Southeastern Kenya Research Articles

Zai Pits as a Climate-Smart Agriculture Technique in Southern Kenya: Maize Success Is Influenced More by Manure Than Depth

In semi-arid southern Kenya, climate change is putting rainfed agriculture at risk with major implications for food security. The zai pit, a Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technique, has proven to enhance yields in arid regions, but its labor demands have limited adoption rates. This study assessed how the zai pit depth and manure application within zai pits influenced maize (Zea mays) success (i.e., growth, development, and productivity). Three zai pit treatments were prepared at the Wildlife Works Research Center in southeastern Kenya: (1) deep (50 cm) with manure; (2) shallow (25 cm) with manure; and (3) deep (50 cm) without manure, and all were compared to a non-zai pit control (surface planting). Maize growth/development (e.g., height, stage, roots) and productivity (e.g., yield) measurements were taken over two growing periods. For most measures, shallow zai pits performed equally as well as deep zai pits, with both performing better than the control. Zai pits without manure performed significantly worse than zai pits with manure, oftentimes not differing from the control. Results suggest that maize success is influenced more by manure than the depth of the pit. Kenyan farmers are encouraged to dig shallower, manure-enriched zai pits to enhance food security in response to climate change.

EFFECTS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING PRACTICES ON BIOMASS YIELD AND MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS OF SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) IN SEMI-ARID KITUI COUNTY, KENYA

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Sorghum is an important source of fodder in the semi-arid areas of Kenya. However, its biomass yield has remained low due to the low soil moisture content which is associated with low rainfall. <strong> Objective:</strong> To evaluate the synergistic effects of combining rainwater harvesting practices on biomass yield and the morphometric traits of sorghum in semi-arid Kitui County. <strong>Methodology</strong>: The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design under rainfed conditions between March and August 2021 at the Research Farm of South Eastern Kenya University. It had twelve treatments, including three farming systems (conventional flat planting, ridge and furrow, and zai pits) with three soil mulching types (transparent plastic film mulch, black plastic film mulch, and grass mulch). The farming systems without mulching were used as control treatments. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were separated using Fisher’s protected Least Significant Difference test at 0.05 %. <strong>Results:</strong> The zai pits with black plastic film mulch and flat planting with grass mulch had the highest and lowest moisture content of 68.65% and 52.5% respectively compared to flat planting. The highest biomass yield was observed in ridge-furrow with black plastic film mulch (3283.33kg ha-<sup>1</sup>) and ridge–furrow with transparent plastic film mulch (3266.03) and was not significantly different. The lowest biomass yield was recorded in conventional flat planting and zai pits and was not significantly different. In all treatments, there was a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in morphometric traits. <strong>Implications: </strong>The farming system and the type of soil mulching determined the increase of soil moisture content, biomass yield, and morphometric traits. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: Combining ridge-furrow and black plastic mulch is recommended to improve the biomass yield of sorghum in semi-arid Kitui County, and other areas with similar agroecological conditions.</p>

Effectiveness of County Communication Approaches in Facilitating Public Participation in Kenya’s Devolved Governments

Purpose: The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of county communication frameworks in fostering public participation in Kenya’s 47 devolved governments. Effective communication is both a function and proof of good governance. Thus the significance of county communication facilitating enduring citizen participation in policy making and implementation processes cannot be overstated. The evaluation of county communication approaches was conducted in alignment with overall objectives outlined in the County Government Act of 2012. These objectives include: creating awareness on devolution and governance; promotion of peace and cohesion; advocacy for development, and promotion of the freedom of the media.
 Methodology: The present study adopted a qualitative research approach. The research targeted 8 counties clustered in county economic blocs of North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB), Lake Region Economic Bloc LREB, Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) , South Eastern Kenya Economic Block (SEKEB), Mt Kenya and Aberdares Economic Bloc, Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani( JKP), Narok and Kajiado Economic Block(NAKAEB) and Nairobi City County. The counties purposely selected to represent each of these economic blocs include: Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Mandera, Makueni, Meru, Kwale, Narok and Nairobi. This study used both primary and secondary methods to collect data. In-depth interviews were used to collect primary data from 26 participants, specifically, from Council of Governors, Sub-County Administrators, County Assemblies Forum, County Directors of Communication and Community Based Organizations. They were purposively chosen for their role in communicating, facilitating, and monitoring public participation. Secondary data was collected mainly from national dataset, surveys, and reports from ministries, departments, and agencies.
 Findings: The findings show that concept of public participation is deeply rooted in the Constitution of Kenya 2010. County communication frameworks embed strategic communication approaches for policy making and implementation in devolved governments. The finds show that the level of understanding of devolution among Kenyans varies. Those in urban and city counties have a greater appreciation of decentralization while those in rural counties have limited understanding of devolution and its implication. Majority of Kenyans have difficulty distinguishing functions of devolved governments from those assigned to the national government by the CoK 2010. Additionally, county governments are required to promote peace and cohesion among the residents. The findings show that this objective receives less emphasis and is not a priority of counties, with the exception of frontier counties. However, counties promote development in their jurisdiction recognizing that they have a responsibility to stimulate investments that create jobs for unemployed and generally improve living standards of the residents. Finally, county governments have a role to play in ensuring media practice remain free from any interference even though this responsibility lie with the national government. 
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Based on the review of the literature and findings of this study, the study recommends that county governments should meaningfully engage citizens in governance by first, empowering them to understand their responsibility and secondly, allowing them to engage meaningfully in issues that affect them. To achieve this, county governments should establish mechanisms that promote civic education, public participation and access to information as provided in the County Government Act 2012.

Effect of Shade Intensities on Growth, Biomass and Grain Yield of Green Grams (Vigna radiata) and Maize (Zea mays) in Kitui County

Maize and green grams are important food security crops grown and consumed in the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya. High temperatures and low soil moisture lead to yield reduction. A two-season study was conducted to investigate the effect of different shade intensities (0 %, 50 % and 70 %) on green gram and maize growth, biomass and grain yield in Kitui County (1.4° S, 37.9° E). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) farm. Results showed that maize had significantly (p<0.05) higher plant height, Ear height, cob weight, total biomass and grain yield per hectare in 50%, followed by 70% and lowest in 0%. Green gram plants had significantly (p<0.05) higher number of pods, seeds per pod, total above-ground biomass and grain yield per hectare 50 % (1759 kg/Ha), 70 % (1553 kg/Ha) and lowest in 0% (478 kg/Ha). The plants grown under 50% shade intensity had higher grain and biomass yield for both green grams and maize compared to those under 70% and 0% shade intensity, which may be attributed to adequate moisture due to reduced evapotranspiration. The study demonstrated that the cost-benefit analysis of shade intensity on green grams farming system yield and break-even price was best at 50% shade intensity. The study demonstrated that the cost-benefit analysis of shade intensity in maize farming systems is not significant. To improve grain and biomass yield of both green grams and maize for food and nutrition security, study recommends the use of 50% intensity in growing green grams in ASALs due to benefits including soil moisture conservation, improved plant growth, yield, economic efficiency and cost-benefit ratios

Farm production diversity and its influence on diet quality in South Eastern Kenya

Farm production diversity and its influence on diet quality in South Eastern Kenya

A new species of gracile blind snake in the genus Letheobia (Squamata: Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae) from Sagalla Hill, south-eastern Kenya

ABSTRACT The members of the typhlopid Letheobia pallida group are characterised by having a divided or split ocular scale. Letheobia wrayi sp. nov., differs from all other members of this group by having a low mid-dorsal scale count of 355 (other taxa 376–670). It also has a rostral which is rounded, not truncated posteriorly, and its nasal suture arises from the base of the first (not second) labial. In the new species the number of middorsal scales is similar to that of L. swahilica, but it is larger in total body length (245 mm compared to 190 mm). Letheobia wrayi sp. nov., differs from L. toritensis and L. pallida that have > 400 mid-dorsals. The new species can be distinguished from L. mbeerensis (mid-dorsals > 600, long tail 2.9% vs 1.2% short tail). It is known only from the holotype collected on the Sagalla Hill–Taita Hills at an elevation of about 1 100 m within a dry deciduous forest zone.

Effectiveness of a community-centered Newcastle disease vaccine delivery model under paid and free vaccination frameworks in southeastern Kenya.

In the absence of effective drugs, vaccines constitute the cornerstone for the prevention of Newcastle disease (ND). Different strategies have been implemented to increase vaccination, but uptake remains low, underscoring the need for novel vaccine delivery methods. We designed and assessed the effectiveness of a community-centered ND vaccine delivery model in southeastern Kenya. Under the model, we sensitized smallholder chicken farmers (SCFs) through structured training on chicken husbandry, biosecurity, ND, and its vaccination, among other aspects. We subsequently engaged trained community vaccinators (CVs) to deliver vaccines and/or provide vaccination services to SCFs at a cost on one hand and, at no cost on the other, in selected sites to address challenges of inadequate service providers, vaccine unavailability, and inaccessibility. We tested this model under paid and free vaccination frameworks over one year and assessed the model's effect on vaccine uptake, ND-related deaths, and vaccine accessibility, among other aspects. Overall, we vaccinated more chickens at free sites compared to paid sites. However, we vaccinated a significantly higher mean number of chickens per household at paid (49.4±38.5) compared to free (28.4±25.9) sites (t = 8.4, p<0.0001). We recorded a significant increase in the proportion of SCFs who vaccinated their chickens from 31.3% to 68.4% (χ2(1, N = 399) = 58.3, p<0.0001) in paid and from 19.9% to 74.9% (χ2(1, N = 403) = 115.7, p<0.0001) in free sites pre- and post-intervention, respectively. The mean number of ND-related deaths reported per household decreased from 18.1±31.6 pre-intervention to 7.5±22.3 post-intervention (t = 5.4, p = 0.000), with higher reductions recorded in paid sites (20.9±37.7 to 4.5±11.2) compared to free sites (15.0±22.6 to 10.7±29.7) pre- and post-intervention, respectively. Farmers with access to vaccines increased significantly from 61.1% to 85.4% (χ2(1, N = 399) = 31.7, p<0.0001) in paid and 43.6% to 74.9% (χ2(1, N = 403) = 38.4, p = 0.0001) in free sites pre- and post-intervention, respectively. We established that type of intervention framework, gender of household head, if the household head attended training on chicken production in the last 12 months, access to information on ND vaccination, and the number of chickens lost to the previous ND outbreak were significant predictors of ND vaccine uptake. Our findings indicate the model has a broader reach and benefits for SCFs. However, policies should be enacted to regulate the integration of CVs into the formal animal health sector.

Effect of Idealised Influence Dimension on Organizational Performance of the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) Counties: The Moderating Role of Innovation

Following the promulgation of the new constitution in Kenya in 2013, county governments were established, and since then, they have faced various performance challenges. This study aimed to explore the impact of idealized influence on county government performance within the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB). Guided by transformational leadership theory and supported by strategic leadership, resource-based view, and stakeholder theories, the study employed a pragmatic philosophy and descriptive research design. A sample of 289 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling from a target population of 408. The research utilized a pilot study to ensure the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied to analyze the data. The study's findings revealed that idealized influence had a significant and positive effect on county government performance. This suggests that leaders, who exhibit idealized influence, by acting as role models and inspiring their teams, can substantially enhance performance outcomes. Innovation did not significantly impact the results in this study; it remains an important aspect of organizational growth. County governments should continue to foster innovative practices but should also monitor and evaluate their impact more closely to ensure alignment with overall performance objectives. Adjustments or new approaches to innovation may be necessary to better support leadership effectiveness and organizational outcomes of county governments.

Emerging Issues in Curriculum and Instruction during Post COVID-19 Era: Experience from South Eastern Kenya University, Kenya

This paper examined the emerging issues in curriculum and instruction during post–COVID–19 in Higher Education in Kenya. The paper ascertained the influence of post COVID 19 era teacher training in online pedagogy on curriculum and instruction in higher education in Kenya, established the influence of post COVID 19 era paradigm shift from emergency based online content delivery to full time online pedagogy on curriculum and instruction in higher education in Kenya, determined the influence of post COVID 19 era availability of online educational resources on curriculum and instruction in higher education in Kenya and, finally, investigated the influence of post COVID 19 era education policy changes on curriculum and instruction in higher education in Kenya. The study employed the Classical Liberal Theory of Equal Opportunities which was advanced by Sherman and Wood and cited by Njeru and Orodho in 2003. A descriptive survey research design was used in the study. 1 dean, 10 academic staff and 225 students, all from the school of education, South Eastern Kenya University were chosen as the sample size using census sampling, simple random sampling, and purposive sampling procedures respectively. 236 respondents’ responses were gathered using a questionnaire, interview schedule and checklist for the study. The instruments were piloted to test their validity and reliability. Both a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data were performed. It was hoped that, this study would be important because it would advance our understanding and help to shape future transformative pedagogical approach policies for curriculum and instruction in higher education. The majority of lecturers in higher education, according to the research, are untrained in online content delivery. The primary impediments to a shift to distance online learning during and post COVID-19, according to the findings, are technical resources and unequal access to education. As an alternative method of learning, online learning or e-learning mode, has been widely accepted and is proven to be an opportunity and a challenge as there is still unknown that is not giving the desired output in the teaching and learning process. The study also found that there were no defined educational policies in place to deal with crises like COVID 19, which might have an impact on how higher education institutions engage in the teaching and learning process. The study suggested that higher education institutions should invest in technology-use training so that teachers can better prepare students to use technology, especially in the context of new assessments, higher education institutions should secure more resources from a variety of sources, and universities should study policies to mitigate the effects of a diverse student body.

A New Species of Caecilian in the Genus Boulengerula from Endau Hill in South-Eastern Kenya

A New Species of Caecilian in the Genus Boulengerula from Endau Hill in South-Eastern Kenya

In-vitro digestibility and methane gas emission of indigenous and introduced grasses in the rangeland ecosystems of south eastern Kenya

Various grass species with high biomass yield and low moisture demand have been introduced in the rangelands of Kenya to realize increased ruminant productivity that could not be achieved with the low quality of the indigenous grasses. However, this intervention ignores the different methane emission of the indigenous and introduced grasses, a necessary consideration for realizing increased productivity while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. This study determined in-vitro digestibility and methane emission of three indigenous grasses: Eragrostis superba (E. superba), Cenchrus ciliaris (C. ciliaris), Enteropogon macrostachyus (E. macrostachyus) and two introduced grasses (two varieties of Chloris gayana; Boma rhodes and Extozi rhodes. Samples of these five grasses (whole plant above ground) were collected from established pasture plots in South Eastern rangelands of Kenya. The grass samples were collected at bloom stage using one-meter square quadrats for proximate analysis and determination of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) using AOAC (1990) methods. On average, relative to the indigenous grasses, the introduced grasses were higher in crude protein (74.05 g Kg-1 dry matter (DM) vs. 52.11 g Kg-1 DM), organic matter digestibility 62.7% vs 53.6%) and in NDF (712.7 g Kg-1 DM vs. 708.0 g Kg-1 DM), metabolizable energy (16.35 vs 12.90 MJ/kg DM), methane emission (25.61 ml vs 15.93 ml) but with lower in-vitro-dry matter digestibility 54.24% vs 58.12%. Methane production positively correlated with crude protein, NDF, metabolizable energy, ADF and in-vitro organic matter digestibility. Hence, utilizing the introduced grasses to boost cattle production would achieve increased productivity but a point of concern are the higher methane emissions, not to mention the ecosystem change caused by the introduction of new species, which should affect the sustainability of the rangeland ecosystem.

East African megafauna influence on vegetation structure permeates from landscape to tree level scales

African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) can substantially modify their habitat through their interactions with woody vegetation. Nonetheless, the scale, intensity and characteristics of these relations are not yet fully understood. Consequently, it is unclear how vegetation-megafauna interactions can be disrupted by external factors, such as land management. This study attempted to quantify and characterize structural changes in vegetation caused by elephants, from landscape to tree level scales. We applied multi-scale geospatial tools, including airborne (ALS) and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), to address the following questions: (1) How do elephants shape landscape level vegetation structure in conservation areas? (2) Are the impacts of elephants evident on individual tree architecture? Our study area was located at the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in South-eastern Kenya. The occurrence of elephants was estimated using elephant observation records and proximity to elephant tracks. Landscape level structure was assessed using tree density maps calculated based on individually detected treetops from ALS data. Next, TLS measurements of 72 trees were processed using quantitative structural modelling to characterize their architecture. Our results demonstrate a widespread influence of elephants on both landscape and tree level structural characteristics. This influence was strongly mediated by management, as we observed differences in vegetation structure inside and outside conservation areas. Tree density was up to 42% lower (5.84 trees/ha) in conservation areas than in non-conservation areas (10.17 trees/ha). Trees were relatively larger with closer proximity to elephant tracks, while smaller trees were more often observed in areas further away from elephants. At an architectural level, trees closer to elephant tracks had lower ratio between the crown length and the tree height, demonstrating a substantial influence of elephants on the morphological characteristics of trees. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for vegetation fauna interactions when planning conservation areas in African savannahs.

Farmyard manure and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi inoculation enhanced growth and fruit fibre productivity of Calotropis procera in semi-arid eastern Kenya

A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) to determine the effects of farmyard manure (FYM) and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) inoculation on growth, vigor, shoot nutrient uptake (SNU) and AMF root colonization percentage (RC%) of potted Calotropis procera (Calotropis) seedlings. A field trial was laid out to determine the effects of the treatments on growth and fruit fibre productivity of the transplanted seedlings. The experiments were laid out in a split-split-plot design with a 2*2*2 factorial arrangement and 3 replications. The main plot factor constituted 2 Kenyan Calotropis provenances, Kibwezi and Tharaka. The sub-plot factor comprised of FYM and without FYM application while the sub-sub-plot factor involved inoculation with mixed strains of commercial AMF and without inoculation. Farmyard manure (FYM) and the integration of FYM and AMF inoculation (FYM*AMF) significantly improved Calotropis seedlings’ growth, vigor, SNU and AMF RC% in the greenhouse. However, FYM*AMF was comparatively superior to solely FYM and AMF. There were positive correlations of AMF RC% with growth, shoot dry weight (SDW) and SNU of the seedlings at the end of the greenhouse experiment. Under field conditions, FYM and FYM*AMF significantly enhanced growth and fruit fibre productivity of Calotropis plants than the controls, barring a few cases. The study recommends the use of FYM and FYM*AMF in Calotropis seedlings’ production in the drylands of Kenya. Future research should investigate the persistence of the introduced commercial AMF strains in the soil using molecular techniques.

Relationship between Goal-Orientation Culture and Job Commitment among Lecturers in Public Universities in Kenya

One of the management strategies which guides people and organizations to focus their efforts towards achievement of individual and organizational objectives is goal orientation. While it has been documented by previous researchers that learning goal as well as performance goal orientations are significant in influencing employee behaviour, how the same influence job commitment among university lecturers is still a matter of conjecture. This knowledge would be significant especially in the context of public universities in Kenya where missing lecture sessions are rampant on one hand, while more employers prefer graduates from Technical, Industrial and Vocational Enterprise Training (TIVET) institutions than university graduates, on the other hand. This study explored the influence of goal orientation culture on job commitment among lecturers at the University of Nairobi and South Eastern University. The hypothesis that: Organizational goal orientation culture does not have significant relationship with job commitment among lecturers at the Nairobi University and South Eastern Kenya University was tested. Self-determination theory (SDT) of motivation originated by Ryan and Deci was used to guide the study. Descriptive survey design was used on a target population of 56191 lecturers, Deans and students from which 377 was derived as a sample size via Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) Table. Closed and open-ended questionnaire was used for data collection, and regressions (at 0.05 level of significance) as well as thematic analyses used respectively to analyse quantitative and qualitative data. Findings revealed that 86.1% of changes in job commitment among the lecturers is attributed to goal-oriented culture (R2 =0.861), with goals related to timelines for examination result submission and number of units taught strictly adhered to. It is concluded that matching of the university and lecturers’ goals related to teaching timelines among others significantly enhance lecturers’ job commitment. Professional development opportunities for lecturers should be enhanced to improve their capacities, while challenges facing lecturers in enhancing their job commitment need further exploration.

Roost selection by synanthropic bats in rural Kenya: implications for human-wildlife conflict and zoonotic pathogen spillover.

Many wildlife species are synanthropic and use structures built by humans, creating a high-risk interface for human-wildlife conflict and zoonotic pathogen spillover. However, studies that investigate features of urbanizing areas that attract or repel wildlife are currently lacking. We surveyed 85 buildings used by bats and 172 neighbouring buildings unused by bats (controls) in southeastern Kenya during 2021 and 2022 and evaluated the role of microclimate and structural attributes in building selection. We identified eight bat species using buildings, with over 25% of building roosts used concurrently by multiple species. Bats selected taller cement-walled buildings with higher water vapour pressure and lower presence of permanent human occupants. However, roost selection criteria differed across the most common bat species: molossids selected structures like those identified by our main dataset whereas Cardioderma cor selected buildings with lower presence of permanent human occupants. Our results show that roost selection of synanthropic bat species is based on specific buildings attributes. Further, selection criteria that facilitate bat use of buildings are not homogeneous across species. These results provide information on the general mechanisms of bat-human contact in rural settings, as well as specific information on roost selection for synanthropic bats in urbanizing Africa.

A new species of threadsnake in the genus Myriopholis (Squamata: Scolecophidia: Leptotyplophidae) from southeastern Kenya

ABSTRACT A new threadsnake species from the family Leptotyphlopidae, Myriopholis mackayi sp. nov., is described from the Tsavo area in southeastern Kenya. Myriopholis mackayi sp. nov. is a member of the Myriopholis longicauda group on the basis of having a low number of middorsal scales, a discrete frontal shield, a rounded snout, a small anterior supralabial, a moderate posterior supralabial, semilunar cloacal shield, and pinkish colouration in life (brown dorsum and tan venter after preservation). The species is known from a xeric habitat at moderate elevation. It is highly recommended that future phylogenetic work is done to establish its taxonomic relations to other leptotyphlopids.

Relationship between Manager’s Self-Regulation and Leadership Performance in Kenya

Purpose: This study focused on the relationship between manager’s self-regulation and leadership performance in South Eastern Kenya University, Kenya.It was conducted in South Eastern Kenya University.&#x0D; Methodology: The researcher employed purposive and census sampling technique in selecting a sample of 71 respondents. The target population included all the 75 managers in South Eastern Kenya University. Data was collected through administration of structured questionnaires with the selected respondents. The questionnaire used a five-point range Likert scale to assess strategic managers’ self-regulation and leadership performance. The collected data was then processed and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 28.0 for windows. The data was presented using tables.&#x0D; Findings: The findings of the study showed that there was a strong positive (r = 0.616, p=0.001) relationship between Self-regulation and leadership performance.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The contribution to knowledge of this paper is that it provides a theoretical and practical contribution on the importance of helping strategic managers at the South Eastern Kenya University to attain higher levels of self-regulation. This is because self-regulation is known to have a strong influence on leadership performance. Basically, the study contributed to a theoretical enhancement of the current level of knowledge on the existing literature on self-regulation, achieved by testing empirically the managers’ behaviour. In terms of the research practical contribution, the findings of the study could aid in the development of applied strategies at the work place. The findings of this study could help universities to boost the level of manager’s self-regulation and this in turn may lead to the improvement in leadership performance. The study recommends that: the University administration should continually train their staff on the relationship between the managers’ self-regulation and leadership Performance; they should employ personnel with high degree of self-regulation skills through conducting interviews with questionnaires that assess these attributes and invest heavily in teamwork activities so that they may have employees who have high degree of self-regulation.

Relationship between Managers’ Social Awareness and Leadership Performance in Kenya

Purpose: This study focused on the relationship between manager’s social awareness and leadership performance in South Eastern Kenya University, Kenya.It was conducted in South Eastern Kenya University.&#x0D; Methodology: The researcher employed purposive and census sampling technique in selecting a sample of 71 respondents. The target population included all the 75 managers in South Eastern Kenya University. Data was collected through administration of structured questionnaires with the selected respondents. The questionnaire used a five-point range Likert scale to assess strategic managers’ social awareness and leadership performance. The collected data was then processed and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 28.0 for windows. The data was presented using tables.&#x0D; Findings: The findings of the study showed that there was a strong positive relationship (r = 0.744, p=0.000) between the managers’ social awareness and leadership performance.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The contribution to knowledge of this paper is that it provides a theoretical and practical contribution on the importance of helping strategic managers at the South Eastern Kenya University to attain higher levels of social awareness. This is because social awareness is known to have a strong influence on leadership performance. Basically, the study contributed to a theoretical enhancement of the current level of knowledge on the existing literature on social awareness, achieved by testing empirically the managers’ behaviour. In terms of the research practical contribution, the findings of the study could aid in the development of applied strategies at the work place. The findings of this study could help universities to boost the level of manager’s social awareness and this in turn may lead to the improvement in leadership performance. The study recommends that: the University administration should continually train their staff on the relationship between the managers’ social awareness and leadership Performance, they should employ personnel with high degree of Social awareness through conducting interviews with questionnaires that assess these attributes and invest heavily in teamwork activities so that they may have employees who have high degree of social awareness.

Simulated effects of climate change on green gram production in Kitui County, Kenya

This study purposed to evaluate the impact of climate change on green gram yield, biomass and days to maturity under the baseline and future climate scenarios in Kitui County, Kenya. A field experiment was conducted during the March–April–May (MAM) and October–November–December (OND) planting seasons of 2018 and 2019 in the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) farm. Data on soil physical and chemical properties, daily climate data on rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature, and solar radiation, and green gram phenology dates were collected from the site and used in the calibration and validation of the APSIM model for four varieties of green gram, namely Biashara, Tosha, N26, and KS20 varieties. The calibrated green gram model captured the observed yield, biomass and days to maturity of the four varieties of green gram well. The calibrated green gram model was used to simulate the effects of climate change using daily climate data from an equal-weight ensemble of the nine CORDEX RCA4 models under the baseline scenario (1971 to 2000), and the future RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios (2021 to 2050). During the MAM and OND seasons, a statistically significant decline in yield, biomass, and days to maturity is expected under both the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. The high variability in rainfall amount under both the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios will translate to a lower yield and biomass. The increase in temperature under both the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios will reduce the days to maturity for green grams in Kitui County. A decline in green gram yield is expected under future climate scenarios in one of the highly suitable zones for Kitui County, Kenya. Given that the government aims to revive farming in the ASALs by promoting climate-smart agriculture through planting drought-resistance crops, there is a need to develop green gram varieties which are more tolerant to the expected change in climate.

Socio-economic and structural barriers in Newcastle disease vaccines uptake by smallholder women farmers in Southeastern Kenya.

The exploitation of the full benefits of chicken rearing by smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan (SSA) Africa is often impeded by poultry diseases which is compounded by limited uptake of vaccination. We interrogate the structural and socioeconomic factors associated with vaccine uptake by women farmers in Southeastern Kenya. A mixed methods design with a convergent approach for comparison of quantitative and qualitative findings was adopted. This involved the administration of a cross section survey to 1274 households, conduct of 23 Focus Groups Discussions (FGDs) and 7 Key informant Interviews (KIIs). Chi Square and t-tests were used to identify factors associated with vaccine uptake. Logistics regression analysis was used to identify the influence of the structural and socioeconomic barriers to vaccine uptake. Findings indicate that having knowledge of Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine increases the likelihood of farmers vaccinating their chicken by up to 32.5 times (95% CI [8.46-124.53]) with a 1 unit increase in vaccine knowledge. A farmer's distance away from the nearest ND vaccine vendor was found to reduce the likelihood of farmers vaccinating their chicken by up to 4% (95% CI ([0.93-1.00]) for every 1-kilometre increase in distance away from the vaccine vendors. Farmers who considered vaccines to be effective in preventing ND were 39 times (95% CI [6.23-239.8]) more likely to use ND vaccines than those that did not consider ND vaccine to effective. We surmise that a comprehensive approach that addresses increased ND vaccine knowledge among smallholder women chicken farmers, proximity of ND vendors, as well as cost holds the potential for regular and increased ND vaccine uptake.