Public-Private Alliances: A Documentary Case Study of Strategies of Urban Restoration

The study developed a conceptual framework for managing PPPs in urbanized areas and documented experiences of sample partnerships, and effective communication strategies. This study used a case study approach and a descriptive research. Content analysis was used to create a matrix table. In general, an average public-private partnership was initiated by the private sector

Conceptualizing Structures for urban Tourism in Kenya: A strategy for enhancing Entrepreneurship

In the late 1990s, the City of Portland, Oregon in the United States decided to explore the potential for attracting tourists in its urbanized areas. It therefore carried out a study in select urban areas in the country to identify transport oriented features that would enhance access to urban tourist attraction sites. A transport service design was developed and when it was completed, one of the unexpected outcomes was a thematic nature for selected service routes. A uniquely painted bus (hence referred to as “the cultural bus”) along with select customer friendly drivers were assigned on a route to cater for tourists. The number of tourists using the thematic bus route shot up and so was patronage of businesses along the route. But unlike the Portland example, the tourist industry in Kenya, along with its stakeholders have traditionally focused tourist infrastructure on a few large attractors (high impact sites), and very little has been done to maximize on the marginal sites (low impact sites), especially in urbanized areas. The objective of this paper is to provide a context for conceptualizing natural and infrastructural structures for urban tourism and entrepreneurial opportunities in Kenya by; 1) reviewing the premises and design contexts of urban tourism, 2) presenting transport oriented guiding principles for urban tourism, and 3) documenting pertinent transport design and practices case studies from the United States. The paper is an applied case study based on some of the projects in which the authors were previously either directly engaged in or responsible for documenting the practices. It also conceptualizes the nature of urban spatial structure and analysis pertinent to urban tourism

How to promote efficient use of road inlrastructure in Kenya's urban centres

A Newspaper Article by Prof. Francis Wambalaba, the DVC Research at USIU- Africa and Dr. Akosa Wambalaba, a lecturer at the School of Humanities and Social sciencesIN most urban areas in Kenya, particularly Nairobi and Mombasa, most of the traffic jams could be mitigated, not by building brand new roads throughout the city, but by modifying existing road networks to accommodate rapid privileged public transit. This will slowly create a mode shift away from the dominance and inefficient use of single occupancy vehicles (SOV) on roads. The key Transport Demand Management (TDM) strategy here is the creation of managed lanes in order " to promote the efficient use of existing infrastructure through a Bus Rapid Transit(BRT)system,ABRT is a transit system, often with right of way for mass transit vehicles which may include a regular bus or a guided way vehicle. Growth of a BRT can benefit from the adoption of a host of strategies including; exclusive High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, introducing value priced lanes, separating of exclusive lanes, building separation or bypasses, creating dual facilities and having time managed lane restriction

Public-Private Partnership: A Case Study of Strategies for Urban Restoration

An Abstract by Prof. Francis Wambalaba, the DVC Research and Dr. Akosa Wambalaba a Lecturer at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at USIU- AfricaThe purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for managing PPPs in urbanized areas for improvement of the business environment by; 1) identifying and documenting experiences of sample partnerships between local authorities and private interest groups for PPP service delivery in Nairobi, 2) documenting different effective communication strategies that would promote dialogue between the City Council of Nairobi and its businesses and citizenry, and, 3) recommending a framework for implementation of PPP projects. This study used a case study approach to document PPP partnerships and developed a framework for enhancing partnership strategies in the city. The study relied on descriptive and exploratory research in terms of identifying stakeholders and pertinent issues for content analysis. Content analysis was used through identification of key issues of interest that were imbedded in the interview questions and thus creating a matrix table. In general, an average public-private partnership among participating organizations was initiated by the private sector with the goal of providing public service. Most of the participating stakeholders were local private sector organizations than international and the partnership agreement was by formal contract but some were through informal collaboration. Their major challenge was unilateral or conflicting decisions by the governmental entity and the problems seemed to continue without much effort to mitigate them. Based on stakeholder feedback, review of the best practices from around the world, feedback from the UK National Audit Office and Europe’s Metrogov project, recommendations were made with respect to guidelines for PPP projects, guidelines for public participative process and guidelines for specific improvements. With respect to PPP projects, the study recommended establishing and clarifying the policy framework, establishing a clear legal framework, ensuring consistency, as well as clarity of the policy to reduce uncertainty. In terms of public involvement, the study recommended distinguishing public involvement from public relations, an inclusive process of proactively seeking out groups and individuals affected and for the decision process to be defined, structured, and transparent. A specific improvement was the creation of a central PPP office with similar others for each city council

Public-Private Alliances: A Documentary Case Study of Strategies for Urban Restoration

This research study was supported by a grant from the Investment Climate and Business Environment Research Fund, jointly funded by TrustAfrica and IDRC. However, the findings and recommendations are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ICBE-RF secretariat, Trust Africa or IDRCThe study developed a conceptual framework for managing PPPs in urbanized areas and documented experiences of sample partnerships, and effective communication strategies. This study used a case study approach and a descriptive research. Content analysis was used to create a matrix table. In general, an average public-private partnership was initiated by the private sector. Most participating stakeholders were local private sector organizations and the agreement was by formal contract. Their major challenge was unilateral or conflicting decisions by the governmental entity and problems continued without effort to mitigate them. The study recommended establishing the policy and legal frameworks, , ensuring consistency, in policy to reduce uncertainty, distinguishing public involvement from public relations, the decision process to be transparent and creation of a central PPP office

M - Transactions for Enhancing MDGs at Bottom of the Pyramid: A Case Study for M-Banking in Kenya

A Presentation by Prof. Francis Wambalaba, the DVC research at USIU, Prof. Akosa Wambalaba, a Lecturer at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Philip Machoka a Lecturer at the School of Science and TechnlogyPurpose of the Study -To investigate potential for using m-banking and m-transactions at the bottom of the pyramid in Kenya as an MDG e-money strategy. Research Questions: -What is the nature of m-banking/transaction practices in the developing world? -What are the prospects for m-banking in Kenya? -How can m-banking transform the economic experience of the poor in Kenya to enhance MDGs

E-Money for Enhancing MDGs at Bottom of the Pyramid: A Case Study of Mpesa Agents in Kenya

A Journal article by Prof. Francis Wambalaba, the DVC Research at USIU- Africa, Dr. Akosa Wambalaba, a Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Philip Machoka and Patrick Afundi, Lecturers at the School of Science and Technology at USIU -AfricaThe general objective of this study was to investigate the implications of mobile money (M-Money) in society and document the experiences of respective service agents. Specifically, this study sought to determine performance and how business partnerships and agent networks had responded to the developments in the m-money economy. Implicit in the study were challenges that the agents face in doing their business, the potential for m-transaction‘s enhancement of MDGs at the bottom of the pyramid and challenges regulators must confound to create a financial inclusive environment. The research used a case study approach. To do this, the study used a triangulation of exploratory and descriptive research design approaches. The target population consisted of MPESA Agents across the country. The sampling technique used was a combination of cluster and convenient sampling. With respect to business partnership and agent networking performance, the study found that KCB commanded a disproportionately large control on provision of the float, followed by Cooperative Bank. In most cases the float was between Ksh 5,000 and Ksh 100,000, and the level of the float increased with the age of the business and it was clear that there was a close correlation between the age of the business and the amount of the float. It was also found that most agents served less than 100 customers per day and there was also a correlation between the age of the business and the number of customers. Other pertinent findings showed that the majority of transactions per customer were below Ksh 20,000 the average age of the customer was between 26 and 40 years of age and most of them were men, even though the majority indicated they served equal numbers of men and women. With respect to business challenges and welfare implications, the study found that fraud was the major challenge followed by a slow system due to network congestion. A challenge cited for not participating in new MKESHO product included technical problems, lack of MKESHO facilities nearby, customer confusion between MKESHO and MPESA, and lack on information. On the issue of welfare implications, respondents felt that the business had improved their welfare through job creation, improved incomes and general livability