DISCOVER, READ & SHARE
The Institutional Repository is a digital hub for scholarly communication and knowledge dissemination which serves as a vital resource for researchers, students and the wider academic community. Content comprises of research publications, theses, conference proceedings and much more.
Recent Submissions
Detection of Pregnancy Associated Malaria Among Pregnant Women as a Strategy to Improve Mother Child Health Outcomes in Bungoma County, Kenya
(Mount Kenya University, 2023-11-08) NKONGOLO ,JOSEPH MUKALA; Dr. Dominic Mogere, PHD
Malaria is caused by a protozoa of genus Plasmodium and remains a major public health burden in the Sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya the prevalence varies between 6.1 to 37% with harmful consequences to both the mother and her baby, including adverse pregnancy outcomes such low birth weight, high morbidity and mortality. However, effective antenatal strategies for improving maternal and child health outcomes through the prevention, early detection and treatment of malaria are still a challenge in resourceconstrained settings. The objective of this study was to detect malaria and to determine its influence on the maternal and the child health outcomes. The response rate was 97%. Malaria test was conducted either via microscopy or rapid test before enrollment, then the cohort splits into malaria positive and negative. The sample size calculation was based on the prevalence of malaria in the unexposed group versus the prevalence of malaria in the exposed group according to the previous studies. Simple random sampling technique was used to enroll participants aged between 18-49 years and having about 16 weeks of gestation. The follow up period ranged from the first antenatal visit (March 2022) and delivery (December 2022). Permission was sought from relevant institutions and informed consent from the participants. Prerequisites on training, pre-testing of tools and standard operating procedures were satisfied. Categorical and outcomes data were analyzed using SPSS 27 and R plotting. Qualitative data were performed via Nvivo computer programs categorized under major themes and sub-themes. Chi-square, Fischer’s exact and relative risk were used for bi-variate analysis at a p-value less or equal 0.05 (95%). The relative risk was 0.999, confidence level of 0.926-1.077. The prevalence of low birth weight was 4.6% with 6 cases of which 3 (4.5%) in the negative cohort and 3 (4.7%) in the positive cohort. Anaemic pregnant women were 41 (31.5%), HIV were 5 (3,8%), pre-eclampsia were 5 (3.8%), gestational diabetes were 2 (1.5%). Otherwise, majority of the participants were aged 18–25 years, were primigravida, were married, had secondary school level, earned between 20-30 thousand shillings, were resident in rural areas, and were in their second trimester. Marital status, gestational age and area of residence were associated with malaria but were not risk factors with a pvalue less than 0.001, 0.001 and 0.028. A panel of sixteen proteins in malaria positive cohort, and six others in malaria negative cohort was identified after computing metadata sample using analysis of variance, t-test and adjusted Bonferroni with a relative influence of biomarkers varying from a mean difference of 2.856690795 to 0.217887462 in malaria positive cohort against -1.185322211 to 0.1622524175 in malaria negative cohort. There was difference in both cohorts with regard to knowledge of side effects p-value <0.01, different doses p-value <0.012 and prior information p-value < 0.003. The results revealed that birth cohort with malaria did not result in significant low birth weight. Therefore, this study recommends to conduct further research for a cost-effective test from the discovered novel biomarkers, which can be useful for low resource settings as an alternative option.
E-Assessment Proctoring Using Artificial Intelligence Technologies: A Review of Practices and Challenges in the African Context
(Mount Kenya University, 2026) Mogoi,Oganda Bartholomew; Kamau,John; Ongus,Raymond
The rapid expansion of e-learning across African higher education institutions has accelerated the adoption of electronic
assessments (e-assessments), intensifying concerns regarding examination integrity. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based proctoring
technologies have emerged as a promising approach to mitigating academic dishonesty through automated monitoring, biometric
authentication, and behavioral analytics. However, the effectiveness, ethical implications, and contextual suitability of these
technologies within the African educational landscape remain underexplored. This review synthesizes empirical and conceptual
studies on AI-enabled e-assessment proctoring in Africa to examine prevailing practices, challenges, and research gaps. Guided by
the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search of major academic databases identified 250 relevant studies published between
2015 and 2024, of which 25 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The findings reveal a growing
adoption of AI techniques, including facial recognition, keystroke dynamics, gaze tracking, and anomaly detection, alongside
persistent challenges related to internet instability, algorithmic bias, data privacy concerns, system scalability, and institutional
readiness. Notably, there is limited empirical evaluation of mobile-first, low-resource AI proctoring frameworks tailored to African
contexts. Future research should prioritize the development of lightweight, privacy-preserving AI models, incorporate participatory
and inclusive design approaches, and align technological implementations with region-specific regulatory and policy frameworks
to support sustainable and ethical e-assessment practices.
Analysis of business growth strategies on performance of small medium enterprises in Kiambu County, Kenya
(Mount Kenya University, 2025-07) Beatrice Wanjiku Kinyua; Dr. Evans Nyamboga
Performance of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Kiambu County, Kenya, was investigated in this study in relation to business growth methods. SMEs are well known for their role in generating jobs and advancing the economy as a whole. The study focused on four key growth strategies commonly used by SMEs: market penetration, market development, product development, and diversification. The objective was to determine how each of these strategies influenced SME performance, assessed through indicators such as profitability, market share, customer satisfaction, and business growth. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. Data were collected from a sample of 370 SMEs through structured questionnaires administered to business owners and senior managers responsible for key functional areas including marketing, operations, finance, and strategic planning. Stratified random sampling was used to ensure fair representation across different sectors. In addition to examining the internal strategies, the study explored the role of external environmental factors such as county government policies, access to financing, and infrastructure in shaping the effectiveness of business growth strategies. The data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The reliability of the research instrument was confirmed with a Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.8. Regression analysis revealed that the four business growth strategies collectively explained 61 percent of the variation in SME performance (R² = 0.61). Market development, with a coefficient of 0.071 and a t-value of 2.087, showed the strongest positive influence on SME performance. Product development had a coefficient of 0.062 and a t-value of 2.152, while market penetration had a coefficient of 0.044 and a t-value of 2.925. Diversification demonstrated a modest but statistically significant influence with a coefficient of 0.023 and a t-value of 2.000. Descriptive findings indicated that a majority of SMEs in Kiambu County actively apply business growth strategies to improve performance and competitiveness. Many respondents highlighted the importance of innovation, customer loyalty programs, strategic pricing, and exploring new market segments as essential elements for success. Firms that consistently launched new or enhanced products and engaged in targeted marketing campaigns reported stronger customer retention and increased brand visibility. SMEs that expanded into related markets or adjusted their offerings based on local demand were better positioned to cope with competition and changing customer needs. The study was conducted in compliance with ethical research standards, with approvals obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of Mount Kenya University and the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI). The findings offer valuable insights for SME owners, policymakers, and support institutions seeking to strengthen the sustainability and performance of SMEs. The study provides evidence-based recommendations to support strategic decision-making, guide policy development, and promote long-term SME growth in Kiambu County and other similar regions.
Green Synthesis of Indium Tin Oxide Nanoparticles from Herbal Extracts for Photocatalytic Dye Degradation
(Mount Kenya University, 2025) Osemba, Martin; Maghanga, Justin; Ojwang, Loice
Increased emission of harmful and non-biodegradable dyes from industries poses threats to
living organisms, thus the need for sustainable effluent treatment methods. This study
embarked on a green approach to synthesize indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles applying
herbal extracts of the leaves to act as bio-reducing and stabilizing agents. This bio-assisted
synthesis discourages the utilization of chemicals that could be toxic. The ITO nanoparticles
synthesized showed a cubic bixbyite crystalline structures having been successfully
incorporated Sn⁴⁺ ions the lattice In₂O₃, confirmed by XRD analysis. TEM revealed nanoscale
and quasi-spherical components with some agglomeration attributed of surface interactions
by the phytochemical. FTIR analysis indicated retention of bio-organic functional groups in
the regions of 3200 - 3500 cm-1
corresponding to the O-H stretching vibrations of phenolic
compounds and alcohol groups. At 1630-1650 cm-1 have C=O stretching vibrations of amide
and carbonyl groups while peaks at 1380-1450 cm-1
are aromatic C-C stretching and C-N
vibrations that partially interacted with the nanoparticle surface thus contributed to an
enhanced stability on the surface and interfacial transfer of charge. From the Optical studies
there was an improved absorption of light and a modification of band gap of 3.83 eV, where
PL analysis suggested a suppression in the recombination of electron–hole. The performance
of photocatalytic activity by the green-synthesized indium tin oxide nanoparticles was
determined utilizing MB dye model by light irradiation. These nanoparticles illustrated
efficiency in dye degradation by pseudo-first-order kinetics, showing enhanced performance
attribution of increased SA, oxygen vacancies, Sn doping, and bio-induced defect surfaces.
The proposed mechanism involved the production of reactive oxygen, OH and superoxide
species, resulting in the mineralization of dye components. Overall, this study highlighted the
potentiality in extract-mediated green synthesis as an alternative path in production efficiency
of ITO photo-catalysts and by extension their applications other than just conventionally
optoelectronic uses for the environmentally friendly effluent removal technologies.
Silver Nanoparticle Elecrocatalyst Embedded onto Indium Tin Oxide Electrodes for Degradation of Azo Dyes
(Mount Kenya University, 2026-01-15) Osemba, Martin Ouma; Karenga, Samuel; Keru, Godffrey
The research was conducted to establish the effectiveness of silver
nanoparticles embedded in indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film conducting
material in causing the textile azo dye effluent degradation. The percentages of
azo dye degradation were as follows: 68.4%, 72.5% and 93.1% using
electrocoagulation, ITO and ITO-AgNPs coupled electrodes, respectively. The
results obtained from the two-factor ANOVA with replication indicated a
significant difference (p = 0.0024) when the silver nanoparticles embedded on
indium tin oxide electrodes were utilised in the degradation of these azo dyes
in the effluent samples. The colour removal was 99.97% showing that the
optimised process was effective and efficient in the degradation of these azo
dyes in the textile wastewaters.
,
Discover
Top 5 Subjects
- Education 643
- Management 109
- Organization 108
- school of education 104
- Educational planning 93
Top 5 Authors