Procurement Legislation and Performance of Constituency Development Fund Committees in Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the procurement legislation on performance of constituency development fund committees in Kenya. The research questions therefore were; to establish the effect of procurement legislation implementation on procurement performance in CDF Committees in Kenya; to determine the challenges facing the implementation of procurement legislation in CDF Committees in Kenya.Methodology: The study employed descriptive survey design. The population of the study was all the 290 constituencies and a census was conducted in the study. The study used primary data which was collected through use of a questionnaire. A five point likert scale questionnaire was used. Also a Yes or No structured questionnaire was also administered. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics inferential statistics. The descriptive technique was used to generate frequencies, mean and percentages while inferential statistics were generated the fitness of the model and regression of coefficients.Results: The findings concluded that the procurement performance affected procurement legislation and procurement performance of constituency development fund (CDF) committees in Kenya. Effects of Procurement Legislation on procurement performance were found to be statistically significant with a positive impact on the importance of procurement performance. Results also indicate that Procurement management had positive and significant effect on procurement performance. The study recommends that a summarized regulatory framework for CDF procurement management be prepared by policy makers. Through legislation, the government should enact comprehensive laws to regulate procurement functions and outline clear policy and procedures to be followed by procurement entities as this will enhance accountability and transparency.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study also recommends that the government should employ professional auditors to undertake public procurement audit and facilitate their continuous training to ensure they are well equipped with necessary technical skills. These will ensure effectiveness of public procurement audit. The study also recommends that more public auditors be trained on public procurement audit and the CDF managers be exposed to audit as a positive management tool

An Empirical Study of the Factors affecting the Willingness to Pay for Air Pollution Reduction in Zimmerman

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate empirically the effects of the identified factors on the willingness to pay for air pollution reduction.Methodology: System random sampling was used to select the study sample. The sample size was limited to 150 households. Ordinary least squares technique was applied in the data analysis to estimate the effects of the identified factors on the willingness to pay for air pollution reduction.Results: The study results showed that income, education and ranking of the air pollution compared to other problems were significant determinants of willingness to pay for reduction in air pollution problem compared to other problems had the expected signs and were significant at 95% level. The other variable age, family size, marital status and incidence of air pollution related illness had the expected signs, but were not significant at the 95% level as the t-values fell below the critical value of 1.96.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended0.3 that increasing the income of the individuals may lead to an increase in the charges for air pollution abatement. Educating the people about the virtues of a pollution free environment may increase their willingness to pay for air pollution reduction via payment vehicle such as taxes and service charges or higher prices. The government can help reduce the housing problem by solving the air pollution problem which will further encourage investments in residential housing units in the undeveloped parts of Zimmerman given that it is an important residential estate for the lower middle class to the upper middle class groups as evidenced from the income data gathered

DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS OF THE FISH TRADERS THAT AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION OF THE FISH MARKET

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify demographic factors of the fish traders affecting the environmental situation of the fish market.Methodology: A descriptive survey design was used for the research.The target for the study was the fish traders of Gikomba fish market, Nairobi. Random sampling of fish traders was done from a register, using Fischer\u27s formulae, to calculate the number of respondents. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire and was processed using EXCEL and SPSS software packages. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages,) and inferential statistics (Chi square and Logistic Regression) were used to explain the variables. 54% of the respondents did not get piped water.Results: Majority (60.5%) of the respondents noted that fish wastes had a negative effect on the environment.Chi squaretests results for fish operator practices in most attributes was statistically associated with environmental situation (P< 0.05).Logistic regression tests results proved that practices such as use of water, disposal of wastes, use of protective clothing and participation in cleanups had a statistically significant influence on the environmental situation (P< 0.05).Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The research recommended that the Department of Fisheries needs to review the modalities for fish handling throughout the marketing chain. Emphasis should be put on disposal of fish wastes in the major fish markets, fish wastes recycling options, training of fish operators and capacity development of staff

THE EFFECT OF SERVICESCAPE ON SALES IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY (A CASE STUDY OF NAIROBI SERENA HOTEL)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of services cape on sales in the hotel industry.Methodology: The study used a descriptive sectional research design.  The target population was 200 employees in Nairobi Serena hotel.  A sample size of 50 employees was taken. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire.  The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as means and frequencies. The data analysis tool was statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17. The data was presented using bars and charts.Results: Findings indicated that facility aesthetic features of the hotel had a positive effect on sales. This was evident because majority of the respondents agreed with the statements that the presence of marbled wall decorations have led to an increase in sales volumes, presence of artifacts have led to an increase in sales volumes, the presence of pictures have led to an increase in sales volume, the presence of signage have led to an increase in sales volume and the presence of good facility upkeep and cleanliness have led to an increase in sales volume. Results further indicated that ambient condition of the hotel had a positive effect on sales in the hotel industry. This was evidenced by majority of the respondents agreeing with the statements that the low noise level of the hotels has led to an increase in sales, the soothing music of the hotel has led to an increase in sales, the comfortable temperature of the hotel has led to an increase in sales, and the ambient/nice scent of the hotel has led to an increase in sales. The study findings also indicated that majority of the respondents agreed with the statements that the furnishings of the hotel have led to an increase in sales, the spacious layout/ space of the hotel has led to an increase in sales, the neat seat arrangement of the hotel have led to an increase in sales, adequate car parking space of the hotel has led to an increase in sales, and the comfortable chairs of the hotel have led to an increase in sales.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy:  study findings, it is recommended that all employees be trained on the importance of facility aesthetic and their maintenance so that the sales volume could be increased. The study recommended that the management to work on the conditions of the hotel so that both the employees and the customers can be comfortable and hence referrals to other people thus increased sales. The study findings recommended that the management ensures that the hotel is spacious, comfortable seats and good furnishings to attract customers thus increased sales. The study also recommended that future studies should also investigate whether there is a difference in the effect of services capes between no star, one star, 2 star, 3 star, 4star and 5 star hotels. Further studies recommended on the effect of facility aesthetic, ambient condition and spatial layout on product and manufacturing companies should be carried out

AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT ON PROFITABILITY OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of credit risk management on profitability of commercial banks in Kenya.Methodology: This study adopted a descriptive design. The study targeted a population of all the 44 commercial banks with the exception of Charterhouse bank which is under statutory management. The sample of this study was 86 employees out of a possible 30,056 employees from the 43 commercial banks. The sample of 86 was generated by purposively sampling two employees from each bank.  One employee was a manager from the finance department while the other employee was a manager from the credit risk department. The questionnaire comprised of closed ended questions. Secondary data for ROA was identified. SPSS was used to produce frequencies, descriptive and inferential statistics which was used to derive conclusions and generalizations regarding the population. Regression analysis was also used to show the sensitivity of profitability, ROA to various independent variables.Results: The study findings indicated that credit department had various checks during loan credit review. The credit department always checked at the character of the borrower, collateral of the borrower, capacity of the borrower, capital of the borrower, conditions and controls during credit review. Results indicated that the banks had credit appraisal practices, credit monitoring practices, debt collection practices and credit risk governance practices in place. Regression results indicated that there was a positive and significant relationship between credit appraisal, credit monitoring, debt collection and credit risk governance practices and profitability of commercial banks.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study concluded that credit appraisal, credit monitoring, debt collection and credit risk governance practices had a positive effect on the profitability of commercial banks. The study recommends that the banks should continue emphasizing on the effective credit appraisal, credit monitoring, debt collection and credit risk governance practices so as to enhance maximum profits in banks

Rural Electrification and Microenterprises Performance: Some Lessons from Muranga County Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess rural electrification adoption by microenterprises in Muranga County Kenya. The study was guided by two specific objectives which are; to establish the determinants of rural electrification adoption by Micro and Small enterprises in Murang\u27a County, Kenya and to determine the effect of adoption of rural electrification on the performance of rural micro and small enterprises in Murang\u27a County, Kenya.Methodology: This study adopted two stage least squares incase of violation of endogeneity.  The population of this research consists of the 650 small and medium enterprises in Murang\u27a. The study used primary data.Results: Results revealed that, amount of capital invested, nature of business activity and distance from market significantly influenced the predicted probability of electricity adoption. Results also revealed that electricity adoption was positive and significantly related with business performance. The results also indicated that gender, capital invested and workforce were positively and significantly related to business performance.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: It is recommended that Murang\u27a County should conduct business incubation programmes for businesses so as to boost the business performance/turnover as well as the capital invested. This will have a positive effect on electricity adoption since well performing businesses are likely to adopt electricity

Liquidity Management and Returns of Shareholders in Quoted Banks of Nigeria

Purpose: This study access liquidity management with the aim of determining its effect on returns of shareholders. Ex-post factor design was adopted. Data on ROE, ROA, Log of Sales and EPS were collected from the selected Banks financial statement and Nigerian Stock Exchange statistical bulletin. ROA and ROE proxied performance while EPS proxied returns to shareholders. Liquidity stood for liquidity management.Purpose: The study covered a period of 2000-2014. Unit root was used to test the data for stationarity issue and where there was unit root problem, the data were differenced. Auto-regressive method was also applied to solve auto-regression issues. Linear regression and Pearson correlation were used to test the hypotheses.Results: The result showed that there is no significant relationship between liquidity management and Nigerian quoted Banks performance as well as return of Shareholders.Recommendation; the researcher therefore recommended that policies should be put in place to reduce the cost of loan and encourage investment in Nigeria

INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPALS\u27 TRANSFORMATIVE CORPORATE LEADERSHIP STYLE ON TEACHERS\u27 JOB COMMITMENT IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ATHI RIVER SUB COUNTY, MACHAKOS COUNTY, KENYA.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse influence of principals\u27 transformative corporate leadership style on teachers\u27 job commitment in public secondary schools in Athi river sub county, Machakos county, Kenya.Methodology: The study used correlation research design to collect data from principals, deputy principals and teachers in public primary schools in Athi River Sub County. The total number of respondents was 13 principals, 13 deputy principals and, 260 teachers and thus the total target population was 286. The researcher used census approach to select all the schools\u27 heads and their deputies and stratified random sampling to select 104 teachers. The analysis was done by descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.0. In addition, Pearson\u27s correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to establish the relationship between the study variables.Results: The study found that idealized influence and teachers\u27 job commitment were positively and significant related, further inspired motivation and teachers\u27 job commitment were positively significant related, also intellectual stimulation and teachers\u27 job commitment were positively and significantly related while finally +individualized considerations and teachers\u27 job commitment were also positively and significantly related. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study therefore recommends that there is need for principals in public secondary schools to adopt transformation leadership styles so as to improve on teachers\u27 job commitment