Convergence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors in the East African Community (EAC): Challenges for the current legislative and regulatory frameworks and lessons from the European Union experience

The East African Community (EAC)'s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector has been confronted with the convergence phenomenon. This is a concept that describes the trend of blurring boundaries between the traditionally distinct ICT sectors, namely: Information Technology (IT), broadcasting and telecommunications. This is significant for the EAC since the driving force behind this convergence phenomenon is that of efficiency. It necessitates the need to rethink the current legislative and regulatory frameworks in the ICT sector in order to cope with this phenomenon. The need to address this is pertinent since adapting to legislative and regulatory frameworks that are fully converged will expand access to ICT, stimulate economic growth, technological advancement, and also faster integration process of the EAC. Therefore this paper aims to demonstrate the following: Implications and challenges of this trend for the EAC legislative and regulatory frameworks; the need for a common legislative and regulatory framework that is fully converged. It therefore focuses on the inadequacies of the existing legislative and regulatory frameworks and reveals the lacunae in the present frameworks and how they fail to adequately address convergence phenomenon. The paper recommends effective, workable and consistent proposals on how to address the inadequacies. This brings awareness and deepens the understanding of the regulatory convergence issues to the ICT stakeholders in the region and the challenges of convergence on the existing frameworks. This will contribute to better legislative and regulatory frameworks in the EAC ICT market. It will therefore enable the region to enjoy the benefits of convergence and minimise instances of inefficiency in regulation of these converged ICT markets. --East African Community (EAC),Legislative and Regulatory Harmonization,Convergence,Information and Communication Technology (ICT),Regulation

CopulaDTA: An R Package for Copula Based Bivariate Beta-Binomial Models for Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies in a Bayesian Framework

The current statistical procedures implemented in statistical software packages for pooling of diagnostic test accuracy data include hSROC regression and the bivariate random-effects meta-analysis model (BRMA). However, these models do not report the overall mean but rather the mean for a central study with random-effect equal to zero and have difficulties estimating the correlation between sensitivity and specificity when the number of studies in the meta-analysis is small and/or when the between-study variance is relatively large. This tutorial on advanced statistical methods for meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies discusses and demonstrates Bayesian modeling using CopulaDTA package in R to fit different models to obtain the meta-analytic parameter estimates. The focus is on the joint modelling of sensitivity and specificity using copula based bivariate beta distribution. Essentially, we extend the work of Nikoloulopoulos by: i) presenting the Bayesian approach which offers flexibility and ability to perform complex statistical modelling even with small data sets and ii) including covariate information, and iii) providing an easy to use code. The statistical methods are illustrated by re-analysing data of two published meta-analyses. Modelling sensitivity and specificity using the bivariate beta distribution provides marginal as well as study-specific parameter estimates as opposed to using bivariate normal distribution (e.g., in BRMA) which only yields study-specific parameter estimates. Moreover, copula based models offer greater flexibility in modelling different correlation structures in contrast to the normal distribution which allows for only one correlation structure.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figure

Ethnicity and contraceptive use in Kenya

This research report is submitted in partial fulfilment of the Master of Arts in Demography and Population Studies, in the Faculty of Humanities (School of Social Sciences), at the University of the Witwatersrand, 2016Background Ethnicity is widely known to affect all aspects of an individual’s life. Ethnic groups differ in traditional values and attitudes toward fertility and related health behaviors. Therefore, these values and belief systems shape attitudes towards contraception. The significance of ethnicity on the use of contraceptives has been neglected in sub- Saharan Africa. Fertility transitions have been widely attributed to the increased use of contraceptives among women worldwide. Given that ethnicity plays an important role in post-colonial Kenya, the aim of this study is to examine the relationship between ethnicity and contraceptive use in Kenya. The study addressed two specific objectives (1) to examine the level of contraceptive use in Kenya’s ethnic groups, and (2) to examine the socio-economic and demographic factors that affect contraceptive use in Kenya’s ethnic groups. Methodology The study utilized data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008-2009.The target population was women of reproductive ages(15-49 years). Out of a total sample size of 8,444 women, the study sample was restricted to 4,482 women who were sexually active. Objective 1 was achieved using percentage distributions and chi-square tests, while objective 2 was achieved by using binary logistic regression. Stata version 12 was utilized for management and analysis of the data.GR201

Social and economic impacts of land reform in Mbeere

In this paper I look, first, in general at the tenure reform programme and its social and economic effects in Mbeere, and then pay particular attention to the increasing shift in emphasis from the agro-pastoral production system to crop cultivation and the changes in household organization. Thus the central theme of the paper is to discuss the dynamic process of Mbeere social/economic change in terms of shift of equilibrium in production system following the change of the tenure system. The paper also raises some questions relating to the implications of these changes on the development process in Mbeere

Examining the Reporting Mechanism for Sexual Harassment at the Workplace : A Focus on Section 6 of the Kenyan Employment Act

Sexual harassment in the workplace refers to any unwanted sexual request or advances by employers or colleagues. It is prevalent in the Kenyan context. Despite this, many cases of sexual harassment go unreported. This article looks at the factors affecting the reluctance to report sexual harassment in relation to the structure of the reporting mechanism under the Kenyan Employment Act. It is suggested that there exists a nexus between these factors and the structure of the reporting mechanism. This article is informed by the dominance feminism theory which identifies dominance as the basis for sexual harassment. To improve reporting, this article recommends increasing reporting avenues by including a commission and promoting training of employees on sexual harassment. With the exception of case law and statute, much of the information gathered has been sourced from books, papers, case law and published journals

A design science approach to developing and determining web site quality dimensions for the public accounting profession

Public Accounting (PA) firms play an important role in both the local and the international business environment. Their accounting and business services functions cut across organisations, sectors and industries. Like other professional service firms, PA firms are becoming concerned about the World Wide Web (web) since the services they offer can be delivered via the web more efficiently (eg. at a lower cost) and effectively (24/7). Thus there is a need to assess the quality of their web site. This study developed an instrument for measuring PA web site quality based on an extensive literature review which identified the previously widely used WebQuaL (TMI)” questionnaire but extended it to four quality dimensions (usability, information quality, interactivity and riskiness), supported by 24 research variables. Design Science, as conceptualised by Hevner et al. (2004), provided the guiding theory for the research. Hevner et al. (2004) proposed a framework consisting of seven guidelines to guide Information Systems (IS) researchers and practitioners on how to conduct, evaluate and present design science research. Two of the guidelines, namely design artefact and design evaluation, were followed in this study. The study was executed in a controlled laboratory selling in which post-graduate university students, potential clients of PA firms, used the WebQual/PA questionnaire to evaluate the web sites of six leading professional accounting firms. One hundred-and-two students participated in the study. The data collected was analysed using quantitative analysis techniques to assess the reliability and validity of the instrument and quality of the PA web sites. Moderating factors were investigated in relation to their effect on the constructs and variables determining PA web site quality. A number of conclusions can be drawn from the outcome of the study. They cover practical as well as theoretical aspects. First, the study provides PA practitioners with validated, reliable web site quality dimensions. With the emergence of online professional services, PA firms will increasingly seek to evaluate the quality of their web sites. Second, this study adds to our understanding of WebQual, an instrument that has been widely used in IS research. WebQual/PA has its origins in WebQual version 4 but was refined to meet the needs of the PA sector. Third, the results of a relative assessment of quality provide valuable feedback to professional practices. The study shows that \u27usability\u27 was ranked highest by study participants of all the l1m1s and indicates that this dimension is the most developed dimension within the PA sector. lt is followed by \u27information quality\u27. \u27lnteractivity\u27 and \u27riskiness\u27 arc areas requiring attention as they seem to lag behind the others. The study enabled recommendations to be made to improve the quality of web sites of the sector as well as the individual firms that were evaluated. In this way, the research adopted the philosophy of pragmatism in which knowledge is strongly linked to action. In the study, the knowledge gained is translated into action via recommendations made to each of the firms. Furthermore, since action permeates on knowledge, there have to be linkages to an actable world (Goldkhul, 2004, p. 18). A simple test for this is to be able to trace concrete consequences (p. 19). This will occur when PA firms take up the recommendations made in this study

Teachers' attitude towards quality assurance and standards officers in primary schools in Evurore, Mbeere north sub-county, Embu county, Kenya

Introduction: Since the inception of school inspection in Kenya, the function of Educational Inspectors was hampered by the way inspectors executed their duties thus influencing the attitude of teachers negatively. To reduce the negative perception of teachers new practices and innovative ideas have been established through the Directorate of Quality Assurance and Standards (DQAS). Purpose: This study aimed at finding out if teachers' attitudes have changed towards Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASO) since of new name and mandate Methodology: The study used a descriptive survey research design as it was able to obtain persistent and precise information concerning the current phenomena. The sample consisted of 228 statistically sampled using the Yamen formula. A structured and open questionnaire measuring the attitude of teachers was used. To check validity, expert opinion was sought while reliability was ensured at 0.70 using Cronbach Alpha Coefficient. ANOVA and t-test method of analysis was the main statistical methods used to test the three hypotheses. Results: The study established that female teachers had a more positive attitude towards QASO compared to their male counter parts although the difference was not significant. Further, the results revealed that a significant difference exists between more experienced teachers and less experienced teachers with less experienced teachers having a less favourable attitude towards QASO than less experienced teachers. Finally, the study found that teachers who were visited regularly had a positive attitude towards QASO compared to teachers who are not regularly visited or visited few times. In conclusion, teachers have appreciated the role of QASOs in quality education. Recommendations/Classroom Implications: It is recommended that more frequent supervision may improve teachers’ attitude for better teacher classroom performance

Suborbital graphs of the symmetric group Sn acting on unordered r-element subsets

In this paper we construct the suborbital graphs of the symmetric group Sn acting on unordered r‐element subsets of X = {1, 2, 3, ..., n}, χ(r) (r,n ∈ ℕ) and analyse their properties. It is shown that the suborbital graphs are undirected, connected if r <½n, and have girth three if n ≥ 3r.Key words: Symmetric group, r‐element subsets, suborbital graph

FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH OF RURAL SACCOS IN EMBU COUNTY: A CASE STUDY OF COUNTY SACCO SOCIETY LIMITED IN EMBU

While the Kenya cooperative sector has developed rapidly in the recent past, no one has investigated the slowed growth of SACCOs. Despite all these, the Sacco's in Kenya face challenges which hinder them from attaining economies of scale. They are financially illiterate which result to poor management of resources and business. Study was therefore carried out to examine factors that affect Sacco’s growth. The specific objectives of the study were to determine how morale and staff motivation, finances, leadership and management, and competition affected the growth of Saccos. The study was conducted among the Sacco members, directors and the customers of County Sacco Society Limited in Embu County. The study was anchored on the growth and portfolio theory, agency theory, Taylors motivation theory and the social capital theory. The study used a descriptive survey to investigate factors affecting growth of Sacco's. The target population was 200 and the sample size was 40 which were composed of staff, board of directors and Sacco members. Structured questionnaire were self-administered to collect data from sampled and selected enterprises. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The study results were presented through frequency tables, pie charts and bar graph. The results revealed that management and leadership of the Sacco, staff morale and motivation attributed greatly to the growth of the Sacco. Finances and competition also seem to affect the growth of the Sacco to a great extent. The researcher recommended that the Sacco’s management and leadership should be reviewed in terms of knowledge, Sacco’s ethics and faithfulness. The staff should also be well trained and have a conducive working environment, they should also be motivated and appreciated in order to ensure smooth delivery of service

Nutritional contribution of atmospheric deposition to the Strandveld vegetation of West Coast South Africa Justine Muhoro Nyaga.

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Ecosystem nutrient availability depends on the balance between rates of nutrient inputs and losses. Nutrients may be lost through fire and displacement of ash, herbivory, leaching and volatilization. The main pathways through which nutrients may be acquired are weathering of rock and atmospheric deposition. Symbiotic and free-living diazotrophic bacteria and blue green algae also contribute N. In ecosystems with limited occurrence of N₂-fixation and occurring on low-nutrient bedrock, atmospheric deposition is the most significant source of nutrients. Nutrients from atmospheric deposition may be of natural or anthropogenic origin, and can be “wet-deposited” dissolved in precipitation and “dry-deposited” when aerosols settle out of the atmosphere onto plant and soil surfaces. Studies on nutrient cycling around the world suggest that nutrient deposition can provide substantial amounts of nutrients to coastal ecosystems, although mineral weathering of rocks can also a significant source. Limited prior work on deposition in coastal areas of South Africa suggests that nutrient deposition could be an important component of nutrient budgets in the Cape Floristic Region. The west coast of South Africa borders a section of the Atlantic Ocean that is highly productive and characterized by strong seasonal winds, rough waters and strong wave action. This area is home to the Strandveld vegetation, which grows on marine-derived soils. Based on this, I hypothesized that marine aerosol deposition is a significant source of nutrients for the vegetation in west coast South Africa. To test this hypothesis, I examined the spatial and temporal characteristics of atmospheric deposition as well as the climatic and ecological characteristics of the area