Performance of infrastructural parastatals in Kenya since independence: transport, communications and electricity

The paper examines the performance of seven parastatal firms including Kenya Airways, Kenya Railways, Kenya Pipeline, Kenya Power & Light, Kenatco, Kenya Posts and Telecommunications and Kenya Ports Authority. It is shown that those firms which enjoyed natural monopolies performed well financially, which allowed them to expand rapidly and avoid major operational problems. Those firms which faced more competition were more vulnerable financially, which led in turn to operating problems

Improving parastatal performance: an organizational approach: a research proposal

Improved parastatal performance is increasingly crucial to the Kenyan economy because of its macro-economic effects and because of the key sectors controlled by parastatals. There is a consensus that the sector has performed poorly in Kenya, especially in terms of profitability and efficiency. In the literature review it is shown that no author has articulated a positive theory of how public firms respond to their environments. This lack of a theory of the firm has weakened policy analysis in Kenya and elsewhere. It is proposed that each firm should be thought of as a coalition between consumers, input suppliers, management and stock holders. The coalition together produces a surplus, with coalition members competing for shares thereof. The performance of a parastatal can thus be characterized by the way this surplus is allocated. A central assumption of this model is that management will behave strategically to appropriate its share of the surplus, rather than passively obeying the wishes of the stockholders. Analysis of a firm's performance then turns into an examination of the mechanisms by which a coalition member can increase its share in the surplus. Policy prescriptions revolve around strengthening or weakening those mechanisms, taking into account the likely responses of other actors in the coalition. There is sufficient richness of experience in the parastatal sector in Kenya that it should be possible, through a careful comparative study, to demonstrate the effectiveness or lack thereof, of various types of controls which have been proposed

Performance of financial parastatals in Kenya, 1964 - 1984

The paper analyses the performance of four parastatal financial institutions, including the KCB, NBK, HFCK and AFC. Performance is analysed in terms of the four potential beneficiary groups: depositors, borrowers, stockholders and employees. It is shown that the depository financial parastatals played an important role in the development of the Kenyan financial sector. They performed efficiently enough to compete successfully with the private sector, while remaining highly profitable. Since 1979 their performance relative to the private sector has suffered as they have been used to extend banking services into more remote rural areas. The positive performance of the depository institutions contrasts sharply with that of the Agricultural Finance Corporation. The AFC is shown to be inefficient, unprofitable and to serve mainly to transfer state funds to its rather elite clientele

Performance of development finance institutions in Kenya, 1964-89

The paper examines the performance of eight parastatals which share the goal of fostering development of one or more sectors of the economy primarily via equity participation in joint ventures with the private sector, or via loan schemes. The firms examined include ICDC, DFCK, IDB, KTDC, ADC, KIE, NCC and KNTC. The paper examines the terms on which the parastatals have made finance available to their clients, their managerial efficiency, and their profitability. The performance of manufacturing firms which are subsidiaries of the parastatal firms is compared with performance of purely private manufacturing firms. The paper shows that the performance of the firms has varied widely, but several of the firms have made important positive contributions to the Kenyan capital market, allocating their investment funds to projects which are or average commercially viable and economically competitive

Agricultural parastatals since independence: how have they performed?

The paper examines the performance record of 17 agricultural parastatals, from independence to 1984. Data is presented showing capital invested, liquidity and gearing ratios, private and social returns to capital, real unit costs and real consumer and producer prices. Firms are classified as to which ones have had serious problems with cost control or social rates or return, and when those problems developed. About half of the firms currently operating are considered "good" performers. The data show that for most firms cost control problems preceded financial problems, and that pricing policies have not been a major cause of parastatal financial problems. Since 1976 several firms have developed severe financial problems, while before 1976 no firm had such severe problems. Efforts to restore cost control after serious problems developed have rarely succeeded. Current policies of government are aimed at increasing central government control of all aspects of operations of all parastatals, a strategy which is not likely to succeed

The Ursinus Weekly, October 30, 1975

16 U.C. seniors named to Who\u27s who • Prof. presides • U.C. Founder\u27s Day to honor church • Dr. Isaac Asimov named speaker • Editorial: Ursinus\u27 infirmary is ailing! • Letters to the editor: Soccer regrets; Speaking out; Resident vs. day; An open letter to Richard J. Whatley • Newest P.E. prof • Visitor notes strange customs • Renowned sculptor presents project • Forum review: Lisa A. Richette speaks at Ursinus • Ursinus wins! • We\u27re no. 1! • Between inningshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1044/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, October 16, 1975

S.F.A.R.C. reps meet, discuss Library & proctors • Homecoming day is coming • Students, V.P. Richter discuss false alarm • Union plans mini-courses • Library Assoc. to meet at U.C. • New instructor • Editorial: Pride, not prejudice • Letter to the editor: Day vs. resident • Saturday Lunch • Speak up or give up • Freedom of speech • State of the Union • George Allen\u27s Ursinus Redskins • Our captains • Ursinus offense faltershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1043/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, October 2, 1975

Meetings on Perkiomen Valley growth • In memoriam • Gene Shue presents: Year of the Sixers • City planner speaks • Ursinus College appoints Assoc. Prof. of Education • Kane earns Doctorate • Editorial: A different year? • Is there more to life? • New dorms renovated • Saturday Lunch • Forum series opens: Nina Deutsch • Musical notes • Chris Hillman rated • New events at Walnut • Nancy Drew revisited • Alumnus is named to Library post • British history specialist joins Ursinus faculty • Instructor returns to Ursinus • Pa. Dutch Program is success • Instructor appointed to Biology Dept. • Lindback Award presented • Soccer season opens • Ursinus allies with area • Balloons! • Ursinus named a \u2776er • Register now! • Grads elect officers • Yes we can gang didn\u27t • NFC forecast • MAC report • F & M stings Bears 35 - 21https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1041/thumbnail.jp