Influence of Inspirational Motivation on Implementation of Human Resource Management Policies by Kakamega County Government, Kenya

This study aimed to establish the influence of inspirational motivation on implementation of Human Resource Management policies by County Government of Kakamega. A descriptive research design and sample survey method involving use of questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument was adopted. The study population was 6,328 County Government of Kakamega employees. Simple random sampling technique was applied to get a sample size of 154 respondents with a pilot study being conducted in Bungoma County where the study checked for internal consistency and reliability of the instrument for data collection. Cronbach’s coefficient alpha of 0.867 was obtained for internal reliability. Ethics governing research were accorded utmost consideration. A 92.7% return rate was attained, good for social statistics analysis. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze data in the study. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and linear regression were used in analysis within 95% confidence interval to test for associations, relationships and independence of indicators. Study findings revealed a significant and positive relationship between inspirational motivation and implementation of Human Resource Management Policies. Based on the study findings, it was concluded that inspirational motivation as a construct of transformational leadership had a significant positive influence on implementation of Human Resource Management policies at Kakamega County Government. The study therefore stretches the frontiers of knowledge on the nexus between transformational leadership and implementation of Human Resource Management policies and recommends the adoption of Human Resource Management practices that harness the benefits of transformational leadership at the work places not only at the County Government of Kakamega but in all public and private organizations in Kenya and beyond. Keywords: Idealized Influence, Implementation, Human Resource Management Policies DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/75-05 Publication date:May 31st 202

Dehydration mechanism of a small molecular solid: 5-nitrouracil hydrate

Previous studies of the dehydration of 5-nitrouracil (5NU) have resulted in it being classified as a ‘‘channel hydrate’’ in which dehydration proceeds principally by the exit of the water molecules along channels in the structure. We have re-examined this proposal and found that in fact there are no continuous channels in the 5NU structure that would contribute to such a mechanism. Product water molecules would be immediately trapped in unlinked voids in the crystal structure and would require some additional mechanism to break loose from the crystal. Through a detailed structural analysis of the macro and micro structure of the 5NU as it dehydrates, we have developed a model for the dehydration process based on the observed development of structural defects in the 5NU crystal and the basic crystallography of the material. The model was tested against standard kinetic measurements and found to present a satisfactory account of kinetic observations, thus defining the mechanism. Overall, the study shows the necessity of complementing standard kinetic studies with a parallel macro and micro examination of the dehydrating material when evaluating the mechanisms of dehydration and decomposition processes

Seeded and unseeded high order parametric down conversion

Spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) has been one of the foremost tools in quantum optics for over five decades. Over that time it has been used to demonstrate some of the curious features that arise from quantum mechanics. Despite the success of SPDC, its higher-order analogues have never been observed, even though it has been suggested that they generate far more unique and exotic states than SPDC. An example of this is the emergence of non-Gaussian states without the need for post-selection. Here we calculate the expected rate of emission for nth-order SPDC with and without external stimulation (seeding). Focusing primarily on third-order parametric down-conversion (TOPDC), we estimate the photon detection rates in a rutile crystal, for both the unseeded and seeded regimes.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

Idealized Influence and Implementation of Human Resource Management Policies by Kakamega County Government, Kenya

Implementation of Human Resource Management policies by governments in developing countries has not translated into development and quality service delivery. Leadership is integral to achieving government goals. This study aimed to establish the influence of idealized influence on implementation of Human Resource Management policies by County Government of Kakamega. A descriptive research design and sample survey method involving use of questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument was adopted. The study population was 6,328 County Government of Kakamega employees. Simple random sampling technique was applied to get a sample size of 165 respondents with a pilot study being conducted in Bungoma County where the study checked for internal consistency and reliability of the instrument for data collection. Cronbach’s coefficient alpha of 0.867 was obtained for internal reliability. Ethics governing research were accorded utmost consideration. A 92.7% return rate was attained, good for social statistics analysis. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze data in the study. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and linear regression were used in analysis within 95% confidence interval to test for associations, relationships and independence of indicators. Study findings revealed a significant and positive relationship between idealized influence and implementation of Human Resource Management Policies. Study findings were in agreement with empirical evidence from previous studies on how idealized influence affected implementation of Human Resource Management Policies, particularly in public organizations. Keywords: Idealized Influence, Implementation, Human Resource Management Policies DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/11-4-03 Publication date:May 31st 202

A Comparative Analysis of the New York Times [U.S.A.] and the Nation Media Group [Kenya] Presidential Opinion Polls Coverage 90 Days Prior to Election Day

This study seeks to find out whether there exists a relationship between the New York Times (U.S.) and the Nation Media Group (Kenya) coverage of presidential opinion poll results 90 days prior to Election Day. One research hypothesis was identified; (H1) that there is a relationship – of difference – in how the two publications cover presidential opinion poll stories. The study identified 440 presidential opinion poll stories over a 90- day period prior to Election Day. It analyzed election coverage from October-December 2007 for the Nation and August-November 2008 for the Times. The study established that the two publications had a marked difference in how they covered the presidential opinion poll stories in relation to two schematics, which are game versus governing; but a striking resemblance on how presidential contenders were portrayed

A \u27Seat at the Table\u27: Exploring the relationship between pluralist structures and involvement in decision-making—The Case of the Nile Basin Initiative

The goal of this study was to explore the relationship between pluralist structures and involvement in decision-making of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI). To establish this relationship the study asked two primary questions: What are the characteristics of power structures of the NBI as they relate to stakeholder involvement in Ethiopia? For those not involved in the decision-making process, what constraints prevent them from getting a ‘seat at the table’?” Two secondary questions were also asked: Do the power structure characteristics in Ethiopia relate to pluralism and, if so, how? To what extent are conditions in Ethiopia compatible with the prerequisites of pluralism? The study focused on one issue-area, the Water Resources Planning and Management Project. Qualitative data were collected primarily from NGOs in Ethiopia during the month of December, 2008. Background information was collected in Entebbe, Uganda, the home to the NBI Secretariat. Data sources included in-depth key informant interviews (n=30), archival, geographical, historical, and scientific accounts. The findings show that 1) the characteristics of power structures of the Nile Basin Initiative in Ethiopia are both pluralistic and elitist; 2) the level of involvement in the Water Resources Planning and Management Project by nongovernmental stakeholders is low; 3) the framework for involvement is limited and restricted to invitations to selected meetings in which the role of the NGOs is that of the observer; 4) political factors are the leading constraints to involvement, followed by lack of capacity of the NGOs and the NBI, structural limitations, and lack of information and awareness. The study concludes that, even though there is consistent theoretical link between pluralist structures and stakeholder involvement, the mere presence of pluralist structures does not guarantee involvement. It all depends on how well those structures function. The findings thus leads this study to hypothesize that the pluralist structures and elite power structures exist side by side, at least in the context of Ethiopia. Through the pluralist structures, organized groups are formally recognized while the elite power structures determine the process and who makes the decisions

Establishment and evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal assay (LAMP) for the semi-quantitative detection of HIV-1 group M virus in blood and plasma

The past decade has witnessed a dramatic increase of anti-retroviral treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients in many African countries. Due to costs and sophistication of currently available commercial viral load assays, little attention has been paid to therapy monitoring through measurement of plasma viral load, a challenge that could reverse achievements already made against HIV/AIDS infection. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has been shown to be simple, rapid and cost-effective, characteristics which make this assay ideal for viral load monitoring in resource limited settings. The aim of this study was to establish and evaluate LAMP for quantitative detection of HIV-1 group M virus in blood and plasma. Cell culture supernatants of HIV-1 subtype B (IIIB and MVP899-87) viruses were used to optimize reaction conditions and to test primer suitability. Together with HIV-1 M non-B subtypes, HIV-1 group O and HIV-2, the cell culture supernatants were used to evaluate the performance of LAMP, to generate a model for viral load estimation and to establish the limits of the assay. A panel of 467 clinical samples was analyzed (282 plasmas and 121 dry blood spots from Kenya and 112 plasmas from Germany) and the results obtained by LAMP were compared to those generated by the Abbott Real Time HIV-1 assay, an established commercial viral load quantification test. A linear regression equation was generated from time to detection values and used to estimate the viral loads of the samples by the LAMP assay. Kenyan samples were tested in Nairobi and Munich. LAMP primers targeting the integrase of the pol gene were found to be the most suitable compared to further 3 primer sets tested. Lower limit of detection (LLOD) of 1,200 copies/mL and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 9,800 copies/mL were determined as suitable thresholds for quantitative estimations of the LAMP viral loads. Sensitivities of 82 and 86% (Kenyan samples) and 93% (German samples) and specificities of 99 and 100% were realized with plasma samples. The study also realized a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 77% with dry blood spot samples from Kenya. In conclusion, LAMP assay shows obvious potential for diagnostic application in semi-quantification of HIV-1 group M viral load in resource limited countries. However there is a need for further improvement of primers in respect to detection of HIV-1 non-B viruses and evaluation of dry blood spot samples to ensure that more reliable results are obtained

Media Practitioners and Public Opinions on Interactive Broadcast TV Shows in Africa: Citizen TV (Kenya) and Muvi TV (Zambia)

Interactive TV and radio shows are popular phenomena in Kenya and Zambia. Drawing primarily from interview and observation based research in TV stations in Kenya and Zambia, this paper examines the role of media practitioners in shaping interactive broadcast programmes, and the nature and possibilities of audience participation. Looking at the cases of Muvi TV’s The Assignment in Zambia and Power Breakfast and Cheche on Kenya’s Citizen TV, it considers the agency of the host and presenter of interactive shows. This working paper analyses the various ways that hosts implement ground rules for appropriate behaviour of audience members and seek to create space for different voices. It then turns to analyse the constraining e ects of the wider political and regulatory environment in the two countries, for instance, Zambia as a ‘Christian nation’ and a relatively peaceful country, and Kenya as a ‘volatile nation’ due to insecurity, including terrorism-related threats and ethnic tensions. In so doing, this paper finds that despite structural factors and individual limitations, the hosts of these shows see themselves, and have been seen by audiences, guests and political elites, as key drivers and celebrities that shape access and nature of participation