The IPCC report of 2017 noted that climate change is expected to worsen the existing vulnerabilities of natural resource-dependent communities while at the same time imposing new risks beyond the range of existing experiences. This study examined how vulnerable pastoralists are to the adverse impacts of climate change by analyzing climate variables (temperature as well as rainfall) and the characteristics of pastoralists that reflect their exposure, sensitivity as well as adaptive capacity based the definition of vulnerability as a function of high level of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. The study sought to examine the spatial-temporal variability of climate, determine the characteristics of pastoralists and their vulnerability, and evaluates the existing adaptation and mitigation strategies of pastoralists from West Pokot County. The spatialtemporal variability of climate in West Pokot County was determined using trend and seasonal analysis of data for temperature and rainfall from climate hazard infrared temperature station data (CHIRTS) and climate hazard infrared precipitation station data (CHIRPS) for the period of 19812019. Questionnaires were administered to households to determine the characteristics of pastoralists in west Pokot County and the existing adaptation and mitigation mechanisms. The findings show that temperature was increasing in the county but at different rates in different sub counties with Pokot Central Sub County having significant increasing trend followed by Pokot North Sub County during October-November-December (OND) season. On the other hand, rainfall showed a partial increasing trend both in OND and (March-April-May) seasons. The study revealed that the pastoralists in west Pokot were mainly characterized by high level of illiteracy (66.7%), their main source of income coming from livestock (56.0%), their main occupation being livestock keeping (72.9%), higher household size ranged from 6-10 members (58.5%) and low monthly income ranged from Ksh. 1,000 to Ksh. 5000 (52.2%). These livelihood characteristics of pastoralists revealed that pastoralists were seriously exposed to climate change effects with high sensitivity to the negative consequences since it interferes with their only livelihood. Low literacy levels and the low level of monthly income indicated that those pastoralists were having low adaptive capacity. Pokot central was the most exposed community to climate change effects followed by Pokot north Sub County. The frequency of droughts in these sub counties had a yearly increasing impact where majority of the respondents (77.6%) reported that they had experienced yearly increasing death of animals as a major effect to their livelihoods because they felt that death of animals deprived them the main source of income. The coping mechanisms employed by vpastoralists west Pokot County included; migration (58.6%), cutting of tree leaves (23.2%), Paddocking (1.7%) Livestock off-take (1.4%) and reserving grazing lands (6.8%). Migration as a coping mechanism was not sustainable and cutting of trees was not environmentally friendly as it destroyed the forest cover which could help sequestrate carbon (iv) oxide. Pastoralists opted to these coping strategies not because they were the best but as a desperate move, having no other option. Recommendations for study included Diversifications of livelihoods to enhance pastoralists’ resilience to climate change shocks in West Pokot County, more resilience interventions such as increasing irrigation schemes be implemented in Pokot central and other pastoral livelihoods areas of similar characteristics, capacity building of pastoralist to embrace climate smart livestock rearing and livestock breed diversification in order to build their resilience to climate extremes shocks

The overall purpose of the evaluation was to assess the state of the New Ways Organization's M&E system and its contribution to Programme improvement. This evaluation was specifically aimed at determining the extent to which the New Ways Organization's M&E system met established standards. Identification of strengths and gaps in the NWO M&E system. Determine how the NOW M&E System products are being utilized to improve Programmes. FHI 360 (2013). (2013). The M&E system of New Ways was evaluated using a case study design. Census methods were used to collect information from respondents due to the small number of staff. We gathered primary data through key informant interviews and supplemented it with secondary data gathered through surveys. Resource and capacity building received 71.0%, documentation received 53.3%, data management and collection received 37.0%, data quality systems received 35.3%, data review received 20.0%, data analysis and use received 47.5%, evaluation received 96.7%, and coordination and leadership received 96.7%. The New Ways M&E system of the organization received 52.0 percent. Based on the deficiencies discovered, an improved M&E system is required, and the outcomes of the intervention are presented to executives. According to the study, the M&E system aids management decision-making, organizational learning, and responsibility and accountability. Despite New Ways' numerous challenges, including a lack of human and financial resources for M&E operations, the study concluded that M&E has improved many aspects of managerial decision-making. The NWO makes evidence-based decisions based on data, which has resulted in improved Programme improvement. Information is disseminated to various stakeholders, according to the assessment. According to the study, there is a need for routine donor reporting as well as oversight of data reviews prior to use. The domains of data verification, data analysis, and data quality system and use should be re-engineered to increase the M&E system functionality to the established standard. xii

Background: Oral health care in pregnancy is crucial for the health of the mother and the unborn child. Pregnancy is associated with hormonal and behavioural changes that lead to dental problems, including gingivitis, periodontitis, and dental caries. Untreated oral diseases can lead to poor pregnancy outcomes and poor pregnancy-related quality of life. A regular dental check-up is recommended during pregnancy. The core objective of this study was to find out the factors associated with oral healthcare utilization among pregnant women at Kiambu level v hospital. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study design targeting 308 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics. Participants were selected through systematic random sampling, and data collected through a structured questionnaire. Data collected was on utilization of oral health services during pregnancy and factors affecting the utilization. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse data. Results: The study response rate was 99.3%. The age distribution of the pregnant women ranged between 18 and 45 years. Only 7.84% of the pregnant women had seen a dentist in their current pregnancy. The two key reasons cited for such a visit were routine check-ups and bleeding gums. Among patient-related factors, only education (p=0.008) had a statistically significant association with oral health care utilization. Among the health system-related factors, only access to oral health counselling (p = 0.010) was shown to have a statistically significant link with oral health care utilization. None of the sociocultural factors were found to be statistically significant. 6Conclusion: The undermentioned conclusions were made on the basis of this study's findings: (a) Very few pregnant women attending Kiambu level 4 hospital antenatal care clinics utilized oral health care; (b) There was a significant association between access to antenatal oral health counselling and oral health utilization; (c) There was a significant association between the women’s level of education and oral healthcare usage. Higher utilization was observed among those with a secondary level of education. Recommendation: 1). There is a need to include antenatal oral health microteaching in primary healthcare to improve oral health utilization among pregnant women. This oral health education should be available to all, irrespective of education level. 2). The study was conducted during the Covid-19 Pandemic, a follow up study to show if there will be any significant difference in numbers utilizing oral health care in pregnancy post Covid is recommended. 3). A larger sample size study and an additional qualitative method like focus group discussion highly recommended.

For a long term, the public institutions in Kenya have been regarded to have low level of service delivery. This low level of service delivery in the wider public sector in Kenya has resulted into inefficiencies in the operations. Although some of these institutions have adopted technologies like e-government, it is surprising that most of the operations like job application in majority of these institutions are still done manually. Thus, the present study sought to establish the extent of e-readiness among state corporations in Kenya; relationship between e-readiness and service delivery among state corporations in Kenya and determine the challenges of achieving ereadiness in among state corporations in Kenya. The study adopted a cross sectional, causal and descriptive design targeting 207 state corporations in Kenya. Convenience sampling was used to select 136 institutions. Information was obtained in its primary form and analysis was conducted via descriptive as well as inferential statistics. Table was used in presentation of the findings. It was shown that the State Corporations in Kenya had implemented e-readiness to a great extent and this had a positive and significant relationship withservice delivery although challenges were encountered. The study recommends that the management of the State Corporations in Kenya should strive to improve on connectivity so as to significantly enhance on service delivery. The policy makers in Government should establish relevant legal and regulatory framework so as to enhance service delivery.

Monitoring is an ongoing collection and analysis of project performance while project evaluation entails periodic assessment of the project to check on the impacts, relevance and effectiveness. The process of monitoring and evaluation provides overall oversight roles and can be used as a tool for social and political change. Therefore, performance of Monitoring and evaluation is critical in the overall performance of project. The aim was to establish factors influencing the performance of monitoring and evaluation practices in the Kenya youth employment opportunities project (KYEOP).The study’s specific objectives were; To establish the effect of budgetary allocations on the effectiveness of MnE of Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project; To examine how technical expertise affects the effectiveness of MnE of the KYEOP; To establish the role of stakeholders participation on the effectiveness of MnE of the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project and To assess the role of leadership on the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation of the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project. The study was guided by three theories which comprise program theory, stakeholder theory of sustainability and resource allocation theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design to collect primary data from the sample population of 165 project staff and other project stakeholders. Collection of data was done by questionnaires as well as through interview guides. A pilot study was conducted to assess the reliability and effectiveness of data collection process. Before data collection the validity and reliability of the study tool was determined. Face, construct and content validity was assessed while Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess the reliability of the study tool. The study sought to analyze the collected data using SPSS version 25. The study used quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods and the results was presented using percentage and frequency tables. The study established that th ` ere is a significant relationship between budgetary allocations and performance ere is a significant relationship between technical expertise and performance ` ` ` of M‘n’E systems in the KYEOP project funded by the WorldBank in Nairobi Kenya (r=0.513, p=0.000) and that th ` ` ` ` ` of monitoring and evaluation systems in the KYEOP funded by the WorldBank in Nairobi Kenya (r=0.604; p=0.000). The study also established that that there is a significant relationship between stakeholder participation and performance of monitoring and evaluation systems in the KYEOP funded by the WorldBank in Nairobi Kenya (r = 0.627; p=0.000) and that there is a significant relationship between leadership and performance of monitoring and evaluation systems in the ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` KYEOP funded by the WorldBank in Nairobi Kenya (r=0.587; p=0.000). It was concluded that performance of MnE systems in the Kenya youth employment opportunities project funded by the WorldBank in Nairobi Kenya is significantly affected by budgetary allocations, technical expertise, stakeholders’ participation and leadership. This research recommended that there is need for project management at KYEOP to ensure that project budget provide a clear and adequate provision for M‘n’E events. The study also recommends that the project managers at KYEOP should work together with relevant stakeholders to develop a database of M&E system information, where the M&E employees can learn from previous experiences.

The agenda stage set by Universal Health Coverage calls for reforms that seek to ensure that everyone in society has access to quality healthcare at an affordable cost that protects the users from experiencing financial hardship related to healthcare costs. Therefore, the main objective of this study is pegged on the pillars of Universal Health Care, which are health insurance, health accessibility, and quality healthcare, to evaluate the satisfaction with the quality of healthcare delivery among clients using health insurance services in Nyeri county, Kenya. To operationalize the research questions, a phenomenological survey of healthcare experience among health insurance users in Nyeri county was conducted through descriptive cross-sectional research. The interviewer collected data using a structured questionnaire from 320 health insurance users in Nyeri county. The study found that 65.3% of clients accessing healthcare using different types of health insurance are unsatisfied with healthcare quality compared to 34.7% who perceived that healthcare service delivery in Nyeri County met the quality merit defined in UHC in Nyeri County, Kenya. The key variables which significantly influence the perception of quality of healthcare are age, marital status, household size, type of insurance, adequacy of the health services, Distance covered to health facility and waiting time.

One of the key sectors in the growth and development of any country is construction which helps a nation in meeting one of the basic needs, which is shelter as well as contributing about ten percent to the nation’s GNP. However, there is a high number of projects that have remained uncompleted as some were approved but the occupation certificates were minimal. This can be attributed to information management among other factors. Thus, this is the reason as to why this study sought to investigate the construction information management effect (systems, quality, use and user) on the duration of construction projects in Phenom Park, Phase 3, Langata, Nairobi County. A descriptive research design was employed for this study. The study targeted all the 32 architects, project managers, engineers in structure, mechanical and electrical, quantity surveyors and contractors (Lead Contractor, mechanical, electrical, landscape) involved in the construction project at Phenom Park, Langata, Nairobi County, Kenya. Since the target population was small, the study employed a census survey and data was collected using a questionnaire. Analysis of data was done with the help of SPSS (Version 25.0). The information collected was coded and entered using SPSS (V.25) and analyzed using both statistics that are descriptive (means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages) and inferential (correlation and regression analysis) so as to get the goals of the research. Data was presented using mainly tables. The study concluded that construction information management system, construction information management quality, construction information management use and construction information management user are statistically significant and thus they influence the overall projects’ duration in Phenom Park, Langata Constituency, Nairobi, Kenya. Thus, the study recommended that there is need for project participants to be encouraged to embrace short turnaround time in responding to requested information. Forward planning should be encouraged in projects; tracking of information and mitigation against delays should be done regularly; and single point responsibility must be encouraged with regards to information management. There is also a necessity to research on the challenges facing implementation of information management in construction as well as knowledge management in construction. It is also crucial to investigate how projects in construction duration are affected by poor planning and management

Risk management strategies are perceived by academicians, practioners and regulators as main influencers of financial performance in state corporations in Kenya. Although there have been a number of studies on risk management strategies, very few or none have specifically examined the impact of risk management strategies on the financial performance of a Kenyan state corporation. The study topic was the influence of risk management skills on the financial management in the state corporations in Kenya. The main objective of this study was to determine how risk management strategies influence financial performance of state corporations in Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives: to investigate the influence of interest coverage ratio on financial performance in the state corporation; to establish the influence of Firm size on financial performance in state corporation; to assess the influence of Capital structure on financial performance in state corporations; to establish the influence of Liquidity ratio on financial performance in state corporations; and, to assess the influence of joint financial risk strategies on financial performance in state corporations. The study employed descriptive correctional design. Secondary data was collected from 6 state corporations in Kenya namely, Consolidated Bank of Kenya, Kenya Commercial Bank, Kenya Electricity Generating Company, Kenya Power and Lightning Company Ltd, Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya National Highways Authority. The data was collected for the period 2017 to 2022. Entity Secondary data was collected from Central bank website, office of the Auditor general website and Nairobi Stock exchange. The secondary data used was publicly available. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Descriptive and inference analysis was carried out using SPSS. Results for quantitative data are presented in tables and factual statements. It is believed that the findings from the sample is a representative of the situation in the state corporations in Kenya to a reliable degree. The study findings indicate that, interest coverage ratio, firm size, capital structure and liquidity ratio and all of them jointly do not influence financial performance of state corporations. The study recommends use other variables that are not in this research and extending the research to organisations in other industries and especially those in the private sector.

Project title: Sizing of a Solar Water Heater – Heat Pump Water Heater Hybrid Design; Case Study of Comfort Gardens Hotel. Author: Japheth Kiptoo Sang - F56/11914/2018 Heating requirements in particular, water heating in hotels constitutes approximately 28% of the total energy costs, which translates to higher emission levels to the environment. These high costs of energy have necessitated the use of energy and environmental management systems to curb the energy costs. Hoteliers have adopted the use of emerging and popular technologies mostly renewable energy technologies. They include the use of solar water heaters, heat pump water heaters, and efficient boiler among others. This research focuses on the viability of using a combined SWH and a HPWH in a hybrid setup for a hotel. Comfort Gardens hotel was used as the case study for this research, providing the data required for design. A hybrid water heating system was sized, designed and was guided by the use of software RET screen, Polysun and SAM. The designer selected two HPWH with a heating capacity of 90 KW each to compliment the 17 solar panels sized to meet the demand of 118.47 Kwh/day. The total demand to be supplied by the HPWH is 78.98 Kwh/Day with one HPWH acting as a backup. An economic analysis done found the NPV and IRR for scenarios A and B were estimated to be Kshs 5,121,699 ($ 44,536), Kshs 6,599,700 ($ 57,389) for the NPV and 33.06%, 39.63% for the IRR respectively. Payback periods for Scenarios A and B computed gave an estimated 2.85 and 2.43 years respectively. From all the financial evaluations, a positive NPV for both scenarios confirm the viability of the project while the payback of approximately 2 years for both scenarios was realized. Recommendations on areas of further studies are proposed in the report. Keywords: Solar Water Heaters (SWH), Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWH), Payback Period, Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR).

The strategy improves the business capability and ignite innovation. Additionally, it is an engine for the business growth and financial sustainability. The covid-19 Challenges have caused immense havoc to the continuity of business. The pain inflicted on the driving and well-performing business has been so severe. Covid-19 Challenges spanned from physical to emotional related problems. This research sought to bridge conceptual gap by analyzing strategic responses, contextual gap by focusing in a case study of World Vision Kenya and the methodological gap by utilizing qualitative and content analysis against previous studies that have used quantitative, descriptive and inferential statistics. The main objective of the study was to determine the strategic responses to Covid-19 challenges at World Vision Kenya. This study is based on resource dependence, agency theory and goal setting theories. A study was qualitative in nature and was based on a case study. The reason why it is a case study is because it was based on the context of World Vision Kenya as an organization. The research was based on primary data as obtained from the top management staff of World Vision Kenya. The researcher used an interview guide as a roadmap for the study and in-depth sourcing of information. The top management, four of them, have greater information regarding the strategies of the organization. . In a nutshell, the research can analyze the patterns in ideas, concepts and themes. It is useful in understanding individual, revealing the contexts of communication and reveal the flow of information. Data was then run through data interpretation process. This study maximized content analysis to blueprint the existing relationship of certain concepts to the researcher. It enables systematic and objective identification of special traits in the messages. Furthermore, the outcome posited that all the directors interviewed had bachelor’s degree. Additionally, all of them had master’s degree in addition to wide-array of certification ranging from strategies, finance, management, leadership, governance and disaster management among others. The respondents articulated the strategic responses that enabled the firm to remain buoyant despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The unprecedented changes called for pivotal yet longevity goals that promoted the operation and directed the NonGovernmental Organization to the right direction. This assessment prioritized strategic responses, transformational strategic responses, operational strategic responses and financial strategic responses. This study wrapped-up on the strategic responses to covid-19 pandemic challenges by stating that the World Vision emerged victorious and successful within short time compared with other organization. The study advocates for significant money reserved for any trends and changes in normalcy. This money is useful in curbing immediate predicaments that faces the organization. It assist the continuity of the business and increase it capability