MAPE Theses and Dissertations

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Key ethical values of successful family-owned businesses in Lagos, Nigeria
(Strathmore University, 2014) Ogbechie, Rose Kambili
Family businesses are a common business model and constitute more than 70 percent of the overall businesses of many countries. They contribute to the economic values of nations in terms of growth in GDP and employment creations. Family businesses, especially those in the emerging markets such as Nigeria, have been affected by the challenges of growth and long term sustainability. While some of the family businesses in Nigeria have succeeded and are still growing strong, many others have not managed to survive beyond the first generation. Some scholars have attributed the collapse of some family owned firms to not practising ethical values that they claim negates the sustainability of family owned businesses. However, others have argued otherwise. Thus, this dissertation examines the fundamental ethical values of successful family-owned businesses in Lagos, Nigeria and the relationship between key ethical values and the success of family owned firms. Based on extant literature, a conceptual framework and a set of hypotheses were developed. The ethical values considered in the research include respect for the human person, integrity, commitment, prudence, courage, justice, transparency and industriousness. Furthermore, ethnicity (geographic zone) is presented as the intervening variable to establish if there is a relationship between ethnicity and business performance. Family business success for the purpose of this study is defined by longevity, the practise of ethical values and sales revenue. Performance was measured by sales revenue. Quantitative data sourced from questionnaires, administered to the owners or founders of 20 family businesses, was analyzed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The study in an attempt to enhance the validity complemented the outcome of the questionnaires with interviews of CEOs of 10 family-owned businesses. The results indicate that integrity is a key ethical value that mostly account for the success of family businesses in Nigeria. It further shows that integrity, as a key ethical value, is practiced by keeping organisational promises to customers and other stakeholders. Furthermore, the study establishes the fact that, integrity is positively and significantly related to the performance of family businesses in Nigeria. In addition, the study reveals that though ethical values such as commitment, prudence, respect, justice and transparency are positively related to the performance of family business, they are insignificant. Courage and industriousness were found to be inversely related to the performance of family businesses. The study concludes that family businesses that practice these ethical values are more likely to be successful and remain in business than those who do not, therefore, it recommends that family businesses should practice these ethical values with more emphasis on integrity, and entrench them in the code and ethics of family businesses.
Fernando Inciarte on Substance: His interpretation of Aristotle’s Theory
(Strathmore University, 2014-06) Byarugaba, Jennifer K.
Fernando Inciarte Armiñán (1929 – 2000 AD) was a contemporary Philosopher, cultured in an incomparably profound and ample manner not only in traditional and modern, but also in classical and actual Philosophy. Of interest to this study is his Aristotelian interpretation of substance as outlined in Aristotle’s Metaphysics, Books IV and VII-IX. What is primary substance and what is a subject? What may be predicated of a subject? Does this not categorise it as an accident? Can there be accidents of accidents? Regarding substance, he claims that it is because of a substance that a subject is what it is, both concretely and abstractly. He affirms that primary substance is the ultimate subject that has the fullness of the thing to be known. This ontological study regarding the theory of substance is of a hermeneutical nature. The researcher deals with Inciarte’s original works. The so-called “Substance Books” of the Metaphysics, Books VII to IX, are of primary interest because it is in these books that Aristotle concentrates on the meaning of substance and they therefore serve as a major and primary reference. Aristotle is of interest to this study on two counts. First, he provides the traditional, fundamental interpretation of substance as it is or should be. His work was greatly complemented by studies done by St. Thomas Aquinas and so reference to him is made for better comprehension purposes. And second, it is Aristotle that Inciarte interprets regarding the theory of substance. One of the most important results of this study is the attention that Inciarte draws once again to proper definition and understanding of terms in clearly defined boundaries. For example, he raises the important issue of knowing how to distinguish between being καθ’αὺτò (or just necessarily) and being essentially or by definition in order to avoid a kind of infinite regress that results from errors that have occurred due to wrong application, use and understanding of this term. Inciarte’s way of understanding of substance and his flexibility in metaphysical interpretation has not as yet been recorded nor has it been systematically studied. This therefore serves as a pioneer study. It intends to make his understanding of substance, be made known in a way that is accessible and understandable as well as provide an analysis of the origin of the epistemological differences that are associated with the different interpretations of substance. He himself said: You never have a ‘finished work’ in Philosophy but one can always propound philosophical truth in different ways without changing it.
Mentoring at Strathmore University: Towards Companion Friendship
(Strathmore University, 2014-06) Muigua, Thomas R.
This dissertation is concerned with mentoring at Strathmore University. The study developed and tested the hypothesis that mentoring at Strathmore University can be moved from status of hidden curriculum to status of official curriculum through the use of Professional Licensing and mentoring handbook. The study also looked at what exactly characterize Strathmore University’s institutional culture and the place of mentoring in that culture. The study used mixed research method where; survey research method was used to get students’ understanding and perception of both mentoring and Strathmore University institutional culture; philosophical method was used to offer analysis and contribution of Aristotle on friendship; while researcher’s personal experiences as mentor for four and half years at Strathmore University were used in the clarification of data. The population used for the study comprised of undergraduate students at Strathmore University. The study used three data sets arising from the foresaid research methods comprising of: student’s questionnaire, primary and secondary data on Aristotle’s treatise on friendship and researcher’s personal experiences as a mentor at Strathmore University. Friendship came out in the research findings as a major element of Strathmore University’s institutional culture and a benefit of mentoring by students and hence acting as a means that can be used to improve mentoring at Strathmore University. The study spelled out how Strathmore University’s institutional culture and mentoring can be enhanced by Aristotle’s concept of friendship. The discussion on friendship further offered a philosophical input into mentoring at Strathmore University proposing that mentors and mentees are meant to get to the level of perfect friends or companion friends for mentoring to be effective. The study concluded that the hypothesis that mentoring at Strathmore University can be moved from status of hidden curriculum to status of official curriculum through the use of Professional Licensing and mentoring handbook is a null hypothesis. The study opened a new area that can enhance mentoring and Strathmore University institutional culture namely, professional friendship.
Is the family a principle of the nation in the Kenyan constitution if examined from an Aristotelian perspective?
(Strathmore University, 2015) Mutura, Raymond
The current constitution (2010 Chapter) defines family as a natural and fundamental unit of society and the necessary basis of social order. The Marriage Act (2014), Matrimonial Property Act (2013), the Children Act (2002) and the Sessional Paper on National Values (2012) provide principles of the family in relation to marriage, matrimonial property, children and how national values emerge from the family. Despite having various studies on the family, there have been few scholarly inquiries on how to assess the core principles of the family from a sound theoretical analysis. The study investigates Aristotle’s principles on the family as illustrated in his book Politics and examine other foundational principles related to the family from his other books – Nichomachean Ethics and Metaphysics. The study’s objective is to demonstrate how the principles expressed in the different family governing laws of Kenya are informed or not by the principles of the family as illustrated by Aristotle in his book Politics. This study uses the qualitative method, involving desktop and documentary analysis. The findings can inform and establish sound principles for Kenya’s Family Policies and Laws and other African countries’ laws and policies as the results reveal sound and Aristotelian principles based on a very logical theoretical framework of the four causes that has been utilized in philosophy to affirm principles about things. The three causes utilized in the study include material, formal and final causes. The fourth case, the efficient cause was not interrogated due to the tendency of research moving towards the philosophy of God.
An analysis of the appreciation of the beautiful and its place in daily living as understood by university students in Nairobi County
(Strathmore University, 2015) Kariuki, Esther Wangeci
This investigation has been an attempt to get to the root cause why many Kenyans appear to have little concern for a beautiful physical environment in terms of urban cleanliness, order, and courtesy in the transport sector. The experience in many parts of Kenya especially the capital city of Nairobi bespeak of chaos especially with regard to the apparent deficiency in the planning and construction of buildings, open gutters and display of sales, disposal of waste which more often than not mercilessly litter the city. In an effort to capture the mindset of the ordinary Kenyan in these matters, this researcher reached out to a portion of the urban population through a survey administered on university students in order to gauge their appreciation of the aesthetical and to find out if they associate aesthetics to ethics in their daily living. The survey was administered to 70 students in 6 private and public universities. The results of the survey were analyzed using library resources such as journals, books and research papers. The results revealed that there in an essential appreciation of beautiful things and beautiful environment among university students. However there are cultural, social and educational elements that undermine the concern for or the maintenance of good physical environment when one has to choose where to live and how to live there. The results also reveal that there is a dire need to foster a sense of harmony and order, cleanliness, maintenance and repair during the formative years of young people at the different educational levels to prepare them to appreciate and be responsible for the harmony and order in the urban environments. This study will be of immense benefit to the education department in curriculum planning and development, as well as in understanding an overlooked aspect of the human person which is just as important as science and technology. The study will also be of benefit to urban planners in order to make allowances for the absolute humanizing role of aesthetics and ethics underlying building and construction. Urban planners may find answers for the inclusion of facilities which humanize such as open green spaces, proper sewage systems, allowances of household laundry and storage facilities which lead to the appreciation of the beautiful in daily living.
An Analysis of the judicial code of conduct and ethics and the vetting process of judicial officers from a virtue ethics perspective
(Strathmore University, 2015) Andayi W. Francis
The Judicial Service Code of Conduct and Ethics (JSCCE) for the Kenyan judges and magistrates collectively referred to here as judicial officers, is an ethical guide for the successful delivery of their judicial duty. Judicial ethics as represented in the JSCCE appears to follow two main ethical approaches, deontology and consequentialism or utilitarianism. Questions abound on the success of these ethical approaches to positively influence the conduct of judicial officers and provide the requisite ethical guidance. Judicial officers continue to receive condemnation from varied qum1ers for failing to follow the path of rectitude within and outside of their judicial calling. The demand by Kenyans that under the new Constitution of Kenya 20 I 0 all serving judicial officers undergo a vetting process to determine their suitability to continue serving in the judiciary is testimony to the low level of test the public has in the judicial officers. To address this challenge this study explored how the virtue ethics approach, as an alternative to deontology and utilitarianism, can be utilized as a foundation for judicial ethics. The aim of this study therefore is to determine whether the vi11ue ethics approach, which is agent centered and opposed to deontology and consequentialism, which are action-focused, can be applied to the JSCCE and the vetting process to make better judicial ethics in Kenya. The vi11ue ethics approach is approp1iate for this study because of its recent resurgence in ethical theme as well as its appeal to beliefs, emotions, thoughts, and values instead of actions and consequences which are influenced by a system of rewards and punishment. The study applied a content analysis method to analyze the contents of the JSCCE and the vetting process, which are two areas of focus on judicial ethics in Kenya, to uncover the elements of virtue ethics espoused therein. The study found that there are some 20 elements of virtue ethics found in the JSCCE and the vetting process. These are justice, courage, independence, practical wisdom among others. However, the presence of the elements alone was found not sufficient to make virtue ethics the theoretical base for judicial ethics in Kenya for two reasons. First, the elements are limited in scope in the JSCCE. Second, the elements are not expressed in virtue ethics language but rather they are formulated as rules and principles in line with the deontological and consequentialist ethical frameworks. However, it also emerged that with proper articulation of the JSCCE and the vetting criteria, the principles and rules can be reformulated to take account of a virtue ethics approach and thereby embed it as a sound theoretical base for judicial ethics in Kenya. The study made suggestions and recommendations on the ways through which judicial ethics can take account of virtue ethics and how to align the .TSCCE and the vetting process to each other through the virtue ethics approach to improve on judicial ethics and ultimately the conduct of judicial officers in Kenya.
Public Procurement Oversight Authority : an assessment of its effectiveness in fighting corruption and promoting ethical practices in public procurement in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2016) Gachoka, Paul M.
The debate on corruption and financial impropriety has been raging in Kenya for the past 20 years. Procurement processes by public institutions has been identified as the main conduit for loss of public funds in the various reports by both the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Public Procurement Oversight Authority. As part of the reform process to address this problem, the Public Procurement Oversight Authority was established. This study focused primarily on an in-depth assessment of the PPOA and its effectiveness in fighting corruption and promoting ethical practices in public procurement in Kenya. It makes recommendations aimed at strengthening the institution. This study adopted a descriptive study design. Purposive sampling was used to select the study subjects and a total of 84 respondents were interviewed. Descriptive statistics was used to generate data on study variables and inferences made on the performance of the PPOA.Content and thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data on views and perceptions of the respondents. The findings show that the number of cases on corruption in Public procurement has increased since the establishment of PPOA.This may not necessarily mean that PPOA had failed with regard to promoting ethical practices. In fact,the study revealed that PPOA’s performance was good and had achieved majority of targets set for the year especially on conducting Audits and assessment. The increasing trend could be as a result of expanded democratic space in Kenya since the enactment of the Constitution 2010 and the growth of the media which has made dissemination of information easy and the effect of the economic growth within the same period, which may have translated to more procurement. In addition, the findings revealed a well-defined institutional framework and elaborate structures put in place by PPOA. The PPOA has the capacity and strategies to fight corruption and promote ethical behavior in the procurement process. However, there is need to strengthen it by increasing the human capacity and resources, improve communication, intensify follow-ups on audits done and enhance collaboration with other institutions like EACC and DPP for strict law enforcement. In addition, this research recommends collaboration with educational institutions to specifically incorporate ethics in the learning curriculum in order to mould individuals at an early stage. Also, further research should be done to assess the interaction of PPOA with the county governments and the impact on its capacity.
An Investigation into the Virtues of Airline Pilot Training
(Strathmore University, 2016) Arodi, Justus
That the world has become a global village can be seen in the exponential rise in air travel over the last few years and this trend is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Aviation industry has done a lot, especially in the realms of training and aircraft design to improve safety. The industry should not just maintain the current level of safety but improve it further. Besides enormous associated costs, accidents still occur. This study sought to show that ethics, particularly Aristotelian virtues in pilot training, can not only improve quality but also enhance efficiency and consequently minimize costs. The study set out to investigate if the people involved in pilot training consider virtues to be necessary for pilot training; which virtues they consider as most important; and how the virtues could be incorporated in a pilot training scheme. Descriptive survey design and naturalistic designs were used. Students and instructors/managers were randomly and purposively sampled using questionnaires and interview guides. Though scarce, the related literature was also reviewed. The findings of the literature review and questionnaires/interviews both confirmed that indeed virtues are needed in pilot training. All the cardinal virtues are preferred though in varying order of preference by the different categories of respondents. The study found that virtues can be incorporated in pilot training schemes through classroom training, through role models and reward and punishment for desirable and undesirable habits respectively, and through a dedicated code conspicuously displayed in training venues; but not through ruthless enforcement by punishment. The study recommended virtue training to be adopted by airlines as it enables pilots to easily observe regulations and comply with the tenets of Crew Resource Management among other benefits such as happiness and good working relationships which can enhance error management and greatly reduce accidents. Further research was recommended on how airlines and regulators can monitor compliance with virtues among pilots. Properly adopted, virtues can not only make training efficient but also help produce better pilots and consequently safer flight operations.
Impact of cultural diversity on the practice of dispute resolution and mediation in the Kenyan legal sector and a quest for professional and ethical stability
(Strathmore University, 2016) Gross, Anthony
In general terms, it may be said that dispute resolution among legal practitioners in Kenya relies heavily on cross cultural communication and negotiation practices and techniques. This cultural diversity poses unique challenges that may affect dispute resolution as well as jeopardise the attainment of justice. It seems essential to grasp a deeper understanding of the impact of this cultural diversity between African and European cultures commonly referred to as African and Western cultures of both genders in the daily practice of law whether within litigious or acrimonious disputes as well as in the alternative dispute resolution mechanism of mediation. Misunderstandings whether deliberate or by virtue of vocal or expressive communication or whether by tone of facial manifestation, occur as a result of a subjective perception by individuals of one culture of what is the truth and therefore the reality of any given circumstance, which often is not shared by a practitioner from another culture. Such subjectivism appears to be a by-product of the English legal system which propounds an adversarial system of legal practice aiming at a win-lose paradigm, and whose priority would seem to be win at all costs. However, it seems of paramount importance to understand and accept other people’s pints of view in the interest of peace and so as to avoid conflict. This approach may appear to be more acceptable inter-cultural way of behaving, practicing law and resolving disputes. It is in the pursuit of this objective that this study has analysed, differentiated and compared cross cultural trends and tested the perception of legal scholars on the premise that the cultural diversity impacts on the dispute resolution practice. The study arrives at the conclusion that it seems logical and acceptable to search for and espouse a tested moral standpoint of virtue ethics which is of universal acceptance and has cross cultural application and thus contribute to the search for justice in our society.
An Investigation into the Work Ethic of Millennials Using a Wojtylan Model
(Strathmore University, 2016) Njuguna, Caroline Wambui
Various studies have explored perceptions of work ethic outside the original Protestant Work Ethic developed by the German sociologist Max Weber, which has certain limitations in terms of appreciation of the value of work for the human person. In response to this problem, the present study developed and piloted a new model for evaluating work ethic based on Karol Wojtyla’s writings on work. This model was used to establish the work ethic of Strathmore University fourth year students who form part of the millennial generation. This generation was selected because research carried out both globally and in the Kenyan context shows that the presence of millennials in the workplace is a cause of concern due to the diversity of their expectations about work as compared to previous generations. At the same time, studies on the work ethic of millennials have given rise to diverse and often contradictory findings.Professional work was the focus for this study. The case study used a mixed methods research design employing both quantitative and qualitative data collection tools. The findings gathered from questionnaires and focus group interviews were analysed using a Microsoft Excel spread sheet and according to themes. The findings were further evaluated from the perspective of the Wojtylan model. The Wojtylan model provides a new contribution to the literature on work ethic. The outcomes shed light on the work ethic of Strathmore University students. For example working so that they can earn a living so as to provide for self and family is amongst the most important aspects of work for them. Followed by the ability to be creative. These outcomes may be used in making recommendations to the relevant stakeholders such as the students themselves, employers and parents. It may also be of use to the Strathmore University Career Development Services office.
An Analysis of mothers’ perceptions of their children from the perspective of Wojtyla’s concept of child as a gift
(Strathmore University, 2017) Maingi, Caroline Shisubili
In the African context, childbirth is highly valued and child bearing is perceived as a key element in social respect and hierarchy. This paper sought to investigate how mothers’ perceive their own children with regard to their socioeconomic conditions and find out the connection between socioeconomic factors and a mother’s appreciation of her child in the county of Nairobi, Kenya. Since great efforts are made to conceive a child, which manifests an awareness of the fact that to have a child is a gift, does a child still seem as a gift in the face of varying socioeconomic factors. The view of child as gift has significantly changed in modern society. In will further analyze a mother’s appreciation of her child in view of Wojtyla’s concept of person as a gift based on his phenomenological approach. The investigation utilized phenomenological methodology to form descriptive themes. Respondents were selected who self-identified as from three different socioeconomic backgrounds. These were young professional mothers, mothers from low income areas of Nairobi and mothers who have children with physical challenges in Nairobi city. Purposive sampling was used, employing maximum variation sampling method with a sample size of fifteen respondents which aims at capturing and describing the central theme. In-depth interviews were conducted using a set of questions that were applied in a flexible and individual manner. The data was interpreted using a 5 step method that included bracketing, delineating units of meaning, clustering themes, summarizing each interview and extracting general as well as unique themes and finally making a composite summary of the findings. While the results of the connection between a mother’s economic status and her appreciation of her child as a gift were highlighted, the findings revealed that despite the socioeconomic factors prevailing, mothers still considered their children as gift.
Ethical analysis of science, technology and innovation policies in four East African countries
(Strathmore University, 2017) Langat, Simon K.
Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) policy is an essential part of the larger public policy programming in order to improve livelihoods and quality of life. Extant literatures indicate that policy-making is driven largely by economic considerations. Policy studies came into being largely as a response to a need to guide development of nations and competition among them. However, there has been a resurging interest in ethics of policies in the last few years as a response to the empiricist approach that followed the Second World War. Partly, this is due to concerns about policy makers‟ failure to address the moral ambiguity in technology development and adoption, and possible dire consequences that could arise from this failure. The main objective of the study was to analyze the ethical frameworks underlying the ST&I policies of Kenya and three selected eastern African countries namely Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda using content analysis. The study found that the policies are predominantly utilitarian in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. In Tanzania it was found to be duty based. On whether it is necessary analyze ethics in ST&I policy, it was found that there are compelling reasons to undertake this task as this would give technology a more useful measure for determining whether it is responding to man‟s need for authentic development.
Implementation of moral education in Kenyan schools: a study of selected catholic schools from Kitui Central Deanery
(Strathmore University, 2017) Muthamba, Julius
This study has been carried out to find out if students in secondary schools in Kitui central deanery are being brought up to make morally right judgment for their actions. The study has been prompted by increased acts of indiscipline as well as acts of immorality which have been witnessed in schools in Kitui central deanery for the last seven years. This study was guided by the concepts of virtue in the philosophy of Aristotle. Aristotle’s concept on human excellence incorporates both cognitive and conative capacities. According to him bringing up a person of excellent character involves combination of both the phronesis (the virtue of practical wisdom) and other moral virtues. This study has highlighted the concrete situations in schools which attest to the fact that there have been increased cases of indiscipline and immorality in schools. The study has looked at different constitutional documents as well as taskforce reports in Kenya which spell out the role of moral education in schools. It has found a glaring mismatch between what is envisioned in these documents and what is being practiced in schools. In the literature review, the study has explored what different authors have said regarding moral education of the students. The first section of the literature review explored the importance of moral education in secondary schools. Further it has looked into how students are being brought up to acquire moral virtues and practical wisdom using school systems and culture. The third part of literature review looks at the consistency of the approaches which schools have been using in moral education. Finally this section gives the conceptual framework guiding this study. Chapter three of the study deals with the research methodology. This area handles research design, location of the study as well as how data has been collected and analyzed. Chapter four of this study presents research findings which show that moral education is not being properly implemented in catholic sponsored secondary school in Kitui central deanery. The fifth chapter is a critical interrogation of research findings as well as proposing areas which schools need to improve on in implementing moral education in schools. Chapter six gives summary of the study, conclusions and recommendation. The key conclusion the study has made is that moral education is not properly being implemented in secondary schools in the catholic sponsored schools in Kitui central deanery. Finally the study recommends that there is need to mainstream moral education in both curriculum and co-curriculum activities.
An Enquiry into afro hairstyle from the perspective of feminine identity
(Strathmore University, 2017) Ndekei, Brenda
Women from all societies around the world often feel the struggle of hair styling from time to time. However, not all hair is the same and some women encounter more challenges when it comes to styling their type of hair as well as pressure from the rest of society to conform to certain beauty standards that may not be suitable to them as persons and as women seeking to be more feminine in their own right. The issue of hair for women of African descent is particularly complex due to the history of the black race being enslaved and forced to imitate western standards, hair being among them, in order to fit in and adapt to a new world. The question arises of why so many black women feel unsure of how to deal with their natural hair and why black hair that is altered and "tamed" seems to be more acceptable to many societies around the world even in Africa. How these and other perceptions regarding natural afro hair shape a woman's feminine identity are investigated. This study on Strathmore University full time female staff and female evening masters’ students looks at whether there is a link between how women understand or develop their [sense of] feminine identity and how positively or negatively their natural hair is perceived in the workplace. The study uses Cormac Burke's theory of feminine identity to ground it in philosophical anthropology. A qualitative research methodology was employed in this descriptive study, questionnaires were distributed and focus group discussions were carried out among various black women from different categories in the university while themes derived from the research objectives and Burke's theory of feminine identity were utilized to analyze the information. It was found that feminine identity was understood to be a more non-material quality of womanhood rather than a physical one. It was also discovered that the perceptions (mostly positive) of afro hair in Strathmore University were different from organizations elsewhere while the effect this had on the women was to raise their confidence and dignity when their freedom of expression was supported and lower self-esteem when the freedom was denied.
Perceptions of primary stakeholders on the ethical duty of parental involvement in pupils’ intellectual development: a study of selected schools in Lavington area Nairobi County
(Strathmore University, 2018) Wanjala, Bernard Juma
This study investigated the perceptions of primary stakeholders on the ethical duty of parents being actively involved in the intellectual development of primary school children in Lavington Area of Nairobi County. Primary stakeholders were defined as the immediate beneficiaries or directly involved in the intellectual development of primary school children. Primary stakeholders therefore, included teachers, parents and pupils themselves. Philosophers and religious leaders as well as governments suggest that parents should play a leading role in their children’s intellectual development. They cite the many benefits that emanate from such parental involvement, especially when genuinely played. These include academic excellence in school and competence in self-expression, among others. Subsequently, plenty of research has gone into it and outcomes attest to the fact that the intellectual development of primary school children whose parents work closely with them is much better unlike those almost entirely left to teachers. It is on this premise that this study took the interest in the primary stakeholders’ perceptions on parental involvement as a way of enhancing children’s intellectual development. Specifically, the study assessed: parents’ provision of children’s basic learning needs, assistance with school assignments, giving regular motivation of children, participating in school-organised activities and taking part in training sessions. This study was guided by the ethical and philosophical postulations of Aristotle; the Vatican IIDeclarations of 1965 document and St. JosemaríaEscrivá who understand a holistic education as involving parents. This study used descriptive research design in gathering the required data from all respondents without seeming to influence them in any way whatsoever. In addition, they were allowed to give responses from their usual places of operation, that is, the school environment or at home. Using survey method, the researcher got together a sample size of 180 pupils, 14 teachers and 120 parents randomly selected from 7 primary schools who responded to questions in questionnaires and some oral interviews. Data was collected between October and December,2017. To ensure content validity, the questions were structured carefully in line with the study objectives and the findings discussed using descriptive statistics.Analysis was done basing on the collected data and presented in percentages, tables and figures. The findings revealed that most primary stakeholders in Lavington Area of Nairobi County consider parental involvement in their children’s intellectual development as necessary. However, not many parents know their role and therefore there is need totrain them. The researcher hastens to note that while this study alone might not be exhaustive enough; it can serve as an eye opener to sensitive society more.
The Influence of environmental virtue ethics in water conservation
(Strathmore University, 2018) Marima, Pauline
Our world, our common home, is in a tragic crisis because of increasing environmental degradation brought about by human activity. While it must be acknowledged that a lot has been done to mitigate environmental degradation at global, regional and national levels, there has been an over-reliance on solutions that revolve around policy -, economy -, science- and technology-based interventions, that have at times placed a further burden on the natural environment. The study contends that people, not rules or consequences, are the root cause of change, and argues for a radical change in the way we look at environmental morality – beyond a notion of obligations, and towards the development of virtues and habits for human flourishing. From a conservation perspective, virtue ethics is concerned with the type of virtuous characteristics man must have in relation to how he interacts with the earth and how he preserves its well-being. The study tries to establish the extent to which Virtue Ethics has a positive influence on decision-making concerning water conservation in particular. It also explores on the reasons for promoting virtue Ethics as a framework for conservation ethics in general, especially among the youth who have an opportunity to really change the course of the planet’s future. This research has taken a mixed approach by integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses, based on data collected from a sample of 698 secondary school students in Kiambu County. The research has identified various perceptions held by the youth regarding virtue ethics, specifically as it relates to water conservation. The research also identifies the perceptions of youth regarding some of the merits of using a virtue-oriented approach for conservation. The research reveals that, indeed, there is proportion of youth who use virtue ethics as their main ethical framework for decision making concerning water conservation; they do this mainly with a non-utilitarian and non-obligatory intention, and they do this as a stable habit of character under different contextual settings. The research concludes that Environmental Virtue Ethics can be effective as an ethical framework for water conservation among the youth.
An Analysis of the extent to which the Kenya basic education Act (2013) provides for parental choice to homeschool: the primary and central role of parents as educators.
(Strathmore University, 2018) Gathure, Thomas Mundia
Education in Kenya has witnessed a shift in ownership and management in the last 100 years. It has shifted from parents and community in the pre-colonial period to foreign missionaries and now to the State. While the State assumes a more primary and central role in the control of education, a new problem arises regarding choice and freedoms for other stakeholders. The recent enactment of the Kenya Basic Education Act, 2013 following the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 has presented one such scenario in the primary and central role of the State in education as compared to that of parents. The Act fails to recognise a legitimate and credible option of education - homeschooling - while at the same time criminalising the failure to take children to the prescribed schools in the Act. This raises questions as to the philosophical foundation underpinning the Act that could be contributing to this position. Due to the study’s philosophical focus on understanding meanings and beliefs as well as the nature of the research questions, a qualitative research approach (a desk review supported by questionnaires and interviews) was selected. The research questions, measurable indicators and research findings were defined and interpreted in light of the philosophy of Jacques Maritain (an influential philosopher of education and participant of the drafting of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights).The research findings confirmed the effects of a limited philosophical foundation of the Act in its understanding of education, the place where education takes place, disproportionate roles vested on the State as compared to other stakeholders as well as the limited reflection of freedoms enshrined in the Constitution that support homeschooling. The study recommends a total overhaul of the philosophical foundation in which the Act is based to ensure any amendments are well guided and contextualised. Formulators of the Act could benefit from further study to understand the nature of homeschooling and ways to accommodate and support it for parents who choose it.
The Effect of menstruation on academic performance of high school girls: a case study on human dignity in Migori County, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2018) Osea, Josephine
Numerous studies have been conducted on menstrual hygiene the world over. However, Menstrual Hygiene Management is an insufficiently acknowledged problem especially in rural low-income countries, like Kenya, particularly in its relation to school absenteeism. Modesty is the natural tendency of persons to protect their intimacy. Intimacy is a private interior that only the individual person concerned is aware of. There are three contexts which may be used to shield intimacy from strangers and protect it from public view, namely, language, clothing and shelter. This study examined the effect of menstruation on academic performance among high school girls within Kuria East and Kuria West Sub-Counties of Migori County, as a way to recognize their human dignity. This Thesis focuses on three specific objectives, namely, to explore the social and infrastructure support systems about the menstrual event within the family context, to explore the social and infrastructure support systems within the school context and to assess the effect of environmental factors surrounding the menstrual event in the academic performance of high school girls. This study is based on a Conceptual Framework by Mortimer J. Adler known as Educational Perennialism; which is the teaching of students to appreciate unchangeable things like human dignity. A mixed methods research was adopted. The population of the study is adolescent girls in Form 2 and Form 4 randomly selected from three purposefully selected girls-only rural public secondary schools; namely Kwibancha, Nyaroha, and Taranganya Girls Secondary Schools. The sampled data comprised 151 female students of ages between 14-17 years using questionnaires; and 30 females of ages between 17-19 years through focus group discussions. The Parallel Convergent Design Approach was used to analyze the data; with the aid of descriptive and narrative analysis to analyze the qualitative and quantitative data collected, respectively. The study found that the first menstrual experience of the high school girls was challenging considering that some of them did not understand what was happening to them. Some of the girls experienced fear and embarrassment because of a lack of early and effective training at home and in school on the everlasting things of life, lack of support systems at home and at school, lack of money to purchase sanitary pads and lack of accurate information about menstruation and its effective management. The study recommends that there should be training at an early age to empower, train and educate girls on unchangeable things like human dignity and intimacy; introduction of effective and efficient menstrual hygiene management as a topic in subjects for high school girls, and to empower the girls to appreciate themselves first as being human beings and secondly to appreciate their natural girlhood as girls because that is their human nature as adolescent girls; the development of a Code of Ethics and mainstreaming Menstrual Hygiene Management with reference to the yet to be published National Policy on Menstrual Hygiene Management for Kenya. Furthermore, this study makes several recommendations, including, the urgent need of breaking the silence on menstruation.
Benchmarking the philosophy of Nigerian policy on education with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals and traditional ethical principles of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church
(Strathmore University, 2018) Chidozie, Ihekwoaba Michael Festus
This dissertation seeks to benchmark the philosophy of Nigeria’s education policy with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals as well as the traditional ethical principles of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church, with the primary aim of identifying where there is a total, partial or zero relation for a possible improvement of Nigeria’s education policy philosophy. Igbuzor (2006) in stressing the importance of education stated that “Education is a human right that should be accorded to all human beings solely by reason of being human”.The utmost importance attached to education in Nigeria was clearly emphasized in the National Policy on Education (NPE, 2004). The Federal Republic of Nigeria, in this policy, adopted education as an instrument "par excellence" for effecting national development. But despite the government's commitment to education, the quality of education in Nigerian schools has been declining tremendously, thereby giving successive government's serious concern. The question has become, what is wrong with the Nigeria educational system? The investigation utilized a philosophical approach that leverages on a personalistic anthropology which underscores the centrality of the person as the primary focus of investigation. This involves the systematic identification, location, and analysis of documents containing information related to the research problem. The researchers use the information derived to evaluate whether the philosophy of Nigerian education policy can be improved.While the results of the benchmarking of the philosophy of Nigeria’s education policy against the United Nations’ development goals as well as the traditional ethical principles of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church were highlighted, the findings revealed that there are areas where the NPE philosophy needs partial and total improvement at the same time.
A Philosophical commentary of happiness among Kawangware and Kibera youth using Spitzer’s theory
(Strathmore University, 2019) Oyugi, Cynthia Achieng
What is happiness? This concept has plagued man from the ancient times; and even today in the contemporary 21st Century. This is because there are different ways of understanding what happiness is. Youth are the future; their concept of happiness is therefore vital for creating a happy society. Spitzer ranks pleasure as level one of happiness and achievement as level two of happiness; however, Spitzer argues that the fulfilment of the desires of pleasure (H1) and achievement (H2) does not yield true happiness in man. Spitzer ranks contribution and transcendence respectively as level three of happiness (H3) and level four of happiness (H4). Spitzer emphasizes that true happiness in man includes ‘contribution’ and ‘transcendence’ as well as ‘pleasure’ and ‘achievement’ because ‘none of the levels should be neglected’. The main aim of this MAPE research study was to determine Spitzer components of happiness among Kawangware and Kibera youth. The MAPE researcher therefore administered a questionnaire to 100 Kawangware youth and 560 Kibera youth; the questions were based on Spitzer’s theory of happiness and were analysed using SPSS. The research study findings confirmed Spitzer’s theory that true happiness for man comprises ‘pleasure’, ‘achievement’, ‘contribution’ and ‘transcendence’ because all four aspects of happiness were exhibited by Kawangware and Kibera youth. The researcher argues that the inclusion of ‘contribution’ and ‘transcendence’ is important because they are both compatible with ethical actions; since ‘contribution’ embraces virtue as well as the common good, and ‘transcendence’ embraces God. 75.5% of study participants reported happiness is always found when contributing positively to society; since they want to make a difference in the world and because it is a moral duty; this is consistent with Spitzer’s component of contribution. Finally 97.9% of study participants reported happiness is always found in God which is compatible with Spitzer’s component of Transcendence. According to the researcher, these research findings are encouraging since it implies a willingness of Kawangware and Kibera youth to constantly engage in virtuous actions.

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