University of Kabianga

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the complex interplay between university students' perceptions of Technology-Enabled Learning (TEL), their evaluation of institutional TEL resources, and their pragmatic experiences with digital tools, to identify key gaps and opportunities for effective integration. Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 498 students across five Kenyan universities using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to assess perceptions of institutional TEL resources, experiences with MOOCs, perceived usefulness of TEL, and general attitudes towards technology in education. Findings: Students demonstrated overwhelmingly positive perceptions of TEL’s value for academic and career success (Means >4.0). However, their evaluation of institutional TEL provision was lukewarm (Means ~3.0-3.6), highlighting a service quality gap. They valued technologies that provide access and convenience (e.g., lecture capture, mobile services) over complex content creation tools. Students were pragmatic advocates, strongly desiring more TEL integration while expressing concerns about distractions, privacy, and cybersecurity. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study highlights a critical "perception-provision gap," extending the Technology Acceptance Model by showing that high perceived usefulness can coexist with low perceived quality of institutional support. It provides policymakers with evidence to shift from providing basic TEL infrastructure to enhancing its quality, reliability, and pedagogical integration. For practitioners, it underscores the need for a student-centred, mobile-first approach that prioritizes accessible resources and addresses student concerns to translate positive attitudes into effective learning outcomes.

Social media marketing plays an integral part in an organizational performance; it is a digital trend that presents tour operating companies with an opportunity to thrive amidst stiff competition in the market space. Social media provides informative content, customer engagement, interactivity and expert opinion. The main objective of the study was to establish the effect of social media marketing platforms and the performance of tour operating companies in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Diffusion of Innovation theory. Cross-sectional and correlational research designs were utilised. The study used a target population of 212 general managers of tour operating companies using a census approach. An online questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The supervisors and experts were used to examine the validity of the instrument, while Cronbach’s Alpha was adopted to test reliability, where a threshold of 0.7 and above was deemed reliable. Descriptive statistics consisting of means and standard deviations were used to summarise data, while inferential statistics were used to establish the relationship between the variables investigated. The results indicated that, social media platform had a statistically significant effect on the performance of tour operating companies (β2=0.414, P=0.000<0.05). Social media enabled customers to share experiences, promotions and relevant information about the tour destination. The study concluded that social media platforms had a statistically significant effect on of tour operating companies. The study recommended that tour operating companies should create appealing content, good promotional messages, engaging images, and videos that attract travellers

Quality control (QC) is central to ensuring that business processes produce goods and services that meet customer requirements and regulatory standards. Statistical methods underpin modern QC by enabling measurement, monitoring, and improvement of processes. This paper reviews the theoretical foundations of statistical quality control (SQC), describes key statistical tools such as control charts, process capability indices, and links them to business applications. It explores how statistics help identify variation (common‑cause or special‑cause), support decision‐making, and drive continuous improvement (e.g., Six Sigma). Practical implications, challenges (data quality, assumptions, culture), and future directions (big data, multivariate control) are discussed. The aim is to provide business managers and researchers with a comprehensive overview of how statistics can contribute to effective quality control in business operations.

Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) remains a significant clinical challenge in intensive care units (ICUs). Approximately 30% of ventilated patients require PMV with attendant risk for higher morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure. In spite of progress in critical care, little is known about the predictors and outcomes of PMV in low-resource settings. This study investigated the prevalence, demographic and clinical risk factors, and outcomes of prolonged mechanical ventilation in ICU patients at Tenwek Hospital. A retrospective cohort design was employed, reviewing medical records of adult ICU patients (≥18 years) who received invasive mechanical ventilation for more than seven consecutive days between January and December 2024. Patients were included if they had complete clinical documentation, ventilator parameters, and outcome data; those receiving only non-invasive ventilation or with missing critical records were excluded. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis were used to analyse data. All associations were tested at p < 0.05. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported, with model stability ensured by maintaining a minimum of 10 events per predictor variable. Among 173 mechanically ventilated adults, 72.3% experienced prolonged mechanical ventilation. Multivariable logistic regression pinpointed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; adjusted OR = 5.25, 95% CI: 2.35-11.75) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; adjusted OR = 5.28, 95% CI: 2.38-11.73) as the strong predictors, followed by pneumonia (adjusted OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 0.80-4.14) and sepsis (adjusted OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 0.69-3.52). Daily sedation vacation reduced the odds of PMV by 81% (adjusted OR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.08–0.46), while early mobility protocols diminished them by 37% (adjusted OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.28-1.42). These findings underscore the high burden of prolonged ventilation and recommend that simple, low-cost interventions such as structured sedation breaks and early mobilisation may significantly reduce the duration of ventilation and improve outcomes.

Food safety has emerged as a major global concern due to the growing number of food contamination incidences. As a result, foodborne disease burdens continue to rise, adversely affecting the growing number of vulnerable populations. A major pathogen of concern worldwide is Campylobacter, primarily associated with raw foods of animal origin. The pathogen is responsible for causing human campylobacteriosis and other serious health symptoms that result in high case-fatality rates and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis compiled results of cross-sectional primary studies reporting the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in foods. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis protocol, a total of 131 articles were included in the meta-analysis after screening and assessment. From the meta-analysis conducted at a 95% confidence interval, Campylobacter was highly prevalent in poultry products (51.9% [47.0–56.7]) and vegetable products (43.3% [17.9–68.7]), but least prevalent in ready-to-eat foods (5.50% [−0.31–11.3]). This systematic literature review and meta-analysis identified poultry product consumption as a primary risk factor for campylobacteriosis transmission. These findings underscore the need for effective risk management strategies across the poultry production value chain to mitigate this public health threat.

Electoral politics in Kenya has historically reflected deep structural inequalities, especially along gender, class, and geographic lines. While participation in electoral processes has expanded since the reintroduction of multi-party democracy in the early 1990s, women, particularly those residing in rural areas, and especially due to their being an “invisible majority” continue to encounter significant barriers to meaningful political engagement. Drawing on feminist political economy and intersectional feminism literature, employing sequential exploratory mixed-methods research design, the study examined the gendered architecture of political participation in Luo Nyanza counties of Kenya. Data were collected from a survey of 378 respondents and 43 qualitative in-depth interviews and FGDs across Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori counties. Sampling combined multi-stage stratified random techniques for the survey and purposive selection for the qualitative. Chi-Square, multinomial logistic regression, ordinal logistic regression, MANOVA, and PCA’s K-means clustering were employed to analyze the stratification of campaign roles (monetary contribution, strategic management, security provision, sexual entertainment, house chores, cheerleading, and mobilization) by gender and other intersecting identities (education, income, disability, and political patronage). The findings provide a strong empirical critique to the dominance of quantitative incrementalism; ideas and practices that by-and-large reduce gender progress to the mere increase in the number of elite women occupying formal leadership positions. Four key themes underpinned the findings. First, rural women are routinely assigned to none and/or largely unpaid, symbolic roles such as cheerleading, cooking, and mobilization, while men, especially politically connected and well-educated, dominate managerial and resource-based functions. Second, Chi-Square tests revealed that only political patronage significantly predicted participation in exploitative roles, such as sexual entertainment, especially among young, low-income women, showing that for rural women, closeness to power can exacerbate rather than protect against gender vulnerabilities. Third, advanced analytics revealed that gender, when combined with the other intersecting identifies exhibit consistent influence on campaign role allocation to rural-based voters. Lastly, PCA’s KMeans Clustering revealed the deeper social architecture of electoral participation in Luo Nyanza by surfacing distinct constellations of rural political participation, namely, Hybrid Performative-Strategic, Masculinized Security-Exploitative, Household Anchor, and the Hyper-Visible and Vulnerable clusters. The study concludes that meaningful gender equity in political participation must go beyond elite inclusion and consequently recommends that duty-bearers should redirect efforts and resources to the informal political economies of the rural, devise context-sensitive campaign labor regulation, and formulate civic education strategies that aim to dismantle gendered norms, affirm rural women's agency, visibility, and voice.

Career decision making is crucial among people all over the world and choosing a career is challenging to those who do not have a wide life experience. Despite the high school completion rates, there is a noticeable trend in Kiambu County that majority of students find it difficult to choose a career after completion. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of parent’s level of education on students’ career decision self-efficacy of students in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study was guided by the Social Cognitive Career theory and the Systems theory. This study used a combination of descriptive and correlational research design. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. The target population consisted of 29,682 form three students in Kiambu county. The sample size consisted of 380 form three students who were selected using stratified sampling techniques from the 285 secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. Questionnaires were used for data collection. The questionnaires were pilot tested with 30 students from three secondary schools. The Reliability of the instrument was tested using Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient (r=0.79). Content validity was tested using content validity index (CVI=0.84). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics which included percentages, means, and frequencies. The hypothesis was tested using t-test, Simple Regression and Analysis of Variance at 0.05 level of significance. The research found out that parents level of education (F (4, 375) = 11.663, p = .000) has statistically significant influence on students’ career decision self-efficacy in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. Findings of this study informs the Ministry of Education, policy makers, career guidance teachers and also parents on the influence of parents level of education on the students while making career decisions. This study contributes to the body of knowledge as it provides a model for predicting students’ career decision self-efficacy given the parents level education. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that parent’s level of education has statistically significant influence on career decision self-efficacy among students in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study recommended that the career teachers should consider parent’s level of education in career guidance as it statistically influence career decision self-efficacy among students in public secondary schools.

This study investigates how digital literacy is integrated into the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) framework for Mathematics Education in universities. Anchored in the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, the study employs a qualitative systematic literature review to synthesize evidence from global, regional, and local contexts. It identifies five key challenges: uneven CBC implementation in Mathematics instruction, fragmented use of digital tools, teacher capacity deficits, inadequate infrastructure, and outdated assessment practices. The study further explores how these gaps undermine CBC’s goals of promoting real-world problem-solving and 21st-century competencies. In response, it proposes a context-sensitive framework emphasizing teacher professional development, strategic infrastructure investment, performance-based digital assessments, and stakeholder collaboration. While the study offers actionable insights for aligning Mathematics pedagogy with CBC goals in a digital age, it acknowledges its primary limitation the reliance on secondary data through qualitative synthesis which may not fully capture evolving classroom realities

Information Communication and Technology (ICT), specifically Radio and Television are potential knowledge dissemination channels. This study investigated the usage of radio and Television compared to extension agents as sources of agricultural knowledge among farmers in Kitui West Sub County, Kenya. Specifically, the study identified that farmers potentially use radio and television as major sources of agricultural knowledge more than extension agents. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. The target population was 19,970 smallholder maize farmers and the estimated sample size was 350. Proportionate clustered random sampling was used to select respondents in order to ensure reasonable representation of the population. Data was collected using two instruments namely; Researcher administered questionnaire for farmers and focus group discussion guide. The collected data was managed with computer program Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 21.0). Questionnaire instrument used provided quantitative data which was analysed using descriptive statistics namely; frequencies and percentages while focus group discussion guide instrument used to provide qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Results were presented by use of a table. The study therefore concludes that farmers mostly use ICT mostly Radio in obtaining agricultural information. The study recommends to the County government to engage and fund the various information sources including public, private extension officers and local media especially radio and television to increase passing of information to the farmers.

Hypertension remains a major public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Kenya, where control rates are suboptimal due to healthcare delivery gaps. Although nurse-led interventions have shown effectiveness in managing chronic diseases globally, their role in hypertension care within Kenya's healthcare system remains underutilized. This scoping review explores the impact of nurse-led health education interventions in hypertension management and identifies gaps in their implementation. A systematic literature search was conducted across major academic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and the WHO Global Health Library, using predefined search terms. Studies examining physician-led, pharmacist-led, community-based, and nurse-led hypertension interventions were analyzed for effectiveness and limitations. Inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and government reports published within the last decade. Findings indicate that physician-led models dominate hypertension care in Kenya but often lack structured patient education and adherence support. Pharmacist-led and community-based interventions have demonstrated improvements in medication adherence but remain inadequately integrated into routine care. Nurse-led interventions, which emphasize patient education, lifestyle counseling, and follow-up care, have shown success in other regions but face barriers such as workforce constraints, lack of standardized education programs, and minimal policy integration in Kenya. This review underscores the need for structured nurse-led hypertension education interventions to improve patient adherence and blood pressure control. Key policy recommendations include the development of task-shifting frameworks, specialized nurse training, integration of nurse-led interventions into Universal Health Coverage (UHC) policies, and the implementation of pilot nurse-led hypertension clinics in Level 4 and 5 hospitals. Additionally, mobile health technologies can enhance adherence monitoring and follow-up care. Consideration of gray literature, including government policies and unpublished reports, provided contextual insights but revealed challenges in accessing comprehensive data. The PRISMA diagram illustrates the study selection process, and Appendix C presents a data extraction table summarizing key studies on hypertension management interventions.