East African Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

Estimating the Extent of Money Muling: The Case of a University Campus in Nairobi, Kenya

2025-07-23T20:49:36+02:00

Money muling is not only a crime but is one of the major enablers of a 5 trillion United States Dollar (USD) criminal enterprise globally. Very little is known about money muling, yet it contributes significantly to money laundering, which is to blame for widespread terrorism, crime and proliferation financing globally. The lack of knowledge and data on this phenomenon significantly hampers efforts to measure, manage, and control money laundering and associated crimes. This study sought to assess and estimate the extent of money muling among university students at a university campus in Nairobi, Kenya, with the aim of adding to the literature and recommending tactical action. Using a sample of 121 respondents from a population of 174, the study found that there exist significant levels of money muling among respondents, with a 63% overall rate of involvement. Unwitting money muling was the most prevalent (90%), followed by complicit (44%) and witting (24%), respectively. This study also established that money muling was more prevalent among undergraduate students (93%), males (61%) and younger students aged below 40 years (93%). Consequently, several recommendations, including proposed amendments to the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA) of 2009, targeted awareness and training of tertiary level students on financial crime and the need for better measurement and documentation of money laundering and crime statistics in universities and colleges ensued from the findings

Baseline Survey in Monitoring and Evaluation and Performance of Education Projects in Refugee Camps in Turkana County, Kenya

2025-07-24T19:31:36+02:00

Baseline surveys serve as a foundational instrument in monitoring and evaluation, significantly enhancing the performance and impact of education projects in refugee camps by providing critical benchmarks for planning, implementation, and assessment. This study examined the influence of baseline surveys in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) on the performance of education projects in refugee camps in Turkana County, Kenya. Guided by international frameworks such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Sustainable Development Goal 4, and the 2018 Global Compact on Refugees, the research focused on education initiatives implemented by Windle International Kenya in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). A census approach was employed, targeting a study population of 141 education stakeholders: 7 principals, 5 head teachers, 72 Board of Management members, 5 M&E officers, 1 County Quality Assurance and Standards Officer (QASO), 1 Sub-County QASO, 15 education officers, 15 project coordinators, 15 finance officers, and 5 program managers. These education stakeholders were selected due to their central roles in the planning, execution, and oversight of education projects, ensuring that the study captured informed perspectives on the influence of baseline surveys within the project context. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and regression analysis. Qualitative findings from interviews further contextualised the quantitative results. The results indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between the use of baseline surveys in M&E and the performance of education projects in refugee camps (r = 0.680, p < 0.05; β = 0.172, p = 0.020). Respondents reported that comprehensive baseline surveys contribute to setting project targets, tracking progress, guiding resource allocation, and enhancing stakeholder engagement. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses highlighted the importance of financial support, community sensitisation, and improved security as key factors for project success and teacher retention. The study concludes that baseline surveys are integral to effective M&E, serving as benchmarks for planning, resource allocation, and project evaluation, ultimately improving educational outcomes for refugees. This research recommends that education project implementers prioritise baseline survey practices, ensure stakeholder involvement, invest in staff training, and integrate baseline surveys within standard M&E frameworks to enhance the project's success and performance in refugee settings.

An International Survey of Literature on Military Spending and Economic Growth

2025-07-30T12:39:03+02:00

This study is an extensive investigation of military spending and economic growth (1960-2024). The purpose of this study is to profile and summarise earlier work done about military spending and economic growth, which provides new meanings that guide decision-making. It uses meta-analytic and scientometric analysis to bring to light related literature on the military spending-economic growth nexus. This is useful in providing evidence and greater meaning to the scholarly work done so far on the subject. It provides valid information for decision-making about military spending and economic growth. It is anchored on four hypotheses: feedback, growth, conservation and neutrality. The selection of variables, models and techniques, and time periods has contributed to the intensified dissent within the findings. The debate had sparked off controversy that still requires further inquiry. The results are mixed, with 430 observations in this study having dissenting results, and this debate is not yet concluded. The results demonstrate that the growth hypothesis accounts for 72.2 %, feedback 9.8%, conservation 4.9%, and the neutrality hypothesis 13.1%. This study elevates debate for researchers on military spending and economic growth based on credible evidence of empirical work. It furnishes researchers and practitioners with leading antecedents on the nexus. This study is able to synthesise and provide relevant data for evidence-based policy making

Setbacks of Form One Orientation Programme in Secondary Schools: Lessons from Moshi Rural District, Tanzania

2025-07-31T16:40:34+02:00

The study objective was to identify the specific setbacks of the Form One Orientation Programme in secondary schools within Moshi Rural. A mixed-methods study approach was employed, conducted in two phases: a qualitative and a quantitative phase, with an exploratory sequential design. Four secondary schools were involved, with a total of 37 participants, including 2 Heads of Schools (HOS), 1 District Secondary Education Officer (DSEO), and 2 Schools Quality Assurers (SQA) participated in phase one, and 32 teachers participated in phase two. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, unstructured observations and the closed-ended questionnaire. The study revealed key setbacks in implementing the Form One Orientation Programme, including the transfer of students during the Programme's implementation, managing overcrowded classrooms, late student reporting, and a lack of training for teachers and school heads in implementing and supervising the Programme. The study recommended future studies that could adopt a quantitative or mixed-methods approach, taking larger samples to assess the setbacks of the Form One Orientation Programme for the generalisation of findings and examine strategies for unlocking the barriers to the successful Form One Orientation Programme

Co-Curricular Activities for Values-Based Science Education: A Case Study from Luweero District, Uganda

2025-08-04T21:50:40+02:00

In Uganda, co-curricular activities (CCAs) are often undervalued in formal education, yet they present opportunities to foster values critical for holistic learning. Despite their recognised potential, little is known about how science teachers in Ugandan primary schools use CCAs to promote values education, particularly through means such as CCAs. This study examined how science teachers utilise CCAs to foster values among learners in two government-aided primary schools in Luweero District, with the overall aim of identifying strategies to enhance the value-promoting potential of CCAs in science education. Anchored in an interpretivist paradigm, a qualitative case study design was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five purposively sampled science teachers and focus group discussions with 28 purposively sampled pupils. Findings revealed that while some teachers and learners participated in CCAs such as debates, leadership roles, and occasional science exhibitions, their involvement was inconsistent and largely implicit, promoting values notably cooperation, sharing, and creativity among learners. Science-based CCAs, such as science clubs and fairs, were notably absent, primarily due to limited time, unclear responsibilities, and inadequate support. Nonetheless, all teachers acknowledged that CCAs have the potential to cultivate values such as cooperation, creativity, and responsibility. The study concludes that CCAs remain an underutilised avenue for values education in science. Their effective integration requires increased administrative support, timetabling these activities, teacher training, and adequate resources. It is recommended that education stakeholders provide guidance, capacity building, and policy backing to elevate CCAs as strategic platforms for values-based science education in Ugandan primary schools. These findings underscore the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between science teaching, values education, and reimagining CCAs as deliberate tools for fostering both science concepts and moral development in pupils.

Blockchain Resilience and Public Service Delivery: Empirical Evidence from Kenya’s National Government Ministries

2025-08-05T20:19:58+02:00

As governments increasingly adopt emerging technologies to improve public service delivery, blockchain has gained prominence for its unique attributes, including resilience. Resilience, in the context of blockchain, refers to the system’s ability to maintain functionality despite faults, disruptions, or cyber threats, making it especially relevant for sustaining uninterrupted service in critical government operations. This study examines the relationship between blockchain technology resilience and service delivery in Kenya’s national government ministries. Anchored in the New Public Management (NPM) theoretical framework, the study employed a cross-sectional survey involving 319 respondents: 220 government officials and 99 citizens, selected through stratified and purposive sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed through multiple regression analysis. The results revealed a statistically significant and positive relationship between blockchain resilience and service delivery (β = 0.287, p < 0.05), suggesting that robust and fault-tolerant blockchain systems can enhance efficiency, continuity, and public confidence in service delivery. The study recommends that government institutions prioritise the integration of resilient digital infrastructure to strengthen service delivery outcomes

Examining the Effect of Policy Evaluation Practices on the Performance of Public Institutions in South Sudan

2025-08-06T18:31:37+02:00

This study examines how policy evaluation practices influence the performance of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs in South Sudan. The Ministry faces significant recruitment and selection challenges due to limited infrastructure, resources, and a developing education system, challenges that are intensified by the country's post-conflict environment. To explore these issues, the research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with 342 respondents (response rate: 85.9%) and qualitative data from 30 key informant interviews using semi-structured protocols. The theoretical framework integrated Institutional Theory, which explains how organisational norms shape policy practices; Policy Implementation Theory, focusing on the processes affecting policy delivery; and Resource Dependency Theory, highlighting how resource constraints influence organisational behaviour. These theories guided the development of measurement tools and interpretation of results, especially regarding the impact of institutional and resource factors on policy evaluation effectiveness. Quantitative analysis using regression modelling at a 5% significance level (p<0.05) revealed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.692) between policy evaluation practices and organisational performance, with an R² of 0.479. This indicates that nearly 48% of performance variability can be explained by the extent of policy evaluation efforts. The findings emphasise the crucial role of systematic evaluation mechanisms in enhancing organisational outcomes. The study recommends strengthening policy evaluation frameworks, investing in education and infrastructure, establishing regular monitoring and feedback systems, and enhancing capacity-building for personnel involved in policy evaluation. Additionally, stakeholder engagement and performance-based incentives are suggested to further improve policy impact. Future research should explore how contextual factors such as post-conflict recovery, political stability, and external support influence policy evaluation effectiveness. Overall, this research provides empirical evidence supporting systematic policy evaluation as vital for improving organisational performance and stability in fragile states like South Sudan.

Distributive Equity around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda: Benefits, Accessibility, Perceptions, and Realities among Adjacent Communities

2025-08-07T19:36:46+02:00

Distributive equity in natural resource governance ensures the fair allocation of benefits and burdens among stakeholders, emphasising fairness for marginalised groups. Despite its critical role in natural resource management, persistent inequalities remain a significant challenge. This study investigated distributive equity around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, examining community perceptions, accessibility, and benefit distribution among residents of Kisoro, Rubanda, and Kanungu districts. The study used a mixed-methods approach, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data from 120 households and 30 key informants through interviews, workshops, questionnaires, and observations. Conducted between July and December 2024, the data were analysed using SPSS and NVivo, allowing a thorough assessment of benefit distribution and accessibility, especially for marginalised groups. Economic benefits were the most reported, primarily accessed through Uganda Wildlife Authority, tourism businesses, and NGOs. However, most respondents believed that some groups benefit more than others, highlighting widespread perceptions of inequality. The study identified governance shortcomings in benefit-sharing, stressing the need for transparency, inclusive participation, and accountability. It recommends an equitable governance framework that ensures inclusive decision-making and clear benefit-sharing mechanisms. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, conservation practitioners, and community leaders aiming to enhance benefit-sharing and promote sustainable conservation at Bwindi

Analysis of the Legal and Institutional Framework for Oil and Gas Governance in Hoima, Buliisa and Kikuube Districts, Bunyoro Sub-region, Uganda

2025-08-07T19:26:22+02:00

The discovery of commercially viable oil and gas in 2006 in the Albertine region, specifically in the districts of Buliisa, Hoima and Kikuube, has signalled a social and economic transformation of Uganda. However, the legal, institutional and human rights frameworks governing the sub-sector remain contested. The study explores the effectiveness of Uganda’s oil and gas governance in Buliisa, Hoima and Kikuube districts by analysing the legal and institutional frameworks, environmental governance, community participation, land rights and human rights. Drawing on the qualitative approach with 120 stakeholders through FGDs and KIIs, the findings reveal that centralised governance, legal pluralism, weak environmental enforcement, and gender inequities undermine inclusive development. The study recommends enhancing fiscal decentralisation, integrating the customary tenure system, and enforcing rights-based safeguards for equitable oil governance

Land Informality and Financial Exclusion Contributing to The Mortgage Dilemma in Uganda’s Housing Sector

2025-08-08T15:29:29+02:00

The limited availability of affordable housing is one of the top development priorities in Uganda. The country has a total deficit of 2.4 million housing units. Approximately 70% of those who suffer from housing insecurity in Uganda fall within the low-income bracket. While mortgage financing options could help a number of people purchase houses, Uganda’s mortgage market remains underdeveloped. The mortgage market contributes to less than 1% of GDP, and is largely inaccessible to low-income earners. The primary constraints include the high interest charges (16% - 24%), a lack of secure land tenure systems, widespread informal employment (which involves over 75% of the entire labour force), and low financial literacy levels. The purpose of the study was to understand the accessibility of mortgage financing to low-income people in Uganda and to identify whether land tenure systems and socioeconomic issues affect exclusion from the market. The study employed a desk-based qualitative approach to document a review of academic literature and policy developments, to understand the institutional, legal and economic obstacles to achieving inclusive housing finance. Overall, the findings noted that policies on land tenure continue to reflect historical as well as current patterns of social exclusion, as ongoing challenges with Mailo and customary tenure continue to stop people from accessing land titles securely. This encourages banks to step away from providing credit. Formal housing generally remains unattainably expensive due to speculative development and constraints on affordable. New concepts to help low-income people may include micro-mortgages, digital credit scoring and incremental loans.