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    University Students’ Ease of Accessing Information on Social Networking Sites Used in Communicating Drugs and Substance Abuse: An Assessment of Laikipia University in Kenya
    (International Journal of Media, Journalism and Mass Communications (IJMJMC), 2024-08-20) Juliet Atieno Oduor*, Felicia Yieke, Florence Mwithi
    Empirical data indicate that access to reliable information can be effective in the fight against Drugs and Substance Abuse (DSA) among young populations such as undergraduate students. This can alleviate cases of insufficient communication that have been linked to the high prevalence of DSA, especially in different public universities in Kenya. Correspondingly, communication experts assert that using audience-preferred platforms is crucial for achieving desired outcomes, as it enhances access. While most universities use Social Networking Sites (SNSs) to communicate with students who prefer these platforms, research on the accessibility of information, particularly regarding DSA, is limited. Thus, this study while focusing on Laikipia University as a representative of other public universities in the country, used the tenets of the Uses and Gratifications Theory and an institution-based cross-sectional convergent mixed methods design to examine the university students' ease of accessing information posted on the various SNSs. The results showed that while students can access information through free campus Wi-Fi, many are unaware of how to search for DSA-related topics. Additionally, the lack of hyperlinks on content posted on the SNSs limits access to multiple sites. The administration's inconsistent posting and feedback further hinder students’ access to the information.
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    From Reproductive Rights to Sexual Rights: Contesting Abortion Politics in Kenya, 1963-2015
    (Laikipia University, 2024-08-20) Patrick Michael Ogeto*, Babere Kerata Chacha
    The abortion debate in Kenya has been a contentious issue for decades, with the recent lifting of a ban on Marie Stopes, a global charity offering abortion services, highlighting its urgency. This paper examines how transnational advocacy and local narratives have shaped the discourse around legalizing safe abortion in Kenya. It explores the historical trajectory of this struggle, from the post-independence period to international milestones such as the 1975 International Decade for Women, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, the Beijing Plus 5 conference, and the Maputo Protocol. The analysis underscores the role of foreign influence, particularly from Britain, the USA, and Scandinavian nations, in introducing new models of sexual governance and nationalism. By employing a multidisciplinary approach, this study investigates how abortion discourses have been constructed, contested, and transformed, navigating the tensions between tradition and modernity. The findings argue that external advocacy and local efforts have been pivotal in advancing human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Kenya.
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    Uchanganuzi wa Mikakati ya Lugha katika Diskosi ya Kigaidi katika Magazeti ya Kenya na ya Kimataifa
    (Laikipia University, 2024-08-20) Gichohi M. Kiguta1*, Ogola J. Onyango1 na Wandera S. Simwa1
    Utafiti huu ulinuiwa kuchanganulia mikakati ya lugha katika diskosi ya kigaidi kama ilivyotumiwa katika mashambulizi ya kigaidi kati ya kundi la Al-Shabaab dhidi ya serikali ya Kenya na kuripotiwa na wanahabari. Sababu kuu ya kuteua kipindi hiki ni kwamba Serikali ya Kenya na raia wake wameendelea kushuhudia mashambulizi mengi ya ugaidi ambayo yamesababisha kuzuke diskosi ya ugaidi iliyojikita katika ubishi wa kundi la ugaidi dhidi ya serikali ya Kenya. Ili kupata data ya uchanganuzi, utafiti huu ulihusu uteuzi wa diskosi ya kigaidi kupitia mashambulizi mawili makuu yaliyofanyika nchini Kenya katika duka la kibiashara la West Gate Mall mjini Nairobi na shambulio la kigaidi katika Chuo Kikuu cha Garissa mwezi wa Aprili, 2015. Kikundi lengwa kiliteuliwa kutokana na magazeti ya Daily Nation na The Standard yaliyohusu kipindi hicho cha kihistoria. Gazeti la NewYork Times liliteuliwa kutokana na upana wa mkabala wake wa mtazamo wa kimataifa. Jumla ya magazeti 145 yalikusanywa na nakala 102 zikateuliwa za mwanzoni mwa kipindi cha miezi miwili kabla na baada ya mwaka 2013-2015. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na nadharia mbili, ambazo ni nadharia msingi wa Diskosi Mkabala wa Historia ya Wodak iliyotumiwa kuchanganulia mkakati wa lugha katika vitengo vya unominishaji, urejelezi, ubishi, mkabala, uzidishaji na ufifizaji. Uchanganuzi wa mikakati ya lugha ulihusu matumizi ya kijazanda, semi, virai, vishazi na sentensi. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalibainisha kuwa kulikuwako na tofauti za kimkabala zilizozua diskosi ya ubishi kati ya kundi la kigaidi dhidi ya serikali ya Kenya. Tofauti hizi zilibainishwa kupitia mikakati ya lugha na itikadi kutokana na mashambulizi ya ugaidi yaliyotekelezwa nchini Kenya
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    Elevation and Slope as Key Determinants of Landslide-Prone Areas in Murang’a County, Kenya
    (Laikipia University, 2024-08-21) Njiraini John Maina
    Landslide studies in Kenya have received less interest as opposed to other regions of the world. Murang’a County in Central Kenya presents a unique case of geographical interest not only due to its positioning within the alpine Aberdare Ranges but also because it has experienced serious, deadly and repeated landslide disasters. This study seeks to ascertain whether elevation and slope are key determinants of landslide in the county. Primary data collection instruments were Household (HH) questionnaires where a sample size of 393 HH was sampled at a confidence level of 95%. Secondary data for elevation and slope were derived from satellite imagery. A significant 95.5% of the respondents said that slope was a major landslide causal/trigger factor. A significant number of people (r=0.806) who had migrated to their current locations described steepness as a major causal/trigger factor. Elevation factor was mentioned by 90.2% of the respondents as a key factor contributing to the occurrence of landslides. The study concludes that elevation and slope are key and significant landslide causal/trigger factors in Murang’a County. The study recommends that people living in areas delineated as ‘high-risk zones’ should be advised to relocate to safer grounds to avert huge losses from potential landslide disasters.
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    A study on the effectiveness of (+)-usnic acid as oral toxic sugar bait against adult male and female Anopheles gambiae
    (Laikipia University, 2024-08-20) Arthur Macharia Muhoro1,2*, Eric Odhiambo Ochomo2, Isaac Njangiru Kinyua3, Jackline Jeruto Kosgei2, Laide Abbas Rasaki4 and Edit Farkas5
    Background Despite the application of various tools for the control of vectors of Plasmodium falciparum, malaria remains the major killer disease in sub-Saharan Africa accounting for up to 90% of deaths due to the disease. Due to limitations of the useage of chemical insecticides such as resistance, negative impact on the environment and to nontarget organisms, the World Health Organization (WHO) requires that affected countries find alternative vector control tools. This study evaluated the effectiveness of ( +)-usnic acid (UA) as an insecticide through oral admin istration to male and female Anopheles gambiae as an alternative or additional active ingredient to be used in toxic sugar bait. Methods ( +)-usnic acid was diluted using acetone at 5, 10, and 15 mg/ml concentrations in three replicates. A 5 ml mixture of 2% food dye and 10% sugar using chlorine-free water mixed with the dilutions of the ( +)-usnic acid and negative control was made containing 2% food dye and 10% sugar solution. The preparations were soaked on a ball of cotton wool and placed over the net of a cup. 5 male and 5 non-blood-fed female newly hatched starved An. gambiae Kisumu strain were introduced together into a cup and monitored for knockdown and mortalities after 4, 24 48, and 72 h. The data were analysed using a multiple linear regression model using the lm function, a base R func tion and a posthoc test were conducted on the significant main effects and interaction terms using the emmeans function from the emmeans R package. All analyses were performed in RStudio using base R (version 4.3.3). Results There was high mortality of both male and female An. gambiae after ingestion of the toxic sugar bait. 15 mg/ ml usnic acid caused the highest mortality (50%) within the first 4 h compared to 5 and 10 mg/ml ( +)-UA. There was a decline in the mortality rate with increased exposure time from 24 to 72 h, however, there was a significant difference in mortality at 5, 10 and 15 mg/ml. Acute toxicity was associated with ingestion of 15 mg/ml after 24 h. 72 h post-mortality was lower in all concentrations than in the control. High mortality was observed among females over the first 4 h (60%) compared to males (40%) due to higher feeding rate of the toxic agent. The proportion of dead males and females was equal after 24 h while after 48 h, the proportion of dead males was high.There was a signifi cantly lower mortality rate after 72 h for both males and females (0 to 13.3%). Compared to all the treatments, high mortality of males was observed. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that ( +)-UA when administered as oral sugar bait to An. gambiae has insecticidal properties and is a suitable ingredient to be used as a toxic agent in the novel attractive toxic sugar bait for the control of malaria vectors. ( +)-UA may be an alternative active ingredient as toxic bait in the effort to reduce and eliminate the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum in Africa.