http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/15716 2026-04-05T23:41:53Z 2026-04-05T23:41:53Z MUHINYU JAMES NGARI http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/18828 2026-02-05T10:37:08Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

EFFECTS OF MARKETING MIX STRATEGIES ON THE PRODUCTION OF MACADAMIA NUTS BY SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN KIRINYAGA COUNTY, KENYA MUHINYU JAMES NGARI Macadamia farming plays a vital role in Kenya’s agricultural sector, providing income and livelihood opportunities for thousands of small-scale farmers, particularly in the highlands region. Globally, it also serves as an important source of income for producers in other macadamia producing areas. The highland regions around Mount Kenya, comprising of Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Meru, Murang’a and Nyeri counties, are the biggest producers of macadamia nuts in Kenya However, the sector is marked by low average yields with trees producing only 50% of the crop potential. Although Kirinyaga County is one of the main producers, in 2017, it recorded the least contribution of 4.4 % to the national production of macadamia nuts. This reflects a central problem of underproduction in a high-potential area, signaling unexploited opportunities for increasing macadamia nuts output. Thus, the existing potential for production of macadamia nuts in Kirinyaga County as well as in Kenya remains unexploited. Therefore, this study sought to establish the effect of marketing mix strategies on the production of macadamia nuts by small-scale farmers in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were; to analyze the effect of product strategy, assess the effect of price strategy; examine the effect of place strategy; determine the effect of promotion strategy on production of macadamia nuts; and to assess the moderating effect of access to financial credit on the relationship between the product, price, place and promotion strategys and the production of macadamia nuts by small-scale farmers in Kirinyaga County. The study is anchored on the marketing mix theory, which argues that successful positioning and performance of a product or service depend on how well these four elements are coordinated and aligned with customer needs and market dynamics. In this context, the theory relates to how marketing mix strategies such as product, pricing, place and promotion influence farmers production behavior and decisions. The study is also supported by the production theory, cobweb theory, the agricultural location theory and the diffusion of innovation theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The multistage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 381 respondents from a population of 8,004 small-scale farmers. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire which was self-administered through the drop-and-pick method. The research instrument demonstrated good quality measures, achieving a content validity index (CVI) of 0.86 and an overall reliability coefficient of α = 0.844. Data was cleaned by identifying missing values, inconsistencies, and outliers followed by cross-validation with original source records using frequency distributions, range validation, and logical consistency checks with SPSS version 26. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression and simple and multiple linear regression models were used to measure the influence of each independent variable on the output variable and the relationship between the independent variables (product, price, place and promotion) and the dependent variable (production of macadamia nuts) respectively. The ordinary least square assumptions in respect to linearity, normality, multi-collinearity and homoscedasticity were tested and confirmed before conducting regression analysis. The analyzed data was presented in the form of tables and figures. The null hypotheses that, there is no significant effect of Product strategy, no significant effect of price strategy, no significant effect of place strategy and no significant effect of promotion strategy on the production of macadamia nuts; and access to financial credit has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between the product, price, place, promotion and the production of macadamia nuts by small-scale farmers in Kirinyaga County were rejected at p-value .000. The findings of the study indicated that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between product strategy and production of macadamia nuts by small-scale farmers (r = 0.365, p = 0.000). Correlation results also showed a positive and statistically significant relationship between price strategy and production of macadamia nuts (r = 0.379, p = 0.000). The correlation between place strategy and production of macadamia nuts was negative and statistically significant (r = -0.324, p = 0.000), while the correlation between promotion strategy and production of macadamia nuts was also negative and statistically significant (r = -0.334, p = 0.000). The study concluded that marketing mix strategies have a statistically significant effect on production of macadamia nuts by small-scale farmers in Kirinyaga County. The study recommends that farmers increase the use of factor inputs to improve on yields per tree, collaboration between the government, processors and farmers to craft a mutually benefiting pricing strategy, building capacity and capability of the extension service. The results of the study will contribute to greater understanding of the various marketing mix factors that lead to increased crop production.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z ESTHER SAMATO NKUKUU http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/17446 2024-12-04T13:25:01Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

PHONOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OF ENGLISH LOAN NOUNS IN PURKO DIALECT OF THE MAA LANGUAGE IN NAROK NORTH SUB COUNTY ESTHER SAMATO NKUKUU This research aimed at analyzing the phonological adaptation of the English loan nouns in Purko dialect of the Maa language in Narok North sub-county. Linguistic borrowing is inevitable in any linguistic contact. The Maa language has borrowed many nouns from the English language since the two languages co-exist through its speakers. The usage of English language among the Maa speakers is unavoidable due to its high status in Kenya; it is one of the official languages and also one of the languages of instruction in the Kenyan schools. Therefore, the borrowed nouns have been adapted phonologically into the Maa sound system for correct and acceptable pronunciation. This research was directed by the following objectives; to compare the Maa language and English language phonemic structure, to derive the phonotactic rules governing the adaptation of the English loan nouns in the Purko dialect and to describe the phonological processes employed in the adaptation of the borrowed English loan nouns in the Purko dialect in Narok North Sub- County. The study majored on the borrowed English nouns as used by the Maa speakers of the Purko dialect, this is because the noun class is the most borrowed class of words as it is used in naming of items not found in the borrowing language. Being a study of phonological adaptation, the CV- phonology theory Clements and Keyser (1983) and Lexical Phonology theory (LP) by Mohanan and Kiparsky(1980) were used. The CV-phonology was appropriate in comparing the phonemic structure of the English and Maa languages and also in deriving the phonotactic rules governing the adaptation of the loan nouns. LP theory was used in describing the phonological processes used in the adaptation of the loan nouns. This study used the qualitative approach where the descriptive and analytical research designs were used to describe and analyze the data. 150 Purko loan nouns which were sufficient for this research were purposively sampled from the Purko nouns. The data was collected using introspection and key informant interview methods of data collection. The collected data was described and analyzed using content analysis and the data presented in tables. This research found out that, the English and the Maa languages have some similarities and differences in their phonemic structure which necessitated the derivation of phonotactic rules such as, phonotactic rules of substitution, phonotactic rule of devoicing, phonotactic rule of vowel reduction, phonotactic rule of vowel epenthesis, phonotactic rule of assimilation and the phonotactic rule of nasalization. These rules governed the adaptation of the Purko loan nouns from the English language. Phonological processes of substitution, devoicing, vowel reduction, vowel epenthesis, assimilation and nasalization were involved in the adaptation. The results of this research will contribute to the studies on phonology especially phonological adaptation of loan nouns between languages. The results will also benefit the curriculum developers on the current Kenyan curriculum, CBC in getting content on the Maa sound system on loanwords.

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z NJOROGE SUSAN WANJIRU http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/13586 2024-07-26T06:36:57Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

MWINGILIANO MATINI KATIKA TAMTHILIA ZA KINJEKETILE NA MAJIRA YA UTASA NJOROGE SUSAN WANJIRU Mwingiliano matini ni dhana ya kuathiriana, kuhusiana na kutegemeana kwa matini. Kila matini huwa na mwingiliano kwani hurejelea, huchakata na huchota kutoka kwa matini tangulizi. Kila kazi ya kisanaa, kulingana na Kristeva, ni mwingiliano ambao huathiriana na matini nyingine, huandikwa upya, huzigeuza au huzibeza matini. Dhana hii ya mwingiliano matini iliibua haja ya uchambuzi wa tamthilia ya Kinjeketile (1969) ya Ebrahim Hussein na Majira ya Utasa (2015) ya Timothy Arege. Kuna tafiti chache ambazo zimefanywa kuhusiana na suala la mwingiliano matini katika kulinganisha kipindi cha ukoloni na nyakati za sasa baada ya ukoloni. Hivyo, kazi hii ililenga kutafiti nyanja hii ambayo haijatafitiwa vya kutosha kwa kutathmini ni kwa kiwango kipi tamthilia ya Kinjeketile inapigwa mwangwi na tamthilia ya Majira ya Utasa. Malengo yaliyoongoza utafiti huu yalikuwa: kubainisha mfanano wa muktadha wa kihistoria na kijami wa tamthilia za Kinjeketile na Majira ya Utasa, kulinganisha maudhui katika tamthilia hizi na kutambulisha mfanano wa fani katika tamthilia tulizoteua. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na nadharia ya Mwingiliano matini ya Julia Kristeva (1986). Mihimili iliyoongoza utafiti huu ni pamoja na: matini yoyote ile ni madadiliko ya mpangilio wa matini nyingine, kazi za fasihi huundwa kutokana na mifumo ya kanuni na tamaduni mbalimbali zilizowekwa na kazi tangulizi, matini moja hufafanua usomekaji wa mkusanyiko wa matini zote za kongoo moja ambapo matini tangulizi hufyonzwa na kujibiwa na matini mpya, matini za kifasihi huchota, kunukuu, kugeuza na kuiga kwa kurejelea matini nyingine. Muundo wa utafiti huu ulikuwa wa uchanganuzi wa yaliyomo. Data ilikusanywa kutokana na usomaji wa kina wa tamthilia tulizoteua. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalibainisha kwamba tamthilia za Kinjeketile na Majira ya Utasa zina mfanano wa muktadha wa kihistoria na kijamii wa utunzi wake. Vilevile ilibainika kuwa kuna maudhui na fani zinazolingana katika kazi hizi. Utafiti huu ni wa manufaa kwa wanafunzi wa fasihi, waandishi na pia walimu wa fasihi. Kazi hii ni matini nyingine ya kurejea haswa katika uchambuzi wa fasihi inayolinganisha kazi ya vipindi tofauti vya kihistoria na kijamii.

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z Nyangweso, Martha http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/6406 2024-07-25T13:02:01Z 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

Nafasi Na Athari Ya Kiongozi Wa Kike Katika Tamthilia Teule Za Kiswahili Syekei Nyangweso, Martha Literature is any work of creative imagination deemed to have artistic or intellectual value that deploys language in a way that differs from ordinary usage. It includes spoken and sung texts. The very basic forms of literature include: poetry, drama, fiction and non fiction. Literature feeds the soul and for great literal scholars it is the only asset that gives a clear picture of a given society. Great literal works resonate readers across centuries by telling the human condition today as it was when printed word was first produced. Literal works are a central part of many lives by providing a gateway to a deeper level of thought by unlocking culture of a time period, giving wisdom to modern society, broadening the mind as well as helping one write well. Little attention has been given on the role and challenges faced by the women leaders in Africa. On this basis, our research has deemed it fit to critically examine and analyse content to highlight on their role and influence in the larger society. This research fully examined and explained the role and challenges faces by women leaders. Our main concern was to know if women leaders had realized their cross gender relations and attitudes as leaders inorder to fully understand their society. Our research was focused on analysing content from four Kiswahili written plays commonly known as drama. The plays to analyse were; Kilio cha Haki, Pango, Sudana and Posa za Bikisiwa. Drama genre potrays serious presentations or stories that show realistic characters in conflict either with themselves, others or forces of nature. This genre showed human beings at their best, worst and everything in-between. Our main area of study was the theme of leadership. This theme has played a large role in developing the plot of the selected plays. It helped develop character, role and influence the women leaders had on the diverse societies the plays were staged. According to the feminist literary theory, which was used as a guide in the analysis of the data in this study, women leaders threaten the men domain. Leadership was a men domain for centuries in many African societies. Due to world awakening and change of guard, affirmative action has taken centre stage. Despite the many challenges faced, women leaders now are having a positive influence in many African societies. Purposive sampling was used due to its reliability for our study. By employing it we were able to get representative information about the study topic. The results of this study have shed light on societal attitudes towards women leaders. This research would be of great importance to Kiswahili readers and reseachers of literature. This study has also identified and recommended topics of future research in literal works related to this area.

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z