https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/107 2026-05-15T12:08:43Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6371 The potential of natural products in metabolic disease management: a thorough exploration of the case of Uganda Ahikiriza, Allan Amooti; Bukke, Sarad Pawar Naik; Yadesa, Tadele Mekuriya, et al As Ugandans grapple with an increase in metabolic diseases, researchers are turning to their rich tradition of natural remedies. This review explores promising plants, such as Moringa oleifera, bridging the gap between the wisdom of Ugandan healers and modern science. Although these plants show potential, challenges remain. Many lack rigorous testing, standardized extracts, and long-term safety data. To unlock their true potential, a multipronged approach is needed. First, well-designed clinical trials are crucial to bringing together traditional healers and modern researchers. Imagine a Ugandan pharmacist precisely measuring a Moringa oleifera extract – this standardization ensures consistent results for future patients. Second, researchers need to delve deeper into how these plants influence the body. Finally, long-term safety studies are essential, especially when combined with medications. By following these steps, researchers can unleash the true power of Ugandan natural products. This empowers Ugandans to take control of their health. Future exploration of lesser-known plants and culturally sensitive education programs can further equip Ugandans on their way to well-being. 2025-01-10T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6191 From your seat in Heaven, hear our prayer: Prayer in the Nomiya Church. Maseno, Loreen Prayer is the act of communication by humans with God and beings in the transcendent realm. The Nomiya Church (NC) is the oldest African Independent Church in Kenya. It was founded by Johana Owalo who saw the Arabs, the Jews, and the Luo being the only people allowed in heaven, for they had prophetic representatives. This essay considers Luo cultural beliefs and their deep inroads in NC. It reflects on the perceived privileging of the Luo people and further isolates Muslim influences in NC prayer. Four selected prayers are sampled to underscore forms of prayer and an exploration of the Christological challenges posed. The article can be accessed in full via:https://research.ebsco.com/c/ow7ibm/search/details/s2pmmudqef?db=a9h 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6190 African Women, Covid-19, Grounded theology and the adoption of a religious virtual space in CITAM Ngong Church and Nomiya Luo Church in Kenya. Maseno, Loreen; Chirongoma, Sophia The Republic of Kenya Ministry of Health update on Corona Virus on 13th February 2020 insisted that persons were to avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections. A ban was imposed on public meetings. Later, lockdowns were introduced, and religious meetings were banned across the country. Religious actors during and after the Covid-19 lockdowns devised ways through which they could reach their members, given the absence of physical meetings. The adoption of religious virtual space has impacted African women’s congregational life variously. Acknowledging the integral role of technology in our contemporary times, this article reflects on the creation and adoption of virtual space by African women in CITAM Ngong and Nomiya Church, Kenya, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also highlight some aspects relating to mental health during the pandemic. Using grounded theology as a useful methodological approach, over a period of 6 months, data was collected that was in touch with the realities of the religious arena. Through grounded theology, data was generated deriving from research on religious virtual space. Methodologically, the study adopted grounded theology as a method for unearthing stories informing the everyday lives of African women in the religious virtual space from data collected over six months. The theoretical framework applied is Rogers’ diffusion and adoption theory to explain the adoption of technology by women from these two churches. The key findings emerging from the study are that technology adoption is complex and inherently social. In addition, gendered experiences from the everyday lives of these African women considered broader and embedded structures, because it is in relation to these that the religious virtual space was made meaningful. Further, access to the right technology and resources that run technology influenced the use of the religious virtual space by the women https://www.orcid.org/0000-0003-3141-3898 2024-08-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6189 Introduction: Themes in African Pentecostalism Chitando, Ezra; Togarasei, Lovemore; Maseno, Loreen This chapter provides the background to the volume. The volume, located within the larger discourse of the contribution by African scholars to the study of African Pentecostalism, brings to the fore some of the key themes in the field. It highlights how themes such as the Bible, women, healing, masculinities, the media, prosperity, governance, responses to COVID-19 and others intersect with and transform Pentecostalism in Africa. However, it is important to indicate that these themes are not exhaustive, but representative. They serve to highlight the vibrancy of the phenomenon and to draw attention to the contribution of African scholars in clarifying some of its most significant dimensions. Overall, the volume serves to confirm that African scholars are key stakeholders in the study of African Pentecostalism. Scholar article found in the book titled : African Pentecostalism from African Perspectives: Volume 2: Themes 2024-10-29T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6188 The Eucharist in the Time of COVID-19: Adaptations and Transformations in Christ Is The Answer Ministries (CITAM) Church in Kenya Maseno, Loreen COVID-19 changed the religious landscape across many regions of the world. In Kenya, public gatherings were prohibited at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Further into the pandemic, face-to-face religious services were forbidden across the entire country. Due to such radical measures taken by the Kenyan government, there was an increased adoption and utilisation of virtual spaces in religious contexts in Kenya. Facilitating rituals in virtual church services is a major shift and a Kenyan reality that has the potential to transform lives either negatively or positively. This chapter explores the adaptation of the Eucharist ritual within a Pentecostal Church, namely, Christ Is the Answer Ministry (CITAM), as a specific way to respond to the pandemic. It adopts grounded theology, with the goal of engaging creative and original findings on ritual practice in the virtual space. Methodologically, the chapter emphasises how grounded theology is compatible with grounded theory as a method for discovering hidden patterns and meanings and as a way to unearth stories informing rituals in the virtual space. The chapter further engages multidirectional flows, thus emphasising what the ritual has gained as opposed to what the ritual has lost, as generated from fieldwork. Scholar article found in the Book: African Pentecostalism from African Perspectives: Volume 2: Themes 2024-10-29T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6185 9 The Catholic Church and Psychosocial Support for Survivors of Violent Conflicts in Kenya’s North Rift Kilonzo, Mbulu.Susan Violent ethnic conflicts have devastating consequences on individuals, families, and communities. The physical, emotional, and psychological trauma that survivors of such conflicts experience can leave lasting scars that would affect their ability to lead healthy and productive lives. However, the community’s psychosocial support can play a crucial role in the healing journey of survivors, particularly when provided from a religious perspective. Recent studies show that religion and spirituality help improve health indicators in patients, although this improvement may vary across illnesses and patients. From evidence of field work done between 2018–2020 on the Catholic Church’s role in Peacebuilding, this chapter explores the way in which Church’s community engagement, contribute towards psychological and/or trauma healing, for survivors of violent ethnic conflicts in Kenya’s North Rift. The chapter uses a number of narratives from emergent themes from field data, as well as literature review. Data was gathered through focus group discussions, observation, and in-depth oral interviews. The arguments centre on the relevance of religious activities, and importance of community support systems in providing a sense of safety, belonging, and empowerment to survivors of violence. The support systems are in the form of support groups and therapy spaces, which are largely hinged on the theory of social capital, and the theory of contact. Ultimately, the chapter shows that a holistic approach to healing integrates psychosocial, religious/spiritual, and communal dimensions to provide a viable framework for supporting survivors of violent ethnic conflicts. 2024-07-22T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6119 Anne Kubai Weaving the Tapestry of Religion and Post-Conflict Social Construction for the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians Osuka, Monika; Maseno, Loreen Anne Kubai considered one of the Matriarchs of the Circle of concerned African Women Theologians in Africa. She is a Kenyan by origin and has contributed to the scholarly journey of the circle over the years. This chapter sets out to examine her select works with the aim of understanding the contexts that motivated her work. It shall also highlight the sources she used to generate her theological ideas. Further, the essay shall discussing how she weaves specific features of her theology and their purpose for Christendom in East Africa. Weaving any tapestry in life involves a journey, and not all journeys are similar. Some tapestries present challenges and pain, while others indicate victory and flourishing. Some tapestries by Kubai are in the midst of genocide, while others are in social action in vulnerable communities. By placing a sharp focus on her context, this chapter in essence highlights her engagements in different spheres and the kinds of interpretations of liberation she generates. It shall point out the sources that she uses, the theology she generates and the kind of ecclesiology/s she proposes for African women theologians of the present and the future. Further, it also points to the impact of her theological, community action and communicative ideas that she generates. In all this chapter also firms how her faith has been able to impact the academic spaces. In conclusion, Kubai’s theology shall be exposed by reason of how she addresses multiple themes such as patriarchy and infertility, Genocide and reconstruction, Community engagement, forgiveness and other social factors. DOI of the Article: 10.20378/irb-94423 2024-03-28T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6118 Mapping East and Central African Feminist Theologies Maseno, Loreen The Circle of concerned African women theologians (hereafter the Circle) was founded on the 25th September 1989 in Accra, Ghana. The Circle is a contemporary network of women from across Africa, some of whom live outside Africa. It is a voluntary movement, whose work often takes place within regional meetings. The Circle was inaugurated in order to facilitate the writing, research and publication by a Pan-African multi-religious and multiracial network of women. Within the Circle is the open acknowledgement and appreciation of differences, therefore, there is a focus to work hand in hand, and not in division or strife. According to Hinga, the Circle is concerned with voicing protests against sexism and its roots in religion and culture (Hinga 1996: 31). The Circle seeks to develop women’s theological contribution in Churches, Schools, Colleges, Universities and in the society and therefore be agents of change in both customary and modern legislation. The Circle places emphasis on the impact of Religion and culture upon African women. It remains a community of African women theologians who come together to discuss issues of common concerns based on their experiences in their different religions and cultures. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6117 Queen of Sheba: East and Central African Women’s Theologies of Liberation (Circle Jubilee Volume 2) Maseno, Loreen; Mombo, Esther; Muke, Nagaju; Kahindo, Veronica BiAS 40, named after a legendary biblical woman, the Queen of Sheba, is celebrating the wisdom of pioneers of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians'(CIRCLE). This volume rose within the context of producing biographies of the founding members of the CIRCLE. The three regional volumes are: Sankofa: Liberation Theologies of West African Women, ed. by S. Amenyedi, M. Yele & Y. Maton (BiAS 39); Queen of Sheba: East and Central African Theologies of Liberation, ed. by L. Maseno, E. Mombo, N. Muke & VK Kahindo (BiAS 40); Nehanda: Women's Theologies of Liberation in Southern Africa, ed. by N. Mwale, R. Gabaitse, D. Tembo & F. Kobo (BiAS 41). Thus, this interdenominational collection of essays, being the second part of the CIRCLE jubilee trilogy, focuses on East and Central African women, their lives and struggles and their powerful Queen-of-Sheba-Wisdom in contributing to liberation in theory and practice"--back cover. 2024-03-18T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6116 9| African Women Befriending Jesus in Teresia Hinga’s Ecclesia Maseno, Loreen Teresia Mbari Hinga, is a Kenyan and a professor of Religious Studies in USA, specializing in African religions, Feminist theologies, Religion and contemporary moral issues. She holds a Doctorate from the University of Lancaster UK Her doctoral work was a unique contribution to her theological enterprise wherein she was able to examine the Legio Maria independent Church and the transformations this church had made upon Mariology from the Roman Catholic Church (Hinga 1992b). For her, the distinct history of Africans is a history that is marked by colonialism, therefore the cultural context from which African women theologians speak is distinct. There is a decisively ambiguous impact of Christianity in the lives of African women. Christianity has participated in the oppression of women, since it has functioned to legitimize colonialism, racism and sexism. However, at the same time, African women have appropriated for themselves the gospel of liberty implied in Christianity (Hinga 1996: 31). 2024-03-18T00:00:00Z