Laikipia County Research Articles

Teachers’ self-Efficacy as a Predictor of Students’ Motivation to Learn Among Secondary School Students in Laikipia County, Kenya

This study investigated the influence of teachers' self-efficacy beliefs on students' motivation to learn secondary school mathematics in Laikipia County, Kenya. The study was guided by Keller's ARCS model of motivation. Descriptive research design was employed in the study. The target population was all 8357 Form Four students in the County. A sample of 412 respondents comprising of 392 students and 20 mathematics teachers from the sample classes was selected for the study. Simple random sampling was used to select participating schools, sample classes and students. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Cronbach's alpha was used to estimate the reliability of research instruments. Data was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and simple regression analysis at.05 level. The findings indicated that teachers' self-efficacy beliefs contributed significantly to students' motivation to learn. The study concludes that teachers' efficacy beliefs play an important part in developing students' motivation to learn mathematics among secondary school students.

Social differentiation in climate change adaptation: One community, multiple pathways in transitioning Kenyan pastoralism

Climate change adaptation literature on pastoralists often embraces a systems approach that uses aggregate analysis, giving a false assumption of community homogeneity. It assumes that a pastoral community is a coherent unit, an assumption that does not adequately capture the increasingly differentiated adaptation pathways. Analyzing key adaptation practices among Maasai (agro-) pastoralists’ of Laikipia County, we outline how wealth, age and gender differentiate actors’ adaptation pathways. We argue that adaptation pathways are political processes highly negotiated by these elements of social differentiation and that individual actors adaptation opportunities are substantially shaped by their social positions. Additionally, we make the case for using adaptation practices as focal points for adaptation pathways research because this methodological choice allows unpacking who, why and how questions in the uptake of emerging technical adaptation practices, especially how they are influenced by individual social positions of wealth, age and gender.

Role of Extensive Reading Habits in Students’ Acquisition of Composition Writing Skills in English in Kenya

Despite the important role reading proficiency plays in learners daily lives both within and outside school, there has been a lot of concern from educationist, researchers and media in Kenya who have reported a saddening trend on poor reading culture among many students in Kenya, This study was prompted by the observed poor reading and writing in English by secondary schools learners in Laikipia County in Kenya. The study therefore sought to establish whether there existed any relationship between extensive reading habits and composition writing amongst learners. The study was guided by Schmidt's (1975) Schema Theory. The descriptive survey research design was used for this study. Fifteen secondary schools in Laikipia County were sampled by proportional stratified sampling technique in five sub-counties across the county. Purposive sampling was used to sample 30 out of 80 (37.5%) English language teachers. Simple random sampling was used to sample 327 students out of about 2670 students (12.24%) in form 2 and 3 in the County. The research instruments used for data collection included: questionnaire for students, interview guides for teachers and composition writing test. The instruments were pilot tested to ensure validity and reliability in a co- educational secondary school in the neighbouring county that was not included in the study. The reliability of the questionnaire and interview guide was estimated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient which was 0.871 which met the recommended threshold of 0.7 and above. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics such as frequency, tables and percentages. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was done at 95% confidence level (F(2) = 80.933, P = .001) to establish whether there was statistically significance difference between composition writing mean scores of different categories of school using (SPSS) version 17. Qualitative data were organized according to the study themes and presented descriptively on the basis of the study objective. It was found that learners who engaged actively in extensive reading performed better in composition writing than those who did not. However, it was established that acute shortage of reading resources was a major hindrance to engagement in extensive reading in schools. The study recommended that schools should come up with strong extensive reading policy to promote independent reading so as to improve their writing skills. K e ywords : Extensive reading, Habits, Acquisition DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-30-09 Publication date: October 31 st 2020

Differing physiological and behavioral responses to anthropogenic factors between resident and non-resident African elephants at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia County, Kenya.

BackgroundHeterogeneous landscapes like those of Laikipia County, Kenya consist of a mosaic of land-use types, which may exert differential physiological effects on elephants that occupy and traverse them. Understanding behavioral and physiological states of wild African elephants in response to the challenges of living in human-dominated landscapes is therefore important for conservation managers to evaluate risks imposed by elephants to humans and vice versa. Several conservation physiology tools have been developed to assess how animals respond to both natural and anthropogenic changes, and determine biological impacts. This study investigated how migratory and avoidance behavioral to vehicle presence, and vegetation quality affected fecal glucocorticoid (GC) metabolite (FGM) concentrations in African elephants at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia County, Kenya.MethodsThe study compared adrenal glucocorticoid activity of resident elephants that live within Mpala (n = 57) and non-resident elephants whose space use patterns overlap several ranches (n = 99) in Laikipia County, Kenya. Fecal samples were collected for a 4-month period between April and August for analysis of FGM concentrations. Behavioral reactions to research vehicles and body condition also were assessed. Satellite images from Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging (MODIS MOD13Q1) were downloaded and processed using Google Earth Engine to calculate a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a measure of vegetation quality.ResultsAs expected, there was a positive correlation between avoidance behavior to vehicle presence and FGM concentrations in both resident and non-resident elephants, whereas there was an inverse relationship between FGM concentrations and NDVI values. Our study also found a positive influence of age on the FGM concentrations, but there were no relationships between FGM and sex, social group type, herd size, and body condition. However, contrary to our expectations, resident elephants had higher FGM concentrations than non-residents.DiscussionFindings reveal elephants with stronger avoidance responses to research vehicles and resident elephants with relatively smaller home ranges exhibited higher FGM concentrations within the Mpala Ranch, Kenya and surrounding areas. Higher vegetative quality within the ranges occupied by non-resident elephants in Laikipia may be one reason for lower FGM, and an indication that the non-residents are tracking better forage quality to improve energy balance and reduce overall GC output. Additionally, our study found a positive influence of age, but no other demographic variables on FGM concentrations. Finally, adrenal glucocorticoid activity was inversely related to vegetative quality. Our findings can help conservation managers better understand how behavior and environment influences the physiological states of African elephants, and how management intervention might mitigate negative human–elephant interactions.

Comparative analysis of the typology, seasonality and economic cost of human-wildlife conflict in Kajiado and Laikipia Counties, Kenya

Human –wildlife conflicts (HWC) affect the social-economic aspects of millions of people across the world and is one of the most important challenges facing wildlife conservation. Long-term data collection provides an opportunity to critically understand HWC trends and enable wildlife stakeholders to create evidence-based solutions for co-existence of people and wildlife. We used Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) data for the 2010-2018 period to analyse trends in typology, seasonality and economic costs of HWC in Kajiado and Laikipia Counties in Kenya. A total of 953 HWC reported cases in the two counties were analysed. Wildlife threats to human life, crop damage and livestock predation were the common form of HWC, contributing 65.7% (n=626), 21.7% (n=207), and 7.7% (n=73) respectively. Apart from livestock predation (t=2.431; P=0.028) all other types of HWC did not show any significant differences in the two counties over the nine-year period. Elephants were responsible for the highest conflict cases (79%, n=753) followed by baboons (6.9%, n=66). Elephants contributed to the highest human fatality and injuries (43%, n=10); while snakes and buffalo were second, each contributing to 17% (n=4) of the total cases. Majority of the HWC occurred in the dry season months of July (n=114), January (n=99) and October (n=96). The overall trend indicated increasing HWC cases over the 9 years in both counties. The analysis of economic cost of HWC showed that a total of 64.09 hectares of crops were damaged in 2010-2018, with 70% of the cases reported in Kajiado County. In terms of predation, Kajiado lost livestock worth KES 1,785, 000 (U$ 16,780.53) while Laikipia lost KES 407,000 (U$ 3826.15). This study provides empirical evidence that can be used to develop strategies for mitigating HWC based on types, seasons and conflict species.

Genetic, morphological and acoustic differentiation of African trident bats (Rhinonycteridae:Triaenops)

AbstractRhinonycteridae (trident bats) are a small Palaeotropical family of insectivorous bats allied to Hipposideridae. Their taxonomy has been in a state of flux. Here, we use mitochondrial and nuclear sequences to evaluate species relationships, confirming the monophyly of both Triaenops and Paratriaenops. Although most Triaenops afer specimens are recovered as a group, mitochondrial analyses strongly support some Kenyan individuals as members of Triaenops persicus. Analyses of four nuclear introns (ACOX2, COPS7A, RODGI and STAT5A) strongly support the mitochondrial topology. Morphometric analysis of the skull, external morphology and echolocation calls confirm that the Triaenops from the Rift Valley in Kenya (Nakuru, Baringo and Pokot counties) are distinct from typical T. afer in coastal (Kilifi and Kwale counties) or interior (Laikipia and Makueni counties) colonies. We interpret these analyses to indicate that two species of Triaenops occur in East Africa: T. afer in coastal regions along the Indian Ocean and in the highlands of central Kenya and Ethiopia, and T. persicus in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Although they appear widely disjunct from Middle Eastern populations, Kenyan T. persicus might be more widely distributed in the Rift Valley; they are somewhat differentiated from Middle Eastern populations in terms of both cranial morphology and vocalizations.

Beef Production in the Rangelands: A Comparative Assessment between Pastoralism and Large-Scale Ranching in Laikipia County, Kenya

Beef production in Kenya is the forte of pastoralists and large-scale ranches in the Arid and Semi-Arid areas. Cross sectional data was collected from 67 pastoralists and seven large-scale ranches, selected through multistage stratified sampling. Comparative descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and analysis of production constraints were done with the objective of assessing the pastoralists and large-scale ranches direct economic gains, constraints to production and potential for upgrading. Gross margin analysis showed that beef production is profitable for both pastoralists and large-scale ranches. However, large-scale ranches had much higher gross margins of up to six times more. There were significant differences in the live weight of cattle, prices and livestock selling channels and cost of production. Drought, livestock diseases, invasive plant species, lack of water and human-wildlife conflict were among factors limiting productivity of pastoralists. The difference in gross margins indicates existing potential for pastoralists to improve their earnings through a combination of product, process, and functional upgrading. Addressing key constraints to production can contribute to better gains and strengthen coexistence between pastoralists and large-scale ranches. Strategies and programmes to enhance cattle fattening, provision of livestock extension services, affordable feed inputs and collaboration between the two production systems should be considered in upgrading.

A preliminary assessment of the presence and distribution of invasive and potentially invasive alien plant species in Laikipia County, Kenya, a biodiversity hotspot

A preliminary assessment of the presence and distribution of invasive and potentially invasive alien plant species in Laikipia County, Kenya, a biodiversity hotspot

Social categories and agency within a Conservation Agriculture framework in Laikipia, Kenya

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s Conservation Agriculture (CA) has been presented to smallholders in Laikipia (Kenya) as a strategy to improve both soil fertility and productivity. In this paper, we provide a historical and social analysis of categories used to define soil management practices and farmers by agricultural programmes in colonial and post-colonial Kenya. For this purpose, we have conducted archive research, recorded the social memory of agricultural policies and farming techniques, and examined contemporary conceptual frameworks and institutional networks around CA in Ethi and Umande in Laikipia County, Central Kenya. We identified evidence of historical continuity in the strategies and methods of agricultural promotional practices. CA networks have broadly advertised the advantages of CA as a means to revert soil degradation and improve livelihoods. However, farmer categorizations based on engagement with CA, promotional strategies, and unclear operational definitions have all prevented CA from being understood by farmers as a technological farming proposal. Instead its adoption is linked with social status and occasional free access to agricultural inputs. Additionally, information about the potential risks and limitations of CA should be explicitly made available to farmers in Laikipia in order to promote transparency and informed decision-making.

Knowledge and misconceptions surrounding family planning among Young Maasai women in Kenya

ABSTRACT Adolescent fertility rates are high in Kenya and increase the likelihood of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to explore the knowledge, perceptions, and barriers surrounding the use of family planning services among young Maasai women in Laikipia County, Central Kenya. Individual interviews with 50 participants were conducted in Laikipia County, Kenya during June and July of 2019. Qualitative data was visualised using JMP software and coded using the framework method for content analysis. Several overarching themes were identified. First, we identified a high rate of unintended pregnancy and a low rate of family planning use. Second, we found that many young Maasai women believe that only women that are married and have finished childbearing should utilise family planning services. Finally, we document highly prevalent myths among young women in the Maasai community that the use of family planning will lead to negative health consequences, such as infertility and cancer. We conclude that the Maasai community of Laikipia County, Kenya needs comprehensive family planning education that will improve knowledge and dispel myths in order to empower young Maasai women to make informed decisions surrounding family planning.

Volunteer based approach to dog vaccination campaigns to eliminate human rabies: Lessons from Laikipia County, Kenya.

An estimated 59,000 people die from rabies annually, with 99% of those deaths attributable to bites from domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). This preventable Neglected Tropical Disease has a large impact across continental Africa, especially for rural populations living in close contact with livestock and wildlife. Mass vaccinations of domestic dogs are effective at eliminating rabies but require large amounts of resources, planning, and political will to implement. Grassroots campaigns provide an alternative method to successful implementation of rabies control but remain understudied in their effectiveness to eliminate the disease from larger regions. We report on the development, implementation, and effectiveness of a grassroots mass dog rabies vaccination campaign in Kenya, the Laikipia Rabies Vaccination Campaign. During 2015-2017, a total of 13,155 domestic dogs were vaccinated against rabies in 17 communities covering approximately 1500 km2. Based on an estimated population size of 34,275 domestic dogs, percent coverages increased across years, from 2% in 2015 to 24% in 2017, with only 3 of 38 community-years of vaccination exceeding the 70% target. The average cost of vaccinating an animal was $3.44 USD with in-kind contributions and $7.44 USD without in-kind contributions. The evolution of the Laikipia Rabies Vaccination Campaign from a localized volunteer-effort to a large-scale program attempting to eliminate rabies at the landscape scale provides a unique opportunity to examine successes, failures, and challenges facing grassroots campaigns. Success, in the form of vaccinating more dogs across the study area, was relatively straightforward to achieve. However, lack of effective post-vaccination monitoring and education programs, limited funding, and working in diverse community types appeared to hinder achievement of 70% coverage levels. These results indicate that grassroots campaigns will inevitably be faced with a philosophical question regarding the value of local impacts versus their contributions to a larger effort to eliminate rabies at the regional, country, or global scale.

Determinants Of Choice Of A Place For Delivery Among Women Aged 18-49 Years Attending Post-Natal Clinic At Nyahururu County Hospital Laikipia County, Kenya

Determinants Of Choice Of A Place For Delivery Among Women Aged 18-49 Years Attending Post-Natal Clinic At Nyahururu County Hospital Laikipia County, Kenya

The Influence of Teacher-parent Collaborative Monitoring of School Attendance on Pupils’ Academic Performance in Nyahururu Sub-county Kenya

Teacher-parent collaboration has been highly encouraged because of its strong associations with educational success. However, it has not been verified whether it influences pupils’ academic performance in the early years of education, hence continues to be a significant issue. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of teacher-parent collaboration in monitoring school attendance on pupils’ academic performance in public pre-primary schools in Nyahururu Sub-County, Laikipia County. The study was anchored on Epstein’s theory of parental involvement and Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. The study approach was quantitative and therefore a descriptive survey research design was adopted. The accessible population of the study was 351 teachers and parents of the 8088 pupils in the176 public pre-primary schools. The sample was 69 teachers and 72 parents. Cluster random sampling, simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to obtain the study sample. Likert scale questionnaires were used for data collection. Piloting was done in five pre-primary schools to ascertain reliability of the instruments where split-half method was used. Experts from the university scrutinized the instruments to ensure validity. Data collected was coded and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25. Results were presented using frequencies, ratings and mean scores in data tables. Research ethics was duly observed. The study found that teacher-parent collaboration in monitoring school attendance influenced pupils’ academic performance to a great extent. The significance of the study was to enlighten all the early years’ education stakeholders on the importance of teacher-parent collaboration on monitoring of school attendance. Teachers and parents should establish effective collaboration in monitoring school attendance to ensure consistence in attending school thus improving pupils’ academic performance.

A preliminary analysis of the costs and benefits of the biological control agent Dactylopius opuntiae on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya

Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw (Cactaceae) is invasive in Laikipia County, Kenya, impacting negatively on biodiversity and livelihoods. To control this invasive plant the biocontrol agent Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera; Dactylopiidae) ‘stricta’ biotype was released in 2014. A preliminary once-off survey to determine the impact of the cochineal revealed that it had contributed to a significant reduction in the number of cladodes, flowers and fruit of plants with cochineal. Fruits that were produced on plants with the cochineal were also smaller and had fewer seeds. Although still preliminary, an analysis of the costs of implementing this biocontrol programme indicates that it is the most cost-effective management intervention compared to physical and/or chemical control. Although the impact of the cochineal is still fairly localized we are confident that it will establish in much of the invaded range and reduce the impacts of the invasive cactus, consequently improving rangeland condition and livelihoods.

Propensity to adapt to climate change: insights from pastoralist and agro-pastoralist households of Laikipia County, Kenya

Climate change is a reality in Africa’s drylands. Pastoralists are engaging and embracing a range of adaptive strategies to adjust to these changes. The socioeconomic factors driving them to engage in a portfolio of multiple adaptation strategies have not been adequately addressed in the existing literature. A multivariate probit model was used to analyze them as determinants of adaptive capacity that promotes or hinders adaptation to climate change. Adaptation is represented by uptake of multiple strategies (irrigation, livestock migration, fodder production, and improved livestock breeds) by households, a demonstration of a household’s ability to diversify and adapt to the effects of climate change. The household asset base, particularly social capital represented by government assistance, stands out as it positively influenced by the uptake of four out of five adaptation strategies; that is, irrigation, livestock manure, fodder production, and improved breeds. Information heavily supports the adaptation process as it influenced all the five adaptation strategies analyzed but has a heterogeneous effect, supporting households to either adopt or reject a strategy. Crop-based information positively determines uptake of yield-enhancing strategies while relevant information for livestock activities contributes to the uptake of livestock-based strategies. These findings suggest that mainstreaming agricultural innovations, building a household asset base, and facilitating access to agronomic and climatic information will enable dryland communities to better adapt to climate change.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of wild herbivore species richness and occupancy across a savannah rangeland: Implications for conservation

Private lands are critical for maintaining biodiversity beyond protected areas. Across Kenyan rangelands, wild herbivores frequently coexist with people and their livestock. Human population and livestock numbers are projected to increase dramatically over the coming decades. Therefore, a better understanding of wildlife-livestock interactions and their consequences for biodiversity conservation on private lands is needed. We used a Bayesian hierarchical, multi-species and multi-year occupancy model on aerial survey data of 15 wild-herbivore species, spanning 15 years (2001–2016) to investigate a) spatiotemporal trends in species occurrence and richness across a mosaic of properties with different land uses in Laikipia County, central Kenya; and b) the effects of distance to water, vegetation and livestock relative abundance on species occurrence and richness. Although mean herbivore species richness varied little over time, we observed high spatial variation in species occurrence across Laikipia, mainly driven by negative effects of high livestock relative abundance. As expected, ‘wildlife friendly’ properties had higher herbivore species richness than other areas. However, high variability suggests that some pastoral properties support rich herbivore communities. The area occupied by five species with global conservation concerns (reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Beisa Oryx, Defassa waterbuck and gerenuk) and for which Laikipia County is one of the last refuges was <50% across years. We conclude that ‘wildlife friendly’ properties remain crucial for conservation, although some pastoralist areas offer suitable habitats for wild herbivores. Effective management of stocking rates is critical for maintaining ecosystems able to sustain livestock and wildlife on private lands, ensuring protection for endangered species.

Pedagogical Techniques Teachers Use to Bolster Extensive Reading Habits in Secondary Schools in Kenya

This study addresses the issue of pedagogical techniques for extensive reading in secondary schools in Kenya at a time when concern is being expressed about declining reading habits in the institutions of learning. Learners nowadays have taken to social and mass media and rarely read anything extra outside the prescribed texts. Even the wide spread national examination malpractice witnessed recently could be traced to the decline in reading interest and poor reading habits among secondary school learners. Effective use of pedagogical extensive reading techniques can greatly improve learners’ achievement in English and also enhance their reading habits. This study was prompted by the observed poor reading in English by secondary schools learners in Laikipia County in Kenya. Among some of the possible explanations for this scenario are that students in the County did not adequately read books extensively coupled with other determinants that influence their performance in English. The study investigated the pedagogical techniques used by teachers to bolster extensive and pleasure reading habits. The study was guided by The Schema Theory. The descriptive survey research design was used for this study. Fifteen secondary schools in Laikipia County were sampled by proportional stratified sampling technique in five sub-counties across the county. Purposive sampling was used to sample 30 out of 80 (37.5%) English language teachers. Simple random sampling was used to sample 327 students out of about 2670 students (12.24%) in form 2 and 3 in the County. The research instruments used for data collection included: questionnaire for students, interview guides for teachers and documents analysis guide. The instruments were pilot tested to ensure validity and reliability in a co-educational secondary school in the neighbouring county that was not included in the study. The reliability of the questionnaire and interview guide was estimated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient which was 0.871 which met the recommended threshold of 0.7 and above. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics such as frequency, tables and percentages. Qualitative data were organized according to the study themes and presented descriptively on the basis of the study objectives. The analyzed data revealed various reading pedagogical techniques which included analysis of the title and the blurb before reading, formation of mental images while reading and writing book reviews after reading. Acute shortage of reading resources was a major hindrance to engagement in extensive reading in schools. The study recommended that schools should ground learners on reading techniques and also come up with strong extensive reading policy to promote independent reading. Keywords: Pedagogical techniques, Bolster, Extensive reading, Reading habits DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-6-23 Publication date: February 29 th 2020

The Influence of Teacher-students’ Interaction on Motivation to Learn Mathematics Among High School Students in Laikipia County, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of teacher-students’ interaction on motivation to learn mathematics among high school students. The study was guided by Keller ARCS model of motivation. Descriptive research design was employed in the study. The target population was all 8357 Form Four students from 113 public high schools in Laikipia County. Simple random sampling was used to select sample schools, sample classes and respondents. The sample consisted of 392 mathematics students who participated in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was used in data collection. Cronbach’s alpha was used in estimating the reliability coefficients of research instruments which were acceptable and above 0.7. Data was analyzed using simple regression analysis.The finding showed that teacher-students’ interaction has a significant influence on motivation to learn mathematics. The study concludes that in order to improve effectiveness of teaching and learning, teachers need to use the relevant classroom interaction practices wisely so as to guide and monitor students in the learning process for better motivation so as to enhance acquisition of knowledge.

Security Preparedness and Organizational Operations in Laikipia County, Kenya

The aim of the study was to establish how availability of closed circuit television, security services, firefighting equipment and medical facilities contributed to organizational operations. Descriptive research was adopted in the study to identify how organizational operations are affected by security preparedness. The study targeted a population of one thousand one hundred respondents comprising of business owners, heads of institutions, security operatives and clients out of which a sample size of one hundred and ten respondents was selected. The study collected both primary and secondary data using semi-structured questionnaire and reviewed empirical and theoretical literatures respectively. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in pie charts, bar charts and graphs. Pilot testing of the instruments was conducted to ascertain their reliability. The study findings indicated that there is a positive and important relationship between CCTV and organizational operations. Likewise, there was a positively significant correlation between security service personnel and organizational operations. The effect of firefighting equipment on organizational operations was moderate according to the study findings. Additionally, the study found out that the influence of medical facilities on organizational operations was moderate. The study recommends an increase of CCTV coverage within Nanyuki, modernization of firefighting equipment, standardized operating procedures for security service providers and an evaluation of preparedness of medical facilities within Nanyuki town on the ability for mass casualty response.

Vaccine Coverage of Newly Introduced Vaccines and Factors Influencing among Children Less Than 23 Months in Laikipia North Subcounty

The epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases has been modified by use and implementation of various vaccination programs in many countries. However, because of observed suboptimal vaccination rates, debate has emerged on the benefits of such vaccines worldwide. Maternal and childhood vaccinations have been evaluated and found extremely effective at preventing illness in pregnant women and new-borns despite low uptake of such vaccines in many areas. The objective of this study was to determine the Vaccination Coverage and factors that influence uptake of newly introduced vaccines among children aged less than 23 months in Laikipia North Sub-County. The study used multistage sampled parents and guardians of children below 23 months of age but residents of Laikipia North Sub-County within Laikipia County. Trained interviewers visited sampled households and administered a standardized pretested questionnaire. Mothers and guardians were interviewed and asked to show the interviewers Mother-Child Post Natal Booklets for the study enrolled children. Key informant questionnaires were also administered to Health facility staff. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. Chi-Square for Proportion and Student T-test were used to assess factors influencing uptake of vaccines in the sub-county. The study found that slightly above half (59%) of the care givers indicated that their child had been vaccinated. Majority (61%) of the care givers had their children given rotavirus vaccine while an equal number (61%) had their children given Pneumococcal vaccine. 52% of the care givers indicated that their children were given IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine). 53% of the children who were given rotavirus vaccine received the required 2 doses. Among social-cultural factors, the need for permission from mother-in-law (p = 0.003), belief that vaccination makes girls infertile (p = 0.046) and belief that vaccination at a very young age can harm the child (p = 0.021). Migration with animals or nomadic lifestyle (p = 0.033) and the need for permission from my husband to have Child Immunized (p = 0.038) were significantly related to uptake of vaccination among the care givers. Occupation of the care giver (p = 0.044), the breadwinner in the family (p = 0.025) and the means of transport used to go to the facility (p = 0.007) and average household income (p = 0.033) were also significantly related to uptake of vaccination. None of the health system factors under investigation was found to significantly relate to uptake of vaccination. The study finding indicates that low uptake of vaccination was due to social cultural and social economic factors and recommends that Health education campaigns on the need of vaccination should target all members of the population. It further recommends that poverty eradication measures should be stepped up in the study area.