https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/3309 2026-05-15T12:09:11Z 2026-05-15T12:09:11Z Odhiambo, Alphonce, Kasera Omondi Owiso, Michael, Owiso Mburu, Benson,Kinyagia https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5711 2023-05-22T14:16:51Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Governing Emerging Technologies: A Systematic Exploration of Kenya’s Biotechnology and LMO-Specific Policy Documents for Adoption and Implementation of Synthetic Biology Odhiambo, Alphonce, Kasera; Omondi Owiso, Michael, Owiso; Mburu, Benson,Kinyagia As an emerging yet disruptive technology, the most challenging questions surrounding synthetic biology (SynBio) are, arguably, those of regulatory nature. At the global scale, such questions have been framed within the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its protocols. Hence, SynBio regulatory debates have largely been framed as similar to Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). National policies on LMOs domesticated from the CBD frameworks (and other relevant instruments) have thus been perceived as applicable to the regulation of SynBio. Recent debates, however, within the CBD, at regional and national scales, have pointed to the ‘complex’ nature of SynBio leading to a call for policymakers and regulators to ‘update’ LMO regulations or formulate SynBio-‘specific regulations’. This is so, it is argued because certain products and components of SynBio contain unique potential risks and applications. Consequently, the present study is an excerpt from a Master Thesis Study, which exploited an exploratory qualitative design and the theory of adaptive anticipatory governance, to explore 16 biotechnology and LMOspecific policy documents for adoption of SynBio. The study was conducted between May November 2021. The results of the study show that although Kenya has domesticated several global regimes on biotechnology and LMOs, the policy environment is still inadequate to effectively regulate SynBio. The policy environment does not outline a clear platform for cooperation and coordination between potential key stakeholders, including academia, industry and the government, and the general public. Critically and more importantly, the biosafety, biosecurity, bioethical risk issues related to SynBio cannot be properly regulated using current biotechnology frameworks. The study concludes that Kenya should consider updating its biotechnology policies or define a Synthetic biology-specific policy in order to adapt and implement SynBio in a responsible research and innovation environment. In this regard, the study proposed an adaptive anticipatory governance model that can provide the needed tools to evaluate the regulatory gaps in the current LMOs regulatory frameworks; hence facilitating the formulation of the requisite regulatory environment for SynBio.

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z OMONDI, Michael ,Owiso https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5710 2023-05-22T13:56:58Z 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

Elided Populations: A Baseline Survey on Human Trafficking in Kenya OMONDI, Michael ,Owiso Trafficking in persons is a crime. It is gaining momentum in the continent and particularly in Kenya and also attracting the attention of actors who are working to combat it. This focus shows the multiplicity of actors working together to prosecute, prevent and protect. Evidence of both intra-regional, as well as inter-regional trafficking, is available. This study seeks to build synergy in the counter-trafficking efforts in Kenya. In so doing it aims to in the overall identify gaps in combating and responding to human trafficking and offer programmatic recommendations/suggestions particularly for IRC and other actors within the Kenyan geographical space. https://vbn.aau.dk/en/publications/elided-populations-a-baseline-survey-on-human-trafficking-in-keny

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z OMONDI, Owiso ,Michael https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5709 2023-05-20T10:26:13Z 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z

Incoherent policies and contradictory priorities in Kenya OMONDI, Owiso ,Michael Policies should aim to realise a people or a group’s aspirations. However, in politically complex institutional environments, the design and adoption of policies may lose sight of common goals. Since the 1990s, Kenya has enforced a strict policy of refugee encampment. Then in 2017, in an apparent turn towards integration, Kenya became a pilot roll-out country of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF)1 and pledged to pursue self-reliance and socio-economic integration for refugees. The 2021 Refugees Act embraced both integration and encampment in a confusing combination of seemingly contradictory policy orientations.2 Further complicating the situation, the central government has made repeated calls to close the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, which host over 80% of refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya. In light of these contradictions, how should we understand the Kenyan government’s commitments? How do these policies affect refugee-host relations? This article draws upon interviews and discussions with refugees and host community members in Kakuma, as well as aid providers, to describe the divergent policy space that has emerged.

2022-09-01T00:00:00Z Omondi, Owiso ,Michael https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5708 2023-05-20T10:11:38Z 2022-10-27T00:00:00Z

One Step Forward, Two Backward—Every Five Years: Electoral Violence and Peacebuilding in Kenya Omondi, Owiso ,Michael Over the past twenty years or so, the peacebuilding enterprise has witnessed the development of many frameworks, models, strategies, fundamental assumptions and principles designed to achieve sustainable peace. Peacebuilding remains largely a eastern dominated concept, particularly at the ideation level, with the result that prescriptions on peacebuilding have been made by the epistemically dominant communities and subsequently criticized as one-size-fits-all (sometimes called “peacebuilding by IKEA”)—the liberal peace agenda. This criticism has been advanced because the obtaining social, political, economic, and cultural realities have fundamentally challenged such processes in various parts of the globe. In Kenya, for example, the peacebuilding industry has existed for over twenty years and has made certain strides, while also faltering in other aspects. One of the constraints to peacebuilding in the country has been the cyclical violence experienced in every election year since the early nineties. Hence the cliché of “every five years we start all over again.” This paper examines the infrastructures for peace in Kenya—particularly those that respond to electoral violence—and questions whether they address the root problem of the conflict. The application of Johan Galtung’s structural violence framework helps in answering the question: do peacebuilding efforts in Kenya address the structural problems? The paper benefits from making an exposition of the mandate, findings, and recommendations made by Commissions of Inquiry mounted after periods of electoral violence. This is done in order to determine the root causes of the violence and to look further into the programmatic nature of responses made by various peace actors. This study uses data from interviews conducted with stakeholders in the peacebuilding fraternity in Kenya. Secondary data, mainly documents and reports from various organizations and governments, are also used. The article can be accessed in full via: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-92474-4_43

2022-10-27T00:00:00Z Zakayo Osore https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/3313 2022-02-03T20:25:12Z 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z

Socio-economic characteristics and the performance of women-owned enterprises in Mumias town Zakayo Osore This study examines how socio-economic characteristics affect the performance of women owned enterprises in Mumias town. This study builds upon the premise that differences in socio- economic characteristics affects performance of women owned enterprises. The study utilizes social change theory. The following were the study objectives; to determine how differences in education levels of women entrepreneurs affect the performance of their businesses; to determine the impact of dependency on the performance of women- owned enterprises; to determine how differences in age affects the performance of women owned enterprises, to determine the impact of marital status on the performance of women- owned enterprises. Interviews were held with eighty female entrepreneurs selected on a random basis. Five key informants provided detailed information on key areas of the study. The study reveals that socio-economic characteristics affect the performance of women-owned enterprises in different ways. This is manifested by differences in income, the number of workers and the initial capital available to start enterprises. The study has established that education; marital status and age were positively related to the enterprises income. However a large number of dependents have negatively affected enterprises income The study recommends the government should invest more in education of women, as it is key to better performance of women-owned enterprises. Secondly the government and nongovernmental organization should provide more capital to poor enterprenuers. Lastly the government (Local Authority) should provide enabling environment to entrepreneurs for the purposes of development.

2003-01-01T00:00:00Z Osore Zakayo https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/3312 2020-12-04T10:58:18Z 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z

This study is about Nile perch market liberalization and chronic poverty among fishing community in Suba District. It identifies the socio economic characteristic of chronically poor households among Nile perch fisher folks. It also investigates how Nile perch markets liberalization have caused and sustained chronic poverty among Nile perch fisher folks' households. The study has made use of the adverse incorporation and social exclusion, institutional framework and structures of competition as conceptual frameworks to analyze its findings. The study had two stages of data collection; The first stage was data collection through participatory chronic assessment seminars, whereby, the participants were selected from sampled beaches. Second stage of data collection was by administering structured questionnaires to chronically poor households identified by the participants from chronic poverty assessments seminars based on locally perceived attributes of chronic poverty. Statistical Programme for Social Science was employed to analyze the quantitative data while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The study finding reveals that chronically poor are not homogeneous groups among fishers. They consist of female-headed. households, uneducated headed households, windows, and people with disabilities among others. The study also reveals that Nile perch market liberalization occasioned changes in the traditional Nile perch trade. Those who were not able to adapt to the dynamics of external trade were marginalized and relegated into chronic poverty. The following were mentioned as drivers to chronic poverty: low volume of fish catch, expensive fishing gears, over fishing, lack of loaning institutions, over dependence on fishing, government fishing policy, direct Nile perch marketing, and mismanagement of fishing co-operative societies, theft of fishing gears, death of breadwinners, poor road networks and lack of external market information. The maintainers of chronic poverty include: low volume of fish catch, lack of saving culture and institutions, poor financial planning, lack of loaning institutions, monopoly of fishing, and modernization of fishing methods, government policy, and high price of fishing gears, direct trade, illness and middlemen exploitation. In line with study findings, the study makes recommendations to address the issues of chronic poverty among fisher folks' communities. Addressing chronic poverty is complex and complicated hence requiring multiple responses and partnership approach. These responses should address literacy levels, gender inequality, attitude change, specific scheme of social protection and diversification of sources of livelihood and incomes. Osore Zakayo This study examines how socio-economic characteristics affect the performance of women owned enterprises in Mumias town. This study builds upon the premise that differences in socio- economic characteristics affects performance of women owned enterprises. The study utilizes social change theory. The following were the study objectives; to determine how differences in education levels of women entrepreneurs affect the performance of their businesses; to determine the impact of dependency on the performance of women- owned enterprises; to determine how differences in age affects the performance of women owned enterprises, to determine the impact of marital status on the performance of women- owned enterprises. Interviews were held with eighty female entrepreneurs selected on a random basis. Five key informants provided detailed information on key areas of the study. The study reveals that socio-economic characteristics affect the performance of women-owned enterprises in different ways. This is manifested by differences in income, the number of workers and the initial capital available to start enterprises. The study has established that education; marital status and age were positively related to the enterprises income. However a large number of dependents have negatively affected enterprises income The study recommends the government should invest more in education of women, as it is key to better performance of women-owned enterprises. Secondly the government and nongovernmental organization should provide more capital to poor enterprenuers. Lastly the government (Local Authority) should provide enabling environment to entrepreneurs for the purposes of development.

2003-01-01T00:00:00Z John O Owuor https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/3311 2020-12-04T10:56:40Z 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z

Nile perch market liberalization and chronic poverty: drivers and maintainers of chronic poverty among fishing community in Suba district John O Owuor This study is about Nile perch market liberalization and chronic poverty among fishing community in Suba District. It identifies the socio economic characteristic of chronically poor households among Nile perch fisher folks. It also investigates how Nile perch markets liberalization have caused and sustained chronic poverty among Nile perch fisher folks' households. The study has made use of the adverse incorporation and social exclusion, institutional framework and structures of competition as conceptual frameworks to analyze its findings. The study had two stages of data collection; The first stage was data collection through participatory chronic assessment seminars, whereby, the participants were selected from sampled beaches. Second stage of data collection was by administering structured questionnaires to chronically poor households identified by the participants from chronic poverty assessments seminars based on locally perceived attributes of chronic poverty. Statistical Programme for Social Science was employed to analyze the quantitative data while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The study finding reveals that chronically poor are not homogeneous groups among fishers. They consist of female-headed. households, uneducated headed households, windows, and people with disabilities among others. The study also reveals that Nile perch market liberalization occasioned changes in the traditional Nile perch trade. Those who were not able to adapt to the dynamics of external trade were marginalized and relegated into chronic poverty. The following were mentioned as drivers to chronic poverty: low volume of fish catch, expensive fishing gears, over fishing, lack of loaning institutions, over dependence on fishing, government fishing policy, direct Nile perch marketing, and mismanagement of fishing co-operative societies, theft of fishing gears, death of breadwinners, poor road networks and lack of external market information. The maintainers of chronic poverty include: low volume of fish catch, lack of saving culture and institutions, poor financial planning, lack of loaning institutions, monopoly of fishing, and modernization of fishing methods, government policy, and high price of fishing gears, direct trade, illness and middlemen exploitation. In line with study findings, the study makes recommendations to address the issues of chronic poverty among fisher folks' communities. Addressing chronic poverty is complex and complicated hence requiring multiple responses and partnership approach. These responses should address literacy levels, gender inequality, attitude change, specific scheme of social protection and diversification of sources of livelihood and incomes.

2008-01-01T00:00:00Z