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Moderating effect of social networking on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and performance of small and medium enterprise in Nakuru county, Kenya
Get PDFAn emerging stream of research indicates that entrepreneurial orientation is a
critical factor in enhancing entrepreneurial outcomes such as firm performance. However, few
studies have examined how a firm’s embedded in inter-firm networks influences enterprise
performance. The study aimed at evaluating the moderating effect of social networking on the
relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and Small and Medium Enterprises performance
in Nakuru town Kenya. The specific objectives were; to determine the effect of risk-taking and pro-
activeness on performance of small and medium enterprises and finally to determine the
moderating effect of social networking on relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and
performance of small and medium enterprises. The study utilized the resource based view theory
(Barney 1991). Explanatory research design guided the study. A questionnaire was used to collect
data from a sample of 214 SMEs in Nakuru town. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive
and inferential statistics. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were employed to test the
hypotheses. The results indicated that Risk-taking, Pro-activeness and Innovativeness were
significant in affecting performance of SMEs. Also the results revealed that social networking
positively moderates the relationship between risk-taking Proactiveness and performance of SMEs.
It is recommended that SMEs need to endeavor and embrace social networking since it offers a
cost effective way in expanding contact bases and enhancing the profitability of firm. Finally the
study contributes to knowledge and theory by establishing the moderating effect of social
networking on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and performance of SMEs in
Keny
Benson Nyongesa_et al_Genatic Relationship Between Sesame and Related Species_Chromosome and Isozyme.
No full textSesame is an orphan crop with little research attention in Kenya. Genetic relationship between cultivated
sesame and related wild species in Kenya is not well known. The objective of this study was to
determine genetic relationship between traditional landraces of sesame and related wild species using
somatic chromosome counts and isozyme markers. Somatic chromosome counts of four wild species
revealed a consistent chromosome number of 2n = 32, which differed from that of the cultivated sesame
(2n = 26), indicating genetic variation in chromosome counts. Only esterase exhibited significant
variation and accession-specific esterase bands were identified. Three cathodic and eight anodic bands
were observed and the variable bands ranged from 2 to 6 per accession. Cathodic bands with varied
relative migration were observed in wild species only, whereas anodic bands were observed for all the
accessions. Accessions of cultivated sesame were more genetically diverse compared to wild species.
Morogoro, 107UG, Indian-1 and Indian-2 recorded the highest number of esterase bands, while 103w had
the lowest number of bands. Few common bands were found between cultivated sesame and related
wild species indicating a distant genetic relationship. Few gene markers are available in sesame and
related wild species, therefore, esterase isozymes can contribute to studies in the breeding and genetics
of sesame
Phylogenetic Relationship among Kenyan Sorghum_Cheprot et al 2013.pdf
No full textEighty nine (89) sorghum lines sourced from various parts of Kenya were used to determine
phylogenetic relationships based on 10 DNA fragments at AltSB loci with SbMATE, ORF9 and MITE
primers. Nine lines of varying aluminium tolerance levels were selected to compare their SbMATE gene
expression via the real-time PCR quantification of SbMATE gene expression. The sorghum line MSCR
O2 expressed a thousandfold more SbMATEgene activity than the sensitive lines (MSCRM49, MSCRN84
and MSCRN61) under Al treatment. Analysis was done by agarose gel electrophoresis stained with
ethidium bromide. The objective of this study was to assess the level of phylogenetic relationships
among the Kenyan sorghum germplasms at a known Al tolerance locus. Hierarchical cluster analysis
joined at 70% simple matching coefficient using average linkage similarity level produced nine groups
in which 67 lines fell in three major clusters of 39, 15 and 13 lines each. The three Al tolerant lines
MSCRO2, MSCRC1 and MSCRN60 were clustered together. Lines MSCRO2, MSCRC1 and MSCRN60,
screened to be Al tolerant were genetically related at 70% average linkage similarity level and therefore
recommend their further development as a food security measure in Kenya
A Theoretical Survey
Get PDFAbstract The banking industry in the entire world has experienced tremendous diversification levels spurred by the sector liberalization and deregulation in the last two decades. This is especially so because of the competitive pressure that has resulted from non-bank institutions entry into the sector as well as the resulting reductions in cost efficiencies and profit margins earlier associated with the intermediation business. While banks have resolved to creative diversification strategies to overcome the profit compression and competition pressure, a number of questions central to this practice still linger and which this paper seeks to address. First, what is diversification in banking? Though, it is clearly defined in strategic management literature, the true meaning of diversification in banking has remained elusive. Secondly, what is the theoretical motivation behind firms and managers pursuit of diversification? Lastly, what are the avenues through which banks can execute a diversification strategy? The research find out that bank diversification is best understood by disaggregating the various elements that constitute the operations, assets and liabilities of commercial banks and can be defined as the conglomeration of different activities, income sources, assets and liabilities in banking operations. The theoretical diversification of diversification stems from the search for market power hypothesised in market power theory, the exploitation and utilization of resource bundles to attain sustainable competitive advantage as proposed by the resource based view theory or pursuing of managerial self interests hypothesised in agency theory. The common approaches through which banks pursue diversification are income diversification, assets diversification, credit diversification, geographical diversification and international diversificatio
Tapping Indigenous Knowledge to Power the National Development Agenda: the Indigenous Knowledge Resource Centre Approach
Get PDFThe world is witnessing unprecedented impetus to leverage Indigenous Knowledge (IK) as a
means of spurring development interventions. This momentum derives primarily from the
appreciation that IK is vital for development and indeed a resource for addressing the myriad
development challenges in different sectors. Unfortunately, due to preoccupation with ‘western’
knowledge systems the power of IK is adversely obliterated. Through literature review, this
paper sought to advance understanding and appreciation of IK as a resource in national
development. It concludes and recommends that Information Centers, particularly libraries
should establish specialized units to handle IK – the Indigenous Knowledge Resource Centers.
As a best practice, such centers should undertake action research, documentation, awareness
creation, policy advisory, networking and publishing as a way of leveraging IK
Immediate and residual effects of lime and phosphorus fertilizer on soil acidity and maize production in western Kenya
No full textSoil acidity and phosphorus (P) deficiency are some of the major causes of low maize yields in Kenya.
This study determined the immediate and residual effects of lime and P fertilizer on soil pH, exchangeable
aluminium (Al), available P, maize grain yield, agronomic P use and P fertilizer recovery efficiencies on a
western Kenya acid soil. The treatments were: P fertilizer (0, 26 and 52 kg P ha−1 as triple super phosphate)
and lime (0, 2, 4 and 6 tons lime ha−1 ) applied once at the beginning of the study. A burnt liming material
with 92.5% calcium carbonate equivalent was used. Soil samples were analysed prior to and after treatment
application. The site had low soil pH–H2 O (4.9), available P (2.3 mg kg−1 ), total N (0.17%), high Al (2.0
cmol kg−1 exchangeable Al and 29% Al saturation). Lime reduced soil pH and exchangeable Al, leading
to increased soil available P. Lime at 2, 4 and 6 tons ha−1 maintained soil pH ≥ 5.5 for 2, 3 and 4 years,
respectively. The study observed that the recommended P fertilizer rate (26 kg P ha−1 ) for maize production
in Kenya was inadequate to raise soil available P to the critical level (≥10 mg P kg−1 soil bicarbonate
extractable P) required for healthy maize growth. To maintain soil available P at the critical level where 52
kg P ha−1 and combined 52 kg P ha−1 + 4 tons lime ha−1 were applied, it would be necessary to reapply
the same P fertilizer rate after every one and two cropping seasons, respectively. The 4-year mean grain
yield increments were 0.17, 0.34, 0.50, 0.58 and 1.17 tons ha−1 due to 2, 4, 6 tons lime ha−1 , 26 kg P
and 52 kg P ha−1 , respectively. Both agronomic P use and P fertilizer recovery efficiencies increased with
increasing rates of lime and decreased with increasing rates of P fertilizer. Therefore, combined applications
of both lime and P fertilizer are important for enhancing maize production on P-deficient acid soils in
western Kenya
Ojunga(Etiegni)_Impact of a Kraft Pulp and Paper Mill Effl uent on
No full textPhytoplankton and macroinvertebrate assemblages were used to assess the impact of a kraft pulp and paper mill effluent
in Kenya, on River Nzoia downstream of the discharge point in relation to changes in water quality during May to June
and November 2008 (rainy and dry seasons, respectively). Total phosphorus concentration increased from 0.027 mg·L-1
upstream to 0.04 mg·L-1 downstream. Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration was 0.51 mg·L-1 upstream and 0.86 mg·L-
1
downstream. Nitrate concentration stood at 1.18 mg·L-1 upstream compared with the 2.23 mg·L-1 downstream. The pH
changed from 4.5 to 5.0 upstream to 5.5 to 6.0 downstream, while DO increased from 6.57 to 7.03 mg·L-1 downstream. The
BOD5 (biochemical oxygen demand after five days) values remained almost unchanged from 4.63 mg·L-1 upstream to 4.67
mg·L-1 downstream. Taxon composition of phytoplankton and macroinvertebrates correlated with adverse environmental
gradients resulting from the mill’s effluent discharge. Overall, there was a shift in composition and abundance of both
phytoplankton and macroinvertebrates, with the downstream site recording high numbers of tolerant taxa (i.e., Microcystis
sp. and Chironomus sp.). It was recommended that water quality monitoring with effluents of this nature be done using a
combination of chemical analysis and biological indicators such as phytoplankton and macroinvertebrate
Analysis of AFLP Markers for Screening Resistance to Common Bean Roots Rot (Pythium spp.)
Get PDFAims: To investigate AFLPs for suitability as potential markers for identification of sources of
Pythium resistance in bean genotypes preferred by poor small holder farmers.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of biological sciences Masinde Muliro University of
Science and Technology, Kenya and Bangor University, North Wales, United Kingdom, between
September 2010 and December 2012.
Methodology: 45 common bean accessions comprising 35 seed samples collected from farmers,
market centers, as well as seed stockists and ten common bean lines generated from a
conventional breeding program with differential resistance to the pathogen Pythium were subjected
to AFLP analysis. Genetic characterization using cluster and principal component analysis were
conducted to determine segregating patterns of bean accessions in relation to tolerant and
Original Research Article
Maryrose et al.; AJEA, 5(4): 374-391, 2015; Article no.AJEA.2015.039
375
susceptible bean lines. Average genetic distances were calculated and similarity coefficients
subjected to unweighted pair group method of arithmetic averages to generate dendograms.
Results: Two informative AFLP primer combinations yielded 194 polymorphic loci. Genetic distance
of bean samples from KARI Kakamega had 56 to 414 base pairs with a variability index of 0.63 to
0.90. Combined analysis of bean accessions from KARI breeding program and market class
common bean samples revealed a variability index range of 0.62 to 0.90 with 56 to 420 base pairs.
PCA contributed about 51.58% on the genetic variation. Cluster analysis of the 10 KARI-Kakamega
bean lines revealed that resistant bean varieties were genetically different from the susceptible
bean varieties. The dendogram generated revealed four sub-groups and with the exception of Alulu,
a mildly resistant cultivar, that segregated alongside resistant cultivars, resistant varieties clustered
differently from susceptible cultivars. However, screening with farmers’ germplasm produced a
dendogram that revealed a mixture of distinct and relatively non-distinct categorization with regard
to resistance. Only resistant cultivars AN1062, R2075, R719 and R1946 and susceptible cultivars
GLP2 and GLP585 clustered together as expected. The others segregated randomly alongside the
farmers’ germplasm. Resistant varieties AND1062, R2075, R719, R1946 and SCAM80 were more
genetically related to marketable class of beans. R1946 R719, R2075 and AND1062 are closely
related genetically compared to Mw001, KK15, Alulu and GLP2.
Conclusion: AFLP is a relatively informative technique that has a great potential of delineating
susceptible and resistant Pythium root rot dry bean varieties, and can be used as a preliminary
guide to carry out further analysis. It is notable that the AFLP markers used were not able to clearly
distinguish all the cultivars comprehensively and should not be used alone in determining resistance
levels. The information generated in this study will contribute to the propagation of acceptable
market class bean lines with resistance to Pythium root rot for improved livelihood and increased
food securit