Doctor of Philosophy Theses and Dissertations (PHD)

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://repository.chuka.ac.ke/handle/123456789/141

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 91

A critical analysis of the discourse during the Impeachment of the second deputy president of Kenya
(Chuka University, 2025) Wambugu, Rose W.
This study sought to determine the impoliteness strategies applied by senators during the impeachment proceedings of the second Deputy President of Kenya in the senate. The research objectives were: to investigate the impoliteness strategies used by senators during the second Deputy President's impeachment motion in the senate;to analyse the communicative goals the senators aimed to achieve by employing impoliteness strategies during the impeachment motion of the second Deputy President of Kenya and to examine how senators strategically constructed impolite utterances for optimal relevance in conveying their communicative intentions. Data analysis employed two theories: Culpeper (1996) theory of impoliteness to respond to objective one and two and Sperber and Wilson (1995) Relevance theory to address the third objective. The data for the analysis was sourced from The Hansard Kenya between 16th and 17th October 2024, where one hundred and fifty nine excerpts with impolite remarks made by senators were purposively sampled for examination. The researcher identified impolite utterances based on the indicators of various impoliteness strategies as highlighted in Culpeper (1996) theory of impoliteness. Statements articulated by attorneys during the motions were excluded from this analysis. The data was analysed qualitatively. Three Guiding cards facilitated the data analysis procedure: the first guiding card was used to identify and categorise the types of impoliteness strategies utilized by senators, the second guiding card was utilized to do a content analysis of the communicative goals aimed to be achieved by the impoliteness strategies while the third guiding card was used to analyze the interplay between the strategic impolite utterance, the cognitive effect and the processing rate as discussed by Sperber and Wilson (1995) Relevance theory. The findinds of the study revealed that the senators used bald-on-record, negative, withholding and positive impoliteness strategies. The senators’ deployment of impoliteness strategies was intended to assert dominance, discredit the opponents, strengthen political alignment and strengthen social alignment. The senators used strategies such as proverbs, Bible verses and metaphors to craft the impolite utterances so as to achieve optimal relevance in conveying their communicative intentions. This study is significant for understanding how language shapes democratic processes and it is urgent due to the rising incivility in Kenyan parliamentary discourse. The research advances the domains of pragmatic and discourse analysis.
Ab initio defect engineering and green synthesis of ca-mg Codoped titania and zirconia for photocatalytic Applications
(Chuka University, 2025-10) Mbae, Jane Kathure
The growing demand for long-term solutions to environmental pollution and energy concerns has sparked interest in photocatalysts that work efficiently in visible light. In particular, TiO2 and ZrO2 photocatalysts have shown great potential in photocatalytic degradation and disinfection applications. However, traditional TiO2 and ZrO2photocatalysts feature metastable phases that are better photocatalysts, large bandgaps, low solar energy utilization, and rapid charge carrier recombination, limiting their usefulness. This study addresses these limitations by investigating Ca-Mg codoping as a defect engineering strategy for improving the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 and ZrO2. The primary objectives were to determine the phase stability of Ca-Mg codoped TiO2 and ZrO2 polymorphs using Density Functional Theory (DFT), to evaluate the effects of oxygen vacancies on their electronic structures, to establish optimal dopant concentrations for visible light activation, to green synthesize and characterize the predicted visible-active materials, to assess photocatalytic activity via Rhodamine B degradation under visible light and to evaluate antibacterial performance against E. coli and S. aureus. In this study, a combined ab initio and experimental approach was undertaken. Density Functional Theory (DFT) method was used to simulate the codoped polymorphs at different doping levels. Optimal codoped systems found suitable for visible light photocatalysis were green synthesized and characterized using XRD, ICP-MS and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The photocatalytic properties of the synthesized materials were evaluated by degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light and the disinfection capability was tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria strains. The results yielded reasonable agreement between experimental and theoretical results, as well as a better understanding of the system. DFT results showed that Ca-Mg codoping stabilizes the anatase phase in TiO2 by increasing the c/a ratio and induces tetragonalization in monoclinic ZrO2 through lattice distortions and oxygen vacancy formation. Defective oxygen vacancy Localized mid-gap states were discovered in Ca-Mg codoped TiO2 and ZrO2 systems. These states served as trapping sites for the photogenerated charge carriers and significantly decreased the energy band, improving visible light absorption. Experimentally, the green synthesized codoped materials revealed smaller crystallite sizes (5.567 nm for TiO2 and 8.647 nm for ZrO2) and narrower bandgaps (1.92 eV and 2.4 eV, for TiO2 and ZrO2 respectively). Codoped TiO2 degraded 99.3% of Rhodamine B in 120 minutes and completely inactivated S. aureus under visible light in 60 minutes. RhB degradation % for 5 cycles of codoped TiO2 and ZrO2 nanoparticles have remarkable stability and reusability, which is the key reason for their widespread use in photocatalytic degradation of dyes. Based on these findings, Ca-Mg codoping is recommended as an economical, non-toxic and effective strategy for tuning the structural and electronic properties of TiO2 and ZrO2 to enhance visible-light photocatalysis. Future work should focus on advancing the green synthesis technique and testing against a larger spectrum of contaminants and microbial strains to further establish its environmental application.
Accounting for Post-Verbal Affixes on the Kĩmwĩmbĩ Verb
(Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2016) Kĩnyua,AnnHidah and Mũriũngi, Peter
Bantu languages are known to cluster affixes on the verb root, some before the root and others after the verb root. Each of these affixes carries some meaning that contributes to the final meaning of the verb. This raises the question as to whether there are any principles that guide these combinations, and whether these affixes occur in any particular order. This paper is an account of all the suffixes that may occur on the Kĩmwĩmbĩ verb, as well as the order in which they occur, starting with the plugs that are idiomatic with the root and on outwards to the affix that occurs farthest from the root. The semantic import of these morphemes has also been dwelt upon as most of them are valency-changing. The paper also presents the variations in their occurrences, the associated phonological and syntactic processes as well as the constraints surrounding their occurrences. The population for the study was all Kĩmwĩmbĩ verbs containing post- verbal affixes and data for the study was obtained from respondents from Tharaka-Nithi sub-county, Kenya, who are competent speakers of Kĩmwĩmbĩ and who were purposively sampled. The instrument of data collection was a structure generation exercise based on Kĩmwĩmbĩ verbs. Data was also gathered using introspective reports. Researcher-generated structures were also instrumental in informing the analysis. This being a qualitative and descriptive study, data was analyzed in terms of words, phrases and sentences and rules were developed and discussed to account for the affix manifestation on the verbs. The data has been presented in the light of the Principles and Parameters theory. The results demonstrate that suffix occurrence on the agglutinated verb is orderly relative to the first affix to occur after the root. This study contributes new data for the continuing analysis of Kĩmwĩmbĩ, a language that is yet to be fully analyzed. It also contributes to the linguistic theory by advancing knowledge on the morphology of Bantu verbs and the typology of African languages
Ad-Theatre Techniques: Motifs of Orality and Popular Culture in Kenya’s Radio
(Chuka University, 2019-09) Njogu, Jackson Gikunda
This is a study of theatre by its persuasive function in commercial contexts. Specifically the study is a critique of the influences of orality and popular culture on audiences in commercial set ups as evident in dramas of radio advertising. It begins from the awareness that the drama genre has been at the heart of Africa’s rich literary heritage, and that it still finds use in contemporary spaces through mass media. Since the advent of radio in Africa drama has been a preferred technique of radio advertising in Kenya, yet scholarly research on drama as a persuasive genre through the radio medium remains scant. This is in spite of the fact that advertising communities are already aware of its marketing potential. The purpose of this study is thus to examine some of the techniques that drama uses in radio advertising, based on the assumption that because advertisements are made to woo buyers, the genre possesses strong rhetorical elements that can render for scholarly analyses. The study demonstrates the awareness that drama has been a cultural production in Kenya, and that orality has always punctuated dramatic practice at every phase of its development both in form and motif. Secondly, it demonstrates the eternal presence of oral leitmotifs in contemporary use especially in advertising discourses. The study uses a qualitative design. Data is in the form of audio records of advertisements that use the technique of drama in radio which have been transcribed, translated and analyzed to arrive at conclusions about the persuasive strategy of orality and popular culture in the radio medium. Since radio is a purely audio-acoustic media just like primary orality, Walter Ong’s theorizing about transiting from primary orality to typographical forms has been employed to enable us understand the psychodynamics of audio-acoustic messages, and what makes them click so easily with audiences. His views about ‘imagined audiences’ have also been used. In the first chapter we have established a background to the study. The second chapter deals with the literature review and theoretical framework. In chapter three we discuss the study methods while in chapter four we analyze selected data in terms of the oral motifs used using Walter Ong’s structural-functional theorizing in Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word. In chapter five the thesis analyzes the use of popular culture as a marketing strategy, while chapter six deals with thesis summary, conclusions and recommendations for further study. The study finds that aspects of indigenous theatrical forms based in primary orality feature prominently in drama-mediated advertisements, and that these features illuminate on the psychology and philosophy of radio listeners, and that advertisers prefer modeling their content on trendy topics adorned in literary stylistics. These findings are important because they affirm the enduring nature of orality in modern times. They also point to practical applicability of orality in modern discourses on one hand, and on the other, awareness that adverts strongly suggest the ways in which Kenyan consumers understand their world.
Assessment of Peace Building Strategies Employed by The Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Enhancing Inter-Ethnic Harmony in Kenya
(Chuka University, 2019-09) Mwamba, Julius Guantai
Ethnic conflicts remain the biggest setback to the development of many African nations and Kenya is not an exception. The Church has a mandate to make use of her divine mission in building peace and fostering reconciliation in the society. In response the PCEA initiated several peace building strategies aimed at enhancing inter-ethnic harmony in Kenya. Despite the Church in Kenya playing a great role in the promotion of harmony, ethnic conflicts continue to escalate in various parts of the country. This study therefore investigated the efficacy of peace building strategies of Presbyterian Church of East Africa in enhancing inter-ethnic harmony in selected in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study target population was 1,624,345 PCEA members in Nakuru west, Nakuru east, Njoro, Elburgon, Laikipia, Eldoret and Mombasa presbyteries where inter-ethnic conflicts are dominant. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 384 respondents comprising of 342 church members, 38 church elders and 14 church ministers. The instruments for data collection were questionnaires for the Church elders and members, structured interview guide for Church ministers and focus group discussions for inter-ethnic violence victims. Piloting involving 76 respondents was done in from Nakuru East presbytery. Using Spearman Brown Prediction formula by split half technique, a reliability coefficient of 0.71 and 0.74 were realised for the questionnaires for church members and church elders, respectively. This was accepted because an alpha value of 0.7 and above is considered adequate for making accurate group inferences. Religious studies and other experts from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Chuka University ascertained the validity of the instruments. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics with help of the statistical package of social sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 for windows and presented in frequency distribution tables. This study found that radicalization, imperialism; ideological polarization and inter-communal violence being increased by competition over the fruits of devolution and elite manipulation of local communities were the major emerging issues responsible for inter-ethnic conflicts. It also established that the use of sermons, pastoral care and counselling, Bible study, peace building workshops, prayer movements, mainstreaming of Church standing groups; policy development by the General Assembly, lobbying and having a peace desk have seldom achieved much in fostering inter-ethnic harmony in Kenya. The study suggested the church needs to intensify recruitment and training of peace agents through seminars and workshops to enhance their competency and hence enhance effectiveness. The study concluded that that the PCEA’s involvement in peace building had Biblical, pastoral and theological justification. The findings of the study will assist policy makers to develop effective community-based programmes to mitigate ethnic conflict and also contribute to knowledge in the area of morality and religion. The findings may also be used by religious bodies keen to promote religious teachings aimed at advocating sound moral values and ethics among members of the society. The findings may provide valuable empirical data to Non-Governmental Organizations working in collaboration with the Church to provide community based tailored approaches to fight ethnic violence.
AUDIENCE PERCEPTION OF VERNACULAR TELEVISION CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF BAITE TV IN MERU, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2019-09) NKANATHA, JOHN KIMATHI
Television is today the most pervasive mass medium worldwide. The contribution and influence of mass media in the daily lives of audiences cannot be gainsaid. Vernacular television channels are a new phenomenon in the Kenyan media landscape having been introduced in 2011. While mainstream media use the two official languages, and target a bigger national audience, vernacular TV stations are unique in the content of programmes and the choice of language used in their broadcasts. The TV stations’ are community based where the indigenous language is used. Other than the traditional roles of media, the contribution of vernacular TV in social development especially in Kenya, has barely been studied. The study examined the audience perception of the role played by Baite TV, a vernacular TV station based in Meru County, Kenya, in the social development of the community. It examined how and whether the station is an effective means of fostering development within the community that it serves. The study focused on four objectives: to assess the role played by content in Baite TV Station programmes, to examine the strategies used by Baite TV Station to effect social development to assess the coverage and reach of Baite TV programmes, to establish how the audience perception Baite TV programmes. A descriptive survey research design was adopted in this study. Questionnaires and an interview schedule were used to collect data from adult viewers aged 18 years and above and from media practitioners and owners. The study was conducted in four purposively selected sub-counties in Meru County. Purposive sampling was used to get the respondents. The study was grounded on the Agenda Setting and Uses and Gratification theories. The key findings were that besides the primary functions of television, vernacular television can be used to mobilize the community to pool their resources and implement projects that can improve the social development of the community. Other findings were that vernacular television is accessible to viewers across socio-economic barriers. Unlike mainstream media which are urban based, vernacular TVs are rural based and provide grassroot support to communities in their villages. Due to their proximity, they are in constant contact with the community, they are accepted by the community and the community participates in implementation of projects. The community values vernacular TVs for their direct involvement in the community’s social development. Vernacular TVs reach the communities in their localities and using the local language, identify their needs and prioritize the projects that will improve the living conditions of the people. This study contributes to knowledge by showing other functional roles of vernacular TVs including promoting social development, upholding culture and uniting the people. This study focused on the role played by vernacular television medium in social development. Further research can be conducted to ascertain roles other than the four that the media play and other aspects of involvement by vernacular television. This study focused on one vernacular television station based in Meru County due to its unique approach to solving problems afflicting the society. Studies can focus on other stations and in other counties to ascertain their contribution to social development. During this study it emerged that vernacular television stations have many operational challenges when compared to state funded and mainstream media. A study can be done to bring out all the challenges and propose possible mitigations to surmount the challenges. There is need to find out the reason for the low intake of technology in the Meru area yet the emphasis today is on information communication and technology for development.
Awareness and Utilization of Electronic Resources by Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty Members in Universities:A Case of Chuka University
(IJSSAH, 2018-06-25) Nyaboke ,Onsinyo,Charity,Mbugua,,Ngereki,Anthony
ThestudysoughttoinvestigatetheawarenessandutilizationofelectronicresourcesbyacademicstaffintheHumanitiesandSocialSciencesFacultyatChukaUniversity,Kenya.Thepurposeoftheinvestigationwastoinquireabouttherespondents’ appreciationoftheresources,levelofutilizationbasedonavailabilityandaccess,benefitsderivedfromusageaswellaschallengesencountered,asaresultofusage.Thestudyadoptedthedescriptivesurveyresearchdesign.Thefindingsrevealedthat82%oftherespondentswereawareoftheelectronicresourcessubscribedtobytheUniversityandthatand86%oftherespondentsutilizedtheresourcestwoorthreetimesaweek.Thestudyidentifiedinconsistentinternetconnectivity,Lackofcomputerskills,slownetwork,poweroutageandirrelevantelectronicinformationresourcesashindrancestotheutilizationoftheseelectronicresources.ThestudyrecommendsenhancementofInformationandCommunicationTechnology(ICT)networkorbandwidth,increasingthenumberofInformationandCommunicationTechnologies,provisionoffacultyspecificusertrainingandinformationliteracyinstruction,andincreasingmarketingstrategies
BORROWER AND LENDER DETERMINANTS INFLUENCING AGRIBUSINESS LOANS DEFAULT RATE IN AGRICULTURAL FINANCE CORPORATION, IN MOUNT KENYA REGION
(Chuka University, 2023-10) M`MURUKU SALESIO MIRITI
Agribusiness loans advanced by Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) in Mount Kenya Region have high default rate of 20.33%. This compares unfavourably with 10% benchmark for all types of loans in Kenya. This is a challenge, given the strategic importance of agribusiness credit in mainstreaming livelihoods to alleviate poverty by offering occupational and professional opportunities. This study aimed at analysing borrower and lender determinants influencing agribusiness loans default rate in agricultural finance corporation, in Mount Kenya region. The study used descriptive research design. The study is anchored by four theories: delegated monitoring, rational choice, information asymmetry and the transaction cost theories. Mount Kenya region represents a branch network of 11 branches and a population of 3,002 agribusiness borrowers as per the current AFC records. A sample comprising of 300 respondents was drawn from a combined list through systematic random sampling technique with an interval of ten borrowers. Primary data on borrower and lender determinants influencing agribusiness loans default rate was collected using a structured questionnaire. The data was analysed to find the significance of all determinants using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS V.27). ANOVA was used to check the adequacy of the regression model. The econometric models that were used to specify the statistical relationship between the independent variables and AFC loan default includes logit, probit, stepwise and multiple linear regressions. The logit model showed that borrower socio-economic profile had the prediction power 57.15% of AFC loan default rate: Multiple borrowing and borrower-lender distance had a statistically significant effect on AFC loan default rate (dependent variable) at 5% level of significance (p-values=0.00<0.05). The use of logit for enterprise decision making showed that it explained 36.98% of AFC loan default rate: Agricultural enterprise diversification and implementation of purposed project were significant at 5% (p-values=0.00<0.05). The Probit regression model used revealed that the lender behavioural characteristics considered in the model explained 48.80% of loan default: farm visit, disbursement timeliness, political lending and adequate funding significantly affected AFC loan default rate at 5% level (p-values=0.00<0.05). The multiple regression model depicted that extraneous shocks accounts for 23.1% of the AFC loan default rate: agroclimatic extremes and market volatility positively and significantly effected AFC loans default rate at 5% level of significance (p-values=0.00<0.05). Use of step wise regression for establishment of moderation indicated that: The relationship between borrower’s socioeconomic indicators and the extraneous shocks, with introduction of the moderator, increased from 24.3% to 27.1%, which is 2.8% increase in the prediction power. The model showed that a statistically and significant interaction existed between socio-economic indicators and the extraneous shocks and the AFC loan default rate (F=37.988; p-value=0.00<0.05). In the relationship between enterprise decision making and extraneous shocks, the introduction of a moderator caused an increase 22.2% to 22.3% accounting for 0.1% increase in AFC loan default rate. The ANOVA Analysis on the overall significance indicates that in enterprise decision making, there was a statistically significant effect on AFC loan default rate (F=29.659; p-value=0.00<0.05). In the relationship between lender behavioural characteristics and extraneous shocks when the interactive term was introduced, there an increase in AFC loan default rate from 32.2% to 35.9% which is a 3.7% increase in the prediction power. This implies that the model with the interactive term is the best predictor of AFC loan default rate. ANOVA Analysis gave results that showed that vii the two models used for lender behavioural characteristics were all significant (F=72.092; p-value=0.00<0.05) and (F=56.887; p-value=0.00<0.05). This shows that there was a statistically significant interaction existing between lender behavioural characteristics, extraneous shocks and the AFC loan default rate. To determine the joint effect, multiple regression model was used and it depicted that all sixteen indicators used accounted for 61.7% of the AFC loan defaults. The model was statistically significant at 5% (p-value = 0.05 <0.05). The ten indicators which were significant at 5% level of significance are multiple borrowing, borrower-lender distance, agricultural enterprise diversification, implementation of purposed project, farm visit, disbursement timeliness, political lending, loan adequacy, agroclimatic extremes and market volatility. Mitigation of default was found to be a joint effort actioned by loan stakeholders: lender intensification of adequate funding, farm visits and disbursement timeliness while eschewing political interference. Borrowers should use good agricultural practices of enterprise diversification, use loan funds for the purpose they were applied, avoid multiple loans and manage the friction of distance. It was observed that management of extraneous shocks required all credit stakeholders to adopt coping strategies. The study recommends government interventionist policy by facilitating uptake of agricultural insurance and subsidizing input costs. Borrowers are encouraged to embrace technology, team up as farming communities to look for markets and affordable inputs, adopt agricultural insurances and adhere to lender and government directives. The lender should create politically neutral circumstances and intensify support through training and performing their lending mandate with efficiency and professionalism.
CDEV 00140: BASISC FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT
(2023-04-13) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 0140: BASIC FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT
(0023-04-13) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 0141: PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
(0023-04-13) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 0141: PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
(0023-04-13) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 0205: NETWORKING, LOBBYING AND ADVOCACY
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 0023-04-11) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 0206: COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND PARTICIPATION
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 0023-04-12) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 0209: COMMUNITY HEALTH
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 0023-08-28) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 0210: FAMILY STUDIES
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 0023-04-13) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 211: RESOURCE MOBILIZATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 0023-04-11) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 215: CIVIL SOCIETIES AND DEVELOPMENT
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2023-04-21) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 223: PARTICIPATORY METHODOLOGIES IN COMMUNITY
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2023-04-13) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
CDEV 250: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECOTOURISM
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2023-08-30) CHUKA UNIVERSITY

Browse

Browsing Doctor of Philosophy Theses and Dissertations (PHD) by Title