The Maasai girl child is vulnerable to poor menstrual hygiene, teen pregnancies, early marriages, domestic violence and female genital mutilation (FGM). Schools had temporarily offered the girls a shelter towards these challenges. However, covid-19 pandemic led to indefinite closure of schools forcing the girls back home to the full glare of these predicaments. Additionally, there was fear of the health pandemic which had also affected the economy. This study aimed at examining how covid-19 pandemic had affected the welfare of the Maasai girl child in Narok county, Kenya. A cross-sectional design of study was used. Data was collected using questionnaires and by observations. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings indicate that frustrations over lack of basic needs coupled with numerous domestic violence incidences caused the girls to engage in ‘sex for sanitary towels’. 83.1% of the girls did not use any sex protection means while majority of the rest used ineffective methods. FGM was at its peak as there was abundant time to practice it and less government interference. In conclusion, the Maasai girls’ welfare was in dire need for external assistance. Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should urgently intervene to rescue the Maasai girl child.
The COVID-19 pandemic caught many Small and Middle-Income Enterprises (SMEs) unaware and unplanned. The pandemic led to restriction of several economic activities in Kenya; key amongst them transportation, tourism and education. The ripple effect of these restrictions caught up with SMEs, taunted to be a growing economic pillar in Kenya. This study purposed to analyze the exact effect of the pandemic on SMEs in Narok region, Kenya using various economic metrics. The findings were geared to furnish policy makers with the exact economic situation resulting from COVID-19. A case study research design was used with the help of questionnaires, interviews and observations. The researchers found out that most of the entrepreneurs were actually youthful. Commencement of SMEs was largely dependent on the political environment. Most of the SMEs in the region had begun between 2016 to 2018. The number of employees per SME had been effectively reduced to an average of 2 with their daily wages reduced from Ksh. 800 to 200. The pandemic reduced the supply of SMEs stock from other regions into Narok. 82.86% of the SMEs were forced to obtain stock within the county itself. Both the supply of stock to SMEs and their corresponding demand by buyers were drastically reduced by 77.14% and 91.43% respectively. There was however no significant increment in the pricing of the products (P < 0.05). The net profit margins of the SMEs reduced from in excess of Ksh. 20,000 to about Ksh. 5,000 per month. Other auxiliary services such as finance lenders, insurance and marketers were equally affected. About 54.45% of the SMEs were facing dissolution by their owners should the situation persist. In conclusion, the researchers found out that COVID-19 was more of an economic pandemic rather than a health pandemic in the study region. The authors recommend the national and county government to cushion the premises by waiving off some of their taxes.
National exams in Kenya have been seen as the bridge to better livelihoods. Passing the exams translates to more chances of selection to quality schools and professional courses. On contrary, failing these exams is perceived to render the candidate 'a community failure', with little chances of making it in life. The exams therefore carry a lot of weight in the minds of candidate students. The covid-19 pandemic resulted to indefinite closure of learning institutions. This closure affected many dynamics responsible for candidates' performance in their national exams. A study was hereby conducted aiming to assess how the pandemic had affected candidates' (class 8 and form 4) perception towards national exams in Narok county, Kenya. The research used a mixed design involving a casestudy and cross-sectional design of study. Questionnaire guides were used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the findings. The findings indicated that the candidates' perception of passing in essential subjects were completely altered. The pandemic had also made the learners to switch their dream professions. The study found out that there was little online learning activity with numerous excuses for the same. Most of the learners indicated that their perception on school resumption largely dependent on how the government would contain the pandemic. In conclusion, the pandemic had significantly ruined how the learners perceived national exams. The authors recommend all education stakeholders to move with speed in ensuring the candidates are engaged with learning activities either online or through community-based learning platforms.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.