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Commercial Bank Diversification and Financial Performance: The Moderating Role of Risk
Get PDFCommercial banks in Kenya have posted good financial performance as indicated by ROA and ROE. This coincides with a period of enormous diversification occasioned by global financial sector liberalization, allowing banks to venture into a range of businesses while maintaining the traditional intermediation business. Theory and empirical evidence is equivocal on the financial performance impact of diversification. Often, theory provides an isolated analysis of the
diversification – performance relationship which limits their generalizations especially in the face of systemic financial risks and crisis. Using an ex post factoexplanatory design we investigate whether bank diversification affects financial performance and whether this effect is moderated by solvency and credit risk based on panel data from 34 commercial banks in Kenya over nine firm years. The authors find that income and asset diversification negatively and significantly
affect commercial bank ROA while geographical diversification significantly – positively affect both ROA and ROE. We also find a significant positive moderation effect of credit risk on relationship between income diversification and ROA but a significant negative effect on relationship between asset diversification and geographical diversification with both ROA and ROE. On solvency risk, we find a significant positive moderation effect on relationship between geographical
diversification and ROE
Detecting changes, causes and future prospects of Kenyan wetlands and their conservation
Get PDFWetlands around the globe have been altered, degraded or lost through a wide range of human activities. A variety of conservation action is presently undertaken in response to these changes, and much of this work aims to: promote the wise and sustainable use of wetland resources, maintain ecological character at wetland sites, and also to prevent degradation and loss of wetlands at local, national and international scales. Kenyan wetlands play a number of roles in the socio-economic development of the country despite being under intense pressure. The driving forces continue to increase in intensity with time and there is a need for immediate action in order to restore their ecological character and integrity. The findings of this review provides an introduction, changes, causes, challenges and way forward as the conservation of Kenyan wetlands is concerned
Performance of Leucaena leucocephala, Seedlings in Two Agro-climatic Regions of Kenya
Get PDFA study was conducted to determine the response of Leucaena seedlings planted in two variant
agro-climatic regions, Chepkoilel Campus and Maseno in Kenya. The experiment was a 2-factor
(provenance – site) split plot design with five replications. Three provenances were randomly
assigned to the sub-plots. A block measuring 60 m by 30 m was divided into two plots, which were
separated by a 1 m strip of land. The study was conducted at Chepkoilel College Campus and
Maseno farms in Kenya. Farm experiments were conducted. Soil samples were amended with lime
at the rate of 6.6 ton/ha. Three genotypes of Leucaena were planted. At 60 DAP and 120 DAP,
seedlings were subjected to analysis to determine seedling height, root length, root collar diameter,
leaf number and seedling biomass at both sites. There was variation in the performance of each
provenance based on the growth parameters assessed between the two sites. KIT2724 recorded
the highest means in all growth attributes followed by K136, and the lowest means was recorded
by K156 at Maseno. However, in Chepkoilel, K136 recorded the best performance in the growth
Original Research Article Kodiango et al.; JAERI, 6(4): 1-7, 2016; Article no.JAERI.234892
attributes followed by KIT2724 and lastly by K156. L. leucocephala provenances (K136) seedling
growing in the field at Chepkoilel bore flowers and pods at the age of 6 months. The seedlings of
L. leucocephala grew faster at Maseno than at Chepkoilel. With liming, KIT2724 and K136 could be
grown in acid soils especially in both Maseno and Uasin Gishu Districts where agroforestry practice
is being promoted. However, K156 seems to be more tolerant to soil acidity and the genetic basis
of this tolerance should be further established
Effect of Water logging on Selected Morphological Characteristics in Maize
Get PDFA greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine waterlogging tolerance in acidic soils for maize crop improvement in low lying flood prone regions of Western Kenya where waterlogging is a severe problem. Three replicates of nine cultivars, seven tolerant and two susceptible accessions identified after a preliminary screening were subjected to waterlogging to select traits for tolerance to waterlogging using randomized complete block design. 17 dayold seedlings planted in acidic ferralsol soil were exposed to field capacity flooding for 10 days, drained and growth monitored. Waterlogging caused significant reduction in mean number of leaves, leaf area, root collar diameter, seedling height and grain yield. K8 recovered least from water logging. Kan2 and K27 were least affected with regard to leaf tip death and wilting. K8, Br2, K24 and C8 recorded the most significant reduction in leaf area. K3 and Kan2 recorded the least internode length. Plant height recovery was most significant in K27 and K8. Lowest reduction in yield was recorded in Br2 and K3 while the highest grain yield was K3 and Kan2. Reduction on collar root diameter had a significant
influence (F value = 2.7) on total grain yield of maize in the affected accessions (y= 1.0183x – 0.5685). There exists a significant genetic variability among Kenyan maize germplasm in terms of response to waterlogging, which can be exploited for crop improvement
Disability and Inclusive Development: a Theoretical analysis of The Elderly Disability In Kenya
No full textGlobal projection for elderly persons for the year 2030 is 1 billion with Africa peaking to 1.6 billion
from 1.0 billion in 2010. Advanced age is often associated with disabilities thus challenges activities of daily living. In Kenya like other nations, the elderly are often discriminated and excluded from participating in development programs under different circumstances and situations on the basis of age. Despite these, they are potential and salient contributors to development. In African societies, they play vital roles including care for grandchildren, placate controversies and are custodian of community resources. Preserving and harnessing their talent means complementing community development with optimal aging. It is thus imperative that the inclusion of the elderly in community development be a priority. This paper aim to review the role of the elderly in sustainable community development with a view to advocate for their inclusion in development agendas to realize the Community Based Rehabilitation’s beliefs. A literature search was used to obtain data which was analyzed, and interpreted within study objectives. The findings are that health care and social protection are key factors that influence participation of the elderly in community development and that elderly contribute more to development contrary to popular beliefs
Perspectivizing Vernacular Broadcast Media Intervention in Stemming Intra-Ethnic Conflict in Kenya: A Case of the Abakuria
Get PDFThe media can be used as an instrument to build as well as to destroy order, harmony and social coexistence in the human society. This study has tried to establish the inherent nature of social conflict and crises in human society as well as the significant role of the media and communication in forming and shaping individual or group perception of events or issues, as well as enhancing human interaction. It also perspectivizes the nature of violence and turmoil to the wellbeing of humanity. Vital roles of the media and the various conflict management apparatus like arbitration, collaboration, mediation, negotiation and reconciliation among other measures put in place to avert or control the recurrent violent conflict among the Abakuria community have also been
highlighted.
Keywords: intra-ethnic conflict, conflict resolution, vernacular broadcast media, Abakuri
Evaluation of Polymorphism Generated By Single Sequence Repeat Markers in Selected Taro Populations
Get PDFGenetic structure of Kenya and Secretariat of Pacific Community’s Tarogen taro germplasm was investigated. Fifty cultivars were evaluated using six SSR primer combinations. Significant polymorphic variations within the Kenyan and Tarogen taro sub-populations were revealed. A total of 64 alleles were detected with sizes from 99 to 294 bp. Kenyan germplasm generated 30 alleles and averaged 5.0 alleles/ locus while the Tarogen revealed 34 alleles with an average of 5.70 alleles/ locus. Primers generated a higher polymorphism information content (PIC) in Tarogen (0.6508) compared to Kenyan (0.6108) genotypes and genetic diversity index mean in Tarogen (0.6989) than Kenyan (0.6530) genotypes. Genetic diversity ranged between 0.25 to 0.6218 and 0.25 to 0.06204
for Kenyan and Tarogen genotypes. Allele frequency ranged from 42.52 to 75% across the populations. Generally, observed mean heterozygosity was lower than the expected mean genetic diversity indexes of 0.6530 and 0.6989 for Kenyan and Tarogen. Kenya recorded the highest mean genetic diversity (0.4735) and richness (3.04), allele frequency (0.62) and PIC (0.412) while Tarogen recorded 2.0, 0.4527, 0.5988 and 0.3917, respectively. Observed genetic diversity was significantly greater than the expected diversity. All the evaluated primers displayed distinct polymorphisms among the taro accessions studied indicating the robust nature of microsatellites in revealing polymorphism variability
Biosorption of Selected Heavy Metals Using Green Algae, Spirogyra Species
Get PDFBiosorption studies were conducted to determine the adsorption parameters (pH, contact time and adsorption capacity) of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead in model aqueous solutions using green algae, spirogyra species. pH was optimized for each heavy metal. The optimum pH values were found to be 5.5, 5.8, 5.9 and 5.0 for cadmium, chromium, copper and lead, respectively. The adsorption process was second order and fitted the Langmuir isotherm better than the Freundlich. Adsorption capacities were found to be 22.52, 38.19, 35.59 and 94.34 mg/g for cadmium, chromium, copper and lead, respectively. The biosorption process was rapid with contact times of 15 minutes for cadmium, 40 minutes for chromium and copper and 50 minutes for lead. The optimum initial concentrations for metal adsorption ranged from 500 - 700 µg/mL. Adsorption kinetics of the metals on green algae were also investigated. The experimental data was tested for biosorption kinetics using first and second order kinetic models and was found to follow second order kinetics. The concentration of the selected metals was determined in algae and in the parent water. The results in both samples by ICP – OES were 1.81 ± 0.11, 64.33 ± 0.35, 17.14 ± 0.155 and 12.08 ± 1.80 µg/L in water and 2.30 ± 0.09, 12.17 ± 0.20, 25.61 ± 0.74 and 60.50 ± 1.57 µg/g for cadmium, chromium, copper and lead in algae, respectively. The average concentration factors were Cd (2547.01), Cr (367.02), Cu (1843.59) and Pb (7154.95). Little correlation was found between the heavy metal concentration in parent water and in algae from the same water (R ≤ 0.32). The concentration of the acid-leached metal fraction from the algal surface, correlated well with the total metal taken up by the algae, (0.55 ≤ R ≤ 0.94). This work demonstrates the potential of green algae as both a biosorbent and bioindicator of water pollution by the selected heavy metal
Principals’ Leadership Style and Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in HomaBay County, Kenya
Get PDFThe thrust of this study was to examine the effects of principals’ leadership styles on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Homabay County, Kenya. This study was based on combinations of modified Bossert’s framework and Pitner’s moderated effects model of effective schools. The main objective of the study was to examine the extent principals leadership styles influence students’ academic performance in national examinations in HomaBay County Kenya. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design. Combinations of stratified random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to draw 216 secondary school teachers and 39 principals yielding a sample size of 255 respondents. The study employed a questionnaire for teachers and interview guide for principals. It was established that school principals utilize
diverse leadership behaviour, some pointing to the more democratic and transactional styles while others skewed towards the more autocratic and laissez-faire types. The use of diverse leadership behaviour notwithstanding, it was evident that most principals were deficient in the types of leadership behaviour that support the creation of a conducive learning environment and support to teachers necessary for effective teaching and the expected enhanced students’ academic achievement. A test of null hypothesis retained the null hypothesis that that there was no statistically significant relationship between principals’ leadership styles and students’ academic performance. It was recommended that school principals should aspire to establish a school
environment which is conducive for effective teaching and learning (236 words)
Moderating effect of Firm Characteristics in the Financing Diversification – Performance nexus among Credit Unions in Kakamega County, Kenya
Get PDFThe last two decades has seen a lot of creativity and diversity in the funding strategies pursued by credit unions as a result of financial sector liberalization and competitive pressure in the financial system. Research has shown that this diversification is both beneficial and hurting at the same time. However, firm characteristics have not mostly been factored in the diversification – performance analysis though studies in other sectors underline their importance. This therefore prompted this study to analyze the moderation effect that firm characteristics – specifically age, size, members’ occupation and management structure of credit unions – could have on the relationship between diversification and performance of credit unions in Kenya. The study used a correlation analysis approach on a data set of sixteen credit unions in Kakamega County and found that whereas financing diversification had a significantly positive relationship with credit union performance; credit union size and members’ occupation significantly improved this relationship while age and management structure significant suppressed the relationship