https://utafitionline.com/index.php/JRAW/issue/feedJournal of Research and Academic Writing2024-12-04T09:14:49+00:00Utafiti Onlineadmin@utafitionline.comOpen Journal Systems<p><strong>Journal of Research and Academic Writing</strong> is a peer-reviewed Journal relevant to all scholars in all disciplines, including graduate and post-graduate students. The journal covers the following key areas: Research application, Research spaces, Research Education, Research Methodology, Research methods, Research experiences, Research Philosophy, Research on research, Research and Artificial Intelligence (AI), History of research; and Research and Politics. It also documents the teaching, researching, developing, and implementing academic writing styles.</p>https://utafitionline.com/index.php/JRAW/article/view/769Examining Sexist Inferences on The Churchill Show's Stand-Up Comedy2024-10-04T10:00:32+00:00Naftal Nyakundinaftalnyakundi@yahoo.comBenard Mudogodmudogo@mmust.ac.keDavid Barasadavidbarasa@mmust.ac.ke<p>This study explores the implicit gender biases present in the performances of specific stand-up comedians featured on <em>The Churchill Show</em>, broadcast on Kenya’s TV47. Employing Fairclough’s (2001) sociocultural framework within Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the paper delves into the nuanced expressions of verbal sexist humour articulated by these comedians. A descriptive research design is utilized, along with purposive sampling and thorough content analysis, to reveal the subtle sexist inferences and examine how they are constructed through language. In November 2023, selected stand-up performances were transcribed verbatim for detailed analysis. The transcriptions were meticulously coded to highlight instances of sexist humour, which were then analysed within their cultural and contextual settings. The content analysis focused on humorous elements that reflect or reinforce power imbalances, societal stereotypes, and gender-based discrimination. The results underscore the role of these inferences in sustaining sexist stereotypes and ideologies within Kenyan society. By scrutinizing the comedic narratives from <em>The Churchill Show</em>, this paper contributes to the academic conversation surrounding humour, language, and gender representation. Understanding the linguistic underpinnings and implications of verbal sexist humour is vital for addressing societal attitudes towards gender and promoting equality. Additionally, this paper illuminates the broader sociocultural factors that influence comedic discourse in Kenya.</p>2024-09-30T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://utafitionline.com/index.php/JRAW/article/view/777Core Mechanisms in Mediating eHealth Implementation and Uptake: A Case Study of Eastern Uganda2024-10-06T17:37:19+00:00Grace Adonggrace.adong21@gmail.comCollins Otieno Odoyograce.adong21@gmail.comJasper Malcolm Ondulograce.adong21@gmail.com<p>Researchers agree that, globally, in both developing and developed countries, healthcare management is faced with acute challenges: expanding areas of health needs, operationalizing health management, constrained budget allocations, as well as resource limitations. Hence, there is an imminent drive to find solutions to stimulate health system transformation through health system innovation. Therefore, effective national operational strategies to minimize resource wastage and contain the costs of health service delivery are critical. The study adopted a methodology that incorporated different research approaches and strategies. Deductive and inductive approaches were used; the strategies were surveys and case studies. A sample of 178 health professionals and administrators in three Health care facilities in Eastern Uganda, were determined and surveyed. Eligible respondents were stratified and selected through simple random sampling. Self-administered questionnaires and interview guides were used to gather the data. The captured data was analysed using Stata version 17. Regression analysis was used to determine the impact of eHealth Implementation core mechanisms on Quality Health Service Delivery. From the results of regression analysis, the core mechanisms variable had a p-value of 0.049 which was significant. For eHealth Implementation Core Mechanisms, the respondents have less control over them since they are dependent on several environmental factors, such as government funding or grants, Government regulations, and policies among others.</p>2024-10-06T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://utafitionline.com/index.php/JRAW/article/view/779Strategies for unlocking EMR Interoperability: A Narrative Review2024-10-07T15:03:24+00:00Elaine Pamela Kansiimeelaine2ug@gmail.comCollins Otieno Odoyoelaine2ug@gmail.comJasper Malcom Onduloelaine2ug@gmail.com<p>Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is intended to solve many issues in patient care pathway besides the administrative roles which equally makes the hospital paperless, but they still face major interoperability issues. When there is no systematic connection between different healthcare providers, medical information pertaining to patients becomes fragmented, incomplete, and outdated. This study was undertaken to investigate the strategies used to overcome interoperability challenges by EMR implementors. A narrative review was conducted, and various keywords were used to search in EBSCO, Google Scholar, and pertinent healthcare informatics articles for papers published between 2012 and 2024. Drawing from a range of studies, the findings indicate that Machine learning and artificial intelligence, Standardization of Data Exchange Protocols, Blockchain technology, EHR-Agnostic Platforms, Training and Organizational Support, Government and Policy Interventions, social factors are the strategies that successful EMR implementers have employed to achieve EMR interoperability.</p>2024-10-07T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://utafitionline.com/index.php/JRAW/article/view/785Security Evaluation Framework for Virtualised Environments2024-10-13T07:24:13+00:00Martha Weremarthawere90@gmail.comRuppra Satwinder Singhmarthawere90@gmail.comJairus Odawamarthawere90@gmail.com<p>With the expansion of cloud computing, virtual environments remain susceptible to sophisticated security threats, such as hypervisor vulnerabilities, VM escapes, inter-VM attacks, DoS attacks, and malware injections. Hence, ensuring that virtualised environments are secure, has become increasingly crucial. These threats are particularly affecting as many enterprises which have shifted to online services and remote work. This paper examines the existing frameworks which have been designed to address the existing challenges, their gaps and strengths; and proposes an enhanced security framework that can help to mitigate these threats. The framework was developed following an iterative process encompassing several stages. It has the hypervisor layer, virtual machine layer, network layer, management layer, and monitoring and response layer components. The framework aims to enhance detection capabilities, reduce response times, minimise system performance impact, and lower false positive rates while optimising resource utilisation by providing a practical and effective approach to securing virtualised infrastructures, thereby ensuring the resilience and reliability of cloud-based services.</p>2024-10-13T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://utafitionline.com/index.php/JRAW/article/view/804An Integrated Framework for Scientific and Ethical Review of Research Proposals2024-10-21T14:45:25+00:00Moses Thigamthiga@kabrak.ac.kePamela Kimetop_kimeto@kabarak.ac.keMichael Walekhwamwalekhwa@kabarak.ac.ke<p>Research proposals must adhere to both scientific and ethical standards to ensure the integrity and impact of research endeavours. However, existing guidelines often fall short in providing comprehensive guidance for non-medical disciplines, requiring separate documents for scientific and ethical reviews, and lacking detailed instructions for specific steps such as risk-benefit analysis and the use of secondary data. This study addresses these challenges by developing a detailed, step-by-step guideline for preparing research proposals that seamlessly integrate scientific and ethical reviews. Through a qualitative research design, involving focus group discussions with ethics review committee members and key informant interviews with experts, combined with a comprehensive literature review, this study identified best practices and challenges in the current review process. The proposed guideline offers a structured approach to preparing research proposals, emphasizing clarity in research objectives, methodology, data analysis, and expected outcomes for scientific review. For ethical review, it provides detailed instructions on risk-benefit analysis, informed consent processes, privacy and confidentiality measures, and the ethical use of secondary or archival data. The guidelines were pilot-tested with researchers to ensure their usability and effectiveness, resulting in a refined tool that can standardize the proposal preparation process and improve the quality and integrity of research across various disciplines.</p>2024-10-21T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://utafitionline.com/index.php/JRAW/article/view/818The Dynamics of Kikuyu-Kalenjin Ethno-Political Relationships: The Run-up to 2013 Elections in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya2024-11-06T09:15:07+00:00Georgine Anyango Onyangogeorgineonyango@gmail.comPontian Godfrey Okothgeorgineonyango@gmail.comPaul Opondogeorgineonyango@gmail.com<p>Kenyan elections have been intermittently marked by some degree of violence reaching its apex in the 2007 Post Election Violence (PEV). Surprisingly, in the following immediate national elections held in 2013, the two major protagonist ethnics; the Kikuyu and Kalenjin, previously embroiled in the political violence of 2007, came together in a new political coalition in the fight for the position of president and vice president. The elections witnessed the political elite skilfully harness their cultural institutions to achieve political power. The main concern of this study, therefore, was to establish the role played by certain cultural aspects of ethnicity in restructuring the political engagements between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin in Uasin Gishu in the run-up to the 2013 elections. To this end, the study employed the lens of instrumentalist and primordial theories while employing the historical method with a duality of an interpretivism philosophical underpinning and a qualitative approach. Primary data was analysed thematically and corroborated with secondary data. The study posits that some cultural aspects of both the Kalenjin and Kikuyu were instrumentalised by the political elite in Uasin Gishu to coalesce their people for political expediency. By the use of the same reverse logic, the study advocates the use of traditional African cultural structures to inculcate peace and political tolerance among the residents of Uasin Gishu as this historical study has proved possible.</p>2024-11-06T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 https://utafitionline.com/index.php/JRAW/article/view/846Transformational Leadership in Higher Education: Empowering Africa's Future2024-12-04T09:14:49+00:00Henry Kiptiony Kiplangatwanyamam@yahoo.com<p>Transformational leadership, focusing on vision, innovation, and empowerment, is gaining prominence in African higher education systems. As the continent navigates the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, such as rapid technological advances, globalisation, and socio-economic inequalities, there is growing recognition that higher education institutions (HEIs) must play a pivotal role in preparing future leaders. Anchored on Kouze and Posner’s (2012) transformational leadership model, this paper explores the significance of transformational leadership in African higher education, examining how it can drive institutional change, enhance academic outcomes, and empower future generations. Through a review of existing literature, qualitative interviews with university leaders, and evidence-based case studies, the paper highlights critical principles of transformational leadership, its impact on African universities, and policy recommendations for its implementation. Although African higher education faces challenges such as resource constraints, political instability and government interference, brain drain, and equity, transformative leaders can mitigate these challenges by expanding digital learning and technological advancement, decolonising, and contextualising the curriculum, as well as facilitating global collaborations and partnerships. African governments must ensure that universities have the autonomy to implement innovative leadership strategies without undue political interference.</p>2024-12-04T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024