University of Nairobi Journal Systems
Not a member yet
1034 research outputs found
Sort by
In vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of extracts of selected Kenyan medicinal plants
Get PDFBackground: Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in the world. It remains a major public health problem in Africa and is responsible for the annual death of over one million children below the age of five years. The Plasmodium falciparum is the most widespread etiological agent for human malaria and has become increasingly resistant to standard antimalarial drugs. Therefore, this necessitates a continuous effort to search for new drugs, particularly with novel modes of action. The medicinal plants have invariably been a rich source for new drugs and some antimalarial drugs in use today (quinine and artemisinin) were either obtained from plants or developed using their chemical structures as templates. Objective: The aim of the study was to screen seven selected medicinal plants from Kenya for antimalarial activity. Materials and methods: Twenty one (21) extracts from seven plants: C. myricoides, C. abyssinica, A. racemosus, A. remota, C. edulis, S. princeae and L. calostachys were selected for in vitro antimalarial screening out of which 10 extracts with good activity in vitro were tested further in a mouse model. In vitro antiplasmodial testing was done by measuring ability of the test sample to inhibit the incorporation of radio-labelled hypoxanthine into the malaria parasite. In vivo bioassay was done in mice using Peter’s 4-days suppressive test. Results: From the results achieved, 10 out of the 21 extracts tested, exhibited antiplasmodial activity, with IC50 values ranging from 6.93μg/ml to 88.4μg/ml. when tested in vivo one of the extracts had high activity with chemosuppression of 82.17%, while the rest ranged between 39.93% and 61.86%. Conclusions: The activities observed especially with the methanol extracts indicate that these plants deserve to be investigated further as potential antimalarial agents. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Extracts, Antiplasmodial activit
On the complexification of Minkowski spacetime
Get PDFIt is well known that any two arbitrary observers S and S movingrelative to each other with a speed v < c in isotropic space see a 4-dimensional real spacetime. We demonstrate that the two observersshould naturally see the spacetime as a complexified 4-dimensionalmanifold described by the Kähler manifold commonly studied in stringtheory. Such a complex spacetime has, on large scales, beendemonstrated to be a natural consequence of special relativity whenquantum effects are included in relativistic mechanics and are thus ofmuch significance in quantum gravity, quantum super string theory,particle physics and cosmolog
Barriers Faced By Women-Owned Businesses: Perspectives of Women from East African Community
Get PDFEqual access to economic opportunities by both women and men contributes to better development outcomes. Globally, women enterprises comprise about a third of all enterprises and contribute significantly to employment generation and development. The same is true for the Partner States of the East African Community (EAC) countries of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda e.g. in Kenya, Women account for about 56 percent of all entrepreneurs in the country. Most of the businesses in the EAC region remain largely informal, with lower earnings and no social security. For a long time, gender inequality has remained a global development challenge, with gender equality being a development objective itself and also a means to achieve the equitable and sustainable development as well. The World Economic Forum (WEF, 2012) Gender Gap Index (GGI), which measures countries gender-based gaps in access to resources and opportunities shows that EAC countries have some catch up to do with respect to equal access to resources and opportunities for both women and men (Table 1). The gender gap shows the ratio of women to men and thus the larger the indicator score (given in percentage), the lower the gap between men and women in the specific indicator
Food Security Score for Kenya
Get PDFArticle 43, Section (1)(c) of the Bill of Rights of the Kenya Constitution (2010) states that: “Every person has the right to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality. To monitor progress and targeting interventions towards realization of this goal, an easyto-use, but scientifically sound measure of food security is required.” The objective of this paper is to construct such measure that will subsequently constitute a Food Security Score (henceforth, FSS) for Kenya. This Food Security Score will enable the classification of the food security status of each county in the country. This FSS study was nested within a crosssectional baseline study conducted by the African Women’s Studies Centre (AWSC). The study had a representative sample of 4,129 households drawn from 20 randomly selected counties within six of Kenya’s Agro-ecological zones. The food security score study consulted one adult respondent in each household on the experiences, practices and behaviours of household members that have a bearing on food insecurity, including concerns such as: (a) not having enough food to feed the entire household; (b) cutting back on meal rations because of insufficient amounts of food stuffs; (c) lack of resources to buy food, and (d) going to bed hungry because of an absence of food to feed the household. Out of the 4129 households surveyed, 4060 responded to all four key questions selected to compute the FSS for Kenya. The results of the study revealed that whereas 67 percent of Kenyan households are food secure, 30 percent are food insecure, meaning that they lack access to enough food to sustain an active, healthy life for all members of their households. From the category of the food insecure group, a total of 9 percent are chronically food insecure. Based on this FSS, food security varied significantly amongst various counties and agro ecological zones. Agro-ecological zone (p-value<0.001) and county (p-value<0.001) are significantly associated with food security. Counties with higher rates of food insecurity than the nationally defined levels are mainly found in the coastal lowlands, inland lowlands and upper midlands agro-ecological zones. In line with the Constitution of Kenya (2010), efforts towards achieving food security need to focus on ensuring that all Kenyans are food secure. Although the two variables relating to the specific agro-ecological zones and counties significantly impact on food security in Kenya, these are not amenable to interventions. Hence, they can be used to target the most vulnerable regions and monitor improvements after implementing appropriate interventions to ameliorate food security. However, further research is recommended to validate the FSS regionally and internationally in order to improve its universality of interpretation
Validating Women’s Knowledge And Experiences: A Case Study of Women’s Experiences and Food Security in Kenya
Get PDFThis paper aims at demonstrating that women’s experiences and knowledge about food security are critical in order to create all inclusive and more comprehensive policies not only in food security but also in other areas of importance as well. The paper is guided by a feminist theoretical framework that sees women as the starting point. It further argues that women’s knowledge and experiences have remained invisible and underutilized by policy makers and development workers. The paper is also guided by an appreciation of the fact that research methods have themselves been products of a male knowledge development process, and therefore, have enhanced exclusion and marginalization of women’s perspectives. The desire, therefore, to identify research methods that allow researchers to access women’s knowledge is a critical factor in this research which chose to use women friendly methodologies such as oral testimonies and focus group discussions that allow women to tell their story in the way they know best
Introduction - Chief Editor
No full textNot many people in Kenya will openly identify themselves as being feminists. Indeed, the terms ‘feminism’ or ‘feminist’ in many African audiences evoke negative emotions in the minds of many with the pro-feminist running the risk of being shunned and isolated. Feminists are seen as people who behave differently and are in most instances caricatured in the constructed images depicting feminists. Not surprisingly therefore, feminism remains an emotive term even in academic institutions and generates much debate concerning its usefulness. When the word is used even in curricula, it almost always attracts a negative comment on the usefulness of the term and whether the more appropriate terminology to use is gender. There are those who hold that feminism is un-African and tailored to western societie
Corporate Visual Identity Systems and Brand Performance Of Kenyan Universities
Get PDFThere is a heightened interest towards corporate identity with organisations realising that it is indispensable if they wish to create a competitive advantage in the global environment in which they are operating in. Globalization of the higher education sector implies that Kenyan universities need to market themselves in a climate of competition that is not only local but global. They have to attract high quality students and academic staff at an international level hence competition is no longer limited within national borders.Faced with competition, universities are developing strategies for competitiveness and survival such as management of corporate visual identity systems in order to positively impact on their corporate image and performance.This study investigated the relationship between corporate visual identity systems (CVIS) and brand performance of Kenyan Universities. Data were collected from the universities’ corporate affairs or public relations managers or their equivalent as the key informants using a semi structured questionnaire. The results of the study revealed direct effect of corporate visual identity systems on brand performance to be statistically significant. The beta coefficient was 0.447 and this was highly statistically significant (p-value=.000).This variable explained 41.1% of the variation in brandperformance. The empirical finding supports the notion that corporate visual identity systems drive brand performance. Consequently, by investing in brand marketing activities that span all the corporate visual identity facets, universities should experience enhanced brand performance..The study has made contribution to theory, policy andpractice in corporate visual identity systems specifically in the higher education sector. The study was limited to Kenyan universities. Replication of the study with all universities being included could serve as a useful reference for future research. Future studies could also focus on other sectors other than the higher education sector.Key Words: Corporate Visual Identity Systems , Organizations, Brand Performanc
Organochlorine pesticide residue levels in soil from the Nyando River Catchment, Kenya
Get PDFSoil samples were collected from six locations representative of the Nyando River catchment area of the Lake Victoria over a period of two years. Sampling was done four times in the year in February, May, September and December 2005 and 2006 in farms where maize, tea, sugar cane, coffee, rice and vegetables have been grown over the years. This coincided with the effects of different seasons and farming activities on residue levels of the pesticides in use. The objective was to investigate levels and distribution of organochlorine pesticides that have either been banned or are restricted for use in Kenya. Organochlorine pesticides investigated were DDT, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, endrin, endosulfan (both α- and β- isomers and endosulfan sulphate), the sum is called “total” or Σendosulfan and methoxychlor. Prior to the ban or restriction in use, these pesticides had found wide applications in public health for control of disease vectors and in agriculture for control of crop pests. The analysis revealed presence of all the targeted pesticides with the highest mean concentrations for methoxychlor 138.97±1.517 μg/kg, Σendosulfan (30.267±2.098μg/kg), aldrin (18.317±0.276 μg/kg), respectively. The results show the presence of these pesticides in soils in the basin and this could be impacting negatively on the ecosystem health of the area
The Significance of Faith Based Enterprises in the Dual Roles of Social Good and Economic Development in Kenya
Get PDFThis paper seeks to investigate the impact of Faith based enterprises in their dual role of building social good and economic development in Kenya. A review of the literature reveals the absence of a coherent conceptual framework onthe success or failure of these enterprises. From the twenty-four published articles reviewed, forming the basis of the paper, it was evident that the impact of faith based enterprises extends beyond what is conceptualized as social enterprise across different faiths. Empirical studies identify application of entrepreneurial factors of innovativeness, proactiveness and risk taking as central to the performance and sustainability of social enterprises, thus spurring the growth of social entrepreneurship. The crucial dilemma to social entrepreneurship remains how to measure its performance due to the non-quantifiabilityof some of its social value deliverables. The paper concludes by suggesting various variables namely: entrepreneurial orientation factors, environment (internal and external) factors and their relationships from the literature as a source for further research. This would enrich the understanding of social entrepreneurship and its anecdotes of the performance of Faith based organizations for social value deliveries, and economic development of communities. Some of the practical policy implications include: development of a public private partnership to solve some of cross cutting social problems through enterprises;and building of linkages with innovation centers to enhance social enterprise activities. Implications for Faith based entrepreneurship theory and management practice are discussed.Key Words: Faith based enterprises, Social Entrepreneurship, Social good, Innovation,Faith, Proactiveness, and Economic Developmen
Linkage Dynamics between Small and Large firms in Kenya
Get PDFThis paper is concerned with small enterprise development in developing countries, focusing on the question of the potential for using linkages with large enterprises as part of a strategy for the development of the small business sector. The paper will review existing literature and policy experience on this topic, whilst also reporting some results from a longitudinal pilot investigation, undertaken in Kenya in 2005 and in 2014. The paper will draw on empirical evidence from a longitudinal pilot investigation in Kenya. At least five large firms from different industries were purposively selected and a series of qualitative interviews conducted in 2005 and in 2014 to determine: 1) their experiences in collaborating with micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and their assessment ofthe potential for doing so in the future; (2) groups of MSEs that they work with; 3) how they built the relationships and (4) whether or not the relationship has worked and the factors influencing this, fromtheir perspective. The potential benefits of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to host economies is summarised here and five main types of linkage and spillover effects, by which MNCs can affect the development of businesses in the host economy are identified: Backward linkages with suppliers, which can range from arms length market transactions to deep, long-term inter-firm relationships; Forward linkages with customers, such as marketing outlets, which may be outsourced, such as petrol stations and restaurant chains; Linkages with competitors, since foreign investors may set new standards, which local firms may seek to compete with; Linkages with technology partners, since some MNCs may initiate common projects with indigenous SME partners, which are an important potential source of technology and know-how for local firms; Other spillover effects, including demonstration effects, as inward investors demonstrate new and better ways of doing things to local firms and human capital spillovers,when, for example, trained personnel leave the inward investor to work for a local enterprise and/or set up their own business. The evidence of positive spillovers, where it exists, is strongest in the case of backward linkages, with local suppliers in developing countries. Positive benefits stem from the information, technical assistance and training provided by MNCs to help raise the quality of supplier's products and services. More generally, empirical evidence suggests that the positive spillover effectsfrom FDI do not necessarily occur in practice, influenced by the specific conditions pertaining in the host country as well as the rationale for the foreign company making the investment. The implications for policy will be considered, paying attention to the potential role of national governments, in both developing and developed countries, as well as international development agencies.Whilst this is not a new topic, a number of recent trends suggest there may be greater scope for developing such linkages inthe future than in the past. These include the emergence of new sources of FDI in developing and emerging economies themselves, increasing signs of SMEs internationalising their operations rather than simply exporting from their domestic base, as well as a continued increase in outsourcing byMNCs.Key Words: FDI; SME; Developing Economies, Impact of MNCs on SMEs, SME Linkages