Aspects of sea level variability in the southwest Indian Ocean and the east coast of Africa - (latitude 0-35°S and from the coast to 60°E)

Analysis of tide gauge sea level observations of varying durations in the southwest Indian Ocean and the East coast of Africa (Lamu, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Durban, Port La Rue and Port Louis) show variability which are related to global, regional time scales, local weather and climatic changes, oceanographic and hydrological forcing that manifest in both short and long time scales. The investigations on the tide gauge sea level observations are conducted through the separation of the total sea level measurements into the contributing components (tides and residuals) using a Matlab in built software (t-tide). Short time scale sea level variability in the southwest Indian Ocean is due to the effects of tides which exhibit tidal range variations with latitude and shelf width, storm surges resulting from tropical cyclones passage especially in the mid-latitude region, atmospheric pressure fluctuations over the surface of the sea and local wind fields. Sea surface temperature variations during summer and winter result in differential heating of the ocean surface and contribute to the observed sea level variability at seasonal time scale especially in the region 25°S and southwards where the temperature differences are large. The equatorial region is characterized by a near constant sea surface temperature that sustains thermal expansion of the upper layer of the ocean water throughout the year. Monsoon periods show significant and variable wind speeds that impact on sea level variability in the southwest Indian Ocean and the East coast of Africa and are greatest during the summer monsoon (from June to August). On longer time scales (Interannual and decadal), sea level variations in this region is mostly influenced by the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). During the 1997/98 El Nino event, the sea levels are significantly higher than normal at the coast and the islands. During the 2000/2001 La Nina, the sea levels are significantly lower than normal at the coasts in the southwest Indian Ocean. Indian Ocean Dipole effects are significant in the southwest Indian Ocean during the period 2006 through to 2008 and are more enhanced in 2007. The annual highest sea levels in this region are influenced by the year to year changes in weather pattern and the perigean cycle of the tides on a 4.4 year period but their secular trends are not statistically significant

The Dynamics of Fiscal Deficits in Burundi: An Exploratory Review

This article provided an exploratory review of the trends and main determinants of fiscal deficits in Burundi during the period 1980 – 2017. While the country has undertaken various fiscal policy reforms, revenue growth has been lower than anticipated, and little progress has been achieved in improving public expenditure efficiency. Consequently, fiscal deficits remain large as a percentage of GDP. The major factors contributing to the persistently large fiscal deficits in Burundi include the following: low and volatile economic growth, small economic base with low incomes, large informal economy, and dominance of the primary sectors. In addition, conflict and fragility, large expenditure on military and peace operations, as well as dependency on aid have been identified as major determinants of fiscal deficits in Burundi

Effect of Land Characteristics on Poverty Levels among Tea Farming Households in Konoin Sub-County, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of land characteristics on poverty levels among tea farming household in Konoin sub-county. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of farm land size, diversified land use, increased land size under tea and diversified tea crop variety on poverty levels of tea farmers. To achieve the purpose of the study, the hypothesis tested was: farm land characteristics (farm land size, diversified land use, increased land size under tea and diversified tea crop variety) do not have significant effect on poverty levels among tea farmers. The sample that took part in the study was 380, selected from a target population of approximately 36,000 small-scale tea farming households. The sample was selected proportionately from 12 tea catchment areas. Generalized Linear Model (GLM) and censored Tobit regression models were used to analyze data. The farm land characteristics; farm size, land tenure, diversified land used, increased land size under tea and diversified tea crop variety were found to significantly influence the poverty levels among the tea farmers. These characteristics led to better incomes, more odds of the household being above the poverty line and where the household was poor, reduced likelihood of being deeply in poverty and less effort was required in lifting them out of vicious poverty. As a recommendation, interventions targeting on diversified land use, diversification of crop varieties, land consolidation and less subdivision, and adoption of fast maturing crops should inform policy formulation targeting poverty reduction in smallholder tea farming households. Keywords: Small-scale Tea farming, Land characteristics, Poverty, smallholde

La gracia liberadora una respuesta al pecado de la discriminación étnica en Kenia- África hoy

Este trabajo de investigación aborda la realidad de Kenia como sociedad de personas, caracterizada por una discriminación y violencia étnica. y busca las causas de dicho problema, y propone un cambio de actitud y comportamientos por medio de la gracia liberadora, partiendo de la persona de Jesús, como respuesta a esa realidad de pecado de la discriminación.This work of investigation addresses the reality of kenya as a society of people, characterized by discrimination and ethnic violence. It seeks the causes of the said problem, and proposes a change in attitude and behavior through liberating grace, based on the person of Jesus, in response to the reality of sin of discrimination.Teólogo (a)Pregrad

Mathematical model for pneumonia dynamics among children

The 2012 Southern Africa mathematical sciences association Conference (SAMSA 2012)26th -29th Nov 2012There are major advances which have been made to understand the epidemiology of infectious diseases. However, more than 2 million children in the developing countries still die from pneumonia each year. The eorts to promptly detect, eectively treat and control the spread of pneumonia is possible if its dynamics is understood. In this paper,we develop a mathematical model for pneumonia among children underve years of age. The model is analyzed using the theory of ordinary dierential equations and dynamical systems. We derive the basic reproduction number, R0, analyze the stability of equilibrium points and bifurcation analysis. The results of the analysis shows that there exist a locally stable disease free equilibrium point, Ef when R0 1.The analysis also shows that there is a possibility of a forward bifurcation

Effects of Unionization on Sugar Cane Farmers’ Income in Bukembe Zone, Bungoma County

Agriculture is the backbone of the Kenyan economy and the sugarcane production is a key subsector in the agricultural sector which employs over half- a million people in Kenya. While sugarcane farming was meant to be a source of income and wealth creation to the people of Western Kenya, the outcome have been worrying as many farmers remain impoverished while the sugarcane factories face a mirage of challenges and   has been in constant crisis. The role of financial capital as a factor of production to facilitate economic growth and development as well as the need to appropriately channel credit to rural areas for economic development of the poor rural farmers cannot be over emphasized. Credit (capital) is viewed as more than just another resource such as labour, land, equipment and raw materials but also determines access to all of the resources on which farmers depend.  The purpose of the study was to analyse effect of unionization on sugarcane farmers’ in income in Bukembe Zone, Bungoma County.  The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The target population of the study was 384 sugarcane farmers. The sample population was 50 farmers. Data collection was done by means of semi-structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis was done through content analysis and descriptive statistics respectively. Frequency tables and charts were used to present the findings. The study results indicated there was a significant relationship between unionization and farmers’ income (p=0.000); there was a significant relationship between farmers’  characteristics and farmers’ income (p=0.002);there was a significant relationship between company related factors and farmers’ income (p=0.000) and that there was a significant relationship between environmental related factors and farmers’ income (p=0.001). The study concluded that famers’ income is determined by unionization, farmers’ characteristics, related company characteristics and environmental related factors. The study recommended that sugar companies’ policies should be aligned with sugarcane farmers’ needs in order to gain sugarcane farmers trust and that farmers should research on various environmental factors that affect growth of sugarcane and seek experts’ solutions. Keywords: Farmers’ Income, Unionisation

Electronic Marketing Practices and Performance of Telecommunications Companies in Kenya

The objective of the study was to establish the influence of e-marketing practices on the performance of telecommunications companies in Kenya.  The population of the study comprised all telecommunications companies licensed by the Communications Authority of Kenya.  Primary data were collected from managers using a semi-structured questionnaire while secondary data were obtained from industry performance reports. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, factor analysis and regression analysis.  The results revealed statistically significant relationship between e-marketing practices and organizational performance.  Organizations that are able to adopt novel strategies that include e-marketing practices are capable of reporting better performance. Keywords: e-marketing practices, offline marketing, online marketing, organizational performance, telecommunications companies, keny

Measuring health system resilience in a highly fragile nation during protracted conflict: South Sudan 2011-2015

Health systems resilience (HSR) is defined as the ability of a health system to continue providing normal services in response to a crisis, making it a critical concept for analysis of health systems in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS). However, no consensus for this definition exists and even less about how to measure HSR. We examine three current HSR definitions (maintaining function, improving function and achieving health system targets) using real-time data from South Sudan to develop a data-driven understanding of resilience. We used 14 maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) coverage indicators from household surveys in South Sudan collected at independence (2011) and following 2 years of protracted conflict (2015), to construct a resilience index (RI) for 9 of the former 10 states and nationally. We also assessed health system stress using conflict-related indicators and developed a stress index. We cross tabulated the two indices to assess the relationship of resilience and stress. For maintaining function for 80% of MNCH indicators, seven state health systems were resilient, compared with improving function for 50% of the indicators (two states were resilient). Achieving the health system national target of 50% coverage in half of the MNCH indicators displayed no resilience. MNCH coverage levels were low, with state averages ranging between 15% and 44%. Central Equatoria State displayed high resilience and high system stress. Lakes and Northern Bahr el Ghazal displayed high resilience and low stress. Jonglei and Upper Nile States had low resilience and high stress. This study is the first to investigate HSR definitions using a resilience metric and to simultaneously measure health system stress in FCAS. Improving function is the HSR definition detecting the greatest variation in the RI. HSR and health system stress are not consistently negatively associated. HSR is highly complex warranting more in-depth analyses in FCAS

Organizational Culture, Industry Competition and Performance Of Microfinance Institutions In Kenya

The objective of our study is to assess the influence of organizational culture and industry competition on performance of microfinance institutions in Kenya. The population of the study comprise microfinance institutions that are members of the Association of MicrofinanceInstitutions (AMFI) in Kenya. We used descriptive cross-sectional survey design. We collected secondary data from annual industry performance reports by AMFI. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire. We analyze data through Chi-square tests, factoranalysis and regression analysis. Results of Cronbach’s alpha test confirm reliability of our measurement scales. Our results demonstrate that organizational culture has significant positive influence on performance when the latter is measured using subjective performance indicators.However, the relationship between organizational culture and financial performance is not statistically significant. The results also indicate that industry competition has significant but, moderate positive influence on firm performance. Our results do not confirm significant influence of interaction between organizational culture and industry competition on firm performance. Finally, our results show that the joint influence of organizational culture and industry competition on performance is statistically significant. Findings of the study have implications for theory and marketing practice. Our results support resource based view and resource advantage theories of competition. The results imply that possession of strong organizational culture that enhances reconfiguration and deployment of organizational resources is a key success factor in the microfinance industry. Findings of the study also imply that industry competition is beneficial to firms within the industry. The above findings inform our conclusion that organizational culture positively and strongly influence performance outcomes in the microfinance industry. However, the study is limited by the cross-sectional research design used. Based on the limitations of the study, we recommend the use of longitudinal research design to assess changes in organizational culture and performance overtime.Key words: Organizational culture, industry competition, performance, microfinanc

Is development aid to strengthen health systems during protracted conflict a useful investment? The case of South Sudan, 2011-2015.

Introduction: Is achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 (building peaceful societies) a precondition for achieving SDG 3 (health and well-being in all societies, including conflict-affected countries)? Do health system investments in conflict-affected countries waste resources or benefit the public's health? To answer these questions, we examine the maternal, newborn, child and reproductive health (MNCRH) service provision during protracted conflicts and economic shocks in the Republic of South Sudan between 2011 (at independence) and 2015. Methods: We conducted two national cross-sectional probability surveys in 10 states (2011) and nine states (2015). Trained state-level health workers collected data from households randomly selected using probability proportional to size sampling of villages in each county. County data were weighted by their population sizes to measure state and national MNCRH services coverage. A two-sample, two-sided Z-test of proportions tested for changes in national health service coverage between 2011 (n=11 800) and 2015 (n=10 792). Results: Twenty-two of 27 national indicator estimates (81.5%) of MNCRH service coverage improved significantly. Examples: malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy increased by 8.6% (p<0.001) to 33.1% (397/1199 mothers, 95% CI ±2.9%), institutional deliveries by 10.5% (p<0.001) to 20% (230/1199 mothers, ±2.6%) and measles vaccination coverage in children aged 12-23 months by 11.2% (p<0.001) to 49.7% (529/1064 children, ±2.3%). The largest increase (17.7%, p<0.001) occurred for mothers treating diarrhoea in children aged 0-59 months with oral rehydration salts to 51.4% (635/1235 children, ±2.9%). Antenatal and postnatal care, and contraceptive prevalence did not change significantly. Child vitamin A supplementation decreased. Despite significant increases, coverage remained low (median of all indicators = 31.3%, SD = 19.7). Coverage varied considerably by state (mean SD for all indicators and states=11.1%). Conclusion: Health system strengthening is not a uniform process and not necessarily deterred by conflict. Despite the conflict, health system investments were not wasted; health service coverage increased