Effect of Credit Risk Management Practices on Lending Portfolio among Savings and Credit Cooperatives in Kenya

Sound lending procedures in financial institutions involve identifying high-risk loan applicants, modifying lending conditions such as security requirements and monitoring repayments. Credit risk management is an emerging activity that lies within Sacco’s. Many researches have attempted to answer the benefits of the credit risk management. However, it has remained unclear for the Sacco’s management on the effects of credit risk management practices on lending portfolio. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of credit risk management practices on lending portfolio among Sacco’s in Nakuru County, Kenya. Data on risk identification, risk analysis, risk monitoring, risk evaluation and risk mitigation obtained from 59 Sacco’s sampled from among Saccos in Nakuru County were analyzed using regression models to identify its effect on lending portfolio. Results indicate a significant effect of all the risk management practices on lending portfolio except risk evaluation which did not register a significant effect on the lending portfolio of the Sacco’s. The findings further show that majority of the Sacco’s have largely adopted risk management practices as a means of managing their portfolio. Key words: Credit Risk Management,  Lending Portfolio, Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies, Kenya

HIV-1 subtype and viral tropism determination for evaluating antiretroviral therapy options: an analysis of archived Kenyan blood samples

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infection with HIV-1 is characterized by genetic diversity such that specific viral subtypes are predominant in specific geographical areas. The genetic variation in HIV-1 <it>pol </it>and <it>env </it>genes is responsible for rapid development of resistance to current drugs. This variation has influenced disease progression among the infected and necessitated the search for alternative drugs with novel targets. Though successfully used in developed countries, these novel drugs are still limited in resource-poor countries. The aim of this study was to determine HIV-1 subtypes, recombination, dual infections and viral tropism of HIV-1 among Kenyan patients prior to widespread use of antiretroviral drugs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Remnant blood samples from consenting sexually transmitted infection (STI) patients in Nairobi were collected between February and May 2001 and stored. Polymerase chain reaction and cloning of portions of HIV-1 <it>gag</it>, <it>pol </it>and <it>env </it>genes was carried out followed by automated DNA sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty HIV-1 positive samples (from 11 females and 9 males) were analyzed. The average age of males (32.5 years) and females (26.5 years) was significantly different (p value < 0.0001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 90% (18/20) were concordant HIV-1 subtypes: 12 were subtype A1; 2, A2; 3, D and 1, C. Two samples (10%) were discordant showing different subtypes in the three regions. Of 19 samples checked for co-receptor usage, 14 (73.7%) were chemokine co-receptor 5 (CCR5) variants while three (15.8%) were CXCR4 variants. Two had dual/mixed co-receptor use with X4 variants being minor population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HIV-1 subtype A accounted for majority of the infections. Though perceived to be a high risk population, the prevalence of recombination in this sample was low with no dual infections detected. Genotypic co-receptor analysis showed that most patients harbored viruses that are predicted to use CCR5.</p