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The Media and International Community Interventions in the Global Refugee Crisis: The Case of Syria and South Sudan
No full textAs a powerful tool in shaping public opinion, the mainstream press has been a leading agent in influencing general attitudes towards refugees. Besides garnering sympathy for asylum seekers, news coverage also has the power, through misrepresentation and propaganda, to stimulate hostility towards refugees. In light of this, refugees’ ability to establish a new identity and integrate in a host society partly hinges on their portrayal in the media. The latest wave of refugees has generated debates and press reportage from different approaches. At the same time as sexual attacks allegedly committed by refugees made the headlines in news portals, other journalists were bringing us human stories from refugee camps. Thus, the media has a pivotal role on refugee crisis especially on how they portray the refugees. Refugee voices in the press receive less exposure than political sources and citizen voices. In addition, negative portrayal of refugees in the mainstream press exacerbates stigma and hostility, and sensational reports often present asylum seekers as economic opportunists, potential criminals and a threat to national security. On the other hand, the response of the international community to the impact of large refugee populations on host countries is characterized by different conceptual underpinnings and motivations. Within the conceptual framework which UNHCR sought to organize a response there was has been a facet of broader thinking on the relationship of refugee aid and development assistance, and their relationship, in turn, to durable solutions to refugee situations. Thus, the paper addresses the contributions and the influence of the media in covering the global refugee crisis and how the international community responds to it. The paper uses a case of the refugee crisis in both Syria and South Sudan.
Keywords: International Community, Media, Global Refugee Crisis, Syria & South Sudan
The Intervening Effect of Investment Policies on the Relationship between Pillars of Corporate Governance and Performance of Pension Fund Managers in Kenya
No full textThe pension fund is a common asset pool meant to generate stable growth over the long term, and provide pensions for employees when they reach the end of their working years and commence retirement. These targeted investments often require union built construction or are aimed at job creation and retention as in the case of private equity investments. Pension fund performance has received increased attention across the world with public pension fund performing dismally when compared to private pension fund. This study sought to determine the intervening effect of investment policies on the relationship between pillars of corporate governance and performance of pension fund managers in Kenya. The study employed a cross sectional survey design whereby access to the widest possible amount of data from the targeted Fund Managers in Kenya was sought. The population of interest of the study was 31 Fund Managers in Kenya licensed by RBA and CMA. The study used purely primary data sources. Primary data was obtained from the selected respondents. Primary data was collected through questionnaire. Regression analysis was used to establish the relative significance of each of the variables on the influence of corporate governance on the performance of pension fund managers in Kenya. The study findings indicated that there exists a partial mediation effect on the mediating role of investment policies on the relationship between pillars of corporate governance and performance of pension fund managers. The study thus, rejected the null hypothesis and adopted the alternative hypothesis that there is a partial intervening effect of investment policies in the relationship between pillars of corporate governance and performance of pension fund managers in Kenya. The study recommends that the governing body of the pension fund should set forth in a written statement and actively observe an overall investment policy. The investment policy should establish clear investment objectives for the pension fund that are consistent with the retirement income objective of the pension fund and, therefore, with the characteristics of the liabilities of the pension fund and with the acceptable degree of risk for the pension fund, the plan sponsor and the plan members and beneficiaries. The approach for achieving those objectives should satisfy the prudent person standard taking into account the need for proper diversification and risk management, the maturity of the obligations and the liquidity needs of the pension fund, and any specific legal limitations on portfolio allocation.
Keywords: Investment Policies, Pillars of Corporate Governance, Performance & Pension Fund Managers
Leadership Style, Organizational Culture and Performance: A Critical Literature Review
No full textIn recent times, organizations are going through dramatic changes, including flatter and looser structures, downsizing, and horizontal approaches to information flow. On the one hand, these changes are due to rapid technological developments, global competition and the changing nature of the workforce. These organizational transformations and innovations are triggered by interventions such as total quality leadership and leadership. In modern society, the prosperity and progress of an organization depends largely on the quality of leadership. Leadership is very essential in organizations since achievements and results occur consequence to the traits being projected by the leader. Leadership has always been a crucial issue since organizations and companies are permanently in a constant struggle to be increasingly competitive. Leadership, as an important function of management, helps to maximize efficiency and so achieve organizational goals. The paper avers that past studies conceptualized how leadership style actions significantly influenced organizational performance. Despite its importance, studies have demonstrated that the influence of leadership style on organizational performance is contingent upon situational constraints or random effects. To date, very little empirical research has analyzed the direct and indirect relationships between leadership style, organizational culture and organizational performance. This paper sought to unearth this research gap by critically reviewing relevant conceptual and empirical literature to bring out the possibility that organizational culture can influence the relationship between leadership style and organizational performance. The paper advances the emerging postulations which anchor a conclusion that the direct effect of leadership style on performance is contested, and hence inconclusive due to the possible mediating influence of organizational culture. It is hoped that the paper's postulations will guide empirical research in various contexts to hasten addressing the extant knowledge gaps.
Keywords: Leadership Style, Organizational Culture, Organizational performanc
The Relationship between Pillars of Corporate Governance and Performance of Pension Fund Managers in Kenya
No full textPension funds performance in Kenya have been facing myriad of challenges ranging from poor administration and investments of pension funds, lack of transparency and accountability, non-remittance of monthly contributions by employers, misappropriation of scheme assets by the trustees, loss of scheme funds through negligence of trustees and poor investment of the scheme assets. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between pillars of corporate governance, and performance of registered pension fund managers in Kenya. This study adopted positivism philosophy. The study employed a cross sectional survey design whereby access to the widest possible amount of data from the targeted Fund Managers in Kenya was sought. The population of interest of the study was 31 Fund Managers in Kenya licensed by RBA and CMA. The study used purely primary data sources. Primary data was obtained from the selected respondents. Primary data was collected through questionnaire. Regression analysis was used to establish the relative significance of each of the variables on the influence of corporate governance on the performance of pension fund managers in Kenya. The study findings indicated that there was significant relationship between pillars of corporate governance and performance of pension fund managers in Kenya. The study concluded that there is significant relationship between pillars ofcorporate governance and performance of pension fund managers in Kenya. The study determined that the pillars ofcorporate governance practices being implemented had been incorporated in the Pension Fund’s investment management decisions with its assets being more diversified and having enhanced reporting on investments. The study recommends on pension reforms, by creating a new class of potential activist shareholders in the form of pension funds, could in principle improve corporate governance and increased shareholder discipline. The governments as well as Pension Fund Managers supervisors should consider a more active role in the selection process of the board members, while reducing their choices to professional beneficiaries of the pension funds
Keywords: Pillars of Corporate Governance, Transparency, Ownership Structure, Accountability, Participation Performance, Pension Fund Managers & Keny
The Intervening Role of Employee's Awareness on the Relationship between the Adequacy of Welfare and Job Stability of University Catering Employees in Nairobi City County, Kenya
No full textThe study sought to find out the intervening role of employees awareness on the relationship between adequacy of welfare and job stability of university catering employees in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study covered aspects of; employees awareness on welfare initiatives, provision of efficient staff welfare initiatives, job stability, attention to the needs of the employees, implementation and improvement of welfare programs, indirect compensation, welfare measures, non-monetary welfare programs, a feeling of being secure, valued, cared and having a positive motivation to remain in an organization. The study demonstrated how employees awareness intervenes in the relationship between adequacy of welfare initiatives and job stability of university catering employees using its key components such as; satisfaction, conducive working environment, positive attitude and an improved performance. These are key indicators of job stability. The study was descriptive covering a stratified sample of 189 respondents drawn from 300 employees. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and an interview guide questions. The two tailed Pearson product moment correlation was used and interpreted as follows; 0.010 to 0.041 implied, insignificant relationships; 0.041 to 0.70 implied, a moderate relationship; while> 0.70 implied a significant positive relationship. Meanwhile, negative value implied an inverse relationship. The results indicated that, a high response rate of 80.42% was obtained, thus high validity and reliability of data. Majority 61.20% of the respondents were females while the minority (38.80%) were males. A p-value of 0.81 showed that, there is a very strong significant positive relationship between welfare initiatives awareness and job stability. A p-value of 0.942 showed that, there is a very strong significant positive relationship between the adequacies of welfare initiatives and job stability, a p-value of 0.72 on showed that, there is a significant positive relationship between the adequacy of welfare initiatives and welfare initiatives awareness. In conclusion, welfare initiatives awareness plays a key intervening role in the relationship between the adequacies of welfare initiatives and job stability of university catering employees. The study recommends that, university managements should focus more not only on providing sufficient innovative welfare that address University catering employees welfare needs, but also on ensuring that, employees know welfare initiatives provided by their organizations.
Key Words; Employees Awareness, Adequacy of Welfare, Job Stability, Employees Welfare
The Role of Seeking the Truth About Past Human Rights Abuses in Developing the Rule of Law in a Society
No full textIn the occurrences of devastating conflicts during a regime, having clear information on the truth on the past is regarded as a first step in the process healing and seeking justice and is acknowledged as a human right where those who fell victims and the survivors of conflict and war are entitled to. The International law states clearly that right to know about the circumstances of serious violations of victims' human rights and about who was responsible. It is progressively regular for nations rising up out of civil war or dictator rule to make a fact commission to work during the prompt post-change period. These commissions are conceded a moderately brief period for explanation taking, examinations, and research and formal conferences, before finishing their work with a last open report. This paper gives an evaluation of the past basic talk on truth and reconciliation towards the rule of law, distinguishes the issues critics have concentrated on, analyzes why the appraisals of TJ projects have been basic, and examines whether the reactions reflect fundamental conditions under which the TJ programs were led. This paper looks at the Truth and Reconciliation process in Rwanda after the genocide in 1994. In this manner, it endeavors to reveal the results of truth, reconciliation from past human rights abuses, and how they guide build up the rule of law in a public.
Keywords: Truth, conflicts, Human Rights, Rule of Law & Societ
The Types of Anxiety Disorders Common among Girls’ Secondary School Students in Selected Public Schools in Dagoretti North Sub-County, Kenya
No full textAnxiety disorders among high school students have been on the rise in the recent decade. Though anxiety disorders affect both boys and girls, studies have shown that there exist gender differences in the prevalence of anxiety. The purpose of the study was to identify the types of anxiety disorders common among girls’ secondary school students in selected public schools in Dagoretti North Sub-County, Kenya. Descriptive research design was used. The target population was 1260 girls studying in the girls’ schools in the Sub County aged between 13-18 years. A sample of 200 participants was selected using simple random sampling technique. The findings indicated that GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and school avoidance were all common among secondary school students in the sampled schools. 81.5% of the respondents had at least an anxiety disorder. The study recommended that the rising levels of anxiety among secondary school students need to be addressed urgently because of the comorbidity of anxiety. Managing anxiety is most likely to lead to higher academic achievement. Secondary school students need to be psycho-educated on the self-management of anxiety.
Keywords: Types of Anxiety Disorders, Girls’ Secondary School, Public School
A Critical Analysis of Treatment of the Woman Character in four Selected Stories from "Half A Day and other Stories" and "Voices of Change"
No full textThe purpose of this study was to critically analyse the treatment of the woman character in four selected stories from two short stories "Half a Day and Other Stories" and "Voices of Change".This study assessedgender roles, the impact of patriarchy on woman character and how rhetorical questions have been used in the selected texts to portray treatment of the woman character in the four selected stories.The study wassignificant,because it depicted the treatment of the woman not only as second class citizen but also the ill- treatment, humiliation, depression, and exploitation denies women rights from enjoying equal status with men in all aspects of life in society. In addition, the study formed an analysis from the selected texts on how the writers assign roles to the woman character, impact of patriarchy to the woman character and how writers have used rhetorical questions among other styles, to portray treatment of the woman character. The findings of this research study also contributed valuable knowledge to the past research on the treatment of woman character in literary texts and therefore formed a reference material to other scholars. The selected short stories helped to bring out the objectives of this study. The findings of the study aimed to benefit the Ministry of Gender in formulation of policies relating to gender discrimination and violence against women and girl child. The study was premised on the Feminist Theory using the strand of Socialist feminism. This study was purely a library-based research. The study adopted an exploratory mode that used a descriptive design to critically analyse the treatment of the woman in four selected stories fromtwo Short Stories Ayebia C (2004) Half a Day and Other Storiesand Abubaker,B,D.(1998)Voices of Change.Data was collected by use of contextual analysis method and was analysed through qualitative method.The findings inspired further scholarly research into the subject of gender discrimination, identified its inherent weaknesses and recommended improvements that may be adopted to make it more effective. The conclusions of this research study can influence studies like: Gender issues and feminist studies. In addition, they can contribute future research on the treatment of the women in the society, which is a contemporary issue. The researcher therefore concluded that, the set objectives of the study were achieved. The selected stories portray the women roles, patriarchy system and use of stylistic devices. Therefore, these bring out the way the treatment of the women in these stories.
Key Words: Critical Analysis, Treatment, Woman Character, storie
Challenges Faced by Nurses while Caring for Preterm Babies in the Newborn Unit at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital
No full textPreterm birth is a global problem with the greatest burden experienced in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In Kenya, 193,000 babies are born too soon each year and 9,670 children under five die due to direct preterm complications. Nurses experience numerous challenges as they give care to preterm babies. The aim of the study was to describe the challenges faced by nurses while giving care to preterm babies during the neonatal period in Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH). A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the newborn unit of KTRH between April and May 2015. Fifteen nurses were consented to participate in the study through census sampling method. Data was collected using an interview schedule guide. Data was analyzed as themes as they emerged. The challenges encountered include inadequate equipment, supplies and drugs, shortage of staff and lack of an isolation room. Main challenges encountered included lack of equipment and supplies, drugs and inadequate health care providers. There is also need to improve equipment, supply and increase number of health care providers.
Keywords: Challenges, Nurses, Preterm babies, Newborn unit, Kisii, Referral hospital
Knowledge Level of Cervical Cancer Screening and Screening Methods among Women Aged 21-50 Years in Meru South District, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya
No full textThe cervical cancer ranks as the first cause of female cancer and the first most common female cancer in women. It is also the first leading cause of cancer deaths in women aged 15 to 44 years in Kenya. Despite the introduction of cervical cancer screening and control programmes in Kenya, the burden of cervical cancer is still high. This study therefore sought to determine the knowledge level of cervical cancer screening and screening methods among women aged 21-50 years in Meru South District, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. A cross-sectional descriptive study composing of 40 women aged between 20 and 50 years was carried out. An interview guide was used to collect data which was transcribed to Microsoft Excel 2017 Software. The findings indicated that awareness of cervical cancer as a disease was overwhelmingly high at 90%. As well, 75% of the women knew that it is quite possible to prevent development of the debilitating cervical cancer. However, specific content knowledge of cervical cancer and screening, which is critical, was annoyingly low despite the tremendous efforts of cervical cancer awareness creation. To mention but a few, only 10 women (25%) were able to identify true risk factors of cervical cancer with only 5% (2) identifying two precise risk factors. Only 30% were able to highlight a Pap smear and HPV test as tests for cervical cancer. The cause of cervical cancer (human papilloma virus) was only identified by 17.5% (7) of the respondents. The study concluded that mere awareness of existence of cervical cancer did not translate to higher uptake rate. Many women in Tharaka Nithi County have no specific knowledge about cervical cancer. Therefore, a lot has to be done to counter the hindrances to utilization of screening services. There is need to enhance the health education with regards to cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening. More should be done on informing the public/general women population through social platforms, barazas, media, etc., about cervical cancer cause, mode of transmission, prevention, risk factors, treatment modalities and possible complications. This action will promote one’s decision to go for screening since she is fully informed.
Keywords: Knowledge level, cervical cancer screening, screening method