Chemchemi International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
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Published By Kenyatta University

2663-0826, 1563-1028

Author(s):  
Mary Wahome ◽  
Daniel Ng’ang’a

Colonialism impacted local cultures far beyond their infrastructure, government and geography. In addition to eroding indigenous power structures, the structural violence inflicted during colonialism left native populations with lasting self-doubt and rejection of traditional practices. Among these rejected traditions were informal processes and mechanisms of resolving conflicts. Conflict resolution methods in different cultures often vary greatly in underlying values and perceptions. Western judicial systems reflect individualistic, high uncertainty-avoidant, low-context tendencies, while indigenous conflict resolution methods reflect collectivistic, minimal uncertainty-avoidant and high-context tendencies. Research into the current state of formal courts and informal justice forums in Pokot and Turkana Counties provides case study-based evidence arguing that the transition from restorative justice (Lapai) ffered by indigenous justice mechanisms to retributive justice catalyzed by  colonialism has effectively weakened both the Turkana and Pokot systems of justice. Due to impacted value systems, neither the restorative, socialharmony focus of traditional processes, nor the retributive, compensatory justice focus of the formal judicial system make the available forums wholly appropriate or adequate resources. This has left the two communities torn between two distinct choices - the western and indigenous approaches to conflict management. The main objective of this research was to investigate the effects of colonialism on indigenous conflict management in Pokot and Turkana counties. These were both positive and negative effects. To achieve this objective the overarching question was;“how did colonialism affect the indigenous approaches to conflict management in Pokot and Turkana counties? The study was designed to apply qualitative research methods. Both structured and semi-structured interviews were conducted along the Turkana-Pokot borders. This paper proposes a hybrid model in conflict management, not only for the Pokot and Turkana pastoral communities, but also to other pastoral communities with similar set-ups.


Author(s):  
Lucy Maina ◽  
Elishiba Kimani

Retirees’ income security constitutes a key concern for nations aiming to secure their ageing populations. Kenya has a growing retirement sector with about 252,000 retired civil servants who are on pension and a significant number of private sector retirees who receive a gratuity at retirement. Though formally retired workers may receive a pension, studies consistently report low pensions uptake and inadequate incomes for those retired as well as an increasing national and societal burden. This paper explores the key determinants of income security among 978retired persons who were receiving dues on their retirement savings. Guided by the life cycle and third age theory, the study investigated whether retirees’ socio-economic attributes, pre-retirement financial status, retirees’ benefit package, retirees’ utilization of retirement savings and investments and pre-retirement preparation correlated with income security. A mixed-method study design was used combining survey and case study approaches. Cluster, purposive and random sampling methods were employed to select retirees under the four categories of retirement schemes in Kenya across 18 selected counties of Kenya. Hypotheses were tested using the Chi square test of significance and comparison of means (t-test) specifically to illustrate the relationship between socio-economic indicators, pre-retirement factors and income security at retirement. Logistic regression procedure was employed to isolate the significant factors that predict income security in retirement. The binary logistic regression analysis confirm that retirees with higher education had 26% higher chances of enjoying income security, those who earned higher pre-retirement salary had 25% higher chances of having a secure income at retirement, those knowledgeable about pensions had 35% higher chances of being income secure while those who had planned for their retirement had 14% higher chances of achieving income security. The study recommends crafting of a robust retirement planning package, financial and health plans for retirees’ income security and sustainable livelihoods.


Author(s):  
Waswa Fuchaka

There is no doubt that terrorism is a peculiar and serious threat to global peace, security and by extension human well-being. Despite concerted military efforts by governments that have borne the brunt of its attacks, suppressing let alone elimination of terrorism has remained elusive. This limited success that has been achieved by seemingly targeting the terrorist per se implies that the root cause may not have been identified. While terror attacks have been done by people of various political and religious persuasions, the frequencies with which perpetrators appear to directly or indirectly invoke the great religion of Islam is worrying. Accordingly, it is this paper’s hypothesis that the root cause of terrorism particularly the kind meted in non-Muslims is inherent in the religious doctrine that the terrorists have embraced. Therefore, independent global research agenda needs to focus on this dimension in order to prove or dispel the above hypothesis. This paper makes reference to reported terror attacks where responsibility has been somehow claimed by people who profess the Islamic faith, whether rightly or otherwise in order to hopefully open debate on the possible role doctrine in directly or indirectly encouraging violence against people of other faiths – whether for religious or socio-political goals. Ultimately this dialogue should yield insights on how to effectively eliminate terrorism from its root causes and enhance peaceful coexistence in today’s multi-cultural dispensation across the world and in particular, Kenya.


Author(s):  
E. Akattu ◽  
M. A. J. Ndeda ◽  
E. Gimode

Drawing on the theory of social capital, the initial attraction of Kirinyaga people to the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) mission centres were the schools, hospitals, demonstration gardens and artisan skills that imparted by missionaries. The ACK established Christian communities in Kirinyaga that became centres of early Christian converts and change. The Christian communities constituted “the germ of the missionary spirit.” The ‘new’ Christians would take a great deal of pleasure in spreading the “germ” to many communities in Kirinyaga, ‘infecting’the more susceptible of its members. Each Christian community endeavored to have a church, an elementary school, a hospital and a demonstration garden. This in itself was an extraordinary change. This study has presented evidence of Kirinyaga’s cultural, socio-economic and political homogeneity as fundamental part of traditional life. European settlement in Kenya made oppression and injustice virtually inevitable and mission response to African issues ranged from land and labor to taxation and wages. The Anglican CMS almost exclusively provided such public services as schooling, healthcare and agriculture. This study also discussed regionalization of ACK CCS as a concept of community development focusing on CCSMKE serving the whole community in Kirinyaga, with priority on the most disadvantaged parts of the region, whether or not there are any Anglican congregations in that region. One of the discussions advanced in this study, is that the Anglican Church in Kirinyaga should have concern for Kirinyaga people as the concern of her social gospel. The study articulates a “theology of development” which argues that social gospel that is based on exploitation and oppression of Kirinyaga people cannot be genuine social gospel.


Author(s):  
Miriam Osore ◽  
Brenda Midika

In the last decade, Kenyans became extremely aware of the issue of language and language usage in the country. This awareness led to the recognition of Kiswahili as one of the official languages of Kenya. The Kenyan 2010 Constitution recognizes that the national language of the Republic of Kenya is Kiswahili while the official languages are Kiswahili and English (Chapter 2, Section 7 (2). Previously, English was used as the official language and language of instruction in education sector while Kiswahili was the national language. This paper is anchored around the success of the Canadian and South African models of promoting two or more official languages. The paper seeks to borrow from the language policies of the two nations and make recommendations on how the new language policy can be operationalized in tandem with the spirit of the new constitution promulgated in 2010. The paper seeks to isolate the strengths of bilingual language policy as exemplifed by both Canadian and South African language policy models that can effectively contribute to the promotion of Kiswahili as an official language in Kenya.


Author(s):  
Marissa M. Furaha ◽  
Eunice Nyamasyo ◽  
Joyce I. Wangia

When languages come into contact, there is some degree of cultural contact, however limited. As a result, there is bound to be some negative as well as positive language change. Borrowing, bilingualism, code switching, code mixing, pidgins, creoles, language shift and language death are some of the products of language contact. The focus of this paper is linguistic borrowing as a result of contact between two languages: Lubukusu, an African language spoken by the Babukusu, a sub-tribe of the Luhya ethnic group of Bungoma County, Kenya and English, a foreign language in Kenya, first introduced through European explorers, Christian missionaries, traders and the British colonialist and its resultant effect on the borrowing language.


Author(s):  
Christian Ollivier

This contribution reflects on the use of digital technologies for the teaching and learning of languages. We place our reflection in the paradigm of social co-construction of meaning and knowledge that requires the learner to be the actor of his/her learning. It is on this basis that we present an educational model that combines information processing, interaction and co-construction of knowledge objects in a sociointeractional context that determines the action of the learning person. A concrete example illustrates the theoretical model presented. We conclude our contribution with a presentation of some key skills that the student must develop to implement learning in the context of this model.


Author(s):  
Milburga Atcero

The objective of this paper, which lies within the field of language teaching and especially on the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), was to investigate the potential of ICT in triggering oral language development in the learners of French for Specifc purposes (FSP) at Business School, Makerere University. This paper adopts action research that focuses on the role of technologies deployed in oral technical presentations of macro-tasks such as the use of MS Office. The aim is to enhance French learners’ skills in French for Specifc purposes. The social constructivist or cultural hypotheses posit that social interaction plays an important role in L2 acquisition (French in this case) in FSP classes through a hybrid environment based on macro-tasks performed in distance and presented in class. This research involved identifying and putting into place a learning system for learners of FSP who experienced several difficulties with their spoken French in the learning process. It further posits that learners construct the new language through socially mediated interaction. Subsequently, this involved establishing whether the use of PowerPoint presentation (PPT) would engage learners of FSP in collective actions both in the classroom and in the real world activities. In addition, there was an attempt to establish if relevant web quest materials were likely to enhance oral language acquisition and prompt learners to take responsibility for their own learning.


Author(s):  
George Vikiru

Health is categorized as a security issue as its lack causes individuals to fall ill, be disabled or die. Being deficient of health can therefore disrupt entire populations, economies, and governments. The Copenhagen School proposed the Securitization Theory that could be applied in the identifcation and response to given health threats. Part of the theory’s strategy is the use of effective communication in mobilizing groups that would combat identifed health threats. Other studies have reported the use of 2-D Animation, a type of ICT-based solution, as gaining currency in situations where it is important to get the message through to communities and have it correctly internalized. This paper puts a case for the utilization of 2-D Animation for effective communication in society for health and security. It reports a study that sought to establish whether 2-D Animation was effective in communicating good hygiene practice messages to children in Githurai Location, Kiambu County, Kenya. The study first identifed how good hygiene practice messages were being communicated in the area. An experimental target group was then treated with a 2-D animation developed for study before psychometrics were applied to determine its efficacy in effectively communicating the messages. Data obtained was analyzed using independent t-tests and a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The fndings showed a signifcant difference between the experimental group and the control group thathad not been treated with the animation (t (292) =5.031, p ˂ 0.001). The fndings further indicated a signifcant difference in all the thinking skills of the Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives of the Cognitive Domain except evaluation. The results therefore put a case for 2-D Animation’s consideration as an ICT mitigator for effective communication in society for health and security.


Author(s):  
Jennifer Muchiri

At a time like now when the Kenyan nation is undergoing social, economic, political, cultural, and other forms of turmoil, the society needs stories that would help it rethink its identity(ies). The society needs narratives of renewal and hope, but which at the same time seek to restore its humanity. This paper explores the place of literature and literary writers in the discourse on the identity question through a close reading of the novel Different Colours by Ng’ang’a Mbugua. The paper argues that Different Colours is a modern allegory on and of Kenya and the Kenyan society. The image(s) evoked and provoked by the “different colours” of the title, the artists’ world in the text and the multiplicity of hues and shades that form the painting at the centre of the narrative recall the attempt to imagine contemporary Kenya. Producing a painting is no different from imagining and constructing a nation out of the different hues of races, tribes, religions, and cultures that is a country like Kenya. This paper, therefore, pursues the argument that Different Colours is a modern tale that creatively plays with the possibilities of imagining and moralising about Kenya as a nation formed out of the diversity of identities that are found within her.


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