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Effects of Demand Side Factors on Access to External Finance by Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya
Full text link Purpose - This paper investigates how demand-side factors affect access to external finance by small and medium manufacturing enterprises (SMMEs) in Nairobi, Kenya. The demand-side factors considered in the study are firm characteristics, financial management practices and entrepreneur characteristics. Methodology - The study employs an exploratory survey design utilizing quantitative methods in data collection and analysis. Data is analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Logistic regression is used to test the relationship between demand-side factors and access to external finance because of the dichotomous nature of the dependent variable. Findings – The study establishes that some of the demand-side factors significantly influence access to external finance. These factors include variations in entrepreneur’s networks, firm growth and earnings volatility which explain variations in odds of access to external finance by 39.9 percent for networks and 45.8 percent for earnings volatility and firm growth. Implications – To minimize SMMEs financial constraints, social networking amongst entrepreneurs, firm growth and stabilized earning should be prioritized by management and policy makers. Though ethnic orientation influences the odds of access to external finance, policy efforts should be put in place to ensure efficiency in external financing markets so that entrepreneurs are not disenfranchised on this basis. Value - The study recommends establishment and support of sustainable social networks that guarantee enterprise growth given that firm growth also influence odds of access to external finance. Further studies should probe the significance of good financial management practices on odds of access to external finance in diverse settings and industries
Enterprise Risk Management Strategies and Performance of ChristianBased Hospitality Businesses: An empirical overview
Full text linkThis study intended to determine the relationship between Enterprise Risk Management Strategies (ERMS) as the independent variable, and performance as thedependent variable on the composite non-financial performance indicators andspecific financial indicators of Return on Assets (ROA) and Revenue per AvailableRoom (RevPar). The context of the study was the Christian-Based hospitalityBusinesses in Kenya. Three Null Hypotheses were formulated to test the relationshipsof the study variables with a significance level of p<0.05. A positivistic philosophyusing descriptive cross-sectional survey design on a population of 76 Christian-basedhospitality businesses in Kenya was adopted. The results of the study show that theNull Hypotheses 1 (Ho), on the effect of ERMS on composite performance wasrejected while hypotheses (Ho1(a)1(b)), (Ho), which tested the relationship betweenERMS and ROA and RevPar respectively were accepted. This concludes that ERMShave a significant relationship with composite performance while ERMS have nosignificant relationship with the financial indicators of ROA and RevPar. Thediagnostic tests showed normal autocorrelation between study variables with DW testranging between 1.5 and 2.5; Normality test showed normal distribution of studyvariables; homoscedasticity exists for all hypothesis while collinearity can be seen inhypothesis (Ho1(a)), (Ho1(b)) and (Ho). 1(c)1(c
Immune-mediated Anti-inflammatory Activity of Root Bark Extracts of Calotropis procera (Ait) R.Br. in Rodents
Full text linkBackground: The root bark of Calotropis procera has been reported to be a part of herbal remedies for the management of allergic diseases like asthma. However, there is paucity of data on its anti-inflammatory activity in allergic disorders. Objectives: This study is aimed to investigate the immune mediated anti-inflammatory activity of root bark extracts of Calotropis procera in rats. Materials and Methods: Aqueous and methanol root bark extracts of Calotropis Procera were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and their oral median lethal doses were estimated in rats. The aqueous and methanol root bark extracts were investigated for anti-allergic activity using carageenan-induced leucocytosis (100 and 200 mg/kg doses) and egg albumin induced passive paw anaphylaxis (250 and 350 mg/kg doses) test in rats. Results: The oral median lethal doses of both extracts were found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg in wistar rats. Both extracts were found to contain alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and triterpenes. Both extracts significantly (p˂0.001) decreased leucocyte count in carrageenan induced leucocytosis test at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg, with both aqueous and methanol extracts exhibiting the same level of decrease in leucocyte count. Equally, there was a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in paw size at 250 mg/kg and 350 mg/kg in egg albumin-induced passive paw anaphylaxis compared to the peak increase for both standard and test groups, but with the aqueous extract exhibiting a greater level of decrease in paw size than methanol extract. Conclusion: The aqueous and methanol root bark extracts of Calotropis procera possesses Anti-inflammatory activity in in vivo anti-allergic tests on animal models, thus support the folkloric use of the plant in inflammatory and allergic conditions including asthma. Key words: Calotropis procera; Anti-inflammatory; Allergy; Carrageenan; Egg albumin
Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities of Solenostemon monostachyus P. Beauv (Lamiaceae) leaf extract
Full text linkBackground: Solenostemon monostachyus P. Beauv (family Lamiaceae), a medicinal herb in West and Central Africa, is ethnomedically employed as an antidote for poison and for the treatment of different diseases and ailments. Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects of S. monostachyus leaf extract against paracetamol- induced liver and kidney injuries in rats. Methodology: Hepato-renoprotective effects of S. monostachyus ethanol leaf extract was evaluated against paracetamol- induced liver and kidney injuries in rats. The liver protective property of the ethanol leaf extract (75-225 mg/kg) was investigated by the assessment of liver function parameters, liver antioxidant enzymes and histopathology, while the renoprotective property was evaluated by the assessment of some kidney function parameters, kidney antioxidant enzymes and histopathology. Silymarin (100mg/kg) was used as positive control. Results : The leaf extract exerted significant (p<0.05 – 0.001) dose-dependent decreases in elevated levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP), total cholesterol, direct and total bilirubin as well as increases in serum levels of total protein, albumin and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) and GSH. Histopathological study of the liver sections of extract and silymarin-treated rats revealed reductions in the pathological features compared to the paracetamol- treated animals. Leaf extract pre-treatment also resulted in significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent decreases in increased levels of serum creatinine and urea without affecting the electrolytes levels. Histopathology of the kidney sections of extract and silymarin- treated rats showed decreases in the pathological features compared to the control group. The chemical pathological results in both liver and kidney agreed with histopathological observations indicating pronouced hepatoprotective and renoprotective effect of the leaf extract of S. monostachyus. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the leaf extract of S. monostachyus has the potentials to protect the liver and kidney against injury which may be due to its antioxidant activity of its constituents and this can be employed in the management of liver and kidney diseases. Keywords: Solenostemon monostachyus, medicinal plant, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, antioxidant
Chronic toxicity evaluation of ethanolic stem bark extract of Randia (Xeromphis) nilotica Stapf. (Rubiaceae) in Wistar rats
Full text linkBackground: Randia nilotica is known in northern Nigeria as Gial-goti, but has also been reported to be widespread in Sudan and India. The plant is used traditionally for its ethno-medicinal claims in managing mental-illnesses, convulsion or epilepsy, jaundice, infertility, snake bites and other ailments. The leaf, root and stem bark of the plant had been scientifically validated for CNS depressant activity and the stembark is particularly used for CNS-related disorders. However, information related to the toxicity potential of the plant is not available. Objective: To investigate the effect of 90-days administration of ethanol stem-bark extract of the plant on some physiological-biomarkers and vital-organs’ histology. Methods: Oral median-lethal dose (LD50) estimated from acute-toxicity test and extract doses of 250, 500, 1000mg/kg for 3-groups of 20-rats each and normal-saline control group were used. The rats were euthanized on the 90th-day following daily oral treatments per-body-weight. Blood-samples in plain and anticoagulated (EDTA) sample-bottles for biochemical and haematological analyses were collected from each group and vital-organs isolated, weighed and kept in fixatives for histo-analyses. Result: The oral acute extract-administration up to 5000mg/kg caused no observable toxic-sign or mortality. PCV, Hb and RBC counts decreased significantly at 500 and 1000mg/kg, but only at 1000mg/kg for MCV, with no significant changes in other haematological-indices. Significant increase in blood-urea-nitrogen at all test-doses and in high-density lipoprotein at 250mg/kg occurred. Brain-weight was significantly decreased and all organs histologically showed blood-vessels congestion and inflammatory-cells’ infiltration, in addition to dose-dependent neuronal-degeneration and cerebral-oedema in brain, lymphocytes’ depletion in spleen, necrositic-hepatocytes, myocardial-haemorrhage with oedematous-fragmentations and glomerular-atrophy, haemorrhage, tubular-necrosis, glomerular hypercellular-vacuolation and Bowman’s-capsule adhesion to parietal surface. Conclusion: Haematological, biochemical and histological analysis revealed evidence of chronic toxicity to various major organ systems. In addition to dose, duration of use also contributes to the toxic effects of the plant. Key-words: Randia-nilotica, stem-bark, ethanol extract, chronic-toxicity, rat
Women’s Organizations and Collective Action in Kenya: Opportunities and Challenges - The Case of the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization
Full text linkThis paper presents an analysis of women's organizations in Kenya and looks into their opportunities and challenges, using the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) as a case study. It analyses the development of women’s organizations in Kenya and how they have impacted on the wider women’s political empowerment. It also traces MYWO's historical origins and development, its metamorphosis and the impact it has had on women’s struggles for equality and participation in all areas of national development. Maendeleo's role in galvanizing women around different agendas in the areas of political empowerment has also been examined and an analysis of the challenges and opportunities that it has faced as a women’s rights organization has been done. The paper is divided into four sections. Section 1 focuses on the development of women’s organizations in Kenya and their impact on women’s political empowerment. Section 2 is on MYWO’s struggles to carve its niche and sustain the momentum in the context of the social political dynamics in Kenya, giving a brief history of MYWO and its metamorphosis from its inception during the colonial period to the post-independence developments up to and including the struggle for a democratic and women friendly environment through the Constitution review process. Section 3 explores MYWO’s role in galvanizing women’s agenda for political participation in the Second Liberation and clamour for a new Constitution. Section 4 looks at MYWO as a model for women’s leadership. The Case study method was used as well as library search. A review of published literature, including books, journal articles, reports, the Hansard, Court documents and the Organizations’ reports and documents as well as other in-house and historical documents were also perused. The (African) Feminist Political Theory was used to analyse the Organization and its vision, environment, challenges and opportunities. The paper finds that for the most part of its existence, MYWO has not been an independent organization as it was conceived by government staff as a strategy for women's support by the government and as an espionage mechanism through which the colonial government could gather information on the Mau Mau movement (Chitere, 1988). Most of the funding and technical support has come from the government, putting the Organization directly under its patronage. To its credit, MYWO does indeed have a national network which has served as a conduit for women's agenda in important undertakings such as the Constitution making process. The research finds that MYWO has initiated minimal programmes on its own. It has mostly been used by others, including by KANU, to carry out their agenda and mobilize women for political ends. Indeed, MYWO has had a daunting task trying to shed its relationship with successive governments - something that has greatly worked against it. Key Words: Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization, women's organizations, constitution
Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Grading of Evidence on the Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Neurosurgical Site Infections
Full text linkBackground: Antimicrobial prophylaxis is crucial for neurosurgical procedures, even though they are clean procedures. Observational studies have shown the effectiveness of different antibiotics in preventing neurosurgical site infections, but there remains paucity of systematic reviews and meta-analyses which have assessed their effectiveness in East Africa. Objectives: To generate and appraise the quality of evidence that would inform antimicrobial prophylaxis in neurosurgery. Methodology: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted between October 2014 and December 2015. Studies that involved the administration of systemic antibiotics for prophylaxis, use of antibiotic impregnated shunt catheters among adult patients aged over 18 years were included and subjected to abstract, title and full text screening. A meta-analysis was carried out using RevMan (Review Manager) version 5 software. The quality of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE system. Results: One systematic review of randomized controlled trials (n=17) and 11 randomised controlled trials were included in the study. From the first meta-analysis, use of systemic antibiotics demonstrated an overall protective effect of 52% from development of surgical site infections [OR 0.48 (95% CI 0.30, 0.79)]. In the second meta-analysis, the use of antibiotic impregnated shunt catheters was associated with a higher risk of mortality compared to use of the standard shunt [(OR 1.47(95% CI 0.82, 2.62)]. Following evaluation of quality of evidence, in the antibiotics versus placebo arm, the quality of evidence was moderate, while that for antimicrobial impregnated shunts was very low. Conclusion: Antimicrobial prophylaxis using systemic antibiotics or antimicrobial impregnated shunts is effective in preventing neurosurgical site infections. Antimicrobial impregnated shunts are too expensive for our study population. Key words: systematic review, meta-analysis, antimicrobial prophylaxi
Evaluation of Methanol Stem-bark Extract of Ximenia americana Linn (Olacaceae) for Phytoconstituents and Gastroprotection in Rats
Full text linkBackground: The Hausa/Fulanis in northern Nigeria and other tribal-communities use different parts of Ximenia americana for several ailments such as malaria, infectious diseases, fever and constipation with the stem-bark used for gastric ulcers. The plant is one of eight species of Olacaceae family that grows mostly in the tropical countries and has common names as sour or monkey plum, known in the Northern part of Nigeria as ‘Tsada’, in Eastern part as ‘Anya Nwona’ and in Western part as ‘Igo’. The study was an attempt to validate the purported ethnomedicinal use of the stem-bark of the plant in gastric ulcer. Objective: This study investigated the phytochemical constituents of stem-bark extract and its gastro-protective potential. Methods: Lorke’s acute toxicity-test for oral median lethal-dose (LD50) estimation and preliminary phytochemical screening were conducted. The antiulcer effect was evaluated on indomethacin and ethanol induced ulcer-models using Wistar rats in two sets of 5-groups of 5 each, starved for 24h. Oral body-weight normal saline(1ml/kg), standard-drug (100mg/kg cimetidine or misoprostol) for the respective models and extract-doses (250, 500 and 1000mg/kg) administered for 30 minutes prior to body-weight 6h indomethacin ulceration or 1h absolute-ethanol(1ml) were used. Lesions and larger-diameter (≥3mm) ulcer-spots in isolated-stomachs of euthanized-rats were counted. Results: The extract contained alkaloids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, steroidal-glycosides, tannins and terpenoids and significantly (p≤0.05) and dose-dependently reduced mean ulcer-spots as with cimetidine and misoprostol. Reduction was significant only for 500 and 1000mg/kg extract-doses. Nine severe ulcer-spots in normal-control rats against 3 in 250 and 500mg/kg groups and none in the 1000mg/kg or cimetidine occurred with indomethacin ulcerogen. Severe ulcer-spots were not found with ethanol-ulcerogen even in normal-control rats. Conclusion: This study therefore, supported the folkloric use of Ximenia americana stembark in ulcer management. Keywords: Ximenia americana, gastric-ulcer, indomethacin, ethanol, anti-ulcer, gastroprotectio
EFFECT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE EFFECTIVENESS AND AUDIT EVALUATION ON AUDIT QUALITY: A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW
Full text link Purpose - This paper focused on the critical review of literature on the effects of audit committee effectiveness and audit evaluation on audit quality and any research gaps in the area of audit quality and recommends any for future research. Methodology – This is was a review of literature on audit committee effectiveness, audit evaluation and audit quality. Findings – The study finds that audit committee effectiveness has a major effect on the audit quality in organizations. In addition, variations in different research methodologies used in the literature explain the inconsistencies in research findings by academicians. Further the study finds that independence of the audit committee, qualification of its members as reflected on the knowledge and expertise and the size of the committee is believed to improve the financial reporting quality which results in high audit quality. Implication – The findings imply that there is no clearly agreeable audit quality framework and how audit committee effectiveness affects audit quality. Value – The study recommends a further investigation on the effect of audit committee qualification on audit quality; the link between audit quality framework, audit quality indicators and audit quality using longitudinal and correlation approaches. The critical literature review points at a number of significant drivers of audit quality which are not fully identified in the expert role of audit committee including the roles of key players in the financial reporting chain viewed as improving financial reporting quality.