The Effects of Income Diversification and Non –Performing Assets on Interest Spread among the Kenyan Commercial Banks.

Banking institutions plays a major role in a country’s and global economy. An efficient financial intermediation has a direct impact on effectiveness of investable resource mobilization, and thus, economic development. A major indicator of efficiency in banking sector is the interest rate spread which indicates the level of financial sector’s development. Therefore, a major goal in financial sector deepening and financial liberalization is the narrowing down of interest spread.  In Kenya various structural changes intended to lower interest rate spread were initiated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) since interest rate liberalization in early 1990s, but as documented in various Monetary Policy Statement issues and acknowledged by the Industry players and policy makers, interest rate spread remained high. But commercial banks have undergone a lot of changes characterized by new business models anchored on enhanced technologies and innovativeness; income diversification and others, in order to help them in reducing interest rate spread. Therefore this study sought to establish the effect of income diversification and non-performing assets on interest rate spread among Kenyan commercial banks. While few studies had been conducted in this subject, none had captured the post economic crisis period in a broad way. Further, income diversifications, a product of commercial bank evolution in the period under study, received little attention. The study used quarterly bank-specific, industry specific and macroeconomic data between 2004 and 2014. Random effect regression analysis was used to meet the objective.  Regression results indicated a 0.11 percent fall in spread following a 1 percent increase in the proportion of non-interest income to total income. No significant relationship was observed between spread and non-performing assets. But market concentration and operation cost had significant positive relationship. On the other hand, increased illiquidity in commercial banks reduced spread. The study recommends focus on operational efficiency, income diversification, market competition, reduced return’s appetite and scaled credit information sharing. Keywords: Income Diversification; Nonperforming Assets; Interest rate spread; Banking Institution

African Generation: The Power of Design

This book highlights and explores the creative force emerging from the African continent and diaspora, presenting the work of forty-nine designers, architects and artists

DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NON-COMPLETION AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENT IN SELECTED PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA

Non-completion among university students is a common phenomenon in many parts of the world. Many causes of this problem have been advanced and among them are institutional and individual reasons like financial ability, gender and motivation to complete studies. Psychological distress though not investigated thoroughly has been cited as one of the problems leading to non-completion. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between psychological distress and non-completion among postgraduate students in selected public universities in Kenya. Weiner Attribution theory (1985) informed the study. The study adopted a correlation research design and it was conducted in two selected public universities in Uasin Gishu and Nairobi counties targeting a population of 945 postgraduate students. A sample of (N=273) was obtained from the two selected public universities through systematic random sampling. The study used questionnaires, focus group discussions and document analysis in collecting data. Reliability of the questionnaire was established using Split half method from a pilot study conducted in Uasin Gishu County. Statistical package for the social sciences SPSS 23 was also used to analyze the data .Descriptive statistics to analyze demographic data while Pearson correlation was employed to test the relationship between psychological distress and non-completion. Regression analysis was used to clarify the nature of relationship with the variable. Findings indicated a weak negative correlation between psychological distress and non-completion, not statistically significant, rs (229) =-.063, p ˃ .05. However, descriptive findings established that a majority of students 34.1% agreed that psychological distress could lead to non-completion. It recommended that students plan for their study schedules and finances to ensure study period is not interrupted by roles that can be put on hold like parenting and inadequate finances. Further the university administration should put in place / reinforce committees that handle non-completion among students. Development and implementation of postgraduate policy that would track postgraduate journey, as well as establishment of course advisory, guidance and counselling for this students

Lipidemia status among HIV positive adult male on HAART attending the HIV clinic at Kericho district hospital, Kericho

Background: It is unfortunate that while Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy (HAART) has become the standard of care among HIV positive patients, the medications have been associated with metabolic abnormalities recognised to cause lipidemia.Objective: To establish lipidemia status among HIV positive adult male patients attending HIV clinic at Kericho District Hospital.Design: A cross sectional analytical study.Setting: HIV clinic at Kericho District Hospital, Kenya.Subjects: HIV positive adult male patientsResults: The results indicated that the mean age was 43.52 ± 9.17 years and out of which 82.27% were married. Primary Education level attained 40.97% .The mean lipid profile level was LDL 2.5 ± 1.05mmol/l, cholesterol 4.49 mmol/L ± 1.28 mmol/l, HDL 1.47 ± 0.58 mmol/l and triglycerides 1.96 ± 1.32 mmol/l, against the expected level of LDL (1.1. - 2.4 mmol/L), HDL (0.9 - 1.68 mmol/L) triglyceride (0.41 - 2.61 mmol/L) and total cholesterol (2.55 - 5.7 mmol/L).The prevalence lipidemia was 48.17%.Conclusion: The findings showed that the mean LDL was elevated with proportion of lipidemia at a significant higher level among HIV positive adult patients on HAART with considerable improvement in the nutritional status. Future work should investigate the biological mechanisms and pathways through which micronutrients affects high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL)

Effect of plant biomass, manure and inorganic fertilizer on maize yield in the central Highlands of Kenya

Soil fertility degradation remains the major biophysical cause of declining per capita crop production on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa. Appropriate soil fertility regimes, are therefore, critical for improved crop productivity. This study investigated the feasibility of using sole organics or their combinations with inorganicfertilisers to improve maize (Zea mays) production in the highlands central Kenya. Sole application of Calliandra calotyrsus, Leucaena trichandra trichandra, Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Tithonia diversifolia and cattle manure at 60 kg N ha-1 or combined application of the organic materials (30 kg N ha-1) plus inorganic fertiliser (30 kg N ha-1) gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher maize grain yields than the recommended rate of inorganic fertiliser (60 kg N ha-1). These treatments maintained maize yields at 4 to 6 t ha-1. Farmers had theirown innovations where they combined organic resources and generally appreciable yields (3.0 to 5.6 t ha-1) were obtained from these innovations. However, there was a maize yield gap between on station and on farm trials with on station yields having on average 65% more yields than the on-farm yields. This was mainly attributedto differences in management practices arising from partial adoption of recommended rates. There is need therefore to develop and implement mechanisms tailored to ensure that farmers’ modications recommended soil amendment regimes and other agronomic practices are appropriate for enhanced crop productivity. Further studies are needed to establish the optimum mixture of different organic materials

An assessment of factors influencing patient safety incident reporting in the inpatient department at the Gertrude’s children Hospital in Nairobi,Kenya

The main purpose of the study was to establish the factors influencing the reporting Patient safety incidents at Gertrude’s Children hospital. The study employed a Descriptive mixed method with both quantitative and qualitative study design. Fifty Two nurses from the inpatient units participated in this study. A standard checklist Extracted from Q-pulse, a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews guides were used for data collection. Statistical package of social sciences(SPSS)version 21.0 and the matic analysis was used to analyze the data. Eighty nine percent of the Nurses were aware of the hospital’s reporting system but about half of the nurses Rarely reported incidents. There was a significant low rate of reporting patient safety incidents among the nurses in the inpatient units of the hospital. The main challenges faced by staff on reporting patient safety incident were issues with accessibility of reporting platform, lack of time to report, fear of victimization, fear of unknown,lack of knowledge of what to report,and fear of intimidating colleagues.Some of the key recommendations includes; Provision of management support for patient safety culture,train all health care workers on the incident reporting process, ensure a non-punitive system when handling reported incidents and in all ways discourage victimization of staff reporting patient safety incidents and provision of appropriate timely feedback to staff on corrective measures

Evaluating the farmers Willingness to Accept Adoption of Watershed Conserving Land use Practices in Ndaka-ini Dam catchments, Muranga County, Kenya

Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES) has become a handy tool for promotion of sustainable watershed management across the globe due its versatility and capacity to engage multiple stakeholders in the public and private sectors. Its strength lies in the ability to incorporate voluntary economic incentives and market-based instruments which are superior to the conventional command and control approaches in watershed and natural resource management.  It is an incentive based mechanisms that links the suppliers and consumers of goods and services from a natural resource in a way that both parties contribute to improved delivery. It challenges the common perception that that water will always flow from the watersheds for free without any effort or investment to sustain such flows. To the contrary, water quantity and quality from watershed are deteriorating at unprecedented scale for farmers and other land owners hosting watersheds have not received recognition and incentives to play positive role in the land use management practices that ensure sustainable flow of water into the rivers. Nairobi City one of the fastest growing urban areas in east Africa has been experiencing serious water shortages partly to the reduced water inflows to Ndaka-ini Dam that suppliers 80% of its water supplies and further, its resident don’t link the water from the pipes to conservation of water catchments areas. In recognition of the links between water catchments and water supply predicaments being experienced in Nairobi a study was commission whose objectives was  to find out whether land owners and users of water are willing to participate in watershed protection scheme through Payment for Water Services. Specifically, the study identified factors that influence willingness of water users to pay for water provision and land use practices the farmers were willing to adopt to improve quality and quantity of water. Primary and secondary data were collected based on baseline survey and qualitative research approaches, interview schedules, questionnaires and, focus group discussions. Both parametric and non-parametric methods of data analysis were used.  Results showed that farmers are willing to accept improved farming practices in return to for specified incentives. Though in most cases expected incentives were far above what the users were willing to give but a significant relationship between farmers’ acceptance of conservation practice and incentives provided was established. The findings of the study provides some information that will guide future packaging of  incentives for enhanced management and conservation of catchments areas for improved water quantity and quality of flows. The findings are relevant to many other water catchments beyond Ndaka-ini Dam hence are useful development PES schemes elsewhere in the country. Keywords:  PES, willingness to pay, watersheds, water, land use practice

A descriptive correlational survey of the infant feeding and the occurrence of diarrhoea and/or respiratory morbidities within the first fourteen weeks in the Amathole District of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Magister Curationis - MCurThe study proposed to conduct a descriptive study related to the correlation of infant feeding (EFF or EBF) and occurrence of morbidity diarrhoea and/or respiratory infections, in infants by 14 weeks of age. The study adopted a quantitative epistemological approach in seeking to describe the correlation of infant feeding and the occurrence of diarrhoea or respiratory infections by 14 weeks of age. The researcher embarked on a descriptive survey design and employed the questionnaire method during the data collection process. The Amathole District of the Eastern Cape Province was selected due to the accessibility of the targeted population. The unique demographic profile and rural-urban setting allows for a potentially rich data source whilst simultaneously reducing the potential incidence of bias in the data collection. The study sample was drawn from routine immunization and growth monitoring clinics in the Amathole district.South Afric

Correlates gender traits and mindset on the choice of physics subject at high school in Kenya

Higher education and training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are important for the industrial growth and development of any nation. Physics subject provides the basics for training in many STEM areas. However, failure to pursue physics to the end of high school denies learners opportunities in STEM courses. This research employed a correlational design and survey method to examine the relationship of gender traits (GT) and mindset (MS) with learners’ intention to choose physics among 378 high school students randomly sampled. The study adopted the gender traits test and mindset questionnaires. The Chi-square test for the relationship of GT and MS with the intention to choose a physics subject yielded p&gt;0.05. These results revealed that no student is deprived of an opportunity to pursue physics to higher levels on account of their GT or MS. Thus, attempts to increase the number of learners who can potentially pursue STEM courses by studying physics in high school should focus on other known factors other than GT and MS