Department of Educational Administration

 

Date of this Version

Spring 4-8-2013

Citation

Awuor, D. C. (2013). Exploring tribal/ethnic inequality in the allocation of campus housing to students in a Kenyan public university. Masters Thesis, University of Nebras-Lincoln.

Comments

THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts, Major: Educational Administration, Under the Supervision of Professor Miles Bryant. Lincoln, Nebraska: May, 2013

Copyright (c) 2013 Diana C Awuor

Abstract

Kenya has 42 ethnic groups. The importance of tribal affiliations in the culture has led to reports of ethnic inequality in job distributions, service provision and resource allocation. Higher education institutions (HED) have not been left out in this. This descriptive/exploratory study focused on government/public HEIs with the aim of knowing the perceptions of students regarding the allocation of on-campus housing and how ethnicity influences the process, if any. The sample was made up of 100 students currently enrolled at a public university in Nairobi, Kenya.

The researcher used nonrandom purposeful sampling because there were specific characteristics that the sample was to possess: had to be students at a public university (Kenyatta University in this case) and had to be module-I students. The study utilized a survey containing both closed and open ended questions as the means of data collection. The data were analyzed descriptively and then organized in themes/categories. Findings and the demographic data are presented in graphs and tables. This qualitative inquiry sought to collect and document the views of the students.

Findings from the analyzed data include:

  • There is a perception of unequal distribution of campus housing
  • Students report a lack of confidence in the system of allocation for campus housing
  • Students report a preference that their names are not used in the application for housing because of the fear that knowledge of their ethnic identity may reduce their chances for obtaining housing.

Advisor: Miles Bryant

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