Note:

This study concerns the practices of woman/woman marriage among the Gikuyu of Kenya. Though widely practiced, such marriages have seldom been studied, and virtually not at all among the Gikuyu. Such practices had been only lightly, and inadequately, addressed over five decades ago by Leakey (1938/1977). This study, designed as preliminary fieldwork, explores Gikuyu woman/woman marriage practices to gain useful basic information to provide a point of entry for future research. In this study I address shortcomings of previous research on woman/woman marriages, such as the prevalent emphasis on reductionist explanations for their occurrences. On the basis of preliminary fieldwork among Gikuyu women engaged in these practices, and my experiences as a member of Gikuyu society, I assert that women have much greater latitude in choosing how and why they participate in woman/woman marriages than the literature suggests. Such marriages take diverse, and often complex forms that are not adequately addressed by single-explanation definitions or descriptions. Secondly, the study attempts to locate a space for these practices in the feminist and family studies literatures, while questioning the absence of woman/woman marriages from both arenas of discourse. I argue that the exclusion of woman/woman marriages from feminist discourse and the family studies literatures is not an accident, as both discourses have marginalized voices from so-called "third world" locations. / Master of Science

Studies of African urban development have used the term “peri-urban" to refer to residential development at a city’s edge. No one, however, has developed a precise definition of peri-urban areas which guides this research. This study attempts to define peri-urban areas using an urban economic model and analyzes the African peri-urban literature in the context of this model. This review of the literature produces several hypotheses, which are then tested using data from a housing survey done in thirty-two Kenyan cities by the Kenyan government. The first set of hypotheses examined ways in which peri-urban areas differed from central city areas in their physical development. Houses in peri-urban areas were found to be newer, lower quality, built on land held informally, and with lower levels of urban services. The second set of hypotheses concerned the development of rental housing in peri-urban areas. Homeownership rates were higher in peri-urban areas than in central city areas, although a person renting a home in a peri-urban area was likely to have better accommodations than a peri-urban homeowner. Finally, the cities in the survey were grouped according to city size and growth rate, and the effects of these variables on the development of peri-urban areas were tested. The results of this section were somewhat inconclusive, as other factors, such as environment and politics, influence urban development. The conclusion of this research is that peri-urban areas are different from central city areas due primarily to the fact of their recent urban development on formerly agricultural land. This study was just a small step in understanding patterns of peri-urban development. The peri-urban zone can provide a valuable unit of analysis for studying the process of urban development, provided it is rigorously defined. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research aim The study aimed to explore the associations between agricultural biodiversity, household food security and dietary diversity in households with children aged 24 to 59 months in two rural areas of Kenya, of which one had higher rainfall and agricultural biodiversity than the other. Methods Study sample and location The study adopted a cross-sectional analytical approach to investigate the associations in resource in poor households in two rural areas; Akithii and Uringu of Kenya. Of the 525 households randomly selected, 261 were from Uringu division and 264 from Akithii division. Two independent cross-sectional surveys were conducted; Phase one in September to October 2011 (during the dry season) while Phase 2 took place in March 2012 (during the rainy season). A questionnaire was developed to gather information on the socio-demographics of the household, breastfeeding and infant feeding practices, immunization and childhood illnesses. Dietary intake was measured during each season by conducting a repeated 24-hour recall (24-hr recall) with the mother/care giver of the household. A nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) was calculated for each nutrient as the percent of the nutrient meeting the recommended dietary intake (RDI) value for that nutrient. A mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was calculated for 11 nutrients as the mean of the NARs of these nutrients. Dietary diversity was measured using data from the 24-hour recalls and classifying it into nine food groups. A dietary diversity score (DDS) was calculated based on each different food group which was consumed during the period of recall up to a maximum of nine if the food had been consumed from each of the nine groups. Household food security (HFS) was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The agricultural biodiversity was calculated by counting the number of different crops and animals eaten either from domestic sources or from the wild. Weight and height measurements of children and their mothers/care givers were taken. Weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ) and weight for height z (WHZ) scores were determined for children, while body mass index (BMI) measurements were calculated for the adult women. The relationships between continuous response variables and nominal input variables were analyzed using appropriate analysis of variance (ANOVA) or pooled, paired and independent mean T-tests when only two groups were involved. Results Dietary intake was low with the majority of households not meeting the RDIs for most nutrients. The MAR was 61.3%; 61.8% for Phase 1 and 2 respectively. The DDS was low at 3.3 ±1.2 for both Phases. The majority of households were food insecure with a HFIAS mean of 12.8 ± 6.19 and 10.9 ± 7.49 for Phase 1 and 2 respectively. Agricultural biodiversity was low with a total of 26 items; 23 domesticated and 3 from the natural habitat. Two food items from the natural habitat originated from plants and one from animals. Exclusive breastfeeding up to the recommended six months was practiced at low rates of 23.4% while 39.3% of mothers in both divisions introduced complementary foods before 6 months of age. Stunted growth among the children was high at a mean of 30.5% (n=291). Boys had higher stunted growth rates in both divisions compared to the girls. A significant positive relationship was established between the number of contributors to household income with height for age z-scores (HAZ) scores of the children (Spearman r=-0.15, p=0.02). The number of household assets also significantly influenced HAZ scores (Spearman r=-0.17, p=0.01), the higher the number of household assets, the lower HAZ scores were. During Phase 1 (dry season) (pooled t-test, p<0.001), levels of food insecurity were higher compared to Phase 2 (wet season) (pooled t-test, p<0.001); showing the influence of season on food security. Phases 1 & 2 showed that Akithii had a significantly higher level of food insecurity (Mann-Whitney U; p<0.01), and a lower DDS (chi-square test, p<0.001) compared to Uringu. Children in Akithii consumed a less diversified diet than those in Uringu. Agricultural biodiversity was positively and significantly related to: HFIAS (Spearman r=-0.10, p=0.02); DDS (ANOVA, p<0.001); all NARs (Spearman, p<0.05) and MAR (Spearman, p<0.001).This implies that households with higher agricultural biodiversity were more likely to be food secure, have higher dietary diversity levels and a diet comprising a higher nutritional value. DDS was significantly correlated to MAR and NARs of all the nutrients studied in this study. Findings showed that DDS was also consistently significantly inversely correlated to Household Food Insecurity Access Prevalence (HFIAP) (R =-0.185, t (N-2)-3.889), p=0.0001). This correlation showed that an increase in dietary diversity inversely affected HFIAS. A significant relationship was found between HFIAP and MAR (ANOVA, p=0.00268); indicating that households with a higher MAR were more likely to be food secure. There was a significant correlation between the BMI of the mother/care giver and the WAZ scores of the children (r=0.1410, p<0.001); indicating that higher HAZ scores were found in mothers with higher mean BMI values. There was a significant difference between households with and without children with stunted growth in DDS (ANOVA; p=0.047) and HFIAS (ANOVA; p=0.009) but not with agricultural biodiversity score (ANOVA; p=0.486). The agricultural biodiversity mean score for households with children presenting with stunted growth were, however, lower at 6.8, compared to 7.0 for those with normal growth however the p value was not significant. This indicates that households with children with stunted growth and those without are significantly different in DDS and HFIAS but not regarding agricultural biodiversity. This further implies that the potential of DDS and HFIAS to be used as proxy measures for stunting be further explored. Conclusion Agricultural biodiversity has a positive impact on household food security, dietary diversity, dietary adequacy and child growth. Food security is closely linked to dietary diversity and dietary adequacy; therefore improving one is likely to improve the other two and impact positively on child growth status. Interventions to improve child health and food security in resource poor rural households should aim at increasing dietary diversity through agricultural biodiversity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsingsdoel Die studie is daarop gemik om die assosiasies tussen die landbou-biodiversiteit, huishoudelike voedselsekerheid en dieetdiversiteit in huishoudings met kinders tussen die ouderdomme van 24 tot 59 maande in twee landelike gebiede van Kenia, waarvan een 'n hoër reënval en landbou-biodiversiteit as die ander gehad het, te verken. Metodes Studie steekproef en plek Die studie het 'n deursnit-analitiese benadering aangeneem om die assosiasies te ondersoek in hulpbron-arm huishoudings in twee landelike gebiede; Akithii en Uringu van Kenia. Van die 525 huishoudings wat ewekansig gekies is, was 261 van Uringu afdeling en 264 van Akithii afdeling. Twee onafhanklike deursnit-opnames is uitgevoer; fase een in September tot Oktober 2011 (tydens die droë seisoen), terwyl Fase 2 in Maart 2012 (gedurende die reënseisoen) plaasgevind het. 'n Vraelys is ontwikkel om inligting oor die sosio-demografie van die huishouding, borsvoeding en babavoeding praktyke, immunisering en kindersiektes in te samel. Dieetinname is gemeet tydens elke seisoen deur die uitvoer van 'n herhaalde 24-uur herroep met die moeder / versorger van die huishouding. 'n Voedingstof toereikendheidsverhouding (VTR) is bereken vir elke voedingstof, uitgedruk as die persentasie van die voedingstof wat voldoen aan die aanbevole dieetinname (ADI) waarde vir daardie voedingstof. 'n Gemiddelde toereikendheidsverhouding (GTR) is bereken vir 11 voedingstowwe uitgedruk as die gemiddelde van die VTR‘s van hierdie voedingstowwe. Dieetdiversiteit is gemeet deur data vanuit die 24-uur herroepe, geklassifiseer in nege voedselgroepe. 'n Dieetdiversiteit telling (DDT) is bereken op grond van elke verskillende voedselgroep wat gedurende die tydperk van herroep ingeneem is tot 'n maksimum van nege, indien die voedsel verbruik is uit elk van die nege groepe. Huishoudelike voedselsekerheid (HVS) is gemeet deur die huishoudelike voedselonsekerheid toegangskaal (HVOTS) te gebruik. Die landbou-biodiversiteit is bereken deur die som te bereken van die aantal verskillende gewasse en diere geëet óf van huishoudelike bronne óf uit die natuur. Gewig en lengte metings is geneem van die kinders en hul moeders / versorgers. Gewig vir ouderdom (GVO), lengte vir ouderdom (LVO) en gewig vir lengte (GVL) Z-tellings is bepaal vir die kinders, terwyl die liggaamsmassa-indeks (LMI) metings bereken is vir die volwasse vroue. Die verhoudings tussen aaneenlopende reaksie veranderlikes en nominale inset veranderlikes is ontleed met behulp van toepaslike analise van variansie (ANOVA) of saamgevoegde, gepaarde en onafhanklike gemiddelde T-toetse, indien slegs twee groepe betrokke was. Resultate Dieetinname was laag en die meerderheid van huishoudings het nie aan die ADIs vir die meeste voedingstowwe voldoen nie. Die GTR is 61,3% en 61,8% vir onderskeidelik fase 1 en 2. Die DDT is laag; 3,3 ±1,2 vir beide fases. Die meerderheid van huishoudings was voedselonseker met 'n gemiddelde HVOST van 12,8 ±6,19 en 10,9 ±7,49 vir onderskeidelik fase 1 en 2. Landbou-biodiversiteit was laag met 'n totaal van 26 items, 23 huishoudelike en 3 vanuit die natuurlike habitat. Twee voedselitems uit die natuurlike habitat was afkomstig van plante en een vanaf diere. Eksklusiewe borsvoeding, tot die aanbevole ses maande, was laag en beoefen deur 23,4%, terwyl 39,3% van die moeders, in beide streke, komplimentêre voedsel voor 6 maande ouderdom bekendgestel het. Vertraagde groei onder die kinders was hoog met 'n gemiddeld van 30,5% (n=291). Seuns het hoër vertraagde groei in beide streke in vergelyking met dogters getoon. ʼn Beduidende positiewe verhouding is gevind tussen die aantal bydraers tot huishoudelike inkomste en lengte vir ouderdom z-tellings (LOZ) van die kinders (Spearman r=-0,15, P=0,02). Die aantal huishoudelike bates het ook LOZ tellings (Spearman r=-0,17, P=0,01) aansienlik beïnvloed; hoe hoër die aantal huishoudelike bates, hoe laer die LOZ tellings. Tydens fase 1 (droë seisoen) (saamgevoegde t-toets, p<0.001), was vlakke van voedselonsekerheid hoër in vergelyking met fase 2 (nat seisoen) (saamgevoegde t-toets, p <0.001), wat die invloed van die seisoenaliteit op voedeselsekerheid uitwys. Fase 1 en 2 het gewys dat Akithii ʼn beduidende hoër vlak van voedselonsekerheid gehad het (Mann-Whitney U; p<0.01) en ʼn laer DDT (chi-square toets, p<0.001) in vergelyking met Uringu. Kinders in Akithii het ʼn dieet laer in diversiteit ingeneem as die in Uringu. Landbou-biodiversiteit is positief en beduidend verwant aan: HVOTS (Spearman r = -0,10, P = 0,02); DDT (ANOVA, p<0.001), alle VTR‘s (Spearman, p <0.05) en GTR (Spearman, p <0.001). Dit impliseer dat huishoudings met 'n hoër landbou-biodiversiteit, meer geneig is om voedselseker te wees, hoër dieetdiversiteit vlakke en ʼn hoër voedingswaarde het. DDT is beduidend gekorreleer aan GTR en VTT‘s van al die voedingstowwe wat bestudeer is in hierdie studie. Bevindinge het getoon dat DDT konsekwent en beduidend omgekeerd gekorreleer is met huishoudelike voedselonsekerheid toegang prevalensie (HVOTP) (R=-0,185, t(N-2)-3,889), p=0,0001). Hierdie korrelasie toon dat 'n toename in dieetdiversiteit HVOTS omgekeerd beïnvloed het. ʼn Betekenisvolle verhouding is gevind tussen HVOTP en GTR (ANOVA, p=0,00268); wat aandui dat huishoudings met 'n hoër GTR meer geneig is om voedselsekerheid te toon. Daar is 'n beduidende korrelasie tussen die LMI van die moeder / versorger en die GOZ tellings van die kinders (r=0,1410, p<0.001), wat aandui dat hoër LOZ tellings gevind is in moeders met hoër gemiddelde LMI waardes. Daar is 'n beduidende verskil tussen huishoudings met en sonder kinders met dwerggroei se DDT (ANOVA; p=0.047) en HVOTS (ANOVA; p=0.009) maar nie die landbou-diversiteit telling nie (ANOVA; p=0.486). Die gemiddelde landbou-diversiteit telling vir huishoudings met en sonder kinders met dwerggroei is egter laer met 6.8 in vergelyking met 7.0 vir die met normale groei. Die p-waarde is egter nie beduidend nie. Dit dui aan dat huishoudings met kinders met dwerggroei en daarsonder beduidend verskillend is ten opsigte van DDT en HVOTS, maar nie met landbou-diversiteit in die studie nie. Dit impliseer verder dat die potensiaal van DDT en HVOTS om gebruik te word as alternatiewe metings vir dwerggroei verder ondersoek moet word. Gevolgtrekking Landbou-biodiversiteit het 'n positiewe impak op huishoudelike voedselsekerheid, dieetdiversiteit, dieettoereikendheid en groei van kinders. Voedselsekerheid is nou gekoppel aan dieetdiversiteit en dieettoereikendheid, daarom sal die verbetering van die een waarskynlik die ander twee positief beïnvloed asook ʼn positiewe impak hê op die groei van kinders. Intervensies vir die verbetering van kindergesondheid en voedselsekerheid in hulpbron-arm landelike huishoudings moet poog om dieetdiversiteit te verhoog deur landbou-biodiversiteit.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is an important food crop in East Africa including Kenya. The crop incurs high yield losses in production due to biotic (insect pests and diseases) and abiotic (drought, and heat) constraints. Among abiotic constraints, drought is the most important. Prolonged periods of drought in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya have led to reduced quantity and quality of sweetpotato storage roots and in severe cases caused total crop failure. The objectives of this study were to: 1) determine sweetpotato production system constraints and farmers’ coping strategies; 2) evaluate sweetpotato clones for yield performance and drought tolerance; 3) analyse genotype x environment interaction and stability for storage root yield of selected clones, 4) determine mechanisms of drought tolerance in sweetpotato, and 5) determine combining ability and heterosis for yield and drought tolerance traits under managed drought stress conditions. To determine the production constraints and farmers’ coping strategies, a survey was conducted in central, eastern and western Kenya. Out of 345 farmers interviewed, 60% were women, and 40% men. Farm sizes ranged from 0.4-0.8 ha, with 90% of sweetpotato cultivated on 0.2 ha or less. The main sweetpotato varieties were Vitaa, Kabonde and Bungoma and the majority of farmer’s used their own conserved planting material which was conserved by leaving them in the field after harvest. About 35% of the farmers identified weevils as the major pest, and sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) as the major disease, while 28% of the farmers identified drought as a major constraint. The farmers used clean seed, high yielding varieties, high planting density, and manure application as the main strategies to cope with sweetpotato production constraints. Eighty four sweetpotato clones were evaluated under managed drought stress environments at KARI-Kiboko and KARI-Thika. Drought reduced the fresh weight of storage roots (FSR) (72.5%), fresh biomass weight (FB) (74.0%), marketable fresh storage root (MFSR) (80.7%), number of storage roots (NSR) (24.5%), days to permanent wilting point (DPWP) (0.3%), but seemed to increase percent root dry matter (% RDM) (-4.7%), harvest index (HI) (-2.6%), and chlorophyll content (CC) (-2.7%). Across the environments, genotypes 194555.7 (1.06), 421066 (1.05), Chingovu (0.94), 420014 (0.91), Excel (0.9), 199062.1 (0.87) and Unawazambane06-01 (0.81) gave higher FSR yields (kg plant-1) than the local checks. Genotypes Nyarmalo and Polista were among the lowest yielding in the irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. Clones W119, 441725, and Xiadla-xa-kau were the highest yielding under the drought stress conditions. The performance of 24 improved clones was evaluated in replicated trials at KARI-Thika and KARI-Kiboko using 24 sweetpotato clones grown under managed drought stress conditions for two seasons. AMMI, GGE biplots and regression analyses were conducted to determine stability of the clones. Mean FSR was significantly different (P < 0.001) in the two research sites with the environment contributing to 92.7% of the total variation, genotype 1.8%, and interactions 0.4%. AMMI and GGE biplots, and regression indicated the most stable clones to be 441725, Unawazambane06-01 and 189150.1, while Xiadla-xa-kau was the least stable. To gather more information on drought tolerance mechanisms expressed in the sweetpotato genotypes, an experiment was conducted in the greenhouse using clones expressing different levels of drought tolerance in the field. The results showed more under-developed roots (pencil roots) in the drought stressed regimes than in the irrigated regimes and in the drought susceptible genotypes. Drought tolerant genotypes produced more FSR and NSR. The number of vine branches (NVB), vine tip pubescence (VTP) and mature leaf pubescence (MLP) increased with reduction of drought stress however, drought tolerant clones had reduced NVB. Drought stressed clones had shorter basal vine length (BVL), reduced CC, and reduced leaf growth (LG). Drought stress reduced growth of vines in terms of internodes length, internodes diameter, vine length, petioles length, and leaf CC. Overall, for the first time, the study demonstrated that drought stress in the first three months after planting, leads to the proliferation of non-edible pencil roots, which do not become edible storage roots even when drought stress is removed. Therefore, water is critical during this period for improved sweetpotato storage root yield, probably as a drought tolerant mechanism. Combining ability for yield and drought tolerance of 15 F1 sweetpotato families generated through a half diallel mating of six parents was evaluated at KARI-Kiboko in 2012. Significant (P≤0.05) general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were recorded for root yield in both drought stress and no stress conditions, indicating that both additive and dominance gene effects were important in the inheritance of resistance to drought stress. Progenies from families G2, G5, G7, G8, G10, G12 and G15 had good SCA for fresh storage root yield, total biomass, number of days to permanent wilting point (DPWP), harvest index, and drought stress index (DSI). Progeny 8 from family G4, 5 and 8 from G15, had the highest mid and best parent heterotic effect (117-270%) for fresh storage root yield in both drought stress and no stress conditions. Progeny 6, and 7 from family G10, had the highest mid and best parent heterotic effect (165-234%) for fresh total biomass yield under no drought stress conditions. In conclusion, the progenies from families G2, G5, G7, G8, G10, G12 and G15 that had high yield and biomass specific combining ability under drought and no drought stress indicated that they could be having drought tolerant genes, and therefore could be incorporated into advanced drought screening trials with the aim of releasing the best performing drought tolerant varieties. Secondly, the findings in this study lay a foundation for sweetpotato breeding programmes on drought tolerance. Thirdly, for the first time, this study uniquely combines yield performance, combining ability estimates, days to permanent wilting point and heterosis under contrasting moisture regimes to unmask the gene action of drought tolerance in sweetpotato, a milestone in science. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

This study gives an historical account of foreign ownership of newspapers in Kenya. Since the establishment of the first newspaper in the early 1900s, to the modern publication of daily newspapers in Kenya, the press has been dominated by foreign owners, writers and advertisers. Before independence from Britain, foreign domination was expressed by the total disregard of the African by the newspapers. After independence, foreign domination continued as the government, dedicated to the free enterprise capitalist system, has not made any substantial effort to nationalize already established newspaper companies. In 1977 the first African-owned newspaper, a weekly was established. Today, there is no African-owned daily newspaper. All indications are that only the modernizing process will result in African ownership and control of newspapers.

This thesis deals with the Harambee as an indigenous lived philosophy and its capacity of empowering the poor in the Kenyan Anglican Church. From a historical perspective, it explores and scrutinises the origins, the definition and the philosophy behind Harambee. The thesis shows how Harambee was incorporated in the Kenyan Anglican Church and how it has been used as a survival strategy in the midst of the dominant development models which have failed to address the social-economic and political issues in Kenya. The thesis notes that even though Harambee is promoted in Kenya as a cultural, socio-economic and political philosophy its basic orientation is in harmony with the Christian theology. In this regard, the thesis offers a theological understanding of Harambee in the light of themes such as creation, imago Dei, incarnation, justice, redemption, love and solidarity. In undertaking this task, the thesis attempts to shed more light on how Harambee is in harmony with the principles and values of the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) model. It argues that Harambee shares many concerns with ABCD even though Harambee has a Kenyan cultural flavour. Therefore, it affirms that Harambee as a lived philosophy is likely to empower the poor in the community, and the Kenyan Anglican Church should consider enhancing Harambee to mobilise the local resources. In view of this, the study highlights various projects initiated by the church through Harambee and it concludes by proposing that the Church needs to go beyond humanitarian programmes and initiate sustainable projects that can address the causes of poverty thus striving to make the twenty-first century a century of hope for millions of people who are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

The Maasai of East Africa traditionally consume a diet of milk, meat, and blood. Previous studies have found the Maasai to suffer from vitamin A deficiency (VAD). This micronutrient deficiency compromises systemic immunity and increases morbidity and mortality. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to investigate the vitamin A intake of small Maasai children in Loita, Kenya. On average, children consumed 596mug/dayRAE from retinoid sources and 956mug/dayRAE when coupled with beta-carotene sources. The measles virus (MV) has yet to be eradicated from East Africa and remains a threat to young children. The Maasai have developed methods to deal with this disease and improve systemic immunity by introducing medicinal plants into the diet. Plant species added to the milk and soups of small children were determined using the FFQ. Antiviral properties of the seven most common dietary plants were then investigated, measuring MV neutralization and MV production, and compared to 7 arbitrarily selected non-medicinal plants. Significant differences (X2 p < 0.05) were found between the antiviral actions of medicinal and non-medicinal species.

Maize (Zea mays L.) supports millions of livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in terms of food and feed. Production of the crop is however limited by several factors, among these, maize streak virus (MSV) disease. Although extensively studied, MSV remains a serious problem in SSA due to several challenges in breeding MSV resistant maize varieties. These include integration of MSV resistant germplasm from different backgrounds, reliance on a few resistant sources, and genotype x environment interactions. This study was designed to assess the breeding potential of several MSV resistant lines in hybrid combinations. Understanding architecture of genetic divergence and background of these genotypes would greatly aid in breeding high yielding and stable MSV resistant hybrids. Experiments were conducted during 2010 to 2012 seasons in Kenya. Diallel crosses and SSR markers were used to characterize MSV resistant maize inbred lines from three programs of CIMMYT, KARI and IITA. In general, this study revealed that MSV is still an important problem in Kenya with high incidence and severity levels in the farmers’ fields. The levels of MSV resistance in locally grown hybrids needs to be improved. Farmers challenged breeders to develop new hybrids that combine early maturing, high yield potential and MSV resistance. The study was successful in identifying the best eight inbred lines for use in breeding new maize hybrids with MSV resistance. The nature of gene effects was established for the first time, in particular the role of epistasis and G x E in conditioning MSV resistance in hybrids. Results indicate serious implications for previous models that ignored epistasis in studying MSV resistance in maize. The inbreds Z419, S558, CML509 and Osu23i, displayed high levels of epistasis for MSV resistance. Unless strong sources of MSV resistance, such as MUL114 and CML509, are used, breeding resistant hybrids will require parents that carry dominant resistance genes. The additive-dominance model was adequate to explain northern leaf blight (NLB) resistance in hybrids, indicating fewer complications in breeding NLB resistant hybrids. The study also reveals that SSR genetic distance data can be used to predict hybrid performance, especially when the correct set of markers is used. Many previous studies have not found any significant relationship between genetic distance and heterosis, due to large G x E and use of a wrong set of markers. The diallel analysis and SSR data established the important heterotic groups, which will be exploited for efficient development of MSV resistant maize hybrids. These strategies will be recommended to programs that emphasize MSV resistance in maize hybrids. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Latin American telenovelas have been exported to more than a hundred countries across the globe. While they are popular in their country of production because their messages resonate with their audience’s everyday experiences, their popularity amongst global audiences with whom they share neither a social nor a cultural history is unexplained. Kenya has been importing and airing Latin American telenovelas since the early 1990s, and telenovelas have permeated many aspects of Kenyan daily life, when compared to other foreign globally-distributed media products that are aired on Kenyan television. As global media products, telenovelas remain open to criticisms from the media imperialism thesis. This research adopts an ethnographic approach to the study of audiences, and looks at the reception of a Mexican telenovela, Cuando Seas Mia, by a group of young Kenyan women in Nairobi. It reflects upon the media imperialism thesis from an African perspective by investigating the meanings that these women make from Cuando Seas Mia, and how these shape their changing local identities and cultures. The young women in this study, most of whom have moved to the city from the rural areas, are influenced by traditional, patriarchal Kenyan society and by the modern, Western influences of an urban environment. They experience a tension between their evolving rural and urban roles and identities and are drawn to telenovelas because their exploration of rural-urban themes holds a relevance to their own lives. They negotiate their contemporary African youth identities, gender roles and heterosexual relationships in relation to representations in the telenovela, questioning and destabilising African and Western definitions. These women select aspects from their traditional, African cultures and from their modern, Western experiences (and consumption of global media) and reconstruct them into a transitional youth identity which suits their day to day lives as young women living in an urban African environment.