The stigmatisation of indigenous knowledge in Kenya: Status and interventions

This thesis examined the socio-economic and ecological impacts of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) approaches in Neboi and Libehiya Wards of Mandera East Sub-county. The research sought to assess the impacts on water, land, and forest resources, evaluate community participation in natural resource management, and investigate the role of community-based institutions in governing these resources. A mixed-methods research design was employed, involving 97 household heads and 12 respondents from the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Multiplex regression indicated that CBNRM factors had a significant influence on the socioeconomic and ecological outcomes (p < 0.05) and the R 2 was 0.523. ANOVA test verified the significance of the model. Whereby, 93% of the outcome was correlated with demographic factors. Findings indicated that CBNRM positively impacted natural resource management by enhancing community participation, fostering a sense of collective ownership, and promoting collaborative governance of water, land, and forest resources. The study also found that when communities are actively involved in the management processes, their indigenous knowledge and expertise significantly contribute to better decision-making, leading to sustainable natural resource management. The study concluded that strengthening community engagement in natural resource management leads to improved socio-economic and ecological outcomes, including improved livelihood attainment, sustainable use, and protection of natural biodiversity. The study, therefore, recommends enhancing the CBNRM framework in natural resource management to ensure socio-economic and ecological sustainability

Water conservation is an urgent necessity in the face of increasing global water stress, climatic instability, and unsustainable water use patterns. Despite the development of various water-saving technologies and traditional conservation practices, awareness and knowledge dissemination among communities remain limited. This paper explores the impact of knowledge dissemination on water conservation with special reference to Ottapalam, a semi-urban region in Palakkad district, Kerala, India. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach that integrates sociological inquiry, environmental education, and communication studies, the research examines the effectiveness of different dissemination channels—digital media, folk media, local institutions, and formal education. Based on a mixed-methods research design, the study combines quantitative data from 300 households with qualitative insights from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Findings reveal that awareness alone does not ensure behavioural change; socio-cultural, economic, and infrastructural factors deeply influence the adoption of water conservation practices. Local governance bodies, particularly the Krishibhavan and panchayats, play a vital role but face resource and communication barriers. The paper advocates for participatory knowledge dissemination methods using culturally resonant tools and suggests policy interventions to integrate water literacy within educational, administrative, and community development frameworks. This research contributes to the international discourse on environmental sustainability by highlighting community-centric strategies for effective water management

Indigenous agricultural knowledge: A neglected human based resource for sustainable crop protection and production

Upgrading strategies for a given product value chain might not result in the intended impact on different gender groups, if gender analysis is not undertaken. This study investigated the gender influence on preferred food and cash crops, as well as upgrading strategies in sub-humid Kilosa and semi-arid Chamwino Districts, Tanzania. A mixed methods research design was used to collect information from 595 respondents, while content analysis was used to qualitatively analyze qualitative data obtained from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Our findings show that farmers from Kilosa and Chamwino had no differences with respect to preferences expressed by men and women for their first priority cash. Gender differences for choices were evident in relation to the second priority, food crops, in the semi-arid area and the third priority, which was also food crops in the sub-humid area, where women and youth differed from men on their views toward maize versus sorghum in the semi-arid region. Here, youth differed from women and men in how they viewed cassava versus rice. For upgrading strategies, which were only conducted with the first priority crops, most of the strategies preferred by men differed from those preferred by women and youth. In both areas, youth and women preferred upgrading strategies related to crop harvesting, transportation and primary processing, whereas men preferred upgrading strategies for farm inputs and crop marketing. Therefore, it is recommended that site-specific gendered analysis on upgrading strategies in agricultural value chains should be completed prior to introducing an intervention.

This study explores the dynamics and challenges for agricultural food crop production from the perspective of climate variability in Tanzania. It describes the variations in agricultural crop production as a result of differences in the types of farming systems, socio-economic situation and implications of climate variability across agroecological zones. The technological aspects and policy options for developing adaptation options and minimising adverse effects on agricultural production under changed climate are also presented. The study is based on both primary and secondary data, collected through household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. The qualitative data were subjected to content and trend analysis, whereas the quantitative data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS software. The results indicate the decline in food crop production and increased vulnerability to food insecurity among the smallholder and subsistence farmers. The main reasons for the change in production include climate change and variability (manifested by the fluctuating rainfall, drought and changes in temperature), land exhaustion and low adaptive capacity. Addressing the main challenges to increasing agricultural productivity on the existing farm lots to meet the growing demands for food and to offset the climate variability-induced yield losses was recommended. This includes putting in place appropriate policies, strategies, investment plans and collective actions to support the local farmers and enhance their resilience to the changing environment. This will need to enhance productivity and market efficiency among the farming community to increase the uptake of the recommended packages for agricultural crop production.

In recent decades, researchers and development practitioners have explored strategies to manage shocks and reduce food insecurity in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) especially through introduction of modern scientific approaches and interventions; for instance promotion of exotic livestock breeds, but these interventions have not yielded desired results. This has been attributed to the fact that most of these interventions ignore pastoralists’ own indigenous knowledge and practices and thus tend to have low acceptability. Recognizing the need for context-specific locally-acceptable and adaptable solutions to pastoralists’ challenges, the present study assessed the role of indigenous knowledge and practices in reducing food insecurity in pastoralists’ households in West Pokot County, Kenya. Data was collected from arid and semi arid locations. A focus group discussion, key informant interviews and individual surveys on 191 households were conducted. Results demonstrate the value attached to traditional customs, guided migratory patterns and sustainable human-environment interactions in adapting to the harsh environment and mitigating food insecurity. Results from a binary probit regression analysis showed that seasonal transhumant migration, traditional pasture conservation and planting indigenous drought tolerant crops have a significant effect in reducing household food insecurity. The findings point to the need for documentation of indigenous knowledge and practices and their integration in long-term programs and plans aimed at building resilience in pastoralist systems. Key words: Pastoralists, indigenous knowledge, local practices, food security.

Purpose: Policy networks approach has gained prominence among scholars due to myriad complex problems in public policy processes and management. Yet, many policies are designed and implemented without meaningful participation of citizens particularly through the informal institutions of policy networks. Despite its vital role in allowing different stakeholders to come together, share their expertise and knowledge, and work to create effective solutions to public policy issues many public making processes seems to have considered policy network collaborations to low extent. Furthermore, other benefits of policy network collaborations such as allowing different perspectives to be heard and considered leading to more informed and effective public policy. Considering that, this study interrogated the effect of policy network collaboration on public policy process outcomes in the road transport sector in Nairobi City County, Kenya.
 Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population of the study was 470 policy actors in the road transport sector within Nairobi City County out of which 407 were purposefully sampled to respond to the questionnaire and 45 were sampled to participate in focused group discussions as well as key informant interviews. The sampling approach adopted was a purposeful sampling procedure. A mixed methodology was adopted whereby both quantitative and qualitative data was collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews and focused group discussions. The quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive statistics that is mean, frequencies and percentages as well as regression analysis. On the other hand, qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis and reported in a narrative format.
 Findings: The findings established that the level of policy network collaboration involving but not limited to information sharing, cooperation and agreement in road transport sector within Nairobi City County, Kenya was very high which was associated with a positive and significant effect on policy process outcomes.
 Recommendations: The study recommends the policy makers and stakeholders in the transport sector in Nairobi City County to develop a shared understanding of the public policy process, increase transparency and communication in the process, encourage cross-sector collaboration, utilize technology in enhancing collaboration as well as develop a culture of trust in the policy making process as a way of improving policy network collaboration.

This study develops a structural model of an exemplary mathematics teacher featuring students' perspectives. This study used an exploratory sequential mixed method research (MMR) design. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted to determine the attributes of an exemplary mathematics teacher. The participants of the FGD were the students from the chosen two secondary schools, with eight student representatives from each school. The KII was also done with ten mathematics teachers and one mathematics supervisor. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted for the attributes of an exemplary mathematics teacher, and it yielded four factors, namely: (1) Expertise, (2) Effective Communication with Students, (3) Devolution, and (4) Teacher's Disposition. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed on the hypothesized Model with four latent variables with their corresponding observed variables using Analysis of Moment Structure (AMOS) version 21. Using the Structural Equation Model (SEM) technique, the findings revealed a significant influence of the factors on exemplary mathematics teaching, thus providing a theoretical foundation for this study. Moreover, the findings also showed significant contributions of the observed variables (S.Q. items) to the latent variables (factors). Based on the SEM findings supported by the literature, the structural Model of an exemplary mathematics teacher was empirically founded. The developed model could serve as one of the platforms for lifting mathematics education. Also, the validated survey questionnaire could be a tool for assessing mathematics teachers.

Maize crop farming in rain fed regions of the world is dependent on rainfall amount and distribution. In Kenya, most smallholder maize farmers depend on rainfall to grow the crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate rainfall variability and its impacts on maize production in Tongaren Sub- County, Kenya. The study applied the decision making theory and adopted the mixed methods research design. Cluster and proportionate sampling procedures were used to select 395 respondents selected out of a target population of 33,602 maize farmers. Primary data was obtained by use of questionnaires for households’ interview, key informant interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and observation checklists. Secondary data was sourced from Kenya Meteorological Department comprising of monthly rainfall from 1985 to 2022. Maize yield data was obtained from Bungoma County Department of Agriculture. Analysis of data was done using SPSS and XL STAT statistical packages and results presented in form of pie charts, tables and bar graphs. Rainfall variability during MAM, JJAS and annual rainfall was found to be 20.7%, 20.6% and 14.3% respectively. Pearson’s correlation coefficient between rainfall and maize yield for MAM, JJAS and March to September was computed as 0.05, 0.53 and 0.4 respectively. Further results reveal that rainfall probability of exceedance ranges from 60% to 100% during MAM period while that of March to September ranges from 70% and 100%. The study also established that rainfall variability impacts maize production in various ways such as influencing choice of maize variety (63.5%), maize yield and cropping cycle (100%). Regression of maize yield and time yielded an R2 value of 26.7%. These results provide a useful guide on formulating adaptation policies aimed at making maize production resilient to adverse effects of climate change which may help to improve food security. The study concluded that there was significant rainfall variability which could be linked to fluctuations in maize yield and had the potential to affect future maize production in the study area. The study recommends the need for closer collaboration between the agencies responsible for provision of rainfall information and maize producers in order to address the issue of rainfall variability and manage climate related risks through appropriate adaptation strategies. To achieve this the study further recommends that climate information providers improve on the availability and dissemination of timely and accurate weather and climate information especially rainfall forecasts to the maize farmers so as to enable them make informed farm –level decisions in order to boost maize production.

Managing knowledge in general and indigenous knowledge in particular has become an important and valuable input in the management of sustainable development programmes. Historically, indigenous knowledge has been downplayed in the management of information. The tendency among library and information professionals has been to emphasize recorded knowledge at the expense of unrecorded indigenous knowledge. However, the growing realization that indigenous knowledge has a role to play in national development as well as the knowledge management environment has led to the growth of interest in preserving and managing it. The major challenges to the management and preservation of indigenous knowledge are issues relating to collection development, intellectual property rights, access and the preservation media.

This paper asserts problematic frames of reference among community members and the breakdown in community wide dialogue as key contributing factors towards the slow pace in rural development and social change. The frames of reference are considered problematic partly because they influence community members to view development programmes negatively. It is argued that transformative learning through dialogue enhances sustainable social change. The praxis for facilitating community wide transformational learning was explored using a mixed methods research methodology with the Mhakwe Comprehensive Community Initiative in Zimbabwe as a case study. Qualitative data were collected from action research, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire following a multi stage stratified sampling procedure (n=65). Based on the findings, key enablers for transformative learning include: addressing community polarity; creating communicative space; refining Frames of Reference; and developing dialogue infrastructure. Transformative learning was found to be enhanced through creating positive energy and leveraging indigenous knowledge. The study concludes that development institutions need to embrace transformative learning as a strategy for sustainable social change.

Many early researchers and students sometimes face the challenges with the type of data they need and the methods that can help them collect data for their academic research. Some of them often struggle with selecting appropriate data types and methods, leading to delays in research progress. Scientific data collection is one of the most important stages of academic research. Poor data leads to poor and unreliable estimated results that cannot be used for shaping public policy, and helping governments and other stakeholders make informed decisions. Thus, this review aims to equip beginners with tools to design robust studies and complete their research efficiently. This study reviewed the relevant literature on the types of data and the data collection methods in social sciences. The narrative literature review focused on the studies that are relevant to the topic and are published in English. The study used published articles from databases such as ResearchGate, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. The findings depicted that data can be categorized based on three main dimensions. These include the Nature of data (Qualitative, quantitative data or Mixed methods) and (Categorical or Continuous), Data source (Primary or Secondary data), Data collection (Cross-sectional, Longitudinal or Time series data). The literature search also showed that the widely used methods of data collection in social sciences include Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews, Observations and Secondary data sources such as Archives, Records and Published documents. In general, researchers should choose the right type of data and data collection method that can answer their research objectives. This will ensure that they collect valid and reliable data that can guide policymakers and the government.

The aim of the study was to identify determinants of smallholder fruit commercialization in southwest Ethiopia. To get the sampled respondents multi-stage sampling techniques were used and in view of that, three districts were selected purposively from Jimma zone by selecting eight kebeles randomly. At the end, total of 240 sample households were randomly selected from these kebeles. To answer the research questions and objective of the study both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected from fruit producers as sampled households, agricultural experts, local leaders and other subject matter specialists on various aspects of commercializing fruits. Primary data were collected from the respondents using a pre-testing questionnaires, structured interview schedule and closed and open-ended questionnaires by well-trained enumerators closely supervised by the researchers. Secondary data were previous research findings and reports collected from kebeles, districts, agricultural offices, ministry of trade, trade and revenue offices. Moreover, qualitative data were collected through discussions with different agents by using focus group discussion and key informant interviews. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, average mean, standard deviation, chi square and t-test) and econometric model (Probit model) to analyse determinant factors affecting smallholder’s participation decision in marketing of fruits. From the result, age of household heads, household family size, access to transport services, off-farm activities, access to extension services, distance to market, improved fruit seeds and perishability of fruit were significantly affecting smallholder farmer’s participation decision in commercialization of fruits. Therefore, to overcome the investigated problems strong commitment and reformation should be done by stakeholders including farmers, extension agents, researchers, policy makers.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between self – efficacy and interpersonal nature among orphaned adolescent students in secondary schools in Nyatike Sub - County, Kenya. The study was informed by Self-efficacy theory adopted from Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory. Mixed Methods research design within Mixed Methods Approach was utilized and Concurrent Triangulation was used. The target population consisted of 1703 students, 17 teachers and 3 Focus Group Discussions from 57 public secondary schools in Nyatike Sub- County of Kenya. A sample size of 511 students, 17 teachers and 12 participants for Focus Group Discussions were obtained using stratified random sampling and purposive sampling techniques respectively. Reliability of instruments was determined through pilot study with 42 participants. The partici-pants in the pilot study were excluded from taking part in the actual study. Content and face validity of the instruments was ascertained by pilot testing of the questionnaires and also by seeking expert opinion of uni-versity lecturers experienced in formulation of research tools. Data was collected using closed-ended ques-tionnaires, in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic framework. The study findings revealed that there was moderate positive (r=0.370, p=0.01) correlation between self – efficacy and interper-sonal nature of orphaned adolescents. The study concluded that self-efficacy could be enhanced to foster better interpersonal functioning among orphaned adolescent students.

BackgroundWhile psychosocial services are known to improve treatment adherence and quality of life for cancer patients by mitigating anxiety and depression, evidence from Ethiopia is limited. A recent trial introduced integrated psychosocial interventions, including counseling, group discussions, educational materials, and home visits, into routine care. The present study explores barriers and facilitators affecting psychosocial service provision in selected Ethiopian hospitals.MethodA qualitative study was conducted at six hospitals across four regions of Ethiopia, where psychosocial support had been introduced and provided to patients with cancer. Data were collected through in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with patients diagnosed with breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer; as well as key informant interviews (KIIs) with healthcare professionals, including oncologists, gynecologists, surgeons, nurses, and health extension workers. All interviews were transcribed, translated and reviewed for completeness. To enhance data familiarity, transcripts and audio recordings were reviewed multiple times. NVivo software was used for data management and organization. Data was coded inductively while predefined themes are introduced deductively, followed by thematic analysis to identify key patterns and insights.ResultBarriers to psychosocial support (PSS) in cancer care include limited awareness of its importance, as treatment is often considered to be purely medical. Although home visits are common in maternal health, in cancer care, they face resistance due to unfamiliarity. Disclosure challenges also persist, with providers avoiding sensitive conversations, leaving patients under-informed. Hospital leadership tends to prioritize physical care over PSS. However, survivor stories enhance patient reassurance and openness; travel reimbursements and refreshments facilitate patient participation and communication, and routine supervision of PSS activities supports provider effectiveness in PSS provision.ConclusionIntegrating PSS into routine cancer care requires a shift in the mindset of patients, providers, and leadership, recognizing PSS as an essential component of comprehensive cancer care. Raising awareness about home visits and strengthening provider skills through targeted training on disclosure can improve patient engagement and quality of care.