8th International Research Conference of Chuka University,2021

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.chuka.ac.ke/handle/chuka/15997

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FOOD TABOOS OF THE MIJIKENDA COMMUNITY AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UNDER-FIVE-YEAR OLD CHILDREN
(Chuka University, 2022) Nanua, Jackin N.; Mbogoh, Patricia M.
Child-under nutrition leads to high morbidity and mortality in many developing countries. Approximately 3.1 million child deaths annually are attributed to malnutrition related illnesses. Causes malnutrition include household income, political and economic instability, education level, sanitation, climatic conditions, culinary practices, and food beliefs. The influence of food taboos among the Mijikenda on child nutrition is not fully investigated. This study investigated whether Mijikenda food habits and taboos had an influence on the nutrition status of under-five year old children. Focus group discussions with Kaya elders from five Mijikenda subgroups were used to identify food taboos. Structured questionnaire was developed to find out whether these taboos affected food choices by mothers. Anthropometric measurements of children, WAZ, HAZ, MUAC, skin fold thickness and visual examination were used to determine nutritional status. Commonly restricted foods were animal products including eggs, fish, gizzards, beef, chicken, liver, pepper and some vegetables. The restrictions targeted women, especially pregnant women, and children but not men. Correlation coefficients showed that WAZ was a more sensitive determinant of nutrition status. There were significant correlations between WAZ and number of children in the family, mother’s education level, mother’s age, number of children. There was negative correlation between mother’s education level and number of children. There was positive correlation between WAZ and consumption of meat after delivery and consumption of gizzard. There was positive correlation between HAZ and consumption of liver and pumpkin while pregnant. There was positive correlation between skin fold thickness and breastfeeding while pregnant and also consumption of liver. Mother’s adherence to the food taboos showed negative nutritional outcomes. It is recommended that food taboos be considered as a significant contributor to malnutrition and be addressed by nutritional extension staff.
EXPLORING ENTREPRENEURIAL EXIT STRATEGIES AND SURVIVAL OF SMALL AND MEDIUM OWNED ENTREPRISES IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES-A CASE OF
(Chuka University, 2022) Kimathi, Peter Gituma
Entrepreneurial exit strategy is a critical component in entrepreneurial process, where a well-prepared strategy helps entrepreneurs to reduce the potential loss of their current business, prepare them to face the post-exit era, and improve the chance of re-entering business after quitting. While such benefits might be true in the context of developed countries, we are critical of their existence in the context of developing economies like Kenya. We enrich the entrepreneurial processes literature by examining entrepreneur’s exit strategy and the factors influencing it in the novel context of the developing economies - with a focus of Kenya. This will be further catalyzed by the new reality caused by the Covid-19 pandemic which is bringing its own unique challenges for SMEs.The study was based on three major entrepreneurial exit strategies, which are resignation, business sales, and succession. The interview was conducted on 100 Kenyans small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) entrepreneurs with diverse backgrounds. Data was collected using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire to gather perception from the respondents’. Based on the study it was found out that most of the small and medium owned entrepreneurs did not have a clear entrepreneurial exit strategy in terms of resignation, business sale or succession plan which affected the survival of their enterprises. In addition, the research found several models explaining how the entrepreneurs need to select each of this strategy for enterprise survival.
EFFECT OF SERVICE RELIABILITY ON CUSTOMER LOYALTY TO SUPERMARKETS IN MERU COUNTY, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2022) Nyaga, Janet Wanja; Nkari, Isaac M.; Otiso, Henry
Although supermarkets in Meru have launched quality customer service programs aimed at ensuring customer loyalty to the supermarkets, their effect has not been evaluated. Supermarkets therefore risk losing loyal customers to online and other platforms. Increased interest in service quality is mostly motivated by understanding that the outcome of customer loyalty is as a result of better service quality. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of service reliability on customer loyalty to supermarkets. A descriptive research design was adopted. The target population was the 4140 Meru County Government staff who visit the 36 supermarkets in Meru County. A sample of 364 shoppers was picked using simple random sampling technique. The study employed a questionnaire to collect primary data which was collected by the help of a questionnaire. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics was utilized with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26. Multiple linear regression model was employed in analyzing data and the hypotheses was tested at 5% level of significance. The findings of the study were then presented in form of tables, figures and equations. There was a positive significant effect of service reliability on service quality with regression coefficient of 1.153 and a p=0.000. It is anticipated that the findings of the study will help the management of supermarkets to devise strategies geared towards increasing loyalty for the stores and hence increasing their profitability.
EFFECT OF LIQUIDITY RISK ON SHAREHOLDERS’ WEALTH IN COMMERCIAL BANKS LISTED AT THE NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE
(Chuka University, 2022) Mogusu, Margaret Wanjiru; Nkari, Isaac Micheni; Masinde, Joseph
Shareholders’ wealth is among key decisions in a firm because it has a bearing in overall investor perception and firm value. There has been concern about declining value of shareholders’ wealth among commercial banks listed at the Nairobi Security Exchange (NSE). Previous studies have linked financial risk to shareholders’ wealth. The researchers however fail to agree on the magnitude and direction of the effect. It is not established how liquidity risk would affect shareholders’ wealth of commercial banks listed at the NSE. The objective of this study was to establish the effect of Liquidity risk on Shareholders’ wealth of Commercial Banks listed at then NSE. Descriptive research design was adopted. The target population was eleven commercial banks that had been constantly listed at the NSE from 2013-2019. A census was conducted to collect data from the eleven banks due to the smallness of the population. Data was collected using a checklist. Data was obtained from published financial statements and the Banking survey publications for seven years from 2013 to 2019. Data was analyzed using simple and multiple regression analysis with the help of SPSS version 25.0. Hypothesis was tested using t-statistic at 5% significance level. The study found that liquidity risk had a negative effect on shareholders’ wealth (regression coefficient -0.556, p-value of 0.023). Firms that have high liquidity have more cash flow and are able to take investment opportunities and hence increase shareholders’ value. The study recommends commercial banks to come up with ways of minimizing this risk.
ETHICAL DILEMA OF RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS IN EMERGING EPIDEMICS: THE CASE OF COVID-19
(Chuka University, 2022) Mukhwana, Eugine Sundays
Emerging epidemics, including Covid-19, SARs, Ebola, MERS, have posed a dilema on decisions taken in health research and public health interventions. It has been difficult to draw a line between research and public health interventions, paticularly vaccination. Ideally, the development and administration of safe and effective diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine products depend on clinical research. Clinical research should be rigorous, of scientific and societal value, and executed with the highest standards of scientific validity. In this case, validity includes blind treatment assignment, randomization and controls. During development of vaccines, considerations have to be made on the safety and health of the public, patients, essential workers, and healthcare professionals. However, in emerging epidemics (such as the Covid-19 pandemic), implementation programes for public health are hybrids of research and interventions. This raises questions of validity and ethical obligations in the research processes, and in the implementation of public health programmes. Since it is difficult to ascertain the techniques or combination of tools and approaches that will guarantee that epidemics would neither resurge nor spread in the future, it is important to evaluate ethical issues for future control of epidemics and public health. Key among the issues is whether our current conventions of research such as regulations, guidelines and institutional ethical reviews adequately address ethical issues in emerging epidemics and what we need to change to address uncertainities faced in epidemics now and in future. As the Covid-19 pandemic recedes, there may be need for a global health treaty for emergencies.
EFFECT OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING APPROACH ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN PHYSICS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MERU, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2022) Kairo, N. C.; Njagi, M. W.; Kamweru, P. K.
Physics occupies a significant position in secondary school curriculum because of its applications in everyday life. In spite of this importance, the academic performance of Kenyan students in the Physics subject has remained poor over many years. The fundamental challenge in teaching of physics is how to enhance students’ achievement in the subject. Innovative and learner-centered teaching approaches engage the learners in the learning process. Such approaches are effective for mastery of concepts and also enhance learners’ achievement in the Physics subject. Although Cooperative Learning Approach may help in enhancing students’ achievement in physics its effects has not been determined in Meru County. Hence, the study investigated the effects of Cooperative Learning Approach on secondary school students’ achievement in Physics in Meru County. Quasi experimental research design was employed and in particular Solomon’s four group design was used. A sample of 180 respondents was obtained from an accessible population of 6347. Simple random sampling was used to draw the participating four schools from the purposively selected sub county secondary schools. The assignment of selected schools to either experimental or control group was done by simple random sampling. The research instrument that was used was physics Achievement Test. The Reliability was tested by subjecting the instrument to a pilot study in a school in Tharaka Nithi County. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.786. Statistical package for Social Sciences version 25.0 was used for data analysis. The raw data obtained was analyzed descriptively using Mean, Standard deviation, Percentages and inferentially using parametric tests (one-way ANOVA and t-test). The level of significance for acceptance or rejection of null hypotheses was at α = 0.05. The findings of the study showed that the students taught using cooperative learning approach had relatively higher scores in the physics achievement test than those taught using conventional teaching approaches. Thus, cooperative learning approach enhances students’ achievement in physics more than convectional teaching approach. Physics teachers should incorporate cooperative learning approach in teaching to enhance students’ achievement in physics subject examinations.
PERCIEVED CAUSES OF STUDENTS’ LOW ENROLMENT IN AGRICULTURE SUBJECT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KITUI WEST
(Chuka University, 2022) Edward Kirimi Marika
Agriculture is an important science subject that enables learners to develop skills in cultivating the soil, harvesting crops, and raising livestock. Content of Agriculture subject is relevant to all learners irrespective of the careers they pursue since it provides information and skills that propel forward the country’s economy. Despite this importance role Agriculture plays, there has been global decline in enrolment and graduation rate in agriculture related courses at all levels of education systems. The same trend has been recorded in Kitui West where students taking Agriculture as a subject has continued to decline. This study sought to establish the perceived causes of low secondary school students’ enrolment in Agriculture subject in Kitui West Sub County. The objective of the study was to establish students’ and teachers’ perceived causes of low students’ enrolment in Agriculture subject in Kitui West. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample size consisted of 176 students, 20 teachers and 20 Secondary schools obtained through simple random sampling. Research instruments used was questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and Correlation analysis were used to establish the nature and magnitude of association between study variables. The study established that there are learners, teachers and school related factors that have contributed to few students taking Agriculture subjects in public secondary schools in Kitui West. The study recommends schools administration to support Agriculture by availing required learning resources and equipment. It also recommends training of more teachers in Agriculture and in-servicing of teachers in the subject.
EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION IN ENHANCING STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS TOWARDS LEARNING OF CHEMISTRY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MAARA
(Chuka University, 2022) Mugwiria, Rose Gatune; Njagi, Mercy Wanja; Mwenda Eric Elias
Students perform poorly in Chemistry examinations in Kenya. The teaching of Chemistry aims at developing scientific attitudes, concept, principles and skills in learners. Differentiated instruction consists of efforts of teachers to respond to the variance among learners in the classroom. This study investigated effectiveness of differentiated instruction in enhancing students’ academic achievements in chemistry. Quasi-experimental research design was used, particularly Solomon’s four group design. The research was done in four sub-county secondary schools in Maara. The target population was 12,187 chemistry students. The accessible population was 1,242 form two chemistry students. A purposive sampling technique was used to draw the participating schools. Simple random sampling was used to select and assign schools in experimental and control groups. The sample size was 165 form two chemistry students. The instrument used was Chemistry Achievement Test. It was piloted to determine it reliability, while validity of the instrument was ascertained by experts’ opinions from Department of Education of Chuka University. Reliability coefficient for CAT was 0.74. The experimental groups were taught using differentiated instruction teaching approach while the control groups were taught through conventional teaching approach. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 was used for data analysis. The raw data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The level of significance for rejection of null hypotheses was at α = 0.05. The findings indicated that differentiated instruction significantly improved the students’ achievement towards learning chemistry. The finding is expected to form a frame of reference for further research on innovative teaching strategies in chemistry education.
PREPAREDNESS OF PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE ADOPTION OF ICT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING IN ABOTHUGUCHI WEST DIVISION, MERU, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2022) Nkirote, Samuel; Mwenda, Eric; Kamoyo, John M.
Adoption of computers in schools has been recognized as a way of making the education process more efficient, richer and relevant. The Kenyan Ministry of Education is committed in the adoption of ICT in learning and teaching. The implementation process of the project has been slow and has been attributed to lack of preparedness. This slow pace has been blamed on level of school preparedness in adoption of laptop in learning and teaching process. However, no empirical study has been conducted to explain this. The present study asssessed competency of teachers in teaching using computers. It employed discipline survey study design with a target population of the study was 1495 subjects from 17 Public Primary Schools. The sample size was 312 respondents consisting six headteachers sampled purposively, 42 teachers sampled randomly and 264 pupils sampled using stratified random sampling. The study used questionnaire for headteachers and teachers. The overall mean for the teachers’ competency in adoption of laptops for teaching and learning was 2.45. This implies that majority of the Public Primary School teachers disagreed that their schools were prepared in terms of teachers’ competency in adoption of laptop for teaching and learning.
EFFECT OF ADVANCE ORGANIZER TEACHING STRATEGY ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF STATISTICS TOPICS IN MATHEMATICS IN MERU SOUTH, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2022) Wairambu, Kithinji Rugendo; Wanja, Mercy; Jagero, Nelson
This study investigated the effect of advance organizers teaching strategy on the secondary students’ conceptual understanding of topic statistics in mathematics, in Meru South, Kenya. The learning requirement in the 21st centuary is to develop life long learners who are able to cope with emerging issues in life. Mathematical knowledge and skills are required especially in high technological advancements in society. They are made of of principles, theories, constructs and concepts that need to be developed to meet emerging challenges. Topics in mathematics have unique level of learning challenges. This has made many students to perceive the subject as difficult leading to poor performance as compared to sciences such as biology, physics and chemistry. Mathematics instructional methods have been identified among the factors contributing to the problem of poor performance in secondary schools mathematics in Kenya. This study, therefore, sought to reverse this trend in performance. The research was based on constructivists’ theory pioneered by Ausubel. Solomon four quasi- experimental research design was used. Students in the experimental groups (E1 and E2) were taught using advance organizer teaching strategy and students in the control groups (C1 and C2) were taught using convectional teaching methods. The target population was all Form two students in 56 public secondary school of Meru. Purposive sampling was used to draw four Co educational schools in Meru South. Assignment of the schools to either experimental or control group was done through simple random sampling. The sample size of the study was 168 students.’ The instrument was Mathematics Conceptual Understanding Achievement Test (MCUAT). The research instrument was pilot-tested in a school in a secondary school with similar characteristics as the study sample in Maara Sub - County. Reliability was estimated using cronbach coefficient alpha method. The instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.75. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test, One-way ANOVA and Post-Hoc) analysis which was undertaken using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 at 0.05. The findings established that students taught using advance organizers had a higher level of conceptual understanding of statistics topic than those taught using conventional teaching methods. Thus mathematics teachers should ensure there is proper planning and preparation of learning materials to be presented prior to lesson presentation.
MAPPING FOOD DESERTS IN THARAKA CONSTITUENCY USING COMPOSED INDEX OF CRITICAL ACCESSIBILITY TO FOOD AND LIVESTOCK MARKETS
(Chuka University, 2021-10-07) Kibetu, K
In agropastoral regions of Kenya, households often trek long distances to access food markets and sell livestock. Distance defines physical accessibility and even utilisation of market facilities especially in semi-arid areas where food insecurity and malnutrition are rampant. This phenomenon affects intra-regional food exchange and consumption patterns. Close to 70 % of agropastoral farmers within Tharaka Constituency lack access to formal markets for their produce. Studies on intra-variations in access to market services remains scanty, yet market purchase account for most food consumed across urban and rural areas. Tharaka constituency lies in semi-arid area characterised by erratic mild-to-acute food shortage seasons. This exploratory study utilised Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to measure physical accessibility to open air food and livestock markets in Tharaka. Normative, administrative and geospatial datasets were used in the geospatial analysis. Results showed that geographic accessibility to market centers across the 883 villages in the constituency varied spatially. In terms of physical accessibility to markets, 40.4% of the total population live in regions with very high-to-high inaccessibility risks while 36.1% are found in areas with very low-to-low inaccessibility risks while 23.5% of the entire population exists in places having moderate inaccessibility risks. From this, a large portion of population live in food deserts villages. This spatial inequity negatively affects household food security and can explain the chronic hunger and malnutrition problem experienced in the area. There is need for markets within high inaccessibility risk areas hereby referred as food deserts to be upgraded and infrastructure thereof improved to enable intra-regional food mobility.
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN AFRICA: OVERVIEW OF CURRENT CONCERNS AND PROSPECTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
(Chuka University, 2022) Kavulya, Joseph M.; Kyengo, Bernadette N.
This paper uses the concept of “research excellence” to investigate the contribution of research to sustainable development in Africa and propose strategies for enhancing research practice in the region. Specifically, the paper the causal relationship between research and sustainable development, the concept of research excellence, the factors that retard the growth of research in Africa, and propose strategies for enhancing research excellence in the African region. Significantly, the paper proposes that to improve the relevance and impact of research in sustainable development there is a need to enhance quality in assurance in research processes, intense investments in research infrastructure, a close collaboration between various stakeholders such as research agents, the local community, policymakers, and practitioners. There need to re-visit the scholarly communication ecosystem in the region with the view to make dissemination and access research information on the continent affordable and visible through more investment in digital libraries, repositories, and adoption of open access publishing of research findings
ADOLESCENT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND THE RETENTION OFADOLESCENT GIRLS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NAROK, KENYA.
(Chuka University, 2022) Mugambi, L. M.; Sande, A.
Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) has acquired prominence and the services deemed as the effective strategy for reducing adolescent pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) infections by various health stakeholders. Despite availability of the services, evidence presents escalation in percentage of early pregnancies and school dropouts among adolescent girls in Narok County. The study purposed to establish the prevalence of ASRH services and retention of adolescent girls’ in secondary schools in Narok County. The total study population was 17813. The target population was secondary school girls aged 15 to 19 years, teachers, public health officers, Non-Governmental Organization officers working in ASRH program and administrators in Narok County. About 377 people were sampled, randomly and purposively. The cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Data was collected using questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Analysis was done using linear regression. Results of the study revealed that the higher the prevalence of SRH services, the higherthe retention of adolescent girls in secondary schools (p = 0.001). Awareness about ASRH services among adolescent girls reduced early pregnancy and also increased their retention in secondary schools (R= 0.72). Results indicated that the ASRH information, Voluntary counselling and HIV/AIDS testing, delivery services, screening for STDs, family planning services were significantly utilised (0.000). However, prenatal care was less significantly utilised by the adolescent girls (0.008). The study recommended reinforcement on provision of the ASRH servicesto the adolescent girls to further increase girls’ retention in secondary schools.
ASSOCIATION OF SECURITY RISK TRAINING PROGRAMMES WITH SAFETY IN UNIVERSITIES, KENYA.
(Chuka University, 2022) Mutegi, Tetu Mwenda
This study determined the effect of security risk control programmes on safety in universities in Tharaka-Nithi and Meru. Descriptive survey research design was used targeting staff and students in the Universities. A complete enumeration the 27 top management staff and a sample of 72 students and 71 staff was conducted. Data collection was done using questionnaires pre-tested at Dedan Kimathi University using split half technique obtained a correlation coefficient of 0.769. Data analysis was done using inferential statistics and results were presented incross tabulations, Chi-square, frequency and percentages. The analysis used Statistical Package for Social Sciences. All universities have implemented various programmes aimed at increasing safety in the universities. The results further revealed that there was no significant association of security risk training programmes with safety in universities since 0.496>0.05 and chi-square was 49.936. This study will form a basis of policy formulation on safety and security matters in public universities in Kenya and provide a basis for further research in the field.
DETERMINANTS OF SPATIAL VARIATION AND ADOPTION OF DAIRY GOAT FARMING INNYERI COUNTY, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2022) Mureithi, Stephen Wachira; Wambugu, Stephen K.; Huho, Julius M.
The study examined the spatial variations and factors influencing the adoption of dairy goat farming in Nyeri. The study adopted a descriptive household survey design. Three-stage systematic sampling technique was applied to select a representative sample of 215 households from a population of 248,050. Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. Secondary data was collected through a thorough review of available literature while primary data was collected through face to face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. The results of the study showed that there existed spatial differences in adoption of dairy goat farming in Nyeri County. Chi-square test revealed that traditional goat farming experience, gender, household head age, agro-ecological zone, education, farmers’ group membership and access to extension services had significant impact on farmers’ dairy goat farming adoption decision in the study area. The study therefore recommends enhancement of dairy goat adoption through improving farmers’ access to extension services. More extension service providers should be trained and deployed to farm level. This will facilitate provision of timely and quality agricultural information on dairy goat farming. Policies geared towards empowering women also need to be promoted in order to increase their ability to engage in profitable dairy goat farming enterprises. In this regard, their access to financial resources and land should be improved. Farmers’ associations should also be strengthened so as to better play their role of offering technological, financial and informational support to farmers. The Ministry should collaborate with financial institutions to make credit accessible to farmers. Financial institutions should craft loan products tailored for smallholder farmers to assist overcome financial constraints.
TRANSITIVITY ACTION OF THE CARTESIAN PRODUCT OF THE ALTERNATING GROUP ACTING ON A CARTESIAN PRODUCT OF ORDERED SETS OF TUPLES
(Chuka University, 2022) Maraka, M. K.; Musundi, S. M.; Nyaga, L. N.
Transitivity action properties of the alternating group An on ordered and unordered n - tuples and on the direct product of alternating group on unordered sets have been greatly studied by different researchers. However, no work has been done for transitivity action of the Cartesian product of the alternating group on the Cartesian product of ordered n - tuples of sets. This paper determined the transitivity action of the Cartesian product of the alternating group acting on a Cartesian product of ordered sets of triples. The Orbit-Stabilizer Theorem has been used to determine the transitivity action. When n >_ 5 , the action of the Cartesian product of alternating group on the Cartesian product of ordered sets of triples is transitive.
NORM ATTAINABILITY OF GENERALIZED FINITE OPERATORS ON C*-ALGEBRA
(Chuka University, 2022) Sule, A. C.; Musundi, S. W.; Kinyanjui, J. M.
Norm attainability of elementary operators on Hilbert and Banach spaces has been characterized before. However, there is little information on Norm attainability of generalized finite operators on C*-algebra. This paper reports the norm attainability of generalized finite operators on C*-algebra. The approach of Okello 2018 has been used to determine norm attainability. Given two pairs of norm attainable operators A, B, implementing the generalized finite operators|| AX - XB - I || >_ 1 , it then follows that the generalized finite operator is also norm attainable.
MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF STERILE INSECT TECHNIQUE FOR CONTROL OF FALSE CODLING MOTH
(Chuka University, 2022) Ochwach, J. O.; Okongo, M. O.; Muraya, M.
The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a biological and nonpolluting method of control of pest population in a farm. This method relies on the release of sterile male False Codling Moth (FCM) in order to reduce the population fertile female FCM in the farm. In this study a mathematical model that simulates the interaction between the susceptible host, sterile male FCM and the wild FCM population is developed. The local and global stability analysis of the model is analyzed and found to be asymptotically stable when . A threshold number of sterile insect FCM above which the control of FCM is effective is determined. The results are reorganized as possible strategies for control of FCM and illustrated.
DENSITY FUNCTIONAL STUDY OF STRUCTURAL AND ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES OF Ca AND Mg DOPED TIO2
(Chuka University, 2022) Mbae, J. K.; Muthui, Z.
The scarcity of affordable and environment-friendly sources of energy has led to emergence of photo catalysis to mitigate this problem. This is so if the photo catalysts are active in solar energy spectrum. Environment-friendly, non-toxic and economical photo catalysts would find application in water treatment, providing another solution to the problem of clean water for domestic use. Of many materials available for photo catalysis is Titanium (IV) oxide (TiO2). It possesses many merits such as low cost, high photocatalytic activity, non-toxicity and high availability. However, drawbacks that limit its application include its optical absorption that falls in the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum. To extend the optical absorption to a wider region of the solar energy spectrum, various dopants have been added to the oxide to improve its solar efficiency. TiO2 has rapid electron-hole recombination which leads to low rates of the desired chemical transformations in energy absorption. This research modified the structure and electronic properties of pure rutile TiO2 by doping it with alkaline earth metals Ca and Mg for improved photocatalytic application. The objectives were structural optimization of rutile TiO2 and alkaline metal (Mg, Ca) doped rutile using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and determination of electronic structure of rutile TiO2 and alkaline metal (Mg, Ca) doped rutile using DFT. The DFT method as implemented in the Quantum ESPRESSO simulation package was used. The exchange correlation potential was treated with the Generalized Gradient Approximation. Total energy and ionic relaxation calculations were carried out after k-point and ECUT convergence tests. An ECUT energy of 40 Ry and 4x4x7 k-points were used for the total energy calculations. The optimized cell parameters for pure rutile crystal system are a = b = 4.603A c = 2.992A . There is an expansion of the crystal structure and its volume slightly increased. The calculated band gap of undoped rutile is 1.8 eV, which reduces doping with Mg and Ca. There is a shift of the valence band edge to higher energies and introduction of intraband dopant states. The changes in electronic structure are favorable for absorbance of a wider spectrum of solar energy and reduction of charge recombination during photo catalysis. Alkaline earth metal doping of TiO2 rutile modifies the structural and electronic properties of rutile TiO2 in a manner that would make it a more efficient photo catalyst. Co-doping with the alkaline metal dopants could be attempted to investigate the combined effect.
INFLUENCE OF SPECIFICATION WRITING ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROCUREMENT PROCESS AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN EASTERN KENYA
(Chuka University, 2022) Oenga, N. O.; Thogori, M.; Wabwire, J. M
Procurement process plays a critical role in the success of any organization. Despite interventions to ensure a smooth procurement process, the problem of the lack of coordination between the user and procurement department has not been addressed. Therefore, this study sought to determine the influence of specification writing on the effectiveness of procurement process among Public Universities in Eastern Region of Kenya. The study employed a descriptive research design to a study population of 94 departmental heads of user departments in 5 Public Universities within Eastern Kenya. A census was conducted on all the 94 departmental heads under consideration and Primary data was obtained. Out of the 94 targeted the study managed to obtain only 91, giving a response rate of 97%. The results obtained imply that there was a significant association between supplier compliance to specification writing with p value 0.000<0.05 and chi-square value of 38.536 and effectiveness of the procurement process of public universities in Eastern region at a 5% significance level. The study established statistically significant positive effect of specification writing effectiveness of the procurement process of public universities in Eastern region at a 5% significance level with coefficients of 0.417 and p=0.000. The study concluded that public universities should encourage user departments to actively participate in terms of specification writing since it impacted positively on the effectiveness of the procurement process. The study recommends that universities should leverage focus on proper user involvement in specification writing to enhance effectiveness of procurement process in Kenya. The findings provide a basis for further research, aid policy formulation and policy makers in streamlining public procurement practices in Kenya

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