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Selected Leadership Styles and Corporate Governance: Literature Review on Relationship Perspective
Get PDFThis article provides comprehensive literature analyses of the relationship between selected contemporary/modern leadership styles and Corporate Governance (CG). Do leaders apply appropriate CG as they exercise their leadership styles? Therefore, the paper underscores that a good leadership style embraces good CG. Selected leadership styles such as; transformational, transactional, servant, and authentic leadership, have an impact on CG on aspects such as; stakeholder rights, composition of the board of directors, shareholder’s behavior, management practices, organizational policies, and regulations. The Postulated theories of CG such as; agency theory, stewardship theory, stakeholder theory, and resource dependency theory are explored. The literature findings signify the efficacy and predominance of effective leadership styles in shaping good CG practices and the need for appropriate mechanisms that support and enhance effective leadership
Issues Associated with Media and Health Information Seeking Behavior Among the Elderly in Kenya
Get PDFUnderstanding issues associated with media and health information-seeking behavior among the elderly, aids in tailoring public communication campaigns, ultimately enhancing a healthier and more resilient community. In Kibra slum, the elderly face limited access to health resources, including accessibility to a variety of health information sources, exacerbating their informational gap. This hinders their ability to make informed decisions, potentially leading to delayed or inadequate healthcare, further compromising their well-being. The primary objective of this study is to investigate issues associated with media and health information-seeking behavior among the elderly in one of Africa’s biggest slums, Kibera. Interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews targeting the elderly living in Kibera slum were conducted. Qualitative findings indicated that social support, health status, and media-related issues were associated with media and health information seeking among elderly slum dwellers. These issues shaped media use for seeking health information. The study recommends that health stakeholders should aim to understand these issues to effectively address the unique health needs of this population
Reflections on the status of protection of the rights of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in Kenya
Get PDFCommissioner Prof Marion Mutugi, Kenya National Commissionon Human Rights (KNCHR), Prof Ronald Chepkilot, Deputy ViceChancellor (Administration and Finance), Kabarak University, DrHarun Hassan, Executive Director, National Council for Persons withDisabilities, Dr Bernard Mogesa, Secretary, KNCHR, Dr Julius Ogato,the Chief Executive Officer, Mathari National Teaching and ReferralHospital, Mr William Aseka, Programme Manager - Africa, ValidityFoundation, Representative of the Kenya Prisons Service, Nakuru, MrHenry Opondo, Chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya, NakuruChapter, Representatives of civil society organisations working in thearea of mental health rights, faculty and students of Kabarak University,esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon
Enhancing child participation in family disputes through child inclusive mediation in Kenya
Get PDFDespite the fact that children are directly affected by the outcome of familydisputes, they are rarely given the opportunity to express their views. Whenan opportunity arises, children’s voices are manipulated by parents dueto the adversarial litigation system that turns parents against each other.Consequently, the child’s best interests are not adequately considered duringand post-divorce. In view of the increasing case backlog and promoting thebest interests of the child, this paper advocates child inclusive mediation bydemonstrating how it can be entrenched in the resolution of family disputes.The paper argues that this form of mediation enables children to participatein the decisions affecting their future. Secondly, involving children to voicetheir wishes helps in refocusing on the children’s needs. Using the Officeof Family Advocate in South Africa as a case study, the paper illustrateshow Kenya can enhance child participation in family mediation through thenewly created Office of Secretary of Children’s Services under Section 37and 38 of the Children Act of 2022
Outcomes of Trial of Labor after a Cesarean Section in Bomet County, Kenya
Get PDFTrial of labor after cesarean section (TOLAC) is recommended for women with one prior cesarean section. However, TOLAC positive outcomes depend on selecting candidates to achieve higher success rates. Most available TOLAC data to inform patient selection originates from developed countries, which limits a patient-centered TOLAC practice in low-resource settings. Thus, we used a prospective observational cross-sectional approach to assess the success rate of TOLAC and establish the maternal and fetal factors associated with successful TOLAC in 170 women with one previous scar at two referral hospitals in Bomet County, a low-resource setting in Kenya. The primary maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between those who had a vaginal birth after a cesarean section (VBAC) and those who had an emergency repeat cesarean section (ERCS) following a failed TOLAC between October 2022 and June 2023. The TOLAC success rate was 48.2% with the most common indication for emergency repeat cesarean section being failure to progress (34.1%). Factors associated with successful TOLAC included inter-delivery interval >60 months (p-0.044), and parity 2-4 (p- <0.001). Breech presentation and non-reassuring fetal status (NRFS) as indications for previous cesarean section, were associated with a successful VBAC (p-< 0.001, 0.033). In contrast, a birth weight of >3500 g was associated with an increased risk of ERCS. Moreover, a failed TOLAC was associated with a prolonged (>4 days) hospital stay (p-0.012). Our findings suggest that with proper patient selection, TOLAC remains a viable option with better outcomes if successful. However, TOLAC candidates should be evaluated based on the contextual factors of a given setting, hence careful patient selection is recommended to improve outcomes associated with TOLAC
An Assessment of organizational factors affecting utilization of Monitoring and Evaluation results in delivering government programs: A case of Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), Uganda
Get PDFThe field of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is often restricted to the technical aspects of conducting M&E. However, it is increasingly being acknowledged that organizational factors of entities are regularly more influential as far as mainstreaming the adoption and utilization of M&E is concerned. This study sought to assess the organizational factors affecting utilization of M&E results, specifically by analyzing how information availability, information processing skills and organizational culture affect utilization of M&E results in MoES. The study methodology entailed grounded theory and quantitative research methods and covered a sample of 191 respondents. The study’s key findings, among others, include: M&E information is often stored as manual paper records which subjects the information to wastage through poor handling and physical deterioration; and, poorly presented M&E results have a negative effect on their utilization. The study generated a number of recommendations, which inter alia include MoES should: design and implement a mind–set change programme for all staff of the Ministry to embracing and utilize of M&E results; design and implement regular capacity building and retooling programmes for all staff involved in the generation and utilization of M&E results; and, migrate its M&E records and management procedures from paper–based systems to digital systems. The study\u27s conclusions inform various government MDAs about the relevance of using M&E results for planning, budgeting, and policy making. The study findings will enable MoES appreciate the need for installation of appropriate information management systems necessary for improved uptake of M&E results utilization. The study suggests a number of areas for further investigation, such as, examining the influence of political direction and choices on the application and usefulness of M&E results in government organizations, and analyzing the impact of information dissemination on demand and utilization of M&E results in Government agencies
Reasons for Use of Code-Switching English and Kiswahili During English Lessons in Public Primary Schools in Eldoret West Sub-County, Kenya
Get PDFEnglish is a language of international communication hence it has a special place in the educational systems of most countries in the world. In Kenya, English is a language of instruction as well as an examinable subject in Kenyan schools. Apart from making learners to be linguistically diverse, it also has some economic returns in the job market. This paper aimed to investigate the reasons for the use of code-switching English and Kiswahili during English lessons in public primary schools in Eldoret West Sub-County. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The sample size was 33 teachers of English, 8 grade three teachers, and 292 learners. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the use of questionnaires, interviews, and observation schedules. Piloting of research instruments was conducted in the nearby Wareng Sub County which shares similar characteristics as the study area. Validity was ensured through expert judgment while reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient after piloting. The data was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics; frequencies and percentages while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The study found that the majority (79.3%) of the teachers of English reported that code-switching encouraged learner participation in class. In addition, the majority (79.4%) of the teachers reported that code-switching was used in cases where the learner’s level of understanding of English was low thus enabling them to actively participate in class while the majority (75.7%) of the teachers also acknowledged that code-switching eased students’ anxiety during the teaching process. The findings will benefit the Government of Kenya in formulating language policies for schools. The study will also be of significance to teachers of English in coming up with strategies to boost the performance of English
The Negative Impact of Telling Leadership Style on the Performance of Employees at the Kenya’s International Airports
Get PDFKenya’s four international airports are experiencing slow processing of passengers, leading to numerous complaints. Despite the issues, no empirical study has been conducted to identify the root cause. This study aimed to determine the impact of the telling leadership style on employee performance and its contribution to inefficiencies. The study was guided by positivist philosophy and focused on 694 employees responsible for passenger processing, categorized as senior, middle, and shop-floor managers. A census approach was used, collecting data via structured questionnaires administered through the drop-and-pick method. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in the analysis. Results showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.700) between the telling leadership style and employee performance. The adjusted R² value of 0.490 indicated that 49% of the variance in employee performance could be attributed to this leadership style. Linear regression revealed a significant impact, with p < 0.05. The study found that telling leadership negatively affects employee performance, leading to high turnover, tense working environments, and reduced profits. These findings suggest that telling leadership style hinders employee output. It is recommended that leaders at Kenya’s international airports adopt other situational leadership styles that are more supportive and conducive to enhancing performance
An Evaluation and Selection of Machine Learning Models for Blood Pressure Prediction
Get PDFBlood pressure (BP) prediction using machine learning (ML) algorithms has emerged as a critical area of research in the field of healthcare. ML methods provide particular advantages by using the power of large datasets. Firstly, they enable the creation of tailored predictive models that can take into account a wide range of individual characteristics such as medical history and lifestyle. When carefully trained and validated, these models can detect high blood (BP) pressure at an early stage, allowing for preventive interventions and customized healthcare regimens. Furthermore, the use of ML in BP prediction can help to reduce healthcare costs by optimizing resource allocation and also offers a viable route for improving the precision of healthcare interventions. This study used an ML model to predict future fluctuations of an individual’s BP using their future calendar events. The study was done in Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya. The design science method was employed for the study. The data was collected using a smartwatch, which collected the BP and heart rate, and a smartphone application which collected the individuals\u27 moods, activities, and calendar events. The algorithms that were selected and evaluated for the predictive ML models are; Lasso Regression, Linear Regression, ElasticNet, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Decision Tree Regressor, and Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR). The Holdout method’s test data set, R-squared (R2), and Mean Squared Error (MSE) were used to evaluate the models. The GBR predictive model was the best performing out of the selected models and was implemented using the Iterative and Incremental Development Model. The GBR model gave an MSE score of 0.182 and R2 score of 0. 992. A two-sample T-test was also conducted giving a T-statistic of 0.047 and a P-value of 0.963. These scores depict the GBRs’ good performance in predicting an individual’s BP using future planned activities
Political Pursuit of Unity: A Narrative Inquiry into the Davidic Reign and its Typology in the Oyo Empire
Get PDFThis is a contextual-biblical study on how political leaders can effectively pursue national unity amid diversity. Psalm 133 is one of the remarkable biblical texts on unity, it, therefore, becomes a major standpoint in this study. First, the study draws a connection between Psalm 133 and David’s reign, otherwise called Davidic unity reign. Second, it examines the unification strategy in the Oyo Empire and highlights its similarity in comparison with the Davidic unity reign. The methodology used in the study is narrative inquiry. It investigates the life of David in connection to Psalm 133 bringing out the relevant narrative behind the psalm. It also inquires about the historical narrative of the Oyo Empire with the aim of uncovering the political practices that were geared towards the unity of the empire. All the information in the study was gleaned from existing literature. Based on biographical, historical, and comparative analysis, it is evident that both King David’s Israel and Alaafin’s Oyo Empire have the worship of a divine being as their tool of unity. The major antithesis is that while Yahweh, the universal God, used David to unite all the tribes of Israel through worship, Alaafin used Sango, a tribal god, to unify all the people under his ruler-ship