Contains electronic theses & dissertations for this department http://ir.tum.ac.ke/handle/123456789/17354 2026-06-13T19:11:47Z 2026-06-13T19:11:47Z KIMANGA, FAITH http://ir.tum.ac.ke/handle/123456789/17682 2025-11-26T00:00:13Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

GENDER EMPOWERMENT AND SEAWEED VALUE CHAIN IN MWAZARO AND KIBUYUNI VILLAGES, SOUTH COAST OF KENYA KIMANGA, FAITH Gender plays a crucial role in seaweed farming in East Africa, though the aspect across different value chain stages has been overlooked in Kenyan research. This research focuses on assessing the role of gender empowerment in the seaweed production value chain on the south coast of Kenya. As a result, specific objectives that served as a basis for the study were, among others, to examine the nature of gender empowerment in the seaweed value chain, document various gender empowerment activities in the nodes of the seaweed value chain of Kenya, establish the various gender empowerment opportunities at various seaweed value chain villages along the south coast of Kenya and to establish the various gender empowerment associated challenges embedded in the seaweed. The study took place in Mwazaro and Kibuyuni in Kwale County on the south coast of Kenya. A study employed a mixed research design involving exploratory and explanatory methods, using qualitative and quantitative approaches based on the research problem's comprehension issues. Social Package for Social Science and Excel 2016 were utilized for data computation. The study was carried out following a brief pilot study, which allowed the feasibility of the research design to be tested. In the interviews, 155 active farmers were sampled along with 3 key informants well-versed in the connection between gender empowerment and seaweed value chain production. The simplified formula proposed by Yamene and Israel was utilized to calculate the target sample size n. The results revealed that there are other influences of income other than gender in the seaweed value chain, including training, which has disparities between men and women. Further, the study revealed the perceived gender empowerment, including autonomy in decision-making over using income (90%) and participation in seaweed production. A smaller but notable portion (10%) of respondents (17) need their husband's permission to manage and budget the income from seaweed farming. This suggests that for some individuals, there are cultural or household power dynamics that limit their financial independence. Additionally, it would identify areas where gender discrepancies exist between women and men. Their roles could guide development efforts to achieve gender parity in the seaweed value chain. These results will be applied academically in faculties for students researching the seaweed value chain and gender dynamics at the graduate and undergraduate levels and in other fields of study. Additionally, it will help governments, agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations formulate gender-based policies for Seaweed Value Chain Production.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z MUKOLWE, RAHAB OWINYI http://ir.tum.ac.ke/handle/123456789/17678 2025-11-26T00:00:11Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

EMERGING TRENDS SHAPING GROWTH OF INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS AT KWA BULO, MOMBASA COUNTY MUKOLWE, RAHAB OWINYI The rapid urban growth experienced by Kenya alongside developing countries has caused informal settlements to spread toward metropolitan areas' edges. These settlements exist without proper infrastructure and basic services which create major economic as well as social problems. The authors conduct an investigation of Kwa Bulo's Mombasa County informal settlement evolution and analyze its factors including urbanization and employment patterns alongside social beliefs and state initiatives. A mixed methodology was employed to study 280 participants whose sample number was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. The research relied on questionnaire alongside interviews and participant observation to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data analysis took place through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and thematic analysis handled the qualitative data assessment. The research findings indicate that 52% of the development of slums is attributable to urbanization based on land price appreciation, industrialization, and migration. Unemployment is contributing to 73% growth in settlement with a high correlation (R = 0.81) between job insecurity and dependency on slums. The study also found that informal economic activities, such as street vending, serve as key coping mechanisms for residents facing employment challenges. Public perception emerged as a significant factor influencing informal settlement development. Negative stereotypes and social stigma (M = 4.85) have reinforced marginalization, limiting Government action and resource allocation. Government intervention was found to have a limited impact due to poor policy implementation, financial barriers, and inadequate access to social housing. While respondents acknowledged efforts to improve tenure security (72% agreed), the actual impact remains low due to weak enforcement. Additionally, financial constraints and high lending rates have hindered residents from upgrading their housing or transitioning to formal settlements. The study concludes that informal settlement growth in Kwa Bulo is driven by a complex interaction of economic, social, and policy factors. It recommends urban planning reforms, job creation programs, improved public awareness, secure land tenure, and enhanced financial accessibility as key strategies for sustainable informal settlement management. These findings add to the current research by highlighting the importance of public perception and government policy gaps in driving informal settlement patterns in Mombasa County.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z