WAR Metaphor Strategies in Expressing COVID-19 Messages in Presidential Speeches in Kenya in 2020

Presidential addresses are commonly used by leaders across the globe in addressing issues pertinent to society. Such addresses were given during the wake and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. Since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed, the then President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the nation on a regular basis regarding the spread of COVID-19 and the containment measures meant to slow down its spread. In Kenyatta’s speeches, there were many metaphors used while addressing the nation on COVID-19. The war metaphors were however found to be preponderant. This paper therefore investigates some of the WAR metaphors that were used in the presidential speeches in Kenya with a view to establishing what they were, why they were dominant, and how they were used in order to achieve communicative effect. The paper also makes an investigation of the conceptual nature of the WAR metaphors used in selected presidential addresses in Kenya. The paper further sought to interrogate the metaphorical implications of their usage in information management among Kenyans given that metaphorical constructions are efficient tools in helping citizens understand the complex information about COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, data for this study were collected from presidential speeches that were delivered to the Kenyan nation. The speeches were purposively selected from among eight (8) presidential speeches given between March and October 2020. This was the period within when Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak in Kenya. The data were transcribed and analysed qualitatively. The study was guided by the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) proposed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980). This theory sees metaphor as a means by which language users cognitively think by way of transferring attributes from the concrete domain to the abstract domain thus making the abstract domain clearer, more simple, more understood and presented with some emphasis and even more foregrounded. The study found out that WAR metaphors were used essentially to warn, caution, inform, encourage, rally, and reassure the Kenyan people that the Kenyan government was taking charge of the entire situation. Most importantly, the metaphors were used in the oversimplification of information that was relayed to the people of Kenya in the management of COVID -19. The metaphors used were largely drawn from the Kenyan socio-cultural environment thus expected to make Kenyan people understand the complexity and nature and the effects of COVID-19

Edible insects regulatory national standards in Kenya: An incentive or a deterrent?

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Analyzing the Impact of Devolution on Economic Development Potentialities in Kenya

Kenya’s 2010 Constitution declares equity to be an underlying principle of governance, which is constituent with its provision for devolution. While institutionalization of equity is acknowledged by the previously marginalized, this is often not the case with beneficiaries of the old order. In order to efficaciously implement the letter and spirit of Kenya’s constitution devolution, it is important for Kenyans to understand that while nature vastly differentiated their country, successive governments did little to exploit opportunities for providing the scope for nationwide development. This failure inspired the demand for devolution during the two – decade constitutional review saga. This paper has attempted to analyze Kenya’s economic potentialities and challenges that come with a devolved government and has used comparative case analysis study from Brazil with lessons for Kenya as one of the developing nations aiming to foster economic development via devolution. The study relied on secondary data as a method of data collection from existing scholarly literature, including books, journals, research papers, official government and Non – Governmental Organizations’ reports and gazette articles and qualitative method to analyze data. Key words: Constitution, Devolution, Economic Development and Fiscal Decentralizatio

Earnings Management and Financial Performance of Listed Non Financial Firms in Nairobi County, Kenya

Earnings management practices have taken center stage in most businesses; today, most firms have adopted various practices to enhance financial performance. Even though these practices have in some instances been used for wrong reasons that have led to business failures, the practices are still embraced by most firms to boost performance. It is in this light that this study sought to determine the effect of earnings management practices on financial performance of firms in Nairobi. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the effect of revenue management, expense management and assets and liability management on financial performance of non-financial firms listed with NSE in Nairobi. The study was anchored on: signaling theory which enable firms to send signals to stakeholders on financial health, performance and future prospects; agency theory which explains the relationship between principles and agents and; institutional theory which looks at how firms interact with environment. This study is useful to the management and shareholders of firms in Kenya, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya [ICPAK]. Using descriptive and inferential research designs, the study sampled 164 senior managers drawn from accounts departments in 41 non-financial firms listed with NSE in Nairobi using stratified sampling procedures with 80 responding to questionnaires. Data analysis was done by use of SPSS version 21.0. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were done. The study found that revenue management enhanced financial performance of firms and that the firms undertook various revenue management practices among them revenue timing, revenue projections, shifting of earnings and revenue recognition to enhance financial performance. The study also found that expense management practices promoted financial performance of non financial firms listed with NSE and that good expense management practices involving recognition of expenses, reserves and inventory as well as reduction in discretionary expenditures influenced the firms’ performance. The study found assets and liability management by firms does not promote financial performance of firms and that overstating assets and understating liabilities, and concealment of liabilities negatively affected financial performance of firms. However, it was also found that proper inventory management practices, proper management of accrued payable expenses and accounts payable promotes profitability performance of firms. Further, the study found that accounting regulations did not fully mediate in the relationship between earnings management practices and firms’ financial performance and that accounting flexibilities allowed firms to engage in inappropriate earnings management. The study recommends that firms need to come up with appropriate rules and guidelines on earnings management practices. It further recommends that ICPAK to develop policies supporting appropriate earnings management practices by firms so as to promote financial performance

The ethics of an all-inclusive plan: An investigation of social sustainability in the case of all-inclusive resorts, Jamaica

Ethics and sustainability are commonly used catchphrases in the modern business world. As several hospitality entities go out of their way to provide the emergent pro-environmentalist guest with value-added ‘green’ goods and services, others are forced to re-analyse their operational strategies to maintain competitive advantage (Miao and Wei 2012). The all-inclusive system, a marketing paradigm that involves inclusion of all (or most) hotel services at one standard price, has been extremely popular since the 1970s. This system gained prominence with the advent of mass tourism, and is still very common in the Caribbean islands. However, this bundling system has not been scrutinised from a sustainability perspective. The research recognises that sustainability is not limited to environmental practices, but also focuses on economic benefits and social development (Elkington 1997). A review of recent scholarship in the sustainability domain reveals that the environmental dimension has been the key focus of research, while the social aspect of sustainability has received little attention (Bonini et al. 2010). This study therefore aims to address this gap and investigate social sustainability of all-inclusive system. The research is located in Jamaica, a popular destination for all-inclusive travel. Primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews with front desk agents at all-inclusive Resort X. Findings indicate that although employees value direct employment created by the resort, they resent some of the necessarily evils associated with all-inclusive system, such as lack of entrepreneurial opportunities, exclusion and subservience. Based on analysis of qualitative data, the paper presents a conceptual framework, the final outcome of this study. The conceptual model depicts four key dimensions of social sustainability on a hierarchical scale, based on importance attached to each of these by the respondents. The findings establish that employees and wider communities are increasingly expecting businesses to act responsibly. It is important to adopt a holistic and balanced approach to issues concerning business ethics and sustainability.Keywords: sustainability, all-inclusive, ethics, business ethics, triple bottom lin

Review of economic history of cocoa with special reference to India

Forceful means of colonialism and imperialism conditioned the local farmers in the tropics to grow cash crops like cocoa for export. Emergence of cocoa cultivation in India indubitably was a part of the commercialization strategy adopted by the Cadbury. During 1970s, attractive prices prevailed in the world market which coupled with cadbury’s aggressive efforts to commercialize the crop, yielded fruitful results in India in the form of high growth rate of area expansion. We found an entirely opposite trend during 1980s when a large number of farmers started cutting down cocoa trees due to the sudden price crash of the crop. The victims of market failure were mainly farmers who did not possess an effective machinery to insure themselves against economic uncertainties. We have made an attempt to view the cocoa development history in India in the perspective of ‘Global Value Chain’. We argue that the governance structure that existed during the initial stage of cocoa commercialization in India was somewhere between captive and hierarchy, which certainly had culminated in unequal exchange of trade. At present, due to concentration in the downstream end of the cocoa value chain, the cocoa producers are marginalized in terms of revenue share and bargaining position in the chain

Investigation of Over the Counter Diagnosis and Drug Dispensation in Chemists A Case Study in Thika District, Kenya (An Observational Study)

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines that may be obtained directly by a consumer without a prescription from a healthcare professional, as compared to drugs sold to consumers possessing a valid prescription. In many countries, Kenya included, these drugs are often located on the shelves of stores like any other packaged product. Some drugs may be legally classified as OTC but may only be dispensed by a pharmacist after an assessment of the patient's needs and/or the provision of patient education. OTC drugs are capable of being misused, abused especially where inappropriate drugs and incorrect dosages are given which may lead to short and long-term negative effects. The major concern surrounds the correct diagnosis and the appropriateness of the dispensed drugs and information provided to the consumers. This study focused on the OTC drugs in chemists. It was important to know why people opt for OTC drugs instead of the prescribed drugs. To meet this objective, an observational study was carried out in Thika District of Kenya to determine why patients prefer the OTC drugs to prescribed drugs. The results showed that the cost of prescription, source of diagnosis information, source of prescription information, amount of income of the respondent and previous experience on the same similar symptoms were determinants of buying OTC drugs. Education levels, age, place of residence, occupation and hospital type near the respondent were the covariates.  The results of this study have enabled the researcher to come up with recommendations to the Ministries of Medical Services and that of Public Health on the best policies to use in dispensing OTC drugs

Caregiver factors influencing nutritional status of preschool children in Mwingi West, Kitui County Kenya

Children are at an increased risk of malnutrition, with many undernourished children being highly susceptible to preventable premature death and morbidity. Insufficient dietary intake, infections, food insecurity, and inadequate care are the main causes of child malnutrition. These factors are sequentially influenced by caregivers’ characteristics. Despite this, the effect of a caregiver’s characteristics on a child's nutrition status has not been exhaustively studied in rural areas of Kenya. It is important to continuously examine the trends in the prevalence of malnutrition for effective interventions. Regular updates on the prevalence of malnutrition are crucial for appropriate interventions. In this study, the nutritional status of children was evaluated alongside their association with caregivers’ characteristics. The study was based in Migwani ward, Mwingi West Sub-County in Kitui County. The study was conducted between October and December 2020 and involved 106 caregivers with their 106 children aged 36–42 months. The characteristics of the caregivers were determined by the use of a pretested study questionnaire. To evaluate the nutritional status of children, the height and weight measures, age, and sex of the child were taken and transferred into the WHO Anthro software, and z-scores were derived. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to carry out additional data analysis. Children's nutritional status and caregivers’ characteristics were bivariate tested to determine the association. In the present study, the prevalence of stunting was 33.0%, wasting was 15.1%, and underweight was 20.8%. In this study, the caregivers that had lower income had more children that were underweight (χ2 = 9.2 p = 0.02), stunted (χ2 = 10.4 p = 0.015) and wasted (χ2 = 16.9, p<0.001) compared to those with higher incomes. More so, the caregivers that were younger had more children that were wasted (χ2 = 20.04, p<0.001), stunted (χ2 = 9.65, p = 0.032) and underweight (χ2 = 8.26, p = 0.041). Households that were headed by women had more children that were stunted (p = 0.022), wasted (p = 0.041) and underweight (p = 0.003). Similarly, respondents with lower education levels had more children that were stunted (χ2 = 14.02, p = 0.003), wasted (χ2 = 4.85, p = 0.037) and underweight (χ2 = 4.76, p = 0.045). In this study, the caregiver’s occupation was significantly associated with children's stunting (χ2 = 12.23, p = 0.007) and underweight levels (χ2 = 6.12, p = 0.034). The caregiver’s occupation had no influence on the children's wasting levels. The present study found that the marital status of a caregiver did not influence a child's nutritional status. These study results affirm that nutritional problems of stunting, wasting, and underweight among preschool children in Kitui County require public health actions. That caregivers’ characteristics play a role in the nutritional status of preschool children in Kitui County. Based on these study findings, priority should be given to children's nutrition programs that incorporate the dynamics of caregivers' characteristics. By doing this, such programs will be more effective

Fulltime biometric mouse design for continuous authentication

As we embrace the information and communication technology in our everyday activities and day-to-day transactions, security concerns have increasingly come to light, especially in some of the critical areas of our society today such as education, health and commerce, where such security concerns are even higher. The need for complete and clear authentication and authorisation is of paramount importance. This paper explores andpresents the optimal use of full-time biometric mouse (FBM) for continuous authentication, which would not only enable authentication during log in and start of an application, but will enable continuous authentication throughout a transaction. We formulate a full-time biometric mouse (FBM) design that would ensure thumb positioning and its  ergonomics while ensuring comfort and maximum contact with the scanner to enable continuous authentication of the user in a speedy, easy and non-strenuous way. The mouse employs a simple algorithm that ensures quick operation to cut on possible delays and yet maintain the accuracy of the system

Police Transfers and Job Satisfaction: Case of Nairobi City County, Kenya

Available literature on police transfers and job satisfaction indicate that little is known on whether police transfers affect their job satisfaction. The general objective of the study was to examine the effect of Police Transfers on job satisfaction in the NPS, Kenya. The specific objective was to analyze the influence of criteria used in police transfers on job satisfaction in the National Police Service (NPS). The study was informed by the work adjustment theory. Ex post facto research design was used in this study and the study area was the Nairobi city county. Target population was 8,508 police officers who were working in Nairobi City County by December 2020 of the ranks of senior superintendent, superintendent, assistant superintendent, chief inspector, inspector, senior sergeant, sergeant, corporal and constable. A sample of 382 officers from six sub counties was picked using simple random sampling. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect the data. Research instruments were pretested in Kiambu county. Questionnaire were administered to respondents in five sub counties of Kasarani, Starehe, Kamukunji, Westlands and Embakasi who were required to respond to the questions in the provided spaces. Interviews were conducted with three senior officers working in the directorates of personnel. Quantitative data was analysed by first finding the percentages for the officers who are very satisfied, satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their work. Qualitative data was analysed by grouping it into themes, finding patterns and common characteristic and drawing of insights from the observations. Results have been presented in form of tables, graphs and text.  It was found that there was no relationship between police transfers and job satisfaction and that transfer criteria does not influence job satisfaction in the police service. Based on the study findings where no relationship between transfers and job satisfaction was found, it is recommended that similar research be conducted to find out if the county(area) of current deployment and nature of duties in the current deployment has any significant effect on the job satisfaction among police officers in the NPS. Keywords: Police Transfers, Criteria, Job Satisfaction, National Police Service, Kenya. DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/11-5-07 Publication date:June 30th 202