Collaborative Decision Support Tools for Water Resources Management - A Scientific Case Study of Nairobi River Catchment

Es wird ein Massenbilanzverfahren innerhalb eines Modells angewandt, das auf Einzugsgebietsebene erstellt wurde, um den aktuellen Status der Wasserbilanz festzustellen. Anschließend wird aufgezeigt, dass die Modellanwendung und Datenanalyse den Mindestanforderungen für plausible Ergebnisse entspricht. Eine Methodik wurde entwickelt, die Fachleute befähigt in Kooperation mit den Stakeholdern ein angepasstes Wasserbilanzmodell zu erstellen und anzuwenden

Effect of Investment Risk on Unit Trust Price Volatility Among Capital Market Authority Listed Firms in Kenya

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of investment risk on unit trust price volatility among CMA listed firms in Kenya. As a result of unit trust price volatility, investors are shifting to real estate and other investments with low price volatility. This makes unit trust price volatility an important issue to investigate. The unit trust price volatility is of much importance to investors, fund’s managers and government regulators. The objective that guided the study was to investigate the effect of investment risk on unit trust price volatility. A record survey sheet was used to collect secondary data using longitudinal research design. The statistical population of the study consisted of 19 Unit trusts registered by CMA 2016 and offering equity fund.  Census was taken to collect annual data for a period of 9 years from 2009 to 2017. Data presentation was done using panel plots, trend lines and distribution tables. The statistical techniques used are descriptive statistics such as Mean, median and Standard deviation. Diagnostics tests done were multicollinearity, autocorrelation, normality, Heteroskedasticity, Hausman and serial correlation.  Correlation tests, analysis of variance and panel regression analysis were also done for Inferential statistics. The hypothesis of the study was tested using panel regression analysis. The null hypothesis of the study was rejected at 5% level of significance. The results (r= -O.4366) of the study indicated that the effect of Investment risk on unit trust price volatility was negative and statistically significant at 5% levels. The overall model was tested using the F-test at 5% level of significance which resulted to the value of F (0.05,1,84) = 3.96 ≤ F (1, 83) = 19.550, p-value =0.000≤ 0.05 indicating that the model fits well. The results of the study analysis revealed that investment risk had a statistical significant effect on unit trust price volatility among CMA listed firms in Kenya for equity fund model. The coefficient of determination (R2 ) = 0.1906 which indicated that the investment risk contributes only 19.00% of the unit trust price volatility while the larger proportion is attributed to other extraneous variables. The model can be used for unit trust price volatility prediction though on a low scale. The study made the following recommendations; CMA regulate and inspect the financial stability policies governing unit trusts, unit trust firms to pay the investors in time and improve on financial stability, reduce on the operation costs and control operation systems of unit trusts. On policy implication, the government should review the CMA act to give the authority the inspection mandate on the unit trust to make them efficient and conform to financial international standards to be in line with the economic pillar of vision 2030. Keywords: Investment risk, unit trust price volatility DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-8-05 Publication date: April 30th 201

Metabolic syndrome and total cancer mortality in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

PURPOSE: Although metabolic syndrome incidence has substantially increased during the last few decades, it largely remains unclear whether this metabolic disorder is associated with total cancer mortality. The present study was carried out to investigate this important question. METHODS: A total of 687 cancer deaths were identified from 14,916 participants in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey by linking them to the National Death Index database through December 31, 2006. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for total cancer mortality in relation to metabolic syndrome and its individual components. RESULTS: After adjustment for confounders, a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was associated with 33% elevated total cancer mortality. Compared with individuals without metabolic syndrome, those with 3, 4 and 5 abnormal components had HRs (95% CIs) of 1.28 (1.03-1.59), 1.24 (0.96-1.60), and 1.87 (1.34-2.63), respectively (p-trend = 0.0003). Systolic blood pressure and serum glucose were associated with an increased risk of death from total cancer [HR (95% CI) for highest vs. lowest quartiles: 1.67 (1.19-2.33), p-trend = 0.002 and 1.34 (1.04-1.74), p-trend = 0.003, respectively]. Overall null results were obtained for lung cancer mortality. The effects of metabolic syndrome and its components on non-lung cancer mortality were generally similar to, but somewhat larger than, those for total cancer mortality. CONCLUSION: Our study is among the first to reveal that metabolic syndrome is associated with increased total cancer mortality

Influence of Cashflow Liquidity on Dividend Payout Among Deposit Taking Saving and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) in Kenya

In the recent past Saving and Credit Cooperatives Societies in Kenya have gained popularity as a result of high interest being charged by commercial banks and borrowers have shifted their focus to the SACCOs due to their fixed interest rates on loans. SACCOs pay high dividends in comparison to commercial banks, however the level of dividend payout keeps on fluctuating and thus shareholders are not aware of what they expect in the next financial year. Studies have been carried out to examine the determinants of dividend of payout, where various factors have been identified and inconsistency results have been found in regard to the influence of cashflow liquidity on dividend payout. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to establish the influence of cashflow liquidity on dividend payout among deposit taking saving and credit cooperative societies (SACCOs) in Kenya. The study focused on deposit taking SACCOs as more researchers have focused on commercial banks and SACCOs in general. The study used descriptive and correlational research design. The target population was the 176 the deposit taking SACCOs in Kenya, out of which a sample of 108 respondents were randomly selected each SACCO that was included in the sample. Questionnaire and document analysis were used to collect data and which was analyzed with the help of SPSS (23). The study findings revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between cashflow liquidity and dividend payout.  It was concluded that cashflow liquidity influenced dividend payout, among deposit taking SACCOs in Kenya. It was recommended to improve cashflow liquidity SACCOs should adopt conservative approach for management of working capital elements. The study also recommended that to improve cashflow liquidity, SACCOs should reduce the proportion of their long-term loans to short term loans. The study recommended further analysis on the influence of cash reserve ratio on dividend payout. Keywords: Dividend payout, cash flow liquidity, Deposit-taking, SACCO

The conflict benveen A1ticles 27 and 86 of the Rome Statute 2vith respect to an accused incumbent head of state and its effect on the effectiveness of the trial process'

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degreeUnder customary international law, incumbent heads of states are accorded certain immunities whose purpose is to ensure the smooth conduct of international relations of their state which, in turn, require an effective process of communication between states. It is safe, therefore, to say that immunities for sitting heads of states undergird the stability of the international community. The development of international criminal law in the last seven decades has seen a gradual erosion of the integrity of immunities for heads of states. The journey from Nuremberg to The Hague has resulted in a permanent International Criminal Court established under the Rome Statute. Article 27(2) of this Statute disregards immunities as an effective bar to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. Heads of states have been stripped off their "invisibility cloak" from international criminal prosecutions. Establishing international criminal jurisdiction in a particular case is one thing. Conducting a successful international criminal trial is another. One of the core elements in the latter is the investigation process. The Rome Statute places its reliance on the situation state's authorities by imposing an obligation on the state to cooperate with the Court in its investigation and prosecution of crimes. This general obligation to cooperate, found under Article 86 of the Rome Statute, is determinative of not only the success of any trial process but also the legitimacy and credibility of the Court. A special tension is noticeable in circumstances where an incumbent head of state is accused at the Court- which is now possible following the stripping of the "immunities cloak"- while his state is placed under the general cooperation obligation with the Court. This tension is clearly manifest, at least practically, in the two criminal processes against Uhuru Kenyatta and Omar AI Bashir. Bearing in mind the significant political muscle a sitting head of state wields in their state, it is quite unlikely and indeed evident from the two cases above, that the state authorities will be very reluctant to discharge their Article 86 obligation. While the prosecution of former heads of states is possible and has actually happened, the prosecution of sitting heads of states remains a challenge. Is it time to rethink the structure of the Court or the implementation of the Rome Statute? This dissertation is an analysis of the tension or conflict between the implication of Article 27 and the obligation under Article 86 of the Rome Statute with respect to a sitting head of state. It is a qualitative research focused on some principles of international criminal law and their inter-relationship. To heal the tension, I recommend in the last chapter, a redefinition of the structure of the Court. This redefinition entails significant reduction of the role the state may play in determining the success or direction of a criminal trial

Prototype for tracking voluntary blood donors in enhancing emergency medical response: case Aga Khan Hospital

Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) at Strathmore UniversityThe World Health Organization recommends in its Global Database on Blood Safety that all activities related to blood collection, screening, processing, storage and distribution should be coordinated at the national level through effective organization and a national blood policy and system. The researcher developed a prototype that comprised of an android mobile application, and a front end application. The researcher used prototyping methodology to develop the application. The prototype developed in this research aims at making use of the existing telecommunication infrastructure while merging this with the blood bank’s information technology systems. The target population comprised of employees working within the Aga Khan University Hospital Blood Transfusion Center and voluntary non remunerable donors. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to evaluate the information collected. The study concludes that it is difficult to get the domicile location of, voluntary donors. By having system that tracks voluntary donor movement, it is possible to enhance emergency medical response that requires blood transfusion. The diverse activities in the blood donation and distribution service can be streamlined as a result of data mining capabilities

Costing calculation of operation and maintenance in community water supplies.

Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of Durban Westville, 2001.Studies of community water have been on the increase since the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade, 1981 - 1990. However there is some key areas of community water supply that still require research as the literature survey in this thesis illustrates. The Operation and Maintenance of community water supplies has been identified to be as important in sustainability of the services as the institutional factors. Due to the increased number of failure of the community water supplies to continue operation after short periods of time compared to urban water supplies, effort is required to identify the least amount of in puts to ensure continued operation. Through literature survey and field collection of data on management of existing projects a model was developed in order to calculate the minimum amount of funds required for the operation and maintenance. The research showed that the current monthly charges by water committees were sufficient to operate and maintain the systems. The initial calculations using the model also revealed that the current charges would not be sufficient to pay replacement costs. The presence of subsidisation through materials and labour by the central government requires planners to study each project thoroughly before the determination of monthly costs. The conclusion was that further research and data collection was required for the determination of the replacement cost. The model was found to be capable of assisting planners, managers and engineers in the calculation of the cost of operation and maintenance of community water supplies

Effect of Financial Transparency on Financial Performance of Companies Listed in East Africa Securities Exchanges

Financial performance is normally viewed as how best managers have been able to utilize the resources available to the firm to enhance value. The main goal of shareholders in any company is to maximize their wealth which is enabling when a firm is performing well from time to time. The current sought to examine the effect of financial transparency on financial performance of companies listed in East Africa. Specifically, the study sought to find out the effect of financial policy, investment policy and liquidity disclosures on financial performance. Correlation research design and purposive sampling was used to select 73 which were listed from 2006 to 2015. Descriptive, correlation and regression analysis were used to analyse secondary data. Results of the study revealed positive and significant relationship between financial policy, investment policy, financial liquidity and financial performance. Keywords: Financial Transparency, Financial Policy, Investment Policy, Financial Liquidity, Financial Performance

Pecking Order Theory Test of Firms Listed at East Africa Securities Exchanges

For a long time, there has been debate on whether firms have a preferred hierarchy of financing structure. Indeed, pecking order theory argues in favour of a preferred hierarchy of financing decisions with the highest preference being to use internal financing or retained earnings first, then debt and lastly external equity or shares. While some scholars have supported the existence of that rigid structure, others have argued to the contrary. Empirical works have yielded mixed results on the same. This study therefore analysed the relationship between financial structures and financial performance of listed firms at the East Africa Securities Exchanges in an attempt to validate the pecking order theory. The study employed explanatory research design with secondary panel data from the financial statements of 61 firms retrieved from the securities exchanges hand books for the period December 2006-2014. Descriptive statistics, Feasible Generalized Least Squares method, random effect for models without moderator and fixed effect for models with moderator, based on Hausman specification test were used. The study found out there is no preferred hierarchy and that various markets had their own preferred choices. As to the relationship between financial structure and return on assets or return on equity amongst securities exchanges, the study revealed that such relationships are different. It is therefore recommended that firms should use shareholders’ funds as much as practical before they result to borrowing. Firms should also look at and evaluate the political, economic, social and technological environment within their markets together with their internal environment ranging from opportunities available, management potential and industry threats among others, before making decision on the mode of raising finance. Keywords: Financial performance, financial structure, pecking orde