Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is bio-fortified with vitamin A and is therefore highly promoted for its contribution to the fight against vitamin A deficiency (VAD). It is predominantly consumed in rural areas where the roots are boiled, roasted, steamed, or eaten raw. Various research and development projects have focused on creating nutritional awareness to promote the consumption of OFSP. One of the ways to promote broader consumption of OFSP is to process it into less perishable products with wider geographical coverage. However, there is a dearth of empirical insights on the level of preferences for such value-added products this constrains sustainable investments in such initiatives. This creates the need to investigate OFSP products and product attributes that are preferred by consumers. Therefore, this study examined consumer preference for value-added OFSP products in HomaBay and Nairobi counties, Kenya, with a focus on OFSP juice and OFSP puree chapati. The study was guided by the random utility theory and the theory of consumer choice. The choice experiment (CE) design was used in eliciting WTP for OFSP juice and Contingent valuation in eliciting willingness to pay (WTP) for OFSP puree chapati. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires from a random sample of 411 sweet potato consumers; 198 and 213 in HomaBay and Nairobi counties, respectively. Data was analysed using a Random Parameter Logit model for the choice experiment data on OFSP juice and a double bounded logit to assess the consumers WTP for sweet potato puree chapati. The results for WTP for OFSP juice showed that consumers in rural and urban regions preferred OFSP juice with OFSP only, juice with additives, and joint inspection and certification. Further, Urban consumers were willing to pay more for OFSP juice than their rural counterparts. The mean WTP value was Kshs. 19 and 35 for HomaBay and Nairobi counties, respectively. Further, presence of children under five years in a household, consumer awareness on benefits of OFSP, awareness of other existing OFSP products, level of education and income had significant influence on consumer WTP for OFSP puree chapati in both areas. In order to increase rural consumers WTP for OFSP juice and chapati, the study recommended the need to establish more OFSP products demonstration centres to create awareness, and a partnership between private and public sector in juice inspection and certification.

Recently, there has been emergence in the use of modern Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in the different operations of agrienterprises. This ranges from the provision of agricultural information to marketing of agricultural products through the use of ICT tools such as mobile phones, television and radio. Despite the potential of ICT tools to enhance efficiency in agrienterprises operations, little is known about the effect of ICT use on performance and farm income of small scale farmers in rural areas. The aim of this study, therefore, was to examine the effect of ICT use on performance of pineapple agrienterprises. Specifically, it sought to: characterize structure of ICT usage among the smallholder agrientrepreneurs; determine factors influencing use of ICT among smallholder agrientrepreneurs and determine effect of ICT use on income of smallholder agrientrepreneurs. The study was based on data collected from a sample of 183 households drawn from Gatundu North Sub-County in Kiambu County. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select the respondents and semi structured questionnaires employed to collect qualitative and quantitative data through face to face interviews. The determinants of ICT use was estimated by multivariate probit model while the effect of ICT use was estimated using endogenous switching regression model. The results show the most commonly used ICT tool to access agricultural information was mobile phones (86%), radio (79%) and then television (59%). Findings revealed that age, education, household size, farm size, group membership, extension contact, credit access, installation of electricity and attributes of ICT tool significantly influenced the usage of ICT tools. Results suggest that optimal users of ICT tools realized more income per acre than they would have had they not used the ICT tools. While, sub-optimal users realized lower household income per acre than they would have had they not decided to use ICT tools in their agrienterprises. Usage of ICT tools is associated with a 98% and 28% gain in average household income for optimal and sub-optimal users, respectively. Hence use of ICT tools leads to increase in income of smallholder agrienterprises. Consequently policies targeting usage of ICT tools in agrienterprises must consider the age and education level of farmers when developing ICT tools for dissemination of agricultural information and should concentrate on improving the extension services, farmer groups and electricity access to rural areas.

Abstract

Due to liberalization, globalization and the rapid and advancement growth in technology new business opportunities have been created and most of the industries are becoming highly exposed to risks as compared to the past. The firms that embed sound risk management strategies into their performance management strategies are having higher chances for achievement of operational and strategic objectives. Consequently, the study assessed the effect of strategies with respect to risk management on the success of the banks which are under the NSE. The presented conceptual framework which was guided by these theories: Capital asset pricing model theory, enterprise risk management theory and contingency theory. Quantitative research approach was applied using primary data for the sample period covered from 2016 to 2020. Analysis of the collected data was done through panel random effect of regression model. The results from the study indicated that assessment of risk as well as monitoring and evaluation have positive significant effect on the output on banks within NSE. Whereas identification of risk has negative effects on the productivity of these listed industries. The inquiry supports that management should emphasize on risk reviews and monitoring of internal controls to enhance risk-monitoring strategy. In addition, strict adherence to risk policies and standard should be ensured to enhance financial performance of commercial and service firms

Abstract

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are useful in human health as probiotics. To achieve this they need to reach the gastro-intestinal tract and remain viable. A total of fifteen strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented coconut wine (Mnazi) were screened in vitro for their safety and probiotic properties, acid tolerance, bile tolerance, survival under conditions of simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) passage and their antimicrobial activity against indicator organisms using standard techniques. Further they were assessed for production and properties of bacteriocins produced and characterized using sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The results revealed that the fifteen isolates were safe to use, able to tolerate and grow well in conditions of reduced pH (2 and 2.5) and extremes of bile (up to 2%) that simulate stomach duodenal passage environment. They are also potent against both Gram positive and negative bacteria which they inhibit through production of bacteriocins. Most had β-galactosidase activity which makes them suited for moderation of lactose intolerance. Further, they were able to utilize frustooligosaccharides making them beneficial in regulating the microbiota in the colon. The isolates are phylogenetically distant from other homologous Lactobacillus spp though they were similar to L. paracasei, L. casei, L. rhamnosus and L. zeae. These findings show that the LAB isolates from Mnazi had desirable probiotic properties and were safe to use. This provides an opportunity for further investigation of the isolates for utilisation as starter cultures in fermentation of different food products to increase their value to human or animal health.

Guidance and counseling has become an important part of school curriculum. It is hoped that guidance and counselling will promote discipline and positive growth among students. At the center of this programme is a guidance teacher who must be fully aware of counselling needs of students. Cases of boys hardly out of their eggshells drinking local brew (chang’aa) and smoking are on increase. Girls and boys openly canoodling and insulting their teachers are on the increase too. Rampant strikes and destruction of property in recent times and degenerating moral decay, calls for the need to investigate teacher counselor’.s awareness to student counseling needs. This study was aimed at determining the awareness teacher counselors have to student counseling needs with special relerence to Nyamira Division. The study also tried to establish the level of teacher counselor awareness, methods used as well as the resources used to create awareness. The study was carried nut in all secondary schools in Nyamira Division of Nyamira district. The study was a descriptive survey in which a population of 2l schools was included with student population of 4475 and a total of 287 teachers. Ten secondary schools were randomly selected to provide a sample size of 120 students drawn from form ll to form lV. lt also included 10 teacher counselors, and I0 head teachers, to make a total of I40 respondents. Students were stratified on the basis of their classes in which four students were randomly selected from each class. Questionnaires were administered personally by the researcher to collect data from respondents. Data was analyzed by use of desctriptive Statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS computer package). The results revealed that guidance counselors are aware of counseling needs oi students in schools lt was also revealed that there is no specific guidelines for counselor appointment in schools. The study recommended that there is need for ministry guidelines on appointment of guidance counselors.

The business environment is challenging and firms require strategies to manage their operations. Strategies allow firms to achieve success, plan for their activities and develop power over others. It is the use and application of plans that allow firms to experience long value in their operating environment. Using the models of Porter’s competition and sustainability as well as the models of instructional theoretical framework, this inquiry determine the various plans and strategies used by Bridge Schools in Kenya to gain Sustainable Competitive Advantage. As such, the model was case study and information was developed and created using interview. School managers within Bridge Schools in Kenya were interviewed using face to face ways. Content analysis method was used in developing various themes underlying the topic. Responses with common themes or patterns were grouped together into coherent categories to get themes that relate to the topic of the study. This study found out that Bridge International Academies had in place six key strategies that include high quality service provision, cost leadership, market segmentation, focus strategies, branding and capacity building, and outsourcing. It was noted that the schools were cost leaders in that their services were cheaper than their competitors, they were also offering quality services through enhanced technological innovations, and they had curved out a sizable market segment among families in informal settlements. This study suggests future studies should incorporate more than one cluster of schools to enhance variability of the responses thus increasing reliability. Importantly, the scholars should consider using both primary and secondary data such as real academic performance and co-curricular performance of the company, look into actual costs and delve into other performance indicators related to the strategies studied

Women’s rights have continually been violated in Kenya over the years. Kenya acceded to CEDAW in 1984 in order to ensure gender equity and equality. In an effort to implement the Convention, Kenya has undertaken several strategies from legislative, policy to programmatic. The process has been slow noting that CEDAW was acceded to 26 years ago. This study sought to establish how effective CEDAW has been in enhancing the rights of women in Kenya. It sought to determine the legal instruments, policies and other measures that have been put in place to eliminate discrimination against women and to ensure gender equality and whether these were effective in achieving their intended results. An examination of the effects of patriarchy on the rights of women was also undertaken. Kenya just like most African states is a deeply patriarchal society. Women’s rights continue to be subjugated to date on a daily basis owing to this phenomenon. The political and public processes (law making and policy implementation) as well as the socioeconomic processes are compromised by patriarchal influences. This study confirmed that women continue to be discriminated against regardless of their educational, economic or professional status. Women activists have over the years tried to agitate for the recognition of women’s rights and despite facing a lot of opposition from the political establishment, piecemeal legislation has continued to be passed ultimately culminating in the passing of the 2013 pro-women Constitution. The study also found that the courts have in interpreting the law been very restrictive in their approach thus denying women their rights. However a few judicial officers have used their discretion in reaching magnanimous decisions by referring to CEDAW. Given that patriarchy or male dominance is a deeply rooted dynamic in Kenyan society, the study found that it is not just enough to enact legislation or formulate policy. This must go hand in hand with the creation of awareness both at the time of creating policy, enacting the law and after the law has been passed as a way creating knowledge and ensuring acceptance of the law. Beneficiaries of the law (women) as well as the enforcers of the law (judiciary, Police, immigration officers and the executive in general) as well as the citizens of Kenya need to be aware of their rights and respect these rights to ensure a cohesive and fair society. Affirmative action as provided in the Constitution and other laws needs to be implemented to ensure a critical mass of women is present in decision-making to push women’s agenda forward. Further women placed in such capacities should use their platforms to protect the gains achieved but even more important to devise mechanisms that will effectively ensure the gender equality question is addressed.