Determinants of Completion Time of Projects Funded From Constituency Development Fund in Kenya: A Survey of Projects in Ainamoi Constituency

Projects are hardly completed as scheduled. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence projects completion time of CDF funded projects in Ainamoi Constituency, Kericho County. In the year 2012/13, a total of 74 community cent red projects were initiated to benefit the community. Out of these,only 22 (29.73%) had been completed as scheduled. This study intended to investigate factors that might have led to low completion rate with the intention of improving efficiency and effectiveness on projects management. The literature covered existing theoretical and empirical literature that relate CDF projects in relation to projects identification, scheduling, funding, good governance and rate of projects completion. There existed no comprehensive studies on the factors influencing completion rates of projects funded by the devolved CDF funds in Kenya. This was an attempt to provide a case study of factors influencing rate of project completion at the devolved level. The study adapted both qualitative and quantitative research approaches; and utilized descriptive survey to establish associations between variables. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the targeted population. The sampling frame used was the CDF projects management structure which constitutes 7 members representing each community center. Probability Proportion to Size (PPS) method was used to draw 5 respondents from the 14 community centers where every respondent had an equal selection opportunity. Data analysis resulted into a positive correlation between the dependent variable and independent variables. Community participation fully explained the rate of project completion. From the findings 70.26% of the projects had not been completed, thus only 29.73% have been completed. From the completed projects, 100% of the projects were not completed in time stipulated.. Funds should be disbursed as soon as the projects have been accepted.  CDF office should be able to adhere to the timely funding of projects. The study recommends a need for capacity building and recruitment of skilled PMC staff for effective governance of projects activities. Keywords: Projects Completion Time Factor

Socio-Economic Effects of Liberalization of Small Scale Tea Sector in Kenya: Evidence from Tea Farmers in Konoin District

Liberalization in Kenya started in 1990’s and continued ro date with far reaching effects on various sectors of Kenyan economy. The aim of this study was to investigate socio-economic effect of liberalization of small scale tea sector. The study sought to: Determine how liberalization has affected the living standard of the farmers, to investigate the impact of liberalization of tea sector on the competitiveness of small scale tea farmers and analyze the effect of liberalization on the performances of KTDA managed tea factories. A case study design was used in the study. The target population was 380 from which a sample of 38 was selected. In collecting data , a questionnaires was used. Descriptive statistics were computed. The findings revealed that Liberalization has exposed the smallholder and factories stiff competition due to entrants of new firms into the tea business. Factories have been ‘forced’ to streamline their operations to cope with completion. Effects of liberalization to farmers is mixed: On the positive farmers have been relieved of monopolistic tendencies of KTDA such as unilateral price determination and farmers have had a much bigger say in the management of tea factories. Negative effects include: Declining bonuses that farmers used to earn. Keywords: Liberalistaion, Tea secor, small-scale tea farmer

Effect of Land Characteristics on Poverty Levels among Tea Farming Households in Konoin Sub-County, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of land characteristics on poverty levels among tea farming household in Konoin sub-county. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of farm land size, diversified land use, increased land size under tea and diversified tea crop variety on poverty levels of tea farmers. To achieve the purpose of the study, the hypothesis tested was: farm land characteristics (farm land size, diversified land use, increased land size under tea and diversified tea crop variety) do not have significant effect on poverty levels among tea farmers. The sample that took part in the study was 380, selected from a target population of approximately 36,000 small-scale tea farming households. The sample was selected proportionately from 12 tea catchment areas. Generalized Linear Model (GLM) and censored Tobit regression models were used to analyze data. The farm land characteristics; farm size, land tenure, diversified land used, increased land size under tea and diversified tea crop variety were found to significantly influence the poverty levels among the tea farmers. These characteristics led to better incomes, more odds of the household being above the poverty line and where the household was poor, reduced likelihood of being deeply in poverty and less effort was required in lifting them out of vicious poverty. As a recommendation, interventions targeting on diversified land use, diversification of crop varieties, land consolidation and less subdivision, and adoption of fast maturing crops should inform policy formulation targeting poverty reduction in smallholder tea farming households. Keywords: Small-scale Tea farming, Land characteristics, Poverty, smallholde

Access and Use of Information by Rural Communities in Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASALs) of Kenya: the Case of Maarifa Centres

Telecentres are community knowledge centres that offer shared access to information and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) for the benefit of community development in alleviation of poverty. This article presents a case study that explored the extent to which rural communities in ASALs region of Kenya access and use information from the Maarifa centres (MC). The objective was to examine access and use pattern of information by ASAL communities benefiting from the MC. Using a multiple case study, 80 respondents drawn from five Maarifa centres were interviewed. The respondents were users of the respective Maarifa centres. The Maarifa centres selected  were namely; Nguruman MC in Magadi, Mutomo MC in Kitui, Isinya MC in Kajiado, Ng’arua MC in Laikipia and Sipili MC in Baringo. Further, five focus group discussions were conducted with the respondents. Key informants interviewed included, Director of Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN); Programme Coordinators of Maarifa centres; Officers of the Communication Authority of Kenya and the ICT board of Kenya.  Major findings indicate that rural communities appreciate Maarifa centres as a source of information. The respondents valued Maarifa centres as intermediaries for accessing information for socio-economic development. The biggest achievement is the use of Sokopepe, an online knowledge management platform which can be accessed through computers or the mobile phone. The challenges that hinder effective access and use of information are mainly infrastructural which slow down information uptake and internet access. The study revealed that Maarifa centres have addressed most of the community’s information needs of government information through access to e-government services; e-commerce, agricultural development and knowledge creation, resulting in improved livelihoods. Provision of these services was possible through collaboration of the government ministries and agencies, development partners, funding agencies and community participation. Keywords: Telecentres, Information access, Knowledge management, ASALs DOI: 10.7176/IKM/10-5-04 Publication date:August 31st 202

Information services provided by Maarifa Telecentres to rural communities in ASALs in Kenya

Telecentres are established to provide information, to bridge the information and digital gap, foster development and confront the requirements of the poverty stricken in remote and isolated rural areas in developing nations. The purpose of this study was to explore information services provided by two Maarifa centres to rural communities in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) in Kenya. The specific objective was to establish the information needs of ASAL communities served by Maarifa centres; to explore information services provided by Maarifa centres to ASAL communities; to analyse the challenges and prospects of Maarifa centres in the provision of information to rural communities in Kenya and to make recommendations for the improvement of information services to ASALs communities in Kenya. The study employed a multiple case study research design as an overall strategy and drew upon multiple data sources to develop a triangulation of methods. Qualitative research was administered as a predominant approach. Data was gathered through interviews from a sample of 20 respondents from each Maarifa centre: Isinya in Kajiado and Ng’arua in Laikipia counties. In addition, two focus group discussions were administered with the respondents of the two Maarifa centres. Key informants included directors and programme coordinators of Maarifa centres and government agencies who provide infrastructural support to the telecentre project. This study was informed by the Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) theoretical framework namely: the ‘Sustainable Livelihoods Approach’ (SLA) framework. The findings of this study suggest that Maarifa centres are points of Arid Lands Information  Networks (ALINs) engagement with communities living in ASALs. People appreciate Maarifa centres as places to access information, acquire ICT skills, and improve livelihood activities such as agriculture and businesses and for social communication. The challenges are mainly infrastructural such as poor connectivity and Internet access. This study revealed that Maarifa centres have solved most of the community’s information related challenges through egovernment services, e-commerce and agricultural development and knowledge creation, resulting in improved livelihoods. The study contributes to knowledge because it adopts a community-centred approach that focuses on the views of users of Maarifa centres.Keywords: Telecentres, Maarifa centres, information services, rural communities, arid lands, Kenya, economic developmen

An Empirical Test of the Relationship between Private Savings and Economic Growth: A Case Study of Kenya

The study aims at investigating the long run and short run relationships between private savings and economic growth in Bahrain. The study covers the period (1990-2013).The study methodology is based on the econometrics analytical approach to estimate the parameters’ value and the trends of the economic relations between the study variables by using the co-integration and Granger causality techniques. Johansen co-integration test indicates that a positive long run relationship between the study variables, while Granger causality test reveals that significant bilateral causality between the private savings and the economic growth, this means that the economic growth Granger causes the private saving, and also the private savings Granger cause the economic growth. These results indicate that the economic growth could stimulate the private saving, and the private savings could accelerate the economic growth in the long run. The study recommends that government and policy makers in the kingdom of Bahrain should employ policies that would attract more private savings in order to accelerate economic growth which would lead to raise GDP per capita and Bahraini standard of living. Keyword: Private Savings, Economic growth, Econometrics, Kingdom of Bahrain

Hybrid Power Systems for Commercial Application in Kenya

The cost, availability and stability of power are parameters that greatly define the quality of energy supplied by a generating system. A hybrid power system with different sources of energy must be properly designed in order to capitalize on the positive features of the deployed resources. Hybrid power system optimization is a process that allows for deliberate attainment of desired output from a power system. In this paper, a learning institution, East African School of Aviation (EASA) was selected as a case study for investigating the outcome of harnessing local energy resources to serve a commercial consumer in Kenya. A cost competitive hybrid power system was obtained through Simulation and optimization processes

Granger Causality and Error Correction Models in Economics: A Case study of Kenyan Market

The U.S. Dollar exchange rate and the interbank lending rate in Kenya are analyzed. An Error Correction Model (ECM) is used to establish if there exists any short term relationship between the lending and the exchange rates. A linear ECM is fitted and there is evidence that a short-term relationship exists between these two rates. A high threshold value exists at the second lag, an indication of simple smoothing in the data. The residual deviance is greater than the degrees of freedom confirming that the model perfectly fit to the data. This is supported by the high R2 value of 0.9308. A Granger Causality model is also built to demonstrate all the long term relationships. Contrary to hypothesis of the study, only the exchange rate granger caused interbank lending rate. This can be explained by the instability in the exchange market. It can be attributed to the economic crisis experienced in recent years; that is, an unexpected and sudden attainment of economic stability. The study concludes that Error Correction Models and Granger Causality models are significantly appropriate in analysing time series. It is suggested that a close track of exchange rates may lead to prediction of interbank lending rate movements. Further research is recommended on the factors influencing exchange rate movements and analysis of tail clustering.Keywords: Granger Causality, Error Correction Model, Economic

Information Technology Innovation and Organizational Policy: Implications on Employee Privacy

Issues relating to workplace privacy and how organizations address privacy have sparked a lot of public debate in recent years. Research reveals that potential employers have exploited employees seeking job opportunities by asking information to do with: disclosure of confidential information about the past employer’s work, financial background, and family intimate issues not relevant to the job being sought among others. This paper establishes the implications of information technology innovation on organization policies with emphasis on employees’ privacy. The study was done in two organizations and it adapted a case study approach. Data was collected from 74 respondents using questionnaires. Respondents were sampled using purposive technique. Frequency distribution tables were used in data presentation followed by discussions. The findings of this study are critical in informing the policy makers in organizations on procedures and strategies of inclusive policy formulation and implementation as well as provide HR managers with insight on managing privacy issues in dynamic organizational setups. Key words: Employees’ Privacy policy, Information Technology, Surveillanc

Research Paradigms: Theory and Practice

This paper reflects on the ontological, epistemological and methodological underpinnings of the two major research approaches i.e the quantitative and the qualitative approaches. Their differences, occasioned by these philosophical foundations are discussed and practical implications examined. It is our view that this paper will have positive impact on the work of researchers and students undertaking courses in research studies. Key words: Research paradigms, ontology, epistemology, methodology, quantitative, qualitativ