Indexing

Abstract:The general objective of this project was to evaluate the factors influencing public participation in budget formulation in county government in Kenya. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: to determine the influence of citizen awareness on the budget formulation in county government in Kenya; to establish the influence of information access on the budget formulation in county government in Kenya; to find out the influence of education level on the budget formulation in county government in Kenya and finally to find out the influence of gender on the budget formulation in county government in Kenya. The study used descriptive design because it will enhance systematic description that is as accurate, valid and reliable as possible regarding the responses. This research was carried out in seven constituencies of Wajir County. These are Wajir North, Wajir West, Wajir East and South. Since the sample size of 150 represented 30% of the population it was deemed appropriate. The researcher used questionnaires and secondary data as the research instrument to gather the relevant information needed related to the study. The study involved use of professionals and experts to test the validity of questionnaire by trying to assess what concept the instrument is trying to measure and the accuracy of representation of the concept under research. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. In addition the study used multiple regression analysis to analyze the data.This study concluded that citizen awareness influence significantly and positively on the budget formulation in county government in Kenya. The study also concluded income has a significant and a positive influence on the budget formulation in county government in Kenya. The study further concluded that education level had significant and a positive influence on the budget formulation in county government in Kenya. Finally, the study concluded that gender had a significant and positive influence on the budget formulation in county government in Kenya. The study recommends that The County Government should intensify civic education on the budget formulation especially among the poorer section of the community.

Abstract:The establishment of county governments under the new constitutional dispensation brought in many challenges especially in revenue collection. This has caused financial challenges in the delivery of service. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors influencing effective revenue collection in county governments which was a case of Bomet County, Kenya. The study was guided by the following specific objective: To assess the influence of county government policies and strategies on effective revenue collection in Bomet County. The study adopted a mixed research design to enable researcher measure the variables. The target population was 73 employees comprising of 7 top management and 66 employees of the county from the revenue departments of Bomet County. Since the target population in this study was 73, the researcher adopted a census sampling technique to select all the 73 for inclusion in the study. A semi structured questionnaire and a secondary data collection sheet were the tools of data collection used. The analysis of data was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Scientists version 21.0. Research findings showed that policies and strategies used in revenue collection had a positive relationship on effective revenue collection in Bomet County since the r value was found to be 0.904.
Keywords:government policies, strategies, Statistical Package, positive relationship.

Abstract:The impact of Tea factories on the livelihood of over 560,000 tea farmers in Kenya who deliver green leaf to tea factories is of great economic value. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of technology on tea factories project performance in Trans Nzoia County. This study was based on the following specific objective: To determine the effect of cost reduction on tea factories project performance in Trans-Nzoia County. The study was guided by Stakeholder Theory and Constraint Theory. The study used mixed methodology and descriptive research design. A pilot test was done in Chebut Tea Factory in Nandi County which falls outside the researchers’ scope of research area. The target population was 90 employees of Kapsara and Elgon tea and the same number as the sample given this is a census study. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, interviews and document analysis. Once ascertained, data duly collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Cost reduction had positive relationship on tea factories project performance. The r value is 0.802 which is relatively strong at 2 tailed significance of 0.000 which is below 0.01 level of significance. The results emanating from this research are of benefit to all project managers in tea factories and also line managers who will enhance the application of this findings to boost the performance of factory operations and furthermore boost returns to shareholders.

Abstract:Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach for transforming and reorienting agricultural systems to support food security under the new realities of climate change. The study intended to assess the influence of climate smart agricultural projects on food security in West Pokot County (WPC). Food security is at the center of accelerating economic development. The study was guided by the following objective: to establish the contribution of stakeholders on CSA projects in WPC. It was steered by the basic notion of the systems theory, resilience theory in climate smart agriculture projects, theory of change in adaptation to climate change and the social- ecological theory on food security. The study employed a descriptive research design targeting 260 farmer groups from whom a sample size of 130 was drawn using simple random sampling. Questionnaire was the main primary tool for data collection. Inferential statistics and regression analysis were applied in interpreting the findings from data collected. The study findings will be important in informing policy formulation both at County and National level to address food insecurity while sufficiently mitigating the effects of climate change through implementation of relevant and adaptable climate smart agricultural projects as a form of sustainable agriculture and food security. The results showed that there was a partial positive and statistically significant correlation between food security and CSA Stakeholders influence (r= 0.142, p= 0.049).
Keywords:Climate-smart agriculture (CSA), Food security, agricultural systems.

Abstract:Africa and the world over continue to grapple with the problem of whether women are capable of being true citizens or are still labeled as the ‘Other’ just like the colonizer did. This study investigated Buchi Emecheta’s portrayal of African women as they dare the difference beyond the chains in a patriarchal society in two novels namely Second Class Citizen and The New Tribe. Of primary concern to the study is the position of female characters in the two novels to dare the difference when awakened and empowered. This study has examined comparatively the challenges and possibilities of female empowerment in Second Class Citizen (Nigeria) and The New Tribe (Diaspora). The study was undertaken through the lens of African Feminism and Postcolonial theories. Both theories are similar in the sense that they are concerned with marginalization of people, they recognize the woman’s struggle and challenges and how they change with the changing times. African Feminism theory will be supplemented by postcolonial theory that emphasizes the need of change in an individual, to whom the colonizers themselves imposed, hence addressing the needs and conditions of the African woman. The study has employed qualitative research design since it involves description of evidence as depicted in the texts. Data was obtained from close reading of primary texts supplemented by secondary sources including literary texts, dissertations, theses, projects, journals and books, both print and online. The data collected were presented in the form of descriptions, content analyses and logical argument.  The findings of the study, among other things; provide invaluable insights on the need of awakening and empowerment in the woman’s life through literary works to provide for the changing times and overcome patriarchal limitations. It is of great importance that the woman reconstructs herself to provide for this and the texts to faithfully portray them as such.  

Abstract:In the perspective of the history of Agrarian Law, land issues are faced with different challenges in different eras, and they are more and more complex, because their dimensions are continuously growing in line with the development and thinking paradigm of humans in a bid to achieve prosperity of all less prosperous nations.  
The collapse of the New Order regime has left some crucial problems, particularly in agrarian area, that is, the reappearance of landlords that should have been ended according to the purpose of the enactment of Agrarian Law and the deterioration of environment quality. In addition, some different land regulations were overlapping and contradictory with one another.   
Such condition was closely related to the complexity of problems in agrarian law politics, and thus its implementation has always been bringing about problems, for it could never be implemented as in nearly ideal ways.
The objective of the present research was to study and to find out solutions theoretically and practically, so that a pro-people agrarian policy which prioritizes equality may come close to reality, and hence the mandate and demand of the reformation era can be realized.
In achieving the objective, the researcher used a juridical-normative method, with philosophical, legislation, legal history, and legal politic approaches.     
From the result of analysis it could be concluded that the difficulties in implementing the agrarian legal politic were as follows: 1.  The ruling governments often ignored national agrarian law and land law principles, thus leading to diverse problems the solution of which are hard to find. 2. During a transitional period in the succession of a regime in attempt to build a democratic, socially equal, and human right-respecting state, there often occurred clashes and tensions between social order and old rule, the latter being aspiring to stay with the new order that was intended to be established; 3. Slow reformation of legislation and its implementation in regulating operationally according to national agrarian law principles; 4. Conflicts between different legislations both vertically and horizontally; and 5. Development in national and internasional political dynamics often demands the making of choices in implementing an occasionally dilemmatic legal politic.   
Based on the result of the study above, the measures to take are as follows: 1. The concept of agrarian area policies should be changed into a policy concept that is people-oriented, paying attention to human right protection, and prioritizing justice and with sustainable management; 2. The abstract concept above has to be followed by a more practical format by considering interrelated people-centered politic-economic aspects; and  3. The development of agrarian legal politic should be a common will of the nation by choosing people spirit-based substances with a focus on a reformation of national land law, by implementing agrarian reformation program.

Abstract:The study focused on investigating the determinants of effective procurement ethical practices in Kenya, West Pokot County. Ethical behavior supports openness and accountability in procurement with the result that suppliers have confidence in participating in the Government marketplace. Many procurement activities still suffer from neglect, lack of proper direction, poor co-ordination, slow with a lot of bureaucracy, lack of open competition and transparency, differing levels of corruption and not having a cadre of trained and qualified procurement specialists who are competent to conduct and manage the procurement process. Therefore, the study specifically targets to find out the effect of management commitment on enhancing effectiveness of ethical practices in West Pokot County. To conduct the study, a descriptive survey design was adopted where a questionnaire will be the major data collection tool. The target population comprised of all 58 employees stationed at both the accounting/finance and procurement departments of West Pokot County government. The study adopted a descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze data which involved computation of means and standard deviation for purposes of generalizing the opinions of the respondents. Further, Karl Pearson correlation was employed to test the relationship between independent variables and the dependent variable. Consequently, Regression analysis was conducted to test the influence of all the independent variables on the dependent variable. The findings of the study sought to provide a comprehensive insight into the determinants of effective implementation of ethical practices in procurement procedures in West Pokot County. The study is of great significance to all county governments in Kenya since its recommendation will assist County governments to overcome the major challenges that hinder effective implementation of procurement ethical practices.
Keywords:Management Commitment, Effectiveness, Ethical Practices.

Abstract:The Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (PPDA) 2015), was enacted in 2016 and repealed the previous Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005. The Act was meant to provide guidelines to public entities during the public procurement process, which would lead to better provision of goods, services and works by ensuring accountability, transparence, equitability, integrity and cost effectiveness. Since the enactment of the Act however, very little seem to have been achieved during procurement processes as its characterized by numerous complaints. Even with the devolution of functions across the 47 counties in Kenya, the government has not managed to streamline public procurement processes. It was for that reason this study sought to assess the factors influencing the implementation of the PPDA 2015 public institutions in Kenya, a case study of Trans Nzoia West sub-county. The specific objectives of this study were; to examine the influence of staff competence on the implementation of the PPDA, 2015 in public institutions in Kenya. Using a descriptive research design, the researcher administered questionnaires to a total of 84 respondents, recruited with informed consent through quota sampling technique to collect quantitative data. The respondents comprised of procurement officers, managers and administrators involved in procurement activities in public institutions in Trans-Nzoia West. By means of test-retest techniques, the study correlated results of pilot studies to determine the reliability of data collection instruments and validity of findings. Raw data obtained from actual field study was analyzed statistically using the techniques of frequency distribution of central tendency, Pearson’s correlation and ANOVA. Results were summarized and presented in tables, and thereafter discussed to draw appropriate conclusions and recommendations. The researcher anticipated that the study findings thereof will aid both national and county governments to address the loopholes in public procurement processes. While adding to the body of knowledge, this study generated valuable insights which can enhance the efforts of stakeholders in streamline the procurement process in public institutions towards transparent, accountable and better provision of goods, services and works thereof. This will only work if the recommendations are take into consideration.

Abstract:This paper will consider the historical factors that helped shaped modern day human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. We’ll look closely at the impact of colonial imperialism, and its profound impact on shaping current events and likely future scenarious in Sri Lanka. We’ll provide multiple examples of what constitutes human rights abuses in Sri Lanka in modern times, and we’ll predict with as much certainty as possible what the outcomes may be if government forces, including police departments, do not change their long-ingrained behavior and treat all of Sri Lanka’s citizens with dignity and respect.

Abstract:The Niger Delta region has been maverick, bedeviled with varied types of assumptions, actions, and even inactions, spanning from illusion to delusion. Most frequently, the region has been subjected to constant bombardment from land, sea and air by the Nigeria military, in a bid to return fire for fire as a reprisal for the unrelenting destruction of our common wealth by the aggrieved militant youths in the region. This region has been troubled for the past decades by the youths that have taken to arms to protest lack of adequate compensation for the continuous degradation of the environment and the traumatic effect on the people, arising from oil exploitation. This study is predicated on Frustration-Aggression theory and Geopolitics theory. The use of environmental accounting to resolve the structural disequilibrium has therefore become expedient. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. A cross-sectional survey design was used in the administration of questionnaire. Data were analyzed through the use of chi-square statistics using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) (software 20). The result revealed that adequate compensation has not been instituted by the multinational oil companies and the Nigeria government not exhibiting enough political will to develop the region and make life worth living for the inhabitants. The study therefore recommended the services of environmental accountants/experts, using the necessary legal instruments to ensure a solid structural framework for environmental accounting that will be separately prepared to cater for externalities which will elicit adequate compensation for sustainable development to be achieved in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Abstract:Global trade in small arms is huge, its value is estimated to exceed US dollars 335 million and it involves government companies, and individuals from around the world. Therefore, it is widely recognized that the proliferation of illicit firearms in West Pokot county of Kenya has contributed to a bigger percentage of negative effects of intensified conflict and underdevelopment in the region. The specific objectives of the study were to: examine the nature and causes of illicit small arms proliferation in West Pokot; Assess the extent to which illicit small arms proliferation has affected enhancement of community security in West Pokot County; Evaluate the strategies to be used in curbing illicit small arms proliferation in West Pokot County with the view to enhancing community Security in West Pokot County; Curbing illegal trade in arms and other light weapons, and hopefully eradicating the growing gun culture in West Pokot County and in other parts of the country. This study was guided by the Realist theory of International Politics and the Critical security theory and Anarchism. Study design was across sectional survey buttressed with mixed methods that took care of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. It was clear that there was rampant proliferation of illicit small weapons that largely led to human rights violation, armed crime and insecurity in these areas. A good number of the respondents further indicated that these small arms led to underdevelopment in west Pokot. It was found out that cattle rustling, which is common in West Pokot, is usually instigated by the increase of these weapons. The government of Kenya needs to ensure that the porous borders between communities living in the northern Kenya are well manned.

Abstract:Devolved government was introduced through the Kenya constitution 2010, to devolve resources and ensure equitable development throughout the country. As a result county governments are to receive grants from the national government, which they supplement through local taxes such as permit fees, property taxes, license fees, and entertainment fees. Since implementation of the new system of devolved government in 2013, the county governments have not been able to meet there revenue expectations. According to the county budget implementation review report total revenue collected in 2013/4 was 26.3 billion against a target of 54.21 billion, and in 2014/5 collection was 33.85 billion against a reduced target of 50.38 billion, hence the need for this study. The objective of the study was to assess the determinant factors of revenue collection among counties in Kenya. It will be conducted in the county government of Kisumu. The Focus of this research was on government policy and assessed how far these factors determine revenue collection in the county. The theoretical model for the study took into consideration tax theories such as; Cost of service theory, where revenue is matched with expenses; Ability to pay theory, where taxation is based on one's taxable capacity; Benefits received theory, where taxation is based on the amount 'of benefits received and finally the public expenditure theory, where we expect revenues to increase in developing societies; A descriptive design was adopted and the target population was all the 133 staff working in the finance departments; the study used census to collect data from respondents. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Data was analyzed using SPSS and multiple regression analysis showed that information technology, staff training, fiscal policy and internal control significantly influence revenue management in Kisumu County Government. The study concluded that enacting of feasible tax polices both at county and national government level can significant increase county governments revenue. The study recommends that one, top management officers in the county revenue management committees should professionally procure and install secure, reliable and cost effective electronic revenue management systems so as to check revenue collection losses and systemic issues so as to buffer county revenue index; two, revenue officers in county governments should frequently undergo training and benchmarks in automated secure revenue collection systems and ethical tax management practices so as to win trust from tax payers which will consequently boost county government revenue and three, there should be quality control systems meant for regular checks and balances in county government revenue control systems so as to improve county revenue management. The study recommend a further study to be done targeting tax payers, so as to assess perceptions of county government revenue management in the eyes of tax payers in the respective counties.

Abstract:Tourism is playing very important role in India these days. India is the world’s 7th largest tourism economy in terms of GDP. Indian economy is growing at a rapid pace and service sector constitutes the largest chunk of India’s GDP, therefore there are ample development opportunities for tourism sector. One of the most obvious options available is to develop new sites and provide better services at existing ones. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the satisfaction level of tourists in Shimla the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. For this purpose the following objectives was spelt out: - 1) To evaluate the level of tourists’ satisfaction with regards to existing tourism facilities in Shimla, 2) To identify the problems experienced by the tourists and to advance the suggestions for tackling the problems. To achieve these objectives a well structured questionnaire was prepared and data were collected through direct personal interview. Several tests like Chir-square and descriptive statistics were used to get more accurate results. It was found that majority of tourists are not highly satisfied with public transportation, parking and banking and medical facilities in Shimla.

Abstract:Despite various government interventions teenage pregnancies is still persistent. Such interventions include the government policy of integration of the teenage mothers in schools. The purpose of this study is to establish the factors influencing teenage pregnancies in mixed secondary schools in Nyamira South; Nyamira County, Kenya Descriptive survey design was adopted in this study. The study targeted 42 Public Mixed Secondary schools, 42 principals, 42 guidance and counseling teachers and 5953 girls in Nyamira South Sub-County. Clustered sampling was used to select the 13 Public Mixed Secondary schools in the Sub-County whose head teachers, guidance and counseling teachers and students participated in the study. Purposive sampling was used to select the Sub-County Quality and Standards Officer, Sub-County Director of Health services as respondents in the study. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in form of percentages, frequencies and tables. Qualitative data was categorized and analyzed into various themes as they emerged. The study found out those teenage mothers in school are stigmatized, discriminated and experience financial challenges that make them drop out of school. The study concluded that the problems teenage mothers face in school affect their performance negatively .The problems teenage mothers face in school need urgent remedy for Kenya to realize the millennium development goals (MDGs) and Vision 2030. The study recommends for the formulation and implementation of stringent laws by the government to protect the rights of the girl child in school. The Ministry of Education should also ensure that teenage mothers in school are not stigmatized or discriminated. Further study is suggested on challenges facing teenage mother’s integration in pure boarding schools.

Abstract:There are complaints in ECD centers on continued neglect as far as ECD teaching is concerned and that there seems to be little or no supervision at all. Although a policy is in place, there is poor implementation due to lack of uniform curriculum and standardization. The study sought to establish factors affecting supervision of Early Childhood Education curriculum in schools. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The study was conducted in Nandi Hills Division of Nandi East Sub County. Nandi East Sub County has a total of 155 ECD centers and 8317 children in ECD centers. The target population of this study comprised of 155 ECD centers in Nandi East district (105 Public ECD centers and 50 private ECD centers). The 32 teachers and 32 head teachers and 20 field officers totaling 84 respondents formed the study sample size and answered the questionnaire. Questionnaire and the interview schedule and document analysis was the main instruments of data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The study established that the supervision of the ECDE curriculum is affected by factors such as  availability of finances, infrastructure, locality of ECD centers, strategic objectives, support from the management,  dispersion of the ECD centers, local leaders; and  sponsor involvement  among others.  The study recommended that there was need to improve the monitoring and evaluation process through enhanced initiatives to include supports to prepare the Child for school and equally importantly, supports to prepare the school for the child.