Linkages, Access to Finance and the Performance of Small-Scale Enterprises in Kenya

Micro- and small-scale enterprises (MSEs) have become important players in the Kenyan economy, but at the same time they continue to face constraints that limit their development. Lack of access to financial services is one of the main constraints, and a number of factors have been identified to explain this problem. These include the segmented and incomplete nature of financial markets, which increases transaction costs associated with financial services. On the supply side, most formal financial institutions consider MSEs uncreditworthy, thus denying them credit. Lack of access to financial resources has been seen as one of the reasons for the slow growth of firms. Literature from the new institutional economics, however, shows that institutional arrangements, like linkages and networks between firms, provide an important avenue through which firms can overcome some of these constraints.linkages, finance, enterprise performance

Democracy and the emergent present in Africa: interrogating the historical assumptions

Paper presented at the Wits History Workshop: Democracy, Popular Precedents, Practice and Culture, 13-15 July, 199

Tying Strategic Alignment and IT Value to Business Success Using Business Process Analysis And Redesign (BPAR)

Information technology (IT) investments are made for the purpose of obtaining value. This paper proposes that the alignment of IT investments with organizational strategic objectives (strategic alignment) leads to the attainment of value. Value results in enhanced business performance. Business process analysis and redesign (BPAR) is offered here as a tool by which strategic alignment can be achieved. The achievement of organizational objectives adds value to the firm which enhances business performance and leads to business success. Business success may be measured by increased productivity, improved business profitability, and created value for the consumer

Rhetoric and representation: The narrative and discourses surrounding the contest for the burial of S.M. Otieno, Kenya, 1986-1987

African Studies Seminar series. Paper presented July 199

Female participation in the labour market : the case of the informal sector in Kenya

The informal sector has become increasingly important as a source of income and employment in Kenya. This contrasts with the declining performance of the formal sector, and underscores the sector's potential for absorbing the country's increasing labour force as more households become dependent on it. One important attribute of the sector is that it has become a major employer of the female labour force in the country. This study investigated the factors determining the participation of women in informal sector activities given a range of other available labour market options. The results show that education is one of the important factors determining women's participation in the different categories of the labour market. The study concludes that efforts to address the problem of women's access to the labour market should focus on improving their access to education as one of the important factors for improving their human capital. Given the nature of the informal sector, and the fact that access to the labour market is an outcome of the interaction between demand and supply, addressing female participation in the sector may require addressing the demand side of the Kenyan labour market in addition to the factors expected to explain labour market participation

Human Rights and the Global Climate Change Regime

This article discusses human rights implications of the market-based mechanisms operationalized under the global climate change regime. It examines greenhouse gas emissions rights created by the Kyoto Protocol and continued by the Paris Agreement. This article discusses implications of these rights for the protection and realization of human rights in the wake of climate change and argues that greenhouse gas emissions rights, as currently constituted, are incompatible with human rights protections. While the Paris Agreement’s recognition of human rights is a significant development, the protection and realization of human rights by states under a free-market approach to climate change remains a challenge. This article calls for allocation of carbon investment rights for developing countries as a means of promoting the climate justice platform identified by human rights proponents, and reducing the economic gulf between developed and developing countries

An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Biomedical Intervention Strategies Employed towards the Mitigation of HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour among Students in Institutions of Higher Learning in Western Kenya

HIV has been a challenging health issue and a leading cause of ill health and demise at a global level. By the year 2017, 76.1 million people had contracted HIV worldwide, with around 38 million persons infected with HIV in the world during the year 2019 alone. The disaster furthermore stands among the top 10 deadliest epidemics throughout history and has had adverse effects on the human population since its discovery. Research studies have identified Institutions of Higher Learning, which host a significant proportion of youth, as fertile breeding grounds for HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour. As a consequence, this study assessed the effectiveness of biomedical intervention strategies employed towards the mitigation of HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour among students in Institutions of Higher Learning in Western Kenya. The study employed qualitative and quantitative approaches to ensure triangulation and crosschecking of the research process. Employed were probability and non-probability sampling techniques generally and specifically, cluster sampling then simple random sampling. Chosen was a sample size of 399 students from a population of 13,002 students at seven institutions. Key informants were sampled purposively as follows; 5 NGO officials, 6 county government officials, 6 officials working in health care centers and 6 dean of students and 1 student counsellor. Selection of four Focus Group Discussions was purposive with each FGD having eight purposively selected student leaders from four institutions. An interview administered semi-structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from students, an FGD guide for the FGDs and Key Informant interview guides for the key informants. Descriptive statistics, an index-score, qualitative analysis and chi-square and were done for analysis. The HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour index-score revealed that a majority 269 (67.4%) of the respondents are involved in HIGH HIV Risky Sexual Behaviours. From chi-square tests, regarding behavioural strategies, information provision and counselling and other forms of psycho-social support are found to be statistically significant with p-value = 0.007 and p-value = 0.080 respectively. The study concludes that HIV incidence and prevalence rates in these institutions are likely to double in the near future if stakeholders continue to apply mitigation strategies in the exact manner they are currently doing. The study recommends an enhancement of the provision of male and female condoms, HIV testing and counselling services, testing and treatment of STIs, provision of Needle and Syringe Programmes, provision of Opioid Substitution Therapy and promotion of VMMC. Keywords: Effectiveness, Biomedical intervention strategies, mitigation, HIV, Risky Sexual Behaviour among students in Institutions of Higher Learning DOI: 10.7176/ALST/94-04 Publication date:August 31st 202

Self Help Groups and Household Asset Acquisition and Income Among Women Group Members in Kisumu East Sub County, Kenya

Many studies covering Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have delved extensively on their impacts on food security, livelihoods, socio-economic empowerment, and enterprise enhancement. However, little attention has been paid to the impact of SHGs on household assets acquisition. Traditionally, SHGs are formed by people (mainly women) who are not in formal employment and who are unable to acquire credit or loans from financial institutions. Thus, it is interesting to enquire whether membership of SHGs can enable credit asset acquisition. The purpose of this study was to establish the impact of SHGs on asset acquisition among women group members trading in open air markets in East Kolwa location of Kisumu East Sub County, Kenya. Specific objectives of the study were to establish the status of household assets of members before joining SHG; assess the nature of assets acquired after joining SHG; to determine the level of household income due to asset acquisition after joining SHGs. The target population was 25 market trader groups operating in East Kolwa location, comprising 375 members. Through simple random sampling 30% of the membership (113 women from 8 SHGs) were selected for questionnaire administration.One official of each group was also selected for interview. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse data. The study found that all the respondents (100%) of the SHG members had received at least one type of asset through membership to a SHG; 80% reported an improvement in asset acquisition; Moreover, those with income between 2000 and 3000 Shillings increased from 19.47% to 37.17%; those with income of between 3000 and 4000 Shillings also increased from 7.08% to 15.04%; those with monthly income of between 4000 and 5000 Shillings increased from 2.65% to 3.54%; and those with monthly income of between 5000 and 6000 Shillings increased from 0.88% to 1.77% after acquisition of household assets. The study recommended that assets that enhance agricultural production to SHG members need to be encouraged to boost household food security. Further, studies should also be done on the effect of SHGs members’ supervision on repayment of loan obtained through credit among women market traders. Keywords: Self Help Group; Household Asset Acquisition: Household Efficiency; Market Trader

Research Paper No. 2009/06 Linkages, Access to Finance and the Performance of Small-Scale Enterprises in Kenya

Micro- and small-scale enterprises (MSEs) have become important players in the Kenyan economy, but at the same time they continue to face constraints that limit their development. Lack of access to financial services is one of the main constraints, and a number of factors have been identified to explain this problem. These include the segmented and incomplete nature of financial markets, which increases transaction costs associated with financial services. On the supply side, most formal financial institutions consider MSEs uncreditworthy, thus denying them credit. Lack of access to financial resources has been seen as one of the reasons for the slow growth of firms. Literature from the new institutional economics, however, shows that institutional arrangements, like linkages and networks between firms, provide an important avenue through which firms can overcome some of these constraints. Therefore, the question that arises is