Wildlife is currently facing a lot of challenges in their natural ecosystem such as negative effect of anthropogenic activities and climate change. Zoos play an important role in conservation and protection of wildlife through education, captive breeding and research. However, while in the zoo’s wildlife is exposed to a different environment from their natural habitats and disturbances from human audience and climate variations. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of zoo visitor numbers, environmental factors (variation in Temperature Humidity Index during the October heat and winter season) and sex on faecal cortisol concentrations (ng/gm), as an indicator of stress levels in a captive population of blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) and spotted deer (Axis axis) at Rajiv Gandhi zoological park in Pune, India. Assessment of adrenocortical activity through measurement of faecal glucocorticoid levels in faeces has significantly enabled data collection from wildlife, owing to its non-invasive nature. The blackbuck and spotted deer each consisted of six (6) adult males and six (6) adult females with an average age of 5.4 ± 0.55 and 5.5 ± 0.45 years respectively. The study animals were born and raised in the zoo. Each study animal was marked with ear tags for easy identification. The study was conducted in two (2) seasons during October heat (October-November) and winter (December-January). Visitor numbers was taken from the zoo records and temperature and humidity were measured every day using automatic hygrometer located in the zoo. Faecal sample collection was carried out between 12 noon to 6 pm on Wednesday (Low/Zero visitor category), Friday (Medium visitor category) and Sunday (High visitor category) per week for three (3) weeks in each season. The faecal cortisol metabolites were determined using Radioimmunoassay method. The blackbuck faecal cortisol conxvcentration was within a range of 0.18 ng/gm to 2.62 ng/gm while that of spotted deer was within a range of 0.18 ng/gm to 3.07 ng/gm. The faecal cortisol concentration in adult males and females were not significantly different in both seasons. Visitor numbers significantly affected faecal cortisol concentrations (ng/gm) of blackbuck during winter but not during October heat. Temperature Humidity Index (THI) significantly affected the faecal cortisol metabolites in both blackbuck and spotted deer during winter but not during October heat. The observed differences in faecal cortisol concentrations (ng/gm) in blackbuck and spotted deer during winter are significant with negative correlation. The results of this study can be useful in informing management of captive wildlife and designing captive facility. Understanding the stress response of wildlife in captivity especially endangered ones is essential when planning for their effective conservation programmes.

Organizations are adopting newer technologies in a rapidly evolving digital environment to develop new or change present business processes to meet changing business and customer expectations. Robotic Process Automation is at the forefront of these disruptive technologies and has immense potential for transforming the delivery of processes. Organizations spend significant amount of time managing processes that are highly repetitive, straightforward, rule-based and time-consuming and can be automated with RPA. However, often organizations which have embarked on their digital transformation journey, using RPA as an enabler, do not scale beyond concept proof. This research aimed at establishing a model for RPA adoption. Previous studies on technology adoption frameworks, digital transformation frameworks and concepts on RPA supported this research. Influence of RPA performance expectancy, RPA effort expectancy, RPA facilitating condition, RPA social influence and RPA risks and threats on leveraging RPA were investigated with age, gender and experience as moderating factors. To test these factors, the study took a quantitative approach where data was collected from 117 employees of the study organization using structured questionnaires. Analysis of data was carried out using SPSS tool and presented using tables, charts and percentages. Multiple linear regression result demonstrated that 92.1 per cent of the variation in the dependent variable was accounted for by independent variables. The outcome presents a framework for leveraging RPA. The inferences of these results for future research are discussed. Keywords: Robotic Process Automation, digital transformation, adoption, software robot

ICT can be used to access and promote equity in education through providing educational opportunities to a larger number of people of all ages that include the underserves or the traditionally unserved for example those in rural and remote areas and people with disabilities. It can be used to enhance the quality of learning and teaching through providing access to a greater variety of the current educational resources and enabling the participatory pedagogies. Kiambu County has a high secondary school learner population in the country, however, the levels performance of most of these schools remains significantly low. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of ICT integration projects on performance in public secondary schools in KCSE in Kiambu County Kenya. The study sought to investigate the following objectives: to assess the influence of ICT infrastructure on performance of public secondary schools in KCSE in Kiambu County, Kenya; to examine the influence of development of digital content on performance of public secondary schools in KCSE in Kiambu County, Kenya; to determine the influence of capacity building of teachers on performance of public secondary schools in KCSE in Kiambu County, Kenya; to examine the influence of procurement of ICT devices on performance of public secondary schools in KCSE in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population of the study of 4403 was drawn from the head teachers, ICT head of departments and teachers from Kiambu County. A sample size of 351 participants was extrapolated from the target population using FISHERS formula from which a proportionate stratified sampling was used to obtain a sample for each stratum. Data was collected using questionnaires. The data collection instrument was tested using 35 questionnaires that were administered to headteachers, ICT head of departments and teachers in Nairobi County which had similar characteristics with the study area. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.762 was obtained through the test-retest technique to check reliability of the research instruments. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation was used to analyze the data. The analysed data using SPSS was presented in the form of tables. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the variables in the study. The study revealed that there was a positive moderate correlation between ICT infrastructure and performance of public secondary schools in KCSE (r=0.552, p=0.000), development of digital content and performance of public secondary schools in KCSE demonstrated a positive weak correlation (r=0.436, p=0.000), capacity building for teachers and performance of public secondary schools in KCSE indicated a positive weak correlation (r=0.232, p=0.000) and procurement of ICT devices and performance of public secondary schools in KCSE indicated a positive moderate correlation (r=0.502, p=0.000). The study concluded that that the independent variables under the study influence the performance of public secondary schools in KCSE. The study recommends that public secondary schools should be adequately equipped with more ICT infrastructure, digitize classroom content, increase capacity development for ICT and allocate more funds to procure ICT devices to improve KCSE performance. The study further suggests that research should be carried out to investigate the influence of ICT integration projects on the new curriculum goals of public secondary schools in KCSE.

Linda Mama provides a package of basic health services accessed by all in the targeted population on the basis of need and not ability to pay, positioning Kenya on the pathway to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Linda mama's goal is to "Achieve universal cases to maternal and child health services and contribute to the country's progress towards UHC" Despite its considerable success Linda Mama has still faced a number of challenges. However existing studies have not examined project management practices and uptake of Linda mama services. In light of these contextual gaps, this study aimed to assess the influence of project management practices on Linda Mama services uptake in Kirinyaga County. The purpose of the study was to investigate the project management practices and uptake of Linda mama services in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Specifically, the objectives were to assess the influence of project initiation process on the uptake of Linda Mama services in Kirinyaga County, to establish the influence of project planning process on uptake of Linda Mama services in Kirinyaga County, to establish the influence of project implementation process on the uptake of Linda Mama services in Kirinyaga County. The study was conducted in Kirinyaga County. The study adopted descriptive research design and targeted 293 respondents (112health workers and senior managers and 191 pregnant mothers and nursing mothers) in Kirinyaga County as its target population. Non probability sampling that included convenience and probability sampling was used to select respondents. Using structured questionnaires, data was gathered from primary sources. Descriptive statistics (mean and frequencies) and subsequently inferential statistics (ANOVA)were used to analyze data collected. The study findings from the health workers data revealed that project initiation (β=0.298, p=0.02), project planning (β=0.623, p=0.001), and project implementation (β=0.129, p=0.032) have statistical significant relationship with uptake of Linda Mama. The study findings from the pregnant and nursing mothers also indicated that project initiation (β=0.422, p=0.02), project planning (β=0.303, p=0.036), and project implementation (β=0.118, p=0.000) have statistical significant relationship with uptake of Linda Mama. The study concluded that project initiation, project planning and project implementation influences uptake of Linda mama. The study recommended that the government should give prioritization of project management in uptake of Linda Mama Services. The study contributes to enhancing maternal policy in Kenya and knowledge on effectiveness of maternal programmes in developing countries.

Information security has become an important aspect in today’s business environment, where all operations are technology centered. Over the years lots of effort has been put to ensure that organizations manage information security in a standardized manner. There are several frameworks and standards such as COBIT, ITIL and ISO/IEC 27001 that have been proposed for this purpose. In this work the focus was on ISO/IEC 27001 which is an international standard that provides specification for an Information Security Management System (ISMS). The standard is designed to assist large and small enterprises to manage their information security processes in line with international best practice. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) usually find it difficult to comprehensively implement the prescriptive requirements of the standard. This study proposes a toolkit approach in helping SMEs implement the requirements of the standard. It proposes and develops an ISO/IEC 27001 information security toolkit as a prototype for guiding organizations in implementing information security controls. Apart from toolkit design and implementation, the study also assesses the toolkit and its usability. Results indicated that majority of SMEs would embrace the toolkit and that it can be of great importance in guiding them implement controls of the standard. Furthermore, the study found out that with further enhancement of the toolkit features, to incorporate all aspects of ISO 27001 standard, the toolkit can be used for both large enterprises and small enterprises in implementing the standard requirements.

Digitization and changes in technological trends have necessitated the need for enterprises to start or have plans of migrating their services to cloud computing environments. This is to benefit from the many advantages that come with cloud computing. Third party providers whom majorly consume multi-tenancy architectures mainly offer the cloud platforms. This come with some challenges mostly when it comes to trust. The cloud consumers and cloud providers agree on some cloud service level agreements. Mostly the consumers have faith that they benefit from what they have agreed with the provider but lack a way of verifying the SLAs as well as doing QoS monitoring on their own. This research project focuses on coming up with a multi-tenancy cloud trust model using QoS monitoring. Our key focus was the infrastructure as a service cloud model. It also involved developing a prototype to show case the proposed model. The overall research strategy employed was exploratory. The model developed assists cloud consumers to be able to evaluate cloud services before they purchase services. This prevents them from leasing already congested clouds, or which do not meet their specifications. They also have the capability of continuous QoS monitoring of the cloud environment in real time when need be. On the other hand, cloud providers also benefit from the trust provided by our model because it might lead to good company reputation making them to sell more.

The discourses and realities of judicial institutional behavior in the adjudication of terrorism cases is the subject of this study between 2006 and 2016. A convergence of Buzan’s conception of security and the Lockean prerogative of power anchoring international legal institutionalism, provide a conceptual framework of analysis for this study. The global escalation in the number and intensity of terror attacks and the subsequent resolutions passed by the UNSC, animated the need for international judicial cooperation. The ratification of these resolutions by Kenya, parallel to national security imperatives enhanced the judicial role function in the fight against terror. This study analyses and examines differentiated actor discourses and realities of judicial role function in the fight against terrorism. The study also interrogates how judicial adjudication of terrorism cases mediates Kenya’s international security relations. This study further proffers research based policy options geared towards positively enhancing the role of the judiciary in the global security agenda. This study is centered on the contention that in the fight against terrorism in Kenya, the executive is determined to use its prerogative of power in apparent disregard of the law in a bid to root out terrorism. This is countered by the judicial role function, which, seeks to bring all measures taken by the executive within the ambit of the law. The foregoing leads to differentiated actor discourses when judicial adjudication overrules executive measures for being in contravention of the law.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships amongst service encounter quality, customer expectations, perceived value and satisfaction of hotel guests. The specific objectives were to explain the statistically significant link between service encounter quality and customer satisfaction; the moderating effect of customer expectations on the relationship between service encounter quality and customer satisfaction. The study also sought to establish the mediating outcome of customers’ perceived value on service encounter quality and customer satisfaction. The last objective study sought to establish the joint effect of service encounter quality, customer expectations and perceived value on customer satisfaction. Service encounter quality, customer expectations and perceived value were used to develop an integrated model to widen the scope of customer satisfaction. The study was anchored on the expectancy disconfirmation theory and supported by the value percept theory, service encounter needs theory and the three factor theory of customer satisfaction. This study was guided by the positivist philosophy and literature from previous related studies was used to develop a conceptual model and hypotheses which were tested using statistical techniques. The study adopted a descriptive cross sectional research design. Sampling was done using systematic random technique and a sample of 376 hotel guests was used in the study. A pilot study was conducted and reliability of the research tool was tested using Cronbach alpha test, validity tests were also carried out to check whether the tools measure what they were intended to. Four parametric tests; multi-collinearity, normality, heteroscedasticity and linearity of data were done to check the appropriateness and accuracy of the data. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlations and regression. Results showed that the influence of service encounter quality on customer satisfaction was partially mediated by perceived value and moderated by customer expectations. Both influences were positive and statistically significant. Further, service encounter quality had a statistically positive significant impact on customer satisfaction. The joint influence of service encounter quality, customer expectations and perceived value on customer satisfaction was statistically significant. Customers expect that a service is performed right without errors the very first time, therefore, the hotel management must ensure their staff are competent and that other facilities that enhance guests experience like neatness, timely service, modern fixtures meet guest expectations. The study recommends that policy makers and management of hotels in Kenya should improve on service encounter quality and actively pay attention to guests’ expectations. The study has made contribution to the theory of consumer behavior by integrating service encounter quality to customer expectations and perceived value. Since consumer behavior is a dynamic area in marketing, continuous research is needed to address pertinent issues. Future research can also be directed at other hotels with lower star ratings as well as the unclassified hotels.

Mobile initiated financial transactions need to be authenticated. This is a mandatory requirement since it serves as a security step or mechanism against non-repudiation. This is true for Mobile Banking customers in Kenya. The stage of protection for a given authentication scheme relies upon on characteristic combination, authentication channel, credential storage, and encryption. A range of researches had been performed on mobile banking authentication and their stage of protection. Research has proven challenges related to single factor or two factor authentication schemes. However, there are inadequate studies on authentication schemes that mixes different factors of authentications for secure and efficient mobile banking transactions. The goal of the research was to explore challenges of using PIN as the only factor of authentication and further evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating a combined USSD push and PIN efficient multifactor authentication. Convenience non-probability method was used to identify a subset of the population and Snowball Sampling used to target a total of 385 respondents. A total number of 442 responses were received through online administered questionnaires. The study found 84.4% of the respondents use mobile banking frequently. That is to say, many times during the daily lives. Further finding was, the de-facto login method used in mobile banking applications in Kenya, is via PIN and 69% of respondents have incurred losses due to compromised PINs. These descriptive statistics necessitated a need for secure mobile banking app. Hence a need for multi factor authentication. The solution implemented offers remedy to challenges faced by mobile banking customers in Kenya. This solution was not entirely user’s PIN dependent but also tied to other details such as International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), Mobile Systems International Subscriber Identity Number (MSISDN), and International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) in addition to time bound USSD push augmented with biometric authentication, Fingerprint. These attributes were encrypted using BCrypt Hashing Function in mobile banking applications. The storage of credentials was in distributed locations in encrypted format. The architecture employed provided improved security from cyber-attacks such as: identity theft, phishing, social engineering, spoofing and man in the middle attack. In conclusion, use of USSD push in mobile banking provide an efficient layer of authentication hence improved mobile banking security. Keywords: Mobile Banking, Security, USSD, GSM, Authentication, Encryption, Cloud Computing, Cyber-Attacks.

Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining the health of elderly people; persons aged 60 years and above; as well as in their aging process. The increasing prevalence level of malnutrition among the elderly people is becoming a concern globally. In Kenya, there is limited data on nutrition status of the elderly persons especially in the rural areas such as Kilgoris. This study was therefore done to assess socio-economic characteristics of the elderly people,dietary patterns, nutrient intake and nutritional status in Kilgoris Kenya. A crosssectional study with analytical component was conducted among 221 elderly respondents who met the study criteria. The questionnaires were deployed through Open Data Kit (ODK) on mobile devices. Data on background characteristic, dietary patterns and nutrient intake was collected using socio-economic characteristics, a single 24-Hour dietary recall, and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) and food consumption frequency for various food items. The anthropometric measurements of weight and height were used to compute Body Mass Index to assess nutritional status. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 23 software and MicrosoftExcel for graphical presentations. The results showed that there were slightly more females (50.2%) than males. Those who were married were 89.7%and 65.6% were illiterate. The levels of illiteracy were significantly high among women (81%) than males (70%) (p value=0.022). The majority of the respondents were also unemployed (72.4%) but sale of animals (42.1%) was the main sources of income reported. Diabetes (65%), hypertension (64%), and teeth problems (62% ) were major health issues that affected the wellbeing of elderly persons.Further, the prevalence’s of overweight and underweight were 13% and 26%, respectively. Nevertheless, a positive association was additionally found between nutritional status and DDS (pvalue=0.008) while many did not meet the Recommended Daily Allowances for energy, calcium and other micronutrients. The factors that significantly associated with overweight were high wealth index (OR =2.82, P-value =0.046), receiving pension (OR =0.14, P-value =0.001), owning means of transport (OR =1.78, P-value =0.013) and education attainment (OR =0.33, P-value =0.008). On the other hand, immobility (OR =0.94, P-value = 0.065) and loss of memory (OR =0.00, P-value =0.006), significantly associated with underweight. In conclusion, the elderly people in Kilgoris have poor nutritional status compounded by poor dietary intakes that lead to not meeting the Recommended Daily Allowances for most nutrients. High morbidities, lifestyle behaviours and low socio-economic status also affect the wellbeing and health of the elderly. Provision of pension or cash transfer to all elderly people, creation of income generating activities, provision of geriatrics services and adequate drugs to the elderly people are some of intervetions that can be prioritized.