Studies on N,N'-bis(8-acetyl-7-hydroxy-4- methylcoumarin)ethylenediamine complexes of trivalent lanthanides

922-923Complexes having the composition LnL(H2O)Cl.(where Ln = trivalent lanthanides and H2L= schiff base derived from the condensation of 8-acetyl-7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin with ethylenediamine) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance, magnetic moment, TG and DT, electronic and infrared spectral measurements. The conductivity measurements show non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. The schiff base behaves as a dibasic tetradentate ligand with O:N:N:O donor sequence

An analysis of the efficiency of the foreign exchange market in Kenya

This study examined the Efficiency Market hypothesis in its weak form using run tests, unit root tests and the Ljung-Box Q-statistics. The motivation was to determine whether foreign exchange rate returns follow a random walk. The data covered the period starting January 1994 to June 2007 for the daily closing spot price of the Kenya shillings per US dollar exchange rate. The main finding of this study is that the foreign exchange rate market is not efficient. The results showed that most of the rejections are due to significant patterns, trend stationarity and autocorrelation in foreign exchange returns. This is attributed to both exchange rate undershooting and overshooting phenomena.

The Impact of Real Exchange Rate Misalignment on Economic Growth; Kenyan Evidence

This paper examines Real Exchange Rate (RER) Misalignment on economic growth in Kenya by using Johansen Cointegration, and Error Correction Model Technique to establish the factors that determine equilibrium real exchange rate, calculate the real exchange rate misalignment as the difference between equilibrium  and  actual real exchange rate. Generalized Method Moments (GMM) technique was used to assess the impact of the real exchange rate misalignment on economic growth for the period of January 1993 to December 2009.  Data for the study was collected from Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Central Bank of Kenya and International Monetary Fund Data Base by taking monthly frequency.  Thus, 204 data values were analysed, which assisted in evaluating the extent of the trade Kenya had with different countries and used in the construction of the Real Exchange Rate (RER).  The results of the study on the extent of RER misalignment suggest that over the study period 1993-2009, Kenya’s RER generally exhibited a depreciating trend, implying that in general, the country’s economic growth deteriorated over the study period. Keywords: Real Exchange Rate, Nominal Exchange Rate, Real Effective Exchange Rate, Nominal Effective Exchange Rate, Misalignmen

Application of the Variance Function of the Difference Between two estimated responses in regulating Blood Sugar Level in a Diabetic patient using Herbal Formula

In this paper response surface methodology has been employed in investigating effectiveness of herbal formula (a mix of six herbs) in regulating the blood sugar level of a diabetic to within acceptable levels. In the experimentation phase, observations are made to investigate the effectiveness for particular level of concentration at regulating the blood sugar level with time. The most feasible of all the identified points of equal yield has been identified as one in which the variance function is minimal. In this investigative research we use the variance function of the difference between two points to provide reliable advice on the range around which the dosage is desirable and time required to effectively regulate the blood sugar level to within acceptable range. In the set up the herbal formula extract has been shown to have successfully regulated the blood sugar level in a diabetic to 11.3898 mMol/L. This is possible by effecting a treatment of herbal formula at a concentration of 66.1125 mg/dl and the effectiveness is within 175.4580 minutes upon treatment

Moderating Effect of Firm Characteristics on the Relationship between Electric Power Outage Dynamics and Financial Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Kenya

Past literatures on the correlational link between electric power outage dynamics and performance of manufacturing firms, in most economies, have portrayed a controversial conceptual debate amongst scholars with little focus on the moderating role played by firm characteristics. This paper focuses on determining the effect of firm characteristics (capital structure) on the relationship between electric power outage dynamics and financial performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya. Positivism philosophical point of view and descriptive survey research design was utilized. A population of 447 manufacturing firms in Kenya, which were also members of Kenya Manufacturers Association, was selected out of which a sample size of 138 firms was drawn using stratified random sampling methodology. Structured questionnaires were utilized to collect data which involved drop and pick approach. The research results indicate that the relationship between electric power outage dynamics and performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya is not significantly moderated by firm characteristics. This study outcome augments existing knowledge on electric power outage dynamics in relation to firm characteristics and financial performance. This is because it is evident that top management should not focus on capital structure as a conditional factor when making decisions aimed at enhancing firm financial performance under power outage conditions. The study has also made an input to the academic literature ascending from empirical reinforcement of tradeoff theory and pecking order theory in making determination on firms’ capital investments. Policy makers and power utilities benefit in understanding the negative effect of power outages on the performance of firms are therefore guided in overseeing the planning and implementation of proper electricity infrastructure. Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) will find these research findings useful in guiding their member firms on strategies to adopt to ensure continuous productivity and safeguard damages to the firm as a result of electric power outages

Joint Moderating Effect of Perceived Equity and Supervisor Support on the Relationship between Employee Compensation and Employee Performance in Kenyan Chartered Public Universities

Compensation is essential to the functioning of the relationship between the employee and employer and close to the heart of both the employer and the employee.  Perceived unfairness in compensation can be harmful to an organization. When employees believe that they are not paid equitably they will be dissatisfied with work which can lead to voluntary employee turn-over, regular absence from work, non-commitment to the organization and low-trust employee relations. Lack of clear criteria and unfairness in distributing incentives to academic staff and supportive supervisors could influence academic staff motivation and performance. There is need to consider fairness in distributing incentives and to have supportive supervisors who will motivate the academic staff and in turn improve their performance. The main objective of this study was to establish the joint effect of perceived equity and supervisor support on the relationship between employee compensation and employee performance in Kenyan chartered public universities. The study was based on three theories: Expectancy Theory, Equity Theory and Social Exchange Theory.  The study adopted positivist research philosophy. Descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted to enable the researcher discover the relationship between different variables. The study targeted academic staff in 23 Kenyan chartered public universities.  Multistage sampling technique was used to identify respondents from Kenyan Chartered Public Universities. The number of Faculties/Schools/Institutes sampled was 43 out of 246. A sample size of 370 academic staff was selected from a population of 2011 using easy sample size calculator. Data was collected on employee compensation, employee motivation, perceived equity, supervisor support and employee performance using a questionnaire. A pilot study was carried out at one university to validate the data collection instrument. Reliability results indicated a Cronbach Alpha value of 0.920. Out of 370 questionnaires administered, 247 were returned and analyzed, thus a response rate of 69 percent. Test of normality, linearity, multicollinearity and homoscedasticity revealed that the data was normally distributed, linear and independent of errors. Quantitative technique was used to analyze data. The study established that employee compensation and employee performance in Kenyan chartered public universities is jointly moderated by perceived equity and supervisor support (R2=0.37, p<0.05). The study concluded that the relationship between employee compensation and employee performance is jointly moderated by perceived equity and supervisor support. The study recommended in enhancing employee performance through employee compensation, perceived equity and supervisor support are crucial since they moderate the underlying relationship. Keywords: Employee compensation, perceived equity, supervisor support, employee performance, academic staff, Kenyan chartered public universities

Relativistic segnificance of curvature tensors

In thi paper new curvature tensors have been defined on the lines of Weyl's projective curvature tensor and it has been shown that the distribution (order in which the vectors in question are arranged before being acted upon by the tensor in question) of vector field over the metric potentials and matter tensors plays an important role in shaping the various physical and geometrical properties of a tensor viz the formulation of gravitational waves, reduction of electromagnetic field to a purely electric field, vanishing of the contracted tensor in an Einstein Space and the cyclic property

Governance and Performance of National Government-Constituencies Development Funds in Kenya

The main objective of the study was to establish the relationship between governance and performance of National GovernmentConstituencies Development Funds (NG-CDFs) in Kenya. A census survey was carried out on all the 290 NG-CDFs performance in Kenya. A positivistic research philosophy and a descriptive cross-sectional survey design were used. Data was collected using structured and unstructured questionnaire. Secondary data was easily accessible from the National Treasury, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the General Auditor’s reports and NG-CDF website and was collected for the period 2014 to 2018. Simple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses at 95 percent confidence level. The results of the study were established and compared to various theories anchoring the study and conceptual, contextual and empirical evidence. It was established that there is a statistically significant relationship between governance and NG-CDFs performance in Kenya. The study benefits policy makers such that the NG-CDF board should ensure that all NG-CDFs have homogeneous governance practices that ensure enhanced performance. Managerial practitioners especially in NG-CDF may consider strengthening governance to enhance performance and use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique to measure performance in NG-CDFs

THE JOINT EFFECT OF STRATEGIC ALLIANCE, REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND MACRO ENVIRONMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF KENYAN MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY MARKET

The study sought to establish the joint effect of strategic alliance, regional integration and macro environment on the performance of Kenyan manufacturing firms in the East African Community market. The study was anchored on resource dependency theory, Resource Based Theory, theory of integration and the Open system theory. The positivism philosophical paradigm and a cross sectional descriptive survey design adopted guided the study. The population of the study was 160 Kenyan manufacturing firms in the EAC market. Primary data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. A response rate of 81% was realized. Secondary data was collected from financial statements of the respective firms. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Hypotheses were tested using both simple and multivariate regression analysis while Baron and Kenny (1986) model of stepwise regression analysis were used to test for moderating effects. The findings indicated that there is a statistically significant positive joint influence of strategic alliance, regional integration and macro environment on the performance of Kenyan manufacturing firms in the East African Community market and the joint effect was greater than the influence of each variable individually. Future research directions include a replication of study in a longitudinal approach while using path analysis or structural equation models and consideration of other sectors, firm characteristics and resource constraints. The results of this study will serve as guide to document that the level and type of alliances used in the Kenyan manufacturing firms in the EAC market will determine their performance