scholarly journals Environmental Determinants of Choice of Sustainability Strategies Adopted by Group Ranches in Samburu County, Kenya

Author(s):  
Eustace Njagi Kithumbu ◽  
Julius M. Huho ◽  
Humphrey Omondi

The group ranch system is one of the best land ownership and livestock production strategies in the dry lands of the world where the potential for rain-fed agriculture is limited. Its sustainability relies greately on choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches. Numerous studies on the establishment of group ranches, their dissolution and coping strategies have been conducted but with less focus on the sustainability of the group ranches.This study attempts to fill the gap. It is against this background that this study investigated environmental characteristics influencing choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in Samburu County, Kenya. The investigation adopted a descriptive survey research design employing use of Questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions and observation as primary data collection methods.The target population for the study was the 16,611 registered members in 38 group ranches spread out in the County. The study sampled 12 group ranches with approximately 5,643 members from which 374 respondents were systematically sampled. Purposive sampling was used to select Key Informants and the participants in the Focus Group Discussions.The study employed Multi-linear Regression to analyse environmental characteristics determining choice of sustainability strategies. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis and p-value of 0.00 was obtained, indicating that environmental characteristics (rainfall patterns, droughts, temperatures, diseases and floods) significantly influenced choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in the County. Overall, rainfall patterns were the predominating environmental characteristic with a regression coefficient of 0.317 while diseases had the least influence on choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in Samburu County, with a regression coefficient of 0.029. The study recommended integration of environmental characteristics in formulating policies for sustainability of group ranches.

Author(s):  
Eustace Njagi Kithumbu ◽  
Julius M Huho ◽  
Humphrey Opiyo Omondi

The group ranch system is one of the best land ownership and livestock production strategies in the dry lands of the world where the potential for rain-fed agriculture is limited. This has resulted in numerous studies on the establishment of group ranches, their dissolution and coping strategies but with less focus on the sustainability of the group ranches. It is against this background that this study investigated organizational factors influencing choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in Samburu County; Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design employing use of Questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions and observation as primary data collection methods. The study used content validity and Cronbach’s alpha methods to measure validity and reliability of the research instruments, respectively. The target population for the study was the 16,611 registered members in 38 group ranches spread out in the County. The study sampled twelve group ranches with approximately 5,643 members from which 374 respondents were systematically sampled. Purposive sampling was used to select Key Informants and the participants in the Focus Group Discussions. The investigation employed Multi-linear Regression to analyse organizational factors influencing choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in Samburu County while the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis which stated that there was no significant influence of organizational factors on choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in Samburu County, Kenya. The p-value of 0.00 was obtained, indicating that organizational factors significantly influenced choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in the County. Overall, past experiences was the predominating organizational factor with a regression coefficient of 0.432 while past strategies had the least influence on choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in Samburu County, with a regression coefficient of 0.110. The study recommended integration of organizational factors in formulating policies for sustainability of group ranches.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Keponyi Sakimpa ◽  
Dr. Willy M. Muturi ◽  
Dr Mos Otieno

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of railway network inefficiencies on business operations of Tata chemicals Magadi, Mombasa in Kenya.Methodology: This study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population of this study was the 450 employees of TATA Chemical Magadi Ltd. The study used a sample of 135 employees. The study employed stratified random sampling to identify the 135 respondents. The strata were those of top management, middle management/supervisors and non-managerial employees. Primary data was used to gather information by use of questionnaires. Information was sorted, coded and input into the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS 20) for production of descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: Results on the analysis of variance showed that the overall model was statistically significant and that the independent variables were good predictors of performance.  This was supported by an F statistic of 71.69 and the reported p value (0.000) which was less than the conventional probability of 0.05significance level. Descriptive results indicated that inefficiencies of Kenya Railway Corporation greatly affect production targets, customer satisfaction, sales targets and equipment utilization in Tata chemicals Magadi Ltd which in turn affects the performance of the company.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The government should allocate additional annual budget to the Kenya Railways Corporation to provide efficient means of transporting freight between cities and towns. Additionally, management of Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd should exercise stronger leadership to enhance long term planning and disaster management to avoid loss to customers and manage its efficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 52-63
Author(s):  
Jairus Mutinda Kilatya ◽  
Cyprian Kavivya

Police victimization is one of the growing cases in Kenya. There are reported cases of police being subjected to beatings and assault by citizens particularly in the low-income areas in Nairobi. Most of these reported cases have been traced to police actions, perceptions of community towards the police and even inadequate resources that the police use. These in turn affect the security situation. It is upon this backdrop that this study envisaged to scrutinize police victimization and security in Mathare North, Nairobi City County. The specific objectives of the research were; to examine the categories of police victimization and their implications on security in Mathare North, to analyze the causes of police victimization and their implications on security in Mathare North, and to evaluate the state of security in Mathare North and how it could be related to police victimization. The life style theory of victimization was used in the research. An exploratory research design based on primary data method was relied on in the study. In conducting this research, the target population was 321 police officers in Mathare North, Nairobi City County comprising of the 147 General Duty Police, 101 traffic police and 73 Administration Police. A sample size of 97police officers was selected from the target populace of Mathare North, Nairobi City County. Data collection was done through the use of questionnaires while the analysis employing descriptive and content analysis. The test for reliability showed that the variables used were reliable (Cronbach alpha was 0.759). The outcome from the study revealed that killings of the police was the main form of police victimization as shown by mean of 3.9829, followed by intimidation of police with mean of 3.7358 and assaults with mean of 3.6470. Sixty-three (63) respondents duly filled the questionnaires representing 64 percent of the total respondents. The findings revealed that the main causes of police victimization were proliferation of illegal firearms among civilians, lack of adherence to the justice system, corruption in the police, human rights violations and lack of public trust in the police. The findings revealed further that government support was necessary and influenced the relationship between police victimization and insecurity in Mathare North as shown by mean of 3.7437. The respondents agreed at mean of 3.7426 that police victimization negatively affect the security of Mathare North. A correlation test was also done and revealed that police killings, assaults on police and intimidation of police were significantly and positively correlated with insecurity based on their correlation coefficients of 0.476, 0.512 and 0.495 respectively. A regression analysis was also carried out and from the findings; police killings had a significant and positive effect on the insecurity of Mathare North with regression coefficient being 0.899 and p value of 0.006. Assault on the police had a significant and positive effect on insecurity of Mathare North as shown by regression coefficient of 1.020 and p value of 0.001. Intimidation of police had a positive and significant effect on the insecurity of Mathare North with a regression coefficient of 0.894 and p value of 0.004. The study recommends that the government should strengthen collaboration between the National Police Service and civilians in Mathare North to prevent cases of insecurity arising from police victimization. The study further recommends that the government must improve on its support in terms of equipment’s to the police in the area so that they can be able to defend themselves while maintaining the security in Mathare. Future studies should focus on other low-income settlements in Nairobi and major towns in Kenya.


Author(s):  
John Malu Nzioki ◽  
Mary Nyawira Mwenda

Project failure is an increasingly worrying challenge in Kenya. In implementation of exchequer funded building construction projects, the challenge is real. The study examined the influence of risk management practices on the performance of exchequer funded building construction projects in Machakos County. Little research has been conducted on risk identification and its influence on performance of exchequer funded building construction in Machakos County, this study intended to on build onto the already existing body of knowledge. The study was informed by Agency theory and it employed a descriptive survey research design. The target population was 585 National Construction Authority registered contractors and sample size was 232 respondents. In this case the sample selected is deemed to be representative enough of the whole population and therefore valid and genuine generalizations can be made. Methodology involved in collection and analysis of primary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Quantitative data was tabulated and analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation. Test statistics computed to establish degree of relationship between the variables was Fisher test. The findings depict that risk identification leads to the performance of exchequer funded building construction Projects by factor of 0.237 with P values of 0.008. At 5% level of significance and 95% level of confidence, this is statistically significant as the P-Value is lower than 0.05. The results for testing the hypothesis were (P=0.008<0.05)as the P-Value is lower than 0.05. The study therefore rejects the null hypothesis. The study concludes that there is significant positive relationship between that risk identification leads to the performance of exchequer funded building construction Projects. Further research can be done to assess the risk identification in other county governments and national government projects in Kenya and other countries in order to establish whether the explored factors can be generalized to influence the performance of exchequer funded building construction Projects. The findings of this paper will be used to serve as a longer-term safeguard against risks in construction of buildings in Kenya.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Eunice Wangari Ndirangu ◽  
David Kiragu ◽  
Antony Ngunyi

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of mobile banking on performance of microfinance banks in Kenya Methodology: The study adopted positivism philosophy approach and descriptive research design was used. The study also used census survey. The target population was the thirteen Microfinance Banks regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya. The questionnaires were self-administered and primary data was collected from the thirteen regulated microfinance banks. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for preliminary analysis. Factor analysis was conducted to reduce the number of factors and Kaiser Mayer Olkin and Barlett’s test of Sphericity were tested and total variance explained, scree plot and rotated component matrix were drawn. Findings: The findings showed that majority of the respondents were in agreement that it is easy to deposit and withdraw cash, transfer funds, apply loan and check the balance using mobile banking. The hypothesis (H02) findings showed that mobile banking had a significant effect on performance of MFBs. The summary model showed that the R was 0.280 and a R square of 0.078. This implied that mobile banking predicted 7.8% of the performance of MFBs. The ANOVA results showed that F value was 4.940 and a p value of 0.030 which indicates that it was statistically significant. After the T test mobile banking beta coefficient was the regression model was generated Y = 2.841+ 0.271MBA. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that MFBs should partner with telecommunication services providers to develop products and services which are customer oriented and easy to use. They should develop strategies on market penetration by creating awareness on the product and services available in the market.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Julius Kibet Cheruiyot ◽  
Lillian Otieno Omutoko ◽  
Charles Mallans Rambo

Forests are considered the second most important natural resource after water throughout the world. There is need to undertake review of policies and legislation on forestry to incorporate aspects of Participatory Forest Management to conserve and manage resources in a sustainable way. The paper sought to determine the extent to which Participatory evaluation influences conservation of Mau Forest programme. This study was guided by descriptive survey and correlational research designs. A sample size of 364 respondents was drawn from a target population of 4100 people using Yamane (1967) Formula.From the findings, r = -0.048 indicated that there was a weak negative linear correlation between Participatory evaluation and Conservation of Mau Forest programme. With a p-value=0.43), the null hypothesis was not rejected and recommended that there is need to do a holistic analysis of local people, their livelihood assets and strategies, resource-use patterns and power relations before the implementation of conservation programs.


Author(s):  
Tom Ongesa Nyamboga ◽  
Edwin Odhuno ◽  
Walter Okibo Bichanga

Effective implementation of crediting strategy is paramount to the growth of Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) worldwide. Crediting provides adequate amount of initial capital needed by entrepreneurs to establish and operate their businesses. The government of Kenya having realized this scenario initiated the formation of Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) in 2007 as a micro credit to provide financial credit to women entrepreneurs throughout the country. Despite this, many women micro traders have inadequate access to credit to start and expand their SMEs. The specific objective of this study was to assess the influence crediting strategy on the growth of SMEs in Kenya. This research used a descriptive survey based design. The study’s target population constituted 2032 women group leaders from which a sample size of 335 respondents was selected randomly. Primary data was collected by use of structured researcher administered questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed by use of both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, by the aid of SPSS version 24. Both Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Linear Regression Analysis were computed to correlate the study’s variables. The study established a positive relationship between crediting strategy and the growth of SMEs. The findings of this study will help the government of Kenya in formulating and implementing crediting strategies that would make credit accessible and therefore boost growth of SMEs in the country. The study recommends that the government establishes policies that will necessitate accessibility of credit to SMEs in the country.


Author(s):  
Kevin Otieno Owembi ◽  

The study examined the effect of budgeting on financial performance of the Youth Groups at Kapsaret Sub-County. The study sought to answer the following questions; extent of budgeting by the youth groups at Kapsaret sub-county, factors affecting budgeting implementation and financial performance by the Youth Groups at Kapsaret Sub-county and budgeting effects on financial performance by the youth groups at Kapsaret Sub-county. The research design adopted for this study was Ex post-facto research design, the target population was the 82 youth groups being funded by the various financial institutions and YEDF in Kapsaret Sub-County Stratified sampling technique targeting youth groups managers and treasurers of the youth groups was used, 5 stratums were drawn from Kapsaret sub-county and data collected through simple random sampling technique. questionnaires administered to the target population was the source of primary data, Validity of questionnaires was tested using a pilot study on 6 Youth Groups out of the sampled groups and reliability was tested using the test-re-test method, descriptive statistic was used to analyze quantitative data presented through frequency tables, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation, chi-square was used to test the hypothesis. The study finding on the effect of standardized budgeting on financial performance using chi-square with the computed X2 value of 0.610 and the P-Value of 0.435,the study established out that there was no evidence of a relationship between standardized budgeting and financial performance yet on the effect of budgeting on financial performance computed X2 value was16.970 and the P-Value was 0.000, the study established out that there was evidence of a relationship between budgeting and financial performance. The study recommends that there should be effective budget implementation within the various youth groups particularly those funded by the YEDF, more funding should be provided to the youth groups funded by YEDF, more training and seminars to be offered to the youth groups on preparation and implementation of budgets and there should be constant monitoring and evaluation of the youth groups budgets and budgeting system by fund managers over time within the youth groups. Keywords: Budgeting, Financial Perfomance, Youth Entreprise.


Author(s):  
Rose Ndegwa

<p>Financial inclusion is a prerequisite to economic development. This has been echoed by international as well as national bodies. Studies have shown that financial exclusion has its roots in social exclusion. This indicates the depth and importance of financial inclusion in creating inclusive development. Numerous studies have revealed levels of financial inclusion with limited studies performed on the role of SACCO initiatives on financial inclusion. This research examined measures of financial inclusion which include both access and usage of financial products by low income earners and the socially excluded via SACCOs. Since access and usage are supplementary, they reflect a more vivid picture of financial inclusion. The study sought to analyze the role of SACCOs in promoting financial inclusion in Kenya. The study was guided by the three specific objectives: geographical coverage of SACCOs; cost and contribution of SASRA regulations towards enhancing financial inclusion. To achieve the objectives of the study a descriptive survey research was adopted. The target population was the three SACCOs in Meru town. 43 questionnaires were issued to SACCO members to access the level of financial service access. Primary data was analyzed with aid Microsoft excel software to generate frequencies, mean and percentages. Pie charts, graphs and tables were used to present various aspects of the variables. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.</p><p> </p><p><strong>JEL: </strong>O10; O20; G10; G20</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0663/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>


Author(s):  
Lukman Raimi ◽  
Theoneste Manishimwe

Underpinning this chapter on vulnerability and resilience theoretical views, the authors examine the survival strategy of small businesses (SBs) facing triple crises. They adopted a descriptive survey research design as the most appropriate strategy while relying on the primary data collected through structured questionnaires. In the absence of a sample frame for the target population, a sample size of 400 managers of SBs was selected purposively based on objective eligibility criteria. Out of the sample, 257 managers of SBs returned their completed questionnaires. The findings support largely the resilient view and also affirmed the vulnerability view because the four entrepreneurial marketing (EM) dimensions, namely entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation, innovation orientation, and customer orientation, have mixed impacts on the financial and non-financial performance of SBs facing triple crises. The study recommends that vulnerable SBs, when faced with economic crises, should be resilient and leverage the four EM dimensions for business continuity.


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