Ethico-legal inquiry into strike action by doctors in Kenya

A Research Report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine: Bioethics and Health Law Faculty of Health Sciences University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. January 2017Doctors serving in public health services in Kenya under the employment of the Government went on strike in December 2011 and September 2012. The strikes were national and doctors withdrew all their services including attending to emergencies in hospitals. The reasons for the strikes were poor salaries, poor working conditions and poor state of public health services. The aim of this research was to analyse legal and ethical aspects of the strikes by doctors in Kenya and to explore ways to minimize harm to patients and society. The research examined the circumstances and contexts of the strike to enable an understanding of the status of health services and the nature of the demands by doctors. Kenyan laws relating to strikes were analysed to ascertain legal compliance or violations during the strikes. Obligations of the medical profession and ethical codes and rules of conduct for doctors were discussed in relation to the strike. Ethical theories of deontology, consequentialism and virtue ethics were applied to establish moral justification or lack thereof. Analysis of the legal provisions of the Labour Relations Act No.14 of 2007 revealed that it did not provide adequate processes for resolving trade disputes involving workers and employers in essential services. Suggestions were made on some ways to improve the conciliation process to foster appropriate resolution of disputes before strike action becomes necessary. Examination of the reasons for the strikes and status of public health services revealed that there were compelling reasons and circumstances for the strike action by doctors. It was acknowledged that harm and benefits resulted from the strikes. Some grounds for moral justification of the strikes were discussed and found valid. However, comprehensive justification of the strikes was difficult, considering the professional and ethical obligations of doctors to society and to patients. In particular the withdrawal of emergency services made it difficult to find moral justification for the doctors‟ strikes. Failure to provide emergency services expunged any moral justification for strike action.MT201

Impact of Prejudice on Caregivers of People with Mental Illness in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Negative beliefs and preconceived opinions on mental illness, which are not based on reason or actual experience, play a significant role in determining treatment and health-seeking behaviour by caregivers of people with mental illness. This paper assesses the influence of prejudice on caregivers of people with mental illness in Uasin Gishu County. The study was anchored on the health-seeking behavior theory and targeted 480 respondents drawn from Uasin Gishu County. This was achieved through purposive sampling. Data from the caregivers was collected using a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions, while data from health care providers was collected using an interview schedule. Data from the questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while data from the focus group discussions and interviews used themes. The study revealed that prejudice (b=-0.332, þ<0.05), had negative and significant influences on health-seeking behavior of caregivers. The study concluded that prejudice was an element of the cultural construction of mental illness that negatively influenced health-seeking behavior among caregivers of people with mental illness. It is recommended that future studies should seek to use data collection approaches that integrate feelings and emotions of the people who have mental illness in addition to widening the geographical scope of the study

Investor Behaviour towards Initial Public Offers (IPOs) in Kenya: A Re-Modelling of the Harry Markowitz’s Risk-Return theory?

The period 2000-2013 witnessed a tremendous rise in investor participation in IPOs in Kenya. During this period a number of IPOs resulted in over-subscription. Outstanding cases include; Kenya-Re (334%), Kengen (236%), Eveready (800%), Safaricom (363%), Mumias Sugar (200%), Access Kenya (300%), Scan Group (520%) and Telkom (300%). Stock market returns are highly unpredictable and volatile, making investment in IPOs a potentially risky affair. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether or not investor behaviour in Kenya is consistent with Harry Markowitz’s (the H-M) risk-return theory. The first part of this paper seeks to look at the basic tenets of the H-M theory. In the last part of the paper, the actual behaviour of investors towards IPOs in Kenya is surveyed against the standard practice as espoused by the H-M model. This paper concluded that the H-M model does not apply in the Kenyan case. Other factors besides risk and return appear to be influencing investor behaviour towards IPOs in Kenya signalling the need for the remodelling of the H-M model to include these additional factors. Findings by this paper may be valuable to investment policy makers in government and other players in Kenya’s financial markets. Scholars also will also benefit from this paper’s findings by having their knowledge on investment decision-making broadened

INFLUENCE OF FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY ON FINANCIAL GROWTH OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LREB-KENYA

Literature reveals inconsistencies on factors influencing the financial sustainability of local NGOs, with some suggesting such factors as income diversification, incomes from local and external donors as well as own income-generating activities, while others opine that continued external donor funding is required for sustainability. Evidence also shows that for the period under review, the financial growth of the NGOs, as critical vehicles of welfare development in the region has been fluctuating since 2010, but with a declining trend from 2019 to 2022. The purpose of this paper is to establish influence of the financial sustainability on the financial growth of non-governmental organizations in the Lake Region Economic Block- Kenya. A cross-sectional research design is adopted on a sample size of 220 respondents from whom both primary and secondary data were obtained and analyzed using independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, correlation, and regression. Guided by the Resource Based View Theory, the results yielded a significant  change of 0.033; from 73.7% to 77% after moderation; implying that financial sustainability has a significant moderating effect of 3.3%. The findings of this study are invaluable for innovative and sustainable financial decisions by NGOs, and also scholars and policymakers on matters of revenue growth.  Article visualizations

EFFECT OF PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT ON THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF LISTED INSURANCE FIRMS IN THE NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE, KENYA

The performance of listed insurance companies in Kenya has over time been unstable, despite its contribution to Kenya’s GDP. Whereas the firms have diversified investment asset portfolios, the financial performance of these companies has generally remained low; as evidenced by inconsistent revenues. The purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between portfolio management and the financial performance of the listed insurance firms in Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), Kenya. The study has been guided by Modern Portfolio Theory, allowing for the integration of mixed securities. correlational research design has been employed on a target population of six (6) listed insurance companies at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. census technique of data collection to obtain secondary data through the document review method was used. Analyzing data through descriptive and inferential statistics, the following results were obtained; showing a positive significant effect of both portfolio size (β = 0.4859, p = 0.002) and portfolio asset allocation (β = 0.4031, p = 0.000) on the financial performance of listed insurance firms at NSE. However, the results yielded a negative but significant effect of portfolio risk (β = - 0.02546, p = 0.002) on financial performance; implying that a unit increase in portfolio size and portfolio asset allocation leads to 48.59% and 40.31% increase in financial performance of listed insurance firms, respectively. However, Portfolio risk has a negative effect, implying that a unit increase in portfolio risk leads to a 2.55% reduction in financial performance. It can therefore be concluded that portfolio management influences the financial performance of insurance firms listed at the NSE, thereby recommending that listed insurance firms in the NSE should increase the level of portfolio management by giving attention to such elements as portfolio size, portfolio asset allocation, and portfolio risk; which are important predictors of the firms’ financial performance, alongside determining the specific mix of investments generating the highest return for a given level of risk, which will lead to increased profitability. JEL: G10; G20; G22  Article visualizations

The Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Sexually Abused Children at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops following some stressful events. There has been increasing recognition that children who have been exposed to traumatic events like child sexual abuse can develop post-traumatic stress disorder just like adults.Objective: To determine prevalence of PTSD in sexually abused children seen at the Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital.Design: A cross sectional descriptive study.Setting: Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre – Kenyatta National Hospital. Subjects One hundred and forty-nine (n = 149) sexually abused children were recruited in the study.Results: The mean age 14.8%boys and 85.2% girls was 13.2 years (SD 4.2) the age at which sexual abuse most frequently (55%) occurred between 15-17 years. Sixty three percent of children reported that the perpetrator was known to them, and 76.5% of perpetrators used verbal or physical force during sexual assault. The prevalence of PTSD among the sexually abused children was 49%. PTSD was significantly associatedwith shorter duration of sexual abuse i.e. daily which is 67% as compared to months which is 4.7% (p = 0.005), Greater severity of injuries sustained during assault (p = 0.023), parent’s marital status those whose parents were married or cohabiting 40% were affected as compared to 52% whose parents were separated or divorced (p = 0.003) and the family's way of sorting out their disagreements was also significantly associated with PTSD. Parents who sorted their disagreement by talking was at 31% while thosewho sorted their disagreement by fighting was at 67% (p &lt; 0.001).Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of PTSD among sexually abused children presenting at Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi-Kenya. PTSD is associated with the degree of physical or verbal abuse during sexual abuse, injuries during assault, and parent-child relationships. These findings are important in formulation of appropriate prevention and care interventions to be implemented by families and other stakeholders

EFFECT OF MORTGAGE FINANCING ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA

The financial performance of commercial banks has been unstable as evidenced in Annual Supervision Report of 2011 to 2020, where the Return on Assets (ROA) rose to 6.2% in 2012 from 3% in 2011; and to below 3% in the years 2016 to 2020. Literature reveals that commercial banks’ lending criteria are pro-cyclical, implying a less strict lending criteria during the real estate boom, and very strict during burst; resulting in likely underestimation of the default risk on loans during periods of high demand by the commercial banks. The objective of the study was to establish the effect of mortgage financing on the n financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya for the period 2015 to 2022. Using secondary balanced panel data from 27 mortgage-offering banks in Kenya, with 189 data points and employing moderated multiple regression to achieve the study objectives. The regression analysis revealed that the independent variables explained 86.69% (R2 = 0.8669, p-value = 0004) of variance in of financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya, the coefficient of mortgage financing is 0.004434, (p=0.0004); implying that a unit increase in mortgage loan would result to significant increase in the return on assets by 0.004434 units. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. The study concluded that an increase in the amount of mortgage loans offered as well as other activities that augment the total value of mortgage loans extended by the commercial banks leads to a significant improvement in the financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The study recommends that commercial banks in Kenya should target to increase the amount of mortgage offered as well as other activities that augment the total value of mortgage loans extended in order to improve their financial performance. JEL: D10; D14; G21  Article visualizations

Say "Sul Sul!" to SimSim, A Sims-Inspired Platform for Sandbox Game AI

This paper proposes environment design in the life simulation game The Sims as a novel platform and challenge for testing divergent search algorithms. In this domain, which includes a minimal viability criterion, the goal is to furnish a house with objects that satisfy the physical needs of a simulated agent. Importantly, the large number of objects available to the player (whether human or automated) affords a wide variety of solutions to the underlying design problem. Empirical studies in a novel open source simulator called SimSim investigate the ability of novelty-based evolutionary algorithms to effectively generate viable environment designs.Comment: 7 pages, Accepted as poster to AIIDE 202

The effect of increased investment in Bodaboda business on economic empowerment of people in Kisumu west district.

In the last fifteen years the numbers of motorcycles per capita in many developing nations has doubled, they provide an affordable mobility option that is not otherwise available. Whereas information points to the potential benefits of this mode of transport, there is limited information on the effect of increasing investment in bodaboda business in Kisumu West District. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of increased investment in bodaboda business on economic empowerment in Kisumu West District. A descriptive study design was used. The study population comprised of, 100 bodaboda owners, and 170 bodaboda riders. A total of 43 bodaboda owners and 74 riders were selected through a stratified random sampling process. Primary data was collected by use of structured questionnaire while secondary data was obtained from written reports. Data was analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics and presented in tables, bar charts and pie charts. It was established that the level of bodaboda business activities were very high in the district and that these activities had a positive significant effect on economic empowerment. The study suggested that further studies should be done in other districts to establish the nationwide effect of bodaboda business in economic empowerment. Keywords: Bodaboda, Reliability, Value, Economic, Empowermen

THE PRAXIS OF CHINA-SUDAN BILATERAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS

ABSTRACT The Sudanese oil diplomacy, which has been a major determinant of Sudan&apos;s economic conduct, has been greatly influenced by the praxis of China-Sudan bilateral economic relations for three reasons. First, China-Sudan bilateral relations have remained relatively stable since 1959 even in the face of drastic changes in the political environment, second, China developed Sudan&apos;s oil industry and changed Sudan into a net oil exporter, and third, China became the main importer of Sudan&apos;s oil, taking up to 70% of Sudan&apos;s oil production which provided China with about 6% of its energy needs at home. The objective of the study was to explore the praxis of China-Sudan bilateral economic relations influencing Sudanese oil diplomacy. The respondents in the study were officials from Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs China&apos;s Embassy in Kenya, Sudan&apos;s Embassy in Kenya, South Sudan&apos;s Embassy in Kenya, Students at Pwani University of Mombasa, University of Nairobi&apos;s Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, Confucian centre at Nairobi University and students at Maseno University. The study relied more on qualitative analysis, but quantitative analysis was also used. Qualitative data were analyzed using qualitative analysis methods while quantitative data collected in the field were analyzed using descriptive statistics in form of histograms and pie charts and inferential statistics. Probability sampling method used was simple random while non-probability sampling methods used were convenience, purposive and snowball sampling methods. Simple random was used to get information from university students while purposive sampling was used to get information from respondents with special knowledge on the subject. Both primary and secondary data were collected. The collection methods included key informant interviews, questionnaires with closed and open-ended questions, library research and content analysis. Likert scales were used to capture respondents&apos; attitudes toward, and level of agreement on, various related issues. Data were presented in histograms and pie-charts and later interpreted into meaningful information