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Leadership in Small Christian Communities and Its Effect on Parish Strategy: A Case of St Francis Catholic Church in Kasarani, Nairobi County
No full textA Research Project Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in Management and Organizational Development (MOD)The purpose of this study was to assess the leadership style at the Small Christian Communities, popularly known as Jumuiya, and the impact on the strategy of the St. Francis Church Parish, Kasarani. The research questions that guided this research included: What role do Jumuiya (small Christian communities) leaders play in determining the strategic direction of St Francis Church? What is the role of Jumuiya leaders (small Christian communities) in communicating the strategy of St Francis Church to the church members? How are the Jumuiya (small Christian communities) leaders involved in implementing the strategy of St Francis Church?
A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to sample 30 SCC leaders in the St. Francis Parish, Kasarani. Data was collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire during a parish council meeting and each respondent was allowed 30 minutes to complete the questionnaire, so that the data collection process does not interfere with the activities of the SCC leaders. Data was presented using tables and figures through descriptive and inferential statistics.
From the findings, it can be surmised that SCC (Jumuiya) leaders have a huge role to play in the strategy direction, communication of strategy, and implementation of strategy in the parish and in the wider Roman Catholic Church. Importantly, almost all of the respondents asserted that the church had a clear strategic direction and a majority of the respondents stated that the strategy of the parish was in line with that of the overall Roman Catholic Church. The findings showed that a significant number of the respondents agreed that the SCC contributes in assisting the parish meet its objectives while others stated that the SCC and its leaders helped the parish in alignment of strategy. In communication, it was almost unanimously agreed among SCC leaders that they have an important role in coordinating communication between the parish and the parishioners towards realization of the objectives of the parish. Further, coordination and control systems were reported as critical in implementation of strategy.
In sum, this study showed that parish are well organized into SCCs (Jumuiya’s) with leaders who have critical roles in strategy direction, communication of strategy, and aligning the parish strategy with the strategy of the wider church, and hence, consequently impacting the strategy of the parish, as inferences from St. Francis Catholic Church Kasarani show.
Based on the study findings it is recommended that the SCC leaders should work towards making the strategy of the parish clearer, increase meeting time, and seek for further funding from parish to enable them attend to those who are in dire need in the parish. The study also recommends further studies on the role of SCC members in strategy of the parish and the strategy of the Roman Catholic Church in general
Regulation in the Transport Industry: A Case of Matatu Sector in Kenya
No full textA Research Project Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for Masters in Business Administration (MBA)The general objective of this study was to examine the importance of regulation of the matatu industry for government policy makers, matatu owners, and operators in the transport sector. Specifically the study sought to determine the factors that affect regulation of the matatu transport industry, the benefits that come with regulation, the challenges affecting regulation and the milestones that have been gained in regulation of the matatu transport industry.
This study reviewed literature on the regulatory and economic sphere of influence in the matatu means of transport, the impact of the labour law and labour related regulations on the matatu industry, the stakeholders in the matatu industry and factors affecting regulation of the sector and considerations for integration of matatus into the road transport regulation and economic systems.
This study used descriptive research design. The target population of the study consists of matatu saccos which encompasses matatu operators and owners. A list of the saccos and sample routes was obtained from the Matatu Owners Association. The sampling technique for this study was stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the selected respondents. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistical analysis includes methods for organizing and summarizing data such as tables and graphs to organize data, and descriptive values such as the average score was used to summarize data. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to make valid conclusions from the data. This describes the large group of the population from the information taken from a part of the group. For this study, data analysis was done using the tool Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software and Microsoft excels for tables and graphical presentation.
The findings on the factors affecting regulation in the transport industry revealed that the collection of fares covers the maintenance and operating cost. It also established that employment contracts are issued to the matatu operators and there is a record and identification of the matatu operators. Further, the findings revealed that there is anti-social activities and cartels around matatu termini. Finally it established that matatu operators prefer daily wage instead of monthly wage. The findings on the second objective which was to establish the benefits that come with regulation of the matatu transport industry, revealed that matatu operators have NHIF cards, it also revealed that matatu operators take annual leave. However the findings revealed that not all matatu operators are registered with a sacco or that the matatu operators save regularly with their sacco. Further the respondents did not take a firm stand on the statement that matatu operators have NSSF cards.
The findings on the third objective which was to identify the challenges affecting regulation of the matatu transport industry revealed that the matatu sector has full support from the ministry of transport. It also established that there are politicians as well as police officers who own matatus. However, that the majority of the matatu operators support phasing out of the 14 seater matatus. The findings of the forth objective of the study, which was to establish the milestones that have been gained in regulation of the matatu transport industry, revealed that matatus are fitted with speed governors and seat belts. Also realised is that matatu accidents have reduced significantly over the past 10 years and that saccos take responsibility for accidents on their routes and have ensured that matatu operators are familiar with their Code of Conduct. In addition, the findings determined that majority of the matatu operators have comprehensive insurance cover through their saccos. Finally, the findings established that the sector supports that cashless payment system will indeed improve efficiency in operations within the sector.
The study concluded that casual or temporary forms of employment does to not enable the workers to enjoy the fundamental rights at work. Further, the fact that traffic police continue to take bribes to overlook traffic offences and that they own some of the matatus, continues to pose challenges in effecting regulation in the matatu transport sector. The conclusions also established that the matatu industry today has a bigger social responsibility for safer road discipline to assuage road carnage. Finally, the cashless payment system should be operationalized to ensure effective and efficient collection of fares to cover maintenance and operating cost and that matatu operators are required to be members of a sacco to ensure adherence to the various laws that affect the sector
An Assessment of African Union's Application of the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine
No full textA Thesis Submitted To The School Of Humanities And Social Sciences In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements For The Degree Of Master Of Arts In International RelationsThe theory and functioning behind the creation of R2P was to bring about peace and security within weak states that are unable or unwilling to protect their own citizens. Globally, R2P is accepted as a commitment by Governments to prevent and end genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity as well as to create the necessary conditions and avoid circumstances that will prevent such crimes.
Following this and given the increased number of weak states, conflicts and human rights violations among the AU members, the AU embraced R2P in its structures.
However, the puzzle and enigma is that despite the AU embracing and putting in place structures to oversee the implementation of R2P so as to achieve peace and security in the continent, Africa still has the highest number of conflicts in the world with human rights violations still widespread. The AU's response to these conflict situations has been limited putting to doubt the effectiveness of the AU's structural and operational implementation of the doctrine.
This study therefore seeks to assess the Union's application of the doctrine and to what extent it has been successful in effecting it
The Arab Spring And North Africa-European Union Migration Dynamics: Case Of Tunisia, Egypt And Libya
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the United States International University- Africa in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of a Degree of Masters of Arts in International RelationsGlobal migration trends are appalling and are indicative of a deeper problem. It is estimated that more than 1 in 7 individuals are migrants. This translates to more than 232 million people globally. Currently, immigrants from North Africa to Europe has increased with countries such as Egypt, Libya and Tunisia being the most significant sources of legal and illegal immigrants especially in the wake of the Arab Spring.
However, while scholars have attempted to address the issue of migration to Europe and have assessed illegal migrations from North Africa in the wake of the Arab Spring, little attention has been accorded a comparative assessment of the trends after and prior to the Arab Spring. Moreover, the effects of the immigrants in EU while perceptible from media reports, have not been a focus of study likewise, the effectiveness of the countermeasures against illegal migration has also not been examined in much literature. Additionally, enough information is lacking concerning the types and effectiveness of countermeasures instigated by EU countries to address immigration into the Schengen area.
The purpose of the study was to assess the dynamics of illegal migrations of North Africans to the EU in the wake of the Arab Springs. The study sought to realize three objectives, namely; to examine the factors underlying the transformations in trends in illegal North Africans migrations to Europe before and after the Arab Spring; to assess the effects of illegal immigrants in the EU; and to investigate EU’s countermeasures against illegal immigrations from North Africa
Assessing Kenya’s Role in the Restoration of Peace in Somalia
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the School of Arts & Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in International RelationsSince the advent of the civil strife in 1991 after Barre’s regime was overthrown, numerous peace initiatives have been initiated in attempts to stabilize Somalia. Nevertheless, these initiatives faced various challenges generated internally and externally hence the success limitations. However, the Kenyan intervention to Somalia “Operation Linda Nchi” that was initiated in October 2011 has since bore fruits in peace restoration inside Somalia.
This study research seeks to access the roles played by Kenya in restoration of peace in Somalia. This has been done by analyzing various theories such as the war and peacekeeping theories. This study further determines whether Kenya’s 2011 military interventions to Somalia are justifiable under the international legal framework and international moral and ethical norms. This study also examines the previous interventions made by the UN and US in the early years and examine how the two influence and affect the Kenyan peace building activities in Somalia
Conflict And Environmental Security Among The Pastoral Communities In Northern Kenya: The Case Study Of Turkana
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in International RelationsThis study explores the link between conflict and environmental security among pastoral communities in Kenya and in particular, the Turkana community. It further investigates the theoretical linkages between conflict and environmental safety. Besides, it interrogates the nature of the relationships among these variables and the effect on pastoralists’ livelihoods. It also establishes the significance of and institutional and normative frameworks on the prevention, management and the resolution of conflicts, and environmental insecurity within the context of governance deficit.
It is anchored within the Thomas Homer-Dixon environmental scarcity theory. The theory is expressed in terms of reduction in the availability of natural resources and captures the issues under investigation. The customization of the theory within the pastoral setting allows for the analysis of the supply, demand and structural factors which are crucial to conflicts and environmental security among the pastoral communities in Kenya. The study employs the use of secondary data and concludes that there is a link between conflicts and environmental security, against the backdrop of governance deficit. The gap is established in forms of historical neglect, weak and limited state presence.
Notably, the study problematizes these factors within the context of the pastoral setting and identifies very specific conflict causing factors and environmental insecurity generating factors. It also refutes the idea that conflicts among the pastoralists are mainly as a result of the scarcity of resources and environmental scarcity. Instead, it acknowledges a combination of various factors behind instability in pastoral areas, which drive the conflicts. Further, the study affirms the theoretical propositions to the environmental conflict discourse and scarcity-driven accounts of conflict promoted by environmental conditions. Moreover, it notes that conventional and traditional institutional and legislative frameworks for conflict prevention and management resolution which are related to natural resources play a significant role. The solution to the persistent conflicts and environmental insecurity lies mainly in the promotion of good governance.
Effects of Differentiation Strategies on the Growth of Fashion Businesses in Kenya
No full textA Research Project Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA).The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of differentiation strategies on the growth of fashion businesses in Kenya. The study sought to address the following research questions: What are the effects of product differentiation strategies on the growth of fashion businesses? What are the effects of service differentiation strategies on the growth of fashion businesses? What are the effects of channel differentiation strategies on the growth of fashion businesses?
A descriptive survey research design was applied to a population of 82 fashion design businesses located in Nairobi County in Kenya. The sample size was the entire population since the population was less than a 100. Primary data was collected by the use of structured questionnaires following a five point likert scale through a drop and pick method. The close-ended questionnaires was developed in line with the research questions to the respondents who included employees in senior management levels and other staff involved in strategy formulation process. The questionnaires was dived into four sections and was made simple and easy for the respondents to answer. Trained research assistants assisted in the data collection process.
The research process began by development of the structured questionnaire, seeking permission to carry out the research, and then having a pilot test of 15 questionnaires. This was necessary to assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. The research assistants were trained to answer respondent’s questions, clarify, and translate questions that the respondents found difficult. The questionnaires were revised after the pilot test then the revised questionnaire were used during the actual data collection. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Ms Excel were used to analyse the data. The data collected was cleaned, coded, and checked for any errors and omissions. The collected data was analysed by use of descriptive statistics to find the frequencies and percentage distribution. The findings were presented in tables, graphs, and pie charts.
The study found that there is a significant relationship between differentiation strategies and the growth of fashion businesses. Most of the fashion businesses under study were found to have product quality as their major product differentiation strategy. Service delivery and customer consulting were the most used service differentiation strategies while product delivery and availability of product were the most common channel differentiation strategies.
The major conclusion of the study was that the biggest success of a fashion business arises mostly from having a successful product in the market. Service differentiation strategies have led to increase in profits and increase in customer satisfaction. The study also found that, fashion businesses that have channel differentiation strategies have had an increase in sales and customer loyalty.
The study recommends that fashion businesses carry out more research on more aspects that customers consider valuable or important in a product and incorporate them in their differentiation strategies. Fashion businesses should have good service delivery even as they engage in other differentiation strategies as well as constantly training their personnel. The study also recommends that fashion businesses should ensure they have well-functioning distribution channels that have good communication
The Factors Influencing the Savings Decisions Among Kenyan Professional Football Players
No full textA Research Project Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business In Partial Fulfillment of The Award of Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA)The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence saving decisions of professional football players in the Kenyan Premier League. The research was guided by the following research questions: What factors influence savings decisions amongst professional footballers in Kenya? What challenges do Kenyan footballers face in attempt to increase their savings and what can be done to break these barriers? A descriptive research was used on a target population of the players under contract with the Kenya Premier League teams in Nairobi for the 2015/2016 season grouped in 16, with each team having a minimum of 11 starting players giving an approximate population of 176 players. A sample of 88 players was used by a random sample of 8 teams located in Nairobi. Both qualitative and quantitative data was analyzed, and the results presented in percentages, means, standard deviations, frequencies. A Pearson’s correlation was conducted to test the degree of correlation between the variables.
The study established factors that influence savings amongst the footballers as level of education, level of income, family background, peer pressure, age, knowledge about saving schemes, trust in financial institutions, perception about the future, rate of inflation, increased availability of borrowing opportunities, availability of credit facilities from shops and friends, real interest on savings deposits and the length of contract are some of the factors that influenced the savings decisions.
The challenges facing Kenyan footballers when saving include fluctuating income, the management of clubs, knowledge of finance, family background, the cost of living and day to day expenses and the availability of cheap credit were noted to be some of the challenges facing their savings decisions. Strategies to overcome the barriers to savings include financial literacy programs, getting other sources of income, tailor made products by banks, increase in savings interest rates and use of budgets.
Since the study focused on individual factors influencing savings decisions, it is recommended that other studies be done to determine how group factors and external factors that cannot be controlled influence savings decisions and investment decisions. The study only focused on 8 clubs and therefore these results are skewed towards the perceptions and data from the 8 teams. It is suggested therefore that such a study be done in other teams and leagues to increase the statistical power of the study and make the results more reliable
The Impact of Quality Services on Customer Satisfaction in Higher Education Sector: A Case of Private Universities in Kenya
No full textA Research Project Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the award of a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Development (MOD)Most developing countries are facing challenges in keeping to the required standards of education. In Kenya especially, the Commission for University Education (CUE), had once and several times closed campuses and stopped accreditation of some universities. This study focused on determining the factors that influenced students’ perception on service quality. In specific the study sought to establish how assurance dimension affected students’ perception to service quality, how responsiveness dimension impacted students’ perception on service quality, how reliability dimension affected perception of students on service quality, how tangibility dimension played a role in determining students’ perception on universities’ service quality, and how empathy dimension affected the students’ perception on service quality.
The study adopted a descriptive design and employed a stratified approach in grouping private universities based in Nairobi region in order to obtain responses randomly from different strata identified covering a sample size of 300 respondents. Data was obtained through the use of structured questionnaires and was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) based on descriptive techniques, and results were presented on tables and figures to enhance easy interpretation.
The study found out that assurance is one of the major dimensions that determine the perceptions of students with regard to service delivery. About 67% of the respondents had indicated that their institutions were always involved in giving surety of delivering quality services, however most of the institutions did not live up to their commitments in practice. About 43% of the students thought that university lecturers and faculty members had above minimum qualifications that are required to teach in higher institutions of learning.
Based on responsiveness, the research established that students were of the opinion that universities were not responsive to the students’ expectations, since about 60% of the respondents were for the opinion that universities were rarely committed to provide prompt services to students. It was indicated that management and faculty members’ willingness to have students’ needs was not to the expecations, a fact that should be further investigated to establish why services were not willingly provided to satisfaction since private universities were generally believed to be sensitive to student needs in order to attract and retain more clients as they were actually operated with profit objectives.
On empathy, the study established that the most important factor on empathy is the ability to understand such student needs separately and provide unique assistance to each group meant to provide attention to each person. Such a move enhances satisfaction and self-esteem among the helped students provided higher levels of confidence are maintained in order to minimize chances of embarrasments to students.
Reliability was however closely linked to assurance dimension as well as empathy dimension in which students’ confidence was sought to be won by universities especially in terms of service quality delivery. Factors considered in this case were the attractiveness and promising nature of university vision statements; the level of dependability by the students on their universities; the capacity of universities to offer quality education; ability of the universities to help students realign academic and professional goals; ability of university management and faculty to win student loyalty; as well students’ opinion on the overal performance of respective universities management.
The study concluded that responsiveness dimension is as impoirtant as assurance dimension on service quality in private universities. It was established that responsiveness creates a sense of appreciation and postive regard on university efforts to deliver quality services by the students. Management of private universitiies are always expected to responsibly manage student affairs in a manner that promotes confidence and hence winning trust of students.
Based on the research findings and conclusions, reccomendations to enhance service quality and improvement of nature of education services are given. Reccomendation is given to university management to ensure that students needs are given priority by addresing their needs and being treated as cusmores to universities. Further, an indepth study to establish the fasctors that makes faculty members not to perform to students’ expectations despite them being highly qualified was given under the study’s reccomendations
Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade in East Africa Community: A Case of Exporters in Kenya
No full textA Project Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA)The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of non-tariff and technical barriers to trade on the Kenyan exporters within the East African Community. The study was guided by the following research questions: What are the non-tariff barriers faced by Kenyan exporters within the East African Community? What are the technical barriers to trade affecting the Kenyan exporters within East African Community? What are the mitigating factors on non-tariff barriers and technical barriers to trade?
The study adopted an explanatory research design to explain the various technical and non-tariff trade barriers that hinder trade within EAC within particular emphasis on barriers that hindered Kenyan exporters in EAC. The population of the study included all exporters in Kenya who were 9,585. The Yamane‘s formula was used to determine the sample size from population within each stratum and this brought the sample size to 121 respondents. Questionnaires were the main data collection instrument that were used by the researcher. Descriptive analysis was used in the data analysis and reporting of results. Measures of central tendencies, such as means, standard deviation, and percentages were used. Correlation analysis was used to describe the degree of relationship between the study variables.
The study showed that documentation and procedures, too many agencies involved in overall export inspection and certification in the region, escort of all sensitive and hazardous products through the territory of each East Africa Community (EAC) transit country, and verification of transit cargo were a challenge. It also showed that lack of harmonization in working hours at the border posts, delays at weighbridges, multiple police road blocks and mobile control, prohibition on transportation of locally produced goods, and EAC transit licenses for goods were a challenge for exporters. The study showed that truck entrance fees and grace period, business registration, use of immigration and visa procedures, poor information dissemination across the East Africa community, language barrier, and insecurity/ highway crimes/loss of goods at the container freight stations were all non-tariff barriers to trade in EAC.
The study showed that technical Barriers to Trade in terms of technical requirements, voluntary standards and conformity assessment procedures affect trade. The study showed that exporters in Kenya faced institutional barriers to Kenya’s trade in the EAC. The study showed that various Kenyan ministries, departments and parastatals were the institutional barriers to trade, and that KRA was responsible for the enforcement and management of the customs laws and the administration of common external tariffs hence causing TBT. The study showed that application of numerous certification and conformity assessments, and the procedure for obtaining the certificate of origin being cumbersome and lengthy were a barrier to trade.
The study showed that some mitigation procedures for minimizing the impact of trade barriers would include: harmonizing product standards and developing mutual recognition of standards across member countries, carrying out verification of information on NTBs, prioritizing products, developing specific work programs, and carrying out a sector-based approach strategy that deals with issues in specific economic and politic sectors. Other mitigation strategies would include: enhancing exchange of information and views on a range of active NTB elimination programs/projects, establishing a communication network between NTB focal points, and establishing appropriate procedures for identifying and eliminating NTBs.
The study concludes that documentation and procedures, too many agencies involved in overall export inspection and certification in the region, escort of all sensitive and hazardous products through the territory of each EAC transit country, verification of transit cargo, and lack of harmonization in working hours at the border posts. The study concludes that some mitigation procedures for minimizing the impact of trade barriers would include: harmonizing product standards and developing mutual recognition of standards across member countries, carrying out verification of information on NTBs, prioritizing products, developing specific work programs, and carrying out a sector-based approach strategy that deals with issues in specific economic and politic sectors.
The study recommends that existing advance ruling mechanisms in various boarders and countries be classified according to the national customs tariff and verification of the origin of goods declared for preferential treatment. All parties could also introduce an advance ruling mechanism to provide information on the method that will be applied for customs valuation