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Utafiti wa Lahaja Kupitia Macho ya Jamii: Matumizi ya Mtazamo Tambuzi wa Elimu Lahaja Katika Kaunti ya Lamu
Get PDFUtafiti huu unachunguza uainishaji wa mipaka ya lahaja za Kiswahili zinazozungumzwa katika Kaunti ya Lamu, Kenya, kwa kutumia nadharia ya Mtazamo Tambuzi wa Elimu Lahaja (Preston, 1989). Tofauti na tafiti za awali zilizozingatia vipengele vya kimuundo vya lugha, utafiti huu umejikita katika maoni, mitazamo, uelewa na hisia za wasemaji wazawa kama vigezo halali vya kutambua na kuainisha lahaja. Kwa kutumia mbinu ya uchoraji wa ramani za mikono, sauti zilizorekodiwa, na mijadala ya vikundi, washiriki waliainisha maeneo ya lahaja kwa msingi wa tajriba zao binafsi. Data hiyo ilichakatwa kwa kutumia teknolojia ya GIS (QGIS na ArcGIS) kwa njia ya Kernel Density Estimation (KDE). Matokeo yameonyesha kuwepo kwa makundi makuu manne ya lahaja: Kiamu, Kipate, Kisiu na Kitikuu, huku Kishela na Kimatondoni zikiwa kwenye hatari ya kufifia kutokana na ushawishi wa Kiamu. Aidha, vipengele vya kifonolojia, kimofolojia na kisintaksia vilijitokeza kuwa msingi wa utambuzi wa tofauti hizo. Imebainika kuwa asili ya mzungumzaji, uzoefu wa lugha, na uhusiano wa kijamii ni vigezo muhimu vinavyoathiri namna wanavyotambua na kuchora mipaka ya lahaja. Utafiti huu unatoa mchango mpya kwa taaluma ya isimu-jamii na lahaja kwa kusisitiza umuhimu wa data tambuzi kutoka kwa jamii, na hivyo kupanua upeo wa utafiti wa lugha za Kiafrika kutoka katika mtazamo wa jamii kuelekea usomi wa kitaalum
Uchanganuzi wa Sauti ya Usimuliaji na Mahusiano ya Wakati wa Usimulizi katika Nyimbo Teule za Bahati Bukuku
Get PDFMakala hii inalenga kubainisha jinsi sauti ya usimuliaji, kama kipengele muhimu cha kuhakiki simulizi, imejitokeza katika nyimbo teule zenye sifa za kisimulizi zilizowasilishwa na msanii Bahati Bukuku. Makala vilevile imechanganua mahusiano ya wakati wa usimulizi kwa kuhakiki vipengele vyake muhimu kama usimulizi baadaye, usimulizi kabla, usimulizi sawia na usimulizi zongomezi. Makala hii iliongozwa na lengo kuu la kudhihirisha jinsi vipengele vya sauti ya usimuliaji na mahusiano ya wakati wa usimulizi vinavyobainika katika nyimbo teule za Bahati Bukuku. Nyimbo zilizochanganuliwa ni: Lazima usamehe, Dunia haina huruma, Waraka, Tupatupa, Maamuzi, Ahabu, Unatisha. Vigezo vikuu vya uteuzi wa nyimbo hizi ni vipengele vya kihadithi ndani mwao. Nadharia iliyotumika ni ya Naratolojia inayojumuisha usimulizi katika tanzu za fasihi kama vile nyimbo, mashairi, maghani na kadhalika. Sauti ya usimulizi hujenga uhusiano na anayesimuliwa. Mtazamo wa masimulizi, mfuatano wa matukio pamoja na dhamira kuu huwasilishwa na msimulizi. Matukio katika simulizi hutendeka kiwakati. Simulizi hutambulishwa katika wakati fulani kuhusiana na kitendo cha usimuliaji: kabla ya kutendeka, wakati yanapotendeka, baada ya kutendeka na iwapo kuna uchangamano wa matukio kusimuliwa yakitendeka. Kwa mujibu wa matokeo, makala imebainisha kuwa mihimili ya sauti ya usimuliaji pamoja na mahusiano ya wakati wa usimuliaji ilijitokeza kwa namna mbalimbali katika nyimbo za msanii Bahati Bukuku kwa kutegemea miktadha mbalimbali. Makala ilihitimisha kuwa kigezo cha wakati ni nguzo muhimu katika uwasilishaji wa hadithi, na uelewa wa hadithi hutokana na matumizi sawa ya kigezo hiki, kwani matukio yanayosimuliwa hutendeka kiwakati
Sababu za Kutokea kwa Ndoa za Mitala katika Riwaya Teule- Barua Ndefu Kama Hii (1980), Takadini (2004) na Paradiso (2014) katika Mpito wa Wakati
Get PDFNdoa za mitala zimekuwepo katika jamii zetu kwa kipindi kirefu sana. Walio katika ndoa hizi huchochewa na sababu tofauti tofauti. Kwa kuwa suala hili limekita mizizi sawasawa katika jamii zetu, waandishi mbalimbali wa kazi za fasihi wameweza kuliangazia katika kazi zao kwa kipindi kirefu. Ni kutokana na hali hii, makala hii inaangazia kwa kina sababu za kutokea kwa ndoa hizi kwa mujibu wa riwaya tatu teule - Riwaya ya Barua Ndefu Kama Hii iliyoandikwa na Mariama Bâ (1980), Takadini ya Ben Hanson (2004) na Paradiso ya John Habwe (2014). Riwaya hizi ziliteuliwa kimakusudi kwa kuwa japo zimeandikwa katika vipindi tofauti, zote zimeangazia vyema suala hili la ndoa za mitala. Hii inabainisha kuwa ndoa hizi zingali na umaarufu katika jamii zetu. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na nadharia ya Uhalisia ya Villanueva (1997). Utafiti ulifanywa maktabani na mtandaoni. Data ya msingi ilipatikana kwa kuvitalii vitabu vilivyoteuliwa kisha kuipanga katika makundi na kuichanganua kwa kuzingatia malengo ya utafiti. Aidha, utafiti ulinufaishwa kwa kuzisoma na kuzihakiki kazi zinazohusiana na suala hili kwenye majarida, makala ya magazeti, tasnifu, vitabu na machapisho mengine. Matokeo yaliwasilishwa kupitia maelezo. Ingawa kuna mabadiliko makubwa katika mpito wa wakati, utafiti huu ulibaini kuwa sababu za kutokea kwa ndoa hizi hazijabadilika sana. Baadhi ya sababu hizi ni; utamaduni katika jamii, shinikizo la kulipiza kisasi, ubabedume, mafundisho ya kidini, ari ya kupata utajiri, viongozi kuwavutia wanawake, utasa au kukosa mtoto wa kiume, mabadiliko ya kimajukumu katika ndoa, wanandoa kutengana kutokana na ajira na hali ya wanandoa kutotosheka kimapenzi. Waandishi, watafiti na wadau wengine wa kazi za fasihi watafaidika na makala hii kwa kuwa yameviangazia kwa kina visababishi vya suala hili la mitala. Aidha, matokeo ya kazi hii yataweza kuwafaa wanaojihusisha na masuala ya kijamii kupata mwanga zaidi kuhusu mabadiliko katika suala la mitala miongoni mwa wanajamii kote ulimwenguni
Assessing the Potential of Rooftop and Wall-Based Urban Agriculture for Food Security Enhancement in Gasabo District, City of Kigali, Rwanda
Get PDFThis study evaluates the potential of rooftop and wall-based urban agriculture to enhance food security in the Gasabo District of Kigali, Rwanda. It combines GIS and remote sensing techniques to map suitable urban farming spaces and uses a stratified sampling technique to select 400 household heads for assessment using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The findings show that 41.5% of the households experience moderate to severe food insecurity, and approximately 32% of rooftops and walls are structurally appropriate for urban agriculture. While 57.8% of households express willingness to adopt rooftop or wall gardening, 67.4% cite structural and financial constraints. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.68, p < 0.01) was observed between urban agriculture adoption and improved food security. The study recommends prioritising high-suitability sectors such as Kinyinya and Ndera for pilot projects and promoting lightweight hydroponic and vertical farming systems tailored to urban structures. These findings support the integration of urban agriculture into Kigali’s urban planning to enhance food resilience and sustainabilit
Analysis of Climate Change and Variability on Irish Potato Production among Small-Scale Farmers Using GIS in Narok County, Kenya
Get PDFThis study explored the analysis of climate change and variability on Irish potato production among small-scale farmers using GIS in Narok County, Kenya. Data collection methods in this study involved: small-scale farmers’ respondents' descriptive survey, in-depth key informant interviews, and GIS website downloads. A sample of 393 small-scale farmers was randomly sampled to gather data on Irish potato production factors. Key informants from the Narok South Agriculture Department provided Irish potato production data from 1991 to 2020, and temperature and rainfall data were downloaded from Google NASA Power. Data from the field was screened and evaluated using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0 program to give frequencies and percentages. Chi-square was calculated and inference made at a confidence level of α=0.05. The results indicated that, Pearson correlation coefficient of variation (CV) of rainfall and temperature against Irish potato production for period in 1991 to 2020 revealed high positive correlations for rainfall (r = 0.826) and high negative correlations for maximum temperature (r = -0.741) and very low negative correlations for minimum temperature (r = -0.2152). The study further outlined that, majority of the respondents, comprising about 90.2 % of the households in the study area, observed highly dry conditions, and only 48.9 % of the household respondents were able to observe low temperature occurrence in their area. From these findings, climate change and variability have an effect on Irish potato production and therefore affect food availability in Narok County. The study recommends that the agricultural extension agents, together with the Kenya Meteorological Department, should endeavour to inform and train farmers on the use of modern geographical information technologies. Moreover, farmers should be encouraged to intercrop Irish potatoes with other food crops to cushion them against climate change and variability. This will not only increase food security within their households but will also equip them with up-to-date information and therefore help them make informed decisions on Irish potato production. This will improve food security amid climate change and variability in Narok County
An Assessment of the Safety of BSF Larvae Reared on Different Substrates for Use in Animal Feeds – Chemical Contaminants
Get PDFThe use of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae as a protein source for animal feed is gaining popularity. However, the safety of the larvae and the substrates used for rearing them has not been fully investigated, which is important for economic feasibility. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of BSF larvae and rearing substrates in Kenya by analysing chemical contaminants. To achieve this, the BSF larvae were reared on common production substrates, namely kitchen waste, fruit waste, and brewer's waste, in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD). Chemical contaminants such as cadmium, chromium, thallium, and lead were analysed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The data obtained were statistically analysed using the R statistical package version 4.0.5 and compared with recommended levels by KEBS, Codex Alimentarius, and the European Union (EU) standards. The study found that the larvae had lower levels of chemical contaminants (0.005±0.001 mg.kg-1 to 0.028±0.006 mg.kg-1) compared to the substrates used (0.008±0.0006 mg.kg-1 to 0.102±0.002 mg.kg-1). The average concentration of lead in BSFL was 0.0192±0.014 mg.kg-1 and 0.0391±0.037 for chromium. Cadmium was the only metal that showed an increase in concentration in the larvae reared on brewery waste (0.028±0.006) compared to larvae on other substrates. Based on the results, the study recommended the use of safe substrates such as kitchen and fruit waste for BSFL rearing
An Assessment of the Safety of BSF Larvae Reared on Different Substrates for Use in Animal Feeds – Microbial Contaminants
Get PDFThe use of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae as a protein source for animal feed is gaining popularity. However, the safety of the larvae and the substrates used for rearing them has not been fully investigated, which is important for economic feasibility. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of BSF larvae and rearing substrates in Kenya by analysing microbial contaminants. To achieve this, the BSF larvae were reared on common production substrates, namely kitchen waste, fruit waste, and brewer's waste, in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD). Microbial analysis was conducted using selective culture-dependent methods to determine the total viable counts of safety indicator microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Salmonella typhi (S. typhi), Escherichia coli (E coli), and Bacillus cereus (B. Cereus) and confirmed using respective biochemical tests. The data obtained were statistically analysed using the R statistical package version 4.0.5 and compared with recommended levels by KEBS, Codex Alimentarius, and the European Union (EU) standards. The microbial analysis revealed that the larvae generally had high microbial loads compared to the substrates, except for B. Cereus, which showed a decrease in counts in BSFL from 203.3±25 CFU/g in substrate to 161.1±18 CFU/g in the larvae on average. The study found low levels of S. typhi in BSFL samples from the brewery (50±10 CFU/g) and fruit waste (60±5 CFU/g) compared to other microbes, but none was detected in larvae from kitchen waste. E. coli, B. Cereus, and S. aureus were present both in the substrates and BSF larvae, but within regulatory limits for edible insect products. Based on the results, the study recommends the use of safe substrates such as kitchen and fruit waste for BSFL rearing
Socio-Economic Determinants of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices Among Smallholder Farmers in Mwingi West Sub-County, Kitui County, Kenya
Get PDFClimate change presents a critical challenge to agricultural systems in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), where smallholder farmers face recurrent droughts, erratic rainfall, and declining productivity. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) offers a potential pathway to enhance resilience, productivity, and sustainability; however, adoption rates remain low in Mwingi West Sub-County, Kitui County. This study investigated the socio-economic determinants influencing the uptake of climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAPs) among 393 smallholder farmers, employing a cross-sectional survey design, multi-stage sampling, and both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were analysed using chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. Results revealed that education level, household income (farm and off-farm), gender, and proximity to markets significantly and positively influenced CSA adoption, while larger farm size and younger age were negatively associated with uptake. Educated farmers were 4.36 times, and higher-income farmers 4.58 times, more likely to adopt CSAPs compared to their counterparts. Male farmers were 2.34 times more likely to adopt than female farmers, reflecting persistent resource access disparities. Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that enhance farmer education, expand financial access, integrate gender-responsive extension services, and promote youth engagement in CSA. These measures are critical to strengthening climate resilience and advancing sustainable agricultural development in climate-stressed regions like Mwingi Wes
Navigating Dual Roles: Understanding the Experiences of Pregnant Students Juggling Academia and Parenthood at a University in Western Uganda
Get PDFThis study explored the experiences of pregnant students balancing academic responsibilities and impending parenthood at Mountains of the Moon University, a diverse institution with a growing need to promote inclusivity. Recognising the intersectionality of these dual roles, the research investigated the challenges faced by pregnant students, their coping mechanisms, and the support structures available to them. A qualitative approach was employed, using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to gather rich data from 10 pregnant students, 5 student mothers (recently delivered within 3 months), the Dean of Students, the university nurse, and the university counsellor, all purposively selected. Findings indicate that pregnant students face academic, social, and emotional challenges, including physical discomfort, stigma, and limited institutional support. Despite these hurdles, they exhibit resilience through peer and family support, personal motivation, and self-care practices. However, the lack of explicit institutional policies such as maternity leave, flexible academic schedules, special examinations, and alternative assessments was cited as a major constraint. Participants stressed the value of informal support systems while revealing gaps in university structures and practices. The study recommends that universities adopt customised policies to accommodate pregnant students' unique needs. It also advocates for faculty and staff training to foster a more empathetic and inclusive academic environment. Furthermore, establishing comprehensive support programs, including counselling services and peer networks, is essential to empower this group. By implementing these measures, institutions can create a more equitable and supportive academic landscape, enabling pregnant students to thrive while managing the responsibilities of motherhoo
Students’ Perceptions of Local and Foreign History Teachers in the Seychelles from the Perspective of National Identity
Get PDFAs globalisation enhances the international mobility of teachers, Seychelles has experienced a notable rise in the number of foreign teachers in its state secondary schools, with foreign nationals comprising 59% of national history teachers in 2023. The study investigated students’ perspectives on local and foreign history teachers in Seychelles' secondary schools, examining firstly, students' preference for local or foreign history teachers and secondly, students' perception of local and foreign teachers' effective teaching in terms of emotional, behavioural, and instructional support and national identity building. A mixed-methods approach was applied using a questionnaire survey involving 785 students from 8 state secondary schools, followed by focus group discussions with selected survey participants. The results indicate that students with a local teacher prefer a local teacher, while those with a foreign history teacher are open to accepting either nationality. There are significant differences in the emotional, behavioural, and instructional support between the two groups of teachers. However, no notable difference in fostering national identity between the two groups. Local teachers were perceived as more emotionally engaged, culturally aware, and adept at using local language and contextually relevant strategies. While temporarily fostering national attachment through shared symbols and history, foreign teachers were seen as being able to enrich students' understanding by providing diverse perspectives and comparative insights into Seychelles' history. A balanced approach, utilising the strengths of both foreign and local teachers, coupled with professional development to address existing weaknesses, can enrich students' learning experiences and contribute to a sense of global citizenship without compromising the element of national identity buildin