Enterprise Risk Management Strategies and Performance of ChristianBased Hospitality Businesses: An empirical overview

This study intended to determine the relationship between Enterprise Risk Management Strategies (ERMS) as the independent variable, and performance as thedependent variable on the composite non-financial performance indicators andspecific financial indicators of Return on Assets (ROA) and Revenue per AvailableRoom (RevPar). The context of the study was the Christian-Based hospitalityBusinesses in Kenya. Three Null Hypotheses were formulated to test the relationshipsof the study variables with a significance level of p<0.05. A positivistic philosophyusing descriptive cross-sectional survey design on a population of 76 Christian-basedhospitality businesses in Kenya was adopted. The results of the study show that theNull Hypotheses 1 (Ho), on the effect of ERMS on composite performance wasrejected while hypotheses (Ho1(a)1(b)), (Ho), which tested the relationship betweenERMS and ROA and RevPar respectively were accepted. This concludes that ERMShave a significant relationship with composite performance while ERMS have nosignificant relationship with the financial indicators of ROA and RevPar. Thediagnostic tests showed normal autocorrelation between study variables with DW testranging between 1.5 and 2.5; Normality test showed normal distribution of studyvariables; homoscedasticity exists for all hypothesis while collinearity can be seen inhypothesis (Ho1(a)), (Ho1(b)) and (Ho).  1(c)1(c

Women’s empowerment and intra-household gender dynamics and practices around sheep and goat production in South East Kenya

Small ruminant production facets like decision-making, ownership, labour allocation, access to- and control over assets are gendered. This study investigates intra-household gender dynamics and practices around sheep and goat production among smallholder farmers in South East region of Kenya. A quantitative study was conducted on 358 dual-headed (married) households to generate gender- disaggregated data on ownership, decision-making and labour allocation around small ruminant production. Qualitative data was collected through focused group discussions to bring out the community perspectives. From the findings, the average number of small ruminants owned by the households as reported by men was slightly higher than women. The average number of small ruminants solely owned by men was significantly higher than by women. Men reported a relatively higher number of jointly owned small ruminants compared to women. More women than men reported that they could give as a gift, sell-off and slaughter jointly owned small ruminants without consulting their spouses. Small ruminants were considered the most important livestock asset in supporting a household’s livelihood by relatively more women than men. Men had more decision-making autonomy over jointly owned small ruminants compared to women. Production tasks around small ruminants such as feeding, watering, selling milk and cleaning housing structures were mostly performed by the women. Qualitative data identified men as the de facto owners of small ruminants with a higher power position in making the important production decisions. The study offers three implications on the design of livestock interventions to empower women, the interventions should ensure that; 1) women are not just owners of livestock assets but also share power and decision-making rights in all aspects of production, 2) production labour is shared equitably between men and women and, 3) women access benefits from livestock production even when animals are owned by men.Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)Global Affairs Canada (GAC

Prevalence and Intensity of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Donkeys in Selected Abattoirs in Kenya

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys slaughtered in Kinamba, Mogotio, and Lodwar slaughterhouses and their association with several host factors. A survey was done between July and September 2017 in three slaughterhouses. Faecal samples were collected per rectum from all the study donkeys for faecal egg counts (EPG) and morphological identification of the eggs. At slaughter, the gastrointestinal tracts were opened and examined visually, and all helminth parasites collected were subjected to morphological identification. Prevalence and intensity were calculated based on the helminth identified and EPG. A total of 282 donkeys were sampled. A majority of the donkeys (89%) were in poor body condition. Ten helminth parasite species were identified in 85.5% donkeys. They were Strongylus vulgaris (52.8%), Parascaris equorum (20.2%), Strongylus edentatus (12.1%), Anaplocephala perfoliata (10.3%), Setaria equina (3.5%) Anaplocephala magna (2.5%), Cylicocyclus auriculatus (2.1%), Cyathostomum species (1.8%), Strongylus equinus (0.4%), and Triodontophorus serratus (0.4%). A significant percentage (55.3%) had no eggs in their feces, 39% had low infection, 5% had medium, and only 0.7% were heavily infected. Prevalence rates via use of the EPG showed Strongyles (44.7%), Parascaris equorum (5.3%), Oxyuris equi (11%), Triodontophorus tenuicolis (0.7%), Habronema species (0.7%), and cestodes eggs (0.4%). No significant differences were observed between fecal Strongylus egg count and age, sex, and pregnancy status. However, donkeys with poor body condition shed more Strongylus eggs in feces. Helminth infections are prevalent in donkeys in Kenya; however, this is not reflected in coprological analyses. These helminth parasites may contribute to poor body condition, ill health, and poor productivity of donkeys

Characterization of indigenous chicken production and related constraints: Insights from smallholder households in rural Kenya

Indigenous chickens (IC) contribute significantly to nutrition and socioeconomic wellbeing of rural households. However, despite their potential, production remains low. Attempts to improve IC production among smallholder farmers in Makueni county, Eastern Kenya have achieved little success due to a variety of constraints. This paper explores IC production characteristics and compares the ranks assigned to production and marketing constraints across geographic regions and in male and female-headed households. A descriptive quantitative household survey of 1217 respondents drawn from IC rearing households was conducted and the results integrated with qualitative findings from 22 informants. Results showed an average flock size of 14.9 ± 15.94 IC per household, with female- headed households having relatively fewer chicken than male-headed households. However, relatively more chicken (15.9 ± 18.9) were lost per household during the last disease outbreak compared to the number kept at the time of study. Production system was largely free-range in nature with minimal provision of supplementary feeds. Disease (1.13±0.5), predation (3.16±1.9) and low market prices (3.89±1.9) were three top ranked (Mean Rank±SD) constraints in that order. Lack of capital, high cost of inputs, poor access to extension services and poor access to knowledge ranked significantly higher in female-headed households and in remote areas, while low market price ranked higher in male-headed households. Failure to agree on the selling price was the major constraint to marketing, while rejection of IC due to diseases, inability to agree on selling price and rejection due to size ranked higher in female-headed households compared to male-headed households. Interventions modeled towards improving biosecurity measures to curb diseases, financial empowerment and facilitating access to markets for smallholder farmers should be prioritized

Spatial–Temporal Variations in Parasitological Prevalence and Host-Related Risk Factors of Camel Trypanosomiasis and Its Vectors in North Eastern Kenya: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

Camel trypanosomiasis (Surra) is endemic in the Horn of Africa. Understanding the spatiotemporal variations in Surra prevalence, vector dynamics, and host-related risk factors is important in developing effective control strategies. A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the Surra parasitological prevalence, livestock reservoirs, vector density/diversity, and host-related risk factors in Kenya. Random samples of 847, 1079, and 824 camels were screened at the start of the dry season, peak dry season, and during the rainy season, respectively. Blood samples were examined using the dark ground/phase contrast buffy-coat technique, and Trypanosoma species were identified based on their movement and morphology in wet and stained thin smears. Reservoir status for Trypanosoma evansi was assessed in 406 cattle and 372 goats. A rainy and dry seasons entomological surveys were conducted to determine the Surra vector abundance/diversity and spatiotemporal density changes. Surra prevalence was 7.1%, 3.4%, and 4.1% at the start of the dry season, peak dry season, and rainy season, respectively. Camel co-infections by Trypanozoon (T. evansi or Trypanosoma brucei brucei) and Trypanosoma vivax were recorded. Spatial variations in Surra prevalence were recorded at the beginning of dry (X7,N=8462=110.9, p≤0.001), peak dry (X7,N=10792=42.2, p≤0.001), and rainy (X7,N=8242=29.1, p≤0.001) seasons. The screened cattle and goats tested negative for Trypanozoon (T. evansi or T. b. brucei), while two cattle tested positive for Trypanosoma congolense. Biting fly catches were composed of a single species from Tabanus, Atylotus, Philoliche, Chrysops, and Stomoxys genera. The total catches for Philoliche, Chrysops, and Stomoxys were higher in the rainy than dry season consistent with the prevalence results. Surra remains an important camel disease in the region with its prevalence varying in space and time. Camel co-infections by Trypanozoon (T. evansi or T. b. brucei) and T. vivax necessitate proper diagnosis of suspected cases and targeted therapy

Distribution of tsetse trapped based on age (teneral and non teneral), sex, site of trapping, samples collected, those analyzed for bloodmeal detection and vertebrate hosts identified.

Distribution of tsetse trapped based on age (teneral and non teneral), sex, site of trapping, samples collected, those analyzed for bloodmeal detection and vertebrate hosts identified.</p

Map of Arabuko Sokoke National Reserve (green area), Kilifi County, Kenya, showing sampling areas for <i>G</i>. <i>austeni</i> tsetse flies.

Map (a) shows the accessible sampled spatial locations/blocks within the reserve, while map (b) displays the locations/blocks where we trapped G. austeni tsetse flies. Map created using the Free and Open Source QGIS 3.22, made with Natural Earth.</p