Browsing by Author "Joseph Mutungi"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Determinants of Climate Action Integration in Health Sector Policy Making in Kenya
    (International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2024-09) Loise Nyanjau; Joseph Mutungi; Zedekiah Sidha
    The increasing threat of climate change poses significant challenges to global health, with Kenya being particularly vulnerable to its impacts. As temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, the country faces a growing burden of climate-related health challenges such as vector-borne diseases, malnutrition, and waterborne illnesses. In response to this threat, Kenya has taken steps to integrate climate action into its health policies, recognizing the urgent need to address the nexus between climate change and health. Despite these efforts, climate action has not been fully integrated into the health sector policies, necessitating this study to establish the barriers thereof. The study used a mixed methods approach and integrated key informant interviews and surveys to collect data, which was then analyzed using various inferential statistics. Statistical techniques such as t-tests, chi-square tests, and regression analyzes were used to identify significant patterns and relationships within the quantitative data. In addition, thematic analysis was used to interpret the qualitative data from the interviews and highlight key themes and insights related to integrating climate action in the health sector. The mixed-methods design followed an explanatory sequential approach, first collecting quantitative data from surveys to provide a comprehensive overview of climate action integration, followed by qualitative interviews to explore these findings in more depth. The target audience consisted of health sector stakeholders, including policymakers, practitioners and climate health experts. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure relevant expertise and perspectives, supplemented by snowball sampling to further broaden the participant base. This comprehensive methodology enabled a detailed examination of the motivations, contexts, progress and barriers impacting the integration of climate action. While existing policy frameworks demonstrate a commitment to addressing climate-related health issues, challenges such as institutional silos, resource disparities, conflicting priorities, and complex stakeholder dynamics emerged as significant barriers to effective integration. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist to enhance integration through targeted actions focused on increasing awareness, improving data availability, strengthening governance structures, and garnering political support at all levels of government.
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    Gender Dynamics and Land Ownership: Implications for Food Security in Migori County
    (International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2024-10) Edward Orwa Onyango; Joseph Mutungi; Rotich Gladys Chepkirui
    Land ownership, a critical factor in food security, is particularly significant in sub-Saharan Africa, where agriculture is the primary source of income and sustenance for many. This study, which focused on Migori County, Kenya, examined the gender dynamics of land ownership and their impact on food security. Anchored on the sociological institutionalism theory, the study used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from a household survey (n=250) with qualitative data from in-depth interviews with key informants (n=20) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) (n=4). The paper delves into how cultural norms, inheritance practices, and a weak legal framework perpetuate these inequalities. The study's findings, which reveal a persistent gender gap in land ownership, with men disproportionately controlling land titles and decision making power, are essential. This patriarchal land system restricts women's access to land, hindering their agricultural productivity and contribution to household food security in particular and human security in general. The study recommends legal reforms to entrench women’s right to land ownership and use, cultural sensitization programs, and promotion of innovative land access models such as joint titling and land leases. These recommendations can potentially make a tangible difference in the lives of women in Migori County, significantly improving their food security.
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    Institutional Mediation of United States Grand Strategy in Defence Policy-Making in Botswana
    (International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2026-06) Thaga L. Steven Thaga; Joseph Mutungi; Henry K. Mwenemeru
    This study examines how the United States grand strategy is mediated within defence policy-making in Botswana. It addresses a key debate in International Relations on whether external strategic actors directly shape defence policy outcomes or whether their influence is filtered through domestic institutional structures in small states. The study advances the argument that grand strategic influence is not linear, but institutionally mediated through domestic political and bureaucratic arrangements. A convergent mixed-methods design is employed, combining survey data from 51 respondents with qualitative interviews from defence and policy actors. The analysis focuses on actors, institutions, and norms to assess how external influence is processed within Botswana’s defence policy system. Findings show strong executive centralization, with the Presidency as the primary decision-making authority, while the Ministry of Defence and the Botswana Defence Force play advisory and implementation roles. The United States influence is present but indirect, operating through defence diplomacy mechanisms such as training, joint exercises, and doctrinal exposure. These channels shape capacity and professional exposure rather than policy direction. Institutionally, Botswana demonstrates moderate to strong administrative capacity, but limited strategic planning depth and an absence of a consolidated defence policy framework. Normatively, civil–military relations are stable and professional, with external norms selectively absorbed rather than fully transforming domestic practices. The study contributes to theory by demonstrating that grand strategy influence is conditionally mediated rather than directly exercised. It introduces institutional mediation as a mechanism explaining how small states filter external strategic pressures while maintaining policy autonomy.
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    National Food Policies and Food Security in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
    (International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR), 2024-08) Asma Diramo Kofa; Kizito Sabala; Joseph Mutungi
    Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) due to a combination of frequent climate shocks such as droughts, floods and livestock diseases. These extremes disrupt traditional ways of life and devastate crops and livestock, leaving communities with little to no food. This paper examined the effect of national food policies and strategies on food security in these fragile regions, specifically focusing on initiatives designed to address the recurring problem. The arguments of the decentralization and institutional capacity theories were used to guide the analysis. Methodologically, the study employed a descriptive survey research design to inform data collection and analysis. The research established that despite government interventions, food insecurity remains prevalent in ASAL regions. The causes of this insecurity are multifaceted, encompassing factors such as climate variability, restricted access to resources and socio-economic disparities. The paper recommends a review of national food policies targeting ASALs to align them with the drivers of food insecurity. The review should include community engagement and stakeholder collaboration to attain effective and sustainable solutions.
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    The Role of Research and Development in the Manufacturing Sector in Fostering Technological Innovation and Economic Security in Ethiopia
    (International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2025-10) Tegegn D. Toge; Joseph Mutungi; Paul Gachanja
    This study investigates the critical nexus between Research and Development (R&D), technological innovation, and economic security within Ethiopia's manufacturing sector. Despite ambitious national plans to become a lower-middle-income country and a regional manufacturing hub, the sector's contribution to GDP remains low, hampered by low productivity, technological stagnation, and weak innovation capabilities. Employing a mixed-methods case study design, this research collected data from 30 senior officials and researchers across five specialized manufacturing R&D institutes and 9 key informant interviews. The findings reveal a significant systemic disconnect: while Ethiopia has established a structured R&D institutional framework, it is severely hampered by chronic underinvestment (only 0.61% of GDP), weak linkages between academia and industry, and a policy implementation gap. Consequently, promising R&D outputs, such as waste valorization technologies and AI-driven quality control prototypes, fail to achieve commercial scale and transformative impact. The study concludes that without strategic interventions to boost funding, foster robust industry, academia and government manufacturing industry R&D institutes collaboration, and create effective commercialization pathways, Ethiopia's manufacturing R&D will continue to fall short of driving the technological innovation necessary for enhanced productivity, competitiveness, and long-term economic security. Recommendations include increasing R&D expenditure to at least 1% of GDP, implementing targeted policy incentives for private-sector involvement, and establishing formalized triple-helix partnerships to bridge the existing innovation chasm.
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    The Role of Research and Development in the Manufacturing Sector in Fostering Technological Innovation and Economic Security in Ethiopia
    (International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2025-10) Tegegn D. Toge; Joseph Mutungi; Paul Gachanja
    This study investigates the critical nexus between Research and Development (R&D), technological innovation, and economic security within Ethiopia's manufacturing sector. Despite ambitious national plans to become a lower-middle-income country and a regional manufacturing hub, the sector's contribution to GDP remains low, hampered by low productivity, technological stagnation, and weak innovation capabilities. Employing a mixed-methods case study design, this research collected data from 30 senior officials and researchers across five specialized manufacturing R&D institutes and 9 key informant interviews. The findings reveal a significant systemic disconnect: while Ethiopia has established a structured R&D institutional framework, it is severely hampered by chronic underinvestment (only 0.61% of GDP), weak linkages between academia and industry, and a policy implementation gap. Consequently, promising R&D outputs, such as waste valorization technologies and AI-driven quality control prototypes, fail to achieve commercial scale and transformative impact. The study concludes that without strategic interventions to boost funding, foster robust industry, academia and government manufacturing industry R&D institutes collaboration, and create effective commercialization pathways, Ethiopia's manufacturing R&D will continue to fall short of driving the technological innovation necessary for enhanced productivity, competitiveness, and long-term economic security. Recommendations include increasing R&D expenditure to at least 1% of GDP, implementing targeted policy incentives for private-sector involvement, and establishing formalized triple-helix partnerships to bridge the existing innovation chasm.
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    Urbanization-Triggered Industrial Development in Kenya’s Peri Urban Areas and Its Implications on Food Security: The Case of Kiambu County
    (International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2025-09) James Kaba; Joseph Mutungi; Gladys Rotich
    Urbanization presents significant challenges and transformations in rural development and food security, particularly in rapidly expanding peri-urban regions. This study examines what urbanization-triggered industrial development means for food security in Kiambu County, Kenya, which neighbors the national capital city, Nairobi. Using Neo-Malthusian theory and a pragmatic research approach, a mix of qualitative and survey-based data was collected and analyzed in responding to the study questions. The study sought to evaluate how industrial expansion as an element of urbanization influenced food production, distribution and the local food system. From a sampling frame comprising of farmers, agricultural workers, urban planners and officials from the government drawn from Kiambu Town, Kikuyu and Ruiru subcounties, a sample size of 400 was determined using Slovin’s formula. Purposive and proportionate simple random sampling techniques were used to share the sample across the subcounties. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics while the qualitative data set was analyzed using content analysis. The study established an 85% increase in conversion of farmland into industries over the last 20 years. The increase in industrialization had contributed to a decline in food production as reported by 65% of the respondents as more people left farming to work in the industries. Land-use transformations caused by urbanization-triggered industrial development show that fewer farms are involved in agriculture and old food systems are being replaced. The study points out that local realities differ greatly from the national rules set in the form of zoning and greening policies. It recommends to policy makers and development experts that improving land management, city planning and developing urban farming will improve food security and put peri-urban industrial growth on a sustainable path.