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Teacher Retention in Selected International Schools in Kenya: Perspectives and Challenges
No full textMaster of Education in Leadership and Policy StudiesThis study examined teacher retention in selected international schools in Kenya, focusing on the severity of retention challenges, teachers’ stay/leave perspectives, and the effectiveness of current institutional strategies. Guided by Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, a mixed-methods design combined a structured survey and semi-structured interviews. Using stratified random sampling for the quantitative strand and purposive sampling for the qualitative strand, 97 teachers from 47 schools participated (64.7% response rate). Professional development emerged as the most severe challenge (M = 3.53), followed by compensation (M = 2.85), while leadership and work environment registered lower severity. Although 80.4% of teachers reported high retention intentions, many indicated conditional commitment, with strong agreement that competitive compensation (92.8%) and enhanced professional development (82.4%) would improve retention. Correlation and regression analyses showed compensation strategy effectiveness as the only significant predictor of retention intentions (r = .304, p < .01; β = .306, p = .016), with the full model explaining 10.1% of variance (R² = .101). Qualitative data affirmed these patterns, highlighting valued student relationships alongside concerns about pay structures and undifferentiated PD. The study recommends standardized, transparent compensation frameworks with routine benchmarking; differentiated, funded PD pathways with protected time; mentoring and peer support networks; comprehensive wellness programs to strengthen work–life balance; and routine monitoring of retention metrics aligned to strategy targets. Sector policy actions should include industry guidelines under KAIS, minimum pay standards, and structured career progression routes.Daystar Universit
Penetration Strategies, Regulatory Framework and Financial Performance of Insurance Companies in Kenya
No full textMaster of Business Administration in Strategic ManagementInsurance companies in Kenya operate within a complex and competitive environment marked by evolving customer preference, shifting policy frameworks and market rivalry. Companies must adopt strategically aligned penetration strategies that go beyond marketing and instead serve as core drivers of organizational growth and competitiveness to achieve sustainable financial performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the strategic effect of penetration strategies: product pricing, product differentiation, product distribution and product diversification on the financial performance of the Insurance Companies in Kenya and the moderating effect of the regulatory framework which is conceptualized through product licensing, claim settlement regulation and product licensing. This research was anchored on the Ansoff matrix framework as a growth strategy framework and supported by the Resource-based view theory, public interest theory of regulation and stakeholder theory. The study employed both descriptive and explanatory research design. The study population was the 10,634 staff working in the 58 registered by the Insurance Regulatory Authority by the end of 2024. The target population was 290 heads of finance, actuarial, marketing, risk management and operations. Slovin's formula was used to determine the sample size of 170 across the departments. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires while secondary data was collected from the annual reports published by the IRA. The research carried out a pilot test on 10% of the sample size within selected reinsurance firms to test the research instrument’s validity and reliability. Validity was ensured through expert reviews for content and face validity, while reliability was assessed utilizing Cronbach's alpha, with a threshold of 0.7 deemed acceptable for internal consistency. The research instrument generated quantitative data. Both inferential and descriptive statistics were used in data analysis with the assistance of SPSS version 28. Descriptive statistics presented the overall features of the data, whereas inferential statistics helped the researcher make conclusions concerning the connections between variables and predictions basing on the sample data. The research employed descriptive statistics like frequency distribution, percentage, standard deviation and the mean. Multivariate linear regression analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were all under the inferential statistics. The research findings revealed that strategically deployed penetration strategies positively influenced financial performance measured through Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE) and sales volume. Additionally, the study found that regulatory framework positively moderated this relationship, reinforcing the importance of strategic alignment and compliance. The study recommends that insurance companies prioritise the integration of innovation, strategic foresight and regulatory flexibility into their growth driven penetration strategies to optimise financial outcomes and strengthen their positioning in the insurance industry.Daystar Universit
Generation Z Revolts and Implications on Political Change in Kenya: Lessons Learned.
No full textJournal ArticleThis article examines the relationship between the unfulfilled promises of the Hustler campaign in Kenya’s 2022 presidential election and the subsequent youth-led revolts, particularly those against the 2024 Finance Bill, focusing on the lessons derived from these transformative events. Structured into three core sections—Background, Generation Z Revolts, and Lessons Learned—the research provides a comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics driving youth activism. The Background section traces the Hustler campaign’s rise, which promised a “bottom-up” economic model to address systemic inequalities, resonating with Kenya’s marginalized youth. However, unmet expectations fueled widespread disillusionment, culminating in protests driven by Generation Z (Gen Z), born between 1997 and 2012. The Generation Z Revolts section explores the 2024 protests, characterized by leaderless organization, digital activism, and a shift from ethnic to issue-based politics. These revolts, sparked by grievances over economic inequality, corruption, and punitive taxation, leveraged platforms like TikTok and X to demand accountability. Using discourse analysis, the article examines narratives from political leaders, activists, and citizens to elucidate the causes and implications of these revolts. The Lessons Learned section highlights the transformative power of youth activism, the critical need for political accountability, and the urgency of implementing genuine socio-economic reforms. Findings underscore digital platforms’ role in mobilizing youth and the necessity of responsive governance to prevent unrest. The article concludes with recommendations for inclusive policies, transparent governance, and youth engagement to align with Gen Z’s aspirations, ensuring sustainable political and socio-economic progress. This research contributes to understanding youth-driven political change in Kenya and offers insights for policymakers globally
Systematic Review of Monitoring and Evaluation Best Practices for Climate Change Adaptation Programmes: Lessons for Kenya
No full textJournal ArticleMonitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems are critical for assessing the effectiveness of climate change adaptation programmes, yet gaps persist, particularly in resource-constrained regions like Kenya. This study systematically reviews global and Kenyan frameworks to identify opportunities and address gaps in M&E practices, focusing on their role in enhancing adaptation outcomes. The findings reveal that participatory approaches, robust indicators, and technology-driven tools significantly improve adaptationeffectiveness, with participatory methods increasing resilience outcomes by 40% in urban settings. However, challenges such as inadequate localisation of frameworks, limited institutional capacity, and an overreliance on checklist-based methods undermine their potential. This article underscores the need for context-specific, inclusive, and learning-oriented M&E systems to address Kenya’s unique climate challenges. By aligning global best practices with local realities, the study provides actionable insights for developing robust M&E systems to support sustainable and scalable climate adaptation efforts
A Mathematical and Computational Model for Multiple COVID-19 Waves Applied to Kenya
No full textJournal ArticleCOVID-19 is a disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that emerged at the end of December 2019 and has since spread globally. In Kenya,
the virus was first detected on 13 th March 2020. Soon after, the Kenyan government implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to slow the
spread of the disease. The pandemic continued to spread and it evolved into several waves over the years despite the discovery of vaccines and treatment.
Mathematical models have been developed to help analyse, predict and simulate the dynamics of the pandemic. These models have largely been confined
to single waves, without ready extension to multiple waves. In this paper, we develop a mathematical and computational model that can be extended to
multiple waves using various concepts. Among these is the application of computational techniques that convert infection curves with negative gradients to
those with positive gradients, in the neighbourhood of the change point, namely, where transition occurs from one wave to the next. This effectively
generates a new wave. We then introduce a jump mechanism for the susceptible fraction, allowing further computation to align itself with the observed
infection curve. To commence the process, we solved the system of governing ordinary differential equations for the period the epidemic spread without in-
tervention and obtained values for the transmission, recovery and death rates that yielded the basic reproduction number, 0 2.76= , which is consistent
with other related research. We then applied our model to COVID-19 in Kenya and the computation successfully replicated all the waves and also iden-
tified the change points located within the months when COVID-19 variants became dominant. The findings strengthen the proposition that the dominant
COVID-19 variants were the major drivers of the waves. The techniques can be extended to new strains of COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory viruses
PSY 062T: Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling
No full textPSY 062T: Ethical and Legal Issues in CounselingDaystar Universit
LLB 315 P2: Alternative Dispute Resolution
No full textLLB 315 P2: Alternative Dispute ResolutionDaystar Universit
Influence of Single Parenting on Adolescents' Psychological Wellbeing: Case of Selected Public Secondary Schools in Kiambu Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya
No full textMASTERS in Clinical PsychologyThe study examined the influence of single parenting on the psychological well-being of adolescents in selected public secondary schools in Kiambu Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya. Grounded in Psychoanalytic and Person-Centred theories, the study adopted a mixed research design comprising descriptive survey and correlational designs. The target population consisted of approximately 600 adolescents drawn from two purposively selected public secondary schools, with a sample of 240 respondents selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS Version 26. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) summarized respondents’ characteristics, while inferential analysis-particularly Chi-square tests determined associations between study variables. The findings revealed that divorce and separation were the most common causes of single-parent households, followed by parental death, voluntary single parenthood, and migration. Socio-economic pressures, substance abuse, and parental conflict emerged as major contributors to family breakdown. Results further showed that adolescents from single-parent households exhibited moderate levels of psychological well-being, characterized by hopefulness and coping capacity but also marked by emotional distress, loneliness, and diminished self-esteem. A significant statistical relationship (χ² = 198.456, p = 0.000) was established between single parenting and adolescent psychological well-being, indicating that reduced parental involvement, financial hardship, and limited emotional support increase psychological strain. The study also found that access to psychosocial interventions significantly enhanced emotional regulation and resilience (χ² = 167.823, p = 0.000), yet access to school-based counseling and peer-support programs remained inadequate. The study concludes that single parenting poses unique emotional and psychological challenges, but these effects are not deterministic. Adolescents with supportive custodial parents and adequate counseling access demonstrated greater resilience and emotional stability. The study recommends strengthening school-based guidance and counseling programs, enhancing parent-child communication, expanding peer and mentorship initiatives, and implementing community-based family counseling and economic empowerment programs to mitigate single-parenting stressors. Policy frameworks should integrate mental health and family-stability interventions within the education sector, ensuring that schools serve as protective environments that foster adolescent resilience and psychological well-being.Daystar Universit
Assessing Impact of Thermal Stress in Poultry Production in the Tropics
No full textConference PaperTemperature regulation is crucial in poultry production, directly influencing bird health, productivity, and survival. This study investigates the relationship between temperature fluctuations and mortality rates and egg production in poultry farming systems. Sudden changes in ambient temperature, particularly in semi-arid and tropical regions, were observed to significantly increase stress levels in birds, leading to higher incidences of disease, reduced feed intake, and elevated mortality rates. Data were collected over a 7-month period from broiler and layer units, monitoring temperature variations, bird behavior, and mortality records. Results indicate that extreme heat or cold spells especially during the brooding and finishing stages correlated with noticeable spikes in bird mortality. Broilers were found to be more vulnerable to temperature stress compared to layers, particularly in deep litter systems with poor ventilation. Fluctuation in temperatures accounted to up to 36.4% mortality rate in broiler chicks during brooding. High temperatures reduced egg production by 41.70% and caused 35% eggs to get spoiled after 7 days. Conversely, consistent temperature control through proper housing, ventilation, and brooding management significantly reduced mortality rates. The findings underscore the importance of climate control and early-warning systems in poultry production, particularly in areas prone to temperature extremes. Incorporating adaptive climate-smart practices can improve flock survival, productivity, and overall resilience under changing climate conditions.Daystar Universit
Effects of Waste Management Practices on the Environment: A Case of Ongata Rongai Township in Kajiado County, Kenya.
No full textConference PaperWaste management practices influence the environment either positively or negatively. In this study, the researcher will assess the effects of waste management practices on the environment focusing on Ongata Rongai in Kajiado County, Kenya. The objectives of the study will aim: To assess waste management knowledge among Ongata Rongai residents; To determine the waste management practices employed by Ongata Rongai residents; To evaluate the effects of waste management practices on the environment of Ongata Rongai residents; and to recommend strategies to improve waste management practices for Ongata Rongai residents. The study will apply descriptive research design and adopt a mixed methods approach utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data through structured and semi structured interviews as well as observation to unravel the effects of waste management on the environs. The target population for this study will be 383 adults over 18 years of age in household of Kware sub ward in Ongata Rongai. Simple random sampling will be applied in selecting the respondents. Data will be analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 and the triangulated to enhance validity and reliability of the research findings.Daystar Universit