Journal of Environmental Sustainability Advancement Research

AN ASSESSMENT OF RELEVANT THEOLOGICAL ISSUES WITH REGARD TO THE EN-COUNTER BETWEEN AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION AND CHRISTIANITY IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, MERU COUNTY

DR HELLEN KAGWIRIA ORINA — 2026-08-02

The Methodist church in Kenya (MCK) has been in Meru County since 1912 and there is evidence to suggest that African Methodist converts have continued to stick to some Afri-can traditional religious beliefs. The main objective of this study was to address the rele-vant theological issues following the encounter between African Traditional Religion (ATR) and Christianity in the Methodist Church. The study was informed by Emile Durk-heim’s functionalism theory which is a sociological view of religion emphasizing its use-fulness to society. The theory posits that what has no function ceases to exist yet some as-pects of ATR have been integrated in worship among MCK adherents thereby posing rele-vant theological issues. Six churches were purposively selected to participate in the study. The data was collected using questionnaires, structured interviews, checklist and church observation schedules and it was analyzed qualitatively. On the basis of the findings, the study recommended that Christian life and doctrines should be reformulated in the patterns of each and every culture in order to make Christianity durable. The modern Christian leaders should strive to make Christianity strong and permanent by allowing African and Christian culture to blend so as to meet the spiritual needs of Christians and give solutions to some of their problems. The findings of the study will contribute to the current academ-ic concern for evolving an African Christian theology.

HOW DOES EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION CONTRIBUTE TO STAFF TURN-OVER INTENTIONS IN A UNIVERSITY SETTING?

Dr.Andrew T.Muguna — 2026-08-02

The study aimed to establish the effect of employee representation on academic staff turno-ver intentions in chartered universities in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Universal-istic Theory, the Harvard HRM model, and the Unfolding Model of the Voluntary Turnover model. A positivist research philosophy guided the study and used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The study population was 17210 academic staff in chartered univer-sities in Kenya, from whom a sample of 364 academic staff was drawn. A multistage sam-pling technique was used. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings were presented using tables, charts, and graphs. The results revealed that employee representation significantly negative-ly influenced academic staff turnover intentions in universities in Kenya. The study's find-ings offer insight into the situational positioning of employee representations in influencing academic staff turnover intentions in Kenyan universities and managerial and epistemologi-cal insights for managers and scholars in HRM, respectively. The findings further contribute to policy development on employee representation and retention.

FRUGALITY: THE MISSING PIECE IN INNOVATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID JIGSAW PUZZLE?

Patricia G. Mwangi — 2026-08-02

Given, the changing business landscape globally, innovation is increasingly getting focus as a panacea for economic downturn. However, innovation cannot be a one size fits all solution across the globe since different economies operate at different levels. To achieve economic development, innovation must take into account the constraints within which this strategy is pursued. The bottom of the pyramid consists of people who live on less than $2/day who are cross cutting in terms of cultures, literacy, capabilities and needs and to profit from these markets, focus must be placed on total value delivery. This creates an innovation opportuni-ty that requires reframing the ‘normal’ rules of the game and challenging core assumptions. Innovation at the bottom of the pyramid requires commitment to awareness, access, afforda-bility and availability as fundamental constraints for creating business models. Specifically, business models in these markets capture total value through high volumes and low margins unlike those higher up the pyramid. This article presents a conceptual discussion on how firms at the bottom of the pyramid economies can exploit frugal innovation to overcome constraints within these economies. Through analysis of literature, the article argues that the scarcity of resources at the bottom of the pyramid can confer frugality advantages. To cap-ture value from frugal innovation, firms must take into account the specific constraints fac-ing the firm and the market. This requires recognizing that bottom of the pyramid markets are dissimilar with different challenges and so frugal innovation must be tailored to the chal-lenges they intend to solve in order to be sustainable. This article is informative to managers and policy makers pursuing innovation in these markets. It also provides a foundation to strategy and entrepreneurship scholars in reviewing the conditions within which innovation captures value especially in the bottom of the pyramid markets.

EVALUATION OF SEED QUALITY OF JUTE MALLOW (Corchorus olitorius) IN SIMLAW SEED COMPANY AND COUNTIES OF KEIYO, UASIN GISHU, NANDI, TRANS NZOIA AND WEST POKOT

David Kiprono Lelei Rutto — 2026-08-02

Production of high quality seeds helps to increase crop yields. Currently, there are no ade-quate high quality seeds of Jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius) from breeders to farmers, re-sulting in farmers using re-cycled planting seed whose quality is not assured. This has re-sulted in low leaf yields due to many reasons, one of them being poor quality seeds. Yields of crop has remained low 2-4 tons/ha/annum compared to expected yield of 5-8 tons/ha/ annum. At planting farmers use 7 kg/ha seed instead of recommended 5 kg/ha. Though Ken-ya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) is focusing her effort on generation of appropriate varieties of the vegetable, little is being done to examine seed used by farmers for quality. The objective of this study was to examine seed quality of Jute mal-low used by farmers at planting. A field survey was conducted using structured question-naires in Simlaw Seed Company and in five Counties including Keiyo, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, and West Pokot. A sample size of 500 farmers were visited and interviewed by use of stratified random sampling method and seed simultaneously collected. Seed quality tests, data collection and analyzes for analytical purity, germination and seed vigor was done as per ISTA (2004) protocol. Results showed high seed analytical purity from Simlaw seeds (99%) and Uasin Gishu (99%), indicating superior quality seed (above 98%). Lowest purity was from West Pokot (95%). Seed from Simlaw had 89% germination, while farm-ers’ seeds from Nandi had 37%. Germination from three Counties of Keiyo (57%), West Pokot (49%) and Nandi (37%) did not meet seed quality standard (above 60%). Electrical conductivity (E.C) results showed highest seed vigor was from Simlaw (2.3 µScm^-1g^-1) and lowest from Nandi (8.2 µScm^-1g^-1). It was concluded that planting seed used by farmers were of poor physiological quality. This study recommends farmers be trained on quality seed production.

POST-COVID19 INTERVENTIONS BY THE FRENCH EMBASSY TOWARDS ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN THE TEACHING OF FLE IN KENYA

Thang'wa M. K — 2026-08-02

Covid-19 broke out worldwide in early 2020 and no country and its sectors were spared. Even here in Kenya, the French sub-sector saw disruption in its operations with losing al-most a year of teaching and learning. To salvage the situation, the French Embassy in Kenya tried to come up with interventions to overcome and stem the effects of this ravag-ing disease. With physical learning being suspended, the Embassy implemented remote learning to avoid professional isolation of teachers of French as well as to deal with the new normal. With this in mind, this study desires to demonstrate interventions put in place in the French sub-sector to circumvent the ravages of the pandemic where teachers of French were at risk of professional isolation. The study seeks to investigate what the stakeholders in the French sub-sector did to overcome the negativity of covid-19 hence return to normal despite the aftermath of the pandemic. This study has been a library re-search with the researchers doing qualitative research and gathering information from emails and reports obtained from the French Embassy as well as from the author’s own personal experiences. As a result of the investigations done, the author discovered that the French Embassy in Kenya put in practical measures by implementing various practical activities to deal with the pandemic leading to a smooth transition to normalcy after the effects of the disease had subsided. In conclusion, the results of the study show that the Embassy and its various organs have been of help to the Government of Kenya (GoK) in helping the French sub-sector recover academically and economically in the post Covid-19 era. This study is not exhaustive. Covid-19 also led to job losses in the French sub-sector. Indeed other studies can be done to investigate the effects of Covid-19 in other areas for instance the psycho-social sphere of the French sub-sector.

EFFECTIVENESS OF PRISON DECONGESTION PROGRAMS IN KENYA: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

Mosoti D. — 2026-08-02

This paper analyses prison decongestion programs in Kenya and their effects on prison populations in the country. The analysis is based on primary data collected from a sample of 266 prison officers and 16 probation officers. The analysis shows that overall, prison decongestion programs contribute to a reduction of prison population. Based on the evi-dence generated, the paper recommends adoption of community-based sentences especial-ly on petty crime offenders to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

THE ROLE OF DIRECT FINANCIAL REWARDS ON EMPLOYEE JOB SATIS-FACTION AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN UP-PER EASTERN REGION, KENYA

Douglas kimathi kamwara — 2026-08-02

Managers are concerned about human resource management outcomes such as job satisfac-tion, which is affected by direct financial rewards. The purpose of this study was to deter-mine the influence of direct financial rewards on employee job satisfaction among healthcare workers in level-five public hospitals in the upper eastern region of Kenya. The hypothesis of the study was derived from the objective. The study was guided by a cross-sectional descriptive survey design and was anchored on the incentives theory and equity theory. The population consisted of 1389 healthcare workers in level five public hospitals in the upper eastern region from whom a sample of 301 was drawn. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire ad-ministered through the drop-and-pick later method. Descriptive statistics were used to sum-marize the data into means and standard deviations. Inferential statistics employed correla-tion and regression analysis to test hypotheses and draw conclusions. A pilot study was car-ried out amongst 10 respondents from kerugoya level-five hospitals in kirinyaga county, Kenya. The data was presented using tables, charts, and graphs. Reliability was established by the use of Cronbachs' Alpha coefficient. The study's findings established that direct fi-nancial rewards had a significantly positive influence on employee job satisfaction. The finding of the study offer insight to HR managers, scholars, and practitioners\ on the situa-tional positioning of direct financial rewards. The findings further contribute to theory, poli-cy development, and HRM practices. The research had a few limitations; the selection of the study variables was not exhaustive as it did not cover the role of nonfinancial rewards on job satisfaction. Future research should address these limitations by including additional varia-bles, and also using a longitudinal research.

DIETARY MODIFICATIONS FOR MANIPULATION OF POULTRY’S GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT, WHICH WAY FORWARD IN AFRICAN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Kahindi Roseline Kafedha — 2026-08-02

The digestive tract of chicken is sterile at hatching, however, its starts gaining microbes as the bird feeds. Unlike mammals, birds would not receive colostrum or simple diet like milk first before taking solid feed. The intestinal activity undergoes major changes in passage rate, nitrogen and starch digestibility from day 0 to 14. Therefore, good feeding would influ-ence the bird at this critical stage and later in their productive period. Microbial colonization in poultry is impacted by several factors such as diet fed, production system and breed. The intestinal microbial colonization could be by pathogenic colonization which affects poul-try’s health as well as cause villi atrophy hence less nutrients are absorbed. Since poultry feed costs the farmer almost two thirds of the productive expenses, researchers have put a lot of emphasis on dietary manipulation to improve nutrient availability. Feed additives such as antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics and enzymes have been used to positively influence poultry’s microbial population. Further, feed processing technologies including changes in grinding procedures, expansion, extrusion and pelleting may be used to modify the structure of the ingredients and increase nutrient availability. The nutrient type and content would al-so influence the type of microbe found in poultry’s gastrointestinal tract. This paper seeks to review the several dietary modifications options available for poultry production and their applicability to African farmers and consumers.