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Self-Reliance Projects: The Future Core Driver of Rural Youth Livelihood Development Outcomes
Get PDFIn Kenya today majority of the youth are out of school and not employed in the formal economy and private sector jobs are also scarce. Acknowledging this reality, the Kenyan government and other youth service organizations are learning that proper strategies need to be put in place to help youth penetrate into the formal economy. The strategies should further assist and accelerate this process while improving the short-term well-being of youth and their households. When appropriately engaged and adequately prepared for roles in the worlds of work, family life, and society, youth can be definite assets for sustainable development. However, if governments and communities disregard the huge numbers of youth with miniÂmal attachment to the formal sector, youth can also become a profoundly de-stabilizing force. Specifically, the absence of livelihood developÂment opportunities for youth can impede a nation’s development in the form of increased crime, violence, extremÂism, and both social and political instability. This paper examines the self-reliance projects as a future core driver of rural youth livelihood development outcomes in Kenya. The paper is based on a study conducted to determine the effects of self-reliance projects on the livelihoods of youth in selected rural areas of Nakuru County. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study. Data was collected using interviews and questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS where frequencies and percentages were derived. Descriptive statistics was used in providing relevant information. Findings indicate that successful rural self-reliance projects have to integrate important basic services such as entrepreneurial training; infrastructure as well as financing. The study further established that development partners enhancing youth participation in self-reliance projects should ensure substantive dialogue or the involvement of youth from the rural areas. The recommendation is that interventions designed for youth self-reliance projects must engage and support youth. Most of the youth are already economically active and focused on the imÂmediate needs of their households, and the rural youth desire is to realize more sustainable and socially construcÂtive livelihood means
Influence of Social Capital Integration Capabilities on Sustainable Competitive Advantage Among Private Hospitals in Kenya
Get PDFHealthcare ecosystem continues to be influenced by volatility and hospitals are struggling to overcome the heightened competition due to inability to match up to the increasing demands. However, the articulation of the unique capabilities necessary for creation of superior value for customers and a prerequisite for the achievement of sustainable competitive advantage continue to be unsettled. This study aimed to establish the influence of social capital integration capabilities on sustainable competitive advantage among private hospitals in Kenya. Positivism research philosophy guided the study and a descriptive correlational research design was used. The study population consisted of 690 managers from the 46 level 5 private hospitals across Kenya. Stratified simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 253 managers from the population. A structured questionnaire was applied to collect data. The study used structural equation modelling for analysing the data. Findings indicated that the private hospitals had social capital integration capabilities in all the three dimensions of cognitive capital (M = 4.24, SD = 0.425), relational capital (M=4.13, SD = 0.481) and structural capital (M = 4.03, SD = 0.501). The study findings determined that social capital integration capabilities had a significant positive influence on sustainable competitive advantage of private hospitals in Kenya (β = 0.651, CR = 4.453, p < 0.05). The study has practical implications for top management team in private hospitals in Kenya to continually encourage good working relationship between management and other employees and enhance partnership and interactions between employees within or across different departments
Accounting Implications on Financial Deepening in Kenya: Case of Kitui County
Get PDFPurpose: Financial deepening linked to Kenya’s financial ingenuity, M-Pesa has positively impacted livelihoods. The study examined accounting implications on financial deepening in Kenya’s Kitui County.
Design/methodology/approach: This was a case study design survey and sought to examine the complex relationship between accounting and financial deepening in Kitui County.
Findings: Based on the results, the overall fitted model was significant F (3, 26) = 6.634, p < .05, R2 = .434). This clearly showed that accounting for costs, revenue, and balance sheet items had a positive significant impact on financial deepening which enhanced the livelihoods of the shop owners.
Originality/Value: Mobile platforms have created an opportunity and enhanced financial deepening in many of Africa\u27s rural setups such as Kitui County in Kenya. However, financial deepening can only be sustained through wealth creation or profit maximization. This implies that mobile platforms are means and not the end, hence the need to examine accounting and financial deepening relationships
Temperature-Dependent Elastic Constants of Substrates for Manufacture of Mems Devices
Get PDFWe present a comparative computational study of temperature-dependent elastic constants of silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC) and diamond as substrates that are commonly used in the manufacture of Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) devices. Also mentioned is Cd2SnO4, whose ground-state elastic constants were determined just recently for the first time. Si is the dominant substrate used in the manufacture of MEMS devices, owing to its desirable electrical, electronic, thermal and mechanical properties. However, its low hardness, brittleness and inability to work under harsh environment such as high-temperature environment, has limited its use in the manufacture of MEMS like mechanical sensors and bioMEMS. Mechanical sensors are fabricated on SiC and diamond due to their high Young’s moduli as well as high fracture strength, while the bioMEMS are fabricated on polymers. The effect of temperature on the elastic constants of these substrates will help in giving insight into how their performance vary with temperature
Prevalence of Polydrug Use in Patients Undergoing Methadone Assisted Therapy in Nairobi County
Get PDFPolydrug Use (PDU) among Methadone Assisted Therapy (MAT) continues to be a global concern with users engaging in concurrent intake of more than one psychoactive substance. However, due to the increased risks of drug abuse in society today, polydrug users are now seeking opioids use disorder (OUD) treatment in Methadone Assisted Therapy (MAT) which is undoubtedly associated with withdrawal and craving challenges. This paper therefore evaluates the prevalence of polydrug use among MAT patients in Nairobi County Kenya. Guided by the social learning theory, this study used a mixed methods approach comprising both quantitative and qualitative data. The target population comprised 2121 patients from two MAT clinics in the county from which a sample of 120 respondents was drawn through random sampling technique with 60 in treatment group and 60 in control group. A quasi-experimental research design with pre and post strategy was utilized in experimental group site 1 and control group site 2. Both treatment and control group received baseline and endline assessment and MAT treatment. The experimental group receive MI with instant assessment and feedback through engaging, focusing, evoking and planning and assessment for readiness to reduce polydrug use through self-rating readiness ruler. Control group received Zero MI treatment. Base line assessment was done for 5 to 10 minutes using TimeLine Fallback for polydrug use while End line assessment was done using the same tools after 3 months. Data analysis was descriptively conducted to determine the prevalence of polydrug use among MAT patients used with findings presented in tables and charts
Laboratory Glassware Cleaning Validation by Liquid Chromatographic Quantitation of Betamethasone Valerate Residues
Get PDFUse of clean glassware ensures reliability of analyses that are carried out in laboratories. Glassware should be free of contaminants and residues from previous tests. It is therefore necessary to demonstrate the efficiency of glassware cleaning procedure through validation. This study aims to evaluate the cleaning efficiency of laboratory glassware by quantitation of betamethasone valerate residues in cleaned glassware. Betamethasone ointment was selected through a risk ranking process as the worst to clean product. Glassware used in analysis of this drug product was cleaned manually and residues evaluated using high performance liquid chromatography. The analysis method was validated at concentration levels of 1 - 8 µg/ml for specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, limit of detection and limit of quantitation. The method demonstrated residue recovery of 97%. Repeatability and inter-mediate precision expressed as relative standard deviation were 1.2% and 1.4%, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range from 2.04 to 6.13 µg/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997. The detection limit and quantitation limit were 0.11 µg/ml and 0.34 µg/ml, respectively. No residue was detected in glassware that was sampled for the cleaning validation. The results indicate that the manual cleaning method is effective as the level of betamethasone residues in cleaned glassware was below detection limit and thus will not interfere with analysis of the subsequent analyte
Institutional mechanisms for resolution of trade remedies disputes under the East African Community Customs Union and by member states
Get PDFTrade remedies were introduced by the World Trade Organization to address unfair trade practices caused by dumping and prohibited subsidies and to restrict import surges brought about by international trade. Trade remedies take the form of anti-dumping measures, countervailing measures and safeguard measures. Trade remedies have been regulated by the East African Community and member states in almost similar terms as those of the World Trade Organization’s rules on trade remedies. Significant to this paper is how trade remedies disputes are dealt with by the East African Community as a regional economic community established within the realms of the World Trade Organization and by EAC member states, who with the exclusion of South Sudan are members to the World Trade Organization. The East African Community laws and member states’ legislations allow for the creation of institutions to resolve trade remedies disputes. While no trade remedy dispute has been instituted under these two regimes, the existing legal framework forms the basis for discussions in this paper. This paper therefore analyses the institutional mechanism for resolution of trade remedies disputes under the East African Community and domestically, by member states
Reducing Polydrug Use among Methadone Assisted Therapy Patients: An Examination of the Motivational Interviewing Strategy
Get PDFPolydrug use continues to rise across the world with more victims suffering from substance use disorders (SUD). Methadone Assisted Therapy (MAT) which has shown significant results in reducing morbidity, increased treatment retention, reduced use of illicit psychoactive substances. This study founded on the self-determination theory, sought to find out the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) on Polydrug Use (PDU) reduction among Methadone Assisted Therapy (MAT) patients. Using a mixed methods approach with a quasi-experimental research design with pre and post strategy in experimental group site A and control group site B. Both treatment and control group received baseline and endline assessment as well as MAT treatment. The experimental group received MI with instant assessment and feedback to reduce polydrug use through self-rating readiness ruler while the control group received Zero MI treatment. The population of the study comprised 2121 patients from which a sample of 120 respondents was obtained through random sampling technique where 60 respondents were assigned to the treatment group and the other 60 in control group. Base line assessment was done for 5 to 10 minutes using: TimeLine Fallback for polydrug use, WHO (Five) well-Being for MAT patient’s wellbeing, self-rating readiness ruler for readiness to reduced polydrug use. Motivation Interviewing took 15 to 25 minutes, 10 participants per group in the treatments group of 6 sessions for one and half months. Data analysis was done both descriptively and with inferential inform of regression and correlations analysis. At three months follow up, effectiveness of MI in the treatment group is evidenced by MAT patients’ significant reduction in polydrug use, improved wellbeing, increased adherence, reduced MAT dosage, increased MAT patients on cessation of MAT dosage as well as reduced patient dropping out MAT
Conflict Sensitive Journalism and Elections: Analysis of the media coverage of the 2017 Elections in Kenya
Get PDFIn any electoral process, the media plays a crucial role in informing the public and acting as a watchdog in ensuring a credible and fair election. Media influences the election dynamics and perceptions, how and what the media reports, builds, or breaks the credibility of an election. Media influences people by way of reporting, offering peaceful resolution, or even ending up in conflicts. Media is therefore instrumental in conflict resolutions and peace-building. In Kenya, the media is faulted for poor reporting and amplifying hate speech that inflames tension and leads to retaliatory attacks. The media has previously reported unconfirmed reports, inciting messages from politicians, or perpetuated viewpoint that has created political discourses that fun violent conflict. The media ought to report freely, fairly, and be neutral during elections without fueling violence. This paper sought to examine the role played by media in the electoral processes, analyses media coverage of the 2017 elections, establish the extent to which the media escalated and/or de-escalated election violence in Kenya. In collecting data, the researchers applied the qualitative approach through content analysis of newspaper articles, journals, and websites. These materials provided the intended information on the issue that was to be addressed, that is conflict-sensitive journalism. The study established that media has a role in framing conflicts and/or escalating conflict. It is also responsible for providing balanced reporting through good investigative journalism especially during conflict situations to promote peace and tranquility
We, the People of Kenya: The Bonds, Benefits, and Burdens of our Citizenship
Get PDFThe 2010 Constitution of Kenya declares in its preamble that it is a product of “We, the people of Kenya” and at Article 1 that the sovereign power rests on the people of Kenya. These provisions imply that there exists a singular identity among the holders of the Kenyan membership and an equality of status in the partaking of the benefits and burdens that accrue to that membership. This understanding resonates well with the very idea of citizenship, which envisages a universality or singularity of identity and equality of status among the citizenship holders within a given state. The question that arises is whether the theoretical idea of citizenship, which is also reflected in the aspiration of the 2010 Constitution, is, indeed, a reality in the Kenyan context or it is merely an illusion. This paper attempts to address this question by critically examining the citizenship framework operationalised under the 2010 Constitution