Journal of Research and Academic Writing
type: channel
description: Journal of Research and Academic Writing 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.
publisher: UTAFITI FOUNDATION
language: en
publication name: Journal of Research and Academic Writing
issn: 3007-5343
items: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Gendered Lyrics in Gor Mahia FC Fandom Songs
items: Understanding Customers’ Satisfaction with Solid Waste Management Services in Morogoro Municipal Council, Tanzania
items: On the Verbal Functional Categories in Kisukuma: Polysemous Perspectives
items: https://utafitionline.com/index.php/jraw/article/view/1747
items: Family Communication Patterns and Academic Achievement in Public Secondary Schools in Nyeri County, Kenya
items: Drivers of Variance in Rural Water Service Sustainability: Evidence from Semi-Arid Tanzania
items: Selecting Social Science Research Methods: A Literature Review of Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods Approaches
items: Towards a Plural Epistemology: Qualitative Research and the Myth of Homogeneity in Fragile Contexts
items: Reconceptualising Mixed Methods Research Design in the Social Sciences: From Typology-Driven Templates to Context-Responsive Inquiry
items: Developing the STOE Framework and Implementation Architecture: A Dual Model for e-Health Implementation in Resource-Constrained Public Healthcare Settings of Western Kenya
items: Bridging the Last Mile: County-Proximate University as a Local Implementation Anchor for Two Parallel Digital Systems in Western Kenya
items: Gendering the Child in Luhya Popular Songs: An Analysis of Vincent Ongidi’s ‘Mama Mulayi’ and Kennedy Khaemba’s ‘Mayi Mutiti’
items: Parents’ Approaches to HIV Disclosure in Dodoma, Tanzania: A Phenomenological Study
items: Courtroom Interaction and the Representation of Judicial Authority in Tanzania: A Critical Discourse Analysis
items: Coverage of Organic Farming Practices by Kenya’s Leading Newspapers
items: Synergistic Effects of Learner Support Systems on the Success of Reintegration Project for Adolescent Mothers in the Lower Eastern Region of Kenya
items: Determinants of Post-Harvest practices adopted by smallholder horticulture farmers in Mashonaland West province, Zimbabwe
items: SEM-CFA Estimation of Factors that Influence the Growth of Mobile Virtual Network Operators: Case Study from Kenya
items: Availability of Mobile Virtual Network Operator Differentiated Services, Market Segments, and their Level of Utilisation in the Kenyan Market
items: Examination of the Effects of Imprisonment on Recidivism: A Review of Kisumu County, Kenya
items: Analysis of Physicochemical Properties and Nutrient Loads Affecting Water Quality in River Kuja, Migori County, Kenya
items: Influence of Workplace Culture on Organisational Performance: Experience from Tanzanian Public Sectors
items: A Pragma-Dialectical Approach to the Discourse Functionality of Presentational Devices in County Assembly Debates in Kenya
items: From Theory to Practice: A Theoretical Model for Disruptive ICT Innovations in Developing Economies
items: Influence of Financial External factors on Access to credit facilities among Local Civil Contractors in Tanzania
items: Assessment of Community Participation in Initiation Ceremonies in Tanzania: A Case of Msoga Ward in Chalinze District Council
items: Populist Tendencies in Kenya’s Political Representation Practice: Digital and Discursive Dimensions
items: Kiswahili Beyond Borders: Strengthening Africa's Lingua Franca in Digital and Academic Domains
items: A Mobile-based Authentication Technique (MbAT) for Enhancing Post-Decryption Security in Social Networking Applications
items: Enhancing Smart Building Sustainability with Hybrid Fog–Cloud Architectures: Insights from Simulated IoT Data

A Critical Discourse Analysis of Gendered Lyrics in Gor Mahia FC Fandom Songs
type: item
description: *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-6a2c8230-ae44-83ea-ba8c-2da4f046bf5f-1" data-turn-id-container="request-6a2c8230-ae44-83ea-ba8c-2da4f046bf5f-1" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> Football fandom songs have become platforms through which fans and supporters of football teams express their identity, emotions, loyalty and social values. Gor Mahia fans and supporters, in particular, have used these songs to communicate their perceptions on gender. Fans have used these songs to linguistically express their perception on men and women. Images of men and women have been constructed in these songs through metaphorical expressions, thematic representations and lexical choices. Existing literature on Gor Mahia FC songs focuses on community identity and belonging, cultural identification. However, there is limited studies on how Gor Mahia FC songs linguistically portray masculinity and femininity. This study is, therefore, set to establish how masculinity and femininity are linguistically embedded in Gor Mahia FC songs. Data analysis was done using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). CDA views linguistic choices as a way of constructing how socio-cultural structures, identities, social power relations and gender relations are portrayed in texts. Through random sampling technique, thirty songs were audio-recorded. It is from the audio-recordings that twenty songs were purposively selected guided by song content of gendered and sexist Dholuo language. The selected songs were then descriptively analysed within the CDA framework. The finding of this study is that contents of Gor Mahic FC fandom songs are dominated by patriarchy and male chauvinism with women contemptuously displayed. Theoretically, this study contributes to the …
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Discourse
  topic: keywords
subject: Gender
  topic: keywords
subject: Gor Mahia
  topic: keywords
subject: Lyrics
  topic: keywords
creator: Lilian Halima Otieno
creator: Walter Ochieng Sande
creator: John Obiero Ogone
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-06-13
publication date: 2026-06-13
starting page: 50
ending page: 61
doi: 10.58721/svmmn048

Understanding Customers’ Satisfaction with Solid Waste Management Services in Morogoro Municipal Council, Tanzania
type: item
description: The study aimed to understand the customers’ satisfaction with solid waste management services in Morogoro Municipal Council, Tanzania. The cross-sectional research design was used to collect data at a single point in time. The study used a mixed-method research approach to ensure both quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently. The study employed the simple random sampling technique to obtain 388 respondents for the household questionnaire survey method. The purposive sampling technique was used to get 12 key informants for in-depth interviews and 16 participants for the Focus Group Discussions. The quantitative data were analysed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, whereas the qualitative data were analysed by content analysis. The results show that the majority of both males (95%) and females (96%) respondents generated food waste, followed by plastic waste. Other solid wastes generated were paper and cardboard, glass materials, metal, textile, and e-waste. Also, most of the respondents (48%) reported that solid waste was collected from their households through roadside collection. Other methods were the door-to-door collection, informal waste collectors, and the communal collection points. The results further show that customers had higher satisfaction with solid waste management services in two aspects. Specifically, respondents were satisfied that solid waste collection service is available in their area (M = 3.11, σ = 1.40) and the collection vehicles and equipment are suitable (M = 3. 21, σ = 1.33). On the other side, they had low satisfaction with solid waste management services in the following aspects: Solid waste collection points are easily accessible (M = 2.93, σ = 1.32), waste collection is done regularly as scheduled (M = 2.79, σ = 1.48), waste is handled in a hygienic manner (M = 2.43, σ = 1.26), service interruptions are minimal (M = 2.71, σ = 1.19), service providers respond quickly to complaints (M = 2.76, σ =…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Customer
  topic: keywords
subject: Management
  topic: keywords
subject: Morogoro
  topic: keywords
subject: Solid Waste
  topic: keywords
creator: Isdory Mligo
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-06-04
publication date: 2026-06-04
starting page: 36
ending page: 49
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i2.1773

On the Verbal Functional Categories in Kisukuma: Polysemous Perspectives
type: item
description: This study investigates the semantics of the verbal functional categories in Kisukuma from a cognitive grammar perspective, highlighting their multifunctional roles in verbal constructions. The topic of verbal functional categories in Kisukuma is under-researched despite exhibiting a high degree of semantic flexibility, with meanings that vary according to phonological, syntactic, and contextual factors. The article used cognitive grammar theory whose selection depended on the semantic conceptualisation of the lexeme’s meaning. That is to say, the meaning of the factor can be core and peripheral. This work used a descriptive approach to describe the polysemous roles of the auxiliary. The study used six Sukuma native informants aged 50 -70 from the Geita rural District of Geita region, specifically from Nyamboge village. Three methods of data collection were applied, namely: focus group discussion, critical documents review, and intuitive knowledge. The data was analysed under cognitive grammar theory and presented using Leipzig Glossing Rules. It was found that verbal functional categories exhibit multifunctional roles in Kisukuma, which are triggered by contextual, syntactic, and tonal shifts in the language. The findings underscore the dynamic interplay between form and function in Kisukuma, revealing that polysemy is not marginal but central to the auxiliary system. This research contributes to broader typological discussions on auxiliary polysemy in Bantu languages and informs theoretical models of grammaticalisation.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Cognitive grammar
  topic: keywords
subject: Kisukuma
  topic: keywords
subject: Polysemy
  topic: keywords
subject: Verbs
  topic: keywords
creator: Simon Chipanda
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-05-15
publication date: 2026-05-15
starting page: 13
ending page: 24
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i2.1748

https://utafitionline.com/index.php/jraw/article/view/1747
type: item
title: Understanding Technology Transfer and Open Educational Resources Uptake Through the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovations Frameworks: Evidence from Secondary School Teachers in Tanzania
description: This study examines the key factors shaping technology transfer and the adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) among secondary school teachers in Kigamboni District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, anchored in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory as complementary analytical lenses. Using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, data were collected from 160 teachers across eight public secondary schools via structured questionnaires, of which 148 were correctly completed and returned (response rate 92.5%), supplemented by semi-structured interviews with all eight head teachers. The study finds a growing institutional awareness of OER and technology transfer, yet meaningful and sustained implementation remains constrained by poor infrastructure, inadequate professional development, and the absence of coherent institutional policies. Teachers strongly recognise the pedagogical value of OER (82.4%), yet actual adoption rates remain low (47.3%), revealing a persistent gap between awareness and practice. A chi-square test confirmed a statistically significant association between school-level infrastructure quality and OER adoption frequency (χ² = 14.23, df = 3, p = .003). Head teachers consistently attributed low adoption to structural rather than motivational factors. Findings call for coordinated responses: strengthened digital infrastructure, continuous professional development, and explicit policy frameworks supporting equitable technology integration. The study contributes locally anchored, empirically grounded evidence to regional and global conversations on OER uptake in low-resource educational contexts.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Education
  topic: keywords
subject: Innovation
  topic: keywords
subject: Resources
  topic: keywords
subject: Technology
  topic: keywords
creator: Christian Mubofu
creator: Editha Adolph
creator: Maria Digha
creator: Kanyinyi Msafiri
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-05-17
publication date: 2026-05-17
starting page: 25
ending page: 35
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i2.1747

Family Communication Patterns and Academic Achievement in Public Secondary Schools in Nyeri County, Kenya
type: item
description: Family communication patterns play a critical role in shaping students’ academic outcomes by influencing motivation, emotional stability, and learning behaviours. This study examined how family communication patterns affect students’ academic achievement in public secondary schools in Nyeri County, Kenya. It focused on identifying dominant family communication styles—such as consensual, pluralistic, protective, and laissez-faire—examining their relationship with learners’ academic outcomes. The study was guided by family systems theory and adopted a mixed-methods descriptive correlational design. Data were collected from students, teachers, and parents using questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential techniques, including correlation analysis, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between family communication patterns and academic achievement (r=.581, p=.000, N=400). The consensual communication pattern was most dominant and had the strongest correlation, which was associated with higher academic performance. The study was limited to public secondary schools in Nyeri County, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other regions or private institutions. The study contributes to existing literature by providing context-specific insights into the role of family communication in academic achievement within Nyeri by showing how supportive communication combined with culturally grounded parental authority can influence students’ academic achievement in public secondary schools. The study established that positive family communication significantly drives students’ academic success, highlighting the urgent need for parents, educators, and policymakers to promote open, supportive parent-child interactions by strengthening parent-child communication strategies through school-based programmes, policy inter…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Academic achievements
  topic: keywords
subject: Communication
  topic: keywords
subject: Family
  topic: keywords
subject: School
  topic: keywords
creator: Peterson Kimotho Rubandi
creator: Jared Motanya
creator: Margaret Kinyua
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-05-15
publication date: 2026-05-15
starting page: 1
ending page: 12
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i2.1745

Drivers of Variance in Rural Water Service Sustainability: Evidence from Semi-Arid Tanzania
type: item
description: Despite significant investments in rural water infrastructure, many systems in semi-arid areas such as Chemba District continue to experience declining service levels, frequent breakdowns, and premature failure, raising critical concerns about the long-term sustainability of water service delivery. This study examined rural water service sustainability variation in semi-arid Tanzania using cross-sectional household survey data from This study examined rural water service sustainability variation in semi-arid Tanzania using cross-sectional household survey data from 384 respondents in Chemba District. Sustainability was assessed using a composite index of perceived service levels, namely water quality, quantity adequacy, reliability, accessibility, and affordability as proxies for the continued functioning of rural water services. Explanatory conditions were captured as composite indices representing financial conditions, institutional arrangements, technical performance, social organisation, and environmental stressors. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to estimate the incremental contribution of each domain to observed sustainability variation. Sustainability outcomes varied widely (mean 3.02; SD 0.95; range 1.00 to 5.00). The baseline model with socio-demographic controls explained a small and statistically insignificant share of variation (R² 0.095; p 0.227). Adding financial conditions produced the largest improvement in explanatory power (ΔR² 0.223; p 0.001). Institutional arrangements added a modest contribution (ΔR² 0.060; p 0.053). Technical performance did not improve model fit once finance and institutions were included (ΔR² 0.000; p 0.907), while social organisation and environmental stressors added small, statistically insignificant increments (ΔR² 0.017; p 0.306; and ΔR² 0.024; p 0.219). The final model was statistically significant and explained 41.9 percent of the variation in sustainability outcomes (R² 0.419; adjusted R² 0.297; p 0.005), wit…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Financing
  topic: keywords
subject: Hierarchical regression
  topic: keywords
subject: Institutions
  topic: keywords
subject: Water service
  topic: keywords
creator: Lusajo Japhet Kamwela
creator: Norbert J. Ngowi
creator: Venosa A. Mushi
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-05-06
publication date: 2026-05-06
starting page: 123
ending page: 137
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1700

Selecting Social Science Research Methods: A Literature Review of Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods Approaches
type: item
description: Despite growing recognition that methodological choices shape the credibility and relevance of social science inquiry, the field continues to grapple with three persistent gaps: inadequate methodological training, weak integration in mixed methods studies, and philosophical incoherence in research design. This literature review addresses these gaps by synthesising recent scholarship on methodological selection, examining how quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches are being deployed, integrated, and contested in contemporary social science research. The review reveals that methodological choices are driven by the nature and complexity of the research problem, philosophical alignment, data requirements, sampling logic, and practical feasibility. It further demonstrates that research objectives and questions function as the primary mechanism through which these criteria are operationalised into concrete design decisions. Quantitative methods are increasingly interrogated for reductionist tendencies; qualitative methods are being expanded and legitimised beyond exploratory roles; and mixed methods research is being refined through stricter integration frameworks and epistemological accountability. Recent studies indicate a shift toward methodological pluralism, problem-driven inquiry, and technology-enhanced research designs. Yet the field still lacks a systematic, design-stage tool for aligning research problems, philosophical assumptions, and analytical goals, a deficit that the Methodological Alignment Decision Framework (MADF) introduced here directly addresses, comprising three diagnostic tests: ontological coherence, integration necessity, and context adequacy.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Positivism
  topic: keywords
subject: Research methods
  topic: keywords
subject: Sampling logic
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Science
  topic: keywords
creator: Juliana Munanie Syengo
creator: Mellitus Nyongesa Wanyama
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-04-28
publication date: 2026-04-28
starting page: 104
ending page: 122
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1697

Towards a Plural Epistemology: Qualitative Research and the Myth of Homogeneity in Fragile Contexts
type: item
description: Ethnographic research in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS) is frequently distorted by an implicit assumption of social and cultural homogeneity. In Somalia, a society defined by profound internal differentiation across clan structures, gender relations, generational identities, livelihood systems, geographic locations, and diaspora affiliations, this distortion is particularly consequential. This paper critically reviews thirty-one peer-reviewed sources published between 2023 and 2026 to interrogate what we term the ‘myth of homogeneity’: the methodological and epistemological tendency to treat internally differentiated societies as socially uniform units. Two guiding questions organise the review: first, how does the myth of homogeneity shape ethnographic knowledge production in fragile contexts? Second, what methodological alternatives can centre heterogeneity, reflexivity, and participatory knowledge production? Drawing on scholarship in ethnographic methodology, feminist research, decolonial epistemology, and fragile state governance, the paper argues that homogeneity-premised research designs produce epistemic distortion and contribute to misinformed policy and humanitarian interventions. The review reveals that a significant proportion of recent scholarship on Somalia relies on urban-centric, IDP-focused, or male-dominated samples, systematically excluding pastoralist, rural, coastal, minority-clan, and diaspora voices. The review is organised around five thematic areas: conceptual foundations, Somali heterogeneity, methodological challenges, ethical imperatives, and reconstructive methodological pathways. It concludes by proposing the Heterogeneity-Centred Ethnographic Framework for Fragile Contexts (HCEFF), built on five operational principles — intersectional sampling, multi-sited ethnography, reflexive positionality, participatory co-production, and attention to access economies as practical tools for rigorous, ethical qualitative inquiry in fr…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Clan systems
  topic: keywords
subject: Ethnography
  topic: keywords
subject: Fragile contexts
  topic: keywords
subject: Heterogeneity
  topic: keywords
creator: Mohamed Hussein Abdiweli
creator: Mellitus Nyongesa Wanyama
creator: Stephen Ouma Akoth
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-04-14
publication date: 2026-04-14
starting page: 72
ending page: 85
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1686

Reconceptualising Mixed Methods Research Design in the Social Sciences: From Typology-Driven Templates to Context-Responsive Inquiry
type: item
description: This paper presents a thematic narrative review of mixed methods research (MMR) design in the social sciences, critically examining its evolution, philosophical foundations, typologies, integration strategies, dimensions of validity, strengths, and limitations. Three guiding questions frame the review: (1) How can mixed methods design move beyond typology-driven templates toward context-responsive, problem-driven approaches? (2) What constitutes strong integration in practice, and how can it be systematically designed? (3) How should researchers navigate philosophical pluralism — Pragmatism, Transformative Paradigm, and dialectical pluralism — in concrete design decisions? Drawing on a thematic synthesis of peer-reviewed articles, handbooks, and methodological works published primarily between 2004 and 2024, the review argues that mixed methods research should not be treated as a menu of fixed designs. Instead, it advances five context-responsive design principles: starting from the problem and context; pre-specifying integration points across design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation; making philosophical stance explicit and reflexive; designing for genuine meta-inference rather than parallel reporting; and tailoring designs to social, cultural, and institutional contexts. The paper illustrates these principles with concrete examples of integration success and failure, provides a comparative framework contrasting typology-driven and problem-driven design, and translates findings into practical guidance for novice researchers, supervisors, and practitioner-researchers. The review concludes that MMR, when designed adaptively and implemented with deliberate integration and reflexivity, significantly enhances the depth, validity, and real-world applicability of social science inquiry.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Methodology
  topic: keywords
subject: Mixed-method research
  topic: keywords
subject: Research design
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Sciences
  topic: keywords
creator: Mohamed Hussein Abdiweli
creator: Mellitus Nyongesa Wanyama
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-04-14
publication date: 2026-04-14
starting page: 58
ending page: 71
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1680

Developing the STOE Framework and Implementation Architecture: A Dual Model for e-Health Implementation in Resource-Constrained Public Healthcare Settings of Western Kenya
type: item
description: Well-funded e-Health pilot projects in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) consistently fail to achieve sustainable integration into routine practice. Existing frameworks address single dimensions of this problem, lacking integrated, multi-level perspectives and actionable roadmaps. This paper presents the development and empirical validation of the STOE (Social-Technological-Organisational-Environmental) Framework and its complementary Implementation Architecture, a dual model for resource-constrained public healthcare settings. We employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design across three public healthcare facilities in Western Kenya. Following a deductive-inductive process, we deductively constructed the STOE Framework by synthesising Normalisation Process Theory, the Technology-Organisation-Environment framework, and the Four-in-Balance Model. This a priori model was then inductively tested through quantitative surveys (n=108 healthcare providers) and qualitative interviews (n=21 key informants). Empirical data confirmed the framework's validity. Implementation failures stemmed from structural disconnects across nested STOE contexts, not isolated technical deficits. Three disconnect patterns emerged: (1) environmental policy uncertainty paralysing organisational decision-making (E→O); (2) technologies procured without frontline user input leading to systematic social rejection (S↔T); and (3) fragmented funding creating unsustainable donor-dependent pilots that collapsed post-completion (E→O→S cascade). The validated dual framework offers a pragmatic two-stage approach for resource-constrained health systems: diagnose systemic weaknesses using the STOE lens, then target interventions precisely using the architectural blueprint. This moves the field beyond checklist-style models toward integrated diagnosis and action.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: e-Health
  topic: keywords
subject: Implementation
  topic: keywords
subject: Public healthcare
  topic: keywords
subject: Resources
  topic: keywords
creator: Jasper Ondulo
creator: Samuel Liyala
creator: Grace Adong
creator: Dickens Aduda
creator: Nahason Matoke
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-04-18
publication date: 2026-04-18
starting page: 96
ending page: 103
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1677

Bridging the Last Mile: County-Proximate University as a Local Implementation Anchor for Two Parallel Digital Systems in Western Kenya
type: item
description: This paper examines the role of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) as a County-Proximate University (CPU) in implementing two parallel digital systems in Kenya's Western Region: The Health Information System (HIS, funded by USAID) and the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS, supported by UNICEF). A case study approach documented MMUST's partnership with the University of Nairobi (UoN) and strategic donor funding, comparing implementation bottlenecks of fragmented vertical systems versus locally anchored support. The centralised national model failed to resolve frontline officers' unsustainable burden of these digital systems with distinct technical platforms, training requirements, and support channels. MMUST's CPU role enabled contextualised training, sustained support, and successful parallel system operation at county and sub-county levels, achieving DHIS2 reporting timeliness improvement from 68% to 91% and CPIMS case registration completeness from 47% to 83% within 18 months. The findings demonstrate that empowering regional universities as local implementation anchors is essential for equitable digital transformation, where multiple parallel systems must coexist effectively. This paper proposes a five-component replicable framework for using county-proximate universities as local implementation anchors in decentralised governance contexts.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Child protection
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital systems
  topic: keywords
subject: Health
  topic: keywords
subject: Information systems
  topic: keywords
creator: Jasper Ondulo
creator: Dorothy Rambim
creator: Eric Ater
creator: Rawlings Mulongo
creator: Raymond Koech
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-04-18
publication date: 2026-04-18
starting page: 86
ending page: 95
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1676

Gendering the Child in Luhya Popular Songs: An Analysis of Vincent Ongidi’s ‘Mama Mulayi’ and Kennedy Khaemba’s ‘Mayi Mutiti’
type: item
description: The representation of children in song lyrics remains under‑explored, even though children are the primary recipients of gendered socialisation and thus a critical site for the reproduction or contestation of gender norms. This paper delves into the intricate relationship between popular music and the construction of gender roles within the Luhya community of Western Kenya. Drawing on a qualitative design that integrates thematic analysis with critical discourse analysis, we analyse the lyrics of selected Luhya popular songs - Vincent Ongidi’s ‘Mama Mulayi’ and Kennedy Khaemba’s ‘Mayi Mutiti’ - to determine how children are represented and how those representations either reinforce, contest, or subvert prevailing gender narratives. We aim to uncover how child narrators perceive gender and whether these portrayals, as perceived by the child narrators, uphold, question, or overturn dominant gender narratives. Guided by Judith Butler’s notion of gender as a performative act, we treat the songs as cultural texts that participate in the ongoing construction of children’s gender identities. The findings reveal that female characters are consistently positioned as domestic helpers and caretakers, responsible for household chores and child‑rearing, whereas male characters are portrayed as heads of household, custodians and inheritors of land, and primary economic providers. While both songs largely reinforce these conventional roles, Mayi Mutiti contains occasional counter‑narratives that suggest a nascent questioning of the male‑as‑authority trope. By foregrounding child narrators’ perspectives, the findings demonstrate that Luhya popular music not only mirrors prevailing gender norms but also contributes to their ongoing negotiation and, in limited cases, subversion. The paper fills a gap in the literature on children’s roles in Kenyan pop music and highlights the urgency of examining these representations amid ongoing societal transitions that render rigid gender scripts…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Childhood
  topic: keywords
subject: Culture
  topic: keywords
subject: Gender
  topic: keywords
subject: Luhya
  topic: keywords
subject: Popular music
  topic: keywords
creator: Zadock Oyoolo
creator: Chrispinus Wasike
creator: Lencer Ndede
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-03-28
publication date: 2026-03-28
starting page: 43
ending page: 57
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1650

Parents’ Approaches to HIV Disclosure in Dodoma, Tanzania: A Phenomenological Study
type: item
description: This phenomenological study explores the approaches used by parents to disclose their HIV status to their children. It investigates the lived experiences of 11 parents living with HIV who attend a care and Treatment Clinic (CTC) at the Dodoma General Referral Hospital, Tanzania. Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using Colaizzi's method. The findings indicate that disclosure is an intentional, staged process that involves managing content, context, and timing. In their disclosures, parents used both direct verbalisation and gradual prompts, such as showing medication, treatment cards, or brochures, and preferred to do so at home during 'happy family moments' to minimise their children's emotional distress. Although parents go through this process on their own because of the lack of formal professional guidance, reliance on trial and error increases the possibility of psychological distress. In response, this study calls for a shift towards longitudinal, family-centred counselling and the standardisation of guidelines. By capitalising on peer-led mentorship and home-based support, disclosure could be made a well-structured transition that reinforces family resilience.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Children
  topic: keywords
subject: Disclosure
  topic: keywords
subject: HIV
  topic: keywords
subject: Parents
  topic: keywords
creator: Naomi H. Isanzu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026
date: 2026-02-14
publication date: 2026-02-14
starting page: 22
ending page: 31
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1567

Courtroom Interaction and the Representation of Judicial Authority in Tanzania: A Critical Discourse Analysis
type: item
description: The purpose of this study is to examine how the court is represented in the discourse of selected High Courts and Magistrate Courts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and to identify the discourse strategies employed by courtroom participants in constructing these representations. While prior research on Tanzanian courtroom discourse has addressed speech acts, interactional patterns, and power relations, the representational dimension has received comparatively limited scholarly attention. This gap restricts a comprehensive understanding of how judicial authority is discursively projected, how legal meanings are socially constructed, and how such representations influence public trust, legal literacy, and perceptions of judicial legitimacy within the Tanzanian socio-legal context. Guided by Fairclough and Wodak’s Critical Discourse Analysis framework, the study draws on data generated through participant observation, supported by detailed field notes recorded during live court proceedings. From the broader corpus, fifteen excerpts were purposively selected for close analysis. The findings indicate that the court is constructed through multiple institutional images, including as a supreme, democratic, presumptive, persuasive, welfare-oriented, and hierarchical authority. Six principal discourse strategies emerged: pronouncement or ruling, offering choices, imposing obligations, questioning, demonstrating consideration, and expressing deference. These strategies function as mechanisms of institutional power, enabling the court to adjudicate disputes, regulate behaviour, and sustain constructive interactional relations among participants in the maintenance of social order. These findings elucidate the discursive processes through which judicial authority is instantiated, negotiated, and legitimised. They contribute to ongoing debates on the decolonisation of legal discourse, inform considerations of judicial communication and professional training, and extend Critical Discour…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
creator: Editha Adolph
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2026-03-07
publication date: 2026-03-07
starting page: 32
ending page: 42
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1559

Coverage of Organic Farming Practices by Kenya’s Leading Newspapers
type: item
description: This paper focuses on the coverage of organic farming practices by Kenya’s leading newspapers: The Daily Nation and The Standard. The study is anchored in an interpretivist research philosophy, which is qualitative in nature. The study targeted the two newspapers' weekend pull-outs (Saturday) on ‘Seeds of Gold’ and ‘Smart Harvest’. The coverage of ‘organic farming’ content in the two newspapers was determined by examining how much space (in terms of percentage) was dedicated to an A3 page of a newspaper. Analysis of results has been done using descriptive statistics. It was found out that whereas the two newspaper pull-outs were expected to highlight and report on organic farming, the content covered in six to eight-page articles was less than 25.0% with the rest being sponsored articles by pesticides and other inorganic farming organisations. Considering the two pull-outs are expected to inform the public (consumers and farmers) on matters about organic farming, they did not do so by having much of the information in sponsored articles. Only 9.4% of the articles received whole-page coverage. The debates on organic farming rarely featured in the two newspaper articles despite their wide readership around the country. It is therefore recommended that the two newspapers should give prominence to organic farming information as part of fulfilling ethical reporting systems towards addressing climate health challenges and attainment of the United Nations sustainable development goals by 2030.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Coverage
  topic: keywords
subject: Farming
  topic: keywords
subject: Newspapers
  topic: keywords
subject: Organic
  topic: keywords
creator: Leonard Koech
creator: Leah Komen
creator: Millicent Otieno
creator: James Abila
rights: Copyright (c) 2026
date: 2026-01-28
publication date: 2026-01-28
starting page: 14
ending page: 21
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1542

Synergistic Effects of Learner Support Systems on the Success of Reintegration Project for Adolescent Mothers in the Lower Eastern Region of Kenya
type: item
description: Teenage motherhood has been found to frequently be a hindrance to young women’s education, attributed to social stigma and inadequate institutional support systems, as they struggle to get reintegrated into the school system. This paper examines the synergistic effect of learner support systems on the performance of the reintegration project for adolescent mothers in secondary schools in Kenya. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design anchored on the systems theory and ecological systems theory. The target population consisted of 21,524 individuals, including 18,079 teenage mothers, 1,370 teachers, and 2,055 student leaders from 685 girls and mixed-day and boarding secondary schools, as well as 20 education officers from the lower Eastern region of Kenya. A sample size of 384 respondents was further obtained. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and structured interview schedules and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that learner support systems significantly influenced the performance of the reintegration project (R² = 0.621). There was a strong positive correlation between the combined influence of learner support systems and the performance of the reintegration project for adolescent mothers (r = 0.788, p = 0.01). The findings underscore the need for integrated learner support frameworks combining institutional, community, and policy interventions.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Adolescent mothers
  topic: keywords
subject: Education
  topic: keywords
subject: Inclusion
  topic: keywords
subject: Support system
  topic: keywords
creator: Ruth Wanza Mutuku
rights: Copyright (c) 2026
date: 2026-01-18
publication date: 2026-01-18
starting page: 1
ending page: 13
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v3i1.1539

Determinants of Post-Harvest practices adopted by smallholder horticulture farmers in Mashonaland West province, Zimbabwe
type: item
description: This study investigates the determinants of post-harvest losses (PHL) and the intensity of post-harvest technology adoption among smallholder vegetable farmers in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West Province. Utilising a multi-stage sampling technique, primary data were collected from 200 farmers across the Hurungwe and Makonde districts. The research employed a Multinomial Logit (MNL) model to analyse PHL determinants at four value chain stages—farm gate, transportation, storage, and marketing—and a Probit model to identify factors influencing the adoption of mitigation practices. Findings reveal that 70% of losses occur during storage, followed by farm-level and transportation stages. The MNL analysis highlights that farm gate sales and modern technology significantly decrease the likelihood of storage and marketing losses. The Probit model identifies farmer age, production volume, cooperative membership, and access to diverse information sources as significant positive predictors of technology adoption. Notably, radio ownership showed a negative correlation, suggesting a potential deficiency in broadcast technical advice. While limited to cabbage, rape, and tomatoes in two districts, the results advocate for a policy shift toward integrated post-harvest management. Recommendations include establishing decentralised, solar-powered cold storage, strengthening cooperatives for collective investment, and providing specialised technical training via extension services. Additionally, restructuring credit facilities to target post-harvest infrastructure, such as plastic crates and drying tools, is essential to minimise waste and enhance profitability.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Farmers
  topic: keywords
subject: Horticulture
  topic: keywords
subject: Mashonaland
  topic: keywords
subject: Post-harvest
  topic: keywords
creator: Ronald Mhona
creator: Washington Muchineripi Muzari
creator: Gabriel Soropa
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Research and Academic Writing
date: 2025-12-29
publication date: 2025-12-29
starting page: 257
ending page: 268
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1505

SEM-CFA Estimation of Factors that Influence the Growth of Mobile Virtual Network Operators: Case Study from Kenya
type: item
description: The core problem this research addresses is the puzzling underperformance of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Kenya. Despite a thriving mobile industry and an increase in the number of registered MVNOs, their collective market share has paradoxically declined from 4% to about 2% over the past decade. To investigate this, the study employed a robust statistical method known as Structural Equation Modelling and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (SEM-CFA) to pinpoint the key factors driving or hindering MVNO growth. The key findings revealed a clear divide: factors such as public perception, MVNO-specific strategies, and collaborative value chains positively influence growth, while barriers created by established Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and regulatory limitations from Government Agencies hold it back. Crucially, the discussion highlights that the sector's poor performance is primarily due to factors unique to the Kenyan market. In conclusion, this research provides a practical framework for launching and developing MVNOs by identifying these specific influences. The main recommendation is that for the Kenyan MVNO sector to thrive, stakeholders must directly address the 44% of growth factors that are unique to the local context, as solving these specific issues is the key to alleviating the sector's long-standing problems.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: MVNO
  topic: keywords
subject: CFA Model
  topic: keywords
subject: SEM model
  topic: keywords
subject: Model Fit Indices
  topic: keywords
creator: Arimbi J. Murori
creator: Daniel Otanga
creator: Jasper M. Ondulo
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-11-28
publication date: 2025-11-28
starting page: 242
ending page: 256
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1460

Availability of Mobile Virtual Network Operator Differentiated Services, Market Segments, and their Level of Utilisation in the Kenyan Market
type: item
description: The global market size of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in 2025 is a multibillion-dollar industry that provides flexible and cost-effective mobile services to millions of customers across the globe. The MVNO sector in Kenya has registered some success in the wireless mobile market, but it is not clear the extent to which they have embraced differentiated services, and distinct market segments that are core to their success. The aim of the study was to find the available MVNO differentiated services, market segments, and their level of utilisation in the Kenyan market through a qualitative method approach of literature review, interviews, observations, and content analysis from the Mobile Network Operator (MNO), MVNO sector, and the Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya. The study found that the MVNO market share in Kenya is low against global competitive values of (10%-50%). MNOs, MVNOs, and financial institutions partly targeted the same services and operated in the same market segments. The level of service differentiation and market segmentation is low, and so is the level of utilisation of differentiated services and market segments. Mobile money transfer services, and electronic airtime/data vending services in the financial and retail market segments, respectively, performed well and were gainfully utilised. Utilisation of differentiated services in the other market segments is insignificant. Key limitation was the lack of MVNO regulatory framework on which to critique the sector from a local perspective, and the lack of previous research to establish a baseline for new findings. The MVNO landscape, however, is virgin and promising.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Differentiated services
  topic: keywords
subject: Market
  topic: keywords
subject: Niche markets
  topic: keywords
subject: Virtual network
  topic: keywords
creator: Arimbi J. Murori
creator: Daniel Otanga
creator: Jasper M. Ondulo
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-11-27
publication date: 2025-11-27
starting page: 231
ending page: 241
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1458

Examination of the Effects of Imprisonment on Recidivism: A Review of Kisumu County, Kenya
type: item
description: High rates of recidivism continue to challenge the effectiveness of CZimprisonment as a tool for criminal rehabilitation and public safety in Kenya. In Kisumu County, a growing number of former inmates find themselves re-entering the prison system, raising questions about the role of incarceration in breaking the cycle of crime. This study examines the effects of imprisonment on recidivism rates. This study employed a mixed-methods research design, which enabled the integration of quantitative and qualitative data to comprehensively examine the effects of imprisonment on recidivism in Kisumu County. Data were collected from 700 ex-convicts, 85 prison officers, and 15 probation officers using structured questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. Quantitative findings revealed that 62% of ex-prisoners were re-arrested within three years, while only 18% had access to consistent rehabilitation programmes during incarceration. Additionally, 76% of recidivists cited unemployment and social stigma as major barriers to reintegration. The qualitative data supported these findings, highlighting overcrowded prison conditions, limited vocational training, and insufficient post-release support as key contributors to reoffending. The study concludes that imprisonment in its current form often fails to rehabilitate offenders and instead contributes to a cycle of repeat offending. It recommends increased investment in community-based rehabilitation, expansion of vocational programmes within prisons, and the establishment of structured reintegration frameworks to reduce recidivism and promote social reintegration.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Correctional System
  topic: keywords
subject: Recidivism
  topic: keywords
subject: Rehabilitation
  topic: keywords
subject: Reintegration
  topic: keywords
creator: Timothy Vitalis Wanyama
creator: Evans M. Oruta
creator: Erick Ater Onyango
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-11-21
publication date: 2025-11-21
starting page: 221
ending page: 230
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1446

Analysis of Physicochemical Properties and Nutrient Loads Affecting Water Quality in River Kuja, Migori County, Kenya
type: item
description: Rivers are among the most vital freshwater resources supporting mining and sugar processing industries. In Kenya, River Kuja plays a crucial role in sustaining industrial, agricultural, and domestic activities. However, increasing industrial activities related to artisanal gold mining and sugar processing runoff have severely affected the river’s water quality. This study was therefore undertaken to assess the impacts of mining and sugar processing activities on the physicochemical parameters and nutrient loads of River Kuja, thereby providing essential baseline data for sustainable watershed management. Water samples were collected weekly from nine sampling stations along the river, immediately upstream and downstream of major mining and sugar processing zones. Samples were analysed for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, alkalinity, Na⁺, K⁺, and ammonia. Descriptive and inferential statistics and multivariate analyses were applied to interpret spatial and temporal variations in water quality. The results revealed significant degradation of water quality downstream of mining sites. The mean pH was 5.8, indicating acidic conditions below the WHO-recommended range (6.5–8.5), suggesting acid mine drainage influence. EC and TDS showed a pronounced downstream increase (EC ≈ 1185 µS/cm; TDS ≈ 788 mg/L). There were high ammonia levels at the upstream in Macalder. The study concludes that mining and industrial activities are major contributors to River Kuja’s water quality deterioration. It underscores the urgent need for improved watershed management, stricter regulation of mining effluents, and adoption of sustainable land-use practices to safeguard this critical freshwater ecosystem.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Nutrient
  topic: keywords
subject: Physicochemical
  topic: keywords
subject: River Kuja
  topic: keywords
subject: Water
  topic: keywords
creator: Ngaku Kellyjoy Nkatha
creator: John Justo Ambuchi
creator: Kennedy Olale
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-11-09
publication date: 2025-11-09
starting page: 207
ending page: 220
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1414

Influence of Workplace Culture on Organisational Performance: Experience from Tanzanian Public Sectors
type: item
description: Workplace culture remains a crucial catalyst for enhancing performance within public sector organisations. This paper examines the influence of workplace cultural traits on the performance of Tanzania’s public sector institutions. It explores the prevailing workplace culture, highlights emerging trends, and addresses a significant gap in existing literature regarding cultural compatibility and organisational outcomes. The study specifically analyses practical experiences and insights on how workplace culture contributes to improved performance, while also identifying key factors that influence the accommodation of cultural values within Tanzanian public institutions. An integrative literature review (ILR) approach was adopted, encompassing five stages: problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, analysis, and presentation. Findings reveal that despite multiple reforms over the past three decades, public sector performance remains unsatisfactory, largely due to the misalignment between administrative controls, directives, and prevailing workplace cultural realities. This misalignment has weakened organisational commitment, reduced employee motivation, and undermined service delivery. Key factors identified for enhancing performance include ethical and transformational leadership, effective employee engagement, empowerment, fair remuneration, and alignment of organisational practices with workplace culture. The study concludes that fostering a positive and compatible workplace culture is essential for improving employee commitment, mitigating toxic work environments, and ensuring the effectiveness of institutional reforms and digitalised management systems such as PEPMIS. By integrating cultural understanding into organisational practices, public sector managers can enhance accountability, innovation, and overall performance.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Employee
  topic: keywords
subject: Commitment
  topic: keywords
subject: Culture
  topic: keywords
subject: Performance
  topic: keywords
subject: Workplace
  topic: keywords
creator: Anna Peter Linje
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-11-06
publication date: 2025-11-06
starting page: 196
ending page: 206
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1406

A Pragma-Dialectical Approach to the Discourse Functionality of Presentational Devices in County Assembly Debates in Kenya
type: item
description: Politicians employ emotive rhetoric in parliamentary debates as a strategic communicative tool in order to appeal to audiences for purposes of agenda-setting and ideological positioning. Discussants in the Nairobi County Assembly overwhelm their audience by using language that appeals to their emotions in order to make the audience empathise with them. Therefore, this paper aimed to examine the functionality of presentational devices in the County Assembly Debates using the pragma-dialectical approach. A descriptive case study design was used with qualitative approaches to allow a deeper inquiry into the phenomenon of debates using data from online archival Hansard records of Nairobi County Assembly. The study systematically sampled 48 debate transcripts of the print version of the Hansard from a total target population of 132 debates from February to November 2023. The study then purposively sampled 20 debates, which consisted of motions of the Nairobi County Assembly for analysis. Public documents from the Nairobi County assembly registry, consisting of schedules of the sectoral committees and the Standing Orders of the assembly, were collected from the website. Qualitative data were analysed with speech acts forming the unit of analysis. The data were subjected to analysis using the criteria recommended in the pragma-dialectical theory. The study established that discussants used strategic manoeuvres deliberately and more often at the beginning of the debate to persuade the antagonists to agree to their standpoints. The study was useful in identifying cultural and traditional applications of strategic manoeuvres peculiar to language use in African settings.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Discussants
  topic: keywords
subject: Functionality
  topic: keywords
subject: Pragma-dialectics
  topic: keywords
subject: Presentational devices
  topic: keywords
subject: Standpoint
  topic: keywords
creator: Robinson Oduma
creator: Atichi Alati
creator: Benson Ojwang’
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-11-04
publication date: 2025-11-04
starting page: 184
ending page: 195
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1397

From Theory to Practice: A Theoretical Model for Disruptive ICT Innovations in Developing Economies
type: item
description: The rapid evolution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has transformed economic and social systems worldwide, yet most theories of disruptive innovation remain tailored to developed economies. This paper develops a theoretical model for understanding disruptive ICT innovations in developing contexts, emphasizing the factors that influence their success and socio-economic impact. Drawing on the Theory of Disruptive Innovation, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study integrates these perspectives to establish a holistic framework linking technological architecture, competitive dynamics, and regulatory environments. Findings reveal that successful ICT disruptions in developing economies depend on three core drivers: adaptable technological architecture, supportive regulatory frameworks, and high user acceptance shaped by cultural and social norms. Empirical illustrations from Kenya’s mobile banking revolution, particularly M-Pesa and M-Shwari, demonstrate that context-specific innovations can enhance financial inclusion, stimulate competition, and accelerate digital transformation. The study concludes that tailoring innovation frameworks to local realities enhances sustainability and scalability, offering a pathway for policymakers and practitioners to foster inclusive, ICT-driven economic growth.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Architecture
  topic: keywords
subject: ICT
  topic: keywords
subject: Innovation
  topic: keywords
subject: Model
  topic: keywords
creator: Benjamin Kiprono
creator: Kelvin Kabeti Omieno
creator: Jasper Ondulo
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-10-30
publication date: 2025-10-30
starting page: 170
ending page: 183
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1389

Influence of Financial External factors on Access to credit facilities among Local Civil Contractors in Tanzania
type: item
description: Local Civil Contractors (LCCs) in Tanzania play a vital role in the national construction industry but face persistent challenges in accessing credit facilities essential for their operations and growth. This study examined how the financial external factors influence LCCs’ access to credit facilities, focusing on coercive, mimetic, and normative institutional pressures, as conceptualised within Scott’s institutional theory. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative data from 353 LCCs and qualitative insights from 15 financial sector key informants across six major regions in Tanzania. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were employed to assess the strength and direction of each regulatory dimension. The findings revealed that mimetic pressures (β = 0.424, p < 0.001) were the strongest positive predictors of access to financial services, indicating that peer learning, imitation of successful contractors, and network influence significantly enhance financial inclusion. Coercive factors (β = 0.292, p < 0.001), including regulatory requirements related to licensing, audits, and reporting, also positively influenced access, though their effect was more variable. In contrast, normative pressures (β = –0.056, p = 0.033), such as rigid professional standards and documentation norms, had a statistically significant negative effect, implying exclusionary tendencies for smaller or informal contractors. The study recommends regulatory simplification, tiered compliance frameworks, strengthened peer learning platforms, and alternative credit assessment models. These findings underscore the need for context-sensitive regulatory reforms that align with LCCs’ operational realities, thereby improving financial access, competitiveness, and the contribution of local contractors to Tanzania’s construction sector.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Civil contractors
  topic: keywords
subject: Construction sector
  topic: keywords
subject: Credit facilities
  topic: keywords
subject: Tanzania
  topic: keywords
creator: Reginald Peter Omare
creator: Nsubili Isaga
creator: Haruni Mapesa
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-10-13
publication date: 2025-10-13
starting page: 157
ending page: 169
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1350

Assessment of Community Participation in Initiation Ceremonies in Tanzania: A Case of Msoga Ward in Chalinze District Council
type: item
description: Initiation ceremonies play a vital role in the transition from childhood to adulthood. This paper assessed community participation in the initiation ceremonies. The study was conducted in Chalinze district council. Specifically, the study identified the prevailing initiation ceremonies, established benefits, and examined factors influencing community participation. The study used qualitative and quantitative approaches. Structured questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data, while a checklist guiding tool was used to collect qualitative data. Respondents interviewed were 200(100%), out of them 158(75%) were males while 42(25%) were females. In-depth interviews were conducted with three key informants, as they are knowledgeable of the study topic, together with two focus group discussions. Findings identified prevailed initiation ceremonies as follows ‘Jando’ by 148(94%) males and 41(98%) females’ respondents and ‘Unyago’ by 145(92%) males and 41(98%) females. Others were menstruation rituals by 88(56%) males and 41(98%) females’ respondents, pre-wedding rituals by 135(85%) males and 40(95%) females’ respondents and rituals for uncircumcised men by 127(80%) males and 39(93%) females’ respondents. Benefits include cultural identity, life skills, preparation for adulthood, moral guidance, social control, strengthening of community bonds, and transmission of social norms. Factors influencing community participation in initiation ceremonies include modernity, social status, and religious belief. Findings inform policymakers through recommendations such as continuity to practice initiation ceremonies with consideration of the predominant rules and regulations. This has to be enforced by the Ministry of Health, the community development, gender, elderly, and children, and the respective district councils. Ultimately, cultural transmission, knowledge, and values would be inherited by the next generation.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Assessment
  topic: keywords
subject: Community
  topic: keywords
subject: Initiation ceremonies
  topic: keywords
subject: Tanzania
  topic: keywords
creator: Rose I. Mbwete
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-10-10
publication date: 2025-10-10
starting page: 144
ending page: 156
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1346

Populist Tendencies in Kenya’s Political Representation Practice: Digital and Discursive Dimensions
type: item
description: This study investigates how populism is enacted in the practice of online political representation in Kenya, with a focus on the role of social media as a site of political engagement and discourse. Two guiding questions frame the inquiry: How do Kenyan politicians construct and express populist tendencies on social media platforms? How do social media discourses shape the people–elite relationship in Kenyan politics? The study leverages social media data, comprising 58 tweets and posts, retrieved from the Facebook and Twitter (X) pages of 20 women politicians through web-scraping. This data is complemented with semi-structured one-on-one interviews with 12 citizens, as well as three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) involving 25 citizens from distinct locales: an urban setting, a peri-urban area, and a rural setting. This multi-method design enables a nuanced examination of both elite political performances and popular receptions of populist discourse. To analyse the data, the study employs a combination of discourse analysis and thematic analysis. Discourse analysis is used to examine social media texts, uncovering underlying meanings and identifying populist sentiments. Thematic analysis is applied to explore patterns and overarching themes that emerge from the interviews and FGDs. Findings reveal that nearly half of the Facebook posts and tweets analysed contained manifestations of populist tendencies. Women politicians positioned themselves as advocates for ordinary citizens by challenging political norms, denouncing elite-driven marginalisation, and employing socio-cultural performances such as code-switching and identity-based rhetoric. Additional tendencies included the use of emotionalism, sensationalism, and strategic manoeuvring for political relevance.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Kenya
  topic: keywords
subject: Populism
  topic: keywords
subject: Representation
  topic: keywords
subject: Social media
  topic: keywords
subject: Women politicians
  topic: keywords
creator: Nancy Gakahu
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-09-20
publication date: 2025-09-20
starting page: 134
ending page: 143
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1321

Kiswahili Beyond Borders: Strengthening Africa's Lingua Franca in Digital and Academic Domains
type: item
description: This study explores Kiswahili's potential as a global language by examining its use across daily, professional, academic, and digital contexts, alongside structural and cultural factors shaping its expansion. Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, the research collected data from 384 respondents across Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and diaspora communities. The analysis is grounded in Cooper's (1989) language-planning framework and Kaplan and Baldauf's (1997) ecological perspective, addressing status, corpus, and acquisition planning. Findings reveal strong daily usage in Tanzania and Kenya but lower adoption in Uganda, the DRC, and diaspora communities. Kiswahili flourishes on social media, yet its broader digital presence is limited by low content creation and inadequate AI tools. In academia, respondents recognise its scholarly potential, but English dominates due to the absence of indexed journals and institutional incentives. Policy and economic support are largely perceived as symbolic, and over-standardisation raises concerns about loss of dialectal diversity. The study argues that while Kiswahili can become Africa's first truly global language, structural inequalities across technological, academic, and policy domains constrain this potential. By providing quantitative, cross-national evidence, the study offers novel insights for advancing Kiswahili's regional and global reach.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Academic domain
  topic: keywords
subject: Kiswahili
  topic: keywords
subject: Language
  topic: keywords
subject: Lingua Franca
  topic: keywords
creator: Ernest Daimon Haonga
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-09-17
publication date: 2025-09-17
starting page: 122
ending page: 133
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1312

A Mobile-based Authentication Technique (MbAT) for Enhancing Post-Decryption Security in Social Networking Applications
type: item
description: The widespread adoption of mobile-based social networks (MbSNs) has made secure messaging a critical concern. While protocols like Signal provide robust end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for data in transit, a vulnerability exists at the endpoint: once a message is decrypted on the device, it is stored in plaintext and vulnerable to unauthorised access if the device is compromised. The study did a simulation using automated tools and manual techniques to scan systems for known security weaknesses; systems, applications, and networks. The goal was to uncover security flaws that could be exploited by malicious actors, allowing organisations or individuals to address them before they can be leveraged for attacks; specifically, MobSF was used. This paper presents the design and requirements analysis of the Mobile-based Authentication Technique (MbAT), a prototype tool designed to operate atop existing E2EE protocols. MbAT addresses this post-decryption vulnerability by implementing an additional authentication layer. It intercepts messages after reception but before display, verifying the intended recipient against the device's SIM card number. Only upon successful authentication is the message decrypted and displayed. The paper details the formal requirements of a Secure Messaging (SM) scheme, the architecture of the Signal protocol, which MbAT enhances, and the comprehensive functional and architectural design of the MbAT tool itself. MbAT's component-based design includes modules for input processing, encryption, authentication, decryption (using the Blowfish algorithm), and output control, ensuring that access rights (read/write/delete) are strictly enforced. This approach significantly reduces the attack surface on mobile devices by mitigating threats of unauthorised message viewing, injection, and deletion.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Access Control
  topic: keywords
subject: Authentication
  topic: keywords
subject: Decryption Security
  topic: keywords
subject: Double Ratchet
  topic: keywords
subject: X3DH
  topic: keywords
creator: Nahason M. Matoke
creator: Malcolm J. Ondulo
creator: Daniel Otanga
creator: Satwinder S. Rupra
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-09-11
publication date: 2025-09-11
starting page: 113
ending page: 121
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1298

Enhancing Smart Building Sustainability with Hybrid Fog–Cloud Architectures: Insights from Simulated IoT Data
type: item
description: The growing demand for energy-efficient urban infrastructure has positioned smart buildings as pivotal in achieving sustainable cities. This study examines the integration of hybrid Fog–Cloud architectures in optimizing energy usage, reducing latency, and managing network bandwidth in smart building environments using simulated IoT data. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining simulations of fixed and scalable scenarios with comparative analysis of Fog and Cloud systems. The key simulators used in this study were the MATLAB Simulink and the iFogSim2 simulation toolkit, to ensure data is generated and analyzed. Key findings reveal latency reductions of over 80% and network bandwidth usage improvements exceeding 30%, with Fog systems consuming significantly less energy and emitting 31% less CO₂ compared to Cloud-only setups. For instance, Fog bandwidth usage ranged from 9.54 Gbps for 20 devices to 75.98 Gbps for 200 devices, compared to Cloud systems at 14.56 Gbps and 110.89 Gbps, respectively. Additionally, energy savings were evident across both fixed and scalable scenarios, with Fog systems consistently outperforming Cloud systems as device counts increased. These improvements align with global sustainability goals, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, emphasizing sustainable cities and communities. This study underscores the transformative potential of hybrid architectures in revolutionizing building operations through resource efficiency and environmental sustainability, paving the way for scalable and resilient IoT ecosystems.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Architectures
  topic: keywords
subject: Fog–Cloud computing
  topic: keywords
subject: Green IoT
  topic: keywords
subject: Hybrid
  topic: keywords
subject: SDG 11
  topic: keywords
creator: Salmon Oliech Owidi
creator: Elyjoy Muthoni Micheni
creator: Kelvin Kabeti Omieno
rights: Copyright (c) 2025
date: 2025-09-10
publication date: 2025-09-10
starting page: 101
ending page: 112
doi: 10.58721/jraw.v2i2.1295