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Factors Affecting the Utilization of Library Information Resources among Students at Rift Valley National Polytechnic, Nakuru County, Kenya
(Egerton Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences & Education, 2026) Ng’ang’a, J.N.
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EFFECTS OF INTRINSIC AGRIPRENEURIAL DRIVERS ON PERFORMANCE OF YOUTH-BASED FRUIT BUSINESSES IN NAKURU COUNTY
(Egerton University, 2024-10) KOKWON JEMATIA WINNIE
In recent times, where white collar job opportunities have become a rare site to encounter, youth-based businesses have proven to be imminent solution to unemployment in Kenya. An example of such business are the youth-based fruit businesses which offer a good source of income to the youth. In Nakuru County, Kenya, youth-based fruit businesses have the potential to significantly contribute to local economies and reduce youth unemployment. Therefore, understanding the intrinsic drivers that motivate these young agripreneurs offers valuable insights into enhancing the youth-based fruit businesses performance and their sustainability. Therefore, this study explored the effects of intrinsic agripreneurial drivers which are psychological capital, social capital and entrepreneurial motivation, on the performance of youth-based fruit businesses in Nakuru County. The study employed a cross-sectional research design using semi-structured questionnaires. The study employed a multistage sampling procedure. Data was analyzed through the SPSS, STATA and WARP PLS applications. Fruit agripreneurs were found to exhibit higher levels of necessity motivation (64%) as compared to opportunity motivation (60%). This showed that majority youth are getting into agrienterpreneurship not because of the opportunities that lie in the sector but rather because they have lacked livelihood options in other sectors. The results showed that necessity motivation only slightly increased the chance that agribusiness owners would build resilience, relational social capital, and structural social capital. On the other hand, it was discovered that the growth of youth-based fruit agripreneurs' psychological and social capital in all of its aspects was linked to opportunity motivation. On the other hand, among fruit agripreneurs, necessity motivation was linked to a lower display of cognitive social capital and self-confidence. According to this research, opportunity-driven agripreneurs are more likely to possess the social and psychological capital needed for a successful firm. The partial mediating role of social and psychological capital on the relationship between opportunity motivation and financial performance was statistically established. This means that for opportunity motivated agripreneurs to achieve financial performance, they should apply social and psychological capital in their business operations. In this regard, the study recommends that initiatives such as trainings aiming to improve the psychological and social capital of youth agripreneurs to first and foremost enhance the opportunity orientation of the agripreneurs. This is because this study has affirmed that opportunity motivation buds all facets of psychological and social capital.
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INFLUENCE OF INSTITUTIONAL INTERVENTIONS ON ADOPTION INTENSITY OF ECOLOGICAL FARMING AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA
(Egerton University, 2024-10) KAMAU WANGARI EMMA
The ecological farming system is an alternative agricultural system that integrates local knowledge into food production. It has the ability to ensure the whole agricultural and food systems are economically viable, socially just, and culturally sensitive. Through a variety of interventions and policy formulations, institutions play a crucial role in affecting the effectiveness and intensity of the adoption of ecological techniques. However, there is a dearth of thorough empirical research that shows a connection between current institutional initiatives and the level of adoption of ecological agricultural practices. Therefore, this study focused on analysing institutional interventions influencing the intensity of adoption of ecological farming. In addition, the study determined the factors influencing awareness of ecological farming and, finally, conducted an analysis of the effect of adoption on farm income. The study used multistage sampling to collect data from 320 households in Kiambu County. A generalised Poisson regression, a generalised ordered logit, and a multinomial endogenous switching regression model were used to analyse the three objectives, respectively. According to the results, awareness was found to be high (91%). Moreover, awareness was influenced by age, household size, drought and floods, soil erosion, perceptions of benefits, group membership, and information sources. Further, according to the generalised Poisson regression results, access to markets, training, information sources, extension contacts increased the likelihood of a farmer adopting ecological farming practices at higher intensity by 50.1%, 50.9%, 4.3%, and 38.7%, respectively. Finally, this study identified six bundles of various combinations that were used by households. A comprehensive package that included compost manure, mulching, crop diversification, integrated pest management (IPM), and minimum tillage increased farm income by 9.2%. Households using the said package had the highest gain in farm income. Also, using a package consisting of compost manure, crop diversification, and IPM, and the one consisting of compost manure, mulching, crop diversification, and IPM, increased farm income by 2.5% and 1.3%, respectively. Considering the results, this study calls for policy interventions that encourage multi-stakeholder partnership arrangements to facilitate farmers’ linkages to eco-friendly markets. Again, there is a need to enhance knowledge dissemination through tailored agricultural extension services and regular training forums. Also, establish policies that incentivise the comprehensive adoption of all ecological farming practices package. This would enhance household welfare through increasing farm income
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ASSESSMENT OF Plasmodium falciparum RESISTANCE TO PIPERAQUINE AND OTHER FRONTLINE ANTIMALARIALS IN KENYA USING GENOMIC ANALYSES AND GROWTH INHIBITION ASSAYS
(Egerton University, 2023-11) WAKOLI MUSAMALI DANCAN
Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) is an alternative first-line antimalarial to artemether- lumefantrine in Kenya. However, recent reports on emergence of PPQ resistance in Southeast Asia threaten its continued use in Kenya and Africa. In line with the policy on continued deployment of DHA-PPQ, it is imperative to monitor susceptibility of Kenyan parasites to PPQ and other frontline antimalarials in order to clarify its field expedience at this period of intensified deployment. Parasites isolates from samples collected between 2008 and 2021 from individuals with naturally acquired P. falciparum infections presenting with uncomplicated malaria were tested for in vitro susceptibility to piperaquine, dihydroartemisinin, lumefantrine, artemether, and chloroquine using the malaria SYBR Green I method. A subset of the 2019-2021 samples was further tested for ex vivo susceptibility to PPQ using piperaquine survival assay (PSA). Each isolate was also characterized for mutations associated with antimalarial resistance in Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfpm2/3, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps genes using real-time PCR and Agena MassARRAY platform. Associations between phenotype and genotype were also determined using the Kruskal-Wallis H- test and Mann-Whitney U test. The PPQ median IC50 interquartile range (IQR) remained stable during the study period, 32.70 (IQR 20.2-45.6) nM in 2008 and 27.30 (IQR 6.9-52.8) nM in 2021, (P=0.1615). The median ex vivo piperaquine survival rate (IQR) was 0 (0-5.27) %, at 95% CI. Five isolates had PSA survival rate of ≥10%, consistent with the range of PPQ resistant parasites, though they lacked polymorphisms in Pfmdr1 and Plasmepsin genes. Lumefantrine and artemether median IC50s rose significantly to 62.40 (IQR 26.9-100.8) nM, (P = 0.0201); 7.00 (IQR 2.4-13.4) nM, (P = 0.0021) in 2021from 26.30 (IQR 5.1-64.3) nM; 2.70 (IQR 1.3-10.4) nM in 2008, respectively. Conversely, chloroquine median IC50s decreased significantly to 10.30, (IQR 7.2- 20.9) nM in 2021 from 15.30 (IQR 7.6-30.4) nM in 2008, coinciding with a decline in prevalence of Pfcrt 76T allele over time from 39.3% to 0% (P = 0.0357). The proportions of piperaquine- resistant markers including Pfpm2/3 and Pfmdr1 did not vary significantly. However, a significant association was observed between PPQ IC50 and Pfcrt K76T allele (P=0.0026). Circulating Kenyan parasites have remained sensitive to PPQ and other antimalarials, though response to artemether and lumefantrine is declining. This study forms a baseline for continued surveillance of current antimalarials for timely detection of resistance.