwe in 2008 following the outbreak of violence in both countries. It will explain the different results seen in these two cases through an examination of the agreements, the roles played by regional and international actors as well as through an analysis of the influence of local political culture and inter-elite relations. The relative success of the Kenyan agreement can be attributed to a culture of cooperation amongst the elite alongside consistent and concerted pressure exerted by the mediation team and international actors. In contrast, the Zimbabwean government of national unity has hobbled along and little progress has been made to implement the agreement. This can largely be attributed to a badly drafted document which allowed for an inequitable distribution of power, the obduracy of the ZANU-PF elite and the unwillingness of the agreement guarantors to place sufficient pressure on the parties for reform. In a context where inter-elite relations are characterised by opposition and intransigence, the framing of the document and the actions of enforcer parties become particularly important. Due to the political cultures in both countries, it is unlikely that the power sharing agreements will have produced significant gains for democracy or have reformed the prevailing culture of impunity. This report concludes that in spite of the problems with the power sharing model, there are currently few alternatives to help mend torn societies. In order to overcome the problems that have been highlighted within this report, it is necessary for mediators to undertake innovative and reflexive strategies to ensure the full implementation of future agreements.
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    Economic cooperation in Kenyan credit cooperatives: exploring the role of social capital and institutions
    (2012-01-18) Muthuma, Elizabeth Wangui
    Credit cooperatives make a significant economic and social contribution to development in Kenya. They are unique financial institutions that are jointly owned and democratically controlled by their members. This study explores how members of Kenyan credit cooperatives achieve economic cooperation. A sociological basis of cooperation exists because cooperatives are voluntary associations. Economic cooperation was thus conceptualised as collective economic action that enables individual actors to secure economic benefits through associational membership. An economic sociology perspective provided the theoretical basis for combining the analysis of economic interests and social relations. The study employed a qualitative case study research design involving a rural and an urban credit cooperative. Social capital was used to explore the role of associational features in facilitating collective action while the concept of institutions was used to examine how institutions organize and shape collective action. Each cooperative was conceptualised as a microstructure to enable an analysis of group relations. An analysis of the economic and socio-political context provided the contextual basis for economic cooperation. The findings suggest that shared values and solidarity bonds are important in creating collective economic resources while maintenance of the collective resources depends on regular reciprocity exchanges, effective enforcement and transparent representation. A new regulatory framework that emphasizes prudential standards and economic efficiency has redefined the incentive structure for Kenyan credit cooperatives. It is likely to favour a business rather than a social welfare mentality in the cooperatives. The socio-political context reveals persistent vertical linkages that have resulted in low political and economic power for rural smallholder farmers compared to urban public sector employees. The study concludes that although credit cooperatives have acted as financial catalysts by enabling the participation of disadvantaged groups in the economic sphere, they are also societal mirrors that reflect the broader income and gender inequalities existing in society. The recognition of cooperatives as economic and social organizations therefore contributes to a better understanding of how cooperatives work.
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    Narrative as a process of re-negotiating ethnic identities among Abanyole of Western Kenya
    (2011-06-23) Kweya, Dishon, G
    Whereas there is an accumulation of a large body of research in oral literature, it is mostly confined to what is considered as the “fabula” and “folk wisdom” (tsingano) genres. Such understanding of genre eschews oral history because it is designated as a “factual” genre and ceded to historians. Using material collected ethnographically among the Abanyole of Western Kenya, this study combines historical and literary methods to investigate the Nyole expression of ethnic identity through the oral historical narrative. The study shifts attention from the perceived mutual exclusiveness of factual and fictional genres by focusing on the processes of the constitution and narration, and the purpose of narration of akakhale (the past) by the Nyole to cast light on the methods of fashioning the Nyole historical and social imagination. Thus, the study suggests alternative methods of reading the oral historical narrative by highlighting the discursive processes and the predominance of language use in the production the texts of the Nyole past. Taking the notion of the past as the storehouse of a people’s idea of origin and ethnic identity as the point of departure, the study investigates how Abanyole talk about their ethnic identity. In the process the study shifts attention from the external dimensions, which have predominated discourses on ethnicity, to the internal processes or the intra-community dimensions of ethnicity. The thesis demonstrates that narration of the Nyole past is not meant to reproduce kernels of truth-as-it-was; the purpose which the narration process is deployed to serve, and the meaning of the narrative is unveiled by interrogating the Nyole social and historical contexts, and the dynamics of the immediate context of narration which include the narrator’s conscious selection in the process of integration of what should constitute the ideal community history. Hence, the thesis underscores the implications of the exclusive Nyole social structure, the uncertainty produced by population explosion and scarcity of land, the interpretation of the objective of ethnographer, the need to represent the past in an acceptable and non-threatening manner; and oral history as narrative to highlight how textuality and performativity are deployed to deal with issues of legitimacy and the desire to have a more inclusive definition of being Nyole. The thesis appropriates narrative as a socially symbolic act as a model to explicate the multiplicity and contradiction in the Nyole narrative of origin, and the uncertainty in the conception of belonging to the Nyole sub-group of the Luhya ethnic nation.
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