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Work Life Balance Practices Adopted In Horticultural Farms In Kenya
No full textOrganisations in modern day competitive world can only perform at optimal levels if eachemployee is committed to the organisation's objectives and works as an effective teammember. An inability to create a balance between work and personal life could affectemployees’ effectiveness and productivity in the workplace. As the nature of the workforcecontinues to diversify, it will become increasingly important for organizations to considerall the factors influencing their employees’ ability to balance work and non-workcommitments, and to find a way of incorporating them into their operating policies. Theobjective of this study was to investigate the extent to which work life balance practices areadopted by horticultural farms in Kenya. The study adopted a census research design. Theresults of the study indicate that horticultural farms in Kenya have adopted practicesrelating to time and to the job to a great extent while practices relating to the place and tothe benefits have been adopted to a moderate extent only. The study recommends thatgreater attention should be paid to practices relating to the job as well as benefits as theyare the ones with the lower ratings than practices relating to time and place. In particular,the farms should introduce employee assistance programs and study leave in order toempower the employees to make better use of the other practices they have been provided.Further, the farms should consider introducing flexible working hours and increased workautonomy so that the employee can schedule their work in a manner that allows them toattend to non work matters during off peak working hours/seasons
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteria that cause Wound Sepsis in the Paediatric Surgical Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital
No full textBackground: Despite improvement in the practice of medicine and attempts to provide aseptic conditions in the surgical wards, the incidence of wound infection is increasing. Management of wound infection remains a challenge in the surgical areas with the increasing resistance to antimicrobials. Local bacterial sensitivity data is therefore an important guide for antibiotic selection. Objective: To determine the aetiology and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of bacteria that cause wound sepsis in the paediatric surgical wards at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Methodology: A cross- sectional study was carried out on 150 paediatric patients admitted in the surgical wards from mid April 2014 to mid June, 2014. The patients were selected by convenient sampling. Data was abstracted from patient files and specimens from the infected wounds were identified and analyzed for antibiotic susceptibility. Results: The prevalence of wound infection was 82%. Staphylococcus aureus (52.7%) was the most prevalent infective agent followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.3%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most resistant organism with susceptibility of less than 50% to most drugs. About 50.6% of the Staphylococcus isolates were methicillin resistant. Streptococcus was less resistant with more than 80% susceptibility to all tested drugs except cefuroxime. Escherichia coli were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. All gram negative bacteria were highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin with the following susceptibilities: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (92.3%), Proteus mirabilis (71.4%) and others 100%. Imipenem which is a new and relatively expensive monobactam demonstrated reduced activity with the following susceptibilities: Staphylococcus aureus (38%), Streptococcus (80%) and all the gram negative bacteria (70%). Conclusion: The most common causative agent was Staphylococcus aureus and less than 50% of the isolates were susceptible to all tested antibiotics. Key words: Antibiotic, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic susceptibility, wound infection
Antimicrobial Properties of Some Medicinal Plants of the Luo Community of Kenya
Get PDFBackground: The Luo community of Kenya rely mostly on ethno-medicine to manage human ailments. This study was set to survey, record and report the medicinal plant species they use to manage infectious conditions. Objective of this study was to screen the plants used by this community to treat microbial infections, to demonstrate their in-vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities. Methodology: Eight plants namely Lannea stuhlmanii, Carissa edulis, Combretum fragrans, Conyza sumatrensis, Ormocarpum trichocarpum, Sida cuneifolia, Plumbago zeylanica, and Rhoicissus revoilii, used by the Luo for treatment of microbial infections, were studied. Observations and semi-structured interviews were used to gather ethno-botanical data for each plant. About 3 kg of suitable specimens were harvested, with leaves pressed and preserved for identification at University of Nairobi’s Department of Botany Herbarium. Voucher specimens were also deposited at the University’s School of Pharmacy Herbarium and excess material powdered and kept dry. The pressed specimens were dried at 20 0C to 25 0C using plant blower. Their ethanolic extracts were screened for their antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus pumulus. Results: Extracts from Conyza sumatrensis, C. fragrans, C. edulis, S. cuneifolia, R. revoilii and leaf C. sumatrensis had good activity against E. coli. Activity against B. pumulus was observed in all extracts except those of L. stuhlmanii bark and R. revoilii tubers. Good activity against S. aureus was observed with C. fragrans, S. cuneifolia and L. stuhlmanii. Rhoicissus revoilii, L. stuhlmanii, C. fragrans and C. edulis exhibited good antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Conclusion: This work partially supports the traditional antimicrobial use of the various plants, and it is hoped that the results will form the basis for further research that could lead to isolation and/or development of antibacterial and antifungal medicines for use in primary health care. The results also confirm that plants are a potential source of antimicrobial compounds. Key words: Luo; Antimicrobial; Ethanolic extracts; screenin
Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of selected medicinal plants found in Nandi County, Kenya
Get PDFBackground: Medicinal plants are widely used by the local people to treat various human diseases cause by drug resistant microorganisms. For instance, Kigelia Africana fruits and barks are boiled in water and taken orally as a laxative in treating stomach ailments, Ekebergia capensis bark is boiled in water and use for the control of gonorrhea and tuberculosis while Fagaropsis angolensis stem bark is used to treat pneumonia, back ache and joins. The efficacy and safety of most of these plants has not been determined. Objective: The present study seeks to determine antimicrobial activities and cytotoxicity of the selected medicinal plants indicated above, that are commonly used to treat infectious diseases. Materials and Methods: Fresh plants were collected from the field; air dried ground and extracted using acetone and water. The extracts were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities using Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysentriae, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Microsporum gypseum and Trychophyton mentagrophytes. The methods were disc diffusion and broth dilution methods while in vitro cytotoxicity test was carried out following a modified rapid calorimetric assay, using actively dividing sub-confluent Vero E6 cells. Results: In disc diffusion assay, water extracts of E. capensis were the most active (14.7 mm) while those of Fagaropsis angolensis were the least (6.0 mm) against S. aureus. Acetone extracts of E. capensis and K. Africana had a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of 3.125 mg/ml and 6.25 mg/ml respectively and were bactericidal. Cytotoxicity showed that K. africana was not cytotoxic against Vero cell lines while acetone extracts of E. capensis was moderately toxic with a CC 50(µg/ml) of 12.5. Conclusion: These results support the use of the plants in the traditional medicine as antimicrobials and they can be exploited for novel drugs. Key words: Antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, Kigelia africana, Ekebergia capensis, Fagaropsis angolensi
Women and Political Governance in Africa: A Feminist Perspective
Get PDFThe centrality of gender equality and equitable participation in governance and development agendas of all countries, has been affirmed by numerous international instruments, including the conventions on: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) the Political Rights of Women (1952); Economic, Social and Cultural rights (1966); Civic and Political Rights (1966); CEDAW (1976); Beijing Platform of Action(1995); Security Council Resolution 1325(2000) and Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa(2005). During the four decades since the declaration of the UN Decade for women(1975-1985), African governments have experimented with a variety of gender focused structures and institutions- machineries, commissions, gender ministries, departments and gender desks- all set up to promote women’s rights empowerment and welfare, minimal progress has been made. Instead, it is becoming increasingly clear that democratic culture, values and norms that can advance gender equality and social justice are lacking, and that more transformational approaches are required to ensure political accountability and responsiveness to women and other disadvantaged groups. It is also becoming increasingly clear that women’s mere presence in political institutions does not necessarily translate into power and influence in political governance. As the cases of Rwanda, South Africa, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi demonstrate, the emerging challenge in respect to women’s participation in formal (State) political governance is being in power but without having and/or exercising power. On the other hand, as the Kenyan case demonstrates, women have learnt to utilize political spaces outside the State as alternative avenues of participating in governance. The failure of various national gender machineries and various “gender mainstreaming” experiments with women’s needs over the last four decades, is an indication that there persists unresolved structural impediments in the governance system, that are impervious, unresponsive and tend to block gender equality and democratic justice initiatives. And yet, as Nerd (2011) cautions: Women’s lack of decision-making power, in both public and private spheres, amounts to a violation of the globally recognized principles of justice, equality and freedom and raises questions about the validity of the African State’s claim to democratic governance. Responsive and accountable forms of governance demand women’s effective participation and representation. This study seeks to examine and analyze the different ways in which African women leaders in their respective capacities in civil society, political parties and in government/State institutions have experienced, participated and impacted on Political governance; as well as the various social-cultural, economic and political contexts and experiences that have informed and shaped that participation. Using a feminist a perspective, this paper underscores women’s agency but also notes the persisting power of patriarchal values and norms that privilege the male gender on matters of governance in general and political governance in particular. Patriarchy remains embedded in most institutions, both private and public, and constitutes a major impediment to women’s access and effective participation within formal political institutions (parliaments, the executive and political parties) and without (for instance, in civic society groups). Using examples from selected African countries (but with a greater focus on Kenya), the paper makes the case that while historically women have engaged with governance, using different strategies and resulting in different types of impacts and specific outcomes, the overall capacity of women political leaders to access and influence political governance institutions remain circumscribed. In this connection, I argue that participation and impact largely depend on: the nature and pathway of access women have to formal political structures; the specific socio-cultural values that inform an individual’s woman’s perception of herself as a leader; the size of the numerical presence/physical numbers of women in political office; and the nature of the institutional norms and practices existing in governance institutions[1] [1] Cf. Phillips:1995; Hassim: 2006; Tripp:2000; Tamale: 1999; Nzomo: 2003, 2011 & 2012
A Review Of The Relationship Between Cultural Beliefs, Stereotypes And Executive Selection Outcome
Get PDFThis paper is a critical literature review of the relationships between culturalbeliefs, stereotypes and executive selection outcome. Culture refers to the values, beliefs and codes of practice that make a community. Organizational culture represent and constituent of the larger societal culture. Employees bring along with them elements of their environmental culture into the organization. The societal cultures influence the perceptions, beliefs and values of employees and find their way in the decision making process, including executive selection decisions. It is for this reason that studies of organizational culture must be donewithin the context of the larger society in which it operates. This paper identifies the study of the relationship between cultural beliefs, stereotypes and executive selection outcome as an existing gap in understanding social influences in executive selection outcome.Key Words: Cultural beliefs, executive, selection, outcome, stereotypes, relationshi
Determination of selected heavy metals in agricultural soils in Bungoma and Kakamega Counties, Western Kenya
Get PDFA study was conducted to investigate the level of heavy metals in agricultural soils in Bungoma and Kakamega counties, Western Kenya. Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr) and Zinc (Zn) were determined during the months of November 2010 (wet season) and February 2011 (dry season). Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used for analysis of the samples after wet digestion and preparation of appropriate calibration standards. 11% of the soils reported to be polluted with lead, while 97% were polluted with cadmium. Soils were found to have optimum to low levels of copper and zinc. A positive correlation of wet and dry seasons was reported
Cost of Gender Gaps In The Agricultural Sector:: The Case Of Kenya and Rwanda
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to analyse the cost of the gender gap in agriculture in both Kenya and Rwanda. Data were collected in Makuyu in Muranga County in Kenya and in Musambira in the Southern Province of Rwanda. From the descriptive statistics, the study found that there are more and bigger gender gaps in Kenya than in Rwanda. From the analysis, it has emerged that the cost to women for not using the variables considered as necessary for agricultural production was smaller as compared to the one for men. In terms of benefits for using the above inputs, men benefit more than women. Having irrigation was the only indicator that showed any significance in influencing the cost of gender gap and this could be due to the limited number of cases in the study. The information received from the qualitative data supports most of the observations made in the quantitative interviews. Although this study is based on a small sample, it still shows that gender gaps are costly to the farmers and to the economy in general. It is, therefore, important on the part of the governments of Kenya and Rwanda to put in place measures to sensitize men that gender inequality is costly and that by reducing it, both men and women benefit
Resilience In The Face Of Starvation: Coping Strategies for Food Security among Women in Kenya
Get PDFFood insecurity in Kenya has been a big challenge amongst many households. In the pursuit of family survival in situations where the family granaries are empty, women are known to bear the most responsibility in ensuring that family members do not starve to death. The key question is how they cope in such situations despite high poverty levels and marginalization in society. The framework of focus was Article 43 (1)(c) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), which states that “everybody should be free from hunger at all times, and have food of acceptable quality”. Nevertheless, despite this recognition, more than 10 million Kenyans continue to experience chronic hunger –some to the point of starvation and death, particularly in the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. This paper, therefore, seeks to examine the coping strategies adopted by women when threatened by food shortages. It also explores the models of resilience and adaptation to hunger amongst 597 women in 15 counties in Kenya. The data was collected by the African Women‟s Study Centre (University of Nairobi) using both quantitative and qualitative methods with a key purpose to document their experiences in food security. The results revealed that women depend on various coping strategies and it is anticipated that these findings can be used to inform future policies and programmes for interventions on food insecurit
Effects Of Design And Site Management Factors On The Completion Of Sondu-Miriu Hydropower Project In Kisumu County, Kenya
No full textInfrastructural projects are successful when competed within scheduled timeframe,allocated budget and specified quality. Delay is a critical challenge world over, leading tocost and time overruns, as well as abandonment of projects. The completion of Sondu-Miriu Hydropower project was scheduled to end in 2005, but was later revised to 2011 dueto delay, which periodical reports linked to design and site-related issues, among others.Whereas causes of project delays have attracted many studies, the effects of such delayshave not received as much attention. This study attempted to determine the effects ofdesign and site-related delays on the project’s completion. A causal-comparative design wasadopted and primary data sourced in May 2011 from 39 senior management staff ofcontractual parties. Relative Importance Index was used to determine the relativeimportance of perceived effects of design and site-related delays on the project’scompletion; while Kendell’s Coefficient of Concordance was applied to determine thedegree of agreement among participants regarding their perceived effects of delays. Thestudy found that design-related delays affected the project’s completion by necessitating reschedulingand re-sequencing of planned activities (84.6%); increasing time-related costs(84.6%); as well as extending time or accelerating works (82.1%). Besides, site-relateddelays affected the project by causing re-scheduling and re-sequencing of works (61.5%);increasing time-related costs (59.0%); as well as preventing early completion (56.4%). Thestudy recommends the need for sufficient time and budget for pre-design multi-disciplinaryconsultations, which should subject design approaches to critique, for acceptable,inspirational, durable, efficient and safe infrastructural facilities completed withinscheduled timeframe and budget. Besides, there need for sufficient timeframe fornegotiation, compensation and transfer of land ownership rights from communities tocontractors. Satisfactory compensation of affected community members is important forgalvanizing support and nurturing a sense ownership, which are crucial for timelycompletion of infrastructural projects