Cultural Implications of the Kipsigis Clan Names
The present paper investigated the Kipsigis clan names under the major family name category with the aim of establishing the cultural implications in them. The study was done in Kericho and Bomet counties in Kenya from December 2023 to January 2025. Thirty clan names were collected and broken down into their components, and examined for their meaning, usage, and cultural context using a theory of personal names which was propounded by Makondo (2009) and principles from Lexical Pragmatics Theory by Wilson (2003) & Carston (2002). The findings of the analysis are that the Kipsigis society is structured into clans which were divided according to their origin into special clans, clans from the wider Kalenjin tribes, clans from the Maasai community and clans from Kisii community. Several cultural implications from the clan names were established. One is that that the Kipsigis value identity which they derive from clans. Second, they also value preservation of bloodlines by not allowing marriage between members of the same clan. Third, patriarchal system was seen in the tracing of lineage from fathers to sons beginning from the clans’ founding fathers. Fourth, their value for animals and connection to them is seen in the totems that every clan identifies with. Finally, through the clan system, preservation of the Kipsigis history is done in the oral narratives that each clan has of their lineage
Copyright (c) 2025 Fancy Soi, Dr. Klaus Derungs http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of Nurses' Personal Religious and Spiritual Beliefs on Their Well-Being in Balancing Work-Family Conflict
Nursing is a sensitive and stressful profession and employment of religious and spiritual coping strategies is necessary to mitigate work-family conflict. Nurses frequently navigate the tension between demanding professional responsibility and familial obligations, often leading to work-family conflict and emotional strain. This review explores how personal religious and spiritual beliefs serve as internal resources that enhance nurses’ well-being. Drawing from empirical studies, and theoretical perspectives, the paper highlights the protective role of spirituality in mitigating burnout and fostering resilience. These beliefs can provide a sense of purpose, support and reliance which can help mitigate work-family conflict. Moreover, the beliefs act as coping mechanisms, helping nurses manage the demands at work and at home. The paper presents an overview of how these beliefs foster a sense of inner peace and providing a framework for understanding and dealing with stressors due to their role in conflict resilience and emotional regulation. This enhances overall mental well-being and improve the ability to balance work and family demands. The paper demonstrates the need to have a clear policy and awareness for the healthcare staff to ensure that nurses make use of the services. The paper is important in informing healthcare facilities, churches, and Christian organizations to help nurses who are involved in this sensitive profession for better outcomes of not only quick recovery to the patients but for the well-being of the nurse’s family.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mary Nekesa Mudave http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Death, dying, and the afterlife have been central concerns across human cultures, with interpretations of such phenomena varying greatly across time and space. The paper offers a comparative review of Greek, Jewish, New Testament, and African Christian views on death and eschatology highlighting both points of convergence and divergence. Greek thought on death ranges from the Homeric shadowy, underworldly Hades, in which souls exist in a dismal limbo, to Platonic doctrines insisting on the soul’s immortality, to Epicurean philosophical positions denying postmortem existence altogether and emphasizing the finality of bodily death. Jewish thought similarly evolved from early depictions of Sheol in the Hebrew Bible, a shadowy place of the dead, toward Second Temple ideas embracing bodily resurrection, apocalyptic visions, and the hope of divine restoration. The New Testament reinterprets death through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ with an emphasis on bodily resurrection, final judgment, and communal eschatological hope. In African traditional conceptions, for example, among the Akamba and the Akan, death is not an end but a rite of passage into ancestorhood. These perspectives emphasize the continuity of community, moral accountability, and the ritual passage from the world of the living into the ancestral world. A comparative analysis demonstrates resonances between New Testament and African perspectives, such as beliefs in life beyond death, moral responsibility, communal orientation, and the importance of ritual in marking important transitions in life. However, divergences remain, particularly with respect to the nature of the afterlife judgement, and the Christocentric hope accentuated in Christian contextualized eschatology that incorporates indigenous motifs, in particular “homegoing” and ancestor remembrance, and yet grounds hope in the resurrection of Christ. Such an approach carries implications for pastoral care, catechesis, liturgy, and ethical living. Ultimately, this paper shows that African intuitions of continuity and relationality can enhance Christian theological reflection without compromising the distinctiveness of the gospel message.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mumo Kisau http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The phrase in persona Christi - “in the person of Christ” - expresses one of the deepest mysteries of Christian ministry: that in sacramental actions, it is Christ Himself who ministers through the Church’s ordained servants. This paper explores the application of this doctrine within the Anglican Church, with a particular focus on the Kenyan context. It argues that Anglican theology, shaped by the Reformation’s via media, holds a distinctive balance between sacramental objectivity and communal participation. The priest, acting in persona Christi, is neither a mystical intermediary nor a mere functionary, but a representative servant through whom Christ’s reconciling grace flows to the faithful. Historically, the concept emerged from Catholic teaching affirmed by the Council of Trent, was critiqued and reinterpreted by the Reformers, and found renewed expression in Anglicanism’s synthesis of Scripture, tradition, and reason. In Kenya, the doctrine is not abstract but embodied in pastoral realities; single mothers seeking acceptance, elderly polygamists walking paths of conversion, and believers living with HIV longing for healing at the Eucharistic table. Acting in persona Christi thus calls clergy to embody Christ’s hospitality, truth, and mercy amid cultural diversity and moral complexity. The study concludes that this doctrine anchors the Church’s sacramental life in Christ’s faithfulness, nurtures communal priesthood, and inspires servant leadership rooted in the Gospel’s call to reconciliation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rev. Dr.Enoch Harun Opuka http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Contribution of Role Play Management Development Practice on Service Delivery
Role-playing allows managers to act out in the position of responsibilities which are not theirs but have qualification to perform, it enables the managers to perform duties in the organization which belong to others. The duties they perform enable them to understand the tasks that are within the organization and increase self-confidence as well as mounting skills in handling the tasks allocated to them. Studies have been conducted on role-playing in organization but few studies have been conducted in public universities hence the study sought to establish the contribution of role-playing management development practices on service delivery in Kenyan public universities. The study adopted a positivism research philosophy and descriptive survey research design. The study targeted all the fourteen public universities located in the South Western Kenya top management both in academic and administrative staff. The study adopted stratified sampling in selecting the respondents from the strata that are relevant to the study and simple random sampling method was used in selecting respondents in each stratum. Descriptive and inferential statistics specifically the Likert scale and regression analysis were used. The study findings indicated the contribution of role-playing management development practice on service delivery was significant (Adjusted R Square = 0.335, F=105.660, p >0.05). The study contributes to theory and practice in that organizations should encourage role playing so as to maximize on the human resources that contribute to service delivery.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Erick Nyakundi Onsongo http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Contextual Witnessing Among Luo Muslims in Western Kenya
Islam is a religion that has dominated many parts of Africa. The attempt to convert the Muslims through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has been marred by many challenges including the tendency to generalize Islam and by extension applying general or old conversion strategies. However, conversion from one faith to another should be understood from a localized or a contextual perspective. Through qualitative and library research, the discussions centre on three key areas that are fundamental in developing strategies appropriate to Muslim witnessing with special reference to Luo Muslims in Western Kenya. First, a historical background of the coming of Christianity and Islam to Kenya and their perspectives to the African cultures have been provided. Second, a focus on how Islam has interacted with local cultural death practices among the Luo Muslims in Western part of Kenya has been carried out. Lastly, the understanding of who Jesus is, which is pivotal in Christian salvation, has been appropriated. Missiological and theological approaches have been devised as necessary bridges in conversion experience among the Muslims together with the training in Muslim evangelism. In conclusion, rather than looking at Islam from a general perspective, this study of Islam and the Muslim people takes the local context into consideration, with a particular cultural area of emphasis in this paper being death and burial practices among the Luo Muslims. It is through the in-depth understanding of cultural issues that the church can develop strategies relevant for Muslim evangelism.
Christian, witnessing, Great Commission, culture, contextual, theological and missiological approaches.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lawrence Oseje http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The present study investigated cultural values in Kipsigis personal names of the birth name category. The study was done in Kericho and Bomet counties, Kenya, from December 2022 to August 2023. A total of 20 personal names were collected and analyzed using the anthroponym-pragma-semio-semantic decompositional theory which proposes that a name is first broken down into its various morphological components so as to arrive at its meaning. The birth names were analyzed and sub-categorized into time birth names, season names, location names and ancestral names. Each name is broken down into its various morphemes and the literal meaning is established. From this analysis several morphological processes are noted such as prefixation, compounding involving several word classes and deverbalization. From the process of prefixation, the feature of gender is brought out whereby names of boy begin with kip- and girls’ names beginning with chep-. Several cultural implications were brought out which include the need to mark history surrounding the birth of a child, herdsman culture and belief in the supernatural. Keywords: meaning, cultural implications, values, herdsman culture
Copyright (c) 2025 Fancy Soi, Prof. Helga Schroeder http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Euphemistic Expressions in the Kagulu Language of Tanzania
This document aims to show how euphemisms are being used in the Kagulu language of Tanzania and how euphemistic expressions reflect cultural realities of the Kagulu language community. Euphemisms are used to substitute words or speeches which are too harsh when referring to some unpleasant or embarrassing situation. In other words, euphemisms are used to make unacceptable words or language to become sweet and acceptable. The Kagulu speakers employ euphemistic expressions to handle such matters, which are thought to be unacceptable to be spoken directly before other people of the community. In the Kagulu language, euphemisms are used to avoid the use of such words, to teach the Kagulu community about their ethics, to avoid conflicts and embarrassments, and to bring stability in the community. Euphemisms are used to motivate people to like and use their language in the right way. Normally, the Kagulu language speakers, who use euphemistic expressions when they speak, are considered to be people of wisdom and are honored greatly in the Kagulu community. Key Terms: Euphemism, Kagulu, cultural norms and environments, traditional religious beliefs, taboos
Copyright (c) 2025 Raymond Remi Sekabigwa http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of Psychological Well-being on the Quality of Life of Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Special Schools in Luanda Sub-county, Vihiga County
Caregivers of children living with autism spectrum disorder are confronted with many obstacles that have an impact on their psychological health and, in turn, their quality of life. This study explores the influence of psychological well-being on quality of life of caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) attending special schools in Luanda Sub-County, Vihiga County. This study adopted the Social-Ecological System Theory to explain how the caregivers of ASD children interact with different contexts as they execute their caregiving responsibilities. The research employed a phenomenal approach and purposive sampling method to select the respondents from special schools in Luanda Sub-County. The tools employed for the study were interview guide and focus group discussions. Data was gathered via videotape recordings and field notes and then transcribed word for word. The objective of the study was to explore how the psychological well-being encompassing aspects such as autonomy, personal growth, and self-acceptance of the caregivers' of children with ASD affects their overall quality of life. The study found out that numerous challenges faced by the caregivers revolve around lack of information and awareness regarding ASD which delayed the diagnosis of ASD. These affected their self- acceptance, autonomy, and personal growth, which in turn influenced their Quality of Life (QOL). The study recommends raising public awareness about ASD, providing caregivers with skills to manage socially unacceptable behaviors, make therapies accessible and affordable for the caregivers, and provide them with support to help them improve their psychosocial well-being and QOL. Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, quality of life, caregivers, psychological well-being, self-acceptance, autonomy, personal growth.
Copyright (c) 2025 Grace Akula, Prof. Niceta Ireri, Dr. Alice Omondi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Influence of Religious-based Programmes on Recidivism of Women Offenders in Kenyan Prisons
The study, done between 2021 and 2024, sought to establish the impact of religious-based programmes on the recidivism of repeat female offenders in Kenyan prisons. The study aimed to determine the influence of religious-based programmes on recidivism. The study hypothesised that women repeat offenders' participation in religious-based rehabilitation programmes did not have a positive influence on recidivism trends. It was further hypothesised that participation in religious-based programmes did not prevent women convicts from criminal relapse. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using questionnaires, in-depth interview guides, key informant guides and focus group discussions. Key informants were identified from prison officers who were purposefully selected. Out of a target population of 130 women inmates, a sample size of 48 respondents was selected and participated in the study. The snowball sampling technique was used to identify the appropriate respondents. Qualitative and quantitative data were analysed and presented in percentages, tables, and verbatim quotes. The study findings established that religious-based rehabilitation programmes had a significant impact on recidivism reduction trends among women repeat offenders. It further shows that participation in religious-based rehabilitation programmes helped repeat offenders desist from criminal relapse and helped to get rid of negative emotions such as depression and anger, enhancing the ability to acquire healthy, stable mental health. It is recommended that religious and spiritual liberty activities be enhanced in all women's correctional facilities to reduce recidivism rates among repeat female offenders since this would play a significant role in helping women convicts acquire emotional, psychological and mental healing, which is vital for their ability to desist from criminal relapse. Keywords: Homa Bay GoK women prison, recidivism, rehabilitation, religious-based programme, repeat offenders
Copyright (c) 2025 Patrick Lumumba Aghan, Otieno Marygorety Akinyi, Anne Achieng Assey http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Prevalence of Psychological Impacts on the Process, the Arrest and the Incarceration and Criminal Conduct Tendency upon the Adolescent’s Life
This study explores the psychological effects of arrest and incarceration on adolescents in Makadara Sub-County, Kenya, specifically at the Nairobi Boys Hostel. It aims to understand how these experiences can disrupt adolescent psychological well-being, and personal development and potentially lead to criminal behaviour. The research fills a gap in the Kenyan context, particularly in Makadara Sub-County. The study, based on Social Learning Theory and Strain Theory, suggests that incarceration experiences contribute to psychological stress, unproductivity and criminal behaviour among adolescents. It suggests that these experiences, often influenced by significant others, can lead to low self-esteem, anger, hostility, denial, and rejection, potentially affecting the overall well-being of the adolescents. The study used qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to analyze the data highlighting the detrimental effects of juvenile incarceration. The results showed that 20% strongly agreed with positive self-statements, 40% agreed, 30% were undecided, 5% disagreed, and 5% strongly disagreed. Sixty percent of the respondents frequently felt angry about various aspects of their lives. Similar percentages were observed for anger towards the future, hostility, and irritation levels. The study reveals significant psychological distress among incarcerated adolescents, suggesting a cycle of negative experiences within the criminal justice system. The study highlights the need for psychological interventions to combat juvenile delinquency, emphasizing stress, incarceration, unproductivity, and criminal behavior, and suggests policy reforms focusing on rehabilitation and mental health support rather than punitive measures. Keywords: Adolescents, Psychological Impacts, Arrest, Incarceration, Criminal Conduct/behavior
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal Manager http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An Analysis of Connectors in Balanta Narrative Texts
This paper aimed at analyzing connectors in Balanta language and how their study can be applied to Bible translation with the special attention given to the narrative texts. This topic was chosen because connectors’ problems are a crucial issue in Bible translation. Wrong usage of connectors affects the syntactic relationship of clauses, sentences, and paragraphs, which in turn causes the text to lose accuracy, clarity and naturalness in the target language. This has become an area of increased concern in many translation projects in Guinea Bissau. This paper aims at sheding more light on the Bible translation, with specific reference to the use of connectors in Balanta narratives. Various connectors’ functions in Balanta narrative were examined with the aim of proposing effective strategies that can be employed by Balanta Bible translators. The major concern was to determine mismatches in the meaning of the connectors in the source (Hebrew) and target (Balanta) language. It was found that the Balanta language has a variety of connectors but uses them less frequently compared to Hebrew which has very few connectors but uses them more frequently, especially for those with the multifunctional dimensions. Balanta is an Atlantic Language of the Niger-Congo branch, spoken in Guinea Bissau in West Africa between Atlantic Ocean, 61 Senegal and Guinea-Conakry. Though, there are severals theories used in Bible translation, such as literal translation, dynamic equivalence, skopos and others, this study proposes the use of relevance theory
Copyright (c) 2024 Cutsau Nhuta, Abigael Wangari Mbua http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Predictive Validity of Basic Education Certificate Examination Compulsory Cross-Cutting Subjects in Senior School Examination in Kwara State, Nigeria
A justification for using any test result for its intended purpose is the ability of the items to measure the earlier set objectives which is construed as validity; a psychometric property of a good test cannot be over emphasized. The predictive strength of the Basic Education Certificate Examination Cross-cutting subjects in predicting students’ performance in both internal Senior Secondary School I, Senior Secondary School II, and external examination (Senior Secondary Certificate Examination) in Kwara State was examined in this paper. The study employed longitudinal and ex-post-facto design. The population of this study consists of senior secondary students in Science, Art and Commercial departments that sat for the compulsory cross-cutting subjects in Basic Education Certificate Examination, internal promotional examination both in Senior Secondary School I, Senior Secondary School II and as well as Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination in Kwara State between 2015/2016 – 2018/2019 academic sessions. Purposive random sampling technique was employed to sample 1200 [712 (59.3%) male and 488 Impact: Journal of Transformation Vol. 7 (2) 2024, ISSN 2617-5576 (40.7%) female] students that have complete records of their scores across the years. Proforma was used to collect the respondents’ scores and were transformed to continuous form. The Basic Education Certificate Examination and Senior Secondary Certificate Examination are standardized examinations; hence the results are assumed to be satisfactory. However, scores from teacher made tests/internal promotional examinations were standardised (t-score). The collected data were analysed with simple linear regression. Findings show that the Basic Education Certificate Examinations were a good performance predictor for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations. The study recommended that the general public and stakeholders retain their trust in and embrace the Basic Education Certificate Examination as a strong predictor of students' academic performance.
Copyright (c) 2024 P.K Effrim, Dorcas S. Daramola, G.A Obimuyiwa, Jumoke I. Oladele http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Community Desire and Potential for Language Development among the Runga Community of Chad
This paper examines the sociolinguistic situation of the Runga people group in Chad and the potential for language development in the vernacular language. Sociolinguistic situation refers to how elements such as region, class, or other languages affect the use of Runga. Language development refers to activities such as creating an orthography, reading materials, and incorporating the language into education or other activities to promote its use. This paper affirms the importance of vernacular language development as well as showing that Runga is still a vital language used by many of the members of the community. Based on a survey conducted by the author during her master’s research, the expressed desires and opinions of the Runga community are considered and used to come to conclusions about the viability of language development, specifically that orthography development is desired by the community, as well as incorporating Runga into the educational system. The state of literacy and education in the Runga community is considered, as well as examples of other language development projects among other vernacular languages in Chad that have met with success, such as among the Daza people.
: Orthography development, vernacular education, stable multilingualism
Copyright (c) 2024 King Kathleen http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Intersection of Faith and Mental Health
This study is a quantitative research investigation into the dynamic relationship between faith and mental health in the youth within an evangelical urban Christian community in Nairobi, Kenya. Through an in-depth analysis of existing literature, and data collected from structured interviews, this research sought to shed light on the ways in which faith principles and mental health practices intersect. This research explored how different theological frameworks and community structures influence attitudes towards mental health and the provision of support needed. The participants were selected through purposive sampling of individuals from the Youth Ministry of Mamlaka Hill Chapel, which is an evangelical urban Christian community located within the campus hostel grounds of the University of Nairobi, Kenya. The sample size involved 54 students drawn from a population of 400 youths who frequent the church. Key findings highlighted the importance of destigmatizing mental illnesses through education programs, and the availability of resources for individuals facing mental health challenges within Christian congregations. While this study was limited to structured interviews, the findings highlighted best practices and recommendations for promoting mental health awareness and support within faith-based settings whilst providing insight into the potential strategies for reduced stigma surrounding mental illness. By acknowledging the interconnectedness of faith and mental health, the need for collaboration between mental health professionals, clergy, and congregants is needed to provide comprehensive care that addresses both the spiritual and psychological aspects of well-being. In conclusion, the 1 Impact: Journal of Transformation Vol. 7 (2) 2024, ISSN 2617-5576 findings from this study underscore the need for targeted interventions to address mental health stigma within Christian communities and enhance support structures for individuals navigating mental health challenges. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on holistic well-being and the prioritizing of mental health awareness and support, and the integration of faith principles in mental health support systems
Faith and Mental Health, Evangelical Christian communities, Stigma, Destigmatizing, Holistic Well-being, Integration
Copyright (c) 2024 Bundi Richard Ondicho http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring the Synergy between Mediation and Diplomacy in Strengthening Peacebuilding Efforts
Peacebuilding is a complex process that requires various strategies and approaches to address conflicts and promote lasting peace. Mediation and diplomacy are two crucial components of peacebuilding efforts, each contributing unique strengths to the overall process. This research aims to explore the synergy between mediation and diplomacy and how their integration can enhance peacebuilding outcomes. The research will begin by providing a comprehensive overview of mediation and diplomacy as separate mechanisms for conflict resolution and peace promotion. It will examine the principles, methodologies, and key actors involved in both mediation and diplomacy processes. Furthermore, it will analyze successful case studies and existing literature to highlight the effectiveness and limitations of each approach when applied independently. The study will then delve into the potential benefits of combining mediation and diplomacy in peacebuilding efforts. It will explore how mediation can facilitate dialogue and foster trust between conflicting parties, while diplomacy can provide a platform for high-level negotiations and international engagement. By leveraging the strengths of both mediation and diplomacy, peacebuilding initiatives can achieve a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to resolving conflicts. Additionally, the research will address the challenges and obstacles that may arise when integrating mediation and diplomacy. It will examine potential power. dynamics, cultural sensitivities, and logistical considerations that need to be taken into account when implementing a synergistic approach. Recommendations and best practices for effectively integrating mediation and diplomacy will be outlined based on lessons learned from previous experiences of other people and regions. The findings of this research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on peacebuilding and conflict resolution by shedding light on the potential synergies between mediation and diplomacy. It will provide policymakers, practitioners, and scholars with insights into how these two approaches can complement each other and strengthen peacebuilding efforts in various contexts.
Peacebuilding, Mediation, Diplomacy, Conflict resolution.
Copyright (c) 2024 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effect of Corporate Governance Dimensions on Financial Performance of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Nairobi County, Kenya
The study sought to examine the influence of corporate governance dimensions on SACCOs’ financial performance in Nairobi County. Specifically, the study sought to determine the effect of board independence, board accountability, audit committee and financial disclosure on financial performance of SACCOS in Nairobi County. The study was anchored on agency, stewardship, and stakeholder theories. This research used descriptive survey design. The target population was the heads of finance and administration in all the 43 SACCOs in Nairobi County. The study applied census given that the target population was small. Secondary data on return on assets, total deposits, total assets and non-performing loans was collected from the annual reports of the SACCOs. Primary data was collected using semistructured questionnaires. Quantitative data was then analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics which comprised of mean, frequencies, standard deviation, and percentages. The study found that board independence, board accountability and audit committee have a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of SACCOs in Nairobi County, while financial disclosure has a positive and insignificant effect on the financial performance of SACCOs in Nairobi County. The study recommends that SACCOs should select independent members of the boards to help the societies run honestly and efficiently since they are not under the influence of the management teams. In addition, SACCOs should make sure that the board of directors actively oversees and holds management accountable for financial decisions, risk management, and strategic planning. They should select the audit committee to monitor financial reporting, audit process, internal control system of the organization, and legal and regulatory conformity. They should also clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the audit committee in the SACCO's bylaws. Further, SACCOs should also establish a system for regular reporting to the board on financial performance, risk exposure, and compliance with financial policies and regulations.
SACCOS, financial performance, governance
Conflict Resolution in Homes and Its’ Implications for Adolescents
Conflict resolution is an essential aspect of family living for developing assertive moral behaviour in children, especially adolescents. Adolescents can develop disputes with their parents due to unconscious opposition between incompatible desires, needs, drives, or impulses. The adolescents navigate between disputes and resolve conflicts with their parents or within themselves. Unresolved conflicts can make adolescents swing in moral judgement, which may make them develop bad morals towards peaceful relationships with their environment. The research examined the longitudinal effects of adolescents’ constant exposure to interparental conflict and the impact on their moral behaviour. Therefore, the paper proffers solutions on how adolescents can cope with conflicts to develop morally. The research was conducted in three selected private schools in Oluyole Extension of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Nigeria. The choice of adolescents from Oluyole Extension is due to the geographical location and accessibility to the writer. Thirty-six students were randomly selected from three schools comprising boys and girls aged 13-17 years who were already in the Senior Secondary class (S.S. 1-3). Quantitative proportionate and simple random sampling techniques were used to select sample respondents, and information was collected through questionnaires. The findings disclosed a significant relationship between family conflict and adolescent moral behaviour. The majority (88.9%) of the respondents reported that their parents quarrel once in a while. A significant number of respondents (66.1%) often pick up quarrels with their parents, while 27.8% said they behaved like their parents. Also, 52.8% of the respondents claimed they love peace to reign within them and their parents.
Conflict, Resolution, Adolescent, Moral behaviour, Family
Contextualizing Peacebuilding Ambassadors of Peace and Reconciliation
The mission of God requires both the demonstration and the proclamation of the Good News of the Kingdom. Mission requires a vehicle or vessel through whom demonstration and proclamation of God’s mission can be seen and heard. Mission needs a people called, formed, and surrendered to the Lord of mission. In this paper we will explore Biblical mission as an unbroken whole of proclamation and demonstration of the Good News of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Biblical mission is not only interested in saving souls but brings God’s intended abundant life into the world as a foretaste of what is to come. This paper will argue God is uniquely concerned for and seeking to redeem all localities and peoples with their distinctive beauty and brokenness. God is at work to bring the shalom of his Good News Kingdom into redemptive and transforming reality. And, furthermore, the primary agent of God’s integral mission everywhere is the ekklesia that takes its locality, context, space and place seriously. The local ekklesia – whom God has called to Himself through faith in Jesus Christ and sent as Jesus is sent – takes responsibility for their locality through the ambassadorial ministry of reconciliation that has been gifted to it. The local church is set apart by God to be the local ambassadorial agents of God’s plan to reconcile all things to Himself in Christ. And, finally, this paper will present practical and challenging ways in which every local church, a community consisting of those reconciled to God who are now ambassadors of peace and reconciliation, must in their way of life as a community and in their planting of new churches embody the ministry of reconciliation giving to the church by God.
peace, reconciliation, integral mission, local church, localization, incarnation
Space for Religion in Local Peacebuilding
Many individuals and large communities in the world lack the will and the ability for true peacebuilding. Truly born-again Christians are best endowed and mandated to be effective peacebuilders, starting from their respective local spaces. Although it is true that Jesus himself was born and lived all his earthly life in a very troubled and peaceless space and died a very violent death, it had been prophesied that, among his other real identities and offices, he would come as the Prince of Peace. Although in his radical teaching he said he did not come to bring peace but a sword, he himself was the most peaceful human being and the most effective peacemaker. He also sent his disciples to violent communities as peaceful emissaries. Before his death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven he gave his special divine peace to his disciples (the first church). Sin is the cause and breeding ground for hatred, conflict, and lack of peace. True salvation in Jesus Christ is the only remedy for sin and the source of power for true love, true personal peace, and genuine peacebuilding. When a person is made righteous through our Lord, Jesus Christ, he or she acquires peace with God. A person who is genuinely justified is able to love genuinely, deliberately abhor wickedness, and decisively live peaceably with all people, thus being a pragmatic peacebuilder. My research method for the paper is historical-grammatical exegesis. Through it, I seek to discover the meaning of peace and peacebuilding in various Bible texts as was intended by the authors to be understood and applied by the original hearers Theological application and recommendations for peacebuilding are proposed for the church in the African setting based on specific Bible texts for specific needs.
Peacebuilding, local, troubled spaces, paradoxical, emissaries, genuine, pragmatic.
The religious landscape of sub-Saharan Africa in the twenty-first century has witnessed drastic changes that include the spread of both Christianity and Islam. A further dimension to this scenario is the inter-religious mingling of adherents from the two religions as people migrate between regions and access to technology makes new information available. These religious encounters have tended to be violent in pockets of the African continent. Such violence has been propagated by ideological precepts that are based on religious texts and their varied interpretations. Additionally, there have arisen different models used for interreligious dialogues as adherents of the two religions find themselves neighbouring each other. A popular model has been the public debates (mihadhara in Kiswahili), which have generally been characterized by ambivalent relations between Muslims and Christians in Kenya, where this paper is situated. The mihadhara concept is basically steeped in polemical engagements which aim at outshining the other in the religious debates. Different scholars have studied the phenomenon of mihadhara in Kenya, and there is a consensus that the competitive nature of the debates is more confrontational than peacebuilding. This study offers an alternative model of inter-religious engageme contextual nt that enhances socio-religious peace. The model is called Scriptural Reasoning (SR), which aims at offering religious hospitality. The African context is no stranger to the virtue of hospitality. The Ubuntu philosophy buttresses the need for African Muslims and Christians to offer each other religious hospitality. The Ubuntu philosophy and the African hospitality virtue serve as bedrocks underlying the contextual SR model. The essence of the model is to “listen” to each other’s scriptural basis of common themes found in both the Bible and the Qur’an. It is not about agreeing on contentious scriptural issues, instead it is about striving, even when the parties disagree, to encounter the other in an amicable and peaceful way. In so doing, the premise aligns with the theme of promoting contextual peacebuilding within the African context.
Mihadhara (public debates), contextual, scriptural reasoning, Ubuntu, hospitality, peacebuilding, inter-religious dialogue
PDF Prosperity Gospel and the Fulfilment of Transformational Development Mandate: A Developmental Theological Assessment
This study examines the teaching of the prosperity gospel to see whether its overall emphasis aligns with the wider ideals of transformational development, as particularly popularised by Bryant Myers. Proponents of the prosperity gospel claim that financial riches and success are markers of God’s favour and that when individuals align their thoughts and actions with God’s will, they may unleash a life of prosperity. On the other hand, transformational development is a holistic strategy for addressing material poverty as well as social, political, and spiritual challenges. It also strives to empower people, communities, and society to alter their lives and achieve long-term change. The research question that underlies this study is: Does the prosperity gospel fulfill the purpose of transformational development? The research is a theological assessment of the teachings of the prosperity gospel, partly seeking to identify its positive aspects. Teachings by selected preachers of the prosperity gospel, such as Enoch Sitima of Botswana, Mensa Otabil of Ghana, and David Oyedepo of Nigeria, are accessed through the internet, books written by or ascribed to them, and claims that are attributed to them. These teachings were assessed in the context of transformational development, including the interpretation of pertinent biblical texts that serve as the foundation for prosperity preaching. From the interaction with the teaching of the prosperity gospel, it is evident that while the teaching caters to the fundamental areas of human life, it leaves believers with the tendency to maintain a utilitarian relationship with God.
Copyright (c) 2023 Adegbile Wole http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
PDF The Necessity of Walking in the Light
1 John 1:5-10 is an exhortatory piece whose subject is the character of Christian living in relation to God’s standard of holiness. This paper is a study of the necessity of walking in the light based on the exegesis of 1 John 1:5-10. The exegesis applies the grammatical-historical method through which the researcher examines the grammar, syntax, and the literary structure of 1 John 1:5-10. The statement, ὁ θεὸς φῶς ἐστιν καὶ σκοτία ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδεμία, in verse 5 and its related concepts in the other verses serves as the central idea under investigation. The researcher observes that the author uses a pastoral rhetoric method to warn against three negative claims and practices (1 Jn 1:6, 8, 10) and encourages his audience to observe two positive confessions and practices (1 Jn 1:7, 9), all of which are related to verse 5. The exegesis shows that the aim of the author is to encourage believers to live according to the fact that God is light and requires that those who have fellowship with him should walk in the light (1 Jn 1:5-7). This article has highlighted some of the ways in which Christians today can be motivated to pursue a holy life as a requirement by God in order to conform to his nature.
Copyright (c) 2023 James Nganga Mwaura http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
PDF Influence of Leadership on Employee Ethical Behaviour in Selected Catholic Hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya
The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of leadership on employee ethical behaviour in selected Catholic hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya. The type of leadership employed by those in charge is very important because it has a direct or indirect influence on any organization. This study used quantitative research method of data collection and analysis. The respondents were purposively selected based on homogenous characteristics as needed for the study. The study sample was 228 respondents drawn from a population of 1120 employees from the selected Catholic hospitals. The selection of the hospitals was done using systematic and stratified sampling techniques. Two standardized tools were used to collect data in form of questionnaires. Using SPSS Version 23, data was analysed and presented in descriptive and inferential statistics, and discussed according to the objective. The study adhered to the ethical considerations. The results of the study established that leadership significantly influenced employee ethical behaviour at a p - value of 0.000. The study also established that leadership significantly influenced teamwork at p = 0.000, accountability at p = 0.000 and performance p = 0.000 respectively. The study concluded that varying styles of leadership do statistically significantly influence employee ethical behaviour. Therefore, positive leadership is a vital factor in promoting ethical behaviours among employees in hospitals where healthcare services depend on trust and other factors. The findings of this study are important to different stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health, researchers, policymakers and health care providers.
Leadership, employee ethical behaviour, Catholic hospitals, teamwork, accountability, performance
Copyright (c) 2023 Irene Mercy Nafula Okumu, Daniel M. Kitonga, Henryk Tucholski http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effects of Individualised Consideration on Organisational Performance
The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of individualised consideration on organisational performance in the parishes within the All Saints’ Cathedral Diocese in Nairobi, Kenya. A descriptive survey design was used which involved a quantitative approach. The target population was the 204 elected officials, including the vicars, curates, ministry leaders and lay readers in all the 12 parishes within the All Saints’ Cathedral Diocese in Nairobi County. Cluster sampling technique was employed. A total of 13 clusters were picked which corresponded to the 12 parishes plus the diocesan headquarters. Primary data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire while secondary data came from literature and document analysis. Descriptive statistics were analysed through the use of Pearson correlation and Pearson Chi-Square tests. Additionally, qualitative data were analysed in terms of themes and the results were presented in the form of narratives. This study adhered to the laid-out research ethics. Through the Pearson correlation tests conducted, the study indicated that individualised consideration had a statistically significant relationship with organisational performance (p<0.05). The Chi-square tests revealed that individualised consideration had a statistically significant association with organisational performance (p<0.05).
Parish, transformational leadership, organisational performance, diocese, organisational development, Nairobi, Kenya
Copyright (c) 2023 Joseph Kevin Kamotho ; Peter Koome, Julius Kithinji http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Understanding the Underrepresentation of Women in Higher Learning Institutions in Rwanda
Women can take leadership positions in higher learning institutions in Rwanda as they have proved their potential in political positions by occupying more than 60% of parliamentary seats. Contrary to expectation, this is not the case in higher education, where women are underrepresented. Women in leadership were interviewed to get their lived experiences. This study was to find out why women are underrepresented in senior leadership positions in higher education in Rwanda and how to elevate that number of women. A qualitative research method was used. This was a bounded case study with semi-structured interviews of three women from two districts who are in middle or senior leadership positions and one who qualified but did not occupy any position of leadership in higher education. They were purposively selected for interviews as they had characteristics needed for the study. Complexity Leadership Theory was adopted which provides the conditions that allow adaptive dynamics to form and generate creative and adaptive knowledge with high importance and bring effective change. The results of this research will be important to different stakeholders such as the scholars, policymakers, and higher education managers. It was found out that culture plays a role in limiting women where some men still think women are to remain home and take care of children. Lack of adequate qualifications for these positions also emerged as women do not leave Rwanda to go for PhD studies which are preferred for those positions.
Women leadership, higher learning institutions, underrepresentation, culture, qualification, leadership positions
Copyright (c) 2023 Judith Tindimwebwa, Rosemary Wahu Mbogo, Mercy Muthiga Mauki, Adeline Kithinji http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Since the publication of Robert Greenleaf’s Servant Leadership, leadership studies, including Christian studies of leadership, have focused on the leader as servant. Some have suggested that Christian leadership studies replace the image of leader as servant with the image of leader as shepherd. However, the New Testament applies the shepherd image only to ecclesiastical leaders. Reflecting on Luke 12:42-48, this article develops the image of leader as steward as a complement to the images of leader as servant and as shepherd. The steward image, attending to the triad of God, leader, and followers, does justice to the authority of leaders, something that can be overlooked in the servant image of leadership. It has applicability beyond the ecclesiastical realm, and, this article argues, it is particularly relevant to the high power distance culture of sub-Saharan Africa. The article concludes that promotion of the steward image, particularly its emphasis on the leader’s accountability, may do more than continued promotion of servant leadership in addressing the challenges of leadership in Africa today.
leadership, authority, steward, servant, Luke 12
Copyright (c) 2023 Ryan L. Faber http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Al-Shāfi’ī’s Perception of Taḥrīf and its Implications for Muslim-Christian Relations in Marsabit County, Kenya
This paper examines the knowledge that Muslim teachers in Marsabit have on taḥrīf and its effects on Muslim-Christian relations in the area. Muhammad acknowledged Judaism and Christianity as monotheistic religions and their scriptures as revelations from God. However, Muslim scholars later claimed a deviation of these scriptures from the “original ones”, a teaching known in Arabic as taḥrīf. Taḥrīf is a severe accusation against Jews and Christians as untrustworthy, and their respective faiths as an adulteration. In this paper, Jews refers to those who follow Judaism. Taḥrīf is examined, based on the the Qur’an and the Hadith as interpreted in the Shāfiʽī school of Islamic law that dominates in East Africa. Teachings by Abū Abdullāh Muhammad Ibn Idrīs Al-Shāfiʽī, the founder of the school, and Ibn Kathir, a famous Shāfiʽī scholar, have then been compared with those of Marsabit Muslim teachers. This document is based on research conducted in Marsabit between 2019 and 2021 where ten Muslim teachers were interviewed. The research finds that taḥrif is perpetuated in Marsabit ideological Muslims, which impacts negatively on both the ideological and ordinary level of relationships between Muslims and Christians. Ideas from ‘affect regulatory theory’ have been used to explain effects of taḥrīf on the Muslim-Christian relations. Active dialogue between teachers of the two religions is proposed to address challenges arising from taḥrīf towards promoting dyadic and inter-group relations in Marsabit.
Copyright (c) 2023 Harun Wang’ombe http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Leadership Development Strategies and Organizational Culture
This study sought to determine how leadership development strategies affect organizational culture in the context of the Care For Aids Organization. Leaders widely agree that sustained organizational performance is highly influenced by organizational culture. Organizations are always looking for ways of nurturing desirable organizational cultures. As much as leaders recognize the importance of organizational culture, they spend less time, effort, and resources in cultivating the desired culture. The specific study objectives were to determine how coaching programs affect organizational culture, establish how training programs affect organizational culture, assess how mentoring affects organizational culture, and examine how transformational leadership style affects organizational culture. A descriptive research design was used, and a census study targeted all 66 administrative staff within Care For Aids. The researcher used Mentimeter, a web-based platform for administering the five-point Likert scale questionnaire. The correlation analysis shows significant associations between the proposed predictors and the independent variable, which was further tested using regression analysis. From the regression coefficient, the main predictors of organizational culture are transformational leadership (coef: 0.475, p=0.00) and training (coef: 0.222, p=0.09). Although there were associations between mentoring and coaching as potential predictors of organizational culture in the correlation analysis, these associations do not appear to be statistically significant when regression modeling is conducted. The study recommends that the management of Care For Aids invest in nurturing and promoting a strong and desirable organizational culture through increased training and mentoring programs and lead through a transformational leadership style.
Copyright (c) 2022 Mr. Gavin Oyas http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effects of Domestic Violence against Men on Their Perceived Masculinity
This paper examined how masculinity is constructed, how men view it, and how it is affected by domestic violence perpetrated against them by their wives in Bunyala Sub-County, Busia County Kenya. The paper is based on a study conducted in Bunyala Sub-County, Busia County, Kenya, on domestic violence against men and its implications on their perceived masculinity. It focuses on male victims of domestic violence within the Bunyala Sub-County. This paper attempts to answer whether domestic violence against men exists in Bunyala Sub-County, how masculinity is constructed in Bunyala Sub-County, what defines a man in Bunyala Sub- County and what are the implications of domestic violence against men (DVAM) on their perceived masculinity in Bunyala Sub-County. The paper employed mixed methods to gather quantitative and qualitative data through an exploratory research design. This study was guided by family conflict theory. Simple random sampling was utilized to come up with the study area. Gatekeepers, the village elders and assistant chiefs were nominated using purposive sampling while snowballing sampling was utilized to identify one hundred and one (101) men and women who were survivors or perpetrators of domestic abuse to participate in the stud. The paper focused on men and women who had been in marriages for at least five years and had or were experiencing domestic violence for at least one year. Information was gathered through interviews and focus group discussions using in-depth semi-structured interview schedules, focus group discussions and key-informant interview tools. The findings revealed diverse experiences of the effect of domestic violence against men, including stigmatization, discrimination, constant ridicule, denial of conjugal rights, and disrespect, among others. These findings provide important insights to stakeholders in helping to fight incidences of domestic violence in the community.
Stigmatization, Discrimination, Bunyala Sub-County, Busia County, Masculinity
Wanyama Lynette Makhono Wanyama Lynette Makhono
Copyright (c) 2022 Ms. Wanyama Lynette Makhono, Dr. Leah Wanjama, Dr. Jane Wangaruro http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0