Insurance companies in Kenya have in the last decade experienced several challenges including low penetration, increased competition from existing and new players, informed customers, changes in regulation on capital requirements and split of composite companies. These challenges have necessitated managers of the firms to adopt change management practices to mitigate the threats and explore the opportunities in the operating environment. Some of the changes were in response to changes in regulation to ensure compliance, while the rest were in response to changing consumer needs to ensure customer satisfaction and improve operations. The study had two goals to establish if the firms had adopted strategic change management practices in the administration of changes and determination of their impact on the companies’ performance. The study adopted a census approach where information was gathered using structured questionnaires. The study noted that Kenyan insurance firms utilized strategic change management practices during implementation of change. It also further established that adopting these practices had a positive effect on performance of the insurance companies in Kenya as constituted by the balanced scorecard. The study concludes that effective communication created motivation to change, was key in minimizing resistance to change and had a positive influence on performance. Visible support from management ensured that adequate resources were available to support the change, and had a positive impact on results. Additionally, the human resource plan provided the organizations with the required human capital to support the change implementation and after change needs, which also influenced performance positively. The study recommends adoption of these practices to improve firms’ performance.

The proliferation of online dating sites and mobile phone apps in Kenya has seen a steady rise in the number of people using such platforms to initiate romantic relationships. The main objective of this inquiry was to assess the changing perceptions about online dating among the youth in Nairobi County. Further, the study also aimed at analyzing the major contributing factors fueling digital dating among the youth, and finally to establish the challenges related to digital dating practices. The study is a descriptive research design with a mixed-method approach where quantitative data was collected using the survey method and qualitative data was collected from the respondents using in-depth interviews. The instruments used for collecting the data included a questionnaire for the survey and an interview guide for in-depth interviews. This inquiry was guided by two theories namely, Uses and Gratifications theory and Social Information Processing (SIP) theory. The target population was Youth aged between 18-35 years and living within Nairobi County. The sample frame was based on a Facebook dating group, Kenya Singles Network that had 32124 members at the time of this study. The Taro Yamane formula was used to calculate the sample population. From the formula, 100 participants were earmarked for the survey which registered a response rate of 82%. Stratified Random sampling was used to obtain the 100 participants for the study. The structure of the survey questionnaire accommodated closed-ended questions in addition to a single open-ended question. The data collected from the open-ended question provided the basis, which the study relied on to purposively identify participants for the Qualitative study. Some of the respondents had unique and rich experiences, which informed their selection through purposive sampling. From the 15 selected participants, only 12 respondents were interviewed given the saturation point attainment hence translating to a response rate of 80%. For the quantitative approach, the data generated was analyzed using descriptive methods while the analysis of qualitative data was based on inductive analysis which involves studying the data collected through emerging themes and descriptions. The Likert Rating Scale was used to gauge the respondents’ attitudes and opinions on the various issues at hand. The analyzed quantitative data is presented in graphical representations of tables and a pie chart while the qualitative data is presented using narrative. From the data collected, the results indicate that online dating is gaining ground. For instance, the reduction of social stigma that was largely attached to online dating has contributed to the uptake of online dating. In addition, the growth in access to broadband internet and connected devices have also played a significant role in entrenching access to social networks among the youth in Nairobi, County. Still, the study also found that numerous challenges such as fraud, misrepresentation of user profiles, and safety of users among others continue to weigh down confidence among those engaged in online dating.

The study aimed at investigating the effect of exchange rates on the value of motor vehicle imports in Uganda using quarterly data for the period 2000 to 2015. To confirm that variables were stationary, unit root test was carried out using the Augmented Dickey Fuller test (ADF). The test showed that all variables, that is, value of motor vehicle imports, exchange rates, money supply, lending rates, government expenditure on transport & equipment and household loans were non stationary at level but became stationary after first difference. Ordinary least squares estimation method was used to fit both the short and long run models. To determine the direction of relationship, Engle and Granger causality test was applied to the variables indicating that exchange rates granger cause motor vehicle imports with a p-value of 0.04, significant at 5 percent. The results from the long run model showed that an increase in exchange rate negatively affects the value of motor vehicle imports in Uganda with a p-value of 0.014 significant at 5 percent. Money supply and household loans positively affect the value of motor vehicle imports with pvalues of 0.000 and 0.013 respectively, significant at 5 percent. Results from the short-run model indicated that the Error Correction Term was negatively signed indicating that in each quarter, motor vehicle imports adjust by 73.1 percent between the current and long run equilibrium level with a p-value of 0.000, significant at 5 percent. It is recommended that motor vehicle importers embrace an increase in the stock of money with an increase in motor vehicle imports in Uganda. Furthermore, a depreciation in the value of the Uganda shilling should be an alarm to the car importers to reduce on motor vehicle imports into Uganda because an increase in exchange rate negatively effects the car business. Lastly, to have a more stable business environment in Uganda, there is need for Bank of Uganda to further stabilise the value of the Uganda shilling against the US dollar because a depreciation makes imports more expensive resulting into reduced imports and ultimately a reduction in import duties collected by Uganda Revenue Authority.

Ankole is well known for a rich tradition. The oral traditions of the Banyankole are one thing that needs special attention. This study analysed some selected proverbs and the analysis further focused on how irony enriches meaning in these proverbs. Many proverbs in Ankole do not directly suggest meaning, some (if not many) of them have got a component of irony in them. This is exactly what this study sought to analyse. The study was conducted basing on the qualitative methods of data collective and after data was gathered, the analysis of each proverb was done manually. The interview method of data gathering was the most widely used during the field sessions.

Background: Mortality due to trauma is a major public health issue. It is among leading causes of death in persons aged between 25-44yrs. Within the first 48hrs of admission, uncontrolled haemorrhage and coagulopathy is responsible for 50% of all trauma related deaths. This early development is known as Acute Traumatic coagulopathy (ATC). It is associated with increased transfusion requirement, organs failure and high mortality rate. In Kenya, mechanisms of injuries include road traffic accidents (36.8%), falls (26.4%) and been assaulted by a person or object (20.1%). Orthopaedic related injuries were the most commonly encountered in a multisite surveillance study in four referral hospitals in Kenya . In musculoskeletal trauma patients, presence of coagulopathy at admission can be used as a predictor of complications such as sepsis, acute renal failure, multiple organs failure, need for blood transfusion and even death. In musculoskeletal trauma patients, a high Injury severity score (ISS) correlates with hypocoagulability. Previous studies have observed that ISS in musculoskeletal trauma patients can be used as a predictor of hypocoagulability complications. In many resources limited settings, coagulation profiles are not routinely done among patients with major trauma. Early identification of ATC in musculoskeletal injuries guides resuscitation protocol and prevent of ATC progression. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of acute coagulopathy among musculoskeletal trauma patients, and the predictive value of ISS in diagnosis of ATC. This study was also to determine the utility of injury scoring systems in predicting ATC associated outcomes among musculoskeletal trauma patients. Broad Objective: To determine the incidence of acute coagulopathy among musculoskeletal trauma patients Setting: The A & E department and orthopaedic wards at KNH Study design: Prospective analytical study of convenient patient sampling Patients and Methods: Convenient sample of 102 patients in three months. Ethical approval was obtained from KNH/ERC. Consent was obtained from each patient conveniently sampled according to the set criteria. Data collected included the patient’s demographics, mechanism of injury, duration before presenting to the hospital, type and amount of fluids received, injury severity score, coagulation profile parameters (PT,PTT, INR), full blood count and renal function test. The coagulation profile was determined at first contact with the patient during admission. In this study each patient was followed up for a duration of 14 days and monitored for occurrence of any ATC related outcome/complication.

Background. As a key component of existing public healthcare programs, vaccination is considered a very important medical intervention due to its cost effectiveness. Despite their effectiveness in lowering risk of diseases that in the past caused significant mortality and morbidity, vaccines carry with them some risk. In most cases the side effects are minor and self-limiting, but there have been reports of rare but serious adverse effects associated with vaccines. In Kenya, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) together with the National Vaccines and Immunization Programme (NVIP) maintain surveillance to monitor vaccine safety. This is mostly passive surveillance through spontaneous reporting of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs).Evaluation of the data reported is important to come up with more precise and accurate methods of assessing and minimizing the risks associated with vaccines to ensure public trust in the immunization program. Objective. The main objective of this study was to analyze AEFI reported data at the PPB and two hospitals in Nairobi between January 2015 and December 2018. Methods. The study was descriptive and divided into two parts. The first part involved retrospective collection of AEFI reports at the Pharmacovigilance Department of the PPB, NVIP and selected hospitals in Nairobi. Data was extracted from AEFI reports, suspected adverse drug reaction reporting forms and electronic records. The second part involved interviews of key informants at each study site. Results: Of the 187 AEFIs reports analyzed, 93 (49.7%) were from females and 94 (50.3%) were from males. About 65 (35%) of the AEFIs occurred in persons aged between 10 to 15 years.

The spread of STIs is a burden in developing countries and is majorly due to the failure to practice secure sexual relationships yet safe sex is highly required to be emphasized in order to regulate the associated health problems. The main objective The study focused on the determinants for the negotiation of safe sex among married women in Uganda aged 15-49 Methodology The study used secondary data from the UDHS (2016) women data set and the study sample was 5614 which considered married women in Uganda. Results Wealth index and education level had p-values less than 0.05 implying that they were significantly related to women’s negotiation for safe sex. Conclusion The findings indicated that most of the background characteristics were not statistically related to safe sex negotiation however education level and wealth index had a significant relationship. Negotiation of safe sex is highly hindered by women’s position in society and low levels of women empowerment, many women are not knowledgeable about their rights since most communities are male headed . Recommendations The government should put more effort in the sensitization of people regarding health issues and providing free and accessible health services such as treatment of STIs and free condom such that the risk of unsafe sex are regulated.

This report looks at the influence application of soundtracks has to the performance of mimetic comedy in Kampala. The researcher looked at what mimetic comedy really is and therefore established a basis of defining the term ‘Mimetic comedy.’ The researcher also looked at what inspires the mimetic comedians there is in Kampala while selecting soundtracks for their performances, what inspires their character on stage, the challenges they face in the industry of comedy at large and also what these mimes are doing to overcome these challenges. In addition the researcher looked at the audience’s perspective on mimetic and soundtracks application to mimetic comedy. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to gather the information in this report and it was found out that mimetic comedy in Uganda is still a genre that hasn’t garnered a lot of recognition in terms of the artistes doing it, the only prominent name in the business being Jajja Bruce whose real name is Charles Bruce Ssentongo. Finally the research gives some recommendations to follow if the betterment of mimetic comedy and application of soundtracks to mimetic comedy are to be realised.