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Factors leading to the creation of squatters in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya
No full textThe study sought to investigate the factors leading to the development and growth of Squatter problem in Kenya with special emphasis on Rift Valley Province. One hundred and ninety six (196) squatters were interviewed on what they thought contributed to the creation of the squatter problem in Kenya. The study made use of primary data collected using questionnaire method and secondary data from earlier researches, journals and books. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Private land tenure was found to be the primary cause of Landlessness. This begets secondary causes like wife inheritance, maternal parenting, and displacement through tribal clashes, due legal processes and willful sale without consultation by spouse. Bad land laws which emanate from the establishment of private land tenure were found to be the main cause of landlessness .The research also established that the squatter is affected in many ways .The effects include poor health, lack of social amenities, inadequate food, limited access to education, social insecurity including violence against women and lack of financial securities. These issues are in line with the country's 2030 Vision and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The study concluded that landlessness was caused by bad land laws and had a great negative impact on human resource and capital. The recommendations from the study are, that the laws and policy on land should be reviewed, that programs should be put in place to assist in alleviating the squatter problem. Further research should be carried out to separate the genuine squatters from the self-imposed squatters. The possible effects of Landlessness on the general human capital could also be investigated further
Factors influencing the use of commercial paper as a debt instrument in Kenya
Get PDFHG 3741.K5 2008In many corporations, borrowing short-term money from banks is often a laborious and annoying task. The desire to avoid banks as much as possible has led to the widespread popularity of commercial paper. Usage of commercial paper among developed countries has recently been on the increase. Commercial paper issuance growth in Kenya has been unsteady since inception in 1994. This money market instrument that is considered a low cost source of financing is not growing as expected. This study therefore investigates the factors influencing the issuance of commercial paper as an instrument of debt financing in Kenya. It is through determining the various contributors to the C.P issuance that proper policies can be formulated to increase its usage. The study covered all the eight companies that had outstanding commercial papers as at the second quarter of 2006. (CMA's records as at June 2006 and annual report 2004/5). The study established that majority of companies that had outstanding commercial papers utilized the funds on working capital. This is taken to be within expectation considering that the instrument is short term financing. Most of companies in this study were for introduction of commercial paper into the secondary market for ease of transacting. Majority, Seventy five percent, of the sampled companies felt that the current CMA rules are accommodating. Among the factors that have been strongly cited by the study for the increase in commercial paper issuance are: the unexpected increase in demand of products and services that create a need for enhanced working capital, the attractive borrowing interest rates of commercial paper that are far below the commercial banks lending rates, the indirect effect of positive credit rated companies issuing CP on their stock prices, the favorable regulatory procedures and the issuers ownership status. It is important that CMA forms a forum to occasionally discuss issues pertaining to CP issuance with both the current and potential issuers so as to develop this sector of the money market
Factors that influence demand for credit among small-scale investors. A Case study of Meru Central district
No full textThe recovery of the Kenyan economy that registered a steady growth rate of ranging between 0.5% in 2002, and 6.1 % in 2006 (CBS-GoK, 2007) reflected broad-based expansion of credit markets. This is demonstrated by the level of competition among credit lending institutions. Each institution is actively marketing their own tailor-made credit products that are targeting different needs of low income earners. However, despite the high supply of credit, MSE operators are still confining themselves to narrow market operations where competition is high and profits margins are low. The outcomes are being manifested in MSEs stagnating, retrogressing to micro status or closing up after few years of operation. Very few for instance are graduating to large enterprises. Using a sample survey data collected from Meru Central District, descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were employed to analyze factors that may influence demand for credit among the small-scale entrepreneurs. The study results show that education level of an entrepreneur, the number of dependents, and household income are significant factors that influence small-scale entrepreneurs to borrow credit from formal credit institutions. Demand for credit among women entrepreneurs in the MSE sector was found to be lower compared to their male counterparts. Based on these research findings, MSE operators can improve their participation in credit market by improving their business skills and knowledge plus maintaining proper accounting and book¬keeping systems. The .government needs to improve efficiency of DFis while at the same time facilitate participation of MSE operators in local and international trade fairs as a way to expose them to wider markets. To achieve gender balance on credit access from formal financial institutions, there is need to relax some of the cultural norms and allow women to have equal share of family assets so as to empower them in trade activities. This may call for government intervention
Seasonality of Cryptosporidium oocyst detection in surface waters of Meru, Kenya as determined by two isolation methods followed by PCR
Get PDFMeru, Kenya has watersheds which are shared by wildlife, humans and domesticated animals. These surface waters can be contaminated by the waterborne pathogen Cryptosporidium. To quantify the seasonality and prevalence of Cryptosporidium in Meru regional surface waters, we used a calcium carbonate flocculation (CCF) and sucrose floatation method, and a filtration and immunomagnetic bead separation method, each of which used PCR for Cryptosporidium detection and genotyping. Monthly water samples were collected from January through June in 2003 and 2004, bracketing two April-May rainy seasons. We detected significant seasonality with 8 of 9 positive samples from May and June (p<0.0014), which followed peak rainy season precipitation and includes some of the subsequent dry season. Six of 9 positive samples revealed C. parvum, and 3 contained C. andersoni. None contained C. hominis. Our results indicate that Meru surface waters are Cryptosporidium-contaminated at the end of rainy seasons, consistent with the timing of human infections reported by others from East Africa and contrasting with the onset of rainy season peak incidence reported from West Africa
Segmentation practices of furniture manufacturing businesses in Maua municipality and its environs
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess the segmentation practices of furniture manufacturing business. A survey of sixty two registered furniture manufacturers was carried out in Meru north district. The general objective of this study was to find out how furniture manufacturers determine the customers for their products, their marketing practices and t they consider important. During this study, primary data was collected from Maua Municipality and its environments using structured, semi structured questionnaires and direct observation was used. Secondary data from Maua Municipal Council records were also used. The study looked at the nature of segmentation practices, variables commonly used in segmenting the market, effects of current practices on furniture manufacturing businesses and sort options on how market segmentation could be improved. Data analysis was done using Microsoft excel computer packages. Information was presentation through bar charts, percentages, tables and pie charts.
This research reveal that more than half of the respondents segment their market and produced specific items for specific customers, which helps them make more profits and allocate their resources. Those who did not segment thought it was not important. The variables used were income, social class and institutions. Majority of the respondents said it was important to give the customers what they wanted. The study concluded that furniture manufacturers are aware of segmentation and marketing practices. Their main source of furniture raw materials were wholesalers and retailers who obtain timber from Nyambene Forest and its environment, which has caused destruction of the forest. The study recommends that the government through financial institutions should give the furniture manufacturers financial support since these businesses contribute greatly to Kenyan economy, reduced poverty and offer employment. Government needs to put emphasis on their training and offer financial support because furniture manufacturing creates jobs and supports the economy
An assessment of strategic management practices: A case study of care Kenya International (Headquarter)
No full textNon-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are classified as third sector institutions. Third sector in the sense that they are active partners in social and economic developments besides governments (public sector) and the private institutions (private sector). NGOs play a key role in all aspects of development such as health, education, water, emergency responses, and rural development e.t.c. It is recognized that, effective management of NGOs is crucial if any meaningful social and economic development is to take place therefore, strategic management is identified as the key to effective management of NGOs. It is within the concepts of strategic management that development tasks are identified and implementation framework developed to guide day-to-day management of organizations in meeting its goals. What is not clear is the extent to which strategic management is practiced by the NGO. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether NGOs practice strategic management and if they do, to what extent and how and the challenges they face while doing so. The researcher's focus was Care Kenya International headquarter which engages in development activities within the region. The key objectives to the study were to assess the characteristics and nature of situational analysis systems adapted by Care Kenya International, nature of planning systems adapted by the organization, implementation and control systems adapted and lastly to what extent Care Kenya International practices strategic management. The study targeted senior managers and Care Kenya International employees. During sampling, the researcher used a stratified random sampling to which the total population was divided into sub-groups of international directors, management team and employees and then each sub-group treated like a simple random sample. The researcher used both convenience and purposive sampling techniques because Care Kenya International organization was conveniently accessible to the researcher and that the researcher perceived that the organization and the sample size selected would provide relevant information to study. Data collection involved use of secondary data such as journals, donor reports, magazines, newspapers, project plans, program plans, proposals, evaluation reports, management reports, while primary data involved use of the total population was divided into sub-groups of international directors, management team and employees and then each sub-group treated like a simple random sample. The researcher used both convenience and purposive sampling techniques because Care Kenya International organization was conveniently accessible to the researcher and that the researcher perceived that the organization and the sample size selected would provide relevant information to study. Data collection involved use of secondary data such as journals, donor reports, magazines, newspapers, project plans, program plans, proposals, evaluation reports, management reports, while primary data involved use of Questionnaires and interviews. The findings indicated that there was evidence of strategic management practices carried out from the initial stage of situational analysis, through implementation and control. However, there were major constrains realized while undertaking the strategic management process which included lack of proper involvement of employees and other stockholders in the process. In order to enhance improvement in the organization the study recommends adequate involvement of employees and stockholders in the strategic management process, organizational goals and objectives should be well understood by employees, the organization should invest heavily on training it staff for new challenges and a mechanism for monitoring both employee and project performance