EANSO East African Nature and Science Organization Journals
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Effects of Water Scarcity on the Livelihoods of Rural Women in Tharaka North and Maara Sub-Counties, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya
Get PDFWater is critical for rural development, poverty alleviation, and agricultural productivity. However, its availability in some regions is limited, threatening the livelihoods of millions of rural households. In Tharaka Nithi County, water scarcity undermines household welfare and perpetuates poverty by constraining agricultural production, increasing women’s workloads and reducing their economic opportunities, and eroding community resilience. This study investigated the impacts of water scarcity on women’s livelihoods in Tharaka North and Maara Sub-Counties, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Data were collected between May and August 2023, during the long dry season when water shortages are most acute. A total of 313 respondents were surveyed, 113 from Tharaka North Sub-County and 200 from Maara Sub-County. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews, direct field observations, and GIS mapping of water sources were also carried out. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS 26, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. It was established that water scarcity led to decreased income (Tharaka North: χ2 = 32.35, p < 0.05; Maara: χ2 = 41.95, p < 0.05) and reduced agricultural productivity and income opportunities (Tharaka North: χ² = 32.35, p < 0.05; Maara: χ² = 41.95, p < 0.05). Women face increased burden in water collection, reduced time for productive and educational activities, compromised health, and diminished resilience to climate shocks. The study concludes that water scarcity in Tharaka Nithi County is both an environmental challenge and a driver of entrenched poverty and gender inequality. Integrated interventions, such as investment in climate-resilient water infrastructure, community-based water management, poverty reduction programs, and dismantling of cultural barriers that limit women’s agency, could help fix the issue. Strengthening women’s participation in water governance and promoting affordable technologies like sand dams, aquifer recharge, and household water storage systems are essential steps toward equitable and sustainable water acces
Assessing Rural Women's Involvement in Natural Resources Management in the Basimukuma Sud Grouping in Eastern DR Congo
Get PDFWomen play crucial roles in the emergence of societies worldwide, but due to customary barriers and traditional practices are neglected, leading to objectification and relegation to substitution for men, feeding, family care, domestic income generation responsibilities, with limited authority over natural resource management. The study analysed the level of involvement of rural women in natural resources management in the Basimukuma grouping. Data were collected from a sample of 246 participants from 7 villages, through questionnaires and focus group discussions. 68% of the surveyed were women with a primary education basis (39%), working daily as farmers (61.3%), aged 40.1±6.8. Factors such as duality of laws and customary practices, illiteracy, prejudices, stereotypes, lack of knowledge of legal instruments, and women’s natural inferiority complex, the sociological and cultural environment are barriers to rural women's participation and empowerment. The results show that women are active in agricultural fieldwork, spending (4.1 ± 1 .3) hours compared to men (1.4±0.5), for specific fields of operation in irrigation, tree cutting, and land clearing operations. Household income allocation decision is made by men (75.6%) while extraction of natural resources activities are women-led, spending an average of 2.8±0.3 hours compared to men (0.6±0.1). 84% of respondents recognise the under-representation of women in the decision-making process in natural resource management. In surveyed villages, there is a critically low proportion of women in the village council deciding on the exploitation of natural resources. Except for CBOs in ANANDA and MKELA, where 98% of members are women, the majority of decision-makers, agents and members are men in other villages. Actions should be taken to address the illiteracy burden, advocate for women's empowerment, quota insertion, and promote entitlement for women to full control resources they are tributary to. The study engaged with village councils, leaders, CBOs, women, and men, through focus groups and surveys to gather involvement insights from different perspectives
Systematic Risk and Foreign Direct Investment in the East African Region: Moderating Role of World Governance Indicators
Get PDFAmong the available international capital flows, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have been highly prioritised as they generate external finances, are stable over time, and are relatively permanent. Owing to the domestic savings-investment gaps in a majority of developing countries, FDI inflows have greatly helped reduce this. However, these countries, including the East African region, continue to experience challenges in attracting and retaining FDIs. Among the attributable factors are systematic risk emanating from exchange rate volatility, interest rate changes, and inflation volatility. These volatilities create uncertainty, risk, and increased financing costs that deter foreign investors. The magnitude of the effect of systematic risk on FDI inflows has been determined by the quality of governance. Robust governance ensures transparency, minimises bureaucratic bottlenecks, and protects investor rights, while inadequate governance increases uncertainty and lessens the efficiency of monetary policies, which deters investor protection. Therefore, this study sought to analyse the moderating effect of governance on the relationship between systematic risk and FDI inflows in the East African region. The study was guided by the OLI framework, institutional FDI theory, and modern portfolio theory. The data was collected from 9 countries for a period of 28 years and analysed through a pooled OLS regression technique. The results showed that governance had a positive, statistically significant moderating effect on the relationship between systematic risk and FDI inflows in the East African region (EXR × WGI = β = 0.2615, p < 0.001; INF × WGI = β = 0.1885, p = 0.008; and INT × WGI = β = 0.1413, p = 0.003). It is, thus, concluded that the strong governance quality lessens the negative effects of volatility in macroeconomic factors that pose systematic risk on FDI inflows. It is recommended that East African governments and policymakers develop strategies that focus on improving the quality of governance and allocate resources towards its reform to foster an environment favourable to stable and enduring foreign investment
Turkana’s Boiling Bowl: Extreme Heat and Social Norms Fuel Gender Inequality
Get PDFClimate change impedes human and economic development globally. The frequency, intensity, and duration of climate extremes, including droughts, floods, heatwaves and cyclones, pose significant threats to health, nutrition, water access, livelihoods and ecosystems. Due to escalating extreme weather events, more populations are becoming vulnerable, with women and girls increasingly exposed to adverse impacts while struggling to meet socio-cultural expectations. This mixed-methods study, conducted in two sub-counties of Turkana County, examines how entrenched social norms exacerbate the impacts of extreme heat on women in Kenya. Analysis of data from the World Bank Climate Knowledge Portal shows that the average mean surface temperature has been on an upward trend, while humidex is way above standard thresholds, with 2019 recording a warming above 54oC. Primary temperature data collected using 20 i-buttons over a three-month period between July and October 2024 indicate a warming trend. Considering the three months, the i-button data reported September and October as the hottest months with temperatures recorded at over 30oC. This syncs with historical data (1991-2020). Other key findings highlight gender disparities where women and girls are more vulnerable due to the indigenous community’s social norms that expose women to climate risks. Women are the community's safeguards and caregivers to humans and livestock. A high proportion of men and women affirmed that extreme heat exposure had forced them to migrate several times. More women indicated prioritisation of coping, adaptation and access to support mechanisms. This study recommends gender-responsive, localised adaptation measures to address climate inequity and inclusion of women in climate decision-making and programming to enhance climate justice in the county and beyon
Challenges Affecting the Implementation of Community Policing and Crime Prevention in Mbarara City, South-Western Uganda
Get PDFCommunity policing is designed to promote collaboration between police and the public to reduce crime and maintain order, yet its implementation faces significant challenges. In Uganda, community policing has been the official policing strategy since 1989, but crime rates in urban centres such as Mbarara City remain persistently high. The objective of this paper is to assess the challenges affecting the implementation of community policing and crime prevention in Mbarara City. The study employed a qualitative approach using a pragmatic research philosophy and a descriptive research design. Data were collected from 183 respondents through interviews, focus group discussions, and document review, and were analysed thematically. The findings show that weak community participation, fear of reprisals, reluctance to testify in court, and mob justice are key challenges at the community level. Institutional-level challenges include understaffing, inadequate logistics, corruption, and poor community engagement by the police. These challenges have contributed to persistent crime hotspots and have undermined the success of community policing in the city. Therefore, to improve the effectiveness of community policing, there is a need to increase police staffing, strengthen community sensitisation, provide witness protection, enhance patrol capacity, and promote stronger partnerships between police, local leaders, and the public
Beyond the Ivory Tower: Comparative Models for Meaningful and Impactful Community Engagement with Evidence from African Rural University
Get PDFHigher education institutions increasingly recognise community engagement as a critical component of their mission, yet models often remain peripheral or transactional. This study examines and compares conventional university–community engagement approaches, such as service-learning and community-based participatory research (CBPR), with the African Rural University (ARU) model in Uganda, which embeds engagement as the curriculum itself. Using qualitative document analysis, including institutional reports, curriculum frameworks, and scholarly literature, the study explores ARU’s Visionary Approach, Community Action Planning, and deep immersion internship. Findings reveal that ARU produces dual transformation: students graduate as Rural Transformation Specialists with practical skills and professional identity, while communities experience measurable improvements in education, livelihoods, and social cohesion. The study concludes that meaningful and impactful engagement requires integration into curricula, asset-based and participatory methodologies, sustained immersion, and incorporation of indigenous knowledge
Ubuntu Pedagogy in Song of Lawino: Strengthening Inclusive Early Childhood Education in Uganda
Get PDFInclusive education requires more than access to schooling; it demands culturally relevant pedagogy that affirms children’s identities and ways of knowing. Song of Lawino (Okot p’Bitek, 1966), a Ugandan literary work rooted in Acholi oral traditions, offers an underexplored resource for understanding inclusive pedagogy from an African perspective. Although widely studied for its cultural and political critique, its pedagogical significance for inclusive Early Childhood Development (ECD) has received limited attention. This study examines how Song of Lawino models Ubuntu pedagogy as a framework for inclusive ECD. Using cultural text analysis informed by hermeneutic phenomenology, the study identifies three interrelated themes: oral literature as an inclusive teaching strategy, communal caregiving as a model for school–community partnership, and affirmation of cultural identity as a foundation for inclusion. Together, these themes demonstrate that Ubuntu pedagogy frames learning as a moral, relational, and communal process rather than an individual achievement. The study contributes to inclusive education scholarship by showing how indigenous cultural texts can inform culturally grounded and human-centred ECD practice. The study concludes that Song of Lawino demonstrates how indigenous cultural texts can guide inclusive ECD by informing teacher education, shaping culturally responsive curricula, and strengthening school–community partnerships in African context
Influence of Socio-Cognitive Factors on Intention to Emigrate among Nurses Working in Nakuru County, Kenya
Get PDFNurse emigration is the process by which nurses move from their home country to another country in search of better job opportunities, higher salaries, improved working conditions, and international experience. In Kenya, nurse emigration is a growing challenge often attributed to deficits in Human Resource Standards. This high level of emigration imposes additional costs on the government and taxpayers due to repeated training cycles and disruptions in the delivery of quality healthcare services. Beyond HR-related factors, demographic, psychological, and psychosocial dimensions also play a critical role. Understanding these factors in conjunction with HR standards is essential for improving healthcare delivery and workforce stability. This study investigated nurses’ intention to migrate within the context of Nakuru County, Kenya. It involved a sample of 150 nurses employed across seventeen health facilities in the Nakuru West Sub-County. Guided by Social Cognitive theory, the study adopted a cross-sectional design to explore the effects of socio-cognitive factors on emigration intention. Results revealed that 80.7% (n=150) of nurses firmly intend to emigrate, with 74.7%(n=150) already enrolled in immigration processes. The United States was the most preferred destination, followed by the United Kingdom (18.7%, n=150), Australia (10.7%, n=150), and Canada (4.7%, n=150). Socio-cognitive factors significantly influenced emigration intention: motivation (β = 0.353, p < .05), attention (β = 0.346, p < .05), and self-efficacy (β = 0.348, p < .05). These variables explained a substantial portion of the variance in emigration intention, underscoring their predictive strength. These findings highlight the urgent need to address cognitive determinants of nurse emigration to reduce emigration intention
Health-Seeking Behaviours among Healthcare Providers in Selected Public Health Facilities in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
Get PDFHealth-seeking behaviour is a growing concern worldwide. However, among healthcare providers (HCPs) in resource-limited settings, such as Kenya, poor health-seeking behaviours (HSB) exacerbate the risks for mortality, delayed care, and compromised patient safety. Despite alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Kenya's universal health coverage agenda emphasises preventive care, HCPs often prioritise patient needs over their own well-being. This study sought to explore HSB patterns among HCPs, identify socio-demographic factors, facilitators, and barriers influencing HSB, and examine associations between HSB and health perceptions in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. A cross-sectional descriptive quantitative research design was employed. The study target population was 1483, comprising 1047 nurses, 206 doctors, and 230 clinical officers, drawn from across Levels 3–6 facilities. Guided by the Health Belief Model, data were collected through self-administered questionnaires using a multistage sampling approach (n = 322). Analysis used SPSS Version 28, with descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multinomial regression. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Scientific Ethics and Research Committee; informed consent was secured from all participants. Nearly half (48.47%) of HCPs exhibited good HSB (mean score=9.78), with 42.94% average and 8.59% poor; self-medication was common (55.73%). These scores were based on a structured HSB rating (from 0-30), where numbers approaching 0 meant poor HSB, those between 10-20 meant average, and those above 20 implied good HSB. Significant socio-demographic associations included age (χ² = 25.4, p < 0.001), marital status (p = 0.012), health insurance (OR = 4.76, 95% CI = 1.42–15.9, p = 0.011), and religion (p = 0.028). Positive health perceptions were strongly correlated with good HSB (χ² = 20.38, p = 0.0046), facilitated by flexible schedules (M = 2.31) and prompt services (M = 2.32), but hindered by limited preventive screenings (M = 1.93) and gaps in institutional support. These findings underscore the need for tailored interventions to bolster HCP well-being. Recommendations include comprehensive health insurance coverage, policies mandating regular check-ups, self-care education, and stigma-free access to foster resilient healthcare workforces and enhance care quality
Contraceptive Uptake and Its Determinants among Women in West Pokot, Kenya: Implications for Reproductive Health in Marginalised Pastoralist Settings
Get PDFBackground: One of the main targets to reach Sustainable Development Goals 3.7 and 5.6 is to promote family planning uptake. However, the uptake in the pastoralist communities has been recorded to be very low compared to the global and national uptake. Purpose of the study: To determine contraceptive uptake and assess individual-level factors that influence Family Planning uptake in the pastoral community of West Pokot County, Kenya. Methodology: A community-based Cross-sectional descriptive study design was conducted among women of reproductive age. Two sub-counties were selected by a multistage sampling technique. Forty community health units were randomly selected from the sub-counties. Households were randomly selected. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics, contraceptive prevalence rate and the factors influencing family planning uptake. Data was analysed using STATA software version 16.0, and logistic regression methods were employed to investigate the association among the variables. Results: 59.2% of the respondents were aged between 14-29 years, a majority (86.3%) were married. 60.7% of the respondents were aware of family planning methods, and 52.9% cited hospital workers as their source of information. The proportion of participants using modern contraceptive methods was 20.4%. Those currently on a method, nearly half (49.2%) were on implant, 41.8% were on injectables, and very few (1.6%) were using IUCD. Strong links were found between obtaining a formal education, working as a herder, being familiar with family planning choices and being aware of at least one long-lasting and reversible contraceptive method, and individuals who accepted family planning (AOR=16.03; 95% CI: 9.14-28.10), (AOR=1.69; 95% CI: 0.83-3.47), (AOR=7.30; 95% CI: 2.83-18.87), (AOR=2.65; 95% CI: 0.97-7.73), with a p-value of less than 0.001. Conclusions and recommendations: The contraceptive prevalence rate in the study area was low. Spousal disapproval, fear of side effects and cultural beliefs were identified to be the barriers to Family Planning uptake. Formally educated women were predominantly the users of contraceptives. The awareness level also contributes to a greater use of contraception. The study recommends the design of programs that involve men in Family Planning decision-making and address cultural and religious misconceptions about contemporary contraception