Sarcoptic mange and cheetah conservation in Masai Mara (Kenya): epidemiological study in a wildlife/livestock system

The sanitary control of threatened wild animals is of pivotal interest for their conservation. This task, however, is highly complex in wildlife/livestock systems. In this paper we report findings from a 2-year cross-sectional study of the epidemiology and attempted control of a Sarcoptes mite infestation in the threatened cheetah population in Masai Mara (Kenya), and discuss its interaction with sympatric wild (lion, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle) and domestic (dog, cattle and sheep) animals. Sarcoptes scabiei was isolated from cheetahs, Thomson's gazelles, wildebeests, lions, cattle, goats and dogs; Psoroptes ovis, on the other hand, was only isolated from sheep. The prevalence study revealed 12·77% infection rates in cheetahs, 4·7% in dogs, 0·8% in Thomson's gazelles, 0·8% in sheep, 0·09% in cattle, and 0·09% in goats, while it opportunistically affected lions and wildebeest. Our study revealed that prevalence of Sarcoptes mite in cheetah population was not associated with the studied geographical blocks, animal sex or the presence of affected domestic animals. Cheetah infection with S. scabiei was associated with the climatic conditions (dry more than wet season) and the balancing between the total number of Thomson's gazelles and the prevalence of infected individuals. Apparently the high prevalence of mangy gazelles has a negative effect on cheetah; this negative effect was reduced when the number of healthy gazelles was increased. Treatment with injectable ivermectin of the clinically affected wild and domestic animals during the first year of this study was associated with much lower incidence of sarcoptic mange during the second yea

Opportunities and Challenges of Setting-Up an Articulate HACCP System in Export Slaughterhouses in Countries Emerging from Conflict: An Appraisal of North-Western Somalia

Report on an investigation carried out for more than two years in North-Western Somalia (Somaliland) to determine opportunities and challenges of setting up a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system to be adopted and complied with during operations in an export slaughterhouse.Warbixin ku saabsan baaritaan lagu samaeeyay muddo labo sano ah woqooyi-galbeed ee Soomaaliya (Somaliland) oo ku saabsan habkii lagu baari lahaa halsita iyo ilaalinta waxyaabaha khatarta marka la qalaya xoolaha hilibkooda la dhoofinaya.Relazione su un'indagine effettuata per più di due anni nel nord-ovest della Somalia (Somaliland) per determinare le opportunità e le sfide nella creazione di un sistema di Analisi dei Rischi e Controllo dei Punti Critici (HACCP) da adottare e rispettare durante le operazioni di esportazione di un macello

EFFECTIVE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION: SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ VIEWPOINTS

Central to the entire discipline of education in the digital age are the concepts of Teacher Professional Development (TPD) and, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) integration in teaching and learning. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the vital links between ICT-TPD and improved education standards. However, minimum attention has been given to the integrated ICT-TPD programmes that incorporate training opportunities to assist teachers learn how to integrate ICT for teaching based on teachers' immediate professional needs, experiences, and skills considering current improvements in pedagogy. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate secondary schools’ teachers’ perspectives with regards to effective ICT-TPD programmes. Data were collected through interviews of a purposeful selection of sixteen participants who were selected based on their exemplary ICT usage behaviour. Data from the interviews were analysed using the thematic analysis technique to gain in-depth understanding of teachers’ perspectives on the subject under investigation. The analysis revealed five salient components leading to effective ICT-TPD: Teachers as a Community of Professional Practice; Teacher Champions (Mentors/Coaches); Teachers’ Research; Teacher Appraisals (Accreditation); and Cascading good Practice. The findings from this study suggest that teacher’s accounts of appreciation and dissonances with the TPD programmes in the context of integration of technology in teaching mirrored similar issues in literature. However, the findings also revealed some nuanced shifts on teacher perceptions and attitudes to the quality of teacher professional development for ICT integration in classroom teaching. Article visualizations

EXPLORING SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ PEDAGOGICAL BELIEFS AND THE INTEGRATION OF ICT IN THE CONTEXT OF A DEVELOPING COUNTRY: A TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL PERSPECTIVE

Information, and communication technologies (ICTs) have become rudimentary in communication and information sharing world over. Even more so for teachers because technologies have the potential to transform their practice and help their students learn. This study extends the technology acceptance model to establish how teachers’ pedagogical beliefs (PB) directly or indirectly influence ICT acceptance among secondary school teachers in Kenya. The research instruments were a survey (n = 234) whose quantitative data were analysed drawing on Ajzen’s (1985) technology acceptance model (TAM) to identify the challenges and the perceptions of challenge for teachers in using technology in the classroom. The findings from this study suggest that teacher’s accounts of appreciation and dissonances with the integration of technology in teaching mirrored similar issues in literature. However, the findings also revealed some nuanced shifts on teacher perceptions and attitudes to technology integration. Implications for policy and practice are discussed, and the development of a new teachers’ technology acceptance model is presented. This study fills the gap in the literature regarding knowledge of technology adoption practice from the points of view of teachers. Article visualizations

Effects of Competition on Performance in Engineering Industry – A Case Study of Holman BrothersEast Africa Limited

This paper is anchored on the study carried out to establish the factors affecting performance – case of Holman Brothers (E.A) Ltd. It investigated several factors like marketing strategy; capital structure; competition; and quality products and services.  This paper however will concentrate on competition as one of the investigated factor. Competition is critical in the market as will involve the evaluation of magnitude of competition in the firm’s industry, both the number of competing firms and their relative strengths in the market place. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design which describes the characteristics of particular individuals and was not restricted to fact finding but results in formulation of important principles of knowledge and solutions to significant problem. The study population included all employees of Holman Brothers (E.A) Ltd working in Head office and its branches, while the target population consisted of 313 employees comprising of 263 males and 50 females, working in 11 different departments. The sample size of 37% constituted 116 respondents. The study adopted questionnaires and interviews as research instruments, which were clear, simple to understand, unbiased and objective. The researcher used Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) to analyze data.The study found that competitive strategies such as pricing, promotions and innovations determine the companies’ performance in the market. The study recommended that the Government through Ministry of Trade createconducive environment which promotes fair competition among the companies. Key words: Pricing, Promotion, Innovation, Market Performance, Construction Industr

Effects of Reward Strategies on Employee Performance at Kabete Technical Training Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

The main objective this study was to investigate the effects of reward strategies on employee performance at Kabete Technical Training Institute (KTTI). The study was guided by four specific objectives: To determine the extent to which personal drive for achievement influences employee performance at KTTI; to determine how growth opportunities influence employee performance at KTTI; to establish the extent to which recognition influences employee performance at KTTI; to establish the extent to which staff promotion influences employee performance at KTTI. The study reviewed several theories of motivation as possible avenues towards a framework of understanding what motivates employees. It also conducted an empirical literature review in order to establish a link with similar past studies. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 159 respondents from a target population of 270 employees. The study adopted a descriptive research design and utilized both primary and secondary data. Structured and unstructured questionnaires were used to collect primary data while secondary data was collected through document review. Data analysis was carried out using both qualitative and quantitative techniques with the aid of SPSS while the main method of data presentation was frequency distribution, pie charts, graphs and cross tabulation. The study found a significant relationship between the reward strategies and employee work performance. The study concluded that personal need for achievement played a key role in influencing employee performance and given a choice employees showed preference for promotion, better remuneration, cash gifts and training opportunities as reward strategies. The study recommends that KTTI should: Leverage on the intrinsic motivation factors by providing a working environment that encourages employees sense of achievement; develop and maintain a training policy for all categories of employees; establish a criterion for recognizing employee performance to ensure the whole process of reward strategy is deemed fair by all employees; design an attractive scheme of service that will also enhance retention and have a structured method of identifying and recommending teachers for promotion by the Teachers Service Commission; finally, the research study recommends a similar research study on the negative effects of reward strategies to avoid a situation where they can backfire and bring exactly the opposite of the desired behavior. Keywords: Motivation, Reward, Reward Management, KTTI, Reward policies, Performance contract, TVET, Extrinsic rewards, intrinsic rewards

FACTORS AFFECTING LOW DISTRIBUTION OF NEWSPAPERS IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY; A CASE STUDY OF NATION MEDIA GROUP

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting low distribution of newspapers in the media industry; a case study of nation media group.Methodology: The study used a descriptive design. The instrument in use was the questionnaire which was issued to vendors, transporters and managers. The population were 3244 respondents comprised of all vendors in Nairobi who are 3,200, 22 transporters and 12 managers of Nation Media Group. The sample was 50 respondents. The study employed cluster and convenience sampling for vendors, systematic sampling to pick the transporters and managers. Convenience sampling was used to select vendors from each cluster due to the nature of work. The data collected was analyzed quantitatively using simple descriptive statistics such as frequencies and mean scores. Results: Results indicated that a majority of vendors agreed with the statement that change in customer\u27s preferences, Competition from online distribution such as Facebook, twitter and online newspapers, Late delivery of newspapers, Pricing of newspapers, the newspapers are dropped off in a convenient place for me are the factors that lead to low distribution of newspapers.The results also revealed  that a majority of transporters agreed with the statement that late printing of newspapers influence the distribution, bad condition of vehicles influence the distribution, dropping off newspapers in an inconvenient place for the vendors affects distribution, lack of security when and where they deliver newspapers affects distribution, Traffic jam affects the distribution of newspaper , long distances of where they deliver newspaper influence newspaper distribution are the factors that lead to low distribution of newspapers. This implies that the work is tiring and unsecured.The results further revealed that a majority of managers agreed with the statement that the transporting  vehicles are not always in good condition to deliver newspapers, the newspapers are dropped off in an inconvenient place for the vendors, There is no security when delivering Newspapers, Traffic jam influence distribution of newspaper, Poor remuneration of transporters affect distribution , Poor work benefits of transporters affect distribution and Late production of newspapers affect distribution newspaper distribution are the factors that lead to low distribution of newspapersUnique contribution to theory, practice and policy It was recommended that there is need to enhance security for newspapers transporters. In this case the transporters would deliver the newspapers to vendors or pick from the sources in good time. The study would recommend that the sources of newspapers to reduce the pricing to sustain the business in market so as to encourage more entrepreneurs by inventing in the newspaper selling as long as it is profitable

ROLE OF THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS SERVICES ON SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE IN DISTRIBUTION SECTOR IN KENYA: A CASE OF BOLLORE TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS KENYA LIMITED

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to determine the role of third-party logistics services on supply chain performance in distribution sector in Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population of the study was all employees working within Bollore Transport & Logistics Kenya Limited Nairobi office. The study sampled 41 respondents out of 138 staff who work in the Logistics and transport department and 40 respondents participated in the final study. The researcher adopted the simple random sampling method because it gives every member of the population equal chances of being selected. A questionnaire was developed and pre-tested as the main tool for collecting primary data and was delivered to the respondents directly with the help of research assistants and picked later at the agreed date. The questionnaire contained both open and close ended questions. Data analysis was analysed by use of statistical package for social science version 24 (SPSS) analysis software and t-Trend analysis. The findings were presented using descriptive statistical tools like graphs, tables and other measures of central tendency while qualitative data was analyzed to establish patterns, trends and relationships from the information gathered. Results: The results of the study revealed that the four variables studied explain 83% of variance and that other factors not included in this research contribute 17% of variance in the dependent variable. The study also established that ICT integration leads in improving financial performance in supply chain performance within distribution sector in Kenya while organizational policy adds little value on financial performance of firms within supply chain. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends  that the Government should implement distribution legislation to remove the unwanted and unfair clearance procedures  that firms undergo delays 3PLs to achieve their targeted lead -times to customers. The Third Party Logistics Services (3PLs) providers need to build a culture of information sharing among its personnel, and with external clients hence reduce logistics obstacles of lack of knowledge within the supply chain sector

EFFECTS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING ON THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF SMALL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FIRMS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of strategic planning on the financial performance of small ICT companies in Nairobi County. Methodology: The descriptive research design was adopted in the study. A total of 584 small ICT companies based in Nairobi County formed the target population. The researcher grouped the population into strata according to their years in operation. Due to time and resource constraints, it was not possible to study the entire population. A sample of 232 small ICT companies was therefore selected from the target population to participate in the study. Respondents consisted of one member from the top management of each company in the sample. The main data collection instrument was questionnaires. The questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. Respondents were expected to complete the questionnaires within a period of two weeks, after which the researcher personally collected them. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS. To determine the effect of the four independent variables on the dependent variable, multiple regression was applied. Tables and charts were used to present the results of the study. Results: From the results, strategic planning in the confines of environmental scanning, formality, time horizon and evaluation was found to have a significant effect on financial performance, collectively accounting for 60% for the changes in the financial performance of small ICT companies. An ANOVA test revealed that environmental scanning, formality and evaluation have a significant effect on the financial performance of small ICT companies. Time horizon was however found to have no significant effect on financial performance of small ICT companies. The study therefore concluded that strategic planning has a positive effect on the financial performance of small ICT companies in Nairobi County. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends that there is need for the government, policy makers and regulators to provide regular information and insight into the ICT sector. This information can be beneficial in understanding the contribution of the sector, services on demand, service providers, technologies, the state of competition, compliance requirements and regulations.

Effect of Financial Auditors’ Proficiency on Risk Management Process among Commercial Banks in Kenya

This study investigates the effect of financial auditors' proficiency on the risk management processes of commercial banks in Kenya. Given the increasing incidents of fraud and financial instability in the banking sector, this research examines the competencies, articulation, expertise, and prudence of financial auditors and their influence on risk management practices. Employing a descriptive research design and a positivist research philosophy, data were collected from a sample of 230 respondents across 39 commercial banks. The study reveals that auditors' proficiency significantly enhances risk identification, analysis, evaluation, and treatment. Moreover, the regulatory environment moderates the relationship between auditors' proficiency and the risk management process, emphasizing the need for regulatory compliance. These findings offer valuable insights for banks, regulatory bodies, and policymakers to improve risk management strategies. The study also provides a basis for further academic research and contributes to the existing literature on financial auditing and risk management