Impact of Openness, Foreign Direct Investment, Gross Capital Formation on Economic Growth in Kenya

The general objective of this study was to assess the impact of impact of openness, foreign direct investment, and gross capital formation on economic growth in Kenya with the years under consideration being 1960 to 2010. There are many components of international trade that effect economic growth, but this paper examined the effect impact of openness, foreign direct investment, gross capital formation on Kenyan economic growth. World Bank data for these variables were analyzed in order to achieve the desired objectives. A multiple linear regression model, Barro growth model, was used to estimate the existing the relationship between variables then ordinary least square method was applied. From the findings, trade openness affect the Kenyan economic growth positively (?1 = 3.062, p<0.05), while foreign direct investment and gross capital formation had no significant effect on GDP growth rate. Thus, trade openness is major determinant of economic growth particularly in developing countries. This study recommended the policy makers and the government to emphasize trade openness being the robust determinants of economic growth. Keywords: International Trade, Economic Growth, Trade Openness, Foreign Direct Investment, Gross Capital Formatio

The Effect of Capital Structure on Share Price On Listed Firms In Kenya. A Case of Energy Listed Firms

The focus of this study is to investigate the relationship between capital structure and share prices in the Nairobi Stock Exchange. The study assessed effect of debt, equity and gearing ratio on share price. The study was guided by Modigliani and Miller (MM). The study uses panel data pertaining to energy sector over the period 2006-2011 and employs multiple regression method. The results indicate that the variables debt, equity and gearing ratio are significant determinants of share prices for the sector under consideration. Further, gearing ratio and debt were found to positively affecting share prices, while equity negatively affected share prices Keywords: Share Prices, Gearing Ratio, Equity, Debt

Effect of International Trade on Economic Growth In Kenya

The general objective of this study was to assess the impact of international trade on economic growth in Kenya with the years under consideration being 1960 to 2010. There are many components of international trade that effect economic growth, but this paper examined the effect of exchange rate, inflation and final government consumption on Kenyan economic growth. World Bank data for these variables were analyzed in order to achieve the desired objectives. A multiple linear regression model, Barro growth model, was used to estimate the existing the relationship between variables then ordinary least square method was applied. From the findings, Exchange rate has no effect on GDP growth rate, while inflations had negative and significant effect on GDP growth rate. Final government consumption had positive effect on GDP growth rate in Kenya. This study recommended the policy makers to emphasize on policies promoting exports, maintaining low and stable inflation rates and encourage government expenditure on development projects so as to encourage economic growth in Kenya. Keywords: International Trade, Economic Growth, Exchange Rate, Gross Capital Formation, Inflatio

Determinants of Stevia (stevia rebaudiana) Adoption by Small Scale Farmers in Kericho District, Kenya

The aim of this study was to determine the socio-economic and institutional factors influencing Stevia adoption in Kericho District Kenya. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from farmers both adopters and non adopters of Stevia through face to face interviews where purposive sampling methods were employed respectively and 150 respondents were contacted in total. Heckman two-step regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting Stevia adoption as well as the extent of adoption. The results showed that group membership, gender, education extension services and individual land ownership significantly and positively affected the adoption of Stevia while age was significant with negative effect.  Household size, farm size, revenue from Stevia and access to extension services significantly and positively influenced the extent of adoption. In conclusion, there is need for more effort in terms of extension service so as to encourage farmers to adopt improved crop varieties through demonstrations on farmers' fields, field days, farm visits and agricultural shows and also development of institutional strategies to support farmers. Therefore policy interventions is recommended to enhance access to credit, reduce illiteracy levels among farmers through training and extension services. Keywords: Stevia, adoption, socioeconomic factor

農村流域における水資源管理のためのSWATの適用と水質予測モデルの開発

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(農学)甲第22785号農博第2428号新制||農||1081(附属図書館)学位論文||R2||N5305(農学部図書室)京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻(主査)教授 藤原 正幸, 教授 村上 章, 教授 中村 公人学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Agricultural ScienceKyoto UniversityDFA

Comparative study of infant and child mortality: The case of Kenya and South Africa

Comparisons of infant and child mortality between populations, both within and between countries, are important because they highlight causative factors of mortality, which can be addressed by health policies and programmes seeking to reduce high mortality at the young ages. Such information is useful for demographic assessment of the population and the evaluation of health policies and programmes. This study undertakes a comparative analysis of neonatal, post-neonatal and child mortality using the 1998 South African Demographic and Health Survey and the 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. Two methods of analysis are used in this study. First variations in infant and child mortality levels by population groups are investigated through bivariate analysis which forms the basis for the logistic analysis. The results from the bivariate analysis show the existence of linkages between mother’s and partner’s levels of education, literacy, urban/rural place of residence, ethnicity, birth order, age of mother at the time of birth of child, age of mother at first marriage, mother’s occupation, water supply and health facilities and their children’s survival chances. Logistic analysis revealed that ethnicity, type of toilet facilities, literacy and birth order explain most of the variations in infant and child mortality in Kenya while mother’s educational attainment and type of toilet facilities were the main variables of importance for South Africa. These findings have important implications on efforts to reduce gaps in mortality differentials. For example the existing socio-economic and demographic differentials in infant and child mortality in the two countries can be reduced through provision of equitable high quality education, proper sanitation, discouragement of early marriage and early childbearing among others

Corporate Governance and Financial Performance: Theoretical and Philosophical Predicaments in Research

Theories and philosophical approaches in research are crucial to the understanding of the overall perspective from which the study is designed and carried out. However, inconsistencies in theory and duality in philosophical paradigms leads to predicaments as to which approach is suitable in a certain area of inquiry. This paper examines some of the theoretical and philosophical predicaments faced by researchers in corporate governance. This is achieved by identifying and discussing controversies in theories and philosophical approaches applicable in corporate governance studies. A review of theoretical literature shows lack of a unitary perspective to explain the relationship between corporate governance and firm financial performance. Consequently, researchers may have to adopt a multi-theory approach by taking views of property rights agency, resource based and stewardship and stakeholder’s theories to understand different perspectives of corporate governance. The multiplicity of theories and inconsistencies of expected relationships between variables also creates dilemma to researchers in predicting the relationships between corporate governance variables and firm performance. The duality of philosophical paradigms and divergent assumptions of ways of knowing also creates dilemma as to which is the best approach to apply in corporate governance research. This study found that most corporate governance studies opts for objectivism position in ontology which leads to positivism view in epistemology, associated with value free axiology, deductive approach and application of quantitative methods. This is in contrasts to the choice of subjectivism position in ontology which leads to the selection of interpretivism stance in epistemology and consequently value laden position in axiology. Subjective approach also leads to inductive approach and application of qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. It is therefore concluded that identification of ontology at the start of the research process is crucial in determining the choice of the research design. Keywords: Corporate Governance, Theory, Philosophy

Media Initiatives as Information Provider and Society’s Watchdog on Peace Building in Kenya

Media has power to shape public discourse globally in its information. In its reportage it plays a multiplicity of initiatives that at times may be objective or other times subjective. This is as a result of various contexts in which the media professionals find themselves in. Media therefore can be used for good and evil purposes. This paper is based on a study conducted in Uasin Gishu County in Kenya, whose objectives were to investigate how media consider peace building while effecting their initiative as information provider, interpreter and watchdog. The study population comprised editors and journalists from media houses, opinion leaders, religious organizations and media analysts drawn from the academia, Non-Governmental Organizations and the Kenya National Council for Human Rights. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 210 respondents drawn from the target population of 420. Data collection was done through questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group discussions, participant observations and analysis of documentary records. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. From the study findings, it was revealed that the media as an information provider was highly significant just as being a watchdog and diplomatic initiatives. Within the context of information provision, interpretation and as a watchdog for society, the media influences society in many dimensions. As gatekeepers, they decide what information gets to the public; as watchdog and they represent the interests of the people against powerful interests. In economic development, the media provide the enabling environment for businesses and investments to flourish. In addition, they assist in empowering economically disadvantaged groups in the society; at the same time contribute to societal economic growth. In social development, the media can help fight corruption, prevent communal conflicts and provide useful information on disasters. The media are particularly useful for public health campaigns, especially against children diseases, communicable diseases, and in favour of a healthy environment. Keywords: Effects, Media Initiatives, Information Provider, Society, Watchdog, Peace Building, Keny

Transcription factor binding specificity and occupancy : elucidation, modelling and evaluation

The major contributions of this thesis are addressing the need for an objective quality evaluation of a transcription factor binding model, demonstrating the value of the tools developed to this end and elucidating how in vitro and in vivo information can be utilized to improve TF binding specificity models. Accurate elucidation of TF binding specificity remains an ongoing challenge in gene regulatory research. Several in vitro and in vivo experimental techniques have been developed followed by a proliferation of algorithms, and ultimately, the binding models. This increase led to a choice problem for the end users: which tools to use, and which is the most accurate model for a given TF? Therefore, the first section of this thesis investigates the motif assessment problem: how scoring functions, choice and processing of benchmark data, and statistics used in evaluation affect motif ranking. This analysis revealed that TF motif quality assessment requires a systematic comparative analysis, and that scoring functions used have a TF-specific effect on motif ranking. These results advised the design of a Motif Assessment and Ranking Suite MARS, supported by PBM and ChIP-seq benchmark data and an extensive collection of PWM motifs. MARS implements consistency, enrichment, and scoring and classification-based motif evaluation algorithms. Transcription factor binding is also influenced and determined by contextual factors: chromatin accessibility, competition or cooperation with other TFs, cell line or condition specificity, binding locality (e.g. proximity to transcription start sites) and the shape of the binding site (DNA-shape). In vitro techniques do not capture such context; therefore, this thesis also combines PBM and DNase-seq data using a comparative k-mer enrichment approach that compares open chromatin with genome-wide prevalence, achieving a modest performance improvement when benchmarked on ChIP-seq data. Finally, since statistical and probabilistic methods cannot capture all the information that determine binding, a machine learning approach (XGBooost) was implemented to investigate how the features contribute to TF specificity and occupancy. This combinatorial approach improves the predictive ability of TF specificity models with the most predictive feature being chromatin accessibility, while the DNA-shape and conservation information all significantly improve on the baseline model of k-mer and DNase data. The results and the tools introduced in this thesis are useful for systematic comparative analysis (via MARS) and a combinatorial approach to modelling TF binding specificity, including appropriate feature engineering practices for machine learning modelling