Conferences/ Seminars/Workshops /Journal (JESAR)

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    PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST WORKSHOP ON Writing of Competitive Research Proposals Held on 24 June, 2011 At Chuka University College
    (Chuka University, 2011) Chuka University
    Introduction and Background Earlier observations show deficiencies in proposal writing skills among Academic Staff and Research Scientists that limit their ability to: Compete for competitive grants; Conduct quality research; and Guide graduate students. Poor scientific and technical writing skills limit contribution to advancement in science and knowledge. Poor written communication skills impair visibility of NARIs Research for Development (R4D) in development and policy arena. The quality of the proposals is generally weak in the region. For instance, the International Foundation for Science (IFS) recognizes that proposals from Africa are very weak compared to those from other regions e.g. Asia. Therefore there is an urgent need to strengthen proposal and scientific writing skills in academic institutions/NARS to improve quality of research proposals and to pass these skills to others, particularly graduate students and young scientists. The lecturers in Chuka University College have great ideas for research. The question is, how are we going to pay for it? The immediate answer is that we have to write a good research proposal, which refers to “A formal, written document that describes scientific goals and research plan/methodology for soliciting the necessary resources from a funding agency”. Remember, your proposal will be just one among many worthy proposals, and these days the sum of resources requested collectively often exceeds the resources actually available by up to ten fold. Therefore for us to succeed, we must write a research proposal that will in some way standout and succeed in a very crowded and competitive funding environment. Writing such a proposal requires a great deal of thought and hard work targeting mostly technical and discipline specific issues. The starting premise of this one day workshop is that many non-technical shortcomings should be mitigated. The odds for our proposals will be improved if we plan and write our proposal with an understanding of who and how our proposal will be evaluated.
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    Journal of Environmental Sustainability Advancement Research Vol. 2, 2016
    (Chuka University, 2016) Chuka University
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    Journal of Environmental Sustainability Advancement Research (JESAR), Vol. 6, 2020
    (Chuka University, 2020) ; chuka university; Isutsa,Dorcas
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    TRIPLE EXPONENTIAL SMOOTHING TECHNIQUES: APPLICATION TO KENYA’S INDUSTRIAL INPUTS PRICE INDEX
    (Chuka University, 2021) Koech, Emmanuel K.; Wagala, Adolphus; Muriithi, Dennis K.
    A move towards industrialization is an active ingredient in achieving sustainable economic development owing to the derived benefits of the creation of employment opportunities and enhanced international trade. Through its big four agenda launched on December 12, 2017, Kenya aims to foster the manufacturing sector. One of the industrial- agenda is reducing the costs of industrial inputs. Thus, an accurate predictive model that can be used to gauge the cost of manufacturing inputs ought to be developed. The current study compared the pertinence of two Holt-Winter Exponential Smoothing (HWES) techniques in forecasting Kenya's industrial inputs price data. Unlike simple moving average, where past values are weighted equally, exponential functions assign exponentially decaying weights, over time. The study used secondary data on Kenya's monthly industrial inputs price index from January 1980 to June 2018 extracted from the OECD website. The data had 450 observations and was analyzed using R software. The findings indicated that a hybrid of both the additive and multiplicative HWES model efficiently captures the nonlinearity or seasonality of industrial inputs price index series. Specifically, the “optimal” model was a specification of the multiplicative error, additive trend, and multiplicative seasonality (“MAM”) with a performance accuracy of 2.3% in terms Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) in making 24 months step-ahead forecasts. The model outperformed the purely additive (2.44%) or multiplicative HWES model (2.55%). The estimated smoothing of alpha, beta and gamma were; 0.9647, 0.1378, and 0.0004, respectively. The prediction future prices movement is beneficial to producers, consumers and policymakers. The 24-period forecast of the industrial inputs the price index indicates a falling trend, and indication that the industrial agenda shows some prospects in the reduction of the cost of inputs
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    EDUCATION AND TRAINING REVITALIZATION INNOVATIONS INFLUENCE OF STUDENTS SELF-CONCEPT ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MERU SOUTH SUB-COUNTY, KENYA
    (CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2021) Rugendo, Kithinji; Wanja, Njagi; Nelson, Jagero
    Mathematics has become the backbone for prosperity in almost all field of Life. Secondary school mathematics education lays a strong foundation for all types of learning at the secondary school level and more so at higher levels of learning. Thus, mathematics is a prerequisite for better achievement at higher stage. Developing individuals with strong self-concept do contribute significantly to their performance. Studies on self-concept and their impacts on academic performance have predominantly focused on teachers’ specific instructional methods. Students believe knowing mathematics is about remembering and applying certain rules correctively in a problem and that the only correct answer is the one given by the teacher. Most research into factors that influence academic performance mainly focus on cognitive domains but less on affective domains of learning. Students Self-concept has been linked to academic achievement, social adjustment, healthy behaviour and positive employment outcomes. Thus, there is comparatively little self-concepts research examining influence of students’ self- concept construct (academic effort, family background, students’ perception and number of contact hours of the teacher) on academic performance. The researcher used a quantitative approach using correlational design was utilized. Constructs of self-concept were hypothesized to influence academic performance. This design allows the understanding of important phenomena through the identification of relationship among variables. Simple random sampling was carried out in select Coeducational schools. The study population was all Form two students in Kitui County. The sample size was 277 Form two students in Meru South Sub- County, Kenya. The instrument for data collection was self-description questionnaire. Students completed self-concepts scales and the data was recorded. Students’ average marks were collected and then analyzed to observe whether there was a trend between high self-concept and higher academic performance. Quantitative data collected was analyzed using mean, standard deviation, a one way ANOVA with the help of Statistical Package of Social Scientists (SPSS) version 22.0. Cronbach alpha was used to test reliability of the research instrument. The reliability was found to be 0.84. The study revealed a strong relationship between students self – concept and academic performance. On students effort and students family background, girls recorded higher variability on interest in learning, Self-concept is perceived positively by students; however this does not affect directly students’ mathematical performance but does so when students put less efforts in solving problem on what has been taught to them previously. The researcher recommends that teachers and all stakeholders should take it as their responsibility to develop students’ positive self-concept when interacting with them. Keywords: Effect, Self-concept, academic performance, student perception, family background, contact hours
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    ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AMONG RICE MILL WORKERS IN CENTRAL KENYA (MWEA)
    (Chuka University, 2021) Njue, Richard Mwaniki
    Rice milling involves removal of the husk and bran layer, a process which causes emission of inorganic dust and synthetic chemicals that have adverse effects on respiratory health, eyes and skin of exposed workers. Further, rice husk is known to have high silica content which may cause pulmonary disease resembling asbestosis and possibly bronchogenic carcinoma. It is estimated that most workers spend a third of their time at work hence the need for positive occupational risk perception through awareness which has a significant impact on safe behaviour at work. This study assessed the level of awareness on occupational safety and health among rice mill workers in central Kenya (Mwea). Four out of the seven large scale mills were selected at random for the purpose of this study. The study population was 400 and the sample size was 196. Cross sectional survey study design was adopted and structured questionnaires were administered. The level of training (21%) and knowledge (24%) of safety and health at workplace was low. The supervisors’ awareness was also low (33%) across the sampled mills. The respondents’ perception of the positive safety climate was (53%) disagree while the managers’ measure of importance of health and safety in the workplace on a scale of 1 to 10 was at an average of 4.5. There was no significant association between safety awareness and age (p=0.919) and the cross tabulation between level of education and safety awareness was p=0.98. None of the selected mills had registered their premises as a workplace or formed safety and health committee. The study concluded that the level of awareness on safety and health was low among the workers and occupiers of the workplaces in the selected rice mills. The government should deal with the abysmal registration of workplaces for improved level of awareness, workers enlightenment of legal rights and reduced workplace hazards, injuries and accidents.
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    EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF Tithoniadiversifolia AND Kigeliaafricana AGAINST TOMATO FUSARIUM WILT PATHOGEN (FusariumoxysporumLycopersci)
    (Chuka University, 2021) Awere, C. A.; Githae, E. W.; Gichumbi, J. M.
    Fusarium wilt disease caused by the soil-borne fungusFusariumoxysporum Schlechttheisaserious threat to tomato production worldwide. Chemical and cultural methods of management used are either ineffective or toxic to the environment. Plant secondary metabolites; therefore, pose a possible alternative because they are environmentally friendly and have minimal effect on non-target organisms. This study screened phytochemical compounds of two plants; Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray and Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth and assessed their potency in controlling plant fungal pathogen F. oxysporum, a causal agent of Fusarium wilt disease in tomatoes. Leaf extractsof T. diversifolia and fruit extract of K. africana were concentrated in water and screened for phytochemical contents using standard procedures. Concentrations used were25g/L,50g/Land100g/Ltosockthedisc. Fusarium oxysporum was isolated from infected soil using potato dextrose media, Antifungal activity was evaluated by measuring the zone of inhibition against the test organism. The results showed that the mean inhibitory zones were highest at 100g/l in both plants, although K. africana fruit extract portrayed the highest inhibitoryactivity compared to Tithonia africana. The effect of the plant extracts and the negative control was statistically significant (p<0.05). This study indicates that K. africana and T. diversifolia possess the antifungal activity and can be used as a broad- spectrum fungicide against F. oxysporum. These plant extracts may provide an effective measure for the management of Fusarium wilt of tomatoes that may form an integral part of integrated management and it also has prospect as an alternative to reliance only on fungicides.
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    EFFECTIVENESS OF THE METHODS USED BY ANGLICAN CHURCH OF KENYA IN ALLEVIATING POVERTY IN CHOGORIA ARCHDEACONRY, MERU DIOCESE
    (Chuka University, 2021) Kaimuru, F.; Kagema, Dickson N.; Kithinji, Caroline M.
    Poverty continues to be the main challenge of human existence in many parts of the world. In Africa it is the main source of agony among individuals and communities. In Kenya it continues to influence people’s lives negatively as the majority lacks the basic essentials including food, clothing, shelter, education and healthcare. In Chogoria Archdeaconry, poverty has continued to affect people, who continue to struggle for survival. In response to this, the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), has endeavored to fight the scourge as part of her mission to the society. This study examined the effectiveness of the methods used by ACK to alleviate poverty. The ACK has been involved in the fight against poverty in Chogoria Archdeaconry using various methods since it was incepted in 1974. The study investigated reasons for the persistence of poverty; determined the effectiveness of methods used; and established ways of making the methods more effective. The study will benefit researchers in future by adding to the existing knowledge in the field of religion and development. It will help the church leaders get the real picture of the community they serve; the church to realize the reasons why poverty persist in spite of efforts to alleviate it; and establish ways of making the methods more effective. The study was guided by the broad theory of psycho-social approach that emphasize that development should be seen as an improvement of quality of life of an individual, community and country. The study was conducted in Chogoria Archdeaconry, Maara Sub-County in Tharaka Nithi County that has a population of 107,125 people and 8 parishes with a population of 712 followers, 8 priests, 30 Archdeaconry leaders and 674 Christians. Data was collected from a sample size of 384 respondents. The study used descriptive research design and the sampling method used was simple random sampling for community members and purposive sampling technique for church members and archdeaconry leaders. The instruments for data collection were questionnaires, interviews and observation. Data was analyzed and findings presented using descriptive statistics. The study found that there are various reasons for persistent of poverty in Chogoria Archdeaconry which includes: wealth acquisition rather than quality of life, leadership prospecting and corruption, gap between the rich and the poor, unequal distribution of resources, agricultural condition, lack of education, unemployment, dependency, laziness and drunkenness. The methods used to alleviate poverty included: education, establishment of ADS, capacity building, CCMP and microfinance. It further revealed that some of the methods used by ACK to alleviate poverty are not effective and that all methods need to be improved so as to alleviate poverty in Chogoria Archdeaconry.
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    SELECTION OF OPTIMAL FEATURES IN STATISTICAL MODELLING
    (Chuka University, 2021) Gachoki, P. K.; Njoroge, G. G.; Muraya, M. M.
    In statistical modelling, selection of optimal features entails making a selection of relevant predictor variables to be used in development of statistical models. Most modelling studies have focused on construction of statistical models skipping out or failing to put on record the process of selection of best features which is an integral part of statistical modeling. This failure might lead to use of duplicated features, features that are less relevant or other that have low variance in addition to random features which could result to poor performing prediction models. This study seeks to discuss how feature selection can be done as a pre-requisite for statistical modeling. Some of the methods used in selection of best features include; forward selection, backward elimination, recursive elimination, entropy selection, variance threshold elimination, chi-square statistics, tree based selection, feature importance and correlation matrix with heat maps. This study is vital to researchers building statistical models since use of optimal features in statistical modeling would lead to high performing statistical models.
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    DISSEMINATING AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE PLACE OF KISWAHILI AND OTHER INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES IN KENYA’S RURAL COMMUNITIES
    (Chuka University, 2021) Kevogo, Stanley Adika; Kevogo, Alex Umbima
    The significance of research to any endeavour aimed at the realisation of the aspirations of Kenya's Vision 2030 cannot be gainsaid. It goes without saying that in order to generate and disseminate significant knowledge that contributes to national as well as global development, the language employed in communication is very critical. At present, most scientific research is conducted and reported almost entirely in English laced with scientific terminology. This state of affairs speaks to the need to present such findings in a language and form that benefits the nation at large. Consequently, the present paper, seeks to interrogate the nexus between language choice and the uptake of agricultural innovations and technology by rural farming communities who rely almost entirely on either Kiswahili or vernacular languages. It argues that given the present status of Kiswahili as an official as well as national language, scientific research and innovations can easily reach the rural farmer in a language they understand and identify with. It is suggested that there is an urgent need to modernise Kiswahili as well as local community languages in order to disseminate such scientific and technical innovations through them. The paper will contribute insights in the fields of terminology and scientific discourse in Kiswahili and other African languages.
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    EFFECTS OF EARTHING UP AND PRUNING SYSTEMS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum)
    (Chuka University, 2021) Keter, I. K.; Oloo-Abucheli, G.; Muraya, M.
    Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important crop cultivated and consumed worldwide. It provides wide variety of nutrients with many health-related benefits like, protection against cancer, maintains blood pressure and reduces blood glucose level in people with diabetes. Despite the importance of tomato, its growth and yield is limited by choice of cultural practices mainly earthing up and pruning system. There is also limited knowledge on the effect of integrating pruning and earthing up on tomato growth and yield. This study investigated the effect of integration of pruning and earthing up on the growth and yield of tomato. A split-plot experimental design, arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design, with three replications was used. The study investigated two factors i.e. pruning system in the main plot (single stem, double stem, and triple stem) and earthing up in sub-plots. (0 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, and 30 cm. The findings of the study revealed that earthing up and pruning system had a significant (p ˂0.05) effect on plant height and stem girth diameter at 45, 52, and 59 days after transplanting. The single stem pruning system and earthing up to 30 cm gave the tallest plant height with an average plant height of 69.80 cm in cultivation 1 and 71.50 cm in cultivation 2. Single stem pruning system and earthing up to 30 cm gave the largest stem girth diameter with mean stem girth diameter of 2.16 cm in cultivation 1 and 2.25 cm in cultivation 2. Triple stem pruning system, earthing up to 30 cm had highest marketable fruits with 64500 fruits/hectare in cultivation 1 and 64333 fruits/hectare in cultivation 2. To improve tomato growth and development which consequently improves marketable yields, farmers are encouraged to consider triple stem pruning system with earthing up to level 30 cm.
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    A NOTE ON THE BASIC REPRODUCTION NUMBER: NOVEL CORONA VIRUS (2019-nCOV)
    (Chuka University, 2021) Ochwach, Jimrise O.; Okongo, Mark O.; Muraya, Moses
    The basic reproductive number, R 0, is the expected number of secondary infections produced by a single individual during his or her entire infectious period, in a completely susceptible population. This concept is fundamental to the study of epidemiology and within-host pathogen dynamics. It is often used as a threshold parameter that can predicts whether an infection will spread or not. Since the outbreak of 2019 novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan and other cities of China the growth and spread of this disease is of a growing global concern. Many studies have been carried out and are continued to be carried to model the spread and subsequent control of the disease. In this paper, we give a brief overview of common methods of formulating R 0 from deterministic, non-structured models. Finally, we survey the recent use of R 0 in assessing the spread of novel corona virus
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    PERCEIVED EFFECTS OF INTEGRATED RURAL TOURISM PLANNING ON COMMUNITIES’ REVENUES AND RESOURCES VITALITY IN MAKUENI COUNTY, KENYA
    (Chuka university, 2021) Nzomo, ST; Muriuki, LM,; Omollo, Jw,
    Rural Tourism is regarded as a key economic activity and a conservation tool for rural tourism resources in many developing countries. In Kenya, tourism is concentrated in urban and coastal regions while marginalizing rural destinations with potentials for tourism product development. Failure to involve communities, lack of sectoral coordination as well as in appropriate destination conservation approaches in rural areas such as Makueni impedes tourism economic benefits. Developing an integrated rural tourism development plan is likely to enhance equity in revenue sharing and future resources vitality for the marginalized local communities. This research aimed to investigate the perceived effect of integrated rural tourism planning on communities’ Revenues and resources vitality in Makueni County. The objective of the study is to determine the perceived effect of integrated rural tourism planning on communities’ revenues and resources vitality in Makueni County. This study used descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The target population size was 182,000 residents and a representative sample of 385 respondents. Purposive sampling was used to identify the study sites while stratified random sampling was used to pick the respondents. Primary data was acquired through the use of questionnaires which were administered to the host community and the tourism developers in the selected sub- Counties. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. Categorical and logistic regression analysis was carried out for all the objectives and significant levels were sought at p ≤ 0.05. The results indicated that Minimizing the misuse of resources (p = 0.01) and consensus on prioritizing beneficiaries (p = 0.04) emerged as the most appropriate ways of achieving equity in revenues Sharing. Building environmental awareness (p< 0.01), respecting local cultures (p< 0.01), niche marketing (p = 0.01) and implementation of the code of conduct (p< 0.01) were identified as the most appropriate conservation measures of enhancing resources vitality in Makueni County. This indicates that integrated rural tourism planning has a positive implication towards achievement of equity in revenues sharing and enhancement of resources vitality in the County. The study recommends that integrated rural tourism planning should involve coordination of various sectors which will enhance equal representation of all the stakeholders in planning and decision making process and hence contribute to equity in revenue sharing. Destination managers ought to lie out emphasis on sustainable use of the available rural tourism resources through building environmental awareness, respecting local cultures, creation of appropriate, niche marketing and implementation of code of conduct in the protected areas of Makueni County.
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    INFLUENCE OF TEACHERS INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES IN HANDLING LEARNERS WITH DIVERSE NEEDS ON LEARNING AMONG PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN KIAMBU WEST SUB COUNTY, KENYA
    (CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2021) Wanjiku, Kang’ara; Koech, Peter
    Learning of preschool children continues to face numerous challenges where learners have registered and continued to register dismal grades in basic numeracy, language and creativity skills. Thus, the study examined the influence of teachers’ instructional practices in handling learners with diverse needs in Kiambu County, Kenya. The objective, of the study was to investigate the influence of teachers’ instructional practices in handling learners with diverse needs. The study adopted mixed methods approach, concurrent triangulation design. Target population comprised of 80 head teachers, 187 preschool teachers and 240 parents’ representatives and 2400 preschool learners all totaling to 2907. Stratified sampling was applied to create five strata based on number of zones. From each zone, two head teachers and 11 preschool teachers were selected using purposive sampling. 4 parents’ representatives and 48 preschool learners were selected using simple random sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect data from preschool teachers and interview schedules were used to collect data from head teachers. Focus group discussion was used to collect data from parents’ representatives and observation checklists were used for collection of data from preschool learners. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically along the objectives and presented in narrative form whereas quantitative data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially using statistical package for social science (SPSS 23) and presented using statistical tables. The study established that preschool teachers with positive attitudes, interests and trained enhance learning in preschools. The study established that preschool teachers who doesn’t engage learners in collaborative activities such as, mixed ability grouping, play, peer teaching, remedial work ,provision of favorable learning environment and engaging parents do not enhance preschool learners’ language skills, numeracy skills and learners’ acquisition of creativity skills. The study recommends that teachers should understand the effectiveness of positive attitudes, interests and training in harnessing learners’ academic, disciplinary and behavioral skills. Keywords: Learners with Diverse needs, instructional practices, Literacy, Numeracy, literacy, creativity
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    PERCEIVED CAUSES OF STUDENTS’ LOW ENROLMENT IN PHYSICS IN CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MERU SOUTH SUBCOUNTY, KENYA
    (CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2021) Uside, Otiende
    Physics is an important science domain that enables learners to develop analytical skills neccessary for problem solving in technical fields. Physics content is relevant to all learners irrespective of the careers in which they become established since it provides information and skills that propel ingenuity. However there is a global decline in enrolment and graduation rate in Physics at all levels. This study sought to establish the causes of low students’ enrolment in Physics in secondary schools in Meru south subcounty. The objective of the study was to establish students’ and teachers’ perceptions on causes of low students’ enrolment in Physics. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample consisted of 10 co-educational day secondary schools obtained through simple random sampling. The research instruments consisted of two questionnaires (A and B). The questionnaires consisted of 15 items on selected factors that could likely cause students’ low enrolment and students / teachers perceptions on the state of students’ enrolment rated on a likert scale. The pearson product moment coefficient was performed to ascertain the reliability of the questionnaire. A reliability of 0.74 was obtained and the questionnaires adapted. Collected data was analysed using SPSS software version 22. Descriptive statistics and Correlation analysis (pearson product moment correlation coefficient) were used to establish the nature and magnitude of association between study variables. Correlation test was done at 0.05 level of significance. The study established that some topics in the form two syllabus were too abstract to the students while teachers expressed difficulty in explaining certain concepts. The study revealed a strong positive correlation between school factors and students’ enrolment in Physics. The study recommended training more female teachers in the field of science and inservicing of teachers on the absract topics was recommended. Further, complex topics in form two to be moved to the form three syllabus to allow learners to mature. Keywords: Physics, Students enrolment, Coeducational school, Perception.