Journal of Science, Innovation and Creativity
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Demographic, Socio-Economic, and Professional Determinants of Depression Among Teachers in Resource-Constrained Public Schools in Kenya
Teacher depression is a growing occupational health concern in resource-constrained public education systems, yet existing evidence rarely jointly models demographic, socio-economic, and professional risk factors. This study identifies and ranks the factors most strongly distinguishing teachers at elevated depression risk in Kenya's public schools. Survey data were collected from 1,711 public primary, Junior Secondary School (JSS), and secondary school teachers employed by Kenya's Teachers Service Commission (TSC) across multiple counties in Kenya. Depression risk was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), classified via the standard PHQ-9 ≥10 threshold. An ensemble feature-selection approach combining Random Forest, XGBoost, and CatBoost identified the twenty strongest predictors on which all three algorithms converged; a fixed top-20 threshold was applied for interpretability. 66.1% of teachers met criteria for High Risk. Absence of school-based mental-health resources was the strongest predictor, surpassing all demographic and financial variables. Mid-career tenure (11-15 years) and early-establishing-career age (25-34 years) ranked second and third; acute financial precarity outweighed static financial-literacy measures. Demographic factors accounted for the largest cumulative share of predictive importance (37.5%), followed by institutional support (30.4%), financial precarity (15.1%), professional/workload factors (10.0%), and technology access (7.0%). Cross-sectional design supports associational rather than causal interpretation; findings are confined to the counties sampled and to TSC-employed teachers, excluding contract/intern and BOM teachers. Findings support embedded school-based counselling, structural financial safeguards, and mentorship targeted at at-risk career stages, offering an empirical foundation for context-specific screening and policy interventions in under-resourced educational systems.
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Science, Innovation and Creativity https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The Consensus Trap: Negotiated Democracy and Social Transformation in Northern Kenya
This conceptual, desk-based paper interrogates negotiated democracy in the frontier counties of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera in northern Kenya, a region shaped by clan identity, pastoralist social structures, contested state authority and a protracted security emergency on the Somalia border. Negotiated democracy is defined here as the structured, extra-constitutional mediation of electoral outcomes through clan consensus. It reads audit reports, county fiscal reviews, official statistics and legal instruments as governance footprints of informal clan pacts across the 2013, 2017 and 2022 electoral cycles. Across those cycles the mechanism has hardened in Garissa, grown more transactional in Wajir, and fragmented into violent contestation in Mandera. The paper argues that clan consensus possesses pragmatic and cultural legitimacy rather than blanket normative legitimacy. Its institutionalisation within competitive electoral politics produces a distinctive governance pathology. Candidate selection rewards financial capacity over competence, as county contractors, political entrepreneurs and monetised elders converge into a durable capture coalition. Executive appointments fall to kin loyalty, and public employment displaces development spending. Development follows electoral geography, allied minorities are included tokenistically, and women, youth and minority clans are excluded from accountability relationships. Social transformation, the systemic enhancement of human dignity, justice and community resilience, is thereby undermined, because the elder displaces the citizen as the principal of governance. The paper proposes a hybrid model that anchors clan deliberation in constitutional accountability and specifies safeguards against recapture by clan elites.
Efficacy of Conventional School-Based WASH Sensitisation on common NTDs among Schoolchildren in Bunyala Sub-county, Kenya
Conventional school-based Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sensitisation traditionally relies on a linear, cognitive-driven model which assumes that passive, didactic information delivery through lectures and pamphlets will translate into sustained behavioural modifications. The study was conducted in Bunyala sub-county among pupils in public, day primary schools. A one group pretest-post-test quasi-experimental study design was adopted. A sample size of 125 pupils was arrived at using power formula. Purposive sampling, proportionate sampling and quota sampling techniques were used to select the sub-county and schools, number of pupils in schools and number of pupils by grade and gender respectively. Following the conventional WASH sensitisation, pupils achieved varying knowledge scores. Awareness regarding the causes of Schistosomiasis (SCH) increased by a mean of 0.568 (t(124) = -4.676, p < .001) and Soil-Transmitted Helminthes (STH) by 0.384 (t(124) = -3.038, p =.003), yielding a combined causal knowledge gain of 0.952 (p < .001). For transmission, understanding of SCH improved by a mean of 0.616 (t(124) = -4.416, p < .001), while STH remained stagnant (p =1.000). Nonetheless, combined transmission knowledge increased significantly (mean of 0.616 (t(124) = -3.137, p = .002). Finally, individual prevention scores and overall knowledge on prevention remained static (p = 1.000); this suggests that conventional WASH sensitisation is not effective in disease prevention as it did not result in measurable changes in knowledge on disease prevention. Therefore, public health strategies should move beyond passive information dissemination and invest in active campaigns that are supported by WASH infrastructure.
Beyond Legal Dualism: Rethinking Hybrid Order Through Somaliland’s Customary-Based Dispute Resolution
This article challenges legal dualism — understood in Hooker’s (1975) sense as the formal separation of customary and state legal orders into distinct, non-interacting spheres — and argues that the framing obscures how hybrid governance actually operates in post-conflict contexts. Drawing on social transformation theory, hybrid political orders scholarship, Griffiths’s strong legal pluralism and Moore’s semi-autonomous social field, it examines Somaliland’s Xeer-based dispute resolution as a case of dynamic interaction between customary and formal institutions rather than of parallel coexistence. The analysis combines legal text analysis, process-tracing and systematic review of secondary empirical studies, applied to the Xeer–state interface. The December 2025 Xeer Ciise crisis in Awdal exposed violent centre-periphery tensions and inter-clan sovereignty disputes between the Ciise and the Gadabuursi. Elder mediation contained the violence, and the February 2026 ceasefire is classified, following Galtung (1969), as negative peace: the fighting stopped while the structural conditions that produced it — peripheralisation, jurisdictional ambiguity and the exclusion of women, minority clans and youth — remained unresolved. The article advances endogenous legal transformation as its principal conceptual contribution: internally driven normative change negotiated among elders, communities and practitioners rather than imposed through external legal transplant. It concludes that sustainable peace requires moving beyond dualistic frameworks towards deliberate institutional design, including joint state–elder judicial training, partial codification of Xeer precedents on terms that preserve its adaptive character, guaranteed participation for currently excluded groups, and institutionalised early-warning mechanisms.
Spatial Inequality and Police Professionalism During Political Transitions in Nairobi’s Informal Settlements, Kenya
Political transitions frequently intensify tensions between democratic governance, public order management, and police accountability within marginalised urban settlements. Globally and across Africa, electoral transitions have exposed challenges of coercive policing, selective law enforcement and weak civilian accountability in informal settlements characterised by socio-economic inequality and uneven security provision. In Kenya, post-election periods have been associated with heightened police deployment, securitisation, and allegations of excessive use of force within Nairobi’s informal settlements of Kibera, Mathare and Mukuru. Political transitions act as catalysts that intensify existing socio-spatial inequalities by increasing security operations, protest mobilisation, and uneven enforcement practices, thereby shaping police behaviour and professionalism across different localities. This study examined the influence of spatial inequality on police professionalism during political transitions in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Specifically, it examined the extent of adherence to professional policing standards, analysed the influence of spatial inequality on police professionalism, and assessed the role of civilian oversight institutions in monitoring and documenting policing malpractices. The study adopted a mixed-methods descriptive survey design grounded in the pragmatic paradigm and complemented by interpretivism. Data were collected from a sample of 384 respondents through questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and documentary review. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings revealed that police professionalism remained moderate, spatially differentiated, and operationally inconsistent. The Police Professionalism Index (PPI), computed from weighted indicators of legality, accountability, political neutrality, proportional use of force, ethical conduct, and police–community engagement, recorded an overall score of 46%, with Mukuru scoring 55%, Kibera 45%, and Mathare 38%. Spatial inequality emerged as the strongest predictor of professionalism outcomes. The study recommends spatially responsive police training, equitable resource allocation, and community-centred policing to address spatial inequalities and enhance professionalism during political transitions.
Artificial Intelligence and Its Implications for Pedagogy in Higher Education Institutions in Tanzania: A Systematic Review
The study examines the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for pedagogy in higher education institutions in Tanzania. It explores both the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating AI into teaching, learning, and assessment practices. The study adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework to identify, screen, and analyse relevant literature published between 2015 and 2025. Scholarly articles were retrieved from Google Scholar, Scopus, ERIC, and Web of Science databases. Of the 124 studies initially identified, 38 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. The review indicates that AI has considerable potential to improve personalised learning, enhance teaching efficiency, support data-driven decision-making, and expand access to digital learning opportunities in Tanzanian higher education institutions. However, the effective integration of AI is constrained by inadequate digital infrastructure, limited AI literacy among lecturers, ethical concerns, and the absence of comprehensive institutional and national policy frameworks. The study relied exclusively on published secondary literature, which may have excluded emerging evidence and practical experiences not documented in academic sources. The study highlights the need for strategic investment in digital infrastructure, lecturer capacity-building programmes, and clear institutional policies on AI use to ensure the sustainable and effective integration of AI in higher education pedagogy in Tanzania.
Relationship between Perceived stress and Quality of life among Psychiatric Nurses Working at Selected National Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya
The harsh nature of psychiatric hospital working settings, assignment of job responsibilities, tight, inflexible work schedules, limited personnel, and variable patient requirements, among other factors, contribute to the recurrence of stress among psychiatric nurses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived stress and the quality of life among psychiatric nurses at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital (MNTRH), Nairobi, Kenya. The study objectives were to evaluate the relationship between perceived stress and quality of life. A quantitative approach with a correlational design was used to conduct the study using a census sampling with a sample size of 120 psychiatric nurses. The sample included both male and female aged between 21 and 60 years. The Perceived Self Stress Scale, WHOQOL-BREF tools were used to collect data. SPSS V 29 was used in data analysis. The relationship between perceived stress and quality of life was established using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The findings showed that the perceived stress levels were moderate (82.8%). The quality of life was moderate across the four domains. Correlational analysis revealed that perceived stress had a moderately strong negative significant (p < 0.05) correlation to the general life, physical health, psychological health, social, and environmental domains. A strong positive correlation was also reported between the domains. It can be concluded that the general life and health, physical and psychological factors are better in the assessment of quality of life among the psychiatric nurses. The study findings inform recommendations on improving working conditions to enhance the overall well-being of psychiatric nurses.
Examining Kiswahili and Its Potential for African Development
Kiswahili, a Bantu language that emerged along the East African coast centuries ago, has expanded significantly in both geographic reach and sociopolitical importance. Despite its growing number of speakers and its status as one of Africa’s most widely used indigenous languages, there remains limited empirical research on how Kiswahili can be systematically leveraged to support African development. This gap is particularly evident in the absence of coordinated policy frameworks, uneven adoption across regions, and persistent global structural inequalities that shape language hierarchies on the continent. Addressing this tension, the paper investigates the developmental potential of Kiswahili across sectors such as education, trade, politics, diplomacy, and culture. Guided by Wallerstein’s Modern World‑System framework (2004a; 2004b), the study examines how global power dynamics influence the positioning of African languages within contemporary social and economic relations. Data were generated through structured interviews with 30 Kiswahili professionals from East Africa and through document analysis of relevant academic and policy literature. The findings indicate that Kiswahili already contributes to development, as reflected in its designation as an official working language of the African Union in 2022, its integration into education systems in more than 14 African countries, and its role in facilitating cross‑border trade among approximately 200 million speakers in East and Central Africa. The paper concludes with targeted recommendations for strengthening Kiswahili’s institutional support and enhancing its contribution to Africa’s social, economic, and political transformation.
Access to Agricultural Extension Services and Adoption of Improved Agricultural Practices among Smallholder Sunflower Farmers: Evidence from Dodoma and Singida Regions, Tanzania
The role of agricultural extension services (AES) in promoting the adoption of improved agricultural practices (IAPs) is widely recognised. However, existing studies often conceptualise extension access as a binary condition—whether farmers have contact with extension services or not-overlooking variation in how access occurs in practice. This study examined how differences in the frequency of interpersonal contact and extension communication modes jointly shape adoption behaviour among smallholder farmers. Drawing on the Diffusion of Innovations Theory, the study conceptualised extension access along two dimensions: frequency of interpersonal contact and modes of communication. A cross-sectional research design employing quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. Quantitative data were collected from 385 smallholder farmers through structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression in IBM SPSS version 23. Qualitative data were obtained through focus group discussions and were analysed thematically to complement quantitative findings. Findings indicate that adoption of IAPs remains relatively low, with only 41.8% of farmers classified as adopters. Binary logistic regression results revealed that the frequency of extension contact was significantly associated with IAPs adoption (OR = 1.902, p < 0.05). In contrast, digital and mass-media communication channels did not show statistically significant associations after controlling for interpersonal contact. Qualitative findings further revealed that farmers valued repeated interpersonal engagement because it enhances trust and continuous technical guidance. The findings suggest extension systems to strengthen interpersonal engagement while using digital and mass-media channels as complementary support mechanisms. However, the study is limited by its reliance on cross-sectional data, which constrains causal inference.
Artificial Intelligence and the Crisis of Musical Authenticity: Examining the Implications of AI-Generated Music on Creativity, Copyright, and Artistic Integrity
The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has instigated a perceived crisis within the music industry, challenging existing norms of authenticity, creativity, and copyright. This study analyses the dominant discourse surrounding this crisis and proposes an alternative framing from the perspective of African musicology. The study, anchored in postcolonial theory, critiques the universalist legal and aesthetic concepts (individual authorship and copyright), which act as hegemonic cultural constructs, and the African communal ethos, a philosophical paradigm where musical creativity is understood as a participatory, functional, and socially embedded practice, offers a contrasting ontology of music-making. A systematic review of literature was conducted to synthesise and analyse scholarly articles, legal reviews, and industry reports that were published up to July 2025. The selected literature was thematically analysed to identify and compare the core tenets of the classical individualist paradigm with the African communal ethos paradigm as it surrounds the creation and ownership of music. The findings reveal that the perceived crisis is dependent on the Western constructs of the solitary genius and the unchanging musical work, both of which are incompatible with the AI. Conversely, the African communal ethos, which is characterised by its emphasis on collective creation, social function, and performance as an experiential event, offers a more robust and adaptable framework to counter the perceived notion of crisis. This comparative analysis highlights the core differences between these two approaches while focusing on authorship, creativity, ownership, and authenticity. Finally, the findings suggest that the perceived crisis in AI music is not an inevitable technological outcome, but rather a cultural reflection of neo-colonialism. By embracing African musicological viewpoints, therefore, this crisis could be reevaluated. This article concludes by proposing the notion that AI should not be viewed as a threat to human creativity but as a powerful tool to enhance collaborative and inclusive forms of musical expression.
Sustainability Dimensions of Rural Water Services in Semi-Arid Tanzania: The FIETS Framework Lens
Sustaining rural water supply services remains a persistent challenge in sub-Saharan Africa despite infrastructure investment and various sector reforms, this is particularly pronounced in rural settings where functionality and continuity are vulnerable to institutional capacity constraints, affordability, maintenance, and environmental stress. Drawing on the Financial Institutional Environmental Technological Social framework (FIETS). Sustainability was operationalised using a composite index based on household perceptions of water quality, quantity adequacy, reliability, accessibility, and affordability as key service delivery attributes associated with sustainable rural water services. The study employed quantitative approach using household survey to collect data from 384 households in Chemba District. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 4 with 5,000 bootstrap resamples was used. The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity based on indicator loadings, internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity. Structural model results indicate that environmental factors is most strongly associated with sustainability with (β = 0.322, t = 7.677, p < 0.001), followed by technical with (β = 0.152, t = 3.595, p < 0.001), social with (β = 0.142, t = 2.785, p = 0.005), institutional with (β = 0.137, t = 3.305, p = 0.001), and financial with (β = 0.119, t = 2.506, p = 0.012), with all hypothesised relationships statistically significant. These findings indicate that rural water sustainability is best understood as a multidimensional of combined factors, rather than a single-factor.” The study contributes to the evidence base on rural water sustainability and support integrated policy design aligned with Sustainable Development Goal number 6 which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Numerical Analysis of Magnetohydrodynamics Hybrid Nanofluid Flow Past an Infinite Vertical Plate in Presence of Thermal Radiation
This study investigates magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow and heat transfer of a Cu–Al₂O₃/water hybrid nanofluid past an infinitely vertical plate, motivated by applications in energy generation, industrial cooling, and biomedical systems. Governing equations were reduced via similarity transformations and solved numerically using the shooting method with a fourth‑order Runge–Kutta scheme in MATLAB. Results show that buoyancy and radiation parameters accelerate the boundary‑layer flow, increasing skin friction and Nusselt number, while stronger magnetic fields suppress velocity due to Lorentz damping. Higher Prandtl numbers enhance heat transfer but thin the thermal boundary layer, reducing wall shear. Radiation decreases the Nusselt number yet increases skin friction, while nanoparticle volume fraction strengthens temperature fields. Entropy generation analysis highlights the competing roles of viscous dissipation and heat transfer irreversibility. Magnetic and Brinkman numbers intensify entropy production and weaken thermodynamic efficiency, whereas the temperature‑difference parameter reduces entropy generation and raises the Bejan number. Radiation elevates both entropy generation and Bejan number. Comparative evaluation shows Cu–water producing the highest entropy generation, Al₂O₃–water the lowest, and the hybrid nanofluid maintaining intermediate values, demonstrating balanced thermal conductivity and viscosity. The hybrid nanofluid offers a balanced performance, improving heat transfer while limiting entropy generation, and thus holds promise for efficient energy utilisation in magnetohydrodynamic and radiative systems.
The Unintended Consequences of Cyber Warfare: A Case Study of the Iran-Israel Conflict
Cyber warfare is one aspect of statecraft that has grown to be more significant over time due to its covert nature and affordability in terms of achieving certain strategic goals. This study seeks to investigate the unintended consequences of cyber warfare, considering the Iran-Israel conflict situation. The paper endeavours to explore the unintended outcomes of cyber warfare on the targets of both nations as well as the possible implications of such cyber operations in the security and governance realm. This research will adopt a qualitative case study design where the researcher will conduct a secondary systematic literature review of articles from scholarly sources. Thematic analysis of the reviewed secondary data will reveal some of the key unintended impacts associated with cyber operations. From the findings, it is evident that the use of cyber warfare in Iran-Israel has led to some key side effects, including the impact of cyber warfare on civilian infrastructure, economic consequences of cyber warfare, escalation in cyber warfare, extension of cyber capabilities to non-state actors, and making it difficult to distinguish between war and peace. The paper concludes that despite its reputation for accuracy, cyber warfare can be quite unpredictable, with the possibility of having wider implications than what can be expected in terms of achieving strategic objectives by the states. The paper calls for the formulation of international norms and regulations, investment in cybersecurity, and cooperation among the states in order to minimise the dangers of cyberwarfare. Lastly, the paper draws attention to the paradoxical nature of cyberwarfare, which is intended to serve as an instrument of control but ends up being uncontrollable.
"Out of the Shadows": The Transformation of Epilepsy Stigma in Mahenge, Tanzania, 19th–20th Century
The 1997 "Out of the Shadows" campaign, led by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE), and the World Health Organisation (WHO), sought to improve the well-being of people with epilepsy worldwide by combating stigma. However, the campaign treated stigma as a uniform problem, ignoring the local social and historical contexts in which stigma emerged and operated. Drawing on oral life histories, illness narratives, and in-depth interviews with 23 informants from four villages in Mahenge, this paper examines the root causes of stigma as well as the transformation of stigma brought by increasing inter-community interactions and the growing pressures of the money economy during the colonial period. The study found that in the pre-colonial period, both men and women with epilepsy faced stigma as the Wapogoro believed both sexes could transmit the condition through reproduction. During the early colonial period, however, many men migrated to distant villages, married, and fathered unaffected children, revealing that paternal transmission was rare. At the same time, the colonial money economy placed new pressures on men to earn cash wages. Consequently, the root cause of stigma for men shifted from reproduction to a poor economic base. Women, by contrast, continued to experience stigma based on the belief that women transmit epilepsy to their children and that seizures incapacitate them from performing daily gender roles. These findings demonstrate that the 'Out of the Shadows' campaign's assumption of uniform stigma is contextually incomplete. Effective intervention against stigma requires building on local knowledge relating to epilepsy accumulated over centuries.
Application of Artificial Intelligence in Detection and Remediation of Heavy Metals in Contaminated Water and Soils in Africa -A Systematic Review
Heavy metal poisoning of water and soils remains a serious environmental and public health issue in Africa, fuelled by growing industrialisation, mining operations, urban growth, and insufficient waste management systems. Although artificial intelligence has been widely regarded as a transformative tool for global environmental monitoring, existing research rarely addresses Africa-specific constraints, rarely integrates detection and remediation, and offers limited guidance for policy implementation in data- and resource-constrained contexts. This study conducts a systematic review using a structured literature synthesis guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) screening principles to investigate artificial intelligence-based approaches for heavy metal detection, prediction, mapping, and remediation in African water and soil systems. The evaluation assesses the performance, data needs, and contextual applicability of machine learning, deep learning, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems, Internet of Things-enabled sensing, and geospatial artificial intelligence in comparison to worldwide applications. The synthesis shows that remote sensing-artificial intelligence frameworks and Internet of Things-integrated systems enable scalable monitoring and early-warning capabilities, whereas artificial neural networks and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems achieve high predictive accuracy (coefficient of determination frequently > 0.90) under limited data conditions. Despite showing potential, adoption is hampered by fragmented datasets, poor digital infrastructure, talent gaps, and insufficient integration with regulatory frameworks. To address these issues, the report suggests an Africa-focused artificial intelligence-environment policy framework to promote sustainable heavy metal management and increase environmental governance.
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University Lecturers’ Skills, Readiness, and Attitudes Toward AI in Teaching Kiswahili: Evidence from Dar es Salaam
The purpose of this study was to examine the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the teaching of Kiswahili within tertiary education institutions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and to explore its potential as a transformative tool for enhancing language instruction. Specifically, the study sought to determine the extent to which Kiswahili lecturers possess the competencies required to incorporate AI‑based tools into their teaching practices and to assess their attitudes toward the adoption of AI in Kiswahili pedagogy. Guided by Bandura’s social learning theory (Khodamoradi, 2015) and Dewey’s functionalist perspective (Dewey & Hall, 2018), the study employed a descriptive research design to address the research questions on examining the specific AI‑related skills lecturers and students currently possess and identifying existing gaps, their psychological and institutional readiness to adopt AI tools in their instructional practices, and the attitudes they hold toward AI as a transformative tool for teaching Kiswahili. Purposive sampling was used to select universities available in Dar es Salaam City, both public and private, that offer Kiswahili programmes, and data were collected from 120 lecturers through questionnaires, focus group discussions, interviews, and classroom observations. The findings revealed that although awareness of AI technologies such as Praat Stanza, SpaCy morphological models, Polyglot, Kiswahili NLP parsers, and Speech analyser is growing, their actual use in Kiswahili instruction remains limited due to inadequate training, infrastructural constraints, and uncertainty about pedagogical integration. The study contributes to emerging scholarship on AI in African higher education and offers practical insights for lecturers, teacher‑training institutions, and curriculum developers on how AI can be effectively incorporated to enrich Kiswahili teaching and learning in tertiary settings.
The AI Innovation Divide in Education: Responsible Adoption, Capability, and Inequality
Artificial intelligence (AI), and generative AI in particular, is accelerating innovation in education by expanding access to tutoring, content creation, learning analytics, and teacher support. At the same time, policy syntheses and recent scholarship suggest that AI adoption can reproduce—and in some cases intensify—existing disparities when systems, data, skills, governance, and infrastructure are unevenly distributed. This conceptual analysis develops and refines the concept of an “AI innovation divide” in education: a multidimensional inequality in the capability to access, govern, and creatively use AI to generate educational value. Using a transparent desktop research strategy, the study analyses contemporary peer‑reviewed studies and authoritative policy documents and derives defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents of the AI innovation divide across sources published between 2021 and 2026. Results yield a refined definition and a two‑layer model that distinguishes foundational conditions (connectivity, data and compute access, and procurement ecosystems) from conversion conditions (AI literacy, institutional governance, and pedagogical/creative agency) that translate availability into learning and innovation outcomes. The discussion aligns this model with research on equity‑conscious AI adoption, responsible AI governance, and AI competency frameworks, and highlights institutional and policy design implications, including capability‑oriented investment, governance‑by‑design, and teacher‑centred paths to innovation. The study concludes with limitations and an empirical research agenda to operationalise and quantify the AI innovation divide across educational systems.
Disclosure of Parents’ HIV Status to Children: A Model Derived from the Experiences of Families in Makete District, Tanzania
The HIV/AIDS literature has indicated that parents' disclosure of their HIV status significantly affects children’s behaviour. However, in Tanzania, limited research exists regarding how and when parents should disclose their HIV status to children to minimise or avoid negative outcomes. This paper, based on research conducted in Makete District, explores parents’ disclosure of their HIV status to propose a model to guide the process. The study employed a qualitative ethnographic research design, using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observation, and documentary analysis as data collection methods. Data were analysed using NVivo 8 qualitative analysis software after saturation was reached. A total of 70 informants—including 33 parents, 20 children, ten family members, and seven healthcare professionals (4 healthcare workers and three community-based HIV service providers)—were included through purposive and snowball sampling. Informants were selected based on their experience with disclosure or their professional roles in providing HIV services. The sample was determined based on the criteria that parents who had disclosed their HIV status to their children, as well as the professionals who offered services to the parents. The findings suggest that a well-planned disclosure process enhances positive outcomes for children. Consequently, this paper proposes a four-stage model tailored to the Tanzanian context: preparation, the disclosure event, consolation, and the disclosure outcome. This model is intended for use by healthcare professionals to guide parents through a recommended approach for disclosing their HIV status to their children.
Land-Use Transformations, Population Dynamics and Climate Change: Disentangling the Interdependence in the Coastal Area of Kinondoni District, Tanzania
The study examines the impact of rapid urbanisation, population growth, and climate variability on coastal socio-ecological systems in Kinondoni District, Tanzania, from 2023 to 2033. Utilising multi-temporal satellite imagery, GIS, demographic projections, and climate forecasting models like ARIMA and ETS, the research analyzes historical trends and predicts future scenarios regarding land-use and land cover (LULC), temperature, rainfall, and population dynamics. Findings indicate significant urban expansion at the expense of mangrove forests, coastal vegetation, and wetlands, with mangrove cover expected to decline by over 20% due to urban encroachment driven by a population surge from 1.89 million in 2022 to over 3.2 million by 2033. Climate projections suggest rising minimum temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns, exacerbating ecological stress and diminishing carbon sequestration capabilities. The interplay of increasing temperatures, irregular rainfall, and land conversion threatens ecosystem resilience, elevates flood risks, and worsens shoreline erosion. The study highlights feedback loops where population growth leads to land transformation, further increasing climate vulnerability through the loss of natural buffers like mangroves. The implications for urban planning, environmental sustainability, and climate adaptation are significant. The study advocates for coordinated, climate-responsive land management strategies, including integrated coastal zone management, mangrove restoration, climate-resilient urban design, enhanced early warning systems, and sustainable settlement planning. These measures are crucial for preserving ecosystem services, protecting vulnerable communities, and fostering climate-resilient development in Tanzania’s coastal areas.
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Aligning Fashion Design Curricula with Industry Needs in Africa’s Developing Countries: A Review of Best Practices
The rapid pace at which the fashion industry is changing globally is expected to transform the curricula in developing countries to cater to this need. Nevertheless, challenges such as outdated curricula, limited integration of digital technologies, weak industry collaborations, and high graduate unemployment continue to persist in many institutions. This paper aims to identify and synthesise the strategies that could modernise the fashion design educational curriculum and align it with industry needs. The study examines current educational practices, recent technological developments, and innovations that are context-specific, relevant to underdeveloped regions, using a review-based analytical method. The findings indicate an urgent need for competence-based education models, incorporating digital tools in the design and production process, increasing institutional collaborations with industry stakeholders, and infusing sustainability and innovation within the curriculum. In line with this, the discussion emphasizes enabling factors like targeted teacher training, experiential and practice-driven learning, and global market orientation, together with unique contextual development such as heritage-based education that integrates indigenous textiles and crafts, entrepreneurship modules promoting self-employment, and community-engaged learning that links students with rural artisans for hands-on experience and cultural exchange. The review further highlights the need for a digital exchange programme for global exposure, sustainability labs for skills acquisition, and policy alignment to strengthen systematic responsiveness. This paper recommends improved collaboration among policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to establish flexible, inclusive, and future-oriented systems of fashion education that will be capable of producing creative, entrepreneurial, and globally competitive graduates who can contribute to the contribute to local industry and raise Africa’s presence in the international fashion arena.
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Impact of institutional support to smallholder horticultural farmers on their access to high-value markets in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe
This study's purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of market aggregators (cooperatives) in reducing institutional and informational transaction costs for smallholder horticulture farmers (SHFs) participating in high-value markets in Zimbabwe. The design used a cross-sectional survey of 192 SHFs in Mashonaland West Province, analysed using Chi-square (chi2) tests of goodness of fit. The findings confirm that aggregator linkage significantly improves SHFs' access to Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) standards (chi2(3) = 125.112, p < 0.001) and timely price information (\chi2(3) = 78.76, p < 0.001), thus mitigating information asymmetry. However, the stringent application of FSQ standards is a major source of governance friction, eroding farmer trust when produce is rejected. Research implications suggest using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to model the recursive relationship between compliance and trust. Practical implications call for mandated transparent grading protocols to manage the trust-compliance trade-off, investment in shared post-harvest infrastructure, and the integration of ICT for real-time market information dissemination.
Technology and Gambling: A Comprehensive Analysis of Social, Ethical, Religious and Moral Decadence Caused by Cyber Activities
The emergence of technology has given rise to multifaceted moral, ethical, and other ramifications, many of which remain inadequately comprehended. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted impact of technology-driven gambling on societal ethics and individual well-being. Through systematic exploration of databases (PubMed, IEEE, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, JSTOR), a discernible gap in the literature on technology and gambling was identified. The ongoing technological revolution necessitated an in-depth exploration of its ethical dimensions. Key methodologies included purposive sampling for diverse perspectives, collaborative engagements for enhanced diversity, critical appraisal for significance, and thematic synthesis for a nuanced understanding. The results of the study showed that the increased use of the internet by a large number of individuals to perform activities like gambling and social networking has led to cyber decadence and made it easy for cybercriminals to perform malicious activities such as stealing confidential information, such as credit care details form organisations and use for their own benefit. The key themes discussed in the results section include cyber decadence, statistics in gambling, effects of technology on gambling, and effects of gambling addictions on our society. The main finding of this study is that the persistent expansion of technology and gambling is the main cause of ethical, Biblical, and moral decadence in society and globally. Technology has resulted in various immoral behaviours and activities such as cybercrime, cyber-bullying, identity theft, and social media scams, particularly impacting sports betting. In conclusion, the ethical implications of gambling were expounded, highlighting potential violations of responsible stewardship principles. Future research is encouraged to delve deeper into the evolving landscape of technology-driven gambling, exploring emerging challenges and refining mitigation strategies. There is a need for ongoing discourse on responsible technology use, ethical considerations in gambling, and the necessity for regulatory frameworks prioritising societal well-being.
The impact of farmer-managed natural regeneration on maize health and yield productivity in semi-arid Kenya
Farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR) practice aims to improve maize health and increase maize yield in semi-arid areas in Kenya. Under the practice, farmers select and manage trees regeneration in their farmlands while growing maize. Whereas FMNR practice is known to contribute to food security, income diversification, and increased employment opportunities, its beneficial contribution to maize farmers in Nyatike, Kenya, has not been researched. This study applied a quantitative field survey design using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework technique for its hierarchical sampling design. The area of study is divided into seven (7) blocks (sites) represented by wards of Nyatike Sub-County. Forty-five (45) farmers were randomly selected to participate in the study. In each selected farm, maize under different tree canopies was considered to be treatment sites (TT) while those in the open (not under the tree canopies) were considered as controls (NT) using a block sampling design. Maize plant growth was monitored with measurements of height, number of leaves, diameter of maize stalk taken at intervals, and finally, maize yield after harvesting. The results show no significant difference in height, number of leaves, or diameter of maize stalk between the treatment and controls. Farms under FMNR practice had relatively higher yield compared to non-treatment, with an equivalent increase in maize yield of 1,432.18 kg/ha. There is a need for research on high-performing tree species to be carried out to improve both biodiversity and maize yield, thus presenting a sustainable model for restoring land and increasing food security in dryland areas.
The effectiveness of Informal Social Security System in Coastal communities of Tanzania: A Case of Kisiju ward in Mkuranga district council
Informal social security system used to protect community members against unanticipated risks such as death, sickness and hunger when people started living together in communities. This study assessed the effectiveness of informal social security system in coastal communities. Specifically, the study focused on identifying predominant risks, describe coping strategies and establish measures towards stipulated risks. The study was conducted in Mkuranga district council. A mixed method design was used, whereby qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data while a checklist guiding tool was used to collect qualitative data. A total of 180 respondents were interviewed. While in-depth interviews were conducted to four (4) key informants. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS computer programme hence frequency table and histograms were developed while qualitative data were manually analysed and themes were developed. Study finding revealed that among the risks were housing with low-quality by 115 (80%) males and 33(89%) females’ respondents and climate change effects by 121(85%) males and 27(73%) females’ respondents. Unemployment was reported as a risk by 125(87%) males and 30(81%) females’ respondents. Other risks were financial insecurity by 139(97%) males and 32(86%) females ‘respondents, and food insecurity by 97(68%) males and 31(84%) females ‘respondents. Coping strategies included diversification of livehood activities and the use of social network. Suitable measures towards stipulated risks include provision of loan to entrepreneurs, provision of entrepreneurship skills and improvement of infrastructure. The study informs policy makers through recommendations which include improvement of infrastructure and provision of entrepreneurship skills. The ministry of labour, youth, employment and persons is responsible for stipulated provisions.
Understanding Islamic Banking Adoption through the Lens of Perceived Behavioural Control: A Tanzanian Perspective
Despite operating within a dual banking framework, the adoption of Islamic banking in Tanzania remains limited. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour and integrated with Cho and Lee’s (2014) four-step framework, this study examined how perceived behavioural control influences adoption decisions. A convergent mixed-methods design was employed to capture both measurable patterns and contextual depth, allowing quantitative precision to be complemented by qualitative insight. Data were collected concurrently through semi-structured questionnaires combining closed-ended Likert-scale items with open-ended questions to capture both statistical trends and lived experiences. Quantitative data were analysed using factor analysis and hierarchical logistic regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic content analysis for triangulation. The results revealed a paradoxical effect whereby higher perceived control reduced the likelihood of adoption, suggesting that awareness of institutional, infrastructural, and regulatory barriers fosters skepticism rather than empowerment. Qualitative findings reinforced this view, highlighting limited product design, weak Shariah governance, and doubts about authenticity as key inhibitors. The study concludes that, in this context, perceived control reflects recognition of systemic obstacles rather than actual capability, underscoring the need for clearer regulation, a broader product base, stronger governance, and enhanced financial education to transform awareness into genuine adoption potential.
Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Selected Edible Vegetables Grown Along River Owade in Oyugis Area, Homa Bay County, Kenya
Harmful materials such as heavy metals, which may be itoxic are sometimes found in vegetables. The levels of some of these heavy metals were investigated in selected vegetables, kale and cabbage, which are grown in Oyugis along Owade River in Homa Bay County, Kenya. All samples were randomly collected from two gardens along the river. The levels of the selected heavy metals (Copper, Iron, Cadmium, Chromium, and Zinc) were analysed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. In the samples analysed, Cd and Cr were not detected. In kale, iron was found to be the highest in farm A, with an average of 46.68, and copper in farm B (32.73). Zinc was the lowest in both farms, with an average of 12.00 and 7.70, respectively. In cabbage, iron was highest in farm A (43.00) while copper was highest in farm B (37.00). Lowest in both farms was zinc (10.53 and 11.50, respectively). The data were analysed with t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the levels of the heavy metals in the vegetables obtained from Farms A and B. The concentration levels of metals in vegetables in the two gardens could be attributed to excessive usage of fertilisers and other agro-chemicals. The results were, however, lower than the values considered toxic, except for Fe, with higher values, which may be due to soil composition. From the results of this study, the consumption of these vegetables as food may not pose health hazards to humans.
Gender dynamics among fish entrepreneurs: A Case of Kipumbwi Ward in Pangani District Council, Tanzania
Dynamics in gender roles vary regionally, economically, and culturally in the entire fisheries value chain. This paper examines gender dynamics among fish entrepreneurs. Specifically, focused on the identification of fishing activities, assessed challenges, and established measures against stipulated challenges. The study was conducted in the Pangani district council. A mixed-methods design based on the principle of triangulation was employed. A structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, while a checklist guiding tool was used to collect qualitative data from the key informants. Quantitative data were analysed through the SPSS programme, while qualitative data were manually analysed through content analysis. The process involved carefully reading the data to gain an in-depth understanding and identifying key issues that emerged. Stratified sampling was used, and 202(100%) respondents were interviewed, out of which 151(75%) were males and 51(25%) were females. Four (4) in-depth interviews were conducted with the key informants, as they were familiar with the experience of the topic under study. Fishing activities carried out by women include carrying fish from the boat by 162(80%), food vendors by 139(69%), seaweed farming by 134(66%), and frying and selling small fish by 143(71%). On the contrary, men were responsible for fishing by 197(98%). Other activities were selling big fish by 173(86%) and removal of fish scale by 156(77%). Challenges include accidents, loans with high interest rates, lack of security boat, unpredictable income, improper market, high taxes, and lack of capital. Study findings reported mitigation measures that include building of modern market, modern ways of fishing, capital assistance, a conducive environment for fishing activities, and the provision of entrepreneurship skills. Policy makers were informed through study recommendations, such as the creation of a conducive environment for fishing activities and recognising fishers, for their sustainability.
Disruptive ICT Innovation Adoption in Developing Economies: Challenging Developed World Theories (A Kenyan Perspective)
The rapid evolution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has significantly transformed economies worldwide. However, the adoption of disruptive ICT innovations in developing economies, particularly in Kenya, presents unique challenges that often contradict established theories developed in the context of advanced economies. This paper investigates the adoption of disruptive ICT innovations in developing economies, focusing on Kenya, to challenge dominant theories formulated in developed contexts. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research collected both quantitative data through structured questionnaires and qualitative insights from interviews with senior corporate employees, ICT officers, and departmental heads across Kenya’s ICT and banking sectors. The sample was purposively drawn to capture diverse perspectives on innovation adoption. Key findings reveal that adoption of disruptive ICT innovations in Kenya is shaped less by the classical economic-driven models dominant in developed economies and more by social factors, regulatory frameworks, and user-centric considerations such as digital literacy, trust, and accessibility. Market forces, government policy, and organizational processes were also found to play significant roles, with financial investment emerging as a major determinant of success. Case examples such as the failure of M-PESA and the success of M-Shwari illustrate how context-specific dynamics override generalized adoption theories. The study concludes that developed-world theories of innovation diffusion and adoption are insufficient to explain trajectories in developing contexts, where disruptive ICTs thrive through inclusivity, social alignment, and adaptability to local needs. The research recommends that policymakers in Kenya and similar economies develop flexible legal and policy frameworks that encourage ICT growth while minimizing barriers. For organizations, the research highlights the need for clear innovation policies, adequate funding, employee motivation, and user-friendly design to drive adoption.
Mental Health and Substance Use Challenges among Emerging Adults in Coastal Kenya
Globally, emerging adults (EAs) aged 18–29 face a disproportionate burden of substance use and mental health challenges, with particularly acute impacts in sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya’s coastal region, high rates of cannabis, khat, alcohol, cigarettes, and heroin use among EAs intersect with limited mental health awareness, stigma, and restricted access to care. This developmental stage—characterised by identity formation, educational transitions, and economic instability—heightens vulnerability to mental disorders and maladaptive coping. This qualitative study examined mental health challenges, psychological problems, and maladaptive coping mechanisms among EAs with substance use disorders (SUDs) in coastal Kenya. Nine focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 88 participants recruited from treatment facilities across Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale counties. Data were collected using a semi-structured guide, transcribed, translated, and thematically analysed using NVivo 11. Findings revealed significant mental health challenges, mainly depression and anxiety; key psychosocial problems, including poor educational and occupational outcomes, dysfunctional relationships, and maladaptive coping strategies. These interconnected issues hurt treatment outcomes for this population. A key limitation of the study is the exclusion of non-treatment-seeking individuals, which may limit generalizability. Stakeholders should prioritise the integration of WHO’s PM+/PM+A and evidence-based CBT approaches to expand culturally responsive, community-based mental health care. While the study focused on treatment-seeking individuals, future research should include non-treatment-seeking EAs and explore gendered experiences to inform inclusive interventions.
Reimagining Educational Leadership for Gender Equity: A Gender-Transformative Framework to Advance Girls in STEM Education in Nyagatare District, Rwanda
Persistent gender disparities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education reflect deeply rooted structural, cultural, and psychological barriers. This study investigates these dynamics in Nyagatare District, Rwanda, using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Guided by Critical Feminist Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, Stereotype Threat, Role Congruity, Expectancy–Value, and Social Constructivist perspectives, data were collected from 322 students and 109 teachers through surveys, complemented by focus groups and interviews with parents, school leaders, and education officers. Quantitative analyses revealed significant associations between gender perceptions, career guidance, parental support, and exposure to inclusive role models (p < 0.05). Thematic analysis highlighted persistent socio-cultural norms, institutional inertia, and internalised stereotypes limiting girls’ STEM participation. Findings informed the development of the Gender-Transformative Educational Leadership for STEM (GTELS) framework, integrating leadership, pedagogy, and community engagement to guide culturally responsive, systemic interventions. Complemented by the Hills of Equity model, GTELS operationalises pathways from structural reforms and social norm shifts to sustained STEM engagement, emphasising mentorship, visible female role models, and evidence-based leadership strategies. This study contributes theoretically by synthesising multiple frameworks into a coherent model and practically by providing actionable strategies for policymakers, school leaders, and educators. While contextually grounded in Rwanda, GTELS offers a transferable, scalable approach for advancing gender equity in STEM education across Sub-Saharan Africa, positioning girls as emerging innovators and leaders in the 21st century.