Poverty alleviation is one of the main goals of SDGs. Public sector, civic society and private sector organizations contribute to the realization of this goal in low-income settlements. One such means is through community-based housing schemes. However, the mobilization of different factors to performance of community-based housing projects is still unknown. This research project investigates the perceived factors that influence community-based housing projects in Mukuru slums. The project looks at how community participation, resource mobilization, leadership and socio-cultural environment influence the performance of such projects. Theory of change, Marxian theory of poverty and cultural theory of poverty guided the study. This study employed use of cross-sectional descriptive research design. The target population of the study was the project officers, managers and residents of the area. The study sample size was 156 respondents and the respondents were selected through convenience sampling, stratified sampling and purposive sampling. The study made use of primary data collection that was collected using questionnaire, focused group discussions and key informant interviews. Data was analyzed through quantitative and qualitative data analysis. The findings showed that community participation influences the performance of community-based housing projects in Mukuru Slums positively by a factor of 0.308 supported by a p-value of 0.001. The results also indicated that resource mobilization leads to an improved performance of community-based housing projects by 0.016 with a p-value of 0.862. The findings also demonstrated that institutional leadership leads to an increase in performance of community-based housing projects in Mukuru Slums by 0.226 with a p-value at 0.003. The findings also depicted that socio-cultural environment leads to a decrease in performance of community-based housing projects in Mukuru Slums by 0.143 with a p-value of 0.139. The study concluded that performance of community-based housing projects is dependent on community participation, resource mobilization and institutional leadership. The findings recommend that housing-based projects managers develop strategies to strengthen community participation, resource mobilization and institutional leadership in implementation of community-based housing projects.

Equity and bond markets are essential to creating higher economic efficiency. For strong economic development, a well-functioning financial sector is a critical component. By presenting investment opportunities to local and international savers and financing the government's budget deficit, the Kenyan bond market is crucial to the country's economic growth. The domestic bond market in Kenya, on the other hand, is relatively tiny compared to the rest of the globe, although it is rated third in sub-Sahara Africa in terms of market size. Even in the face of the country's economic difficulties, this market remains crucial for government bonds. Macroeconomic variables were examined in this research to see how they affected the performance of the Kenyan bond market. Specifically, the research intended to examine the impact of interest rate, inflation rate, foreign currency rate, money supply, and equities market performance on bond market performance in Kenya. The analysis found statistically significant positive correlations between interest rates and bond market turnover and between the money supply and bond market development. Exchange rate and bond market development are statistically linked in a negative manner. There is no statistical significance to the correlation between the inflation rate and bond market development. The negative relationship between equity market performance index and bond market development is also established as not statistically significant. On dual causality, equity market performance exhibits dual causality relationships with the bond market performance, Bond market performance has dual causality with interest rates, equity market performance exhibit dual causality with exchange rates, money supply exhibits dual causality with bond market turnover and money supply exhibits dual causality with interest rates. The study recommends that the Government and Regulatory agencies should strengthen the interest rate regulatory framework so as to infuse economic development in diverse sectors of the Kenyan economy. The money supply as a responsibility of the central bank should be modelled to encourage private borrowing, bond market development and credit creation. A proactive approach to controlling macro-economic issues in the economy is also suggested by state and economic planners. Concentrate on factors that worsen corporate bond performance, such rising inflation and changing currency rates. For a longer research period, the paper advises a study using a variety of lagged macroeconomic parameters and the performance of bond markets in a regional context. Research on the impact of industry and company-level characteristics on the performance of corporate bonds should be conducted in the near future. Bond market failure in an economy may be studied in more detail, as can its origins and repercussions. Other emerging regions, such as East Africa, may be included in a research to help these nations create effective policies in the bond market.

Background: Pediatric chronic kidney disease remains a challenging and relatively understudied area of pediatric nephrology, which affects several children globally. Patients with chronic kidney disease are more susceptible to developing suboptimal vitamin D than the general population. . In children particularly, Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with hyperparathyroidism leading to defective bone mineralization. Currently, the prevalence of suboptimal vitamin D is unknown in Kenya. Objectives: The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of suboptimal vitamin D in chronic kidney disease children. The secondary objective was to correlate the levels of vitamin D with the stage of CKD, Parathyroid hormone, Calcium, phosphate and to determine factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design that recruited participants aged less than 18 years from KNH renal units with recorded CKD diagnoses in their hospital records. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-based questionnaire, physical examination was conducted and 4mls of blood was drawn for determination of vitamin D (calcidiol), parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphate. Data Analysis: Data was entered into the Microsoft access database for coding and cleaning then exported to STATA 13.0. Categorical and continuous data were summarized as frequencies & their respective percentages as mean or median, respectively. Calcidiol was categorized as adequate, deficiency, and insufficiency which were reported as percentages with binomial exact 95% confidence intervals. Logistic regression with crudes odds ratio reported as measures of effect was used to determine the association between D levels with CKD stage, PTH, Ca2+, phosphate levels, and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. Results: Eighty patients with chronic kidney disease were recruited into the study. The majority were in Stage 3 (58%) and stage 4 (40%). Those with adequate and insufficient vitamin D levels were 36% and 54% respectively. The odds of having hypocalcemia with suboptimal vitamin D was 8 times more (CAR 8.87, P=0.01). Conclusions: The study findings revealed a higher prevalence of 90% suboptimal vitamin D levels.

This investigation focused on supply chain integration and how it is linked with operational performance of the manufacturing entities in Mogadishu, Somalia. The specific focus of the inquiry was on extent of supply chain integration and how this is linked with operational performance. The investigation leveraged on descriptive survey design targeting 52 manufacturing entities with use of census where data was gathered from first hand sources. Processing of the gathered views of the participants was done as supported by descriptive and inferential statistics. It was noted that supplier integration had the largest contribution towards operational performance followed by customer integration and then internal integration. The study concluded that supply chain integration significantly contributes towards operational performance of the firm. The study recommended that the policy makers of the manufacturing firms in Mogadishu should give more weight on supplier integration followed by customer integration and then internal integration. The procurement and supply chain managers of the manufacturing firms in Mogadishu should focus more on suppliers and customers since this would significantly enhance operational performance. The study was limited by some challenges that impaired the spread of Covid-19 pandemic so that it was difficult to meet all the required respondents since most of them were affected by Corona and they were working from their homes. The study recommends further studies to focus on Supply chain integration in other industries and thus meaningful generalization of the findings. Key words: Supply chain integration, Operational performance, Manufacturing firms

The objective of the study was to establish the relationship between market growth strategies and performance of Insurance Companies during Covid-19 in Kenya. The study investigated various dimensions of market growth strategies such as product development, market development as well as online shares and innovations. The research employed a cross-sectional research design and data was collected among all Insurance Companies in Kenya. Primary data was collected through the use of questionnaire method and the analysis was done using descriptive statistics and regression analysis models. The findings revealed that the adoption of market growth strategies improve the performance of the insurance companies in Nairobi Kenya. The study also established that market growth promoted performance in terms of profitability, high customer value, high quality services, smooth operations, increased market share, low costs of operations and increased customer base. The study also found that market development strategies are most critical in enhancing customer base through building customer loyalty. Market development strategies play an important role in building customer base, enhancing the company’s smooth operations and increased market share. The results established that market development strategies did not affect the cost of operations of the companies and it helps improved performance of the companies. The study concluded that Insurance Companies should adopt market growth strategies to promote their performance during Covid-19 pandemic. The research recommends that organizations top management and policy makers should make efforts to adopt market growth strategies such as diversification and innovation in order to promote their performance.

Education and training are singled out in Vision 2030 as the catalysts for Kenya's transition to a middle-income economy. As a result, the government has increased the size of its institutions in terms of workforce and infrastructure. The Kenyan government invested sh. Five hundred sixty million in the 2010-2011 budget to refurbish the infrastructure of institutes of Science and Technology. Engineered by the 2013 TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) Act, the reforms have resulted in numerous institutions. Despite the government's efforts to improve facilities, TVET enrollment has remained relatively low (Ndugutuson, 2014). Thus, this study aimed to examine the consumption of information on TVET programs in Kenya. The study aims to ascertain the level of awareness regarding the uptake of TVET programs in Kenya, evaluate the communication channels utilized to promote TVET program uptake in Kenya and ascertain the communication flow regarding the uptake of TVET programs in Kenya. The study used a descriptive research design. The study was conducted in the Nairobi Technical Training Institute and Wote Technical Training Institute. The total target population was 10,028 respondents comprising students, principals, deputy principals, dean of students, Heads of departments, and County and Sub County officials. Besides, TVET authorities and KUCCPS officials were part of the respondents. As a result, 328 people were included in the study's sample. This study relies on information obtained directly from the source. A simple random sample approach was used to select 300 quantitative respondents, while a purposive sampling method was used to select 28 qualitative respondents. The descriptive statistics of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences were used to analyze the data (SPSS). A frequency distribution, mean (a measure of central tendency), standard deviation (another measure of central tendency), and percentages are examples of descriptive statistics. Content analysis was used to assess qualitative data on subject areas, which was then presented in prose and quotations. There were pie charts, graphs, and tables to show the ultimate results. TVET program attendance in Kenya is positively affected by awareness, according to a new study. Furthermore, the study finds that communication channels have a favorable and significant impact on TVET program adoption in Kenya. Furthermore, the study suggests that communication flow has a favorable and significant impact on TVET programs uptake in Kenya. From the findings, this study recommends that technical training institutions' management ensure regular advertisement of their programmes regularly to reach more audiences. In addition, the study recommends that since most people have shifted their attention to social media platforms, the technical training institutions should use these platforms for advertising the courses they offer.

This study sought to investigate the effect of road connectivity on horticultural outcome at the county level. More specifically, the study aims at investigation the correlation between existing road connectivity and horticultural output at county level in Kenya using a panel data analysis. Data was sourced from various county government official reports for the period running from 2015-2019 comprising of all 47 county governments of Kenya. Using fixed effect model, the study finding reveals that there is evidence to link road connectivity and county horticultural production. However, we found a negative effect of road connectivity to county horticultural production contrary to other empirical work. Other key factors influencing horticultural production at the county level included rainfall amount, area under production and labour input. We recommend that farmers should increase the area under horticulture production and incur some input costs such as labour in an effort to increase horticultural production at the county level. It is also expected that with increased production, the multiplier effect of the value chain for horticultural products will be impactful.

The recent changes in business dynamics on merchandised goods and cargo transportation have impacts on the business operational costs. On the other hand, the study of Green Freight Transport Practices and freight firm’s operational costs pursued knowledge and environment friendly business practices. The benefits realized by the study are promotion of sustainable development in the economy, environmental protection and sustainable operational costs. The study sought to determine the effects Green Freight Transport Practices on Operational costs of freight firms operating in Kenya. The study objectives were; to determine the level of adoption of green freight transport practices by freight firms and to establish effects of green freight transport practices on operational costs. The study explored seven practices which were distribution strategies and transport practices, reverse logistics, warehouse and green building, eco-design and packaging practices, internal management, cooperation with customers and external management practices. The study adopted descriptive research design in obtaining information about the study topic. The study population comprised 141 licensed freight firms who are members of Kenya International Freight and Warehouse Association (KIFWA). The firms were sampled and data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis. The study found out that the practices were averagely implemented to a moderate extent except for internal management practices and external collaboration practices which were implemented to a small extent. The study found a positive correlation between the green freight transport practices and operational costs. The study concluded that increase in green freight transport practices lead to the positive effect on poerational costs. The study also recommended that proper budgetary consideration and plan should be considered before any freight firm undertake any green freight transport practices decision.

The purpose7of7this7study was to7establish7the7relationship7between problematic smartphone use and psychological distress. The objectives of the study were to establish if there is a relationship between problematic smartphone use and psychological distress; to determine whether there are gender differences in relation to problematic phone usage; and to determine whether the socio- economic status of Mount Kenya University students is a factor as far as problematic smartphone use and psychological distress are concerned. This study had a total of 81 respondents. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants with descriptive correlational methodology adopted. On the level of problematic smartphone use 70.4% of the respondents had mild levels of problematic smartphone use and 17.3% had severe levels with a mean of 26.07 (SD = 5.54). In relation to gender, results indicated that there was no gender difference t (79) = 0.510, p = 0.611 in relation to problematic smartphone use. For relationship between problematic smartphone use and socio-economic, results showed no association between problematic smartphone use and socio-economic status, X2 = (80, 78) = 67.109, p = 0.85. On the relationship between problematic relationship and psychological distress, statistical Pearson correlation coefficient indicated that there was positive correlation between problematic smartphone use and depression (r =0.57, p = 0.00), a significant positive correlation between problematic smartphone use and anxiety (r = 0.56, p = 0.00), and a significant positive correlation between problematic smartphone use and stress (r = 0.52, p = 0.00). This study recommended that from time to time the universities should carry out workshops and training and sensitization to create awareness on the impact of problematic smartphone use and the association to psychological distress.

Financial innovations provide various objectives and therefore include issues like credit generation and availability, transaction cost reductions, risk sharing and transfers, risk pricing and liquidity management. Financial innovation occurs in the emergence of lending platforms that mediate information flows from traditional banking systems to unbanked borrowers and also assist in credit risk-sharing analyses. The study goal was to assess the impact of financial innovation on SMEs' access to loans in Nairobi County, Kenya. The research was influenced by the Theory of Innovation Diffusion (DOI), the cost theory of transactions and the theory of exchange. The study used a descriptive design for research. The research population comprised of 21,100 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) situated primarily in the core business area in Nairobi County, Kenya. The research used a probability sampling method, basic random sampling and a scientific derivative formulation of the Yamane (1967). The outcome comprised of 393 SMEs operating in Nairobi County, Kenya's major business center. A combination of primary and secondary data sources was used. The main data gathering was the use of a closed-end questionnaire as a data collecting method. A crosssectional study was the present study. The research used both descriptive and inferential statistics including correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. The results of the research showed that product innovation in Kenya's financial service providers is highly shown. Further results have shown that process innovation is also highly shown by financial service providers in Kenya. Further studies have shown that SMEs in Nairobi County always have access to loans from their various financial services providers. Further studies showed that none of the characteristics of financial innovation or of company age and size were substantially linked with access to credit. Further research results showed that the model of financial innovation, company age and company size explains at least to some degree access to credit and that the model doesn't predict access to credit substantially. The final results of the research showed that product innovation, process innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises and small and medium enterprises had no significant links with access to finance. Policy suggestions are made to government officials and policy-makers, in particular regulators, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Sacco Corporations Regulatory Authority (SASRA) and to the Treasury, not to concentrate largely on financial innovation while seeking to enhance access to loans. The results of the current research also suggest that financial sector professionals and consultants should not concentrate exclusively on financial innovation when developing strategies to grow their loan books.