On Magic, Religion, Science and After-Science

According to Frazier, magic seems to predate religion, which is later challenged by science. Throughout the ages, man has been trying to better understand the world around him; the quest for the truth. To do this, he has resorted to magic (and superstition), religion and science. In this essay, we have reviewed the extent to which the three ways of “knowing” have helped man understand his world and his role in it. We have essayed to show that there might be need to invent another paradigm, beyond science, to lead us even closer to the truth. Even when science is not dogmatic and ritualistic, like religion, it might not lead us to the whole truth.   &nbsp

Covid-19 protocols damaging our culture, humanity and mental health

It's common to evaluate the impact of covid-19 on politics and economics of a nation but rarely do we pause to reflect on the cultural repercussions. To wit, some politicians, like in Brazil, have come under immense pressure in regard to how well or badly they handled the pandemic. The world over, economies are still reeling under the damaging effects of the virus. But what about the culture of a peopl

Why inflation is rising in Kenya and how to fix it

Ahead of the general election, inflation in Kenya has rapidly increased. Driven by a confluence of factors, the Ukraine war and the pandemic have, in particular, inflated prices. But the most popular solutions for politicians, writes Professor XN Iraki, may not be the most effective

Language and political economy: A historical perspective on Kenya

The disproportionate use of English, during and after colonisation, has had some consequences on the development of Kenyan indigenous languages. Indeed, the English language has a lion's share in the school curriculum to the detriment of other languages. As a result, the scenario of the 1920s, where English was the idiom for the privileged minority, seems to persist today. Kenya has 42 ethnic communities with Kiswahili emerging as the most widelyaccepted language for national unity. However, the political elites continue to favour the development of English without due attention to Kiswahili and the indigenous languages. The Sheng language, spoken and popularized by the youth deserves special mention. It is argued it here that it has its place in the linguistic lay-out of Kenya. The paper reviews the languages of Kenya and underscores their relevance in the political economy of pre- and post-independence period in Kenya. It further seeks to lay bare the rationale behind the inordinate usage of English in Kenya by bringing in a historical perspective. Finally, the paper proposes a framework for the co-existence of local and foreign languages in Kenya as a prelude to the development of a language policy in Kenya. Keywords: language, politics, resources, identity, hegemony, culture ethnicity, co-existence Journal of Language, Technology & Entrepreneurship in Africa Vol. 1 (2) 2009: pp. 229-24

An Essay on the Marriage Institution: Time for reform or extinction?

In this essay, it’s argued that the high rate of divorce across the world could be attributed to myriad determinants, many of which are advanced in divorce courts but the chief culprit is the marriage institution itself. Happy couples begin their misery once they get formally married; before that they bask in love and bliss. Romance is curtailed, not nurtured, by the marriage institution. The institution exerts immeasurable pressure on both couples, starting with the overburdening cultural and religious demands. It’s argued further that since marriage is a cultural invention, it can be re-designed in order to exert less pressure and stress on couples, or alternatively it can be left to atrophy and become extinct. Change is the only thing that is permanent is a cliché or a platitude that could illuminate the transformation of the marriage institution. Key words: marriage, institution, romance, culture, religion, stres

Patrimoine linguistique au Kenya : Genèse et évolution du Sheng

La langue est un vecteur important de culture et donne expression au patrimoine d'un pays. Ca peut être à la fois la forme et le contenu même du patrimoine. D'où la nécessité de valoriser la langue comme patrimoine et expression de ce dernier. Le Kenya jouit d'une palette d'une quarantaine de langues africaines sans parler de l'anglais, la langue du pouvoir, et le swahili, la langue véhiculaire. Le sheng fait irruption au début des années 1950 comme langue hybride, combinant presque tous les idiomes en contact (swahili, anglais, langues vernaculaires, etc.). Etant donné que c'est la langue privilégiée des jeunes urbains et compte tenu de l'exode rural, il est important de considérer ce sous-langage et les dynamiques qui lui sont liées. Mots-cles: sheng, patrimoine, urbanisation, jeunesse.La langue est un vecteur important de culture et donne expression au patrimoine d'un pays. Ca peut être à la fois la forme et le contenu même du patrimoine. D'où la nécessité de valoriser la langue comme patrimoine et expression de ce dernier. Le Kenya jouit d'une palette d'une quarantaine de langues africaines sans parler de l'anglais, la langue du pouvoir, et le swahili, la langue véhiculaire. Le sheng fait irruption au début des années 1950 comme langue hybride, combinant presque tous les idiomes en contact (swahili, anglais, langues vernaculaires, etc.). Etant donné que c'est la langue privilégiée des jeunes urbains et compte tenu de l'exode rural, il est important de considérer ce sous-langage et les dynamiques qui lui sont liées. Mots-cles: sheng, patrimoine, urbanisation, jeunesse.&#160

HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS IN AFRICA

The etymology of the term mathematics  (mathematikos) points to two Greek words, mathema and manthanein, indexing a science and to learn respectively. Subsequently, mathematics has been defined as the study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols (Collins). More broadly, mathematics is the study or use of numbers and shapes to calculate, represent or describe things (Oxford). Distilling from the definitions above is the incontrovertible argument that mathematics is essential to reasoning.Reasoning is critical to the advancement of any society. Underwood Dudley in a paper entitled “What is mathematics for?” argues that society cannot do without mathematics. He further notes that mathematics is the best way to learn how to reason, and that is its purpose, not to find jobs. Little wonder than the WeUSeMath.org concludes that math leads to purpose, opportunities and success.Key words: mathematics, history, reasoning, Afric

KENYA, CHINA, AND PRELUDE TO ONE BELT ONE ROAD (OBOR) INITIATIVE

The British economic influence lingered on after Kenya gained her independence in1963. It was espoused by their car models, banking system and an education where mostKenyans saw UK as the destination of choice for their university education particularlyamong the elites. Two of Kenya’s presidents schooled in Britain. Soon the Japanesefollowed with first Toyota car sold in Kenya in 1965.That all changed with opening upof China in 1978, the end of cold war and accession of China to World TradeOrganization (WTO) in 2002. Today, China is now a leading investor in Africa. CanKenya learn something from China? This paper compares Kenya and China using anumber of economic indicators from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth,population growth, innovation, Research and Development (R&D), Foreign DirectInvestment (FDI), life expectancy, urbanization, Human Development Index (HDI) andcontribution of manufacturing to GDP. The analysis shows Kenya can learn a lot fromChina in her quest to grow economically. This paper serves as a good starting point inKenya’s engagement with China in One belt one road initiative (OBOR). By analyzingthe economic similarities and differences, between the two nations, OBOR’s success ratecould be raised and help catalyse Africa’s growth and make her part of the globaleconomic system through the win –win cooperation espoused by Chinese presidentduring the Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa (BRICS) summit in South Africa in2018. The paper finds that while every countries growth trajectory is different, it ispossible to learn from each other. Future research should focus on how OBOR shallspur growth in Africa and gauge its success against Western economic engagement withAfrica since the countries got their independence

Motivations for Studying the Chinese Language in Kenya: A Case Study of USIU-Africa

The current study sought to decipher the motivations of young persons to study the Chinese language. In particular, it endeavored to delineate the reasons why USIU-Africa undergraduate students opted for Chinese from a palette of other languages on offer. The latter include French, Spanish, Arabic, and Swahili. The survey was conducted among 100 odd students who had enrolled for Chinese in spring 2022. An open-ended questionnaire used to elicit more perspectives on the main reasons why the youth are keen on learning Chinese at USIU. Descriptive and thematic analysis was done for both quantitative and qualitative data. Information was presented through charts, tables and verbatim expressions.   Findings: Majority of the students at 76.4% were between the ages of 21 and 25 years. The sample size was balanced with equal number of male respondents to females. Majority at 61.8% were Kenyan. Overwhelming majority of students at 91.2% chose foreign language based on personal motivations, while only 2.9% were influenced by others. The motivation behind choosing Chinese language was mostly to do with the personal interests in learning and exploring Chinese language (20.6%), love for the Asian culture (20.6%), having Chinese friends (11.8%), and because of the booming Chinese economy (17.6%). Similarly, 52.9% of the students had not previously interacted with Chinese people before joining USIU. Further, 85.3% indicated that they were willing to work for any Chinese company in Kenya. It was also felt by 67.6% of the students that learning Chinese was not hard. Emerging challenges were tones and pronunciations and characters/strokes and writings. Conclusion and recommendations: Students would want to Join Chinese language because of many motivating factors. Learning of the language is also influenced by the potential opportunities for business and interactions with Asian/Chinese people. It is recommended that lecturers can make learning of Chinese language easier through researching and trying new interactive modes of training. &nbsp

Conservation and Promotion of Indigenous Plants and Trees in Meru: A preliminary survey

The research team set out on 8 August 2007 to visit Mr. Samson Mathiu's farm at Ntharu, Nkueni division, Mikumbune location, South Imenti, Meru district. Samson is an active environmentalist and expert on indigenous plants. He had been identified as a potential resource during the Memorialization & Museums Workshop facilitated by Prof Karega-Munene and held at USIU in May 2007. As part of its outreach and collaboration strategy, the SDIC team conducted an extensive two-day research in the area with the assistance of Samson and his friend Francis Kirimi Inoti. A great deal of notes were made and photographs taken on African indigenous trees and crops. The team returned to USIU on 10 August 2007. Of great interest to the research team was the evidence of the transit situation that exist in our rural areas moving from indigenous to current lifestyles within three generations in the region. According to Ibui (2007), the former were acquired over several generations and allowed the locals to use, manage and conserve wild resources in a sustainable mode. In the teams' observation, society's emphasis on a monetary system has seen a shift in plant value systems.Journal of Language, Technology and Entrepreneurship in Africa Vol. 1 (1) 2007 pp. 119-12