Ethics Conference

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http://hdl.handle.net/11071/3926
The Ethics Conference plays a major role in transforming leadership and governance in the East African region and brings together actors from the Public and the Private sector to share experiences and perspectives on ethical issues.

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    A Study on knowledge, attitude and use of hormonal contraceptives among University students
    Ndungu, Allen; Kendagor, Caleb
    There has been sustained campaign for adoption of hormonal contraceptives for use by the general population worldwide to avoid unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and reduce population growth. The main targets of these campaigns are the teenagers in schools, both primary and secondary since they are the most risk of unwanted pregnancies.
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    Analyzing ethics at the university level and its effective contribution to nation-building
    (Strathmore University, 2011) Musya, Mercy; Gathua, Peter; Ngeene, Duncan
    Education is a basic human need. Not only should it contribute to the growth of an individual’s knowledge but also their character. Education unlocks peoples’ potential and it is in this way that knowledge is power. Individuals especially in third world countries have a stereotypical view of the purpose, quality and quantity of education required as a basic foundation for life. Given the changes and developments in the world, man is coming to the realization that the basic educational system needs to be adjusted accordingly. An education system is inadequate if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them integrity and values. The current education system in Kenya has produced a vast population knowledgeable but unable to efficiently apply that knowledge into relevant skill so as to contribute positively to nation-building. Likewise, when individuals are knowledgeable and skilled but lacking in or oblivious of the need for human dignity, education is incomplete. Therefore, various adjustments must be made to the system to increase its efficiency and this research tries to establish to what extent ethics is instilled at the University level of education. The research methods to be used will include primary methods such as one on one interviews with current and former university students and secondary techniques such as academic articles and journals. To guarantee authenticity of the data acquired a comparison will be carried out to check for consistency of the different individual opinions we receive. Also, the use of academic articles and journals as a reference will guarantee this paper’s validity. The weight of this research is basically finding out to what extent the education system at the university level promotes ethics in the society and how this plays a role of ethics in Nation Building. Based on the research, solutions and recommendations are being looked into for adjusting the university system and its curriculum in order for it to be more cogent and fulfill its purpose of turning scholars into complete beings with knowledge, wisdom, skill and dignity. The research also involves implementing one of the recommendations and describing the outcomes (positive, neutral or negative) and giving reasons based on these outcomes. Based on this experience, relevant and innovative adjustments will be made to the previous recommendations. This study is to be a conclusive and helpful contribution to the current education system; relevant and applicable in relevant institutions.
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    Challenges faced by the university to provide integral human development for 'exposed' Kenyan students.
    Byarugaba, Kentaro J.
    Universities originally came into being from the love of knowledge and from the curiosity of knowing. However, of late, with increased access and advanced technological facilities and an influx of both necessary and unnecessary information, universities are facing cultural challenges which have gone so far as to challenge an integral human development. This challenge is especially true for our Kenyan universities, which for the first time are able to expose their students to the whole world as has never before been possible. Care needs to be taken because, man can and has been sacrificed to the success and influence of science and technology. The time has come to ask ourselves whether these facilities are being used to contribute to an authentic human development of students.
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    Corporate and personal ethics for sustainable development: experiences, challenges and promises of part-time
    Mageto, Peter
    Ethics in the academia is not new. Ethics is a part of the mission and culture of institutions of higher education, where it is taught, researched and observed. It is in this environment that many students first learn about, and test the realities of moral decision-making that shape the political, social and economic future of many nations’ development. However, there is evidence that higher education in Eastern Africa has seen a steady increase in the number of part-time lecturers due to reduced government funding (especially to public universities), and the increasing size and diversity of student enrollment, yet the experiences, challenges and promises that part-time faculty encounter once inducted into teaching continue to hinder sustainable development in different ways.
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    Developing a strategy for students mental health well being
    Doherty, Michael Dr.
    9th Annual Ethics Conference. Theme : Bioethics medical, legal, environmental and cultural aspects in healthcare ethics at Strathmore University, 25-26 October 2012.
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    Development: a call to continuing improvement
    Estanislao , Jesus P.
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    Devolution and nation building in Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2011) Mulwa, Koki; Chege, Bernard N.; Nabulumbi, Lisa W.
    One of the key reforms of the constitution is the establishment of devolution through the country’s government. It is in the current constitution and will only come into effect after the next general elections, when the county assemblies and governors will be elected. (Ghai, Y& Ghai, J,) In this paper we have talked about devolution and related it to the dignity of the human person. First we have given a definition for devolution as per the Kenyan context. Secondly, we will look at how the United Kingdom has being impacted since devolution was enforced. Thirdly, we looked at three aspects of devolution; objects and principles of a devolved government, financial aspect of devolution and the gender aspect of devolution. We came to the basis of these aspects by looking at how the common “mwananchi” will be affected by them. Lastly, we have given a summary of the responses we got from conducting an interview. We interviewed our fellow students and lecturer’s on their thoughts about devolution being implemented in Kenya. This includes the positive and negative effects of devolution and whether the country can afford this form of government.
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    Ethical and human rights implications of strategies to halt the spread of HIV/AIDs
    Wathuta, Jane
    9TH Annual ethics conference. Theme : Bioethics medical, legal, environmental and cultural aspects in healthcare ethics at STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY, 25-26 OCTOBER 2012.
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    Ethical leadership practice: the foundation of political and economic development in Kenya.
    (Strathmore University, 2011) Minja, David
    The subject of ethical practices in Kenya has been a hot one for the last two decades. Unethical practices in organizations and at the political arena have been widely reported in the wake of many high-profile management and financial scandals. Even with the establishment of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and laws and regulations aimed at curbing corruption, the situation has not improved significantly. Leaders are coming under increasing scrutiny because of the role they play in managing ethical conduct and modelling ethical behaviour. Failure of political leaders and executives to provide moral leadership has led to citizens being disappointed and national goals remaining largely unmet. Increasingly so, recent debates about issuance of citizenship certificates may leave many citizens disenfranchised; all of which have a major influence on political and economic development. Theory and research suggest that leaders should, and do, influence ethical behaviour. This paper explores theoretical arguments why leaders should play an important role of influencing ethical behaviour and why it is imperative for them to model the desired behaviour. The paper explores ethical practices from Aristotle’s perspective, cognitive moral development and social learning theories. This paper also tries to argue that laws alone cannot ‘convert’ the society that has developed and perfected the art of unethical practices. A new way of thinking is necessary, that will involve and empower everyone to start thinking and behaving in an ethical way. The paper therefore provides a prescriptive model of addressing ethical dilemmas in the public service in order to promote nation building. Several recommendations applicable not only to the public service but also to other Kenyan sectors have been made and it is believed that if adopted will go a long way in transforming leaders and followers into ethically responsible people who will foster nation building. The work of transformation begins with leaders who are themselves transformed and in turn mentor others to produce the desired behaviour. In this way, political and economic development in Kenya will cease to be a mirage.
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    Ethics review guidelines in Kenya
    Langat, Simon Dr.
    9TH Annual ethics conference. Theme : Bioethics medical, legal, environmental and cultural aspects in healthcare ethics at STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY, 25-26 OCTOBER 2012.
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    Fostering sustainable development through quality assurance in higher education
    Ngunjiri, Irene
    According to the World Bank working paper no. 124, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is home to 740 million people. Although the number is increasing, Africa has 635 out of the world’s 17,716 universities (3.6%). The gross tertiary enrollment ratio is about 5 percent, the lowest in the world. The current enrolments rates are the highest that Sub Saharan Africa has ever seen. It is hoped that these rates will continue to increase in spite of the fact that the budget allocation for education has been declining in most countries over the years. This coupled with the mushrooming of private provision of higher education and pressure from a rapidly transforming labor market have given rise to new concerns about quality. One of the ways in which universities assure quality and acquire recognition in their home countries and abroad is through accreditation and certification. In addition, universities seek quality certifications so as to differentiate themselves from the many institutions that are offering degrees and diplomas which have become commodities in the market economy. Today, a number of universities are seeking and acquiring the ISO certification in Kenya. 3 out of the 7 public universities have received the ISO certification while one private university is certified. Quality is fitness for purpose. John Henry Newman, states that university education implies an action upon our mental nature, and the formation of a character. It goes beyond providing information to the person to formation of the person. The ultimate aim university education then becomes integral human development. Quality certifications have had positive impact on the business performance of many entities. For instance they have lead to significant cost reductions, time saving and customer retention. However do these perceived benefits lead universities to achieving their true purpose and mission when they define and follow quality procedures? The certification procedures currently in use focus on the institution, the product it offers and the processes that are in place in the institution. This paper seeks to examine the role played by quality assurance in university education, the purpose of higher education and the factors that could make accreditation ineffective. It ends by suggesting how this process could be improved.
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    Gender ideology proposals and its consequences
    Miranda, Martha Dr.
    For more than a decade the evolution of the notion of the term “gender” has grown in importance, both in intellectual debate and in the realm of praxis. Initially,the expression “gender” was used within the field of grammar in order to distinguish masculine, feminine or neuter words. However, from the beginning of the second half of the 20th century, this word has undergone a conceptual change due to its increased use in other areas and, in particular, for having substituted the classical term “sex”,employed in order to designate the human sexual duality, man-woman. In this context,it can be affirmed that gender has displaced sex in contemporary anthropological,social, political and legal discourse. In addition, it has found a definitive place in academic language and in legislation. Although the word gender by itself doesn’t have a positive or negative way to be understood, the problem is its interpretation. Today one of the leading interpretations is called “gender ideology”.
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    Human rights : bioethical and biopolitical implications of torture
    Daverio, Margherita
    9th Annual Ethics Conference. Theme : Bioethics medical, legal, environmental and cultural aspects in healthcare ethics at Strathmore University, 25-26 October 2012.
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    Human rights, human life, human dignity
    Lord, David Alton
    9TH Annual ethics conference. Theme : Bioethics medical, legal, environmental and cultural aspects in healthcare ethics at STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY, 25-26 OCTOBER 2012.
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    Implementing 5-pillars to create a new society, new nation, and new leadership quality in kenya
    Gichuru, Francis Xavier
    In this discourse, we deliberately climb down from the academic citadel and attempt to put in practice what we have authoritatively identified as five pillars that characterised the African traditional education process, a bold decant of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) from Africa. Discounting any controversies, we have propounded these pillars as the sound foundation from the African traditional culture on which the modern Kenya (and, by extension, Africa and the wider global family) can rediscover sanity in her socioeconomic development agenda, especially now that she has launched a new constitutional order. This is, consequently, a proposal for resolving a predicament that has dragged the country backwards since independence in her attempt to advance in favour of the common good. In view of that, therefore, we note that the cultural ethos of the Kenyan society today has been warped by modernisation and globalisation. During the cultural transformation that took place when Kenyans/Africans were adapting to modernisation, something must have gravely gone wrong. Kenyans understood globalisation or modernisation to mean indiscriminately adopting foreign values and lifestyles, dropping what is African or indigenous, wrongly believing that whatever was practised in traditional society, however positive, was not good. This understanding left Kenyans in the confused state as seen today, and Kenyans must take responsibility for this.