Abstract

Abstract

abastract

An archive or archives is a collection of documents and records that contain historical information and have an enduring value to the organization. Automation is the use of electronics and computer-controlled devices to assume control of processes. Automating archives outlines the ways involved with using information technologies to manage archival materials in an organization. The study was guided by the following specific objectives, that is; to find out the types of archival materials, to examine the existing system for managing archives, to identify the challenges facing the existing system for the archives. The methods used to collect data were qualitative in nature and they included; interviews guides and observation guides. Data was presented in tabulations, graphs and in an essay form, The study was motivated by inadequate computer terminals and difficulty in archival retrieval which affected the running of different activities at the organization since the accumulation of archives was taking a lot of space and time. The system components were integrated to form a fully functional system and integrated testing was carried out to locate and delete errors from the automated system to ensure that all forms work simultaneously and that are compatible. This was done by passing data through the new automated management system which involved entering the users name and password in the system and the items were checked in and out to find out whether the new automated system was fully functioning as required. Basing on the findings that have been established in the course of the study, It has been concluded that in order to manage the archives properly staff should design an automated management system to manage the archives.

Harmonic distortions for low voltage distribution network is a research area that has not been extensively explored due to the assumption that the harmonics do not adversely affect low voltage equipment. However, field data collected shows contrarily that current harmonic generated by nonlinear residential customer loads do immensely affect distribution transformers by causing speedy deterioration of the transformers insulation. In the past few decades, there have been considerable changes on residential single phase loads in terms of power demand magnitude and appliance electrical characteristics. The main difference between the current residential single phase loads and earlier versions of a few decades ago is widespread use of electronic appliances with Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS). These loads are rapidly increasing due to advancement of technology in semi-conductor devices and digital controllers. Such appliances generate current harmonic distortions, which stream back to the low voltage distribution network affecting installed low voltage network equipment. The adverse impact of the generated harmonic distortions are witnessed in premature failure of distribution transformers, erroneous recording of energy meters and over-loading of neutral conductors to mention just a few. This study focuses on analysis and mitigation of current harmonics distortions on distribution network. It involved measurement of current harmonics generated by domestic consumers individual appliance and combined appliances at Point of Common Coupling (PCC) and current harmonics streaming at the secondary side of distribution transformers. Transformers’ oil breakdown voltage was analyzed from sampled transformers to correlate between harmonics and degradation of the oil insulation level. The failed transformers for a period of one year in one of the region was obtained and analyzed. Based on the results of the analysis that show high harmonic pollution on low voltage distribution network, a mitigation measure was devised that involved design and simulation of a single phase active filter using MATLAB–Simulink software. From this work, it was found out that loads with similar electrical characteristics aggravate harmonics and loads with dissimilar electrical characteristics attenuate harmonics. Further, the high current harmonics cause speedy degradation of transformer liquid (oil) insulation and lastly the high current harmonics observed at domestic consumers PCC emanating from current domestic appliances can be mitigated by employing a single phase shunt active filter. The designed and simulated single phase active filter, in MATLAB/Simulink environment, the distorted current waveform was noted to be sinusoidal (undistorted) after introduction of single phase shunt AHF and the current harmonic distortion levels obtained were well within the admissible level recommended by IEEE 519-1992, a power quality standard for power utilities and industries.

Climate change in Africa, the worst hit continent is real with observable changes due to its high levels of vulnerability. Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) home to nearly 300 million poor people is portrayed as a susceptible territory to the impact of climate change considering her low adaptive capacity to anticipated extreme events. The situation in the Kenyan arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) is expounded by community over reliance on climate sensitive natural assets and ecosystems resources for their livelihood and food security. The dryland community, although have greatly benefited from the goods and services provided by the ecosystem, their future reliance on the same is very uncertain. The effect may be experienced in the future; however, some negative consequences are already felt now. Debates in adaptation science has attracted and developed interest especially in developing countries who call in support of building the adaptive capacity of these vulnerable communities to the consequences of climate change. This PhD work builds on what is known and discussed about adaptation as a feature of humanenvironmental systems or as referred in literature as Social-Ecological Systems (SESs). Understanding adaptive capacity of such a system within the adaptation framework requires an empirical analysis of the complex social process framed by intangible processes of: innovations fostering; social institutional and entitlements; Asset’s base; knowledge and information and decision making and governance. This thesis research undertakes an empirical assessment of adaptive capacity as a social technical process among the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists of Il Ngwesi group ranch, Northern Rift of Laikipia County, Kenya. Specifically analyzing household adaptation practices that facilitates the transition of the dryland community from pastoralism to agro-pastoralism. Secondly, characterizing assets and resources available in the commons that determine adaptive capacity of the pastoral and agro-pastoral community, and finally evaluating how access to these resources differentiate adaptive capacity among the community. The study focused on members of Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, Laikipia County, Kenya living in the conservancy and those in the neighborhoods. Two regions were therefore considered, inside and outside the conservancy. Mixed methods of data collected was used, engaging both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Quantitative data was first analyzed using descriptive statistics and later econometric models such as Heckman Probit and Multivariate Probit Model. Qualitative data was manually coded for general trends and further interpretation. The results show that irrigation is a growing adaptation practice that acts as a bridge in the transformation process of the pastoral community, transiting from pastoralism to agro-pastoralism. The social economic drivers that encourage its uptake are identified as: good quality land for food crops (1.152**), government assistance (0.906**), and large herds of livestock (small (-0.473*) and medium (-0.931**) livestock herds) as financial base and governance of community land tenure regime (1.556**). Additionally agronomic information (1.094***) through extension services and targeting the young generation often left out of development interventions (older household heads (-0.0219*)). Further results show three fundamental components that require more attention in adaptive capacity interventions, research and policy. These are: household asset, relevant information that shapes adaptation process and multi-level governance of land tenure regimes in pasture management in the drylands. Finally, social differentiation is viewed as an outcome of differentiated adaptation pathways that dictates institutional re-arrangement to create new knowledge and to accommodate the process of change. This calls to paying attention to this unfolding scenario, unpacking the broader term “adaptation” to “socially differentiated adaptation” to avoid effects of accelerating the growing inequality in the drylands where households are not coherent and homogenous units for either research, policy or development.

School Feeding Program (SFP) though a good strategy for improving access to education, faces challenges in terms of its long-term impact that could be linked to poor planning either before or after adopting it. This study sought to find out the impact of school feeding program on education quality in public primary schools particularly in the unplanned and highly impoverished settlement areas of Nairobi. The study’s specific objectives are: to assess the effect of frequency of SFP on quality of education in public primary schools; to examine the effect of timing of SFP on quality of education in public primary schools and to examine the effect of SFP’s food features on quality of education in public primary schools. This research study was grounded on the Equal Opportunity theory advanced by Dennis E Mithaug. The study adopted descriptive survey design, a method that compiles measurable information that can be statistically analyzed so as to describe a research problem dispassionately. The target population was 72 individuals who included 68 head teachers whose schools are under school feeding program out of 225 public primary schools in Nairobi, 3 Ministry of Education officials and 1 World Food Program official. The small target population obliged the study to carry out a census that included all members of the population into the study. Data collection instruments included a structured questionnaire as well as a key informant interview schedule. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software was used to analyze data and whereby the data was summarized and coded and finally presented via tables. The research findings were interpreted and analyzed at par with the research objectives. Impact of frequencies of SFPs on quality of education in public primary schools was not statistically significant therefore the null hypothesis was true and accepted. The impact of timing of SFPs on quality of education was statistically significant and therefore the null hypothesis was rejected. The impact of SFP’s food features on quality of education was statistically significant and therefore the null hypothesis was rejected. For better and positive impact, the study recommends that stakeholders and sponsors of the SFP should ensure food is supplied throughout the term and throughout the year in a predictable and consistent manner. School administrators should ensure adherence to known regulatory policies and guidelines and should ensure those who serve wear the right clothing. SFP sponsors should ensure there are nutritionists who assess status of served food in terms of all necessary features and that those who interact with the food preparation process have undergone necessary training. The rationale of this study is that its findings could serve as reference and induce insight on further studies on the effects of SFP on education quality in learning institutions and as well help education managers and planners, policy makers and implementers of the program understand better ways through which SFP could be used to improve its impact on quality education.

Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Law, Business Mgt (FoA&SS / FoL / FBM): Recent submissions

The need for guidance and counselling services in all learning institutions cannot be overstated. In response to this demand, guidance and counselling programme has been implemented since 1971 and more emphasis on its services in 2001 through Legal Notice, No. 95 of the Kenya Gazette that recommended the implementation of guidance and counseling by establishing counseling departments in all secondary schools. A well implemented guidance and counselling programme should be very clear on keys aspects that include the conceptual framework, structural framework, service delivery and teacher counsellor performance among many other key aspects. However, despite its implementation students still experience problems in form of school indiscipline, school unrest, and increased examination cheating which is a clear indication that there is a lapse in the implementation of the guidance and counselling programme. Thus there was a need to evaluate the conceptual framework and structural framework, service delivery and teacher counsellors‟ performance in the implementation of guidance and counselling programme in Baringo county secondary schools. This study employed a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 23 extra county secondary schools with a population of 3211 form three students, 23 teacher counsellors and 23 head teachers. Purposive sampling was used to select the number of schools, head teachers and teacher counsellors; stratified random and proportionate sampling was utilized to select the number of students to be included in the study. The sample size comprised of 23 schools, 330 form three students, 23 head teachers and 23 teacher counsellors. A total of 376 respondents constituted the study sample. The data was collected through questionnaires, document analysis and a check list. Piloting of the instrument was done to improve validity and the test items were validated by experts in the Department of Counselling, Psychology and Educational Foundations. Reliability of the Principal Questionnaire, Teacher Counsellor Questionnaire and Student Questionnaire was established by use of Cronbach‟s alpha method and reliability coefficients of 0.75, 0.86 and 0.79 respectively were obtained. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were utilized to analyse the data with the aid of SPSS version 20 for windows. The level of significance was tested at 0.05. An analysis of the findings indicated that the conceptual framework, service delivery was not fully implemented and teacher counsellor‟s performance was fair in the implementation of G&C programme. The findings also showed poor implementation of the structural framework in all the secondary schools. Further, the findings showed that there was statistically significant difference between the implementation of the conceptual framework, structural framework, service delivery and teacher counsellor‟s performance in the guidance and counselling programme. Further, lack of time, funding, inadequate facilities, uncooperative clients and qualified personnel were among the challenges facing the implementation of the guidance and counselling programme. It was concluded that guidance and counselling programme in Baringo county extra secondary school is not fully implemented. The study recommended that guidance and counselling conceptual framework, service delivery should be enhanced. The study also recommended the provision of adequate human and physical resources to strengthen the structural framework and employment of more professional counsellors in secondary schools on full time basis to enable them to perform their duties and responsibilities effectively.

The study was undertaken to investigate the impact of the constituency development fund in empowering women in Mbita Constituency, Homa Bay County. It sought to address the following specific objectives: to establish the level of the participation of women in the projects initiated by the constituency development fund in Mbita Constituency, to determine the changes in the status of women as a result of the constituency development fund and to ascertain the barriers that women face in accessing the constituency development funds in Mbita Constituency. The study was guided by the women’s empowerment framework. The study adopted a research design that was cross-sectional and descriptive in nature both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used. Quantitative data were collected through the survey questionnaire while qualitative information was collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Conversely, simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics were used and the information acquired was presented in the form of tables, charts, percentages and frequencies. The study concludes that women in Mbita Constituency were in favour of the constituency development fund since it has a positive impact in empowering them. From the study the following recommendations were made: there is a need to increase women’s participation in identification and prioritization of projects in order to actually address the real issues affecting them and to create ownership of the projects among the women. Civic education is needed to empower women to understand the management of the constituency development fund and their roles in making the committees more accountable. There is also a need to enhance transparency and accountability in the management of the entire constituency development fund and the government should enhance efficiency in releasing bursary funds. The study recommends that studies about other devolved funds should be carried out so as to fully understand how such funds contribute to the empowerment of women.