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

Effectiveness and Safety of 2-Hourly 20 MCG Oral Misoprostol Solution Compared to Standard Intravenous Oxytocin in Labour Induction Due to Pre-Labour Rupture of Membranes at Term: A Randomised Clinical Trial at Kenyatta National Hospital

Background: Pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM) at term is a common event whose management varies from centre to centre. The practice at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for patients with PROM at term is to initiate delivery of the patient soon on admission with intravenous oxytocin, if there are no contraindications to vaginal delivery. However, in PROM at term, if the cervix is not ripe,vaginal administration of prostaglandin pessaries for cervical ripening is not possible when there is active draining of liquor, thus use of intravenous oxytocin may take a very long time or fail all together. Oral misoprostol at low doses has been found to be a safe and effective agent for labour induction in numerous studies carried out in the developed world, where there are better resources for monitoring of labour. None of the studies has been carried out in Kenya,a limited resource country. Therefore, there is a need to determine the effectiveness and safety of oral misoprostol solution at the KNH, a limited resource set up.Objective: To determine the effectiveness and safety of 2-hourly 20 mcg oral misoprostol solution compared to the standard intravenous oxytocinin labour induction in mothers with pre-labour rupture of membranes at term at the Kenyatta National Hospital.Design: An unblinded randomised clinical trial.Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital Labour Ward Unit.Participants: Eighty three pregnant women with pre-labour rupture of membranes at term without an indication for Caeserian section were consented and randomised for labour induction with either oral misoprostol at a dose of 20mcg 2-hourly up to a maximum of 4-doses, or with  intravenous oxytocin according to the WHO protocol.Main outcome measures: Induction to delivery interval; maternal  complications and early neonatal outcomes.Results: The overall induction success rates in the misoprostol arm was 81% versus 83% in the oxytocin arm (P=0.447). The mean induction to vaginal delivery interval in the misoprostol arm was 8.4 hours as compared to 9.45 hours in the oxytocin arm (P=0.116). The induction to active labour interval was similar in the two study arms. The mean induction to active labour in the misoprostol arm was 4.02 hours as versus 4.51 hours in the oxytocin arm (P=0.223 ). Two women who had failed induction with misoprostol were augmented with oxytocin and delivered vaginally. The Caesarean section rates were 19% in the misoprostol arm and 17% in the oxytocin arm (P=0.447), which was not statistically significant. The maternal outcomes were similar in the two study arms. Four women had tachysystole in the misoprostol arm, compared to three  in the oxytocin arm (P=0.253). In the misoprostol arm two women had hypertonus compared to three in the oxytocin arm (P=0.322).There was one case of hyperstimulation in the misoprostol arm and two in in the oxytocin arm. There were no differences in the foetal/ neonatal outcomes. No baby had an Apgar score of less than seven at one or five minutes. No baby was admitted to the New Born Unit in either of the two arms. There was no case of a still birth in either of the study arms. There was no significant difference in the passage of meconium between the two arms, 39% in the misoprostol arm and 35.7% in the oxytocin arm (P=0.755). The passage of meconium did not impact on the neonatal outcomes.Conclusion: Oral misoprostol solution 20mcg 2-hourly is as safe and effective as the standard intravenous oxytocin for labour induction in women presenting with prelabour rupture of membranes at term at the Kenyatta National Hospital

Do Stock Splits Affect Ownership Concentration of Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange?

Corporations split their shares in order to make them more affordable to the retail investors. Theoretically, increased buying of the stock post split by retail investors should be experienced. Existing literature on effect of stock splits are from studies conducted in developed markets, much of it focusing on market efficiency. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of stock splits on ownership structure of listed firms in Kenya. Using a data collection sheet, secondary data was collected from the published financial statements of listed firms, which had conducted stock splits between 2004 and 2010. A Herfindahl- Hirschman Index was used to measure ownership concentration among the top ten shareholders before and after the split. The overall change in ownership structure was analyzed using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test at 95% confidence level. The results show that although the ownership structure for the companies in the study significantly changed, the change was generally not in favor of retail investors. Contrary to expectations, the holding by institutional investors significantly increased in most cases, implying that stock splits do not cause enough interest in the shares amongst retail investors to tilt the proportions owned in their favor. To the contrary, stock split encourages retail investors to off load their shares in a bid to lock in profits occasioned by the appreciation in the value of the shares after the split. An important recommendation for market regulators and corporate managers is that a stock split may not be a useful tool for dispersing firm ownership but rather only for improving stock liquidity. Investors looking to buy stocks that have announced a stock split should carefully analyze their information content, because during stock market bubble a split may not convey accurate future prospects for the company. Given the increased demand for stocks when a split is announced, it is an ample opportunity to lock in profits for investors looking to sell their shares. Keywords: Controlling Shareholding; Ownership Concentration; Ownership Structure; Stock Splits; Nairobi Securities Exchang

Availability and Prices of Antimalarials and Staffing Levels in Health Facilities in Embu County, Kenya

Effective treatment of malaria relies on the availability of quality medicines while pricing is a major determinant of affordability. In addition, adequate numbers of competent staff of different cadres is essential for a well-functioning health system and effective health service delivery. The aim of the study was to determine the availability and prices of antimalarial medicines as well as staffing levels in healthcare facilities located in Embu County, Kenya. Antimalarials were sampled from 11 public (government owned) facilities, 29 private pharmacies, 5 private-for-profit and 3 not-for-profit mission health facilities in May-June 2014. The majority of public facilities (91%) had artemether-lumefantrine (AL) tablets in stock. Government and mission facilities did not stock second line antimalarials or sulfonamide-pyrimethamine (SP). All public facilities provided antimalarials free-of-charge to patients. Private pharmacies stocked a wider variety of antimalarials. The facilities studied were stocked with recommended antimalarials both in the private and public domains. No oral artemisinin monotherapies were encountered during the study. Only 45% percent of public facilities employed pharmacists. Of the remaining facilities, 27% employed pharmaceutical technologists while in the rest of the facilities pharmaceuticals were in the custody of nurses. Notably, none of the private-for-profit or mission facilities had pharmacists employed in their establishments; one facility employed a pharmaceutical technologist, while the rest were staffed by nurses. The number of private pharmacies superintended by pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists were 7 (24%) and 22 (76%), respectively.Key words: Antimalarials, artemisinin-based combination therapy, staffing level, Embu Count

Impact of Sociocultural factors on adoption of modern technologies in beekeeping projects among women groups in Kajiado County- Kenya

Sociocultural factors can have various impacts in projects during different project phases. These impacts can be either negative or positive. It is important for project implementers who target adoption of technology among people who hold onto certain cultures to understand what their clients believe and consider effective as well as acceptable. This research focused on sociocultural factors influencing adoption of modern technologies in beekeeping projects with particular focus to women beekeeping groups in Kajiado County in Kenya. The objective of the study was to establish the sociocultural factors that influence adoption of modern beekeeping technologies. The target population for this research was the beekeeping women groups in Kajiado County where a sample size of 116 respondents were drawn. The study employed the use of personal interviews, questionnaires, observation guides and key informant interview guides to collect data from the targeted respondents. The collected data was coded and entered into SPSS (version 21) for analysis. The findings of the study revealed that sociocultural factors have a positive and negative influence on adoption of beekeeping technologies. The factors identified were sex of the household head, marital status, size of the house hold, size of land and cultural beliefs. This conclusion confirmed the study carried out by the Kenya Beekeepers Association (K.B.A., 2005) which suggested that some of the sociocultural factors affecting adoption of new technologies could besex of household, marital status and size of the household among others. &nbsp

Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping in Maize for Resistance to Larger Grain Borer

Storability of maize grain is constrained by the larger grain borer (LGB) (Prostephanus truncatus). Host plant resistance is the most feasible way to manage LGB among smallholder farmers. Breeding for resistance to this pest inmaize is dependent on understanding genetic mechanisms underlying the resistance. The objective of this study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with LGB resistance in tropical maize. A mapping populationof 203 F2:3 derived progenies was developed from a cross between susceptible and resistant inbred lines.The F2:3 progenies were crossed to a tester and testcrosses evaluated across six environments, followed by screening for resistance to LGB. Data was collected on husk cover tip length, and grain texture in the field. Biochemical traits were analyzed on the maize grain. Harvested grain was evaluated for resistance and data recorded on grain damage, weight loss, and several insects. Grain hardness was measured as a putative trait of resistance. Univariate analysis of variance for all the traits was done using the general linear model of the statistical analysis system.Genetic mapping was done using Joinmap 4, while QTL analysis was done using PLABQTL. The QTL for resistance were mapped to 6 out of the ten chromosomes. QTL for resistance traits were located in chromosomes 1, 5 and 9.Chromosome 1 had a common QTL linked to protein content, grain hardness, and husk cover tip length. Additive genetic effects were prevalent in all detected QTL. Overall, the studies show that breeding for resistance to LGB is possible

Considerations for Creating the UNFCCC Online Portal for Climate Action in Agriculture & Food Security

A survey was conducted among 52 representatives of the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support. From this survey, the members voted that the UNFCCC online portal on climate action in food security and agriculture should have the following objectives (in the order of the highest number of respondents saying it is an objective) - information sharing, raising awareness of climate action in agriculture, and aiding fundraising. From the survey, the most eligible publishers for the online portal were national focal points, followed by research organizations and UNFCCC observer organizations. It appears the gap is that there is no generally accepted definition of an online portal. Some websites (which, upon inspection, are online portals) classify themselves as dashboards or databases. There’s room to create a shared definition and publicise this for other United Nations bodies and other organisations. Upon evaluation, the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support ought to proceed with the following recommendation areas: Mobile-First: this refers to an expectation to build the online portal to have some features (for example, viewing and manipulating data) compatible with basic Android smartphones. The desired metric is that the online portal scores at least 90/100 in Google’s PageSpeed Insights test. Accessibility: this will be a critical component of the online portal, focusing on ensuring it is compliant for voice-to-text accessibility for website visitors with literacy or usability challenges. Training and Visual Assets: this refers to the capacity building module – giving access to various forms of training and professional development available on the online portal. Visual assets aim for infographics, motion graphics, and data visualisation to market and raise awareness of the online portal and its contents

Responses of tropical maize landraces to damage by Chilo partellus stem borer

The potential to manage insect pests using host-plant resistance exists, but has not been exploited adequately. The objective of this study was to determine the resistance of 75 tropical maize landraces through artificial infestation with Chilo partellus Swinhoe. The trial was laid in alpha-lattice design and each seedling was infested with five neonates three weeks after planting, over two seasons in 2009 and 2010. The number of exit holes, tunnel length, ear diameter, ear length, plant height, stem diameter, stem lodging and grain yield were measured and a selection index computed. GUAT 1050 was the most resistant with an index of 0.56, while BRAZ 2179 was the most susceptible with an index of 1.66. Ear characteristics were negatively correlated with damage parameters. The principal component biplot suggested that exit holes, cumulative tunnel length, leaf damage, cob diameter, stem lodging, selection index, ear and plant height contributed 71.2% of the variation in resistance. The mean number of exit holes and tunnel length for resistant landraces and resistant hybrid checks were similar; at 5.5 and 2.48 cm, respectively. The identified resistant landraces (GUAT 1050, GUAT 280, GUAT 1093, GUAT 1082, GUAT 1014, CHIS 114, and GUAN 34) could be used to develop C. partellus stem borer-resistant maize genotypes.Key words: Chilo partellus, ear length, exit holes, stem borer resistance, tunnel length

Control of Busseola fusca and Chilo partellus stem borers by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-&#948-endotoxins from Cry1Ab gene Event MON810 in greenhouse containment trials

Previous testing of several public Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-maize events did not show control of the African stem borer (Busseola fusca Fuller), an important stem borer species, without which stewardship would be compromised by the possibility of rapid development of resistance to Bt deltaendotoxins. This study was carried out to test Bt-maize Event MON810 as an option to control all major stem borer species in Kenya. Two Bt-maize hybrids, DKC8073YG and DKC8053YG, both containing Bt Event MON810 of Cry1Ab gene were imported to carry out greenhouse containment trials. The hybrids together with the controls were grown in 10 replications upto the V6 and V8 stages. Infestations on whole plants were carried out at two stages of growth using 5 neonates of the spotted stem borer (Chilo partellus Swinhoe) and B. fusca. Bt-maize Event MON810 hybrids showed resistance to both stem borer species with low leaf damage scores and few surviving larvae recovered from the whole plant. The public Bt-maize Event 223 did not control B. fusca. Deploying Bt-maize Event MON810 may, therefore, be used to control the two species of stem borers. However, the efficacy of Bt-maize Event MON810 will, need to be evaluated under field environments.Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize, cry1A (b) proteins, stem borers, transgenic