Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

Historically, mainstream churches held a firm stance on technology adoption, as the leadership of the churches felt that it would interfere with the church’s system of beliefs and operations. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, the church found itself at a crossroads, where the conventional way of church operations was altered and technological tests crept in. This paper explores how COVID-19 exposed the church's technological weaknesses and their implications, situating the justification for adoption. Guided by technological determinism theory, the paper examines the implications of external forces, such as COVID-19, playing a role in reshaping the technological landscape in mainstream churches. The study deployed a qualitative research approach to review literature from secondary sources like pastoral letters, journal articles and church reports and documents. Findings of the study reveal that COVID-19 exposed a state of technological unpreparedness, forced technology adoption, the digital divide and theological and ecclesiological tensions within mainstream churches. Additionally, while technology was initially seen as an enemy to the church, implications drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic justified that the right use of technology is imperative for the church. The study concludes that COVID-19 highlighted the technological gaps that the mainstream church ought to address and embrace continued use of technology through a hybrid model that blends traditional approaches with technology. The study recommends that it is worthwhile for mainstream church leaders to ensure that their training is well conducted to enable effective use of digital platforms. Additionally, the church should endeavour to adopt a hybrid model of worship that blends digital tools with traditional practices. Finally, mainstream churches should refocus on strengthening the digital infrastructure to address the accessibility gaps exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The control of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) remains constrained by institutional, financial and technical barriers in many livestock-keeping regions of sub-Saharan Africa, despite its detrimental impact on trade, pastoral livelihoods and food security. Therefore, livestock keepers are relying on suboptimal use of antimicrobials to manage CBPP outbreaks. We conducted an outbreak investigation to understand epidemiological and management practices in 95 herds with ongoing or recent cases of CBPP in five counties of Kenya. A wide range of antimicrobials including tetracycline, penicillin-streptomycin (pen & strep), tylosin, and diminazen were used in majority of herds (90/95; 94.7%), with half of these herds receiving sequential administration of two or more types of drugs to address failure of the first use. Only 33/95 (34.7%) of farmers reported to have vaccinated their animals and most of them vaccinated in response to outbreaks in their herds rather than the expected routine preventive program (28/33, 84.8%). The average case fatality rate (CFR) for CBPP was estimated at 36%, with only treatment with tylosin resulting in a significant reduction in mortalities due to CBPP (p = 0.035). Majority of livestock keepers (83.3%) continued to consume milk from their animals during and after the treatment period, without observing the stipulated withdrawal periods. Policy emphasis should shift toward prudent use of antimicrobials and preventive vaccination as the cornerstone of CBPP control, while using multifaceted One Health strategy that bridges veterinary, public health, and environmental sectors.

Malaria vector resistance to insecticides is a major threat to the recent progresses in malaria control highlighting the need for continuous epidemiological surveillance in Kenya. WHO tube bioassay tests were used against 0.1% bendiocarb and 0.75% permethrin on Anopheles gambiae s.l. to determine phenotypic resistance. Real-time Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to identify G119S Acetylcholinesterase (ace1R) and L1014S mutation. Anopheles arabiensis was the most prevalent species, with a frequency of 72% in Malava, 76% in Lurambi, 68% in Mumias East and 58% in Ikolomani. Possible resistance to bendiocarb was observed in all study sites. An. arabiensis exhibited possible resistance across all sites, while Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto showed phenotypic resistance in Lurambi with 87.5% mortality, but fully susceptible in Malava with 100% mortality. The G119S mutation frequency ranged from 0.6% to 2.2% in An. arabiensis while An. gambiae s.s. had a frequency of 0.0% to 1.5%. The frequency of allele was high in An. arabiensis as compared to An. gambiae s.s. across study sites with no significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There is widespread insecticide resistance in malaria vectors within Kakamega County, with Anopheles arabiensis being the most prevalent species in the County. The detection of bendiocarb possible resistance in An. arabiensis across all sites and resistance in Anopheles gambiae s.s. suggests a challenge for vector control. The low frequency of the G119S ace-1R mutation indicates that resistance may be due to metabolic rather than target-site mechanisms.

Tensions between data utility and personal privacy have increased due to the widespread adoption of Internet technologies and Big Data analytics. Even though current privacy-preserving techniques and legal frameworks have enhanced data protection, they frequently consider privacy as a technological or legal issue rather than as a basic moral right based on autonomy and dignity. This paper argues that such approaches are unsuitable in contemporary data ecosystems characterized by large-scale aggregation, algorithmic inference, profiling, and collective damages. Through a critical analysis of moral rights-based theories and models, privacy frameworks, and Privacy-by-Design approach, the paper examined how privacy is framed as a moral right and established important normative and practical constraints. The Ethically Grounded, Contextual, and Collective Privacy-by-Design (ECC-PbD) framework, which incorporates moral justification, contextual governance, collective protection, and technical embedding, is proposed in the study based on this analysis. By incorporating ethical commitments into system architectures and governance structures, ECC-PbD offers a more coherent and enforced implementation of privacy as a moral right in data-intensive situations

This study examines how digital technology serves as a medium for reimagining and repackaging African folktales. The analysis focuses on a case study of ten selected episodes from Tinga Tinga Tales, including Why Hyena Has Short Hind Legs, Why Bat Hangs Upside Down, Why Bush Baby Has Big Eyes, Why Leopard Has Spots, Why Tortoise Has a Cracked Shell, Why the Vulture Is Bald, Why Cheetah Has Tears, Why Parrot Can’t Keep a Secret, Why Snake Has No Legs, and Why Bat Hangs Upside Down. The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design, which entailed a critical textual analysis of animated episodes. This involved participatory observation of preschool children’s responses during viewing sessions at Logitech Academy in Kakamega County, Kenya. Data were collected through viewing guides, informal interviews, and observation notes. Guided by semiotics and children’s literature theory, data was analyzed thematically to explore how digital animation enhances fantasy and engagement among children. Findings show that animation transforms African oral narratives into visually immersive experiences that heighten imagination, emotional engagement, and moral understanding. Children responded with belief, curiosity, and empathy, indicating that digital storytelling not only sustains the cultural and didactic functions of folktales but also adapts them to the visual expectations of digital-native audiences. The study concludes that Tinga Tinga Tales exemplifies how African oral traditions can be revitalized through digital media to preserve heritage and foster imaginative learning among children.

Supply chain performance refers to the ability of an extended supply chain to meet end-customer demands through responsive inventory and capacity management, timely delivery, and product availability. This study examined the effect of production process capabilities on supply chain performance. The study was anchored on the Dynamic Capabilities Theory. A descriptive survey research design was employed, targeting four sugar manufacturing firms with a total population of 281 respondents. A sample size of 165 was selected from a population of 281 using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. A pilot study conducted at Kibos Sugar Company in Kisumu County tested the reliability and validity of the research instruments. Reliability was confirmed with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.7 and above, while validity was ensured through expert reviews. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and SDs) and inferential statistics, including linear, multiple, and hierarchical regression analysis. The findings revealed that production process capabilities (r = 0.525, R² = 0.276, p = 0.000) had a significant positive effect on supply chain performance. It is evident that production process capabilities had a significant positive influence on the supply chain performance of sugar manufacturing companies since they have a significant impact on the outcomes attained. These results implied that supply chain performance was higher for sugar manufacturing companies with more robust production process capabilities. The study recommends that sugar manufacturing firms streamline production cycles.

The article explores the transformation of African oral storytelling through digital media, with a focus on ‘Tinga Tinga’ Tales. The purpose is to highlight how digital platforms enhance narrative delivery by integrating visual, auditory, and performative elements that surpass the limitations of written texts. Using the principles of multimodal theory, the study critically analyses the effectiveness of visual storytelling in engaging children, preserving cultural heritage, and expanding audience reach across linguistic and geographic boundaries. Through an in-depth textual analysis, the findings reveal and emphasize the role of animation, dialogue, music, and character voice in creating immersive, multi-voiced narratives that foster imagination and emotional connection. Significantly, the article addresses how digital media democratizes access to African folktales, making them accessible to non-literate audiences and global viewers, thereby diversifying and revitalizing Africa’s rich oral traditions in the digital age.

Background: HIV-related retention is a significant issue that impedes the best treatment outcomes for clients with suspected treatment failure (STF). This study examined how the retention of HIV/AIDS clients in STF is promoted in Kakamega County, Kenya. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design that combined qualitative and quantitative research. Four sub-counties were used to recruit 513 participants (270 in the treatment and 243 in the control groups) on treatment failure rate. Results: The main indices of treatment success were viral load suppression, increased CD4 lymphocyte counts, clinic attendance, and decreased missed pills and opportunistic infections. Monetary and social rewards were also very effective in increasing retention in care and clinical outcomes in the short run. Conclusion: Evidence indicates that medical care with context-specific incentives and digital technologies can help to boost HIV patients at risk of treatment failure to a large extent.

Giardiasis is a common intestinal disease caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis. The transmission of giardiasis is influenced by a complex interplay of environmental hazards such as contaminated water sources, markets, and/or roads or pathways including anthropozoonotic domestic animal-related factors and accessibility to healthcare. However, the risk factors of acquiring G. duodenalis including its assemblages and sub-assemblages have not been previously mapped in high burden populations in rural Africa. To mitigate transmission in rural African settings with special reference to Kenya, it is important to map out the clustering of the disease occurrence in relation to risk factors. Accordingly, this study evaluated geospatial clustering of G. duodenalis assemblages and sub-assemblages, in relation with environmental and domestic animal-related factors in Busia County, a rural setting of Western Kenya. In this cross-sectional study, 147 human stools were microscopically and molecularly analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for G. duodenalis infection. A total of 88 human stool specimens positive for G. duodenalis deoxyribonucleic acid were genotyped at the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and triose-phosphate isomerase (tpi) loci using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Data on human and livestock population densities were obtained from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and incorporated into the geospatial analyses to explore their relationship with infection patterns. Distances from households to the nearest market, stream and/or river, road and/or pathway, and health facility were calculated and linked to geospatial clustering with the disease. Overall, 59.9% of the human stool samples were positive for giardiasis in the sampled population. Geospatial clustering analyses indicated that giardiasis clustered with residing near a market (adjusted; aOR, 1.73), stream and/or river water source (aOR, 1.16), road (aOR, 1.74), an area with larger cattle (aOR, 1.83) or poultry (aOR, 1.36) densities (all P < 0.05). Likewise, assemblage A (aOR, 1.14 and 1.06) and sub-assemblage AII (aOR, 1.51 and 1.62) clustered with residing near stream and/or river water sources, and in localities with larger cattle density, respectively (all P < 0.05). Conversely, assemblage B (aOR, 1.87; 1.46; and 2.98) clustered with distance to the road, including cattle and poultry densities (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). Furthermore, sub-assemblages BIII (aOR, 2.04 and 1.22) clustered with distance to the road and cattle densities, while BIV (aOR, 1.62) clustered with poultry densities (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). Giardia duodenalis assemblage A and B including sub-assemblages AII, BIII, and BIV infections cluster differentially with residence at the nearest stream and/or river water source, market or road or within areas with larger cattle or poultry densities. In contrast, the absence of such environmental and domestic animal-related risk factors may represent areas that are relatively less affected by giardiasis. While we did not explicitly designate "low-risk" zones, the spatial clustering patterns suggest that environments with limited human-animal-environmental interface pressures are less conducive to giardiasis transmission.