Remembering the 1998 Nairobi terror attack: cultural and trauma memory and the reconciliation of a nation

At around 10:30 am on 7th August, 1998, a truck was stopped as it approached the rear entrance of the U.S. embassy building in Nairobi, instigating a brief argument and confrontation between the 'Arab-looking' men in the truck and the embassy guards. This led to a shoot-out between them before a powerful explosion completely tore down half of the embassy while the entire Ufundi Cooperative Building next to it collapsed to the ground. The site of the embassy and its adjacent streets were in a total state of chaos. In the aftermath of the attack 218 people were declared dead, over 5000 injured and property worth billions of Kenyan shillings destroyed. The bombing remains one of the worst terror attacks to have happened on Kenyan soil. Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terror group, through a proxy, (the Liberation Army for the Islamic Sanctuary), claimed responsibility. In their reportage of the rescue effort, the Kenyan media took what has been perceived as an ethnically inclined coverage by focussing on two Kikuyu victims, Rose Wanjiku and Sammy Nganga, as the most victimized; portrayed as the paragons of a reckless act of terrorism. This study, therefore, focuses on August 7th 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi and argues that the memories of the attack are constructed and mediated through visual and performance art. These memories are utilized in the management of trauma and the promotion of reconciliation in a post-terrorism situation in Kenya. An examination of ethnicity reveals its perversity and its threat to Kenya’s tenuous nationalism and identity. The recent attack on Westgate Shopping Mall, on 21st September, 2013, and the ongoing Islamic radicalisation of youth in Kenya, means that the narrative of this study has continual resonance

The Contribution of Trade Unions to Promotion of Employee Performance: Perspective from Officials of the Uasu Egerton University Chapter, Kenya

Trade unions have been reported to influence employee performance in an organization. In Kenya, the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) was formed to, inter alia, ensure better welfare and terms of service for its members, provision of a favourable working environment, and protection of its members from harassment and firing by their employers. Since the inception of the UASU, little information is documented about its contribution to the promotion of employee performance. Through a cross-sectional survey, this study evaluated the contribution of the UASU to promotion of employee performance from the perspective of the UASU officials at Egerton University Chapter. It also examined the challenges faced by the UASU Chapter. Results indicate that the activities of the UASU promoted employee performance in the University. Broadly, the UASU positively influenced employee wage rates, morale, terms and conditions of service, employee job commitment, individual output, and employee training and development. It also positively affected union performance, and organizational layout/ work practices. Regarding challenges faced, it was evident that there were neither leadership problems nor declining membership within the Chapter. However, victimization of the officials and social factors were a challenge. Responses were neutral on political interference, recognition of the UASU by University management, employer sincerity on implementation of collective bargaining agreements and inadequacy of finances for the operation of the activities of the UASU. Generally, it is vital to engage the UASU in the activities of the University to enhance and sustain effective and quality service delivery in the University. Keywords: Trade Unions, Employee performance, UASU, Egerton University, Keny

Effect of Organizational Ownership and Culture on Employee Performance Among Selected Banks in Kenya

The role of organizational culture on employee performance hasbeen a subject of interest. The purpose of the study was to establish theeffects of organizational ownership and culture on employee performance.The study was guided by Social cognitive theory. Explanatory researchdesign was used. The target population comprised of 403 employees drawnfrom 12 Commercial Banks in Kenya. Stratified and random samplingtechniques were used to obtain sample size of 141 employees. The studyused questionnaires as a tool for data collection. In order to test thereliability of the instrument, Crobanch alpha test was used. The studyadopted both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Pearsoncorrelation and multiple regression analysis were employed to estimate thecausal relationships between organization culture and performance, andother chosen variables. Findings indicate that involvement culture (β1 =0.230, p-value<0.05) and consistency culture (β2 = 0.286, p< 0.05) has apositive and significant effect on employee performance. Ownership thushas positive and significant moderating effect of bank ownership on therelationship between involvement culture and employee performance (β =0.26, ρ<0.05) and (β= -0.2, ρ<0.05) respectively hence concluding thatconsistency culture and involvement culture improves employeeperformance. The study recommends that organizations that aim atimproving employee performance need to ensure that employees haveinputs into issues that affect both their work and the organization in general.Moreover, information needs to be widely shared so that each and everyemployee can get the information they require to make the appropriatedecisions

The Role of Information Quality on the Performance of Hotel Industry in Kenya

In recent years there have been various studies investigating factors that influence hotel performance in Kenya mostly in coastal region. These studies have analyzed the drivers and factors influencing performance focusing at reasons why some hotels perform outstandingly while other do not. This study focused on how information quality affects the hotel performance. Resource base View theory was used in formulating the study framework. The study adopted a survey design which allowed easy sampling and analysis of data. The Target population was employees of 3 to 5 star rated hotels as classified by Hotel and Restaurants Authority (HRA) as its responses, with a sample of 324 from a population of 9,208 employees. SPSS software was used in analyzing and interpreting data that was collected. The sampling technique used was stratified random sampling. Primary data was collected by use of structured questionnaire instrument and a pilot study was conducted to check for the reliability and validity of the research instruments which were administered through drop and pick method. The results showed that firms need to align their supply chain practices with the level of their information quality in order to achieve enhanced overall business performance. Based on these study findings the researcher concluded that Information Quality has a significantly influenced on hotel Performance to very a great extent. In order for hotel managers to sustain their customer and retain the customer base , there is need to take into consideration on the quality and security of information they make available to their customers as well as their potential customers in order to make right decision e.g. on purchase, price, accommodation, service reservations among other services offered in hotels

Screening tropical maize lines for the production and regeneration of friable and embryogenic type II callus

Twenty two maize lines popularly used by breeders in the Kenyan maize program were screened for their ability to form type II callus. The immature embryos were harvested two weeks after pollination. Two highland lines showed high embryogenic response and formed friable, type II calli. While 16 lines screened showed poor or retarded growth with subsequent death. There was successful plant regeneration from four lines collected from the highland breeding program that are genetically related. The results suggested that genetic factors may be responsible for the differences seen in the regenerability of the tropical lines. The two lines CMB7 and CMB8 are considered suitable for further evaluation using a transformation syste

PASTORALISTS NON‐RESPONSIVENESS TO LIVESTOCK MARKETS IN EAST POKOT, KENYA

One of the major challenges facing the state‐owned Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) in Kenya has been the inadequate supply of quality live animals for meat processing. It has been observed that the live animal throughput is inadequate and, as a result the existing meat processing facilities operate at less than 50% of their operational capacities. This has increased the fixed costs of operation thereby decreasing the export abattoirs competitiveness in the domestic and export markets. Overcoming the constraint of supply shortage of quality live animals requires, among other things, understanding the livestock producers’ marketing behaviour. This study was conducted with the main objective to assess the determinants of market off‐take rates for cattle and shoats in the pastoral areas of East Pokot District, Kenya. The multinomial logit model was used for econometric analyses using both primary and secondary data obtained from different sources covering the pastoral areas of Kenya. It was observed that in general, many pastoralists do not participate in the livestock market. Furthermore, for those pastoralists who participate in the market, the size of transaction (sale or purchase of cattle or shoats) was found to be very small. The implication of limited market participation is that under the production and marketing conditions, livestock production systems do not provide regular and adequate market supply of quality live animals at competitive prices, which adversely affect the efficient utilization of meat processing capacity and hence their competitiveness in the domestic and export markets.pastoralists, livestock markets, market participation, east Pokot, Kenya, Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries,

Determinants of Vulnerability to Expected Poverty among French Bean Farmers in Kenya

Poverty is increasing in rural areas of Kenya. The study examined factors influencing vulnerability of French beans farmers to expected poverty using Vulnerability to Expected Poverty approach on 492 randomly selected respondents. The study found a mean vulnerability to expected poverty of 19.6% which is below vulnerability threshold of 50% indicating that majority of French bean farmers irrespective of Global-GAP certification status were invulnerable to expected poverty. However, majority of those who were expenditure (56.3 percent) and income poor (92.2 percent) are vulnerable to future poverty. Factors influencing vulnerability to expected poverty are asset value (P=0.000), net crop income (P=0.000), off-farm income (P=0.000), household size (P=0.000), age of household head (p = 0.088), gender of household head (P=0.001) and distance to market (P=0.000). French beans farmers should practice farm diversification and expand acreage under Global-GAP certified French beans in order to increase income and expenditure and hence alleviate future poverty. Key words: French Beans, Vulnerability, Poverty, Global-Gap Standards DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-10-14 Publication date:May 31st 201

E-Ordering and E-Informing on Supply Chain Performance in Retail Marketing Outlets in Kenya

The study purpose is to determine the effect of E-ordering and E-informing on supply chain performance. The study was informed Innovation Diffusion Theory. Explanatory research design was employed in this study. Targeted population was 244 procurement officers from 112 Kenyan Retail outlets. Multiple regression model findings showed that  e-ordering and  e-informing had a positive and significant effect on supply chain performance. The study concludes that e-ordering and e-informing which are elements of e-procurement dimensions increases supply chain performance. There is therefore need for firms to make use of e-ordering and e-informing in the procurement process. There is also need to electronically consult references for product/service quality so as to heighten supply chain performance. Kewords: E-procurement, E –odering, E-infoirming, Supply Chain Performance, Retail Marketing Outlet

Effect of market positioning on market orientation, innovation types and firm performance linkage

Market positioning activities must be carefully planned and reconciled with other marketing strategies and business activities. Most studies have assessed the impact of market orientations and innovations on firm performance. This study was designed to test the moderating effect of market positioning on the relationship between innovation types and firm performance. The study used the resource based view, the competitive advantage paradigm as a framework in testing the theoretical relationships between the constructs. The study adopted a corelational research design and it involved the use of a questionnaire-based survey of a random sample of 220 managers of Manufacturing Companies. Demographic characteristics of the respondents are presented as well as exploratory factor analysis, scale reliabilities and confirmatory factor analysis. Regression results indicate a positive relationship between market orientation, innovation types and performance. Mixed results from moderator regression analysis are presented. Conclusions and practical recommendations are given. Key Words: Market positioning, Market orientation, innovation and firm performance

Supply Chain Management Practices, Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty

In competitive business environments companies have identified the need to redesign their supply chain management practices to increase customer satisfaction and customer loyalty.  This study sought to determine the effects of supply chain management practices on customer satisfaction and loyalty in selected supermarkets in Kenya. The study used systems thinking theory and it employed a survey research design. The target population was a total of 1,208 managers and procurement officers in the selected supermarkets. Stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of respondents. Findings indicated that strategic supplier partnership, supply postponement, customer relationship and information sharing had significant and positive effect on customer satisfaction which also increases customer loyalty. The study concludes that supply chain management practices enhances customer satisfaction in the supermarkets. The study recommends that there is need for companies to work jointly with suppliers in order to improve customer satisfaction and improve performance. Keywords: Supply chain management; customer satisfaction; customer loyalty