Kakamega County Research Articles

Availability and helpfulness of low vision assistive devices for low vision learners attending inclusive schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Availability and helpfulness of low vision assistive devices for low vision learners attending inclusive schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Perception level among clinical officers’ students on the effectiveness of simulation models in the Department of Clinical Medicine

Introduction Clinical simulation learning as an educational tool is recommended in the clinical officers’ training. Upon entry into the workforce, clinicians are expected to respond to a range of clinical situations they may not have experienced during their program.Methodology. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Two medical training colleges in Kakamega County, Kenya. This design also enabled testing of causeand-effect relationships of the variables under study. The study employed a systematic way of gathering information. The information gathered described simulation in clinical teaching, specifically a case study of medical training colleges in Kakamega County Kenya.Results. The results show that 215 (71.2%) of the respondents agreed that assessment in the skills laboratory improved the outcome of the early clerkship, 77 (25.5%) disagreed while 10 (3.3%) of the respondents were neutral. The mean score was 3.14 with a standard deviation of 1.14 which shows that most respondents were in agreement that assessment in skills laboratory improves the outcome of the performance and skills of students. The item mean was below the composite mean of 3.36 indicating a negative influence on the composite mean. The standard deviation for the item was above the composite standard deviation of 0.45 indicating a wider spread in response for the item than the variable.Conclusion. OSCE is a competency-based tool widely used in clinical teaching.

Parental Involvement in the Implementation of Competency-Based Curriculum

Numerous studies have been conducted on competency-based curriculum (CBC), but fewer have focused on parental involvement in its implementation. This study aimed to assess the roles of parents in CBC implementation, identifying barriers to effective involvement and proposing strategies for improvement. The research was guided by the following objectives: to examine parental provision of learning resources to children; to determine parental involvement in monitoring and guiding children to complete homework; and to ascertain whether parents provided a conducive atmosphere for learning to occur among children in primary schools in Kakamega county. A descriptive research design was employed in this study. The target population included 50 primary schools, 245 class teachers, 3190 grade six learners, and 245 parents in Kakamega County, Kenya. The sample size was 447, consisting of 8 primary schools, 49 class teachers, 341 grade six learners, and 49 parents. Respondents were sampled through simple random and stratified sampling procedures. The researcher created Likert scale questionnaires and interview schedules which were used for data collection. A pilot study was conducted in two schools. Content validity was used to determine the instruments’ validity, while reliability was determined using Pearson product-moment correlation. Data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively according to the research objectives. Quantitative analysis used descriptive statistics (frequencies and mean) to analyze data. The qualitative data, on the other hand, were examined thematically as per the study’s objectives. The study’s findings revealed that parental involvement in the CBC implementation in Kakamega County was significantly influenced by various factors. It was found that while some parents provided adequate learning resources and created conducive learning environments, others faced barriers such as limited financial resources and lack of awareness regarding their roles. Additionally, the study showed that parental guidance and monitoring of homework completion was consistent, with parents actively engaging in children’s studies. The conclusion drawn from the study indicated that for effective CBC implementation, there needed to be increased parental awareness and involvement, particularly in monitoring and providing learning resources. The study recommended the development of targeted sensitization programs to educate parents about their critical roles, the establishment of community support systems to address financial barriers, and regular workshops to equip parents with skills necessary for supporting their children’s education. These strategies were deemed essential to enhance parental engagement and ensure the successful implementation of the CBC in primary schools.

Quality Status of Wild Simsim (Sesamum Calycinum) Seeds Harvested from Croplands in Khwisero, Kakamega County

Wild simsim is among the indigenous vegetables still gathered during scarcity by some communities in Kakamega County. Domestication of such vegetables is important as they are adaptable to adverse climatic conditions and high in nutritional value. Seed quality is paramount in crop establishment, growth and yield. Being wild, the seeds have not undergone any certification process to come up with the required standard specifications. The objective of the study was to assess the quality of wild simsim seeds by evaluating the influence of the harvesting stage on germination and vigor. The seeds were harvested at yellow and brown capsule stages from croplands in Khwisero. Seed germination and vigor tests were conducted in the seed laboratory at the University of Eldoret. The data was subjected to ANOVA using a Genstat statistical package and means separated by LSD at a 5% significance level. Results indicated that the seeds were of low quality having a germination percentage of 68.50 and 49.75 for seeds harvested at yellow and brown capsule stages respectively. Consequently, Seed vigor was also low recording 8% and 6.25 % at yellow and brown capsule stages respectively. Wild simsim Seeds are of low quality below the 70% recommendation by KEPHIS for indigenous vegetables although those harvested at yellow capsule stage are of a better quality in terms of germination. Wild simsim seeds should be harvested at the yellow capsule stage for a higher germination percentage.

Human Capital and Performance of Kisii and Kakamega County Governments in Kenya

Decentralization in Kenya aimed to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve service delivery by transferring power to sub-national governments. Yet, governance challenges persist mainly due to unqualified staff, nepotism, cronyism, among others. The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis found 32% of county governments staff lack the required qualifications for their roles, leading to inefficiencies and service delivery gaps. Despite these concerns, no empirical research has explored the influence of human capital on the performance of Kisii and Kakamega county governments. This study addresses this gap by assessing the effect of human capital on performance of Kisii and Kakamega counties in Kenya. The study adopts a positivism research philosophy and a cross-sectional survey research design. The target population comprised of Chief officers, Directors and Assistant Director at various ministries, sub-county administrators and Members of County Assembly (N=325). To arrive at a statistically sound sample size, the study adopted the Yamane (1967) formula for sample size determination, which gives a sample size of 136 for Kakamega County and 92 for Kisii County (n=228). Given that the study is quantitative in nature, it adopts structured questionnaires in data collection, which were distributed using online platform (Google Forms). In data analysis, Stata version 17 was used to compute descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and univariate linear regression). Data was presented in prose form and visualized using tables and figures. Findings from the test of hypothesis using simple linear regression indicate that human capital has a statistically significant effect on performance (p<.05). Results revealed that human capital has a moderate positive association with performance, 𝑟 (191) =0.486, 𝑝<.05. It is recommended that the County Governments of Kisii and Kakamega should improve human capital by implementing performance contracting, eliminating political patronage, and investing in innovation infrastructure. Additionally, county governments should develop well-documented SOPs, ensure regular employee training, and embrace public participation to align policies with citizens’ needs.

Influence of Principals' Supervision on Teachers' Job Satisfaction in Public Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Influence of Principals' Supervision on Teachers' Job Satisfaction in Public Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Workforce Diversity and Employee Engagement in Commercial Banks within Kakamega County

Workforce Diversity and Employee Engagement in Commercial Banks within Kakamega County

Individual Consideration Practices of Principals on Teachers Integrating Information Communication Technology in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya

Leadership behavior is one of the issues that has received a lot of attention internationally, particularly the personal considerations of a transformative leader. A teacher’s confidence grows under the supervision of a good leader who can handle particular requirements, including a lack of ICT competency and the availability of additional technologies. This study sought to determine the extent to which Principals’ individual considerations practices influence teachers’ adoption of technology in classroom instruction. The present inquiry adopted a mixed method approach built on an explanatory sequential design. Data was collected from 62 principals and 186 teachers using interviews and questionnaires. from public secondary schools in Kakamega county Expert judgment was used to validate the instrument, obtaining a Cronbach coefficient Alpha index of 0.75, while the test-retest method was used to determine the reliability of the research instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and Pearson correlations. In contrast, qualitative data were examined by grouping common themes and characterizing participants’ ideas and viewpoints. The findings revealed a significant relationship between principals’ individual consideration and the integration of ICT in teaching and learning (r (108) = 0.584, p<0.001) meaning encouraging the practice of individual consideration would increase use of ICT in Instructions. This paper recommends that principals must prioritize the unique demands of teachers. This will inspire and instill trust in teachers on the utilization of technology.

An analytical cross-sectional study on rabies prevention practices among dog owners in Mumias sub-County, Kakamega County Kenya

An analytical cross-sectional study on rabies prevention practices among dog owners in Mumias sub-County, Kakamega County Kenya

Association Between Social Impact and Gender of Patients Presenting With Chronic Low Back Pain at Kakamega County General and Referral Hospital

Association Between Social Impact and Gender of Patients Presenting With Chronic Low Back Pain at Kakamega County General and Referral Hospital

Hepatic and Renal Functions in HIV-Positive Children with Malaria in Western Kenya

Background: The burden of HIV and malaria co-infection lies disproportionately in the Sub-Saharan Africa region which bears most of the malaria endemic zones. While both malaria and HIV are known to dysregulate hepatic and renal functions, the combined effect of co-infection with malaria and HIV on hepatic and renal function among children remains poorly characterized. Objective: To assess liver and renal functions in HIV-malaria co-infected children in Western Kenya. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 6-59 months with HIV and malaria coinfection at Kakamega County Referral Hospital, Western Kenya. A total of 138 children were enrolled. Microscopy and clinical chemistry analysers were used to diagnose malaria, and assay hepatic and renal function parameters respectively. Results: HIV positive-malaria positive cases had significantly higher serum creatinine and urea levels compared to the HIV positive-malaria negative controls. Likewise, serum levels of the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total protein, albumin and globulin were significantly elevated in the HIV and malaria-positive cases compared to HIV-positive and malaria-negative controls. Significantly higher proportions of children with HIV and malaria coinfection also had elevated serum levels of ALT, ASP, GGT, total proteins, albumin and globulin compared to children without coinfection. Serum levels of Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were comparable in both groups. Conclusion: Co-infection with HIV and malaria among children is generally associated with disrupted hepatic and renal function parameters.

Effect of COVID-19 on Food Pricing and Coping Strategies Among Households in Kakamega County Kenya

Food price shocks exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to threaten food security, especially among low-income households. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of COVID-19 on food prices and the coping strategies of households in Malava and Lurambi Sub-Counties of Kakamega County, Kenya. The researchers adopted a descriptive survey design for this study. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed using KoBo Collect and synchronized to the Open Data Kit (ODK) server and used to collect data from a sample size of 200 households. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 26 to generate descriptive statistics. Results reveal that food prices significantly affected households as they depended on the market for food supply, with nutritious food items such as meat, vegetables, milk, and fruits exposed to significant food price shocks arising from COVID-19. Coping strategies included a reduced number of meals per day, reduced dietary diversity, and lower expenditure on health and education, calling for State and County Government interventions to provide food relief and transfer payments for vulnerable households.

Understanding Lifelong Learning in Successful Women Managed Small and Medium Enterprises in Kakamega County: The Case of Kenya Women Microfinance Bank

This qualitative study was a follow up to a 2022 study on the impact of lifelong learning (LLL) on women managed, small and medium enterprises in the context of KWFT biashara loan. The study sought to: create a deeper understanding of the LLL experiences of successful women managers of KWFTbiashara loan SMEs; find out the influence of LLL on successful women managed KWFT SMEs, from the perspective of the women managers, with an aim of making recommendations for policy and practice for LLL in the KWFT financial literacy training. This study utilized a multi-site case study approachthat purposively selected three successful SMEs from a pool of six SMEs that were observed in the 2022 study in Kakamega County of Kenya, under this Women Economic Empowerment Project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and housed at Kenyatta University WEE-Hub. Data was collectedby use of semi-structured interviews and observation. Among other findings, this study reveals varied experiences and opinions concerning LLL in the context of KWFT biashara loan, including the group model of training and lending that was praised in one case and described as having some weaknessesthat required attention in two cases. Notably, all women managers of the successful KWFT biashara loan SMEs understood the basics of business and financial management, which they partly attributed to LLL in the context of KWFT financial literacy training. They also had strong support from their spouses,diversified their businesses and had visible assets that were acquired from the proceeds of the SMEs, among other findings. This study demonstrates how KWFT could strengthen the group model of training and improve on the training curriculum, among other recommendations.

Factors influencing the adoption of climate smart agriculture practices among smallholder farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya

Most of Kenya’s population’s livelihoods and agri-food systems rely on rain-fed agriculture making them vulnerable to climate change. The adverse effects of climate change on agricultural production have necessitated the promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies help guide actions needed to transform and reorient agricultural systems to effectively support development and ensure food security by increasing farmers’ resilience to climate change. This study sought to ascertain the current state of CSA practices among Kakamega County's smallholder farmers to identify the main drivers of CSA adoption. Stratified sampling was used to select six sub-counties to represent the county's various agroecological zones and regions for the research sample. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling was used to select 428 smallholder CSA farmers of which 182 were adopters while 246 were dis-adopters. Primary data were collected using interview guides developed through the Kobo Collect Application. Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical packages were used to process and analyze the data. This study established that CSA technologies in Kakamega are mainly promoted by international development partners, non-governmental organizations and research organizations. In addition, the most adopted CSA technologies were agroforestry, composting, and soil and water conservation structures, while push-pull technology, conservation agriculture, and vermiculture were the least adopted. This study, further, established that smallholder farmers’ level of education, membership to a farmers’ group, interaction with extension officers and farming experience influenced adoption of CSA technologies. Other factors are those that increase household productive resources, such as land ownership, household income, and access to agricultural credit. The results of this study suggest that those who promote CSA technologies, policymakers, extension service providers, and other stakeholders should take smallholder farmers' socioeconomic and bio-physical factors into account when doing so. Key words: Climate-smart agriculture, CSA practices, CSA adoption, CSA dis-adoption, smallholder farmers

An Engel–Kollat–Blackwell model application on restaurant clientele purchase decision-making processes in commercial eateries in Kakamega County, Kenya

ABSTRACT Restaurant clientele have a task of making critical decisions concerning their choices of food and drinks. The decision-making process involves, firstly, the selection of the restaurant in which to have a meal and, secondly, the selection of food items from the menu to constitute their meals. Thus, it requires cognitive and physical effort for restaurant clientele to make decisions concerning their restaurant choices and ultimately a final purchase decision. This study applied the Engel–Kollat–Blackwell-consumer purchase decision model to investigate restaurant clientele’s purchase decision-making process among commercial eateries in Kakamega County in Kenya. For the purpose of this study, a five-stage customised EKB model was applied. The study employed a descriptive research survey design, while Fisher’s formula was utilised, giving a sample size of 384 respondents. The study results show a high positive correlation (R = 0.892) between the study variables. The study results indicate that 79.6% of the total variation in consumer ratings was because of the restaurant customer purchase decision-making process, in addition to the overall regression model predicting the outcome variable (p < 0.05). In relation to the contribution of studied predictor variables, a manual search gave the greatest contribution (B = 0.545, p < 0.001, t = 9.105), while sense of belonging/ class of the eatery gave the least contribution (B = −0.584, p < 0.001, t = −12.505). To yield positive results, eatery managers will be required to adjust these predictor variables depending on the contribution of each on the outcome variables, given the predictor variables to be tested account for the most variance in the outcome variable.

Dynamics of Marketing Communication Platforms Used by Farmers to Access Information on Agriculture in Kakamega County, Kenya

Agriculture is fundamental to Kenya’s development as anchored in the in the Bottom-Up Economic blue print and Vision 2030. Despite the increasing promotional attempts by marketers, manufacturers and even government agencies, agricultural production is marred by low outputs, low uptake of farm inputs such as fertilizer, quality seeds, equipment, chemicals, and reluctance in adopting new agricultural innovations. The presence of various marketing communication approaches, several information platforms, and financial incentives to the clientele notwithstanding, the uptake of farm inputs is still very low. The objective of this study was to describe the dynamics of integrated marketing communication platforms that are used by farmers in accessing information on agriculture. The Uses and Gratifications Theory by Katz, Blumler, and Gurevitch was adopted because of its ability to examine diverse media and communication channel preferences among audiences. The theory advances the use of alterative media platforms where traditional ones are not effective. The researcher relied on Mixed-methods in actualizing the study. Simple random sampling was used to get 259 farmers, while purposive sampling was used to select Agricultural Society of Kenya officials and agricultural extension officers. Six agro-dealers were randomly selected while quota sampling was used to get media personnel. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used in analysis and organization of results. Findings were presented descriptively and complemented by graphs, tables, percentages, and charts. This enabled the researcher to draw inferences that later informed the conclusions of the study which indicate that participants had access to multiple marketing communication platforms that they relied upon to access information on agriculture. The channels included both traditional and new media platforms such as radio, TV, SMS, interpersonal communication, and public barazas, which were effective in sharing information on agriculture. The study recommended the following; embracement of targeted marketing; empowerment of Agricultural field officers and increase collaborations with vibrant agricultural organizations; make use of integrated communication platforms that meet regional needs; utilization of social media to advertise; and finally, embrace continuous provision of agricultural information at all times.

Psychological, socioeconomic burdens and coping mechanisms of caregivers of children with bronchoasthma in Kakamega County, Kenya

Background: Childhood bronchoasthma consistently pose diverse caregiving burdens yet, magnitude of these and coping mechanisms adopted by caregivers are infrequently assessed during routine care only focused on index patients. Methods: A partially mixed descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for a minimum of 408 respondents. The results were presented in form of tables and text. Results: A total of 408 caregivers were surveyed, with a mean age of 33 years (SD=9.86). Majority (78.7%) were actual parents of whom 73.5% were married. Primary-level education was the highest attained by 64% of caregivers while those earning &lt;10,000 KES per month were 76% with about 3 out 4 being self-employed. Significant psychological concerns include sleep disturbance on the night previous to the interview, caregivers’ concern about the child's asthma medication and side effects. Work absenteeism; reduced total annual income; lost job; discontinued child schooling and delayed family investment/cut budgets were significant social/economic burdens. Most caregivers used escape-avoidance coping mechanisms with a significant majority being involved in substance abuse (72.3%); feeling helpless or downplayed the severity of symptoms because of myths and stigma. Young age (p=0.002); being widowed (p=0.040), and being of low level of education (p&lt;0.001) were associated with poor coping mechanisms. Conclusions: There was considerable prevalence of psychological burden and socio-economic status among caregivers with significant majority using adversarial coping mechanisms, particularly among socio-economically disadvantaged.

Assessment of Socioeconomic and Psychological Factors Predicting Health-Related Quality of Life among Primary Caregivers of Cancer Patients in Kakamega County

Context: Primary caregivers of cancer patients often suffer from impaired Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) due to stress arising from the responsibility of caregiving. Most studies conducted in Western populations have shown that increased caregiving burden was related to decreased mental and physical health and premature mortality among family caregivers. Therefore, the findings of those studies may not be directly applicable to the Kenyan population, especially Western Kenya, which has a different socio-cultural and ethnic background.&#x0D; Aim: This study sought to determine socioeconomic and psychological factors predicting the health-related quality of life among primary caregivers of cancer patients in Kakamega County.&#x0D; Methods: This was an institutional-based cross-sectional analytical study design. Kakamega County Referral Hospital was purposively sampled as it has a hospital with a western region cancer center. The sampling unit was caregivers of cancer patients seen in the hospital. The caregivers were systematically and randomly sampled from a list drawn from the Cancer Centre register of cancer patients, where the caregivers are captured as their treatment supporters, and each cancer patient is expected to have a caregiver. The sample size was 422 primary caregivers after calculation. The data collection tool was contracted from a QOL questionnaire, such as WHOQoL-BREF, developed to measure both objective and subjective dimensions of QOL, Personal Wellbeing scale, Herth Hope Index, and PHQ9/GAD-7 to assess psychological-related factors, which are more sensitive and have wider applicability.&#x0D; Results: Socioeconomic factors such as gender (p=0.007), type of area of residence (p=0.004), income in KSh (p=0.01), and number of rooms (p=0.0005) are significantly associated with perceived quality of life. Psychological-related factors like depression (p=0.001) and anxiety (p=0.002) are significantly associated with perceived quality of life. &#x0D; Conclusion: The study concluded that socioeconomic and psychological factors of primary caregivers of cancer patients can predict the health-related quality of life of those caregivers. The study recommends that financial charges for cancer management be subsided as this could relieve caregivers' financial burden. Other family members should support primary caregivers financially and psychologically to ease the burden of the primary caregiver. Psychosocial support group networks should be established for caregivers through multiple communication channels, thereby reducing the mental and psychological burden experienced by caregivers.

Adoption of Agroforestry as a Climate Smart Agriculture Practice among Smallholder Farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies help guide actions needed to transform and reorient agricultural systems to effectively support development and ensure food security by increasing farmers’ resilience to climate change. Agroforestry has been vouched for as one of the best CSAs because it provides ecosystem services such as water quality enhancement and prevents land degradation. This study sought to establish and document the adoption of agroforestry as a CSA practice among smallholder farmers in Kakamega County. Stratified sampling was used to select six sub-counties to represent the county's various agroecological zones and regions for the research sample. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling was used to select 428 smallholder CSA farmers, of whom 376 (87.9%) were practicing agroforestry. Primary data was collected using interview guides developed through the Kobo Collect application. Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical packages were used to process and analyze the data. This study found that wood fuel was the main source of energy for 73% of the smallholder agroforestry farmers, followed by solar energy devices (12%), charcoal (7%), electricity (6%), and kerosene (2%). Grevillea Robusta was the most widely preferred agroforestry tree variety, adopted by 91.8% of agroforestry smallholder farmers, followed by fruit trees (73.4%), blue gums (67.3%), Cyprus (34.0%), and Calliandra (37.5%). Fodder tree types such as Sesbania and Casuarina were adopted by 30.9% and 23.9% of the smallholder agroforestry farmers, respectively. This study recommends the integration of agroforestry into farming systems by incentivizing farmers through programs like tree planting, free seedlings, and farm competitions. School agricultural clubs, such as 4K clubs for primary schools and Young Farmers Clubs for secondary schools, could be motivated and supported to use school gardens for food and fruit tree production. This study also recommends the promotion of modern stoves (maendeleo jikos), which use less wood fuel, are more efficient in cooking, and also reduce GHG emissions.

Devolved Governance System and its Economic Development Impact to Rural Counties in Kenya: Case Study Kakamega County, Kenya

This study aims at discussing how devolved governance system has an economic impact to rural counties in Kenya with Kakamega rural county as the case study. The Devolution is one of the most transformative changes to Kenya’s governance system brought about by the Kenya Constitution, 2010. Article 174 of the Constitution provides that one of the key objectives of devolution is to promote social and economic development and provide proximate, easily accessible services throughout Kenya. Many rural Counties including Kakamega County faced with a myriad of challenges such as poverty, unemployment, disease, low agricultural productivity among others. Kakamega County through its short, medium and long term plans came up with an Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). The CIDP helps the county in identification of the projects and programmes through various consultative forums at the sub-county level vide Focused Ward Groups, community dialogues, County Stakeholders, such as the County Budget and Economic Forum, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce, Public Benefit Organizations such as GROOTS Kenya, ADS, and International development partners such as UNICEF, UNDP and USAID. Kakamega county has achieved much in terms of developments in various sectors such as education, health, infrastructure and urbanization. This study contributes in highlighting how devolved governance system has a positive impact to rural areas in kenya. The study provides crucial insights on devolution as a tool to economic development changes in rural Kenya especially in Kakamega County.