Place as a Social Determinant of Health: Shaping the Role of School Lunches in Kenya and the United States of America

It is well known that the place where people live, age, and work affects their health outcomes. In order to understand the complexity and context of place, a pilot study was conducted to explore parents’ perceptions of the school lunch program in two different countries, Kenya and USA. This study was conducted using a cross sectional survey thorough email, and its aim was to (1) discover where the food served to the children originated (2) explore parents’ perceptions if the school lunch program provided healthy food. The results of the pilot study showed a difference between the two countries; the food in Kenya was healthy and locally grown while schools in affluent neighborhoods in the USA provided healthier school lunches than schools in low income neighborhoods. Parents’ responses were intriguing because most of them felt that school lunch was healthy. On the other hand, this study demonstrates that sometimes children were exposed to more than the recommended daily intake of sodium and fat contents in school food. Preliminary findings in this pilot study present a paradox and calls for further research

Ecological impacts of biological invasions on native birds in Africa

The impacts of biological invasions on native avian diversity have been the subject of many studies in Africa. However, a holistic synthesis of available information from different taxa and their impacts on native birds is lacking. From published information, I analysed the negative and positive effects of biological invaders on native African birds from five taxa: plants, invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds. In order to assess functional gains and losses, native birds were categorized into their functional guilds defined by their primary diet. I limited my scope to mainland Africa at the biome level. ArcView GIS 3.3 software was used to map locational data of impacts within the major biomes. The results indicate that a minimum of 572 native birds are negatively impacted by invasive species from the five taxa. This represents ca 29% of all the bird species in Africa. In contrast, only 191 species of native birds benefited from such invasions. Birds whose diet was primarily insects were disproportionally impacted. The majority of the impacts were caused by invasive plants. At the biome level, the greatest numbers of native birds impacted were in the Montane grassland and shrubland biome. It is predicted that native birds will continue to lose more than they gain from biological invasions in the continent

The role of government policies on students\u27 inter-university transfer among selected private universities in Nairobi County, Kenya

This study assessed the influence of government policies on students\u27 mobility in private universities in Nairobi County, Kenya. This study employed a descriptive quantitative survey design. This study targeted 26 registered private universities (including private university constituents where mobility rate records are too high) in Nairobi County, Kenya. The research sample size was 180 private university students and nine registrars. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 was used to analyse quantitative data. Descriptive analysis, inferential statistics, and regression analysis were used to analyse the findings. Descriptive statistics such as standard deviation, percentages, and mean scores were computed appropriately. Binary logistic regression analysis was adopted to find out the extent of the effect on the dependent variables of independent variables. The study concluded that government policies significantly influence the mobility of students in private universities in Nairobi County in Kenya. The Government agencies through the Commission for University Education (CUE), Ministry of Education (MOE), Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service (KUCCPS), and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) that are concerned with the welfare of students and need to control the alarming cases of student mobility should take measures to review the existing policies that guide learning in institutions of higher education and introduce systematic measures that can enhance student engagement while undertaking their studies

Student mobility in Kenya’s private universities: An assessment of the effect of universities’ customer care services

The study sought to analyse the effect of customer care services on student mobility in private universities in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study employs a descriptive survey design targeting 26 registered private universities. A study sample of 180 private university students and 9 registrars was selected using multi-stage sampling whereby the private universities from Nairobi County, Kenya, were purposely selected. The universities were further sampled in stratus using stratified sampling. The registrars further applied random sampling to select the students who were interviewed. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and survey questionnaires for registrars and students. Analysis was then done descriptively and through thematic means for quantitative and qualitative data. Linear regression analysis was also used to establish the extent of the effect on the dependent variables of independent variables. The study\u27s findings indicate that customer care services influence students’ mobility in private universities in Nairobi County in Kenya. This implies that students prefer being in institutions of learning that provide good customer care services. The study recommends that marketing departments of universities in the target areas invest more in customer care services to promote their respective universities to prospective students

Relationship between economic status of students and inter-university transfers among private universities in Nairobi County, Kenya

This paper aims to establish the relationship between students’ economic status and mobility in private universities in Nairobi County, Kenya. A descriptive survey design was employed to accomplish this objective by targeting 26 registered private universities (including private university constituents where mobility rate records are too high) in Nairobi County, Kenya. A sample of 180 private university students and nine registrars was obtained using a multi-stage sampling technique at three different stages. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 was used in analysing the collected data, from which descriptive statistics such as mean scores, percentages, standard deviation, and linear regression were computed. This study found that economic status does not influence student mobility in private universities in Nairobi County, Kenya. This study recommends the involvement of government agencies, including the Ministry of Education (MOE), Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service (KUCCPS), Commission for University Education (CUE), and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), to figure out the origin of this mobility and effectively control the alarming student mobility cases

Relationship between quality of learning and student inter-university transfer in private universities in Kenya

The study sought to investigate the relationship between the quality of learning and student inter-university transfer in private universities in Kenya. This study targeted 26 registered private universities (including private university constituents where mobility rate records are too high) in Nairobi County, Kenya. The research sample size was 180 private university students and nine registrars. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Descriptive analysis, inferential statistics, and regression analysis were used to analyse the findings. Descriptive statistics such as mean scores, percentages, and standard deviation were computed appropriately. Binary logistic regression analysis was adopted to establish the extent of the impact on the dependent variables of independent variables. The study concludes that the quality of learning significantly influences students\u27 mobility in private universities in Nairobi County in Kenya. Students prefer being in institutions of learning that can guarantee them quality education to enable them to get opportunities to thrive in the labour market. The study recommends that private universities invest in their respective infrastructure to ensure superior learning possibilities. There is a need to invest in qualified lecturers, classrooms, libraries, laboratories and many other things that contribute to quality learning. Student\u27s mobility in private universities is in favour of institutions that are perceived to offer quality education

DETERMINANTS OF THE FAMILY OWNED HOTEL AND RESTAURANTS BUSINESSES GROWTH: A SURVEY OF NANYUKI TOWN

The research purpose of this study was factors affecting the growth of family owned hotel and restaurants businesses: a survey of Nanyuki town, its dependent variable was growth of family owned business in hospitality industry while its independent variables were leadership acumen, conflict resolution acumen, and cost of renting and capital management acumen. It targeted 148 family owned hospitality businesses. This research took duration of 6 months starting march 2018 through august 2018. It was guided by the following theories and model; growth of the firm theory leadership theory, resource based view theory and multifamily choice business model. Its research design was descriptive survey research design because measures situation of large number of subject units the way they are behaving simultaneously. Its target population was all restaurants business and guest house business in Nanyuki. Only a sample of 30% was involved in this research. The method adopted to select a sample was stratified sampling method. Data was collected using semi structured questionnaires which was administered using drop and pick method where possible and assistance was offered to semi illiterate respondents. Finally, tables, pie charts and bar diagrams were used in presentation while both quantitative data and qualitative data analysis was done with the help of SPSS. This research will offer critical and useful information particularly to owners or managers, customers, scholars and the community at large. The study found that leadership acumen, conflict resolution acumen, cost of renting and capital management acumen affected family owned business growth. The study revealed that most of the personnel playing managerial role had diploma or certificate qualification, on the leadership acumen the study found that consultation by the leaders when making decision rarely happens, on the conflict resolution acumen, the study revealed that most of family owned businesses lacked conflict resolution mechanisms, this can lead to protracted conflicts which may result to organization closure or affect developmental projects for growth, on the cost of rent this study revealed that high cost of rent in the town directly affected most of the family businesses’ profits and growth and on the capital management acumen this study revealed importance of adequate capital to business growth. The study recommends that top management to enroll in programs that are geared towards improving their skills and stimulates their creativity, leadership style adopted by the leaders should encourage genuine consultative decision making, there is need to set up a clear conflict resolution policy and assign a department with qualified personnel to handle organizations conflicts amicably, organization should set up a sinking fund that will allow accumulation of funds for the purpose of acquisition and construction of own premises and family owned business to embrace high profit retention ratios, acquisition of highly valued assets which ensures growth of business financial position and more utilization of internal sources of finance

The role of public libraries in the development of small-scale business enterprises in Meru County, Kenya

Small-scale Business Enterprises (SBEs) lack proper mechanisms for supporting the provision and access to business information that can nurture their development in Kenya. This study investigated the role that public libraries could play in supporting the development of SBEs in Meru County with a view to developing a model that would enable public libraries to effectively support the development of SBEs. The study used the pragmatic paradigm to explore the identified phenomena. It applied the mixed methods approach and survey research design; collected data from 355 SBEs, 21 staff from three public libraries and two staff from the enterprise development unit of Meru County. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and document analysis. The response rate was 83.4% and 95% for SBEs and public library staff respectively. The descriptive and inferential statistics were used with the help of SPSS and Excel. Thematic analysis was applied on qualitative data. The study found that the factors that influence the development of SBEs are anchored in the environmental, cultural and personality factors of SBEs. SBEs have a myriad of business information needs which are sector-specific and cut across all the stages of business development. To fulfil these needs, most SBEs consult informal information sources and places. Technology-related tools were a popular means of accessing business information. Public libraries were poorly stocked with business information sources while business information services were in a desolate state. The study concludes that public libraries have facilitative and functional roles of providing business information solutions to SBEs by collaborating with like- minded stakeholders. The availability and accessibility of business information sources and services at public libraries is critical in addressing the information needs of SBEs. The study recommends repositioning of public libraries as business community development centres by providing value-based information sources and services. Public libraries need to revise their collection development policy, increase budget allocation, establish business information centres, seek partnerships, improve ICT facilities, ensure adequate staffing, engage business services librarians, open more libraries and widen their business outreach activities for effective support of SBEs. Policy framework and support systems for symmetrical access to business information, and entrepreneurial training for SBEs and for public library staff are needed. The proposed model of public library’s support for the development of SBEs is valuable and contribute to knowledge in business development.Information ScienceD. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science