Challenges of Implementing Procurement Policies in State Corporations in Kenya

The general objective of the study is to establish the challenges of implementing procurement policies in state corporations. The relationship between the various variables of study is illustrated using the aid of a conceptual framework. To achieve the objective of the study, a well structured questionnaire was used to collect data from primary sources. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data and comprise the use of frequencies, percentage (relative frequency) and mean. The research reveals that political interference, information technology, quality of personnel greatly undermine effective implementation of procurement policies in State Corporation. The study concludes by recommending a framework through which such challenges can be turned to opportunities for the success of state organizations. Keywords: Procurement policy, Implementation challenge, State corporation

Nitroso derivatives of l,3-dithiol-2-ylidenes, and related systems

A range of substituted l,3-dithiol-2-ylidene systems have been prepared. These species have, subsequently, been converted to nitroso derivatives. The role of the 4-, 5- and ylidene subtituents in stabilising the nitroso-alkene moiety thus obtained has been investigated. X-ray molecular crystal data which show that these species are stabilised by intramolecular interactions are presented. Conversion of the nitroso derivatives to their thionitroso analogues has been attempted, but was unsuccessful. A selection of l-(l,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-prop-2-ene systems have been prepared. These systems have been shown to be sufficiently activated to undergo nitrosation reactions at the 3-vinyl positon, though the nitroso-alkenes thus formed are unstable. A new route to 4,5-dicarbomethoxy-2-(tributylphosphino)-l,3-diselenolium tetrafluoroborate utilising hydrogen selenide as the source of selenium has been detailed. This Wittig reagent has been employed in the synthesis of various 1,3-diselenol-ylidene systems. Conversion to nitroso derivatives has been accomplised and X-ray data shows that the resultant nitroso-alkenes are stabilised by an intramolecular oxygen—selenium interaction

Urbanisation and adolescent risk behaviour

Objective. To investigate whether there is an association between the length of time lived in an urban area and selected adolescent risk behaviours.Design. Cross-sectional survey in which students completed an anonymous, confidential questionnaire.Setting. Four high schools in black communities in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.Participants. A sample of 1 296 students obtained by multistage cluster sampling.Main outcome measures. Selected risk behaviours.Results. There is a relationship between urbanisation and certain risk behaviours. The following risk behaviours were associated with urbanisation: use in the previous month of alcohol, cannabis, and cannabis mixed with Mandrax; being a victim of violence; perpetration of an act of violence; and suicidality. Conversely, participation in sexual intercourse and solvent sniffing in the previous month were not associated with urbanisation.Conclusion. Urbanisation is associated with an increase in the prevalence rates of some risk behaviours. Mental health promotion efforts may be informed by further research aimed at the identification of: (z) the characteristics of risk behaviour that determine whether it is associated with urbanisation; and (iz) where applicable, the specific aspects of the urbanisation process that contribute to an increase in risk

Risk-taking behaviour of Cape Peninsula high-school students. Part I. Introduction and methods

In this study, risk-taking behaviour of Cape Peninsula high-school students was investigated. Suicidal behaviour, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, road-related behaviour, violent behaviour and sexual behaviour were included. This article, the first in a series, describes the rationale and methodology of the project. Sixteen schools were selected so as to yield a representative sample of schools in the three major education departments in the Cape Peninsula (administered by the Department of Education and Training and the Houses of Assembly and Representatives). The final sample size was 7 340 school students. A self-administered questionnaire was completed in a normal school period. Estimates for each education department were weighted to produce an overall estimate. The results are presented by standard and home language(s), and gender. Limitations of the study include its cross-sectional nature; the possibility of under- and over-reporting; the exclusion of important groups of adolescents such as absentees and dropouts, and those attending specialised and private schools; and not being able to present the results separately for each education department

Risk-taking behaviour of Cape Peninsula high-school students. Part VI. Road-related behaviour

The prevalence of a wide range of risk-taking behaviour among high-school students in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, was investigated. In this article, the findings for road-related behaviour are presented. Cluster sampling techniques produced a sample of 7 340 students from 16 schools in the three major education departments. A self-administered questionnaire was completed in a normal school period. Estimates for each education department were weighted to produce an overall estimate. During the previous year, 8,5% of the students had been involved in a motor vehicle accident, and 7,4% had been injured in a pedestrian accident. Of those who had driven a vehicle, 63,2% reported driving without a licence; 16,1% drove an overcrowded vehicle; and 8% reported driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis. Of those who had been on a motorcycle, 47,9% reported riding without a helmet. Despite the availability of seat belts, 37,3% had failed to wear one on the last occasion they were in the front seat of a vehicle. Variations according to gender, standard, and home language(s) were identified. The prevalence of risk behaviour was higher in males, who also showed a more pronounced increase in such behaviour with age. The need for accident prevention programmes remains urgent

Indenização por dano moral pela falta de comunicação ao consumidor em razão da negativação de crédito por protesto de título

Monografia apresentada ao Setor de Pós-graduação da Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense - UNESC, para a obtenção do título de especialista em Direito Empresarial.O Código de Defesa do Consumidor, em especial no art. 43, § 2º, dispõe que é obrigatória a comunicação prévia do consumidor antes de seu nome ser levado a inscrição nos serviços de proteção ao crédito (SPC1, SERASA2 e CCF3). O Superior Tribunal de Justiça - STJ, por meio da súmula 359, prescreve que é responsabilidade do órgão mantenedor de crédito em proceder à comunicação prévia ao consumidor, acerca da sua inscrição em cadastros restritivos. O credor apenas informa a existência da dívida, cabendo ao órgão arquivista a comunicação. Desta forma, compete ao SERASA notificar, por escrito, previamente o consumidor antes de lançar seu nome nos cadastros restritivos. No presente trabalho, será analisada a hipótese do consumidor que tem um título protestado, sem a notificação previa do SERASA, mas seu nome é levado à inscrição no rol restritivo de crédito. A SERASA utiliza como argumento de defesa pela não notificação, o fato de que quando um título é protestado, a mora do consumidor se tornou pública, não necessitando da cientificação, nos termos da Súmula 359 do STJ. Acontece que a comunicação da mora do consumidor pelo protesto não se confunde com a comunicação prévia da Súmula 359 do STJ. Ainda, existem situações que o cartório realiza o protesto do consumidor por meio de citação editalícia, seja porque não encontrou o consumidor no endereço fornecido pelo credor, seja porque a residência do consumidor não é de abrangência do cartório de protesto. Diante dos fatos, justifica-se o presente projeto, pois visa analisar, nos termos do objetivo geral e objetivos específicos, as faces da legalidade ou não, da inscrição do nome do consumidor no SERASA. Caracterizada a ilegalidade na inscrição e manutenção do consumidor nos órgãos restritivos, compete ao SERASA a baixa do nome do consumidor do sistema, bem como a obrigação do ressarcimento pelo abalo civil sofrido

Risk-taking behaviour of Cape Peninsula high-school students. Part III. Cigarette smoking

The prevalence of a wide range of risk-taking behaviour among high-school students in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, was investigated. In this article, the results for cigarette smoking are presented. Cluster sam.pling techniques produced a sample of 7 340 students from 16 schools in the three major education departments. A selfadministered questionnaire was completed in a normal school period. Estimates for each education department were weighted to produce an overall estimate. Of the students 18,1% indicated that they smoked at least 1 cigarette per day. Of these, 66,9% had tried to stop. Of those who did not smoke at least 1 cigarette per day, 41,2% had smoked previously and 3,6% intended to start smoking. There were different trends according to gender, standard, and language(s) spoken at home. Of note was the small percentage of Xhosa speaking females who smoked. There is an urgent need for smoking prevention programmes in schools

Risk-taking behaviour of Cape Peninsula high-school students. Part VII. Violent behaviour

The prevalence of a wide range of risk-taking behaviour among high-school students in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, was investigated. In this article, the results for violent behaviour are presented. Cluster sampling techniques produced a sample of 7 340 students from 16 schools in three major education departments. A self-administered questionnaire was completed in a normal school period. Estmates for each education department were weighted to produce an overall estimate. Of the total sample, 12,7%, 9,6% and 13,8% reported that they had been physically injured by another person at school, at home and in other settings, respectively; 11,0% had injured another person during the previous year; 5% had committed an act of vandalism and 9,8% of males and 1,3% of females had carried knives at school. Other trends according to gender, school standard, and home language were identified. Males were more likely to be the perpetrators and victims of violent behaviour; for both genders the extent of victimisation decreased with increasing standard; and fewer Xhosa-speaking students than students in other language groups perpetrated incidents of violent behaviour. The potential for intervention programmes is assessed in a context where much violence is detertnined by sociopolitical factors

Risk-taking behaviour of Cape Peninsula high-school students. Part V. Drug use

The prevalence of a wide range of risk-taking behaviour among high-school students in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, was investigated. In this article, the results for drug use are presented. Cluster sampling techniques produced a sample of 7 340 students from 16 schools in the three major education departments. A self-administered questionnaire was completed in a normal school period. Estimates for each education departnlent were weighted to produce an overall estimate. Cannabis was the illicit drug most widely used; 7,5% had smoked cannabis, and 2,4% had done so in the previous 7 days. A small subgroup (1,6%) of students had smoked cannabis and methaqualone (Mandrax) together. Reported lifetime use of injectable drugs was 0,5%, and 10,9% had sniffed solvents, 2,6% having done so in the previous 7 days. There were different trends according to gender, standard, and language(s) spoken at home. Of particular note was the Small proportion of Xhosa-speaking females who were involved with drug use. The results suggest that the majority of drug use among school students is experimental. A small number of adolescents abuse drugs and are at risk for its associated problems; intervention is indicated for this group