119 research outputs found
Economic Determinants of Exchange Rate Volatility in Kenya.
No full text<p><strong>The role of the exchange rate channel in the transmission of monetary policy has become more important due to globalization and the widespread use of floating exchange rate systems. Exchange rates are widely utilized by governments across the globe as a pivotal monetary policy instrument to exert influence over diverse economic and financial issues. It is of utmost importance to comprehend the factors and procedures that determine and regulate exchange rates. Nevertheless, numerous emerging economies, such as Kenya, face difficulties in achieving stability in their currency exchange rates. Forecasting future exchange rates is a difficult task for policymakers due to the intricate interaction of macroeconomic, speculative, and economic anticipation elements. This study aims to fill the lack of extensive research on the economic factors that influence the fluctuation of currency rates in Kenya. The study seeks to give valuable insights for policymakers, investors, and market participants by analyzing the effects of foreign direct investment, inflation rates, and the balance of payments on exchange rates. The study explores the complex dynamics of exchange rate fluctuations by using a quantitative research strategy and applying techniques such as Vector Autoregression (VAR) model analysis, Granger causality testing, and regression analysis. The results demonstrate notable associations between exchange rates and macroeconomic variables, providing insight into the factors that contribute to fluctuations in the exchange rate in Kenya. This study enhances the current body of knowledge by giving a detailed comprehension of the factors that influence exchange rates. It also offers significant perspectives for policymakers and stakeholders in effectively managing exchange rate risks and promoting economic stability</strong><strong>.</strong></p>
Transparency without Accountability
No full textKenya has been going through a period of political reform from 1991 when section 2A of the constitution that had made Kenya a de jure one party state was repealed. The reform followed a prolonged struggle by citizens both within and without the country. Their call for democracy was one that, post the fall of the Berlin wall, was embraced by western countries. Via diplomatic pressure and conditionality on aid, western donors played an important role in the repeal of section 2a, the return of multi-party elections and in the creation and reform of a number of political institutions and offices. In the main these changes were pushed by the donors and though supported by the opposition in Kenya they did not rise organically from the struggle over political power in Kenya. In this paper, we argue that although these reforms led to a heightened awareness of the ills of the political class, they failed to actually hold members of this class accountable for their transgressions. We argue that these institutions presupposed the existence of an electorate with an effective set of identities that belonged to the larger Kenyan nation. This broader construct of society did not exist. A history of economic and political inequality from the inception of modern Kenya had resulted in a divided population that was unable to exercise this mandate, and could ultimately discipline politicians when they failed. In actuality, since the politics was not based on broader Kenyan national interests but rather narrower personal interests construed as ethno-nationalist, the political class was not accountable to the larger Kenyan constituency. JEL Categories: O, P16, Z13Political Economy, Ethnicity, Development, Corruption, Kenya
A Literary Critic of Socialization on Gender Stereotype in Three Children’s Books by Meja Mwangi
No full textThe study sought to critically analyze how gender stereotype has been portrayed in Meja Mwangi children’s books; Little White Man, The Boy Gift and Striving for the Wind. Children’s literature has focused on children’s social and moral development in the children’s books. However, the issue of gender stereotype is present in many children’s books. This is likely to affect children’s social life from the way they view children’s books with gender stereotype. Objectives of this study analyzed how gender roles, character’s personalities and socialization portray gender stereotype in children’s books. The study analyzed children’s books, specifically for ages 10 and 14. The study hoped to create awareness of how children get exposed to gender stereotype in children’s books. In addition, the study anticipated in drawing the attention of the parents, to gender stereotyped children’s books. This research study is therefore a useful material for reference to other researchers and readers. The study was guided by Lawrence Kohlberg's Cognitive Development Theory: The concept of Gender Constancy. The study was conducted through qualitative research design. The three story books were selected from the target population using purposive sampling technique. Then researcher used content analysis, as a method of qualitative analysis in order to analyze the selected sample. From research findings, gender stereotype is evident in the children’s books by Meja Mwangi. The author portrays roles according to the genders. There are those roles that are only meant for male characters and female characters. The personality traits that are portrayed for the women and girls are weak and they depend on the male characters. While the men do not depend on the women and instead, they are brave and tough. The society highly regards the male characters as opposed to the female characters. From the conclusions made from the analysis of the research data, there are situations where the author challenges gender stereotype. In a particular illustration, the female character is portrayed having strong and courageous personalities. Also, the male character is portrayed performing chores associated with the women. However, much needs to be done, in curbing gender stereotype in children’s books. Both genders should be portrayed with equal roles, having some personalities. Social set-up should accommodate both female and male characters, in order to avoid gender stereotype portrayed in children’s books. In conclusion, the study suggested recommendations to parents and teachers in using gender neutral children’s books, which promote gender equality among girls and boys. Hence, the study provided sufficient and effective information in order to improve the quality of children’s books and a positive impact in children’s social life and moral development.
Keywords: Gender Stereotype, Children's Literature, Socialization, Literary Criticism, Meja Mwang
Factors affecting loan repayment by women entrepreneurs: a case of kisii county, Kenya
No full textWomen entrepreneurs play an important role in the economic development of the Country. The
research focused on the Women Entrepreneurs who belong to groups seeking for financial
access. According to Central Bank of Kenya report of 2010 the default rate experienced by
financial institutions had continued increasing and stood at 8%. Thus the study main objective
was to establish the factors affecting loan repayment by women entrepreneurs. The research
model developed predicted that marketing knowledge, training, group membership and financial
availability affected loan repayment. Stratified random sampling as a sampling method was
used by the research after having established the sampling frame of women groups accessing
funds from financial institutions in Kisii town, Kenya. The researcher made use of a structured
questionnaire that was administered to the target respondents The study established that loan
repayment by women entrepreneurs is affected to a high level through adherence of members
to group by- laws and regulations. The study found that that carrying out the business for a long
period enables them to be in a position to repay the loans acquired without any difficult. The
study recommends that the microfinance institutions management should have an effective loan
management pla
Maximizing the impact of print media in church development in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (P.C.E.A.) (Kenya), 1997
No full textAccording to the report of the Communications Committee of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (P.C.E.A.) to the 15th General Assembly, the church is aware of the immensity of information, education and revelation that can be shared and disseminated through the print media in the church. 1 However, to effectively disseminate the Gospel through the print media requires some creativity and administrative initiatives in the national office and particularly in the division of Communications and Publishing. As an initiative proposal, this dissertation examines how the P.C.E.A. has used print media from the missionary period (early 1900) to the mid-1990s, and offers proposals for maximizing print media impact in church development and social transformation. This dissertation is the final stage and result of a Doctor of Ministry project study and research conducted in Kenya and the United States between 1993 and 1997. Four parts comprised of eight chapters compose the dissertation. Part I is the ministry setting, containing chapters One and Two. Chapter One is a brief description of the nation of Kenya in terms of geography, history and politics. It is the wider context of this project. Chapter Two introduces the Presbyterian Church of East Africa as the central setting of the project. The history, the organizational structure and theological stance of this church are here discussed. Part II is the main body of the dissertation. It is the ministry issue, and it is divided into Chapters Three and Four. Chapter Three contains the history of print media in the P.C.E.A., with some remarks on the early beginnings of print media in Europe. Chapter Four is a brief examination of biblical and theological basis for print media use. Part III is the project, containing Chapters Five and Six. Chapter Five includes a review of six key texts which have been helpful in this research. The texts are: Keeping Your Church Informed by Austin Brodie; 2 Let the People Know: A Media Handbook for Churches by Charles Austin; 3Communications Media in the Nigerian Church Today by Boniface Ntomchukwu; 4 How to Publicize Church Activities by William J. Barrows, Jr.; 5 Communication for Development by Karl Lundstrom; 6 and Hope for Africa by G. Kinoti. 7 This chapter also includes questionnaire responses from a cross section of participants in Kenya and America, including the P.C.E.A. ministers living in Atlanta at the time, and members of the International Class of First Presbyterian Church-Atlanta. Chapter Six includes interviews, briefs from some P.C.E.A. leaders, and workshop proceedings from the P.C.E.A. Nkoroi and Chuka churches and from First Presbyterian Church-Atlanta. Part IV is the project evaluation. This final part contains Chapters Seven and Eight. Chapter Seven discusses recommendations for possible implementation of the proposals or suggestions made in the dissertation. These primarily relate to finance, training and structural innovations and changes. Chapter Eight is the conclusion, restating the purpose of the project. It emphasizes questions of faith and the sense of urgency in doing whatever it takes to maximize the impact of print media in the P.C.E.A. for God's glory and the blessing of the church
Challenges and Barriers to Women's Access and Participation in the ASGM Sector in Macalder Region of Migori County, Kenya
No full textArtisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is a significant source of income for millions of people in developing nations. Globally, women provide approximately 30 to 50% of the workforce in the ASGM sector. Women in developing countries face a number of challenges in access and participation in the ASGM sector. These include; social norms and taboos, inequalities in income distribution, discrimination in access to and control of mineral resources and exposure to gender-based violence. The objective of this study was to assess the challenges and barriers to women's access and participation in the ASGM in the Macalder region of Migori County in Kenya. This study was anchored on the Social Relations Gender approach to argue that the social construction of gender in African societies has tended to disadvantage women in the ASGM sector. This has created a system of subordination and exploitation of women miners in the Macalder region. This study adopted an explanatory research design. The study used both clustered probability and purposive sampling. A total of 100 respondents were selected for field interviews. Clustered probability sampling was used to select 90 men and women gold miners in the Osiri-Matanda gold mines in the Macalder region. Purposive sampling was used to select the lead 10 respondents who included officials of non-governmental organizations and the local administrators for interviews. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis and interpretation. From the findings, the researcher concluded that cultural and societal notions inhibit women's access and participation in the ASGM sector in the Macalder region. The study recommends that the women miners be empowered to cushion them against exploitation by men. It is further recommended that both National and local governments institute policies and legislation to actualize gender mainstreaming in the ASGM sector to allow women miners to reap economic benefits for socioeconomic developmen
INTEGRATION OF ROBOTIC ACTIVITIES IN STEM AND ITS EFFECT TO STUDENTS' PERCEPTION OF THE SUBJECTS
No full textAbstract: In most countries, Secondary schools play a great role in preparing students in their future careers. STEM subjects are perceived to be difficult and as such, there has been low interest by the secondary school students in these subjects. This calls for reconsideration of the way teaching is done in the STEM subjects in order to make STEM careers attractive and to retain students in these fields. This study developed robotic activities and integrated them in the STEM subjects and assessed the effects of the activities to the perception and interest in these subjects. The study was conducted in the secondary schools in Murang’a County in Kenya. The target population included 200 students selected through simple random sampling method. The selected students were introduced to robotics activities integrated in Physics and Mathematics topics. Questionnaires were used to collect data and were administered to the students before and after exposure to the robotic activities integrated in the subjects. The quantitative data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. From the findings of this study, the robotic activities had a significant effect on students’ perception of Physics and Mathematics. The study recommends that the government should facilitate the integration of educational robotic activities in the current STEM curriculum in order to improve interest towards the STEM fields.
Keywords: STEM, Careers, Robotic activities, Integration, teaching and learning.
Title: INTEGRATION OF ROBOTIC ACTIVITIES IN STEM AND ITS EFFECT TO STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF THE SUBJECTS
Author: Mwangi Peter Ngugi, Muriithi Christopher Maina, Agufana Peace Byrne
International Journal of Novel Research in Education and Learning
ISSN 2394-9686
Vol. 9, Issue 4, July 2022 - August 2022
Page No: 82-90
Novelty Journals
Website: www.noveltyjournals.com
Published Date: 23-August-2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7016736
Paper Download Link (Source)
https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/INTEGRATION%20OF%20ROBOTIC%20ACTIVITIES-23082022-4.pdfInternational Journal of Novel Research in Education and Learning, ISSN 2394-9686, Novelty Journals, Website: www.noveltyjournals.co
Quality of life and wellbeing among HIV outpatients in East Africa: a multicentre observational study.
No full textBACKGROUND: Global health investment has reduced HIV mortality and transmission. However, little is known of patient-reported outcomes alongside ART rollout. This study aimed to measure wellbeing using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) among outpatients at PEPFAR-funded facilities. METHODS: In a multicentre 2 country cross-sectional study, adults attending 12 facilities in Kenya and Uganda gave self-reported data on quality of life (physical and mental wellbeing dimensions), functional and a measure of multidimensional problems (physical, psychological, social and spiritual). RESULTS: Among the 1,337 participants, multidimensional problems were more common in psychological, spiritual and social domains than in physical. In multivariable analysis using GEE to adjust for facility effect, the mental health subscale of quality of life was lower for people with limited functional status (B = -5.27, 95% CI -5.99, 1. -4.56 p < 0.001) and higher for wealthier people (B = 0.91, 95% CI 0.48, 1.33, p < 0.001). The physical health subscale of quality of life was lower for those with limited functional status (B = -8.58, 95% CI -9.46 to -7.70, p < 0.001) and those who had a caregiver present (B = -1.97, 95% CI -3.72 to -0.23, p = 0.027), higher for wealthier people (B = 1.14, 95% CI 0.65, 1.64, p < 0.001), and positively associated with CD4 count (B = 1.61, 95% CI 1.08-2.14, p < 0.001). Multidimensional problems were more burdensome for people with limited functional status (B = -2.06, 95% CI -2.46 to -1.66, p < 0.001), and less burdensome with more education (B = 0.63, 95% CI 0.25-1.00, p = 0.001) or ART use (B = 0.94, 95% CI 0.34-1.53, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Multidimensional problems are highly prevalent, and worse with declining function. Importantly, ART use does not appear to be protective for self-reported physical and mental dimensions of quality of life. Assessment and management of self-reported wellbeing must form part of HIV care and treatment services to ensure maximum benefit from ART investment
Exploring the graduate school experiences of African immigrant-origin students at historically white institutions in the United States
No full textDriven by exponential growth in migration from Africa, Black immigrants and their U.S.-born offspring comprise roughly one in five or 21% of the entire Black population in the U.S. (Tamir & Anderson, 2022). This population growth has led to increased enrollment in higher education and furthered the diversity of Black students on U.S. college campuses (Massey et al., 2007). Although a growing population, the existing literature on the higher education experiences of Black African immigrants is limited (George Mwangi & English, 2017; George Mwangi & Fries-Britt, 2015). In this growing field of study, few have solely focused on the graduate school experiences of this population (George Mwangi & English, 2017). This qualitative study addressed this gap by examining the graduate school experiences of African immigrant-origin students at historically white institutions (HWIs) in the New York metro area. Guided by intersectionality as a theoretical perspective, phenomenology as a strategy of inquiry and Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (Museus, 2014) as a theoretical framework, this study explored the critical experiences of African immigrant-origin students in graduate school. Data from semi-structured interviews with ten graduate school alums highlights seven essential experiences African immigrants navigate at HWIs and how their intersecting identities and institutional environments coalesced to inform those experiences. The seven themes are: (a) navigating challenges, (b) finding and creating support communities, (c) experiences with faculty and staff, (d) evolving identities, (e) racialized experiences within HWIs, (f) academic experiences, and (g) parental influence. This study offers important implications and recommendations for higher education research, practice, and policy to better support African immigrant-origin students in U.S. higher education.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
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