Improving Kenya's Domestic Horticultural Production and Marketing System: Current Competitiveness, Forces of Change, and Challenges for the Future (Volume I: Horticultural Production)

The specific objectives of this Volume are to: estimate the share of domestic FFV production going to international and domestic markets; determine the share of imports from Tanzania and Uganda in Kenya’s horticultural markets; investigate the competitiveness of Kenya’s horticultural produce in local and regional markets; determine the current and likely future share of key marketing channels in Kenya’s domestic FFV marketing system, especially “modern” channels such as supermarkets and more traditional channels such as open air markets and kiosks; and recommend steps that should be taken to place Kenya’s domestic horticulture in a position to compete favorably in local and regional markets.Food Security, Food Policy, Horticultural Production, Kenya, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,

Ideotyping integrated aquaculture systems to balance soil nutrients.

Due to growing land scarcity and lack of nutrient inputs, African farmers switched from shifting cultivation to continuous cropping and extended crop area by bringing fragile lands such as river banks and hill slopes into production. This accelerated soil fertility decline caused by erosion, harvesting and insufficient nutrient replenishment. We explored the feasibility to reduce nutrient depletion by increasing nutrient utilization efficiencies, while diversifying and increasing food production through the development of integrated aquaculture – agriculture (IAA). Considering the climatic conditions prevailing in Kenyan highlands, aquaculture production scenarios were ideotyped per agro-ecological zone. These aquaculture production scenarios were integrated into existing NUTrient MONitoring (NUTMON) farm surveydata for the area. The nutrient balances and flows of the resulting IAA-systems were compared to present land use.The effects of IAA development on nutrient depletion and total food production were evaluated. With the development of IAA systems, nutrient depletion rates dropped by 23–35%, agricultural production increased by 2–26% and overall farm food production increased by 22–70%. The study demonstrates that from a bio-physical point of view, the development of IAA-systems in Africa is technically possible and could raise soil fertility and total farm production. Further studies that evaluate the economic feasibility and impacts on the livelihood of farming households are recommended

Economic performance of exotic dairy cattle under smallholder conditions in the marginal zones of Kenya using three analytical approaches

Smallholder exotic dairy cattle have been adopted in the dry marginal zones of Kenya from the high potential areas over the last two decades contrary to the opinion of experts. The objective of this study therefore was to evaluate the economic performance of this dairy establishment in the marginal zones. Three approaches were used for the evaluation: the stochastic cost frontier to determine inefficiencies and the causative institutional and socio-economic factors; cost-factor demand systems; and the supply response analyses to determine the elasticity estimates of policy variables. The results from these approaches are supplementary and seem to support the need for government interventions in institutional and socio-economic factors that have a high public good component in order to expand dairy establishment in the marginal zones.Marginal zones, stochastic frontier, systems analysis, institutional and socio-economic factors, Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Improving Kenya's Domestic Horticultural Production and Marketing System: Current Competitiveness, Forces of Change, and Challenges for the Future (Volume II: Horticultural Marketing)

The specific objectives of this Volume are to: estimate the share of domestic FFV production going to international and domestic markets; determine the share of imports from Tanzania and Uganda in Kenya’s horticultural markets; investigate the competitiveness of Kenya’s horticultural produce in local and regional markets; determine the current and likely future share of key marketing channels in Kenya’s domestic FFV marketing system, especially “modern” channels such as supermarkets and more traditional channels such as open air markets and kiosks; and recommend steps that should be taken to place Kenya’s domestic horticulture in a position to compete favorably in local and regional markets.Food Security, Food Policy, Horticultural Marketing, Kenya, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,

Information Security Subcultures in Information Security Management: A Conceptual Framework

The rationale behind an organization’s information system is to provide access to its information resources and services anywhere anytime over networks. This need creates issues of security in the management of the information systems. The information system approach is socio-technical by nature, involving people and processes as well as technologies; hence, the culture and characteristics of the organization are factors in effective information security management. This implies that the concept of information management is multi-dimensional and includes the human, organizational and technological dimensions. Stemming from this information security culture is considered as an important factor in the management of information security in an organization by overcoming the problem with employees’ lack of compliance with information security management initiatives. However the security culture of an organization is based on the different security subcultures of different sections or subsections that have its basis on the training backgrounds of the individuals and or different tasks performed by each of the groups or a combination of both. This paper addresses information security from the management point of view paying close attention to the information security subculture as seen in the organizations and looks into different methods that the security subcultures can be studied in relation to information security management. Keywords: Information security management system, organizational culture, information security culture, information security subculture

Challenges Facing Local Government in Development in Kenya: The Case of Machakos District, 1950-1974

Local government in Kenya plays an important role in socio-economic development. This role began in the colonial period with the establishment of Local Native Councils (LNCs). Machakos LNC was established in 1925 and took up various socio-economic development functions such as provision of health, education, sanitation and the construction and maintenance of roads. Constitutional changes in 1950 leading to independence came with important challenges to the local government in Machakos. Lack of funds to finance ongoing and new development projects was the main challenge. This paper is an evaluation of those challenges which were carried into independence up to 1974 when the significance of local government declined in Kenya. The reasons for such a decline are also examined in this paper

STRATEGY IMPLEMANTATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY OF KENYA MEDICAL TRAINING COLLEGE

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the strategies applied by KMTC and the performance of the organization. Materials and Methods: The study adopted a case study research design. The research utilized both secondary and primary data. Primary data was collected from senior managers namely: Former Strategic Plan In-charge, Deputy Director Finance and Administration, Human Resource Manager, External Liaison Officer, Public Relation Officer, Deputy Registrar Research, Chief Procurement Officer and the Institutional Advancement Officer. Secondary data was collected through desk review of the strategic plans implementation and financial reports. The nature of data collected was qualitative and was therefore analyzed using content analysis technique. Results: The empirical findings and analysis conducted in KMTC shows that strategic Implementation directly contributes to organizational performance. The study concludes that strategy implementation and organization performance in KMTC involves drawing from national context and global plans and priorities to shape and ensure strategy alignment and relevance. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that KMTC should institute an operational office specifically dedicated to strategic planning processes. The organization should improve awareness of the strategic plan at different levels through launching and proper dissemination; it should also support participatory planning and implementation of project activities within the organization with the aim of enhancing the performance. Additionally, the organization needs to allocate adequate resources needed to realize the different key result areas in the strategic plan and thus actualize the targeted objectives

Understanding the motivating factors that influence online employee advocacy by examining the tension between personal and corporate voices at the Communications Authority of Kenya and Brandkings Kenya Limited

Employee advocacy is crucial for maintaining a strong reputation and effective strategic communication in the current era of a digitally enhanced work environment. The idea to enable employees as advocates or brand ambassadors has been, over the years, proven to build credibility, trust, and visibility. In Kenya, this shift is particularly pronounced in sectors such as telecommunications and corporate communication; however, there is a lack of research on what motivates employees to advocate online for their employers. This study was guided by three main theories of corporate communication; Agenda-Setting Theory, Reputation Management Theory and Organizational Culture Theory. Adopting a mixed-methods approach (70% quantitative and 30% qualitative), the research examined both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators of employee-driven brand promotion in a digital, reputation-conscious work environment. Stratified random sampling was used in determining the target respondents for the quantitative aspect of the research, and purposive sampling was employed when selecting respondents for the qualitative aspect of the research. Questionnaires were distributed via Google Forms for quantitative survey data collection, while Zoom and Google Meet were used for the qualitative interviews. The study achieved 470 responses; 24 of which could not be used, resulting in a final sample of 446. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using Excel’s Data Analysis Toolpak. In quantitative data analysis, independent t-tests and one-way Analysis of Variance [ANOVA] were conducted to examine whether there were statistically significant differences in advocacy behaviors across different job groups. Further, qualitative data were thematically inscribed, with transcripts being manually coded in Excel using conditional formatting to identify repeating themes, patterns, and key insights relevant to the dynamics of employee advocacy. To enhance understanding and ensure methodological rigor, the study used a convergent integration strategy. The findings indicate that 91% of employees are actively engaged in social media advocacy. The findings further indicate that stakeholder engagement (r = 0.75) and corporate voice (r = 0.71) have a significant influence on organizational reputation. Key motivator for online employee advocacy includes alignment with company values (31%) and personal branding (29%), both driven by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. It can be concluded that digital employee advocacy enhances brand reputation and fosters stakeholder engagement, emphasizing the importance of strategic support and clear policy. Qualitative insights reveal emotional connection, autonomy, and clear policies as key factors. The study highlights the need for strategic policies, reward programs, and communication training to promote responsible employee advocacy, contributing insights to global and regional digital engagement

Stakeholders’ Level of Involvement As a Predictor of Effective Implemention of Competency Based Curriculum in Pre-Primary Education in Kisumu, Kenya

This study aimed to determine the level of stakeholders’ involvement in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Early Childhood Education in Kisumu Central Zone, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to explore how teachers are involved in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in early childhood education, investigate the experiences and perspectives of parental engagement in the implementation of the CBC in early childhood education, and examine the government's initiatives, strategies, and role in the implementation of the CBC in early childhood education in CBC in Kisumu Central Zone, Kenya. The study was guided by stakeholder theory propounded by Freeman in the year 1984 and Project Stakeholder Management theory proposed by Mustafa and Tam in 2022. A descriptive design with a mixed-method approach was adopted in the study. The study focused on a target population of 377 participants, which included 174 teachers from public schools, 108 educators from private schools, 94 parent representatives, and one Curriculum Support Officer (CSO). Proportional stratified sampling was used to select a sample of 190 respondents. Data collection methods included questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, and an interview schedule for the CSO. The findings were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. The findings revealed that teachers were actively involved in CBC implementation and recognized its effectiveness. However, they faced challenges such as lack of parental support, large class sizes, insufficient time for practical lessons, and understaffing. Parents, on the other hand while seen as key stakeholders, were not fully aware of their roles in CBC implementation. It also emerged that the government's support was insufficient in terms of adequate funding and staffing in public schools. The findings of this study could assist the government in improving CBC and contribute to a better understanding and literature regarding stakeholder involvement in CBC. The study recommends improved staffing of teachers, proper sensitization of parents on their roles, adequate funding for public schools, emphasis on digital literacy, and enhancement of parental involvement through effective communication and feedback. For future clarity, the study suggests focusing on the integration of digital literacy in CBC, the effect of communication and feedback on CBC implementation, and the formulation of stakeholder interventions to enhance CBC. The fact that so many countries have adopted the CBC system is a pointer that it is good, and the implementers need to work on robust intervention strategies to make it successful

Pastoral livestock market integration amidst improvements in physical and communication infrastructure:Evidence from northern Kenya

This article analyses the level of integration in pastoral markets in Kenya using high-frequency data generated through a crowdsourcing endeavour. The vector error-correction model framework was used to estimate the causal relationships between the short- and long-run market price. The results indicate that a higher proportion of price variation in larger markets in the region was due to market price shocks, while variation in the smaller markets originated from the larger markets. Weekly adjustments and the convergence of prices on a long-run equilibrium after experiencing shocks were also observed. Price transmission was also evident between markets operating along different trading routes. However, markets located close to production catchments exhibited lower price trends, despite being connected. These results suggest a strong influence of the recent infrastructural investments on price transmission between markets in the region. The findings imply that more investments would enhance the competitive trading environment and reduce unidirectional price transmission.</p