School of Arts and Social Sciences

Response and coping mechanisms that shape social resilience to flood disasters in Nyando river basin of Kisumu county, Kenya

2026-02-17T07:41:49Z

Response and coping mechanisms that shape social resilience to flood disasters in Nyando river basin of Kisumu county, Kenya ONYANGO, Silvance Ochola Floods form the most frequent natural disaster phenomena, accounting for approximately 47% of all weather-related worldwide dangers, and occasioning annual loss of life and property to over 250 million people. Kenya’s Nyando River Basin has continued to experience chronic flood disasters over the years, affecting 85% of households and accounting for over 70% of such hazards in the country. While flood-related losses have been widely documented, focus on how locally available social and cultural resources that might help local communities to enhance their resilience during such disasters has been limited. The objective of this study was to analyse the response and coping mechanisms shaping social resilience to flood disasters in Nyando River Basin of Kisumu County, Kenya. Specific objectives were to: determine how culturally-based environment conservation practices help in responding to flood disasters; analyse how collective actions have helped in responding to flood disasters; and to establish how preparedness informed by local forms of weather prediction help in responding to flood disasters in the Nyando River Basin of Kisumu County, Kenya. The study was guided by social resilience theory which highlights people’s capacity to respond, cope, and recover from disasters. This study utilized cross sectional descriptive survey with a mixed-methods approach on a target population of 1,728 households. Yamane’s formula was used to compute a sample size of 324 households that were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to gather information from officers from the Ministry of Interior (the chiefs and their assistants), Community Based Organizations (CBOs) operating in the study area, local community health workers, community elders (headmen), and local disaster committee members. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (Mean, standard deviation, and frequencies), and the qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings showed that culture-based environment conservation practices such as protection of sacred trees, water resources and waterways have occasionally been relied upon to respond to flood disasters, although a number of cultural environmental practices previously observed have been eroded leading to diminishing of tree cover and in turn contributing to continuous flooding. Similarly, collective action enhanced by use of social media platforms has been occasionally relied upon to provide significant support during flood disasters. In addition, movement of cloud especially appearance of dark clouds over the Nandi Hills (Gablilo) is a precise indication of a looming flood disaster in the area, and this arouses various measures for mitigating its impacts. The study concludes that erosion of cultural and social mechanisms is exposing the people to the negative impact of floods in the area. To cement cultural conservation practices, support in terms of provision of various indigenous trees and plants for planting along waterways so as to enhance protection of riparian lands is recommended. Similarly, collective entities such as family institutions should be strengthened to play a critical role in recovery during and after flood disasters. Additionally, immediate warning systems should be prompted immediately predictive signs are sited along the Nandi escarpment, the Gablilo, to enable adequate preparedness to save property. More research should be done to shed light on ow indigenous response mecanisms to flood disasters enhance growth social resilience among households in the Nyando River Basin of Kisumu County, Kenya. PhD Thesis

Athari ya vivumishi vya Runyakitara kwa ujifunzaji wa kiswahili katika shule za upili jijini Mbarara, Uganda

2026-02-17T06:48:36Z

Athari ya vivumishi vya Runyakitara kwa ujifunzaji wa kiswahili katika shule za upili jijini Mbarara, Uganda KARUHANGA, Deusdedit Katika mfumo wa elimu nchini Uganda, Kiswahili ni lugha muhimu kwa mawasiliano na maendeleo ya kijamii. Hata hivyo, wanafunzi wanaozungumza Runyakitara wanakabiliwa na changamoto mbalimbali katika ujifunzaji wa Kiswahili, hasa katika matumizi ya vivumishi. Changamoto hizi zinatokana na tofauti za kimuundo na kimaana baina ya vivumishi vya Runyakitara na vivumishi vya Kiswahili, hali inayopelekea makosa ya kiisimu katika mchakato wa ujifunzaji. Wanafunzi ambao lugha yao ya kwanza (L1) ni Runyakitara moja ya lugha za Kibantu zinazoenea Kusini Magharibi mwa Uganda, hukumbana na changamoto mahsusi wanapojifunza Kiswahili kama lugha ya pili (L2). Kwa hivyo, utafiti huu ulichunguza athari za vivumishi vya Runyakitara katika ujifunzaji wa Kiswahili.Utafiti huu uliongozwa na malengo maalum: Kubainisha tofauti za kimuundo kati ya vivumishi vya Runyakitara na Kiswahili, Kuchunguza athari za vivumishi vya Runyakitara katika ujifunzaji wa Kiswahili, na Kutathimini makosa ya kiisimu yanayotokana na uhamishaji wa vivumishi vya Runyakitara kwenye ujifunzaji wa Kiswahili. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na Nadharia ya Uchanganuzi Linganuzi (contrastive analysis), ambayo ilianzishwa awali na Fries, Weinreich, Haugen, na Lado (1950), kisha ikaendelezwa na James (1980) na Jean (2022). Mihimili muhimu ya nadharia hii iliyotumiwa ni: mfanano na tofauti za lugha, uingiliaji wa lugha ya kwanza (L1), uhamishaji chanya na hasi, na utambulisho wa makosa. Nadharia hii ilitumika kuchanganua athari za vivumishi vya Runyakitara katika ujifunzaji wa Kiswahili sanifu. Muundo wa kimaelezo ulitumika katika utafiti huu, ambao ulifanyika katika Jiji la Mbarara, Uganda, ukilenga taaluma ya isimu linganishi. Idadi lengwa ya utafiti ilikuwa wanafunzi 100 wanaosoma Kiswahili katika shule 10 za sekondari jijini Mbarara. Washiriki hawa waliteuliwa kwa kutumia mbinu mseto: usampulishaji wa nasibu ulitumiwa kutambua shule10 zinazofundisha Kiswahili na usampulishaji wa kimaksudi ulitumiwa kuteua wanafunzi ambao lugha yao ya kwanza ni Runyakitara kutoka kwenye shule hizo na vitabu vya sarufi vya Runyakitara na Kiswahili. Data ya nyanjani ilikusanywa kwa kutumia mjarabu wa kimaandishi na mjarabu wa kimazungumzo kutoka kwa wanafunzi, huku data ya maktabani ikipatikana kupitia uchambuzi wa matini kwenye vitabu vya sarufi vya Runyakitara na Kiswahili. Zana zilizotumika ni Kifaa cha Mijarabu ya Kiisimu, kifaa cha kinasa sauti, kifaa cha orodha ya uchunguzaji wa miundo ya vivumishi yenye sifa za Kimofolojia. Data iliyokusanywa ilichanganuliwa na kuwasilishwa kwa mbinu ya kimaelezo, ikishirikisha majedwali na michoro ili kuonyesha miundo, athari, na makosa ya kiisimu ya vivumishi vya Runyakitara katika ujifunzaji wa Kiswahili. Matokeo ya utafiti yalilingana na malengo yake matatu: ilionekana kwamba vivumishi vya Runyakitara na Kiswahili vinafanana katika baadhi ya vipengele vya kimofolojia lakini hutofautiana kimsingi katika upatanishi wa kisarufi na mpangilio wa maneno. Pili, vivumishi vya Runyakitara huathiri ujifunzaji wa Kiswahili kwa kuhamishwa moja kwa moja, na kusababisha makosa ya kimuundo na kisintaksia, tatu, makosa ya mwanafunzi yalibainika zaidi katika uhusishaji wa kivumishi na nomino, matumizi ya viambajengo vya kivumishi, na mfuatano wa vivumishi. Kwa hivyo, utafiti ulibaini kuwa ingawa Runyakitara na Kiswahili ni lugha za nasaba moja ya Kibantu, tofauti za kimuundo na matumizi ya vivumishi zinawapa wanafunzi changamoto kubwa katika kujipatia Kiswahili L2. Utafiti huu unahimiza maendeleo ya mbinu bora za ujifundishaji lugha, unasaidia watunga mitaala kuelewa mapungufu ya wanafunzi, na unapanua mijadala ya kitaaluma kuhusu ujifunzaji wa lugha ya pili kwa muktadha wa lugha zinazokaribiana. PhD Thesis

Influence of climate variability and land use land cover change on the hydrology and sediment yield in upper Ssezibwa catchment, Uganda

2026-02-17T06:29:04Z

Influence of climate variability and land use land cover change on the hydrology and sediment yield in upper Ssezibwa catchment, Uganda MWANGU, Alex Ronald Climate variability and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) change influence hydrology and Sediment Yield (SY) in catchments. Globally, over 60 percent of the ecosystem is degraded, over 83% of the terrestrial land surface has been affected by anthropogenic activities over the last fifty years while more than 85% of the area covered by wetlands has been lost since 1700. Variation in rainfall and temperature combined with LULC change have altered the natural habitat, surface runoff (SURQ) and SY leading to siltation of rivers and floods resulting into destruction of property up on the lower part of upper Ssezibwa catchment. This study aimed at assessing the influence of LULC change and climate variability on hydrology and sediment yield in upper Ssezibwa catchment. The specific objectives were to; examine the influence of LULC change on river discharge and SY from 2002 to 2022; determine the influence of variation of interannual rainfall and temperature on river discharge and SY; establish the influence of LULC changes on river discharge and SY for the period 2022-2052; and to assess influence of future variations in rainfall and temperature on river discharge and SY for the period 2022-2052 using SWAT model. The study was anchored in the General Systems Theory that postulates that a morphological/drainage system is composed of different components that are interrelated and an effect on one element affect the entire system. The study used quasi-longitudinal and correlational research designs. Digital Elevation Model, Landsat 7 ETM+ images, meteorological and hydrological data were used. Pearson Correlation Coefficients and Regression analysis were used for data analysis. SWAT model calibration on observed streamflow data (R2=0.85, NSE=0.82, KGE=0.76, PBIAS = -18.5) and validation (R2=0.72, NSE=0.66, KGE=0.66, PBIAS= -19.3) indicate the model is acceptable. Overall accuracy assessment of over 80% and Kappa statistics of 0.82, 0.84 and 0.80 for the years 2002, 2012 and 2022 respectively were satisfactory. Results indicate that LULC change has a statistically significant influence on SURQ, Lateral flow (LATQ), groundwater flow (GWQ), deep aquifer recharge and SY (p = .000, α=0.05). Rainfall has a statistically significant relationship with both discharge and sediment yield (p=0.013, α=0.05) for 2002-2012. Projections indicate that the future LULC change has a statistically significant influence on discharge and SY (p = .000, α=0.05). Projections further indicate that variation in temperature and rainfall for the period 2022-2052 is likely to influence discharge and SY (p = .000, α=0.01) under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios signaling future flooding within the catchment. The study concludes that LULC changes and climate variability have influenced river discharge and sediment yield in converse proportions in upper Ssezibwa catchment. The study recommends that the central and local governments should enhance the amount of forest cover through afforestation and reforestation initiatives to enhance the ability of the catchment to retain water and controlling sediment loading and surface runoff. In addition, the government should provide public education and awareness about environmental conservation, while watershed protection must be incorporated into development planning. PhD Thesis

Effects of land use land cover changes on land quality in Khwisero sub county, Kakamega County, Kenya

2025-11-13T09:07:24Z

Effects of land use land cover changes on land quality in Khwisero sub county, Kakamega County, Kenya MUTENYI, Petronillah Shumila Land use land cover changes (LULCCs) have to a great extent, changed the world's landscapes, rebuilding environments and what they provide to humans during the time spent supporting the rising population across the globe. However, the LULCCs affect land quality in terms of loss of vegetation cover and alteration of soil quality. Misango Hills natural forest and other forms of vegetation cover types in Khwisero Sub County have been subjected to LULCCs and changed over to farming and built-up regions. Conversion of land into settlement and urban areas in the study area has led to depletion of essential soil nutrients and a decline in soil pH, affecting agricultural activities. The factors driving these changes differ from one location to another, resulting in varied effects that in turn have significant implications on vegetation cover type and soil quality, particularly soil nutrients, moisture, and temperature. Notably, no clear investigations have been done in the study area on these varied effects that challenge land quality’s fundamental design and functional capacity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of LULCCs on land quality in Khwisero Sub County, Kakamega County. The specific objectives of this study were to; examine the driving forces that influence land use land cover changes, determine the effects of land use land cover areal changes on vegetation cover types, assess the effects of land use land cover areal changes on soil nutrient availability (pH, NPK and SOM) and determine the effects of land use land cover areal changes on soil moisture levels availability and soil temperature. This study adopted the land rent tenet of Von Thunen's agricultural land use theory, Alonso's bid rent theory, and Ricardian economic theory. Multiple research designs (cross-sectional descriptive, longitudinal, and experimental) were used. Purposive sampling was used to select the key informants. Spatial random sampling was used to identify soil sampling points. A random sampling technique was used to select a minimum sample size of 384 respondents from a study population of 113,476. A supervised classification algorithm and a post-classification comparison change detection were used to measure land use land cover (LULC) percentage area change over time. Primary data was collected through questionnaires, key informant interviews, field observations, field measurements, and laboratory procedures. Secondary data involved downloading Landsat images (Landsat 7, 8, and 9; 30-meter multispectral), journal articles, annual reports, and the internet. Quantitative data analysis involved measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression. Qualitative data was analysed by organizing it into patterns and themes relevant to the current study. LULCC drivers were analysed through a sensitivity analysis. The current study revealed four land use land cover classes of agriculture, forest, built up, and bare land. Accuracy assessment for the land use land cover classes for 2002 was 85.45% with a Kappa coefficient of 0.756, 2012 was 83.64% with a Kappa coefficient of 0.5454, while 2023 was 81.82% with a Kappa coefficient of 0.6034. The findings revealed that LULCCs are driven by settlement, poverty, and climate change, mostly affecting cropland, vegetation, and soil fertility. In addition, LULCCs affected all the vegetation cover types and soil fertility due to the decrease of NPK, SOM, SMC, an increase of soil temperatures, and a shift from moderate alkaline soils to moderately acidic and highly acidic. About 26.8% and 11.3% of the variance of SOM (R2 = 0.268, p<0.001) and TK (R2 = 0.113, p<0.046), respectively, can be explained by NDVI. About 67.1% of the variance of pH (R2 = 0.671, p<0.000) can be explained by SI, while about 47.5% variance of SMC (R2 = 0.475, p<0.000) can be explained by SMI. The stepwise Multiple Linear Regression Model of NDVI and NPK together with SOM revealed that about 26.8% variance of SOM (R2 = 0.268, p<0.001) could be explained by NDVI amongst the variables in the model. About 33.6% and 32% variance of SMC (R2 = 0.336 and 0.320, p<0.000) could be explained by soil pH amongst all the variables in this model. The current study concluded that drivers of LULCCs vary from place to place, affecting vegetation types, soil nutrients, soil moisture, and soil temperature, key determinants of land quality. The study recommends the creation of awareness among the local community for a better understanding of the importance of land quality, specifically soil nutrients of NPK, SOM, SMC, pH, and soil temperature. A review of the forest policy, particularly on reafforestation, would save vegetation cover, while the soil management policy should incorporate free soil testing for locals, educating them on methods of improving the already damaged soils in Khwisero Sub County. PhD Thesis

Caregivers’ perceptions, health-seeking pathways and lived experiences for probable pneumonia among children under 5 years in Karemo, Siaya County, Kenya

2025-11-10T11:43:24Z

Caregivers’ perceptions, health-seeking pathways and lived experiences for probable pneumonia among children under 5 years in Karemo, Siaya County, Kenya HAWI, Sarah Ngere My sincere gratitude goes to the Almighty God for the gift of life and good health. I am highly indebted to my supervisors Dr Charles Olang‘o and Prof Erick Nyambedha for intellectual insights, theoretical and practical guidance and unwavering support throughout my studies. From the conception and selection of the study topic, proposal development, data collection, analysis, and report writing, their mentorship ensured that I produced quality work. It is through their dedicated supervision and support which realized the mastery of the concepts addressed in this report. Their words of encouragement were the motivation that kept me going even when this work seemed challenging and unmanageable. I am grateful to Dr Nobert Peshu for his guidance and support during the initial stages of the PhD. My sincere appreciation goes to my CAFÉ SEA supervisor Dr Patience Kiyuka, for providing me with numerous learning opportunities, encouragement and administrative support. Special thanks to my mentor and friend Dr Dickens Omondi for your encouragement and constant belief in me. Your words of encouragement took me through the hardest parts of this PhD journey. I am equally grateful to Dr Victor Akelo for his invaluable support throughout this journey by allowing me to take time away from work periodically to focus on my studies. Your understanding and encouragement during the most challenging times made this possible. I would like to thank my research assistants Boletta Mileno and Teresa Olisa who worked tirelessly to ensure we produce high quality data. I am especially grateful to my sister, Boletta who doubled up as a research assistant and counsellor, your encouragement, prayers and presence lightened up my struggles. My sincere appreciation also goes to all the respondents and interviewees who graciously welcomed us into their homes, spent many days and hours with us, and patiently responded to our numerous questions.. The information they provided was a valuable aspect of this study. My dearest friends, Patience and Helen, thank you for your support, you have been my cheerleaders and my prayer partners, listening tirelessly to my stories of triumphs and challenges alike. My wins and losses became yours, and for that, I am forever indebted. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr Stephen Ombere who read through my drafts and provided substantial input. Your sacrifice and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated. I am forever grateful to the generous funding from the Capacity building for Female Scientists in East Africa CAFÉ SEA funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (PSIA2020-3073) using UK Aid from the UK Government to support global health research, as part of the EDCTP2 Programme supported by the European Union. I appreciate the CAFÉ SEA PhD program secretariat for providing me with numerous training opportunities, encouragement and consistent follow-up on my progress. This PhD wouldn‘t have been impossible without the generous support. My heartfelt thanks to Ms Rebecca Shambi and Ms Josephine Nassali, who on several occasions stepped out of their professional roles as administrators to provide guidance, encouragement and kindness. I am forever indebted for your support. Special thanks to Dominic, who has been there from my undergraduate years through to my PhD, allowing me the space and time to pursue higher education while balancing family life. Thank you for the support. To my children, David, Daniel and Debra, thank you for your understanding and patience through the long hours I spent away from you in pursuit of my academic dream. Your mama is deeply grateful. Thank you, David, for listening to my ideas and being the sounding board, I needed. PhD Thesis

The influence of Maragoli traditional death rituals on Pentecostal assemblies of GOD practices in Vihiga County, Kenya

2025-11-06T13:14:41Z

The influence of Maragoli traditional death rituals on Pentecostal assemblies of GOD practices in Vihiga County, Kenya KAGALI, Chabuga Oscar Death rituals are a global phenomenon. Africans in general and the Maragoli in particular engage in death rituals to process & express grief. The coming of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) church disrupted and dismissed these rituals as Pagan and heathen, and aimed to revolutionize the Maragoli community to observe strict Christian processes during death and burial ceremonies. Most of theserituals have howeverremained persistent despite conversion of the Maragoli people to Christianity. This study aimed at finding out how these rituals have interacted with those of the PAG and subsequently the influence since there are differences in the Christian and traditional African world views. Available scholarly writings have given a general overview of these rituals without elaborate exposition of the same in specific African communities and how they have co-existed with Christianity or influenced each other. This study gave attention to Maragoli PAG Christians, to establish the nature, meaning and implications of their death rituals and practices, their conversion to Christianity notwithstanding. The objectives of the study were to; determine the nature and significance of traditional death rituals among the Maragoli people; establish the teachings and practices of the PAG regarding death and their significance; evaluate the fusion of traditional African religion in the death rituals of the Maragoli PAG Christians. The study was guided by the “Ritual Theory” propounded by Catherine bell (1992). The study used a descriptive research design that elicited both qualitative and quantitative data. It was carried out in Vihiga and Sabatia sub-counties of Vihiga County, Kenya. The study population comprised of 356 pastors of PAG church, 356 women directors and 12 cultural elders. Widows, widowers and orphans also took part in the study. 10% of the pastors (36), women directors (36), were randomly sampled for the study using the lottery method. Twelve (12) cultural elders were purposively sampled for the study. 8 widows, 8 widowers and 8 orphans were sampled using snowball technique. The PAG church and the Maragoli community formed the unit of analysis. Interview schedules, questionnaires, discussion and observation guides were used to collect primary data. Secondary data was collected from published books, unpublished articles, journals, periodicals websites and local dailies. Thematic, content and Narrative analysis were used to analyze qualitative data. SPSS was used in analysis of quantitative data. The information was synthesized and presented descriptively. The study revealed that death rituals of the Maragoli persist because they align with cultural values of the community and coexist with church practices. Deeply ingrained cultural rituals donot get replaced but are rather re-interpreted within a Christian framework. Most of these rituals have infiltrated and influenced the practices of Maragoli PAG Christians who continue to practice a brand of Christianity heavily influenced by aspects of African traditional religion. The study recommends pursuit of a culturally contextualized pastoral care by the clergy and development of an Intercultural Religious Education and Theology curriculum for bible/theological schools. PhD Thesis

Influence of masculinity on viral load suppression among adolescent boys on anti - retroviral therapy in Siaya County, Kenya

2025-11-06T13:05:58Z

Influence of masculinity on viral load suppression among adolescent boys on anti - retroviral therapy in Siaya County, Kenya OTIENO, Simon Peter Adolescents, worldwide, account for approximately 63% of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) during 2010-2020. Similarly, while HIV-related deaths have declined across all age groups, that of adolescents rose from 18,000 deaths per annum in 2010 to 41,000 deaths in 2020, with boys constituting 69%. In Siaya, one of the HIV high prevalence counties in Kenya, an average of 257 AIDS-related deaths among young adolescents occurred (153 Males; 104 Females) compared to neighbouring counties between 2015 and 2022. Whereas poor healthcare infrastructure and costs of medication are mentioned as barriers in the HIV and AIDS treatment struggle, socially constructed norms such as masculinity have received attention, particularly among male adults and not adolescent boys on ART. The primary aim of this study was to explore masculinity factors influencing VL suppression among adolescent boys on ART in Siaya County, Kenya. Specifically, the study investigated how perceptions of masculine identity influence VL suppression, establish how masculinity conceptions of sexual behaviour influence VL suppression, and determined the influence of alternative policy interventions on VL suppression. This study was guided by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw‘s Intersectionality theory advanced in 1989. Intersectionality recognises that people's lives are shaped by their identities, relationships and context-based social factors. The target population included 795 adolescent boys on ART, comprehensive care-in-charge charge and other experts from the County. A sample size of 265 boys was computed using Yamane‘s formula. Seven interviews were done with key informants: one County AIDS/HIV and STI Coordinator (CASCO), three Sub County AIDS Coordinators (SCACOs), and threecomprehensive care-in charge (CCC), while a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the adolescent boys. Similarly, 12 focus group discussions were conducted with Officials of Public Benefit Organization (NGOs, CBOs, etc.) and purposively selected boys on ART, whereas 12 individual In-depth Interviews were done with purposively selected boys from the six Sub County health facilities. Quantitative data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics and presented in tables, while thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data which have been presented in verbatim. Findings showed that perceptions of masculine identities have influenced VL suppression in some boys (M=3.315; SD=1.046), and the more they accept the identities, the poorer their VL suppression (B= -.376; P=.000). Findings also showed that boys who participate in active sexual activities (n=73; 27.8%) also engage in multiple sexual partners, while the 73.16% who were sexually inactive cited being young and inability to finance intimate relationships as the main barrier. Findings, additionally, revealed that alternative policy interventions have influenced VL suppression in some boys (M=3.06; SD=.992), and contribute significant unit changes to VL suppression (B= 0.721; p=.000). Together, 27.2% (R2 = .272) change in VL suppression among the boys in the study is attributed to masculinity factors. It is concluded that perceptions of masculine identities and conceptions of sexual behaviour together intersect with social factors including age, peer pressure, and orphanhood, among others, to shape VL suppression of the adolescent boys. Concerted efforts should be directed at reconstructing how sleeping arrangement is fulfilled to enable closer supervision of the boys. Similarly, robust sensitization on masculinity-related risky sexual behaviour should be conducted for the boys at early age. Additionally, interventions should be tailored to individual needs of patients, especially social needs of individual adolescent boys. PhD Thesis

Pictorial metaphor in the portrayal of corruption In the Daily nation newspaper

2024-12-04T13:25:32Z

Pictorial metaphor in the portrayal of corruption In the Daily nation newspaper ADHIAMBO, Lydia Akuno Cartoons use language as an artistic medium in which various options are explored for effective communication. The language of cartoons is indirect unlike the language of news reporting in that it is characterized by satirical and metaphorical pictures; and codified and connotative wordings which makes it socially appropriate and relevant to inform, educate and entertain the general public. Cartoons are used to satirize and lampoon socio-political abuses like corruption. In Kenya, corruption poses one of the greatest challenges facing the Kenyan government and reports on corruption scandals in the media are the order of the day. Political cartoon therefore has enabled the cartoonist to deal with political issues mockingly in an indirect way through cross - domain mappings, to ridicule dictators and corrupt figures without fear of victimization. The present research studied the unique nature of the language of cartoons with focus on portrayal of corruption. It analysed pictorial metaphors in the portrayal of corruption in the print media cartoons. The specific objectives were: to examine the source-objects depicting corruption in the political cartoons in the Daily Nation Newspaper; to determine the modality of political cartoons of corruption in the Daily Nation Newspaper and to establish the metaphorical meaning of texts integrated in the multimodal political cartoons of corruption in the Daily Nation Newspaper. The research was guided by the tenets of the pictorial metaphor model founded by Charles Forceville (2006) within the conceptual metaphor theory. The study was limited to political cartoons depicting corruption in the Daily Nation Newspaper in 2018 and 2019, a period characterized by mega corruption scandals in Kenya. This was also the period of the ‘handshake’; the advent of a new regime in Kenya that declared zero tolerance on corruption. The study adopted the analytical research design. The study population comprised 150 political cartoons in the Daily Nation Newspaper in 2018 and 2019. Random purposive sampling technique was used to select the relevant cartoons and the sample size was dictated by saturation sampling. From the study population of 150 cartoons, a total of 41 political cartoons were sampled using saturation sampling method as some of the themes were repetitive. Based on the third objective of the study, which focused on metaphorical expressions, a total of 15 metaphorical expressions were purposively sampled from the 41 political cartoons. The present study employed corpus compilation checklist as data collection tool. To test reliability of the data compilation checklist, the researcher carried out a pilot study. The data was then coded and analyzed qualitatively into themes of the respective source-objects. The findings were that the source-objects that depict corruption in the Daily Nation Newspaper are CORRUPTION IS DIRT, CORRUPTION IS AN ANIMAL, CORRUPTION IS A GIANT, CORRUPTION IS CRIME, CORRUPTION IS EXPLOITATION, CORRUPTION IS GREED, CORRUPTION IS A DISEASE, CORRUPTION IS BRUTALITY, CORRUPTION IS WAR, CORRUPTION IS ELUSIVE, CORRUPTION IS A BURDEN and CORRUPTION IS A SHAME. It was also established that metaphorical expressions integrated in pictorial metaphors are dependent on the pictorial metaphors for accurate interpretation. The study concluded that the cartoonist has used varied source-objects including humans, objects, smoke, stench, filth, mud, worms, reptiles, birds, beasts, mythical beings and gluttonous animals and that pictorial metaphors of corruption are largely multimodal but there are a few mono-modal ones too. The present study contributes knowledge in the fields of semiotics and cognitive linguistics. PhD Thesis

Analysis of narrative elements in the Bukusu initiation ritual (Sikhebo)

2024-12-03T16:16:52Z

Analysis of narrative elements in the Bukusu initiation ritual (Sikhebo) KHAEMBA, Paul Wanyonyi Rituals mark rites of passages from one point to the next and involve performances worldwide. In Africa, rituals are performed during birth, initiation, marriage and death ceremonies. The Bukusu community practices rituals and one of them is sikhebo where boys are initiated after every two years. Consequently, researches that have been conducted on sikhebo ritual deal with it as drama, as acculturation and its educative values. It was therefore, necessary to examine sikhebo ritual in order to unveil the narrative elements therein because the nature of the ritual as drama; acculturation and education are first and foremost narratives. The specific objectives were to: analyze plot in sikhebo ritual as a narrative element; to assess actual characterization and role of various characters in the narrative; and to study themes and meaning in the narrative. The study adopted the theory of narratology that was propounded by Todorov (1969) and transformed by Groden, Kreiswirth and Sweman (2012) to deal with text and form in narratives. The study used three tenets of the narratology theory, firstly, the tenet which states that a narrative is composed of unique sequence of events met the first study objective that investigated plot in sikhebo ritual as a narrative element; secondly the tenet which states that events in a narrative include characters met the second objective that assessed the actual characterization and role of various characters in the narrative and lastly the tenet which states that themes are evident in narrative met the third objective that studied themes and meaning in the narrative. The study adopted the ethnographic research design that assisted to formulate the research questions on sikhebo ritual. The study area was Bungoma North Sub-County. The suitability of the area is that it is inhabited by the Bukusu who practice sikhebo ritual. The study was restricted to one live performance of sikhebo ritual comprising one male initiate who defined the scope of this undertaking. Purposive sampling was used to get one initiate, his parents and other people who made up sikhebo ritual narrative. Primary data was got using non-participant observation, videotaping the entire sikhebo ritual with the assistance of two research assistants and interview whereby two key informants shed light on observation check-list. Secondary data was assembled by extraction from selected commentary and documenting the required information. Data collected was analyzed using textual analysis, codified based on the study objectives and presented in continuous prose. The study found out that sikhebo ritual is replete with plot as narrative element, characterization and role of various characters in the narrative and themes and meaning in narrative. The study concluded that sikhebo ritual takes a narrative structure governed by Freytag’s dramatic model in MacEwan that include exposition, the inciting incident, the rising action, climax, falling action and denouement; actual characterization and characters roles in the narrative, themes and meaning in narrative. The findings on an analysis of narrative elements in the Bukusu initiation ritual sikhebo is useful in expanding existing knowledge in literary and orature studies as well as teaching performance stylistic devices in literature and performing arts. The study suggests a similar study to be carried out to deal with the initiate who fears the knife. Secondly, a study should be done to assess characterization and role of the girl child in sikhebo ritual as narrative. Lastly, further studies should be conducted to study masculinity as a theme in sikhebo ritual and its meaning as narrative. PhD Thesis

Le Kenya National Drama Festival : Identité culturelle dans un corpus dramatique anglophone et francophone.

2022-10-27T14:47:23Z

Le Kenya National Drama Festival : Identité culturelle dans un corpus dramatique anglophone et francophone. KALANGI, Caroline This study analyszes the representation of cultural identity in sixteen drama texts written by Kenyans in English and in French for the Kenya National Drama Festival (KNDF). Considering the colonial history and the postcolonial context of Kenya, the task involved identifying the postcolonial markers within the texts, identifying major themes and traits constituting a Kenyan cultural identity and determining specific cultural identity. Using a comparative approach, the study draws from both postcolonial and theatre theories. The postcolonial concepts touching on identity through language, culture and representation are identified and analyzed in respect to the Kenyan context. For this reason, the study narrows down to the theoretical works of Edward Saïd, Homi K. Bhabha, Chinua Achebe and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. The study reveals that the Kenyan population is faced with a multiplicity of cultural choices brought about by the colonization experience, the new practices associated with globalization, as well as the complexities and challenges of daily life. The KNDF proves to be an avenue for sensitizing the public on new phenomena, for denouncing societal ills and for promoting African traditional norms. It is apparent that the use of European languages does not hinder the representation of cultural reality of the local society. Kenya therefore attests to cultural mobility seen in the progression from the traditional system towards a more globalized disposition. Donation