https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/49 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:58:32 GMT 2026-04-04T14:58:32Z https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/8284 Title: Spatio-temporal variations in physicochemical water quality and the impact of land use/land cover change In River Athi Basin, Kenya. Authors: Ogbonna, Vincent A. Abstract: The growing impacts of natural processes and human activities on water quality at global, regional, and local scales are raising concerns. The River Athi Basin natural gravitational flow toward lower elevations, ultimately reaching the Indian Ocean, facilitates waste disposal practices among the residence located along the river bank. This study sought to determine the Spatiotemporal Variations in Physicochemical Water Quality and the Impact of Land Use/Land Cover Change in the Mid Reaches of River Athi Basin, Kenya by; 1) examining the influence of land use/land cover change in river Athi Basin from 2015 to 2023. (2) Determining seasonal variation in the physicochemical water quality of the river Athi Basin. (3) Assessing the spatial variation in physicochemical water quality of the river Athi Basin. The study examined the influence of LULC changes from 2015 to 2023 using Landsat 8 imagery, GIS, remote sensing, and GPS technologies for data extraction, image processing, and LULC analysis. Pearson correlation analysis assessed spatial differences of land use land cover impacts on water quality across six sampling stations in the basin. Interview survey was used to supplement the water quality dataset. The studies applied multivariate analysis for spatial and temporal reduction of the multidimensional dataset and identification of pollution sources. Seasonal variations in the physico-chemical water quality of River Athi Basin was determined using eight physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, TDS, NO₃, K, PO₄, BOD, and COD) and two heavy metals (Cd and Cr). Data collection was carried out during two distinct seasonal periods: the short dry and rainy season (August-September for dry, November-December for rainy) in 2023, and the long dry and rainy season (January-February for dry, April-May for rainy) in 2024. An independent T-test was used to compare the mean levels of water quality parameters between dry and rainy seasons. The study assessed spatial variation in the physicochemical water quality of the river basin, covering six sampling stations. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) compared the mean values of variables of the sampling stations. Multiple linear regression tested the influence of pH, EC, TDS, NO3, K, and PO4 on BOD and COD (oxidation parameters) and cadmium and chromium (heavy metals). The Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) assessed the relationships between water physicochemical parameters and heavy metals in seasonal and spatial variations in water quality of the river basin. The findings on LULC analysis show notable shifts in land use from 2015 to 2023. Between these periods, the overall built-up increased to 0.29%, bare-lands declined by 7.06%. Farmlands, forests, and grasslands were elevated by 0.52%, 4.54%, and 2.77%, with decline in open waters by 1.24%. Spatial LULC difference with correlation analysis reveal higher amounts of EC, TDS, Cd, Cr, NO3, and PO4 influencing water quality. Interview survey revealed settlements, agriculture, and climate conditions as the main causes of degradation of water quality. Seasonal finding reveal significant fluctuations in pollution, with the dry season exhibiting higher pollution levels. February demonstrate proliferated temporal pollution, characterized by high concentrations of EC, TDS, BOD, and COD. Spatial finding demonstrated significantly higher pollution signatures in Athi River Town, Stony Athi, and NYS stations, while NYS contribute to higher levels of nutrients, organic pollutants, and heavy metals. In contrast, the control station and Kibwezi Bridge station demonstrates effective self-purification processes. Multivariate analysis revealed pollution sources over time and space in the River Basin. The stable pH levels over time and space was influenced by the buffering capacity. Multiple regression analysis indicates that physicochemical parameters, such as pH, EC, TDS, NO₃, K, and PO₄, explain 62% of BOD variation and 70% of COD variation, as well as 36% of both Cd and Cr variations. Pearson correlation analysis shows strong links between EC, TDS, BOD, and heavy metals (Cd, Cr), with significant associations among nutrients and other water quality indicators. Natural and anthropogenic activities are pivotal drivers of the water quality degradation of River Athi Basin over time and space. This study recommends that the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the National Environmental Policy (NEP) strengthen regulations on environmental management, water resource conservation, sustainable land use, public health protection, irrigation control, forest preservation, and aquatic ecosystem conservation in order to support global efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Description: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) In Environmental Management Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/8284 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/8100 Title: Educational subsidies and students’ participation rates in education in public secondary schools in Makueni County, Kenya Authors: Musyimi, Charles Abstract: Governments around the world agree that, the ability to provide quality education for all and to respond to new priorities depends on the availability of adequate funding in education. Financing of education is the greatest enabler of learners to participate in education and flow through education system from entry to exit. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of educational subsidies on participation rates in public secondary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the influence of Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) capitation grants, government bursary funds, financing by non-state agencies and provision of teaching and learning materials by the government on participation rates in public secondary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. The researcher formulated four null hypotheses stating: There is no statistically significant relationship between FDSE capitation grants, government bursary funds, education financing by non-state agencies and provision of teaching and learning materials by the government and participation rates in public secondary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. The study was anchored on the Classical Liberal Theory by Rousseau. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The study targeted all 384 schools, all 384 Principals, 384 Deputy Principals and 9 Sub County Directors of Education in Makueni County. Out of the 384 schools, the study sampled 196 schools’ principals and deputy principals through stratified, simple random sampling. Data collection instruments included questionnaires for Principals, Deputies and interview schedule for Sub-county Directors of Education. The instruments were ascertained through piloting and by research experts to ensure content validity while reliability was achieved through piloting and testing reliability. Data was analyzed by use of SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations and inferential statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data. Qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis and the responses presented in narratives, tables and figures. The results revealed that there was statistically significant relationship between FDSE capitation grants, government bursary funds, education financing by non-state agencies and provision of teaching and learning materials by the government on participation rates in public secondary schools in Makueni County. This was at r values of 0.67,0.68, 0.63, and 0.59 respectively which were all positive and significant with values of 0.014, 0.015, 0.019, and 0.022 respectively. The study concluded that FDSE capitation grants, government bursary funds, financing by non-state agencies and provision of teaching and learning materials by the government all influence students’ participation rates in public secondary schools in Makueni county, Kenya. And that, education subsidies influence students’ participation rates in the study locale. The results indicated that 64% of the variation in the participation of students in schooling in public secondary schools in Makueni County could be explained by provision of education subsidies in financing education. The study recommends that, the government should continue providing and diversifying educational subsidies, schools should come up with income generating activities whose profits can be used to give bursaries to deserving students. Further, schools should utilize the available resources cost-effectively. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/8100 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/7731 Title: Institutional determinants of strategic plan implementation in public secondary schools in Machakos County, Kenya Authors: Kawinzi, Jeremiah M. Abstract: Strategic plan as a management tool can help to improve the performance of an organization since it guides all stakeholders to work towards the same objectives. It also makes an organization adapt to the ever changing environment toward realizing better results. This study sought to investigate the influence of institutional determinants of strategic plan implementation in public secondary schools in Machakos County, Kenya. The specific study objectives sought to establish the influence of school structure, resource allocation, leadership communication strategies, and the stakeholders’ participation in school development plans on the strategic plan implementation. The study used descriptive survey research design. The study targeted 351 public secondary schools, 351 principals in these schools, and 3,159 class teachers and academic Heads of Departments. The study used a sample of 30% of all the targeted principals and 10% of the targeted HoDs and class teachers from each zone to arrive at 105 principals, and 316 academic HoDs and class teachers. Public secondary schools in Machakos County were grouped into eight zones (strata) using the stratified sampling technique. The study used open-ended questionnaire to obtain qualitative data and closed-ended questionnaires to obtain quantitative data. Descriptive statistics that is distribution of responses, measures of variability and measures of central tendency were used to analyze data which was presented using frequency distribution tables, and pie charts. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the inferential data. Qualitative data gathered using open-ended questionnaires was grouped into themes based on the study objectives. The study tested four hypotheses each at a 0.05 level of significance. From the first objective, the study gave a positive coefficient of 0.0470 on school structure with a p-value of 0.314 and was not statistically significant at 0.05 level, hence we fail to reject the null hypothesis that, school structure had no influence on strategic plan implementation. Based on the second objective, the study produced a positive coefficient of 0.4168 on school leadership with a p-value of 0.000 which was statistically significant at the 0.05 level, hence we reject the null hypothesis that, school leadership had no influence on strategic plan implementation. In the third objective, the study produced a negative coefficient of -0.0168 on resource allocation with a p-value of 0.714 which was not statistically significant at the 0.05 level, hence we fail to reject the null hypothesis that, resource allocation has no influence on strategic plan implementation. The findings from the fourth objective produced a positive coefficient of 0.2519 on stakeholder participation in school development plans with a p-value of 0.000 which was statistically significant at 0.05 level, thus we reject the null hypothesis that, stakeholder participation in school development plans has no influence on strategic plan implementation. From the study findings, the study concluded that institutional leadership and stakeholders’ participation in institution development plans have a statistically significant influence on strategic plan implementation; however institutional structure does not have a statistically significant influence on strategic plan implementation even though school structure is positively and significantly related to strategic plan implementation, in addition, institutional allocation of resources had no statistically significant influence on strategic plan implementation in public secondary schools in Machakos County. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the school Principals ought to make sure that there is clarity in co-coordinating the curriculum, and stakeholders’ need to honor the invitation to participate in the school development plans in the strategic plan. Description: Doctor of philosophy in economics of education and planning, 2024 Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/7731 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/7727 Title: Climate change perception, vulnerability and adaptation among smallholder farmers in Machakos County, Kenya Authors: Kalia, David Makau Abstract: The unprecedented changes resulting from rapid and intensifying climate change have created extremely uncertain conditions for agricultural production, especially in ASALs. Farmers should, therefore, build resilience through appropriate adaptation strategies to cope with the new and emerging impacts of climate change and variability. This study was conducted to understand the awareness and perception of climate change and variability, its impacts on local agriculture, and to identify the most appropriate adaptive strategies for smallholder farmers to enhance resilience building in Machakos County. The study employed a mixed methods approach in which both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used. Field observations and 400 household surveys were conducted with smallholder farmers in the County. Questionnaires, interviews, field observations, and desk research techniques and tools were used to generate the relevant data. In addition, focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII) were conducted in the area. Data from FGD and KII complemented the survey results. The data analysis was done by descriptive statistics and econometric model (Heckman’s sample selection model). The statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) program for windows (version 20) and STATA software (version 12) were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to investigate the impacts of climate change, analyse farmers' perceptions of climate change, and the potential response and adaptation strategies to climate impacts. The study adopted the indicator and systematic review approach to document the agricultural sector's vulnerability to climate change. Heckman’s probit regression model was used to analyse factors influencing the smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change and variability and the choice of response options (adaptations) to climate impact applied by the households. Descriptive statistics of key variables were computed, analysed, and presented in frequency distributions, percentages, tables and charts. The study results show significant impacts from climate change and variability in Machakos County, 88.8% of smallholder farmers reported low yields, 82.3%, loss of income, 81.1%, crop failure, 69.0%, livestock deaths, 65.2%, forage scarcity, 64.0%, water shortage, and 53.3% infrastructure damage. In addition, the results revealed high exposure to climate change and variability, high sensitivity, and low adaptive capacity. Concerning exposure, a warming trend was identified in the County, while climate model outputs projected enhanced warming and drying towards the end of the 21st century. The farming systems were highly sensitive to climate change and variability, as indicated by high incidences of droughts, high rural population density, a high percentage of smallholder farmers, and severe high susceptibility to land degradation. Adaptive capacity was generally low but exhibited by substantial social capital and highly diversified agricultural production. The study's results also revealed that 96% of all the smallholder farmers surveyed reported they were aware of climate change. Of those who perceived the climate to be changing, 87.3% reported changes in temperature, 96.8% in rainfall while 98% of farmers indicated that they had observed an increase in drought incidents, Age of the household head, gender, education, access to extension services, access to climate information, off-farm income, household size, distance to market, access to credit, access to insurance, distance to input seller, land size and group membership, influenced the farmers' perception of climate change and variability. The study showed that farmers most farmers (92.2%) adopted several practices to cope with the current climate risks with only 7.8% of the respondents using none. The study findings suggest that some climate change- related responses to agricultural distress are inadequate to cope with the current climate risks. This indicates that farmers may be unable to cope with increasing climate change and variability. Additionally, most farmers (92.5%) foresee a likelihood of impacts of climate change and variability and change worsening in the future. The study recommends an enhancement and/or a shift to more resilient and environmentally sustainable strategies, which include: diversification of livelihoods, water harvesting/Irrigation, mixed farming, crop diversification, tree planting/agroforestry, improved pasture and fodder management, construction of sheds for livestock, improved crop varieties and livestock breeds, drought- tolerant crops and livestock breeds, conservation agriculture, and more use of weather and climate information. Description: Doctor of philosophy in agricultural economics, 2024 Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/7727 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z