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Social–Cultural Attributes Influencing The Performance Of Women Funded Business: A Case Of Saboti Sub-County, Kenya
No full textGlobally. Women’s involvement in Businesses is applauded as a necessary precursor to economic growth of nations. Women in developed countries have access to capital and the acceptance of women as business owners has improved. However, women in developing countries do face obstacles such as lack of access to finance. The purpose of this study is to investigate social-cultural attributes influencing performance of women funded businesses in Saboti Sub- County. This study was guided by the following research objectives: To determine the influence of personal characteristics on the performance of the Women funded businesses in Saboti Sub-county, to establish how women experience in business influence the performance of women funded businesses, to determine how family characteristics on the performance influence the Women funded businesses and to establish the extent to which domestic roles influence the performance of the Women funded businesses. The study was underpinned to Resources Dependency theory which advocates for extending their resources for investment. This study used a descriptive design with a target population of 1262 registered women groups since 2014 in Saboti Sub-county, out of which a sample was selected for the study through stratified and simple random sampling procedure. Data was collected using questionnaires administered to sample of women Businesses. Interviews were conducted to officers from the department of Gender and Social Development in the same sub-county. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques with the aid of SPSS. The main finding of the study indicate that, experience and training influence women performance in business as demonstrated by 93.8% response to the research questions on the variable. It was recommended that the Department of Gender and Social Development in collaboration with civil rights groups should sensitize, educate and train the society to avoid stigma, discrimination, and outdated practices that hinder women from enhancing performance of WFB
Influence Of Financing Options On Performance Of Public Infrastructure Projects In Kwanza Sub-County, Trans Nzoia County, Kenya
No full textThis study was necessitated by the recorded huge number of stalled projects in the county and the country at large, projects are not being complete in the scheduled time and one of the cited reasons for this was due to finances. The purpose of the study was to determine influence of financing options on performance of infrastructure projects in Kwanza Sub-county, Trans Nzoia County, Kenya. : the objectives of the study were to determine influence of public-private-partnership on performance of infrastructure projects, to assess influence of debt finance on performance of infrastructure projects, to establish influence of donor funding on performance of public infrastructure projects and to establish influence of government direct funding on performance of public infrastructure projects in Kwanza Sub-County, Trans Nzoia, Kenya.
The study was guided mainly by the Theory of Performance. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population was county government official involved in project initiation and implementation and project managers involved in project implementation. Out of the targeted population of 400 individuals, Krejcie and Morgan table for computing a sample size of a finite data set was used to arrive at a sample size of 196 respondents. The study used purposive sampling to collect data from senior officials of the county and project heads, simple random sampling was applied to select respondents from the project committee members. The study employed questionnaires and interviews as data collection tools.
Reliability of research instrument was determined by collecting ample data that enabled him to draw inferences that are correct, clear and concise. Reliability was gauged using test re-test technique. The influence of data was determined with the use of qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods. Qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis while percentages were used to express quantitative data. The researcher generally found out that public private partnership positively influences performance of infrastructure projects, Debt finance positively influences performance of infrastructure projects, donor funding influences performance of Infrastructure Projects and direct government funding also influences performance of public infrastructure projects. The study concluded that performance of infrastructure projects is generally influenced by financing options. The researcher recommends that the government adopts a mix of financing options to enable it to capitalize on strengths of each in order to achieve expected performance
Strategy And Competitive Advantage Of Online Shopping Stores In Kenya
No full textThe dynamic of the businesses environment continue to demand for greater strategic planning practices
Factors Influencing Sustainability Of Donor Funded Agricultural Projects In Imenti North Sub County: Meru County, Kenya
No full textSustainability has been a major challenge for most donor-funded projects in developing countries like Kenya as most projects usually collapse after the donor withdrawal or projects closure. Several NGOs and government agencies have implemented projects, which do not last to benefit the targeted beneficiaries long after the donor exits. Generally, the donor funded projects lack sustainability aspect, which is contributed by challenges such as lack of participatory engagement by the community, corruption, political instability among others. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing sustainability of donor funded agricultural projects in Imenti North Sub County, Meru County, Kenya. The objectives of this study were to investigate how community involvement, availability of resources, training of project staff, monitoring and evaluation influenced sustainability of donor funded agricultural projects in Imenti North Sub County. The study was based on realistic evaluation theory, resource dependence theory and systems theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The study had a total target population of 135 and the respondents were selected using stratified proportionate random sampling techniques whereby a sample size of 70 was used. The Primary data was obtained using a questionnaire that was composed of both open ended and closed ended questions. The reliability of the study instruments was measured using test retest method. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were used in the data analysis. Descriptive analysis such as mean, frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data collected from the respondents of the study. Multiple regression analysis was employed to establish the significance of the independent variables on the dependent variable. Data representation was done through tables. The analysis of the qualitative data collected using the open-ended questions was done using the conceptual content analysis. Based on the research, the study found that involving the community during the initiation and implementation stage of the projects influences ownership of the projects hence community derives satisfaction from this leading to sustainability. The study also found out that community involvement had the greatest influence on the sustainability of donor funded agricultural projects, followed by Monitoring and Evaluation then availability of resources while training of project staff had the least effect to the sustainability of donor funded agricultural projects. The study revealed that frequency of monitoring opportunities for improving sustainability of the projects and that facilitated negotiations and identification of gaps and suggested the way forward. The study concluded that community involvement, availability of resources, training of project staff and frequent monitoring and evaluation is very important for the continuity and sustainability of donor funded projects. The study recommends that there should be enhanced community participation in any donor-funded project and need to be part of the projects. The other recommendation is that resources should be adequate especially financial resources should be increased and budgets for the projects made. It is recommended that project staff be trained in the technical aspect of the projects being undertaken to realize sustainability, this will ensure that the staff have the knowhow and the technical skills to handle agricultural donor funded projects. Capacity building and training should be fully embraced. The study also recommends that the information gained from the monitoring and evaluation should be used to guide the project managers where more planning and management is needed
Effects Of Participation In Planning And Utilization Of Universal Health Care Scheme
No full textThe purpose of this study was to assess the effects of participation in planning on the viability of the Universal Health Care (UHC) in Makueni County. The objectives of the study were to examine the effectiveness of the UHC in Makueni County, establish peoples’ perceptions towards the UHC scheme, determine the level of the participation in the planning of the UHC scheme in Makueni County and establish the use of UHC by the residents of Makueni County. The study applied descriptive research design. The unit of observation was the UHC scheme in Makueni County while the unit of analysis was Makueni referral hospital. The target respondents were 85 adult citizens in the county who comprised the outpatients, UHC scheme employees of the community, health staff and also the community leaders within Makueni County. Multistage sampling was applied to select the study sample of Makueni referral Hospital and two sub county emergency clinics. Quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire while qualitative data was collected using an interview guide. Data analysis was through frequency tables and percentages and presentation was through bar graphs, charts and tables. Qualitative data was presented through prose. The study found that (82%) of the respondents did not participate by attending the meetings. More (nearly 70%) of them, however, attended meetings of village health committees. Similarly, more (49%) of other family members had not equally participated in meetings of health committees. The study also found that a majority (71%) had joined the scheme as individuals in 2014 when it was started. The joining fee at that time was Ksh. 150 and rose to Ksh. 500 at the time of this study. All of those who had joined reported benefitting from the scheme, for example, those who had persistent illnesses they might not have afforded medication if it were not for UHC. The study concluded that the respondents did not participate in meetings held for planning and budgeting for the UHC at the county and sub-county levels. The respondents’ perceptions of the scheme were rated as very good, good and poor. The study recommends that Ministry of Health in Kenya and County administrations should commit more resources in the universal healthcare by making sure that the required resources are mobilized to be able to enhance the county health facilities for equitable, quality and accessible healthcare services. The study also recommends that the county government should engage all the stakeholders by providing empowerment and training to enable them deliver the universal healthcare services. Lastly, the national government and county government should continually monitor and evaluate healthcare delivery activities to ensure that the provision of the Universal healthcare coverage processes are appropriately executed
Application of Geospatial Technologies in the Selection of Suitable Geothermal Well Sites
No full textThe study applied geospatial techniques to establish favorable areas for geothermal well siting in the Eburru Volcanic Area, Nakuru County. The study’s main objective was to apply remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to select suitable sites for geothermal wells.
The specific objectives of the study involved the use of GIS multi-criteria evaluation and weighting of the distinct data layers (factor maps) for development of a final geothermal well suitability map. A suitability map was created by weighting and overlaying geothermal factors from three disciplines, namely: geology (faults, eruption centers, and dykes), geochemistry (altered grounds, fumaroles, hot grounds) and thermal factors (satellite land surface temperature, heat loss measurements). Environmental constraints such as built up areas, forest cover and riparian area (lake) were buffered, overlaid and filtered over the combined suitability map to establish a final suitability model. The methodology employed a multi-criteria approach using weighted overlay analysis, Boolean logic methods that supports conventional field based well site selection methods such as geology, geophysics and geochemistry. The results of the final suitability map was a classification of the study area into three primary regions namely; most suitable area, moderately suitable area and the least suitable area. Areas near Eburru trading centre, Thome (Northern region) and Badlands rift axis were found to be most suitable. The central and western regions of the study area were deemed to be moderately suitable. North Eastern zones (near Gilgil and Kikopey towns were found to be the least suitable. The study recommended the adoption of the technique in well siting activities
Prevalence, Risk Factors And Management Of Venous Thromboembolism Amongst Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Treatment At Kenyatta National Hospital
No full textBreast cancer is the second most common malignancy and cause of cancer-related mortality. Cancer has long been associated as a risk factor for hyper-coagulation. It may, therefore, lead to venous thromboembolism in breast cancer patients. Venous thromboembolism is a major risk factor, accounting for the second most common cause of cancer-associated mortality. This has made the management of coagulation in cancer to be both complex and also important.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence, risk factors, and management of venous thromboembolism amongst patients undergoing breast cancer treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Research Methods
The study adopted a cross-sectional study design and was conducted at the Kenyatta National Hospital-oncology department. Three hundred and seventy seven patient’s files which fitted the inclusion criteria were sampled by using simple random sampling technique. Data on the patient’s sociodemographic characteristics, tumor and chemotherapy-related factors were collected by using a predesigned data collection tool. The data was then checked for completeness and data quality. It was then organized, coded and analyzed using STATA version 13. Univariate analysis was done by use of descriptive statistics using mean, median and standard deviation. The risk of developing a venous thromboembolism was assessed by using the Khorana risk assessment tool. Additionally, the strength of association between the predictor and outcome variable was assessed by the use of inferential statistics with a p- value of less than 0.05 considered to be statistically significant. Results
The number of patients who were found to have venous thromboembolism was 10 (2.65%). Age was found to be a significant risk factor for the development of venous thromboembolism (p= <0.001). (AOR=0.47; CI=0.24-0.94; p=0.032). Surgery done in the last one year was also found to be a predictor of the risk of having a venous thromboembolic event. (AOR= 0.68;
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CI=0.48-0.98; p=0.04). The duration it took to initiation of chemotherapy since diagnosis and the number of chemotherapy cycles were also found to be significant predictors of risk of developing a venous thromboembolic event at (p=0.012) and (p=<0.001) respectively. (AOR= 1.64; CI=1.1-2.44; p= 0.015). Additionally, there was a statistically significant association between the use of radiotherapy and the risk of developing a venous thromboembolism (p=<0.001). (AOR=0.09; CI=0.03-0.24; p=0.001). Warfarin and Low molecular weight heparin were commonly used for the management of venous thromboembolism as depicted by 8(80%) of the patients who were managed by using these two agents. Conclusion
There is a high prevalence of venous thromboembolism amongst breast cancer patients. Several predictors of the risk of the development of venous thromboembolism were identified in the study. This included the number of chemotherapy cycles, age of the breast cancer patient, use of radiotherapy and surgery in management, and the number of months since breast cancer was first diagnosed. All these risk factors need early detection to enable them to be adequately managed. Recommendation The use of venous thromboembolism risk models should be further explored and used to educate patients who are on a higher risk about the warning signs and symptoms of venous thromboembolism. In addition, modifiable risk factors for the development of a venous thromboembolism should be identified early adequately managed.a
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Keny
The Efficacy Of The World Trade Organisation Dispute Settlement Mechanism In Addressing Trade Disputes Between African Countries And Other Member States In The Multilateral Trade System
No full textThe WTO is a trade forum for states to grow their market share while protecting state rights provided for in the various Agreements annexed to the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization. The record of states that frequently utilize the global trading system as per the World Trade Organization World Trade Statistical Review 2018 does not include any African country. The reason behind this could be that African countries are developing and their trade volumes are low. The World Bank opines that over the last three decades, Africa has become marginalized from world trade and as a result, African economies have remained stagnant due to lack of export expansion and diversification. However, there is a wide array of developing countries using the system to advance their trade visions, such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico, and this therefore begs the question whether indeed the dismal participation in the Dispute Settlement System by African states is as a result of the “developing” classification. A vast majority of African countries are part of the World Trade Organization, withall of them participating in domestic and foreign trade.
African countries, as a group, boast a majority of membership in the World Trade Organization, however they are the least participants in the DS of the World Trade Organization. African member states, collectively, are one of the largest exporters of raw materials however, their share of the world market is at a menial 1%. The African Member States of the WTO have been members since the GATT era however their contribution to the jurisprudence of the DS of the WTO is quite minimal. Only two African member states have been participants in the DSS of the World Trade Organization.
This paper delves into the reasons behind the poor performance by African Member States to the WTO. The paper will discuss at length and make findings on the external and internal factors contributing to the dismal use of the WTO Dispute Settlement system by African member states. It then concludes with an overview of the information and offers new and innovative ways to combat the problem at hand
An Analysis of Kenya’s Targetted Application of a Blend of International Law and Economic Diplomacy Towards Achievement of National Interests
No full textThis study focuses on the quest for national interest via defense alliances; a case for
NATO in Libya. It examines the motivations behind the actions of western states within defense
alliances to invade Libya and what were the effects on Libya together with its immediate states.
The study is concluded with recommendations on more positively impactful operational
strategies to ensure that the defense alliances do not exceed their authorized mandate when
conducting humanitarian interventions. Furthermore, the study recommends the involvement of
the African Union to play a more prominent part in the management of clashes within its
member states considering in the case of Libya it held more legal basis than any other regional
organization to intervene. The study sets out two hypotheses. The first one was that defence
alliances like NATO influence humanitarian interventions to advance national interests. The
second hypothesis was that military action of NATO resulted in an end to a dictatorship. The
study which depended largely on primary and secondary data with the intermediate use of maps
and tables including thematic approach to present the information was situated within the realism
theory.
This study adds emphasis on the realism theory that national interests are always at the
forefront of all foreign affairs. Seeing that the foreign system is revolutionary, more powerful
states are capable of using defense alliances to pursue their own national interests. NATO’s main
objective after the passing of the UNSC Resolutions was to protect people’s lives within Libya
but only a few days after these resolutions were passed their main purposes shifted to a regime
change with the defense alliance having even funded rebel groups to ensure Gaddafi is
overthrown from government. This in result has raised concerns over the Responsibility to
protect doctrine whereby states fear the action from the international community that might
violate their states sovereignty without any consequence from the international law or UN
Security Council.
This study demonstrates analytically the ramifications of NATO’s invasion for African
continent, reviewing where the aftermath of the intervention placed the African Union as the
custodian of African security and peace. The credibility of AU has been questioned due to its
apparent lack of active involvement in the Libyan conflict, however, it is necessary to note that
the AU did look to achieve dispute settlement, but was met by the UNSCs and NATO’s brisk
action to pass and implement the resolutions 1970 and 1973. The AU adopted a roadmap based
on an all-inclusive political settlement- an instant ceasefire; unthwarted delivery of humanitarian
aid; foreign national protection; and dialog for a political settlement between Tripoli and
Benghazi. However, cooperation prospects were made slim by NATO’s understsnding of
Resolution 1973, which included the enforcement of a NFZ and the use of "all possible means
paving the way for Libya's aerial bombing and the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime