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Influence of Innovation Approach on Competitive Structure of Tier 1 Commercial Banks in Kenya
Get PDFIn today\u27s volatile business landscape, companies must continuously innovate to remain competitive. Innovation, encompassing the creation and implementation of new concepts across products, services, and technologies, is essential for meeting evolving market demands. Both radical and incremental innovation contribute to organizational financial performance (Abiodun, 2017). However, traditional banks often exhibit technological inertia, hindering their ability to adopt new methods efficiently. This reluctance presents an opportunity for challenger banks to pioneer technological advancements, diversify risk management strategies, and optimize resource utilization, leveraging instruments like asset securitization. This study investigates the impact of innovation approaches on the competitive structure of Tier 1 Commercial Banks in Kenya. Employing descriptive and correlational research designs, the study surveyed 182 respondents selected via stratified random sampling from a target population of 334 individuals across Tier 1 Commercial Banks. Quantitative data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis with SPSS version 26. Findings indicate a positive correlation between innovation and competitive structure, underscoring innovation\u27s significance in sustaining competitive advantage. Technology adoption, including mobile banking and remote service delivery, also enhances competitive structure. Furthermore, the study highlights the contribution of risk diversification through new financial instruments and incremental innovations to financial success. Overall, the research emphasizes the critical role of innovation and technology in driving competitive advantage within the banking industry. It recommends that top management continuously expand their offerings of innovative products to remain competitive
The Influence of Community Drought Risk Management on Community Development in Tiaty Constituency, Kenya
Get PDFClimate change contributed to an increase in the rate of disasters, particularly those with meteorological origins. This study assessed community drought risk management strategies and community development in Tiaty Constituency, Kenya. The objective was to determine the influence of disaster risk reduction programs in promoting community development in the area, grounded in the Environmental Community Development Theory. A mixed-methods research approach was adopted, with a target population of 12,153 people. The sample size comprised 395 respondents selected using stratified sampling techniques. Statistical Analysis Software version 25 was utilized for data analysis. Descriptive statistics were conducted to offer descriptive features of the study variables, with quantitative survey data expressed as mean averages. The study revealed that risk reduction programs focusing on environmental conservation and sustainable practices contributed to the long-term sustainability of communities in Tiaty Constituency. It was found that building community resilience extended beyond disaster management and contributed to overall community development, aimed at achieving sustainable self-reliance. The findings highlighted the significant positive impact of drought risk reduction programs in aiding community development and resilience-building efforts. Based on the comprehensive findings, the study recommended prioritizing and expanding risk reduction programs, with a specific focus on environmental conservation, social cohesion, and community participation in hazard assessment, to inform planning and decision-making processes
Nutrition knowledge of caregivers and feeding practices of children 6-59 months in rural Kajiado central, Kenya
Get PDFAbstract
Introduction: Childhood malnutrition remains a critical public health concern, particularly in developing countries. This study explores the nutrition knowledge of caregivers and its association with feeding practices among children aged 6-59 months in the Maasai community of Rural Kajiado Central, Kenya. Traditional practices and cultural norms significantly influence daily life in this community, emphasizing the need to understand caregivers\u27 nutritional knowledge and its association with child-feeding practices.
Objective: The study aims to determine the association between nutrition knowledge of the caregivers and feeding practices among children aged 6-59 months in rural Kajiado Central, Kenya.
Methods: A cross-sectional mixed study design was employed, with data collected from caregivers (N=294) using a pre-tested questionnaire. Nutrition knowledge was assessed through a nutrition test, and feeding practices were evaluated using a 24-hour recall and dietary diversity score. Focus Group Discussions provided qualitative insights. Data were analysed using SPSS V26, Nutri-survey software, and qualitative thematic analysis.
Results: Caregivers demonstrated high nutrition knowledge (60.9% high, 3.4% very high), yet feeding practices revealed challenges. Most children consumed three meals daily, but dietary diversity was limited, focusing on cereals, milk, and fats. Despite high knowledge levels, there was no significant association between nutrition knowledge and several feeding practices (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Improving dietary diversity requires addressing infrastructural barriers alongside nutrition education. The study emphasizes the complex interplay between nutritional practices, socio-economic factors, and educational opportunities, highlighting the need for holistic interventions.
Recommendations: Infrastructure support is crucial to improving food accessibility in rural areas. Nutrition education alone may not suffice to enhance feeding practices and nutritional status
Effect of Strategic Leadership on Performance of SMEs During Covid-19 Pandemic in Nairobi County, Kenya
Get PDFThe global economy and enterprises have faced significant impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating leadership styles capable of navigating change and uncertainty effectively. Strategic leadership has emerged as a promising approach for establishing agile strategies amidst rapid transformations in business environments. This study aimed to assess the impact of strategic leadership on the performance of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) during the pandemic in Nairobi County, Kenya. Employing a descriptive and correlational research design, the study targeted 584 respondents from various SME industries in Kenya, with 237 respondents obtained using a stratified random sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and regression analyses, were conducted using SPSS version 23. The findings revealed that SMEs in Nairobi County recognized the importance of strategic leadership for their prosperity, with a significant positive correlation between strategic leadership and performance (r (183) = 0.430, p < 0.05). Strategic leadership accounted for 18.5% of performance variance, indicating a substantial impact (F (1,181) = 41.174, p < 0.05). Moreover, the intercept between strategic leadership and performance showed a notable improvement (β = 0.230, p < 0.01), suggesting a 23% performance enhancement with effective strategic leadership implementation. In conclusion, the majority of SMEs in Nairobi County demonstrated strong strategic leadership, fostering absorptive and adaptive capacities crucial for navigating turbulent business environments. The study underscores the importance of institutionalizing strategic leadership within SMEs to enhance their ability to formulate and execute strategies effectively amidst rapid changes
Qualitative Phytochemical Screening of Tithonia diversifolia: A Gray Aqueous Root Extract
Get PDFThis study investigated the phytochemical composition of Tithonia diversifolia, commonly known as the Mexican sunflower, a plant renowned for its diverse pharmacological properties. Fresh root bark was collected from mature plants in Migori County, Kenya, and processed through cleaning, peeling, shade drying, and grinding into fine powder. The aqueous extract was obtained by macerating 50g of the powdered root bark in 200 mL of distilled water for 24 hours, followed by filtration that yielded 19.4%w/w crude. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was conducted on the extract to identify the presence of various bioactive compounds. The results indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, phenols, carbohydrates, anthocyanins, and coumarins. However, glycosides, steroids, sterols, proteins, amino acids, and lignin were not detected. In conclusion, the phytochemical analysis of Tithonia diversifolia root extract has revealed a diverse array of bioactive compounds, providing valuable insights into its potential medicinal applications. The presence of these phytochemicals suggests that T. diversifolia possesses broad therapeutic potential, particularly in the management of oxidative stress, inflammation, infections, and metabolic disorders. These findings underscore the plant\u27s promise as a source of natural remedies and highlight the need for further research to explore its application in drug development and integrative medicine.
Editorial
Get PDFWe are pleased to present the seventh volume of the Kabarak LawJournal of Law and Ethics (KJLE), which focuses on the Kenyan ChildrenAct of 2022.In the lead up to this publication, Kabarak University in collaborationwith Save the Children (Kenya and Madagascar) successfully organiseda hybrid half-day conference to commemorate the Day of the AfricanChild on 16 June 2023. The conference brought together child lawscholars and practitioners to reflect on the theme ‘The rights of the childin the digital environment’. Professor Robert Nanima, Expert Memberof the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of theChild (ACERWC), and Justice Heston Nyaga, Judge of High Court ofKenya, were among the chief guests. We are proud to publish ProfessorNanima’s keynote address in this volume
An Assessment of the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on University Students\u27 Lives in Kenya
Get PDFThe Covid-19 pandemic remains a historical world disaster, which affected all sectors. The suspension of physical learning in universities in Kenya raised eyebrows. This could not have been the case if proper disaster and business continuity plans were in place. The researchers were provoked to find out how the pandemic affected the lives of university students. The study was carried out across public and private universities targeting a population of 1110 students. A mixed methods approach was used, survey design was applied, simple random sampling was used to select the respondents, and primary data were collected using a semi-structured online questionnaire developed from Google Forms where instant data from respondents was analyzed. It is evident that students’ lives in the university were adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Flexibility and adaptability are needed to be able to respond to change. It is paramount that universities develop quality disaster management and business continuity plans (QDMBCP) to counter and manage disasters in future
In Vitro Evaluation of Effect of Storage Time on Immunogenicity of the 10-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Using Baby Rabbit Complement & HL-60 Cells
No full textBackground: The efficacy and effectiveness of a vaccine is influenced by several factors including storage duration. Additionally, vaccines may be sufficiently administered but functionality of antibody generated may be hampered with by other factors such as nutritional status of the patient. As such, one of the ways of assessing vaccine efficacy is assessing the functionality of the antibodies generated. The 10v-PCV is a highly effective vaccine used to prevent invasive pneumococcal diseases in children. However, here in Kenya, cases of pneumococcal diseases are high and challenging to treat. This study thus aimed to evaluate the effect of storage of PCV-10 storage time on the functionality of Abs generated.
Methodology; An in vitro experimental research design was employed for this study. opsonophagocytic activity assay using HL-60 Cells & Baby rabbit complement was used to assess whether or not the Pneumococci Serotype IgG antibodies elicited following administration with 10v-PCV vaccine are functional. Only 10v-PCV vaccine with same production date were procured. Twenty experimental rabbits of same gender were procured and used injected intraperitoneally with 3 doses of 100µl (0.34g) of 10v-PCV vaccine after every four weeks. Antibody functionality was then assessed using the opsonophagocytic activity assay method.
Results: An average of 28.9% of pneumococcus exposed to the vaccine-induced secreted antibodies were killed by the pneumococcal IgG antibody. The highest percentage of number of bacteria killed was achieved after the 3rd dose of vaccination. There was no significant influence of storage duration on opsonophagocytic activity of generated antibodies.
Conclusion: Storing of 10v-PCV vaccine up to 12 weeks does not significantly affect the opsonophagocytic activity of pneumococcal IgG antibodies
Kabarak Journal of Law and Ethics Volume 7(2023)
No full textKabarak Journal of Law and Ethics Volume 7(2023
Caregivers’ Perceptions of Do Not Resuscitate Orders: A Qualitative Study in Rural Southwestern Kenya
Get PDFThe need for palliative care services has increased with the rise of patients with terminal illnesses. Unfortunately, there is a need for more research in palliative care, especially on end-of-life care. Conversations during that period present an ethical and cultural challenge in both collectivistic and individualistic societies. Worldwide, the laws regulating Do Not Resuscitate orders differ from country to country. The perceptions also vary from society to society. Studies have shown the need to involve families in this era of rising advocacy for patient-centered care. Caregivers have an essential role in decision-making and are involved in end-of-life decisions. This study aimed to describe caregivers\u27 perceptions of Do Not Resuscitate orders. The study used a qualitative approach and phenomenological research design. It involved eighteen caregivers of patients receiving palliative care. The sampling procedure was non-probability purposive. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Overall, two themes emerged from the findings. The first theme was a lack of awareness of the Do Not Resuscitate orders and the resuscitation techniques, and the second theme was subjective perceptions based on caregivers\u27 beliefs and emotional responses. Caregivers need counseling, preparation, and education on Do Not Resuscitate orders and resuscitation methods to improve Do Not Resuscitate discussions. Healthcare providers need to be empowered to hold those discussions