Bungoma County Research Articles

Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of pathogenic bacteria recovered from unprocessed bovine milk produced in Ndivisi Ward, Bungoma County

Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of pathogenic bacteria recovered from unprocessed bovine milk produced in Ndivisi Ward, Bungoma County

Influence of Devolved Human Resource Governance Structure on Service Delivery in the Public Health Sector in Kenya

The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of devolved human resource governance structure on service delivery in the public health sector in the County government of Trans Nzoia, Kenya. The study was anchored on sequential theory of decentralization and adopted embedded mixed methods research design. The target population was 663 respondents comprising of 15 hospital administrators, 16 doctors, 50 clinical officers, 240 nurses and 342 patient care givers in all the 74 public health care facilities in the County government of Trans Nzoia. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the study sample. A total of 331 respondents comprising of 8 administrators, 8 doctors, 19 clinical officers 148 nurses and 148 patient care givers were sampled from 74 public health facilities for study. Out of the sample size of 331 of respondents, 281 participated giving a response rate of 85 percent. Data was collected using questionnaires and document analysis guide. Validity of data collection instruments was determined by experts and peers, and the tool modified accordingly after a pilot study in the neighboring Bungoma County. Reliability was established using Cronbach Alpha technique. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis with the help of SPSS program version 21. Descriptive statistics involved frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation while inferential statistics involved the use of Spearman rank order correlation, simple and multiple regressions. Data was presented using tables. Study findings revealed that health care service delivery was not satisfactory. Devolved human resource governance structure had not been fully implemented. The study established that implementation of devolved human resource significantly influenced service delivery in the health sector. The study recommended that county governments should ensure adequate staffing, motivation and equipping of health facilities to enhance service delivery. Both the medical and support staff should be trained, compensated and equipped appropriately for designated roles. Keywords : Devolved human resource governance structure, service delivery in the health sector DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/11-1-02 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Influence of Devolved Financial Resource Governance Structure on Service Delivery in Public Health Sector in Kenya

The purpose of the study was to establish the relationship between implementation of devolved financial resource governance structure and service delivery in the public health sector of the County government of Trans Nzoia, Kenya. The study was anchored on sequential theory of decentralization and adopted embedded mixed methods research design. The target population was 663 respondents comprising of 15 hospital administrators, 16 doctors, 50 clinical officers, 240 nurses and 342 patient care givers in all the 74 public health care facilities in the County government of Trans Nzoia. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 331 respondents comprising of 8 administrators, 8 doctors, 19 clinical officers, 148 nurses and 148 patient care givers were sampled from 74 public health facilities for study. Data was collected using questionnaires, checklist and document analysis guide. Validity of data collection instruments was determined by experts and peers, and the tool modified accordingly after a pilot study in the neighboring Bungoma County. Reliability was established using test Cronbach Alpha technique. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis with the help of SPSS program version 21. Descriptive statistics involved frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation, while inferential statistics involved the use of Spearman Rank Order Correlation, simple linear and multiple regressions. Data was presented using tables. The study established that health care service delivery was not satisfactory and that devolved financial resource governance structure had not been fully implemented. The study established a positive relationship between implementation of devolved financial resource governance structure and service delivery in the public health sector. The study recommended for adequate revenue allocation, timely disbursement and own revenue generation by county governments. The study also recommended for annual audits to ensure effective and efficient use of financial resources. Keywords : Devolved financial governance structure, service delivery in the health sector DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/11-1-03 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Evaluation of cellular changes in blood stored for transfusion at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, Kenya.

Introductionduring the storage of transfusion blood, it may undergo a series of cellular changes that in speculation could be the reason behind the risk of using prolonged stored blood. It's important therefore to monitor the cellular changes that may reduce its survival and function. The objective was to assess the cellular changes in whole blood stored for transfusion at Bungoma county referral hospital.Methodsa single center, prospective and observational study design involving 20 randomly selected donor blood units in citrate phosphate dextrose adenine (CPDA-1) anticoagulant was employed, cellular changes were evaluated for 35 days. The changes were tested using the Celtac F Haematology analyzer. Statistical Analysis of variance was employed in the descriptive statistics. All the investigation was executed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS V.23). Results were regarded as significant at P<0.05. Results were presented in tables and charts.Resultsat the end of the 35 days blood storage at blood bank conditions, WBC, RBC, platelets counts and MCHC decreased significantly (P<0.0001, =0.0182, <0.0001, =0.0035). The MCV, HCT and MCH increased significantly (P <0.0001, =0.0003, =0.0115) while HGB had insignificant variance (P =0.4185).Conclusionplatelets, WBC, RBC counts, and indices are significantly altered in stored blood especially when stored over two weeks based on most of the cellular components analyzed in this study. The study, therefore, recommends the utilization of fresh blood to avoid the adverse outcome of cellular changes of reserved blood.

Incidence of Maize Ear Rot and Stem Borer Participatory Rural Appraisal Efficacy Relationship by Farmers in Western Kenya

Maize has become Africa’s second most important food crop after cassava. Maize is Kenya’s staple food and is grown by about 90% of rural households. Among the pests and disease, stem borers are considered to be the most serious insect pests and ear rot the most important disease. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was carried out in Malakisi and Sirisia Divisions of Bungoma County, Western Kenya (N00°68.824 - N00°78.641and E34°38.076-E34°55.604). The PRA involved focused group discussions and 100 questionnaires were used in each Division to gather information from maize farmers. The focused groups consisted of the males and females who had engaged in maize production for at least 5 years. The two Divisions were perceived to have different levels of ear rot causing fungi because of different agro-ecological zones. This determined the farmers’ knowledge on the relationship between maize ear rot and stem borer damage, yield losses and farmer’s livelihoods. Farmers put 54% of their farms under maize production with mean yields of 9.8bags/acre and 10.9bags/acre for Malakisi and Sirisia Divisions respectively. Most farmers planted maize early 78% and 83% for Malakisi and Sirisia. The use of certified seeds especially hybrids was high in both Divisions with Malakisi 74% while Sirisia had 84%. Only 63% and 66% of the population for Malakisi and Sirisia respectively were food secure. The yields per unit area is far less than the potential due low levels of inorganic fertilizer use and unexploited organic manure utilization. But the government intervention/subsidy through National accelerated agricultural input and access programme (NAAIAP) programme in both Divisions realized significant increase in the yields of 20-30 bags /acre). All farmers affirmed knowing both maize stem borers and ear rot. The occurrence of stem borers was 16% in long rain season while 84% in short rains season. There were No stem borer tolerant varieties with farmers, local stockists and traders. Farmers in Malakisi 46% and Sirisia 37% recognized the relationship as a pathway between stem borer damage and ear rot incidence. Some farmers and traders admix their maize grains with Malakisi 25% and Sirisia 13%. Rotten ears are used as livestock, poultry feeds, local brews and human food during hunger months. Coupled with the high number of traditional stores which are grass thatched and dilapidated, this predisposes the populace to mycotoxins associated with ear rot posing a health risk.

Biochemical changes in whole blood stored for transfusion at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, Kenya.

BackgroundDuring storage, transfusion blood may undergo a series of biochemical changes that could pose risks to patients when used. It is important therefore to monitor biochemical changes that may reduce survival or function of stored blood cells.ObjectiveThis study assessed biochemical changes in whole blood stored for transfusion at Bungoma County Referral Hospital in the western region of Kenya between February 2019 and August 2019.MethodsA prospective study design involving 20 randomly selected donor blood units in citrate phosphate dextrose adenine anticoagulant was employed. Biochemical changes were evaluated for 35 days. Potassium and sodium levels were tested using the HumaLyte Plus5 analyser. Blood pH level was estimated using the Hanna pH meter.ResultsAt the end of the 35 days of storage under blood bank conditions, the mean potassium level significantly increased from 7.31 mmol/L at baseline to 20.14 mmol/L at week 5 (p < 0.0001), and the mean sodium level significantly decreased from 150.72 mmol/L at baseline to 121.56 mmol/L at week 5 (p < 0.0001). The pH level decreased insignificantly from 7.48 at baseline to 7.38 at the end of week 1 (p = 0.0757) but decreased significantly to 6.15 at the end of week 5 (p < 0.0001).ConclusionPotassium increased and sodium concentrations decreased significantly from the first week of blood storage. The pH decreased significantly from the second week of storage. Therefore, aged blood should be avoided to circumvent potential adverse outcomes from biochemical changes and stored blood should be tested before use.

ADOPTION OF SUPPLY CHAIN DRIVERS ON SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE OF CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUNDED PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF BUNGOMA

Purpose: The focus of the study was to analyze the influence of supply chain drivers on performance of National Government Constituency Development funded projects in Bungoma County.&#x0D; Methodology: Based on pragmatic worldview the study employed descriptive research design. The target population of the study consisted of five prequalified accredited service providers’ contractors in Bungoma County with a total composition of 293 staff from which a sample size of 169 was drawn from the entire population.The data collection tool was the questionnaire which was subjected to pre testing through piloting before actual data collection. The data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially with the aid of SPSS tool and presented by use of tables. Correlation analysis was performed to establish the relationship between variables and multiple regressions to determine the cause effect of the variables.&#x0D; Findings: Result of multiple regressions revealed that supply chain drivers jointly and independently influence performance of NGCDF funded projects in Bungoma County, Kenya. The study findings showed that all study variables (ICT β=0.136, p&lt;0.05, material management β=0.140, p&lt;0.05, supplier selection β=0.317, p&lt;0.05 and contract β=0.280, p&lt;0.05 were significant to performance of NGCDF funded projects in Bungoma county. Therefore the study concluded that supply chain practices of ICT, material flow, supplier selection and contractual capacity affects the performance of funded projects.&#x0D; Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that the county government management in Kenya need to invest in constant training of their employees on effective supply chain practices to enhance their performance and appropriate measures put in place that ensure that potential risks regarding contract management and detected in advance and mitigated to enhance operational performance

ADOPTION OF SUPPLY CHAIN DRIVERS ON SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE OF CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUNDED PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF BUNGOMA

Purpose: The focus of the study was to analyze the influence of supply chain drivers on performance of National Government Constituency Development funded projects in Bungoma County.&#x0D; Methodology: Based on pragmatic worldview the study employed descriptive research design. The target population of the study consisted of five prequalified accredited service providers’ contractors in Bungoma County with a total composition of 293 staff from which a sample size of 169 was drawn from the entire population.The data collection tool was the questionnaire which was subjected to pre testing through piloting before actual data collection. The data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially with the aid of SPSS tool and presented by use of tables. Correlation analysis was performed to establish the relationship between variables and multiple regressions to determine the cause effect of the variables.&#x0D; Findings: Result of multiple regressions revealed that supply chain drivers jointly and independently influence performance of NGCDF funded projects in Bungoma County, Kenya. The study findings showed that all study variables (ICT β=0.136, p&lt;0.05, material management β=0.140, p&lt;0.05, supplier selection β=0.317, p&lt;0.05 and contract β=0.280, p&lt;0.05 were significant to performance of NGCDF funded projects in Bungoma county. Therefore the study concluded that supply chain practices of ICT, material flow, supplier selection and contractual capacity affects the performance of funded projects.&#x0D; Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that the county government management in Kenya need to invest in constant training of their employees on effective supply chain practices to enhance their performance and appropriate measures put in place that ensure that potential risks regarding contract management and detected in advance and mitigated to enhance operational performance.

“Unpacking Routine Program Monitoring-Sustainability of Agricultural Projects Funded by Non-governmental Organizations Nexus. An empirical Study in Bungoma County, Kenya”

Guided by systems theory, this study investigated how routine program monitoring influences the sustainability of agricultural projects. The analysis included the following tests: means, frequencies and standard deviations for descriptive analysis while inferential statistics was conducted by the use of correlations, and linear regression. The study had the following findings: Sustainability of agricultural projects had a general mean (GM) of 24.7080 and a general (SD) of 4.30998 showing that agricultural projects were not sustained. Small standard deviation showed a consensus among participants on this issue. For routine program monitoring, the general mean score for all items was 31.2336 with a general standard deviation of 4.82984. The implication of this mean score and standard deviation in respect to the study is that there was general agreement in opinion among participants that organizations utilized monitoring and evaluation system in terms of routine program monitoring. The results from interview guides supported the quantitative results, by agreeing that organization indeed utilized monitoring as required. Project managers were convinced that organizational monitoring system was in good condition, the only challenge that was expressed by project managers concerning monitoring system is poor utilization of collected data to take corrective measures. It was said that data collected from monitoring was rarely used to make project improvements. Routine program monitoring was found to have a very small positive correlation with the sustainability of agricultural projects which was not statistically significance. H0: was not rejected with r= 0.059, . This shows that the regression model was not fit.

Gender Dynamics Determining Men and Women’s involvement in Community Conflicts through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms in Kapsokwony, Kenya

This article outlines the gender dynamics that determine men and women’s involvement in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms in Kapsokwony, Bungoma County. It highlights that while ADR mechanisms are normally considered participatory and inclusive in Kenya, the reality however is that they remain male dominated. The study was based on a mixed research method whose methodology involved research survey, interview, and Focus Group Discussions. Findings from studies carried out across the global confirm that men continue to have upper hand over women with regards to participation in conflict resolution using ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) mechanisms for number of reasons. The situation was found not different in the context of Kapsokwony, a sub-county of Bungoma County in Kenya. This study discussed the multidimensional factors that continue to contribute to men upper hand over women in resolving conflict through ADR mechanisms. Keywords: Gender equality, Participation, Exclusion, Alternative Dispute Resolution, conflict Resolution DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-21-05 Publication date: November 30 th 2020

Competency Based Curriculum in Primary Schools in Kenya: Opportunities and Challenges of Implementation

The study was designed to investigate challenges facing the implementation of competency based curriculum (CBC) in primary schools in Kenya. It dealt with the following aspects: Teacher’s preparedness, availability and adequacy of teaching materials, level of collaboration between different government agencies and opportunities available for proper implementation of CBC in primary schools. The study employed a mixed research design. The sample for the study comprised 200 primary schools, 200 head teachers, 200 primary teachers and 4 Kenya national union of teachers sub branch secretaries drawn from Bungoma County. Data were collected using questionnaire, interviews and observation. It was then analysed both qualitative and quantitatively. The finding from this study reveal that the introduction of competency based curriculum into education system in Kenya primary schools was hurriedly done and not systematically planned and implemented; with minimal training of majority of teachers on its contents and teaching methods which tends to hinder their application of essential knowledge and skills of the curriculum. There was general lack of adequate approved textbooks for teachers and learners as well as instructional materials. Parents and other educational stakeholders’ involvement and public participation in the curriculum reforms process was not adequate. Classrooms were overcrowded with pupils ranging from 70 – 100 per stream. With these kinds of challenges, the success of the new curriculum is in doubt. It is therefore recommended that the ministry of education and other stakeholders should devote more efforts to the development of teachers’ and head teachers’ understanding of the CBC approach , assist in the construction of classrooms in primary schools and provision of adequate resources and facilities as well as sensitize and involve parents during parents teachers association (PTAS) meetings. Keywords: competency based curriculum, Kenya, Parents’ Teachers Association, Education stakeholders, Respondents. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-32-06 Publication date: November 30 th 2020

Assessment of the Impact of Religious Organizations on the Implementation of Curriculum in Public Secondary Schools in former Western Province of Kenya

The impact of religious organizations on curriculum implementation in Kenya is perceived differently by stakeholders. The first secondary schools in colonial Kenya were established by Christian missionaries. Their participation has been viewed by stakeholders as either positive or negative. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of religious organizations on implementation of curriculum in public secondary schools in former Western province of Kenya. The study was conducted in Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega and Vihiga counties of former Western province of Kenya. The study is based on Ludwig Von Bertalanffy Theory of General Systems from which the Systems Approach in the learning process is derived. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population included: four County Directors of Education, twenty two Sub-County Education Officers, principals and teachers in secondary schools, religious leaders and students. Of the twenty two (22) sub-counties, the researcher used purposive sampling to carry out the study in ten sub-counties. This gave a total of 621 students, 120 teachers, 60 principals of secondary schools, 5 Islamic leaders, 10 church leaders, 2 County Directors of Education, 4 Sub- county Education Officers and 1 curriculum developer. This gave a sample size of 823 respondents. The instruments for data collection were questionnaires for principals, teachers, students and interview schedule for religious leaders as well as Education Officers. Focus Group Discussion and Observation Schedule were also used. To establish validity and reliability, the instruments for data collection were assessed by subject experts from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The questionnaires were also piloted and the anomalies were corrected before the researcher went to the field. Presentation and analysis of data was based on the objective of the study and was put in form of tables, bar-graphs, pie-charts and descriptions. The findings were that religious organizations have an impact on curriculum implementation in secondary schools. Sadly some of the religious organizations cause divisions in the schools they sponsor by recommending the transfer of teachers as well as antagonizing the principals who do not profess the same faith as the sponsor. From the above findings the conclusions made were that religious organizations have an impact on curriculum implementation in schools as they complement efforts of the Government of Kenya in provision of education. The policy framework given to religious organizations is not strong enough to take care of curriculum needs in the present day school environment. It was therefore recommended that religious organizations revisit their initial role in matters curriculum. There should be clear policy guidelines on the impact of religious organizations on curriculum implementation in secondary schools which should go beyond spiritual nourishment, guidance and counseling and teaching of Religious Education in schools in public secondary schools in Kenya.

The Relationship between ICT Adoption and Student Enrolment in TVET Institutions in Bungoma County, Kenya

The Relationship between ICT Adoption and Student Enrolment in TVET Institutions in Bungoma County, Kenya

THE EFFECT OF LAND OWNERSHIP DOCUMENTATION ON FARMING COMPETITIVENESS IN CHEPYUK WARD OF BUNGOMA COUNTY, KENYA

The unresolved land issue in Chepyuk ward for decades had adversely affected farming competitiveness in spite of the region being fertile and viable for competitive farm production. Lack of security of tenure on the untitled land had a direct bearing on investment (farm inputs) and therefore to a large extends affected farm output. Despite many researches that had been undertaken on Chepyuk land issue, land and conflict had been widely studied rather than farming competitiveness. The studies on farming competitiveness in Chepyuk ward remains scanty and therefore justify more research on the aspect of farming competitiveness. The main objective of this study was to establish the effect of land ownership documentation on farming competitiveness in Chepyuk Ward of Bungoma County. A descriptive survey research design was used in this study. The study was guided by theory of land ownership in a free society advanced by Ingalls (2012). The target population was 3120, households, 10 land officers and 10 agricultural officers located at the county level. Multistage sampling technique was used in this study where Simple random sampling was employed when selecting 312 respondents among the households. Five Land officers and Five Agricultural officers were respectively and purposefully sampled for this study. The researcher used questionnaires, interviews and document analysis as the main tools for collecting data. The data from the questionnaires, interviews and document analysis was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The researcher used frequencies and percentages in summarizing data. Information obtained through interviews was discussed to support or dispute the findings from the questionnaires. Tables were used to present the data for purposes of interpretation. The study informs Ministry of lands on the existing gaps in the fight against irregular allocation of land. The study also enables land policy experts in the government review existing mechanisms and systems set to support the Chepyuk area residents in dealing with cases that bring about land conflicts in the area and entire nation. Residents were in agreement that the land lacked mapping, surveying and land registration and this triggered frequent conflicts. Cultural norms of the community also denied women land ownership rights. The Land officers and Agricultural officers gave similar opinion. Lack of land documentation denied people opportunity to seriously venture into farming with sole aim of attaining food security and profit negatively affecting livelihood of the residents. The government should reposes illegally acquired plots and re-issue to the rightful owners, it should also process land titles for the scheme. The community should also be sensitized to embrace gender equity on land allocations. This will enable residents to actively engage in farming activities hence enhance farming competitiveness in Chepyuk ward. Article visualizations:

Teachers' Competency in Integration of Information Communication Technology in Early Learning in Bungoma County, Kenya

Integrating Information Communication Technology into curricula with the intent of positively influencing teaching and learning has been in a state of evolution over the past 20 years. The purpose of the study was to analyse teachers' competency in integration of ICT, into teaching and learning in early learning in Bungoma County, Kenya. The study was guided by Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Framework (TPACK) by Punya Mishra and Matthew J. Koehler’s. The study population included Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers, education officers in charge of ECD in the county and public primary school headteachers. Simple random sampling was used to obtain 177 ECD teachers which is 10% of 1,768 ECD teachers from 884 public primary schools in Bungoma County. The study adopted a descriptive research design. A questionnaire and interview schedule were the main primary data tools for data collection. The findings showed that Integration of ICT in early education is highly related to teachers’ ICT competencies, planning for instruction, teaching methods, teaching and learning materials and how assessment is done. The central issue in the integration of ICT into early learning is pegged on the instructors having the requisite ICT training. ICT integration in early learning is often attributed to the teachers thus, those teachers who competency and higher confidence are expected to integrate ICT in their classes. Teacher's underutilization of ICT in the classroom and their resistance to embedding ICT across the curriculum can be detrimental to attempts to introduce new teaching and learning technologies in education. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor teacher's ICT utilization and examine factors that contribute to their skeptical practices of teaching with technology. Keywords: Integration, Competency, Information Communication Technology DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-30-11 Publication date: October 31 st 2020

Influence of Strategic Planning on Academic Performance of Public Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya

This study was set to establish the influence of strategic planning on academic performance of public secondary schools in Bungoma County. The study was prompted by concerns among education stake holders over poor academic performance in educational institutions. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The study was conducted in 360 public secondary schools in Bungoma County. The target population comprised of 360 Principals, 360 Board of management chairpersons and 360 Directors of Studies. The sample size of the study comprised of 72 Principals, 72 BOM chairpersons and 72 DOS. Simple random sampling was used to select 72 schools which represented 20% of 360 target schools. Purposive sampling was used to select Principals, DOS and BOM chairpersons. Primary data was collected using closed ended questionnaires and checklists. The statistical package for social sciences SPSS was used for analysis of data. Descriptive statistics used were frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Inferential statistics used were Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and linear regression analysis. Linear regression analysis and correlation were used to test relationship between independent and dependent variables. Analyzed data was presented in APA tables, pie charts and bar graphs. The study established that there is a positive and significant relationship between strategic planning and academic performance of public secondary schools in Bungoma County, Kenya. The study recommended that the ministry of education and school managers should ensure effective implementation and adherence to policy guidelines on strategic plans and safety standards in public secondary schools in Bungoma County through close monitoring using standardized monitoring tools and conduct inspection to ascertain compliance and ensure that the plans are executed effectively in order to realize improvement in the academic performance.

The Relationship between Budget Adequacy and Student Enrolment in TVET Institutions in Bungoma County, Kenya

The Relationship between Budget Adequacy and Student Enrolment in TVET Institutions in Bungoma County, Kenya

THE COMPLIANCE OF MANAGEMENT ON REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS IN REGARD TO PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF PRIMARY TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGES IN BUNGOMA COUNTY, KENYA

Demand for basic education by communities in Bungoma County has led to proliferation of many teacher training colleges. However, safety of learners in these colleges remains a major challenge to all college administrators. This reinforces a widely held view that the management has not fully implemented required safety measures in teacher training colleges. The purpose of this study will be to investigate the level of compliance by management to registration requirements on safety in Primary Teacher Training Colleges in Bungoma County Kenya. The study will be guided by the following objectives: To evaluate the college administration compliance towards registration requirements in regard to physical infrastructure in primary teacher training colleges in Bungoma County. The study concluded that college principals had a high positive compliance towards registration requirement in regard to physical infrastructure of teacher training colleges in Bungoma County. The study recommends that college administrators should enhance compliance on requirements in regard to physical facilities, health, hygiene and requirements concerning land sizes. Article visualizations:

Occurrence and genetic diversity of groundnut rosette assistor virus in western Kenya

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important legume in western Kenya, but yields are low and declining. Pests and diseases are ranked high among the yield reducing factors. Groundnut rosette disease (GRD) is the main disease and can cause up to 100% yield loss. Groundnut rosette disease is transmitted by the groundnut aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch and caused by two synergistic viruses; groundnut rosette assistor virus (GRAV) and groundnut rosette virus (GRV) associated with a satellite-ribonucleic acid (sat-RNA). Inadequate information was available on the occurrence and molecular diversity of GRAV in western Kenya, which is a limiting factor on proper diagnosis and management. This study determined the occurrence and molecular diversity of GRAV on groundnuts in western Kenya. A survey of GRD was conducted in 144 farms in Bungoma and Kakamega counties during the short and long rains of 2016–2017. A total of 301 symptomatic leaf samples were collected and preserved until use. Incidence and severity data was collected and subjected to pairwise comparison of means using the standardized disease diagnostic score sheet at P ≤ 0.05. Screening for resistance/tolerance to GRD was done on five popular legume varieties (Arachis hypogaea, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna unquiculata, Glycine max and Vigna radiata) and one solanaceous Physalis peruviana. The plants were monitored for GRD symptoms development in the screenhouse for 8 weeks. Total RNA was extracted from the leaf samples using RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturers’ protocol. DNA libraries were prepared and sequenced on the MiSeq platform (Illumina). Phylogenetic analyses and comparisons were performed using the MEGA X software. From the sequences obtained, primers were designed for use in RT-PCR. Groundnut rosette disease was prevalent in all the surveyed areas with chlorotic rosette symptoms being dominant followed by green rosette and mosaic rosette. Groundnut rosette disease incidence ranged between 31 and 67%, but was higher in Bungoma (67%) than Kakamega (61%) county, while the short rains had higher incidence than the long rains season. All screened indicator plants developed typical GRD viral symptoms and tested positive for GRAV. Nucleotide sequences of GRAV coat protein (CP) gene revealed 97–99% identity among the western Kenya isolates and those from Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria respectively. The fact that GRD occurs wherever groundnuts are grown in western Kenya, is of great concern and may be the reason for the observed low yields. Incorporation of GRD resistance genes in the local cultivars/varieties may be the only practical solution.

Teacher Perceptions on Implementation of Teacher Performance Appraisals in Public Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya

In public secondary schools, the teachers have to undergo a continuous Teacher Performance Appraisal (TPA) which forms part of the Performance Contract that the Principal signs as a binding agreement between the school and the government. The purpose of this study was to determine the Influence of Teacher Performance Appraisal policy in the Implementation of Performance Appraisal among Public Secondary Schools in Bungoma County. The specific objective was to establish the influence of Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) policy on implementation of performance appraisal. This study was guided by the Performance Appraisal Model. Descriptive research design was used with both qualitative and quantitative data collected for analysis. The study targeted 1107 respondents drawn among Sub County TSC directors, TSC Human Resource Officer, Principals, Deputy Principals and Directors of studies in schools. The study sample included 111 respondents, probability sampling; specifically stratified random sampling was used to pick the schools included in the sample. National schools, being only 2 in the County were purposively sampled; data collection was done using interview schedules, questionnaires and Focused Group Discussions (FGD). Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics; findings were presented using tables. The study found that teacher perceptions do affect the implementation of TPAD. The study recommends that: teachers are sensitized and capacity built on TPAD to enhance their understanding of the practice. Teachers should take opportunities for peer learning to reflect and refine their own quality assurance processes and that teachers too can keep a diary to record thoughts about daily Classroom and outdoor activities.