3rd International Research Conference Proceedings Chuka University, 2016

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3rd International Research Conference Theme: “Harnessing Research, Innovation and Technology to Realise the Sustainable Development Goals” Proceedings
(Chuka University, 2017) Isutsa, D. K. and Githae, E. W. (Eds.)
Critical Analysis On How Teacher-Related Factors Affect Application of Progressivisms’ Learner-Centered Approaches in Teaching and Learning of Mathematics: A Case of Meru South Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya
(Chuka University, 2017) Mwangi, S.N.
Learning mathematics` problem-solving skills using learner-centered teaching approach, as emphasized in the philosophy of progressivism, enhances creativity and problem solving skills to the learners. In contrast, learning mathematics using teacher-centered approaches have increasingly dire consequences to the pupils such as poor performance, lack of creativity, poor socialization and lack of problem-solving skills. This study critically analyzed how teacher-related factors affect application of learner-centered approaches in teaching and learning of Mathematics. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised of 5,547 subjects consisting of 5,160 pupils and 387 teachers from 129 public primary schools within Meru South Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. A sample size of 378 respondents was obtained using simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Questionnaires were used to collect data from pupils and mathematics teachers. The results of the data analysis were presented using bar graphs, frequency tables and charts. The research findings revealed several learner-related factors such as motivation, attitude, beliefs and myths on mathematics, which were noted to make pupils participate passively in the learning process. Pupils’ negative attitude towards mathematics was also noted as a major hindrance to the application of Progressivists’ learner centered approaches in teaching and learning of mathematics in Meru South Sub-County. The researcher anticipates that the findings and recommendations of this study may provide valuable reference for teachers, curriculum developers and policy makers in education on learner-centered approaches to enhance teaching of Mathematics.
Drama and Orality in Kenya’s Radio Advertising.
(Chuka University, 2017) Njogu, J.G.
The relationship between drama, cultural practice and electronic media in Kenya is built around a history of intricate relationships informed by history, aesthetics and values adored by the African people since time immemorial. By function, drama has always addressed cultural, historical and emerging themes. For quite some time now, it has become a very fashionable technique of advertisement production in Kenya, yet research on drama as a persuasive genre remains scant. This paper examines the relationship between advertisement drama in radio and indigenous literary practices of the African people. It is based on the assumption that since the purpose of advertisements is to influence mass buyers, the choice of drama genre by advertisers imply that it possesses unique persuasive elements that can render for scholarly analyses. Since radio is a purely oral-acoustic medium just like primary orality, elements of primary oral cultures serve to enhance the expressiveness of radio-mediated advertisements. The paper begins from awareness that drama has always been a cultural production in Kenya, and that indigenous literary forms have always punctuated dramatic experience at every phase of its development both in content and style. Using a qualitative design, data is in the form of audio recordings of advertisements that use the technique of drama in radio. These are transcribed, translated and analyzed to arrive at conclusions about the persuasive strategy of theatre in the radio medium. Walter Ong’s theorizing about transiting from primary orality to typographical forms will enable us understand the psychodynamics of how audio messages are crafted to resonate with those who hear them. Ong’s ideas about the notion of ‘imagined audiences’ will also be used. These ideas enable us examine how advertisers imagine their audiences via virtual experience. It is expected that aspects of indigenous literary forms will manifest, and that these elements have rhetorically latent. It is also expected that the language in theatrical ads will be uniquely fashioned to persuade, and that these adverts will reveal how their consumers understand the world around them.
Conceptual Metaphors in Ken Walibora’s Novel: “Kidagaa Kimemwozea.
(Chuka University, 2017) Ntabo, V.O; Kangangi, B
The deficiency of grammar in unearthing literary gist necessitates the borrowing of a Cognitive Linguist’s lenses for a fuller explication of a text. This motivates the blast-off point in pursuit of meaning where “backstage cognition” fills a lacuna whose origin is the apparent mismatch between the writer’s background and the reader’s linguistic resources. Whereas intellectual endeavors unclothing the correlation between language and cognition cannot be controverted, the diligence paid to the study of metaphor in literary texts within a cognitive-semantics perspective has hitherto been hemmed in. We, therefore, analyze the conceptual metaphors in Kidagaa Kimemwozea by the Kenyan novelist Ken Walibora. The novel reflects a bedeviled state whose unfeeling king abuses power to amass wealth as sounds of anguish rent the air. Luckily, the protagonist (Amani) conspires with the king’s son to exploit the father’s weakness for the benefit of common citizens. This chapter establishes, classifies and annotates the conceptual metaphors using survey descriptive research design within the backup of Conceptual Metaphor Theory. It utilizes the Great Chain of Being metaphor whose chief objective slots a place for any phenomenon in a set hierarchical system. Animals, plants, objects and natural things are stratified source domains richly used to depict the characters in the novel. For a better appreciation of conceptual metaphors, it is salient to use the spectacles of a cognitive linguist to understand contextual language against the cultural, historical and geographical backdrop. Conceptual metaphors are conduits of communication and should be explained using a cognitive linguistics approach. Language is embodied and situated in a specific environment, making it possible for the meaning of some of the metaphors to elude the reader.
The Kenyan Political Autobiography as A Quest for Salvaging the Self. I
(Chuka University, 2017) Mutie, S; Rutere, A.M; Goro, N.K
The seemingly failure of the first independent African leaders to put an end to poverty, illiteracy and disease, and thus to open the gates to all-round development in their countries has elicited a flurry of scholarly debate. This paper is a continuation of this debate. It aims to account – in yet another way, for the stubborn reality of largely unfulfilled aspirations of the anti-colonial struggle in Africa, and Kenya in particular; to explain from a possible new perspective Kenya’s deficient post-independence. Particularly it examines Oginga Odinga’s Not Yet Uhuru (1966), Bildad Kaggia’s Bildad Kaggia: Roots of Freedom 1921-1963 (1975), Raila Odinga’s, The Flame of Freedom (2013) and joseph Murumbi’s Path Not Taken (2015) to show how, in this literature, they employ specific literary strategies to absolve themselves of all the postcolonial blame, in the process portraying themselves as defenders of nationhood, democracy, and as forces against negative ethnicity. The paper argues that, in this self-refashioning, these leaders advance the very same escapism employed by the founding fathers. Focusing their attention on concealing their ambition-deformed personalities behind the masks of the positive self-identities they construct, the opportunity for genuine leadership and genuine service to nation-building is largely lost.
The Family Government and Sustainable Family Systems on Christian Principles for Sustainable Development.
(Chuka University, 2017) Okebiro,G.N; Shatora, E; Nyakeya, I; Gesare, E.; Okebiro, H; Mogere, C; Mouko, P; Kerubo, A
The family is an important unit of organization for social development in the community. The family is created through marriage and marriage is done through the campaigns done by family members of procreation (father, mother, brothers, sisters and relatives). They shortlist the viable ladies through the list given by the boy to marry. The selection is done on viable candidate and election is done through Christian principles and confirmed through the Christian wedding. Once the wedding is done the husband and wife form the family government system immediately. The problem nowadays, the family government set on the Christianity principles fail because the husband and wife and children do not follow Ten Commandments of God. The objective of the study is to analyze and evaluate the roles played by the husband, wife and children which form family government. The paper adopts the observational and biblical analytical method. The key results are, most of the family government fails because the husband, wife or children do not play their roles in the family according to Christian principles which cement the family government. It is concluded most family governments fail and need to revise the biblical teachings in reference to family government. It is recommended, families to follow the Christian principles as set in the Ten Commandments.
Used For Persuasion in Kimuthambi.
(Chuka University, 2017) Ireri, H.K; Muriungi, P.K; Waita, Z.N; Muriungi, C.K
Persuasion is inherent in everyday communication and is very important in relationships, leadership, peace building and success in virtually every area of livelihood. This study’s main goal is to provide an analysis of persuasion in Kimuthambi. The objective of the study is to identify and discuss strategies used for persuasion in Kimuthambi. The study is guided by the relevance theory by Sperber and Wilson. It utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research designs and is carried out in Muthambi Division, Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya. The population includes all Kimuthambi communicative events. The researcher purposively sampled 10 real life communicative events conducted in Kimuthambi. Data was collected using a guiding card and an observation schedule. A voice recorder was used to capture conversations from the selected communicative events, which were transcribed onto a guiding card. The observation schedule was used to record the contextual information. The transcribed utterances were 136. Guided by the communicative principle of relevance, the researcher identifies and discusses 84 utterances used for persuasion in Kimuthambi. Persuasion in Kimuthambi is mainly through logical appeals, emotional appeals and sensationalism. This study adds to existing knowledge on strategies of persuasion in various languages and enriches knowledge on the tenets of the relevance theory. It also enhances the analysis of Kimuthambi as a language variety and thus contributes to cross linguistic studies.
A Linguistic-Stylistics Analysis of Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the City.
(Chuka University, 2017) Miriti, E.K; Gathigia, M.G; Munene, G.W; Gicuku, M.W
A linguistic-stylistics analysis involves a synthesis that examines how language has been used in the realization of a particular subject matter. However, little attention has been given to linguistic-stylistics analysis and particularly in reference to the study of African literature. This study examines a linguistic- stylistics analysis of Francis Imbuga’s play, Betrayal in the City, a text replete with cultural, interpersonal and political betrayals. The Halliday’s Systemic Functional Approach which postulates that the functional nature of language is reflected in its internal structure, especially in its semantic and syntactic organisation is employed in this study. Content analysis is used to identify the linguistic- stylistics features in the play. The study discusses, inter alia, the lexical, grammatical and context categories employed in the play. Linguistic-stylistics works as a bridge between cultural, literary and linguistic studies. The study recommends a linguistic-stylistic analysis of texts to understand the functional nature of language
Locating Sustainable Development In Africa: Discourses on Ekegusii and Lubukusu Proverbs in Kenya.
(Chuka University, 2017) Opande, N.I; Barasa, M
This paper seeks to explore the pertinence of cultural knowledge as an indispensable tool for sustainable development and the attainment of the millennium goals. The formally schooled populace is seen to lay a lot of emphasis on information technology and globalization as they ignore and neglect culture and informal education; this has resulted to a total mismatch in the cultural and socio-economic orientation of the citizenry consequently leading to loss of identification of self and the inability to effectively focus on the attainment of sustainable development and the millennium goals. The study analysed the EkeGusii and LuBukusu teaching on self-reliance and development; investigated the extent to which cultural knowledge is a useful tool in presenting the development agenda and pursuance of the sustainable development goals, and discussed the success of integration of cultural knowledge and modern information technology and innovation in attaining the millennium development goals. Ethnography was used to sample and analyse from EkeGusii and LuBukusu a total of thirty proverbs that emphasise on the value of hard work and sustainability. The data was analysed basing on the tenets of the Cultural Literacy theory and Critical Discourse Analysis. Emphasis of cultural knowledge among Africans was realised to be a vital component in propelling self-reliance, realisation of sustainable development and achievement of the millennium goals. It concluded that there is need to integrate indigenous knowledge with information technology and modern knowledge to enable faster realisation of self-reliance, sustainable development and the achievement of the millennium goals.
Classroom Discourse in A Multilingual Context: The Case of Selected Primary Schools in Chuka Division, Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya.
(Chuka University, 2017) Mbaka, N.W
The sociolinguistic situation in Kenya is triglossic in nature (Schmied, 2012) English is at the top of the rank as the official language. Kiswahili has been in the middle as the co-official and national language. It is also used as the country’s lingua franca. The indigenous languages are at the base of the hierarchy. In such a multilingual setting, code-mixing and code-switching are inevitable. It has not been established how teachers in lower primary utilise the repertoire of languages at their disposal: thus the need for this study. This paper evaluated whether the language-in-education policy is implemented in the classroom. It was a case study carried out in Chuka Division, Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya. Data was collected using participant observation. The paper establishes that teachers mainly use code-mixing in the classroom and also in official domains. The findings contribute to scholarly literature in Sociolinguistics and should benefit curriculum developers.
Understanding History for Human Development.
(Chuka University, 2017) Kavulavu, L.
History has been misunderstood to mean the past. However, past present and future are related. As we try to establish ourselves to feel at home, our past makes our present and so the future. Forces of history produces a given society and as human being we should not abuse history nor use it to interfere with other people freedom and nation building as it will bring suffering. History is thus about using our memory to building our institution so that the society can become productive and meaningful. If we don’t memorize our past we could be in a real trouble to forget who we are. The significance of the past for us today involves selection and choice in which our contemporary concern can have a reasonable role. To understand how and why we live as we do, we cannot avoid appealing to the past to explain how and why we got to be this way. It is not the past alone that plays this crucial role in shaping our identities nor less important is the act of remembering the past. In this paper, therefore, the author will pay more attention on why history is a living memory and that by killing or forgetting our past we lose our way as we navigate our way into an unknown future. So how do we reconnect with the past? The author think we should tell stories about it. Method for this study involved data collection from secondary sources.
Psychosocial Challenges to Sustainable Development in Embu, Tharaka-Nithi and Meru Counties: Psychosocial Issues Reported Between June, 2015 and June 2016.
(Chuka University, 2017) Manono, G; Mwiti, K
The sustainable development goals (SDGs), which are defined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, offer an opportunity to achieve the commitments on the prevention of most harmful psychosocial issues facing humanity in the twenty first century. This paper seeks to identify and analyze the psychosocial challenges that can hinder the attainment of sustainable development in Embu, Tharaka-Nithi and Meru Counties. Objectives that guide the study seeks to establish the causes of psychosocial issues reported in the three Counties, their trends, the nature/type of issues reported, their prevalence/frequency of occurrence per County and per month, relevant policies in place, their impacts to development and recommended mitigation measures. The study uses archival research method whereby data is collected from already existing records from two national dailies of Daily Nation and Standard newspapers for the period from June 2015 to June 2016. Psychosocial issues reported from the three Counties will are systematically recorded using written document analysis worksheet tool where issues are listed as per newspaper, date and County. Each of the reported psychosocial issues is analyzed as per thematic area. The trends in terms of types of psychosocial issues reported and frequency of occurrence is identified and analyzed per month and County. Discussion of findings relates the theoretical explanations in literature to the psychosocial challenges reported in the three Counties. It is anticipated that the findings will be of interest to the County Governments of the said Counties and inform policy and County development planning. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations made based on the findings.
Social Media for Sustainable Development: A Framework for Success in County Governance.
(Chuka University, 2017) Otieno, C.O
The promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya in 2010 ushered in a raft of reforms key among them devolution. The major tenet of devolution is citizen participation in governance; decision-making and implementation factors, functions, responsibilities and resources have been transferred to 47 county governments across Kenya. Since its inception, devolution has faced a myriad of challenges. One of these challenge is that of communication; involving citizens in the decision making process. For devolution to be sustainable, a communication strategy has to be adopted that allows for the citizen and county government to interact in an environment free of the bureaucratic red-tape that characterized governments prior to devolution. Social media enables new approach to county governance that allows stakeholders across board to engage in consensus building and implementation process. This paper explores a framework through which social media can impact on devolution for sustainable development through citizen participation. Specifically, this paper sought to; determine the factors that have influenced the adoption of social media to enhance citizen participation, find out if social media are indeed useful tools for sustainable development and how they can be harnessed to live up to their full potential. The paper applied mixed methodologies and key informant interview was the Principal Information Officer of Migori County, and survey of residents. Despite remarkable efforts in the use of social media to communicate, county governments have failed to fully harness them to guarantee sustainable development. County governments are urged to initiate a social media strategy to enhance dialogue with their stakeholders, create interesting and engaging content as well as monitor and evaluate the performance of these social media strategies.
A Cognitive Blending Analysis Of Idioms In Ntv’s Segment: “Bull’s Eye”.
(Chuka University, 2017) Ogal, G.O; Karuri, T.M
The choreography of certain language data requires analysis beyond the boundaries of conventional provisions is the blast-off point in the studies investigating the correlation between cognition and language. However, delimited attention has hitherto been paid to the unlocking of blended idioms within the Cognitive Integration Perspective in the Kenyan locale. In this chapter, therefore, we analyze the processes of perception and meaning of blended idioms vis-à-vis the canonized forms in Bull’s Eye aired every Friday on NTV. The program is a hilarious satire summarizing weekly socio-political unfolding in a manner exhibiting a rarity of linguistic expression. In order to unlock both literal and figurative meanings, it is salient to explicate the mechanisms by which local context affects the process of idiom construction within the postulates of Cognitive Integration Theory (CIT) whose premise penetrates minds thus forming networks of mental spaces exploring human information integration. Using conventional content analysis, the chapter identifies, classifies and attempts a conceptual interpretation of new knowledge based on metaphorical mappings to illustrate the emergent structures. The general finding of the chapter is that a striking feature of human communication is to create new meanings using blending which improves figurative competencies. The chapter, therefore, recommends that for a better understanding of blended idiomatic expressions and other phraseological items, one should consider contexts expressed in language. We, therefore, conclude that idioms achieve creativity and novelty and should be explained using a cognitive linguistics approach. Further, blended idioms, when subjected to inadequacies of grammar alone, robs one of the ability to appreciate new interpretations.
A History of Social Exclusion and Poverty of The Thagichu of Igembe Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya
(Chuka University, 2017) Kithinji, C.M
This study is on social exclusion and poverty of the Thagichu from the colonial epoch of the years1907 to 1962. Kenyan Government strategies towards alleviation of social exclusion and poverty between 2013 1nd 2015 are also explored. The study was guided by the theories of Underdevelopment, Materialistic Conception of History and Social Darwinism. It employed the descriptive research design. Data was collected from oral, archival and secondary sources. A total of 50 persons were purposively sampled and interviewed and corroborated with data from archival and secondary sources. The Thagichu were socially excluded by the colonial Government. Exclusion was noted in inadequate infrastructure like roads, schools, hospitals and lack of access to social services like banks compared to other areas of Meru County. The study established that the government has come up with strategies that could help tackle social exclusion and poverty of the Thagichu, including building educational facilities, provision of free primary and day secondary education, adult and continuing education, non-formal education and provision of educational funds through the constituency development fund and Affirmative Action Social Development Fund, establishment of road networks, land adjudication, NGOs, formal employment, Health facilities, urban centre and electricity. This study has contributed to the Thagichu historiography.
Hate Speech in The Creation of Socio Political Dominance in Kenyan Parliamentary Debates.”
(Chuka University, 2017) Peter, C.A; Muriungi, P.K; Mukuthuria, M
Speech can vary in meaning and implication. It is generally intended to be communicative but it can sometimes fail to do so. Speech can become something more than a vehicle for the communication of propositional knowledge. Speakers can manipulate language to evoke the emotions of recipients, hence becoming “damaging speech” as opposed to speech that does not evoke negative emotions. What is said or written can have devastating effects on an individual and the society at large. There are aspects of text that should be incorporated for it to be considered acceptable. The objective of the study was: To identify and discuss hate speech as a linguistic strategy used by parliamentarians in the creation of socio-political dominance. The study also analysed language used in debates in the national assembly by identifying hate speech as a linguistic strategy. Descriptive research design was used. Sample texts were studied using Foucauldian Discourse Analysis theory. This theory looked at how the society is moulded by language that shows various power relationships. Qualitative data was collected using a guiding card to identify utterances that had the potential of being classified as hate speech. The study identified language that created dominance and discussed hate speech as a strategy used in the utterances. It analyses hate speech in the debates as captured in the Hansard. The research found that hate speech was used by speakers to create dominance in the debates.
nfluence Of Indigenous Peace Building Strategy in The Management of Interethnic Conflicts for Sustainable Development in Bungoma County, Kenya.
(Chuka University, 2017) Chebai, J.M
This study examined the efficacy of indigenous peace building strategies in the reconstruction of damaged inter-ethnic relationship between the Bukusu and Sabaot. It evaluated the role of elders in interethnic conflict management. The study is anchored on the backgrounds that inter-ethnic conflicts in the area under review and beyond is recurrent, widespread, ravaging humanity exemplified in countries like Bosnia, Cambodia, El Salvador, Mozambique, Namibia, Sudan, Nicaragua and Rwanda yet in equal measure or more anti-conflict mechanisms have been engaged by various actors to cultivate peaceful co-existence. The Bukusu-Sabaot conflict acquired prominence as early as 1963 and has kept recurring in different magnitudes. In 1992, it gained momentum causing deaths, massively uprooted and displaced population to camps of internally displaced persons while other victims crossed over the border and sought refuge in neighbouring countries Uganda and Tanzania. Worse still, the state of normalcy is yet to be achieved. The study assessed the effectiveness of indigenous peace building strategy in the management of interethnic conflict in Bungoma County. The study was informed by Social Constructivist theory. In order to address specific issues envisaged in the study objective both historical and descriptive research designs were used. Data collection instrument entailed interviews, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussion and documentary analysis. The researcher sampled population randomly, determining sample size based on 384 respondents as representative of 100000 in the population. Of necessity, the researcher purposively interviewed public leaders, traditionally recognized leaders, NGO officials and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Secondary data was used to compliment primary data. The data was corded and analyzed using qualitative techniques. The study established that ethnicity, political rivalry, prejudice, resource competition, mismanagement of electioneering process and weak judiciary were key elements in understanding Bukusu-Sabaot conflict, peace building and development. The study will assist policy makers in crafting a cohesive Kenyan society; equip national policy on conflict resolution and peace building and form a benchmark upon which other research can be founded
Proliferation Of New Christian Religious Movements in Meru Town.
(Chuka University, 2017) Mwongera, P.K.; Nkonge, D; Bururia, D.N
This study was meant to investigate the factors leading to the rapid proliferation of new Christian religious movements (NCRMs) in Meru Town in Meru County. This was in consideration that NCRMs have continued to proliferate in the town albeit existence of mission founded churches. The overall question was ‘What causes their upsurge in an area that has well established churches?’ The study investigated the socio political, psycho-religious and economic aspects that lead to the proliferation of the MCRMs in Meru town as well as their impact. It was informed by the Rational Choice Theory developed by Rodney Stark and William Sims Bainbridge in 1987 which emphasize that religious systems are viewed as compensators and human beings are rational actors who make their best choices, calculating cost and benefits. Thus the NCRMs possibly act as compensators compensating for physical lack and the frustrated goals and the members are viewed as rational actors making choices to join NCRMs in view that their wants will be satisfied. It employed descriptive survey research design. Using purposive and simple random sampling technique, 340 respondents were sampled from a population of 4590 in 24 NCRMS in Meru town. The main findings were pastors’ claims of responding to God’s call, schism due to leadership wrangles, economic reasons and others lead to the proliferation of NCRMS in Meru.
Analyses Of Kimeru Word Formation Processes in Three Fraternity Groups in Meru Speech Community.
(Chuka University, 2017) Mikwa, J.K
The aim of the study was to investigate Kimeru word formation processes in three fraternity groups in Meru linguistic community. Sample was drawn from core, central and interloper speakers of the Meru speech community comprising firstly; youth, the UN, defines 'youth', as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years. In Africa youth refers to persons aged between 15 years and 35 years and were the ones studied in this study. Secondly; middle age, middle age is the period of age beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. This study defined middle age as years between 40 years and 55 years. Finally; elders or old age, most Britons define old age as starting at 59 years. The present study defined old age as years between 55 years and above. The respondents were selected using the judgmental sampling procedure. Linguistic theory was used to study the data. The findings of the study were elicited using tape recorded interviews on Kimeru word formation processes. The data for the study was represented both qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings of the study show the knowledge of Kimeru words formation processes varied according to the degree to which the respondents live their livesin Kimeru Language.
Kenya’s Proverb in Lubukusu and Ekegusii Languages: Empowering or Disempowering for Women and Girls.
(Chuka University, 2017) Barasa, M.N; Opande, I.N
Research about the Kenyan women has primarily been conducted from socio-demographic perspectives. Such approaches, while important, are not exhaustive. Thus exploring socio-linguistic perspectives are important to fully understand the place and role of women in the society. Given that proverbs have the function of legitimizing certain role patterns and preventing those patterns from possibly being questioned, this study set out to investigate how Lubukusu and EkeGusii proverbs can empower or disempower women and girls and its impact on the achievement of Millennium Development (MDG) number three: gender equality. Language defines the position of women and in turn, encapsulates a society’s thoughts, beliefs and values. The fact that proverbs are part of people’s popular culture which includes language, it is important to know how these proverbs construct women and girls. Specifically, the paper examines how proverbs portray women, and effect on gender identity, how the meanings in the proverbs empower or disempower women and girls and the implications of proverb messages to achievement of MDGs. Using ethnography, a total of 30 proverbs were collected from five respondents aged between 60 and 75 years. The proverbs were analysed using the framework for language dominance by Lakoff, Zimmerman and feminist theories of the Radicals and Critical Discourse Analysis by Norman Fairclough. The findings indicated women are portrayed as inferior, worthless and weak are constructed in specific roles as domestic worker, wives and caretaker. Consequently, they are marginalized, discriminated in issues of decision making, participation, resource distribution and policy formulation due to the prejudice. Such discriminative proverbs slow the achievement of development goals. To realize the MDGs, there is need to eliminate or re-conceptualize some of the proverbs which reinforces gender parity also reform the language to suit the needs of the society.

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