African Journal of Empirical Research
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Lived experiences of teachers on the effectiveness of moral education in addressing gender-based violence in public secondary schools in Vihiga County, Kenya
Get PDFThis study examined the determinants of the use of accounting software among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. Despite the growing imperative for digital financial management, the use of accounting software remains limited. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and positivism research philosophy, this study assessed the influence of management support, perceived ease of use, and competitive pressure on the use of accounting software among SMEs. A cross-sectional research design was employed, utilizing quantitative techniques. Data for this study were collected through a survey method employing a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 135 SMEs, selected using stratified random sampling to ensure representativeness across key business sectors. The collected data were subsequently analysed through binary logistic regression in Stata/MP version 17.0. The results show that several variables had statistically significant influence on the use of accounting software. Within management support, training provision (p < 0.01), managerial resources allocation (p < 0.01), and active managerial involvement (p < 0.01) significantly influenced the use of accounting software. Under perceived ease of use, significant factors included ease of learning (p < 0.01), interface clarity (p < 0.01), and user-friendliness (p < 0.05). From the domain of competitive pressure, both competitor adoption (p < 0.05) and external demands (p < 0.01) were statistically significant. These findings confirm that the decision to use accounting software is not merely technical but is shaped by managerial behavior, system design, and environmental dynamics. This study concludes that, effective use of accounting software depends on deliberate leadership, system simplicity, and external incentives. It recommends prioritizing managerial training, promoting intuitive software design, and leveraging peer and institutional support to enhance the financial digital transformation of SMEs. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the determinants of the use of accounting software in the context of SMEs in Morogoro Municipality, a setting that has received limited attention in prior research. From a practical perspective, the findings offer actionable insights for SME owners and policymakers to strengthen digital financial management
Assessing administrative effectiveness of the m-mama emergency transport system: A case of Mtwara Region, Tanzania
Get PDFThis study aimed at addressing the administrative effectiveness of the m-mama emergency transport system in Mtwara Region, Tanzania. The main objective of the study was to assess the administrative effectiveness of the m-mama emergency transport system, and the specific objectives were to evaluate the operational efficiency of the M-Mama dispatch center in coordinating emergency transport, to investigate factors affecting community utilization of the M-Mama services, and to identify administrative challenges within the program’s implementation. The study was guided by health system theory. The target population of the study was 123 individuals. Both qualitative and quantitative methods approaches were adopted, involving a sample of 59 participants drawn from dispatch personnel, healthcare workers, and community members. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling were used as sampling methods.Structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were applied as data collection tools. The questionnaire guide and interview questions were the tools of data collection. The descriptive analysis was adopted to analyze the quantitative data and thematic analysis to analyze the qualitative data, and SPSS was used to assist the analysis. The findings showed that as much as the M-Mama program has led to awareness creation with regard to emergency response and facilitated access to maternal health services, a number of barriers to operation and system operation still exist. The lack of road works, communication devices, and poor organization of the various agencies were the main factors limiting the efficiency and responsiveness of the dispatch center. Further, a poor workforce and few training opportunities for emergency responders also deterred the successful running of the program. Other factors that negatively affected the community\u27s utilizations of the services were socio-cultural beliefs and poor community awareness. Based on the study, it is concluded that to maintain the sustainability and success of the M-Mama emergency transport system, there is a need to put in place efforts to improve the road networks, communication systems, and administrative coordination, as well as invest in building the capacity of the staff. The results have significant implications for policymakers, health organizations, and donors who pursue enhanced emergency maternal care provision in underserved and rural areas. The paper suggested that community education programs ought to raise awareness and appreciation of the M-Mama services in the rural settings. There also needs to be standards of communication between dispatch centers and health facilities so that M-Mama would become more effective
Analysis of growth constraints for small and medium enterprises in Rwanda’s emerging economy: A case of Musanze District
Get PDFSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the foundation of economic development since they create jobs and significantly boost the economy. However, many of them face significant obstacles in the development processes worldwide. This study analyzed the key constraints hindering the growth of SMEs in Musanze District within the context of Rwanda’s emerging economy. This study was grounded on Resource-Based View (RBV) Theory developed by Birger Wernerfelt in 1984, which posits that the performance or growth of any company, organization, or firm largely depends on its effective use of resources. The study used a descriptive survey, and the sample size was 91 respondents selected randomly from SMEs operating in Musanze District. Data were collected using a questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS software, and descriptive statistics was the tool used. The data were analyzed and interpreted in order to make a conclusion and answer the research questions. The findings reveal that many SMEs lack sufficient collateral to secure a bank loan, as indicated by the mean value of 4.18. Secondly, SME operators mentioned that there are high interest rates in banks. This scored the mean value of 4.26, while they also face regulatory challenges significantly affecting business operations, as indicated by the mean value of 3.89. Moreover, inadequate infrastructure was also highlighted, as indicated by the mean value of 3.75. Additionally, the respondents claimed that there is a lack of training in business management. This scored the mean value 4.10, while high taxes scored the mean value 3.84. Concerning the effect of SME constraints on their growth in Musanze District, respondents claimed that there is limited business growth due to lack of capital, as indicated by the mean value of 3.94, and that many SMEs fail to attract and retain customers due to recurring challenges. This scored the mean value of 4.55. Due to several constraints, many SMEs in Musanze District face high transaction costs and are unable to overcome competition, and this scored the mean value of 4.55. Even though the government of Rwanda has managed to address some of SMEs\u27 growth constraints through targeted financial support, capacity-building programs, infrastructure investment, and policy reforms, several constraints persist among SMEs in Musanze to fully realize their growth potential and contribute more significantly to the district’s and the nation’s socio-economic transformation. Based on the findings, recommendations were formulated for the government of Rwanda to enhance access to finance and establish SME-friendly financial products by collaborating with banks and microfinance institutions to design loan packages with lower interest rates, flexible collateral requirements, and longer repayment periods
The activities of integrity clubs in regard to enhancing values among students in public secondary schools in Nairobi City County, Kenya
Get PDFThe implementation of Integrity Clubs in secondary schools by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in 2011 has helped moral education in Kenya. Such clubs are intended to foster integrity, accountability, patriotism, and respect among learners, but incidences of indiscipline, including strikes, drug abuse, and theft, are still common, which begs the question of whether or not these clubs are achieving success. This study considered the importance of Integrity Clubs in inculcating moral values in students in the public secondary schools in Nairobi County guided by the Behavioral Theory. The intended audience included students and teachers and school administrators, EACC and Ministry of Education officials. The stratified, purposive, and random sampling was used to select the sample size of 448 participants. The researcher employed a parallel convergent mixed-methods design, where convergent interpretation was applied in conjunction with parallel interpretation, in which data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and reviews of documents. Statistically, quantitative data were analyzed, whereas qualitative data were thematically coded. Results indicated that Integrity Clubs have potential positive effects on moral development in all aspects of debate, community services, peer mentoring, and value-based campaigns but are hampered by factors including poor implementation, low teacher participation, inefficient resources, and poor administration. Those schools that are supported and institutionalized showed more engagement and ethical growth among students. Findings of the study are that the effectiveness of Integrity Clubs can be made stronger through strengthening institutional commitment, structured programming and capacity building for club patrons, and incorporation within the school culture. The findings have significant policy implications for the educators, policymakers, and the EACC on how to incorporate value-based education in the Kenyan secondary schools
Effectiveness of gender-based violence policy frameworks on academic achievement among public secondary school students in Bungoma County, Kenya
Get PDFGender-based violence (GBV) is a prevalent challenge in schools across the whole world, and the role it plays in affecting the academic performance of students is getting a lot of consideration. In Kenya, numerous studies have mainly addressed the ill effects of GBV, yet studies that reflect the connection between GBV and academic performance, especially through internal test scores, are scarce. This paper evaluates the policy framework in dealing with GBV among students in public secondary schools in Bungoma County. The main questions tackled by the research included assessing the level of implementation of current policies in schools, establishing obstacles to the implementation of policies, and ascertaining effects of these policies towards the prevention and curbing of GBV. The study was based on social feminism theory and resilience theory, and its methodology was mixed-methods, i.e., both qualitative and quantitative data-collecting techniques were used. Out of the 342 secondary schools, a sample of 184 schools was identified, and a sample of 1,104 students, heads of guidance and counseling, sub-county directors of education, and GBV survivors were interviewed, and all these were included in the study. Questionnaires, interviews, and documents were used in the collection of the information. Quantitative data was submitted to the descriptive and then the inferential statistics; however, the results of the qualitative data were put under the theme analysis. The results indicated that although there are policies provided on how to address the GBV, there were loopholes in the implementation part, mainly in the rural counties like Bungoma County. The misallocation of resources, the absence of proper personnel training, and the inability to report are some of the key concerns. Findings of the research revealed that GBV policies existed but were not adequate, and the systems were not efficient towards assisting the survivors. The paper leaves us with the recommendations as to how it can be better and polished such that the present policy can be improved and made more effective in the process of creating a conducive, supportive educational environment with less bullying, etc. The paper highlights how it can support all students, including methods such as the implementation of safe reporting systems and increasing the level of training for the staff and the way the community can be included in making better policy
Effect of tax revenue growth on economic growth in Rwanda period of 2003 to 2023
Get PDFEconomic growth is anticipated to be stimulated by higher tax revenues, which will fund social services, infrastructure, and economic diversification. But even though tax revenue has increased significantly during the past 20 years, Rwanda\u27s economic growth has stagnated. In order to determine how tax income growth affected Rwanda\u27s economic growth between 2003 and 2023, this study was conducted. In particular, from 2003 to 2023, the study looked at Rwanda\u27s tax revenue trends and the connection between tax revenue increase and economic expansion. Null hypotheses were rejected during the assessment. The study used software (E-Views 10) for econometric analysis using time series data from Rwanda Revenue Authority and National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda reports. The study employed the Multiple Linear Regression Model and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method to evaluate the long-term effects of various tax components on GDP by estimating the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable and determining the direction and strength of these relationships. The empirical findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between total tax revenue and economic growth in the long run, with customs duties (coefficient 31.56118) and PAYE (23.63706) contributing more strongly to GDP than other tax revenues (coefficient -13.22934), which has a significant decrease in GDP. It is observed that R-squared is 0.908230, showing that 91% of the variations in the growth of GDP in Rwanda are explained by independent variables (profit taxes, excise tax, customs duties, PAYE, and other tax revenues), confirming the robustness of the analysis. Thus, the study comes to the conclusion that sustained economic development can be supported by an effective tax structure, especially one that improves customs duties and PAYE collection. Recommendations for policy include examining various tax tools, adjusting tax laws to better suit the objectives of economic development, and, lastly, enacting moderate tax rates to stimulate the economy
Social media marketing: The impact of customers’ awareness of product, price, and place on social media promotion—evidence from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Get PDFThis article aimed to examine the impact of customers’ awareness of product, price, and place on social media promotion. The Diffusion of Innovation theory was used to guide the study. The participants in the study were selected customers who visited mobile phone shops at Makumbusho bus stand and Kinondoni B bus stand in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Specifically, the study focused on the impact of customers’ awareness of product, price, and place that was created from the social media platforms on social media promotion, specifically Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram platforms, and how data manipulation affects their relationship. A cross-section survey was adopted by a researcher. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data from 85 mobile phone customers, who were randomly and conveniently selected. The regression analysis technique was employed to study the relationship between the studied variables, the customers’ awareness of product, price, and place as explanatory variables, and social media promotion as an outcome variable. The study revealed, there was a significant positive relationship between the customers’ awareness of price and social media promotion; also, the customers’ awareness of place has significant positively impacted social media promotion. However, there was an insignificant positive relationship between the customers’ awareness of the product and social media promotion. Also, the study found that data manipulation, specifically by combining two explanatory variables, directly impacted the studied variables. The study recommended that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should focus on the product attributes, value, and distribution when promoting offers such as discounts through social media platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook.
‘’Étude des obstacles qui entravent l’enseignement-apprentissage du français et les stratégies d’y remédier’’
No full textThis study examined how social media publicity influences customer satisfaction, loyalty, and brand perception, focusing on MTN Rwandacell PLC, one of Rwanda’s major telecommunications companies. The research was guided by social capital theory and social network theory, which helped explain how online interactions build trust, shape relationships, and influence customer behavior. Social Capital Theory supported the idea that trust, engagement, and mutual communication on social media strengthen connections between MTN and its customers, while Social Network Theory helped the researcher understand how digital networks and information flows affect the way customers respond to the company online. A mixed-methods design was used to gain a well-rounded view of the topic. From a target population of 954 people, the researcher applied purposive sampling to select 232 respondents from Giporoso I in Kigali—specifically choosing individuals who actively interact with MTN on social media. Data was gathered through structured questionnaires and interviews, allowing both statistical and thematic analysis. The findings showed that positive online engagement—especially timely responses, transparency, and interactive campaigns—improves how stakeholders perceive MTN. However, poor handling of negative comments remains a challenge. About 91.4% of respondents agreed that MTN’s interactive campaigns and online conversations strengthen its reputation (mean = 4.34), while 89.2% believed that timely responses build trust and reinforce how customers view the company (mean = 4.25). The correlation results showed a strong positive relationship between social media publicity and customer loyalty (r = .694, p < 0.01), and regression findings confirmed that social media engagement significantly predicts customer loyalty (B = 0.745, Beta = 0.812, p = .000). The study concludes that social media publicity implications range amidst key indicators that drive the corporate reputation of organizations. Based on these insights, the study recommends that MTN enhance its social media strategy by maintaining consistent communication, adopting real-time monitoring tools, and improving how it manages online crises to protect its reputation and build long-term customer loyalty.Résume
Cette étude vise à exposer les obstacles qui entravent l’enseignement-apprentissage du français langue étrangère au Rwanda et les stratégies à mettre en œuvre pour y remédier. Au cours de notre recherche, nous avons mis en évidence des facteurs qui entrainent une faible motivation vis-à-vis du français dans le district de Gasabo. Ces principaux facteurs sont : Le manque de formation des enseignants du français, et leur fréquente absence de qualification, les manuels utilisés et la didactique mise en œuvre inadéquats, le manque de temps consacré à l’apprentissage du français et la méconnaissance des méthodologies à utiliser pour les cours de langues, ainsi que l’influence des autres langues sur l’apprentissage du français. Ces obstacles à l’enseignement-apprentissage du français ralentissent énormément le processus de transmission des connaissances et celui d’acquisition du savoir, surtout en langues. Nous décrivons également dans notre publication, l’origine de la dévalorisation du français. Notre but ultime est de proposer des stratégies de remédiation dans l’enseignement-apprentissage du français. Les pistes de stratégie que nous évoquons sont les fruits de notre étude. Ces pistes sont : la motivation des enseignants en classe de FLE, la formation continue des enseignants, la prise en compte et l’enseignement du contenu extralinguistique, l’utilisation régulière du français, l’adoption de l’approche actionnelle et communicative, l’utilisation des TICEs en enseignement du FLE.
Mots-clés : Obstacles, Stratégies, Motivation, FLE, enseignement, apprentissag
The implications of Christian aid reception by Muslims on Christian-Muslim relations in Isiolo County, Kenya
Get PDFChristian aid in Kenya has also been both a tool of hope and a point of tension in intra-faith relations, as some of the society welcomed it with open arms, others in doubt, while others received it conditionally on terms negotiated. The central objective of the study was to examine the effects of reception styles of Christian Aid on Christian-Muslim relations in Isiolo County with the following specific research objectives: to examine the effect of grateful acceptance of Christian Aid on Christian-Muslim relations in Isiolo County, to examine the effect of suspicion of Christian Aid on Christian-Muslim relations in Isiolo County, and to examine the effect of conditional acceptance of Christian Aid on Christian-Muslim relations in Isiolo County. Two theories (Social Identity Theory and Theory of Intergroup Contact), which are most relevant to the dynamics of Christian aid among Muslim communities, guided this study. A qualitative descriptive case study in Osmer\u27s Practical Theology Model was used in the research. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, and binary logistic regression were used for the data, and qualitative data were coded thematically to bring contextual depth and triangulation. Study sampling design qualifications that were sampled in an attempt to attain an equal and representative study respondents\u27 sample of the target population that consisted of 2,230 members of Isiolo County\u27s local Muslim population. The target population was stratified into six Christian humanitarian organizations that run activities in Isiolo County and offer aid. Stratification was conducted to make sure the sample reflected members of the Muslim community and, by default, are beneficiaries of aid from Christian organizations in Isiolo County. Questionnaires were the principal tools in data collection, which was quantitative. Three common reception patterns of aid were found. The first was acceptance with gratitude, and respondents and leaders both came out openly and mentioned the benefits of Christian relief, particularly during times of crisis such as drought and famine. Gratitude also had a strong association with improved Christian–Muslim relations because it prompted cooperation, trust, and the community\u27s participation in development projects. Suspicion and fearfulness were the usual problems, according to memories of relief associated with missionaries, fear of religious conversion, and shared rumors. Such stereotypes once discouraged the community from joining aid programs, and they preferred receiving the assistance anonymously, thereby eroding interfaith trust. Conditional acceptance was a reaction that mirrored the realist response in the sense that the community demanded firmly, negotiated with relief agencies, and oversaw the relief distribution with the purpose of providing cultural and religious legitimacy. The study recommends greater transparency in aid provision, open forums for interfaith dialogue, compliance with community terms, and institution-building for participatory monitoring
Influence of computer programs on learning outcomes of learners with disabilities in public comprehensive schools in Saboti Sub-County, Kenya
Get PDFThis study investigated the influence of computer programs on the learning outcomes of learners with disabilities in public comprehensive schools in Saboti Sub-County, Kenya. The study was directed by the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, which emphasises the importance of offering various methods for learners to engage, access information, and illustrate understanding to meet their diverse needs. A descriptive research design was utilised to carry out the study. The study involved 1,509 individuals from 13 public comprehensive schools in Saboti Sub-County. According to the Krejcie and Morgan Table, a sample size of 310 respondents was identified as adequate. A total of 297 learners with disabilities were selected from this sample through a stratified random sampling, while 13 heads of institutions were included purposefully. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to learners with disabilities, and interviews were carried out with the heads of institutions. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were employed for the quantitative responses, whereas the qualitative responses were analysed in order to identify prevalent themes. The findings indicated learners with disabilities experienced advantages from computer programs like Access to Math, Live Scribe, and Big Calc. A significant number of learners with disabilities indicated that these tools enhanced their comprehension of the material, and a clear correlation was observed between the utilisation of the programs and improved learning outcomes. The findings indicate that computer programs can significantly enhance learning outcomes; however, it is essential for educators to receive proper training and for educational institutions to upgrade their ICT infrastructure in order to effectively utilise these tools