MUT Institutional Repository (IR)

MUT IR serves as the home for the intellectual output of MUT academic communities, and will ultimately include digital dissertations, faculty publications, digital special collections, open access publications, open educational resources and much more.

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1. Journal Articles 1337 2. Books and Book Chapters 94 3. Theses & Dissertations 133 4. Conference/ Workshops /Seminar/ Proceedings 87 5. Institutional Memory 42 6. Speeches and Lectures 39 7. Policies / Reports / Statutes 3 8. Projects & Business plan 0 9. Government publications 0

Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
Phytochemical and Antifungal Analysis of Root Bark, Inner Seed and Seed Coat Crude Extracts of Jatropa curcas
(Journal of Medical and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences Research, 2025) Muna, Kennedy; Waithaka, Peter
Background: Jatropha curcas, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, is known for its medicinal and biofuel applications. Rich in phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolics, it has shown antimicrobial properties, though its antifungal potential remains underexplored. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of Jatropha curcas root bark, inner seed, and seed coat crude extracts while identifying bioactive compounds responsible for this activity. Materials and methods: Samples were harvested from Kitui, Kenya, authenticated at the National Museums of Kenya, air-dried, ground, and extracted using hexane and methanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical screening employed standard qualitative tests to detect alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarins. Antifungal activity was assessed by measuring inhibition zones of different extract concentrations (50 µl/ml and 100 µl/ml) against Candida auris. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed that glycosides and terpenoids were present in all extracts, while phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and coumarins were mainly detected in methanol extracts. Alkaloids were absent in root bark and seed coat but moderately present in inner seed extracts. Antifungal tests showed that hexane extracts exhibited higher inhibition zones than methanol extracts.Among the plant parts, root bark hexane extract at 100 µl/ml demonstrated the highest antifungal activity, with a 15 mm inhibition zone. Conclusion: These findings confirm the presence of bioactive compounds in Jatropha curcas with potential antifungal properties. The hexane-extracted root bark exhibited the strongest antifungal activity, suggesting its possible use in developing natural antifungal agents. Further research is recommended to isolate specific active compounds and understand their mechanisms.
Access status: Open Access ,
Institutional Structures and Their Effects on Skills Development in Youth Polytechnics in Muranga, Kirinyaga and Nairobi City Counties, Kenya
(2019-09-15) Peter K. Kirika; Martin Ogola; John Kimemia
Availability of adequate and relevant structures is crucial for the governance of TVET institutions. The purpose of this study was to investigate and assess the institutional structures and their effects on skills development in public youth polytechnics in Muranga, Kirinyaga and Nairobi city counties. The objectives of the study were to assess the youth polytechnics various institutional structures and their effects on skills development and determine the institutional capacity development requirements. The Cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. The study targeted all the 61 Public Youth Polytechnics in Muranga, Kirinyaga and Nairobi city counties. The stratified sampling method was used to select 18 polytechnics that formed the study sample. The Managers, Heads of Department, District Youth Training Officers and primary school head teachers were respondents in the study. Data collection instruments included questionnaires, interview and observation schedules. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data which was presented using both tabular and graphical formats. The study established various gaps in the institutional structures that hinder the development of appropriate skills in youth polytechnics. These included inadequate policy related to Board of management and Parents Associations, inadequate capacity and low involvement of the existing structures. These gaps led to poor management and inadequate training in youth polytechnics. The study recommends legal and policy measures including review of existing laws to enhance institutional structures of youth polytechnics for appropriate skills development.
Access status: Open Access ,
Green Purchasing as a Strategic Driver of Sustainable Performance: Integrating Green Supply Chain Management Practices in Kenyan Manufacturing Firms
(Journal of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, 2026-09-18) Ndunda, Mirriam Mwongeli; Oteki, Evans Biraori; Agwata, Jones F
Aim: This study investigates the role of Green Purchasing (GP) within the broader framework of Green Supply Chain Management Practices (GSCMP) and its impact on firm performance in Kenyan manufacturing firms. Methods: Anchored in the Resource-Based View, Stakeholder Theory, and Institutional Theory, the research employed an explanatory design, collecting data from 298 firms through structured questionnaires and analyzing the results using regression, chi-square tests, and qualitative content analysis, with ethical approval from NACOSTI. .Results: Chi-square analysis revealed a significant effect of GP on firm performance (χ² = 775.290, p = 0.000). Regression analysis confirmed a positive correlation between GP and firm performance (β = 0.383, p = 0.047). The findings reveal that GP significantly enhances firm performance, with firm size moderating the relationship and larger firms benefiting more. At the same time, corporate environmental responsibility showed a positive but statistically insignificant mediating effect. Conclusion: These results confirm that GP is not merely a procurement function but a strategic lever for sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience. Recommendation: The study recommends stronger enforcement of green procurement regulations, investment in supplier development, integration of GP into corporate strategy, and adoption of ISO 14001 standards, while future research should explore digital procurement tools, sector-specific impacts, and longitudinal approaches.
Access status: Open Access ,
Consumer-Driven Supply Chains Agility Practices and Performance of Steel Manufacturing Firms in Keny
(European Journal of Management, Economics and Business, 2026-08) Kigen,Isaac; Oteki, Evans
The performance of steel manufacturing firms in Kenya has been constrained by persistent supply chain inefficiencies, including long lead times, high inventory costs, stockouts, and weak responsiveness to fluctuating customer demand. This study examined the influence of consumerdriven supply chain agility practices on the performance of steel manufacturing firms in Kenya. Grounded in Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the study adopted a pragmatism philosophy and employed a descriptive and correlational research design. Data were collected from 163 respondents drawn from steel manufacturing firms using stratified random sampling and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between consumer-driven supply chain agility practices and firm performance (r = 0.612, p < 0.05). Regression results further indicated that consumer-driven supply chain agility practices significantly predict firm performance (β = 0.688, p < 0.05), explaining 64.3% of the variation in performance outcomes (R² = 0.643). The model was also statistically significant (F = 312.568, p < 0.05), confirming the robustness of the relationship. The study established that customer integration, demand sensing, data analytics, and responsive logistics enhance operational efficiency, reduce lead times, and improve customer satisfaction. The study concludes that consumer-driven supply chain agility is a key determinant of performance in Kenya’s steel manufacturing sector. The study further recommends increased investment in digital supply chain systems, enhanced cross-functional coordination, and strengthened demand-driven planning to improve responsiveness and competitiveness.
Access status: Open Access ,
Closed-Loop Supply Chain Design and Environmental Performance of Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Enterprises (SMEs) in Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kenya: A Circular Economy Perspective
(European Journal of Innovative Studies and Sustainability, 2026-09) Kigen, Isaac; Maloba, Wilfred; Oteki,Evans
The increasing environmental challenges facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have intensified the need for sustainable supply chain practices that promote efficient resource utilization and minimize environmental degradation. This study examined the effect of closed-loop supply chain design on the environmental performance of SMEs. Specifically, the study investigated the influence of product return systems, reverse logistics integration, product recovery and remanufacturing, and recycling and waste recovery on environmental performance, measured in terms of waste reduction, resource efficiency, recycling rate, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, reduced landfill disposal, and compliance with environmental regulations. The study adopted a positivist research philosophy and a deductive approach, employing a descriptive and explanatory cross-sectional survey design. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to employees responsible for procurement, logistics, production, operations, and environmental management in the selected SMEs. A representative sample was selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques, and the collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, skewness, and kurtosis, were used to summarize the data, while Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to test the study hypothesis. The findings revealed that SMEs had implemented closed-loop supply chain design practices to a high extent, with recycling and waste recovery recording the highest level of adoption. Similarly, environmental performance was rated highly, particularly regarding compliance with environmental regulations and waste reduction. The multiple regression analysis established that closed-loop supply chain design had a positive and statistically significant effect on environmental performance (R = 0.824, R² = 0.679, Adjusted R² = 0.673, F = 102.741, p < 0.001), explaining 67.9% of the variation in environmental performance. Among the predictor variables, recycling and waste recovery exerted the strongest influence, followed by product return systems, reverse logistics integration, and product recovery and remanufacturing. The study concluded that the adoption of closed-loop supply chain design significantly enhances the environmental performance of SMEs by promoting waste reduction, improving resource efficiency, increasing recycling, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and landfill disposal, and strengthening compliance with environmental regulations. The study recommends that policymakers develop supportive policies and incentives that encourage SMEs to adopt circular economy practices, while SME managers should invest in product return systems, reverse logistics infrastructure, recycling technologies, and strategic partnerships that strengthen sustainable supply chain management and improve long-term environmental performance.