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Community Radio as a Platform for Social Inclusion: Examining the Role of Sogoot FM in Amplifying the Voices of the Ogiek Community in Nakuru County, Kenya
(School of Communication and Computer Studies – Master of Arts in Communication, 2026-11)
Mecha, Joseph Tengeya
The Ogiek community in Kenya has historically experienced political, social and economic exclusion, because mainstream media has provided limited representation of their perspectives. Community radio offers an important platform for promoting social inclusion by amplifying marginalized voices, fostering dialogue, supporting advocacy and preserving indigenous culture. This study examined the role of Sogoot FM in promoting social inclusion among the Ogiek community in Nakuru County. Specifically, it assessed how the station’s programming amplifies community voices, facilitates rights-based advocacy and the operational challenges affecting its effectiveness. The study was guided by Development Media Theory and Participatory Communication Theory, which emphasize on the role of media in development, community participation and dialogue. A descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods research design was adopted. The target population comprised members of the Ogiek community in Mariashoni and Nessuit, Sogoot FM personnel, community elders and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Purposive sampling was used to select 27 key stakeholders, while cluster sampling produced a sample of 384 community members. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while interview data were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. The findings revealed that Sogoot FM plays a significant role in promoting information sharing, cultural preservation, social inclusion and community dialogue through participatory programming. The station also contributes to rights-based advocacy by increasing awareness of community rights, encouraging civic participation and providing a platform for marginalized voices. However, financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, poor signal coverage, limited technical capacity and low community participation reduce its effectiveness and sustainability. The study contributes to theory and knowledge by demonstrating how participatory community radio can connect community voice, social inclusion, and rights-based advocacy, thereby extending the application of Development Media and Participatory Communication Theories in marginalized indigenous contexts. The study recommends that these theories be further applied and tested in other marginalized community media contexts to enhance their explanatory relevance. It also recommends increased funding, improved infrastructure, digital inclusion, staff capacity building, and stronger community engagement. Further research should examine the long-term effects of community radio on social inclusion and rights-based advocacy in other marginalized communities.
Household and Governance Factors Influencing Sustained Access to Piped Water Service from Community-Managed Supply in Nakuru County, Kenya
(School of Education and Social Sciences – Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies, 2026-11)
Njoroge, Joel Kinyanjui
Access to sustainable and safe water remains a significant challenge in many low- and middle-income countries, especially for rural and marginalized populations where centralized systems often fail to serve. Community-managed water systems have emerged as viable alternatives, especially in Kenya. The study aimed to analyze several factors affecting household sustained access to community-managed water systems, including household socio-economic status, livelihood use, water service convenience, water quality, and governance practices. Its specific objectives were; to analyze the influence of household socio-economic factors on sustained access to piped water from community-managed water supply, to assess the influence of access to water for livelihood on sustained access to piped water from community-managed water supply, to examine the influence of water service convenience on sustained access to piped water from community-managed water supply, to evaluate the influence of quality of water service on sustained access to piped water from community-managed water supply.to assess the moderating effect of governance practices on the relationship between household and governance factors and sustained access to piped water from community-managed water supply. The analysis was guided by capability theory, socio-technical systems theory, community-based natural resource management, and common pool resource theory, which provided a framework for understanding the factors affecting sustained access to water service. The research guided by pragmatism philosophy adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. The study sample comprised 135 respondents from a population of 696 for the quantitative surveys, and 60 informants for FGDs. Quantitative data analysis involved descriptive and logistic regression, while qualitative data evaluation involved thematic analysis. The study found that socio-economic status, water access for livelihood, water service convenience, and water quality significantly (p≤0.05 influenced household sustained access to community-managed water systems. Over and above that, water governance factors significantly moderated livestock keeping (OR = 1.79), availability of service (OR = 8.63), and water quality (OR = 2.41). The findings suggest that pro-poor subsidies and clearer governance frameworks are needed to improve the sustainability of community-managed water systems.
Capacity Building and Its Influence on Leadership Development of Sunday School Teachers in the Anglican Church of Kenya, Nairobi Diocese
(School of Business and Leadership – Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership, 2026-11)
Wanjiru, Joan Watiri
Sunday school ministry within the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) plays a vital role in children's spiritual formation and biblical education. Despite training programs implemented by ACK Nairobi Diocese, limited evidence exists on how capacity building translates into leadership development. Therefore, this study examined how capacity building influences leadership development among Sunday school teachers. The study was guided by the following research objectives: to determine the influence of stakeholder engagement on leadership development among Sunday school teachers, to examine the influence of financial sustainability on leadership development among Sunday school teachers, to assess the influence of skills on leadership development among Sunday school teachers, and to establish the influence of efficiency on leadership development among Sunday school teachers of ACK churches in Nairobi Diocese. The target population comprised all Sunday school teachers serving in 77 ACK Nairobi Diocese parishes. Stratified random sampling selected 268 teachers across nine archdeaconries using proportionate allocation. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires, cleaned, edited, and coded. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, mode, mean, percentages and standard deviations. SPSS V.28 analyzed data, while regression analysis examined capacity building and leadership development. The study may benefit stakeholders in the Sunday school ministry, namely teachers and children, as well as ACK Nairobi Diocese leadership, including the bishop, archdeacons, and diocesan board members, as they formulate policies and strategies for children's ministry development. The major findings of the study include the existence of a statistically significant relationship between capacity building (stakeholder engagement, financial sustainability, skills, and efficiency) and leadership development. Financial stability in the Sunday school ministry in ACK churches of Nairobi diocese is a major concern due to inadequate finances. Therefore, the budget allocated to Sunday school programs should be increased, necessary supplies provided, and financial support offered to Sunday school teachers.
Role of the Mothers’ Union in Mitigating Teenage Pregnancies in the Anglican Church, Diocese of Maseno South, Kisumu County
(School of Theology – Master of Theology, 2026-11)
Rowa, Janet Atieno Oyugi
Teenage pregnancy remains a socio-economic, pastoral, and educational challenge in Kenya, especially in the rural and informal settlements. In Kisumu, and specifically within the Anglican Church, Diocese of Maseno South, increasing cases of poverty, school dropout, early marriages, and sexual and reproductive health education challenges among teenagers have raised concern among schools, families, churches, Non-Governmental Organizations, and government agencies. The study examined the role of the Mothers’ Union in mitigating teenage pregnancies in the Anglican Church, Diocese of Maseno South, using a gender and theological perspective. The study was guided by the African Women's Theology and Afrocentric Womanist Paradigm. The research adopted a descriptive survey design using a qualitative approach. The target population included Mothers’ Union leaders, clergy, Mothers’ Union members, and teenagers within the Diocese of Maseno South. Data collection methods included semi-structured interview questions, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The study examined theological principles underpinning the Mothers’ Union’s strategies and interventions in mitigating teenage pregnancies within the Diocese of Maseno South, evaluated gender dynamics influencing teenage pregnancies, and examined the effectiveness of the Mothers’ Union’s programs such as mentorship, Biblical teachings, economic empowerment, sexual education and counselling, among others. Existing studies indicate that the Mothers’ Union play a vital role in family life, social welfare and women’s economic empowerment within the Diocese of Maseno South. The findings are expected to contribute to the pastoral ministry, theological discourse, gender studies, and formulation of policies on adolescent reproductive health and church-based interventions. The findings reveal that the MU contributes significantly through spiritual formation, mentorship, and advocacy against gender-based violence. However, its effectiveness is constrained by cultural taboos surrounding sexuality, limited engagement of male counterparts, and inadequate integration of comprehensive sexuality education. The study advocates for a contextual theological approach that integrates Christian ethics with gender-sensitive and practical reproductive health strategies. It concludes by recommending inclusive, holistic interventions that involve both genders and strengthen collaboration between church and community stakeholders. The study further proposed recommendations for strengthening the church’s participation in addressing teenage pregnancies through gender sensitive pastoral care approaches, contextualised theology, and gender inclusive programs.
Strategic Drivers and Sustainability of Family-Owned Supermarkets: A Case of Kiambu County, Kenya
(School of Business and Leadership – Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration and Management (Strategic Management), 2026-11)
Ngene, Jane Wangari
The retail sector in Kenya, particularly family-owned supermarkets, plays a critical role in the economy. However, their sustainability is threatened by challenges such as poor management skills, inadequate succession planning, weak governance, inefficient supply chain management, and unfavourable external environmental factors. The general objective of this study was to investigate the effect of strategic drivers on the sustainability of family-owned supermarkets in Kiambu County, Kenya. Specifically, the study assessed the effect of management skills, succession planning, governance, and supply chain management on sustainability, and examined the moderating effect of external environmental factors on the strategic drivers-sustainability relationship. The study was anchored on Transformational Leadership Theory, Stewardship Theory, Upper Echelon Theory, and the Resource-Based View, and adopted a pragmatist research philosophy with a mixed-methods design that integrated quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study used a cross-sectional survey design and stratified random sampling to select 183 respondents from family-owned supermarkets registered with the Kiambu County Licensing Department; data were collected through structured questionnaires complemented by in-depth key informant interviews. The reliability and validity of the research instrument were established, and diagnostic tests confirmed the model was free of multicollinearity and heteroscedasticity concerns. Quantitative data were analyzed using structural equation modelling to test the direct and moderating relationships, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically to complement the quantitative findings. The study found that the strategic drivers had positive influence on sustainability of family-owned supermarkets; Management skills had a statistically significant positive effect on sustainability (β = 0.148, t = 6.012, p = 0.016); Succession planning had a statistically significant positive effect on sustainability (β = 0.138, t = 2.458, p = 0.015); Governance had the strongest individual positive effect on sustainability (β = 0.652, t = 11.919, p < .001) and supply chain management had a strong positive and statistically significant effect on sustainability (β = 0.631, t = 11.349, p < .001). Additionally, external environmental factors had a negative and significant moderating effect (β = −.176; t = −2.885; p = .004). The study concluded that strategic drivers contributed positively to family-owned business sustainability, even after accounting for the moderating effect of external environmental factors. The study recommends that family-owned supermarkets prioritize governance formalization, strengthen supply chain resilience, invest in management competency development, and establish formalized succession planning frameworks, while policymakers design regulatory environments that minimize compliance burdens while supporting long-term institutional capacity building. The study generates new empirical knowledge by establishing that governance is the single most powerful driver of sustainability. The study also contributes new knowledge by documenting the negative moderating effect of external environmental factors on the strategic drivers-sustainability relationship.

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