Archives-October 2019

Peace education is about empowering and equipping students with knowledge, skills and attitudes in relation to positive social change. West Pokot County in Kenya is a highly volatile region and is characterized by regular conflict between its inhabitants and communities in neighbouring counties and northern Uganda region. The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of school plans and regulations and its effect on implementation of peace education in public secondary schools in West Pokot County, Kenya. The study objective was to determine how school plans and policies affect provision of peace education in public secondary schools in West Pokot county. The study adopted a pragmatist research paradigm and a descriptive survey research design. The sample size of 30% of principals and teachers constituted 24 and 198 respectively from a total population of 81 principals and 661 teachers in the County. Based on Yamane formula for sample size calculation, 385 students were sampled from a total of 10,035 students in West Pokot County. The schools were selected using stratified random sampling technique and purposive sampling. Simple random sampling was used to select students and teachers. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi square test while Qualitative data was analyzed thematically based on the emerging themes. The study established that schools had put in place measures within their plans and regulations to promote the implementation of peace education in the county. It is recommended that there should be enhancement of: parental involvement in the formulation of school plans and regulations within the county.

Peace education is about empowering and equipping students with knowledge, skills and attitudes in relation to positive social change. West Pokot County in Kenya is prone to community conflicts and wars between its inhabitants and communities in neighbouring counties and northern Uganda region. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of teachers capacity building in promotion of peace education in public secondary schools in West Pokot County, Kenya. The study objective was to determine how teachers’ capacity building in promotes implementation of peace education in public secondary schools in West Pokot county. The study adopted a pragmatist research paradigm and a descriptive survey research design. The sample size of 30% of principals and teachers constituted 24 and 198 respectively from a total population of 81 principals and 661 teachers in the County. Based on Yamane formula for sample size calculation, 385 students were sampled from a total of 10,035 students in West Pokot County. The schools were selected using stratified random sampling technique and purposive sampling. Simple random sampling was used to select students and teachers. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi square test while Qualitative data was analyzed thematically based on the emerging themes. The study established that schools had put in place measures within their plans and regulations to promote the implementation of peace education in the county. It is recommended that there should be enhancement of: parental involvement in the formulation of school plans and regulations within the county. 

This survey achieved in the city of Kindu and his/her/its peripheries have for objective to contribute to the knowledge of the Non Woody Forest products of plant origin, exploited in the biotopes surrounding the city of Kindu, the Nyoka locality, the Bilundu village and the Muyengo village in order to bring the actors to an exploitation responsible for these very important natural resources for their survival. In a specific manner it is about identifying the Non Woody Forest products exploited in the forests of Kindu and his/her/its vicinity and determined their biotopes of exploitation. For what is the collection of the data on the land, the used methodology had been based on the approach ethnoécologique, while leading an investigation on the Non Woody Forest products of the forests of Kindu and his/her/its vicinity. The investigation had concerned the exploiting permanent residents of the city of Kindu (Kindu city, Katako village, Shenge village, District Lwama), of the Bilundu village on the Kibombo road, the Nyoka village and the Muyengo village on the Kalima road. We had pulled at least 25 at random% of the households producers and to manage them the questionnaire elaborated to this effect. This collection of data was achieved as organizing some interviews to the course of which us had filled the cards. Therefore, the unit of sampling is the household of operators and consumers to the level of the survey sites and, our sample was of 697 individuals. The results showed that the species the more exploited like wild food plant in the biotopes of the Nyoka locality is Amaranthus viridis (LINNE), either 31%, followed of Colocasia antiquorum, var. esculenta, either 25% or Xanthosoma sagittifolium, 19%. In the biotopes of the Muyengo village, it is the species Amaranthus viridis that is the more harvested (34%), followed of Colocasia antiquorum (19%) and of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (11%). One also found that in the biotopes of the Bilundu village, one harvests the species more Dioscorea prehensilis (30%), followed of the species Amaranthus viridis (15%) and of the species Pteridium aquilinum (12,4%). Among the wild food plants harvested in the different biotopes of the city of Kindu, the species Amaranthus viridis is the more exploited, either 26%, followed of Xanthosoma sagittifolium, 16% and of the species Colocasia antiquorum and Talinum triangularis (11% for every case). In the Nyoka locality, 40% of forest operators harvest the PFNL of plant origin in the forest, 28% find them in fallows and 19% in the fields. In Muyengo, 38% in the forest, 29% in the fallows and 20% in the fields. In the Bilundu village, 37% of forest operators tell to find the Non Woody Forest products of plant origin in the forest, 23% in the savanna and 20% recover them in fallows. And for the city of Kindu, 37% of operators harvest these resources in the forest, 23% in the savannas and 20% in the fallows.

This study aims at analyzing the social and economic impact the exploitation, use and the commerce of Non-Timber Forest Products in the habitats surrounding Kindu city, Nyoka locality, Bilundu and Muyengo villages in order to call on actors for responsible exploitation of these natural resources for their survival and to identify major constraints on the development of the NTFP sector in these areas. The methodology to collect collection was based on the ethnoecologic approach. We surveyed permanent operators and sellers in Kindu (Kindu city, Katako village, Shenge village, Lwama district), Bilundu village on Kibombo road, Nyoka and Muyengo villages on Kalima road. To get more information about socioeconomic aspects of the exploitation of NTFP of plant origin in the survey zone, we identified transformers and merchants in the four survey sites (at random at least 25% of household producers and sellers) for ten months, (between July 2018 and May 2019). Data collection consisted of interviews. The unit of sampling is operators and sellers’ household. We sampled 697 individuals. The results show that: ? 48.4% forest operators in Kindu city exploit NTFP for home consumption and 28% prefer to sellt. In Nyoka locality, 44.3% commercialize NTFP they exploit and 36.3% exploit them for both home and commerce consumption. In Bilundu village, 63% products are more destined to commerce and 21% exploit them home consumption. Operators in Muyengo sell 52% products, and consume 33% in their homes; ? In Kindu, 44% operators allocate their income to their children’s education, 27% to their families’ healthcare, and 21% to food needs. In Nyoka, 73% operators use their income to meet food needs in their households, 13% for their children’s education and 11% for building. In Bilundu, 67.3% allocate their income to food in their homes, 22.2 % to their children’s education. Likewise, in Muyengo village 77% operators allocate their income to food, and 10% to their children’s education; ? 38% operators interviewed in Nyoka village said scarceness of some species impacts on the reduction of production of NTFP in their area, 31% point at progressive remoteness of the collection zone, 13% raise the issue of age to cover longer distances. In village Muyengo, 35% operators say there is decrease of these resources in the area because of progressive remoteness of collection zones, 33% complain about lack customers and 19% remark rarity of some species. In Bilundu village, progressive remoteness of the collection zones constitutes the first major reason of the decrease of production (54%), followed by rarity of some species (27%) and lack of transportation means towards the centers (12%). In Kindu, remoteness of the collection zones is the major cause of the decrease of production, followed by rarity of some plant species in the biotopes (21%) and lack of transportation means (12%).

Grand, a brand of groundnut oil was studied to investigate the effect of X-irradiation on its physicochemical properties. Different physicochemical parameters were characterized- the iodine value, free fatty acid (FFA) value, pH value and viscosity of the non-irradiated oil was obtained as 2.38, 1.83, 5.73 and 4.80 × 10-5m2/s respectively. The effect of X-irradiation on the oil showed a modification of the iodine value, Free Fatty Acid (FFA) value, pH value and viscosity to be 2.28, 2.86, 5.25 and 4.52 × 10-5m2/s when irradiated once. Also, 2.23, 3.25, 5.14 and 4.52 × 10-5m2/s when irradiated twice and 2.17, 3.70, 5.06 and 4.20 × 10-5m2/s when irradiated the third time. From the results of the investigated parameters, it was concluded that the oxidative deterioration level of the Grand oil can be used as a lubricant if the higher viscosity can be lowered and its oxidation stabilized appreciably.

The configuration, the storage and the operations form the important aspects in the management of a laboratory and workshop. These three aspects plays a vital role in the management of all activities and work schedules in the anticipation to simplify and move smoothly and optimized the work force and the time spent to resolve and produce an effective service output. To achieve all of these three aspects and form them as a regular activity to all staff in the aspects of the configuration of The Storage General Rules, the Equipments Concept, Retention of Merchandise Based on their Date of Expiry, Retention of Special Services Maintenance Tools (Sst), Stock Master Maintenance system, First in first out system (Fifo) , the 5S Principles And Kaizen are being practiced whereas for the purpose of storage and handling, the principles and work steps such as Customer Request Order (CRO) and Dead Stock are used as a work activity guide.

One management which does not possess a systematic or a fully completed system will cause the installation of a laboratory or workshop to not to operate smoothly. The venue selected to undergo this research was at the Institut Kemahiran Tinggi Belia Negara (IKTBN) ( ‘National Youth Advance Skill Institute’). Among the issues faced is in regards to the duration of time taken in handling the tender process which at times consumed a too long duration. Besides that, the supervision during the period of installation or maintenance is vital to ensure that the output of quality work meet the specification as in the contract. The instrument of this research uses the Interview and observation methods. The findings of this research analysis conducted had successfully revealed all of the information required. Via audio recordings recorded at the time of the interview being conducted, that is the current and thereafter information regarding the installation activity in the tender management process. Lastly, all the management’s task in respect of the installation conducted require procedures or careful steps to ensure that issues do not arise and even if there is any, it can be averted.

Table of contents for the month of October 2019