School of Education
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/550
2024-03-29T07:06:45ZImpact of agronomic inputs in sugarcane farming on total heavy metal levels in aquatic ecosystems and soils within Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1083
Impact of agronomic inputs in sugarcane farming on total heavy metal levels in aquatic ecosystems and soils within Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya
Omwoma, S.; Lalah, J.O; Ongeri, D.M.K
Sugarcane farming has been identified as the single most cultivated cash crop in Lake
Victoria basin. Use of high agronomic inputs is employed in these regions for better
yields. Most rivers feeding Lake Victoria from these catchments have been reported to
accumulate total heavy metals downstream above background concentrations. The
source of these heavy metals to the rivers is not known. This study, therefore, aimed at
determining levels of pH, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cr in River Kuywa surface water and
sediments before and after traversing sugarcane farms within Lake Victoria basin as well
as in farm soils, canals runoff water and sediments within the sugarcane farms to assess
if agronomic input in sugarcane farming influenced their levels. The results indicated
significant differences at p ≤ 0.05 in the heavy metal levels of River Kuywa before the
farms and after the farms. Canals water and sediments levels were significantly higher
than river water levels suggesting them to be the main contaminants to the river. In
addition canals values differed significantly from the control canal implicating agronomic
inputs over the increase. However, soil levels did not differ significantly from their
control with all the values going beyond international standards suggesting the area to
have higher background concentrations of these metals. None the less, soil pH and total
organic carbon values differed significantly between the sugarcane farms and the
control implicating agronomic inputs in sugarcane farming over their increase that aided
in mobility of the naturally occurring metals to the aquatic systems.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZThe effects of performance appraisal system on civil servants job performance and motivation in Kenya: case study of Ministry of State for Public Service
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1082
The effects of performance appraisal system on civil servants job performance and motivation in Kenya: case study of Ministry of State for Public Service
Okeyo, G. L; Mathooko, P; Sitati, N
Performance Appraisal System (PAS) which can be defined as the process of determining
and communicating to an employee how he or she is performing on the job. In Kenya,
PAS within the Civil Service was introduced around 2006 and has over the years become
a popular staff management system driven via the popular government performance
contracting initiative, The system is being embraced in the Kenyan public service for
tracking employees' performance in service delivery. PAS has signaled possibility for
improved performance in civil service productivity and employee motivation. Despite
the impressive performance and staff motivation signals elicited by PAS in civil service,
no detailed description of the situation has been done. This study then sought to assess
the effect of PAS in job performance and employee motivation in the Ministry of State
for Public Service. The study adopted stratified random sampling. Staffs were randomly
sampled from also randomly selected departments who were interviewed using pre-
tested questionnaires and through focused group discussions. Data was analyzed using
appropriate statistical applications in SPSS. The researcher concluded that employees at
the MSPS are usually involved in the setting of performance targets. They are also
substantially appraised against the targets set at the beginning of the appraisal period.
The study revealed that employees were given feedback to enable them improve their
performance. This shows that PA has a positive impact on the employee's performance
which leads to motivation. The Ministry was for example number seven in the recent
performance rankings released by the President and Prime minister. Based on the
findings of this study, the following recommendations among others are made for
consideration by the MSPS so as to enhance the employee's work performance. PA is a
good management tool but is should be subjected to continuous reviews in line with the
changing trends. This is because HRM is dynamic and for PA to be Relevant, it has to
keep up the pace. All stakeholders should be consulted during the PA process. This
should include use of 360 degree feedback.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZEntrepreneurial intensity and Performance Outcomes among Kenyan Firms
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1081
Entrepreneurial intensity and Performance Outcomes among Kenyan Firms
Senaji, T. A.; Kamau, J. N.
Given shrinking markets price pressures and the need to survive and excel in a highly
competitive business environment firms have to continually renew themselves in order to remain
relevant in their chosen markets. Corporate entrepreneurship is one of the ways to enhance
innovative and entrepreneurial activity of employees and to increase firm performance through
the creation of new products services strategy and organizational conditions (Bau & Wagner,
2010). It is therefore necessary to understand the intensity of entrepreneurial activity in firms
and how this influences performance outcomes. By reviewing literature an instrument was
developed based on four descriptors of an organizational climate for successful Corporate
Entrepreneurship, namely entrepreneurial mindset, support for innovation rules for an innovative
environment and intrapreneurial environment. The instrument was tested for reliability and
validity on a Kenyan sample and used to investigate how entrepreneurial intensity (how much
the enabling climate exists in a firm) influences performance outcomes (entrepreneurial
outcomes). An exploratory survey of 39 respondents' from firms in Kenya was conducted using
structured questionnaires as data collection instruments. Data was analyzed using descriptive
statistics to determine the entrepreneurial intensity and regression analysis to discern the
influence of the intensity on performance outcomes. The results suggest that there is low
entrepreneurial intensity leading to moderate performance outcomes. The results of this study are
of practical significance in two ways. First they reveal a low entrepreneurial intensity in the
studied firms and point to areas that need improvement. Secondly, the relative influence of the
entrepreneurial intensity dimensions on performance outcomes are revealed to aid in the
prioritization of actions necessary to achieve better performance. This is the first attempt at
investigation of entrepreneurial intensity using an instrument developed using a Kenyan sample.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZEffects of organizational support for career development on employee performance: A case of Kenyan Public Universities
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1080
Effects of organizational support for career development on employee performance: A case of Kenyan Public Universities
Manyasi, J. N.; Kibas, P. B; Chepkilot, R.
Unprecedented changes have pushed organizations to undertake various
initiatives to stay afloat. This has put pressure on organizations to maximally
utilize the resources at their disposal for their benefit. As a result, the realization
of the central role played by a firm's human resources in giving it a competitive
advantage has brought to the fore the need for emphasizing human resource
development in organizations, universities included. Debate has raged on the
party responsible for career development programmes. Whereas individual
employees have initiated and funded such processes, consensus has been
building on the need for organizations to take a prominent role in initiating,
managing and enhancing such processes. This study sought to examine the effect
of university support for career development on lecturers' performance in public
universities. Guided by the psychological contract theory, data was collected from
328 academic staff drawn from all the public universities in Kenya using
questionnaires. It was analyzed using descriptive statistics and hypotheses tested
using Pearson Product moment correlation coefficient. The results indicated that
organizational support for career development of employees positively affected
their performance in public universities. This support in terms of study leave,
financial support for further studies as well as incentives such as salary increases
and promotions on completion of such programmes enhanced organizational
citizenship hence improved employee performance.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZEffects of level of education on perceptions of alternative rite of passage of the Marakwet of Kenya
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1079
Effects of level of education on perceptions of alternative rite of passage of the Marakwet of Kenya
Kiptiony, G. J; Kariuki, M. W; Kathuri, N.
The Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) is an intervention programme sponsored by NGOs
as an alternative to female circumcision (FGM).ARP mimics the traditional rites aspect
by putting the initiates in seclusion and counseling them while avoiding the physical
operation of the genitals. There is a gap in the analysis of the Marakwets' perception of
ARP and their level of awareness of effects of FGM as it has not been empirically
investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether level of education
influenced perceptions of ARP. This study focused on the Marakwet people of Kenya
who have interacted with ARP from the year 2000. The study employed the ex postfacto
research design. Two purposively chosen locations were used in the study. A sample of
415 males and females from different age brackets were identified through quota
sampling. Quantitative data was collected through a questionnaire while qualitative
data was collected through interviews conducted among Marakwet Elders and ARP
Graduates. Validity and reliability of the instruments, in a pilot study, were established
through expert opinion and Cronbach reliability test, respectively. The data obtained
was analyzed by use of descriptive and inferential statistics using the SAS System. The
analysis of variance tests were done at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The content
analysis for the qualitative data was done by identifying the key points. The results
showed that differences in level of education influenced perceptions of ARP. However,
Qualitative data on experiences of ARP Graduates indicated that the mechanisms that
ensure women undergo FGM are still firmly rooted in the culture. This study is
significant in that the outcome will guide the expansion of existing approaches to FGM
eradication. One of the recommendations is that ARP proponents should ensure that
ARP Graduates are given enough support to sustain their resistance to FGM pressure
and that the community should not hold onto myths about un-circumcision.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZConceptualizing research and innovation: Issues and implications for Higher Education Research and Publications in Africa
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1078
Conceptualizing research and innovation: Issues and implications for Higher Education Research and Publications in Africa
Barasa, Fred Simiyu
The quest for change, improvement and competitiveness characterize individual,
institutional and state endeavours in today's world. This is largely because
globalization and liberalization of the world economy has presented both
opportunities and challenges to political leaders, providers of education and
training services, recipients of those services, as well as other individuals and
social groups. Among opportunities created by a globalized and liberalized world
economy, underpinned by rapid technological developments, are an expanded
market for goods, services and skills; a more efficient and cheaper system of
transport and communications which promotes the volume and pace of
information flow across national and disciplinary boundaries; and an environment
that demands continuous adaptation and innovation thereby reinforcing the need
for a culture that embraces creativity, cutting-edge research and lifelong learning
as its important elements. However, these opportunities translate into numerous
challenges and varying degrees of anxiety among various players in both
developed and developing countries. Lee (1996) has identified four sources of
anxiety over the effects of globalization. First, globalization unleashes new
international competition from newly industrialized countries against established
economies. This leads to rising unemployment and a fall in relative wages among
unskilled workers. Second, it is feared among developing countries (and rightly so)
that liberalization has and will progressively continue leading to job losses and
rising wage inequality. Third, globalization of labour markets erodes wages and
labour standards. Fourth, globalization leads to a loss of national policy
autonomy, and renders governments especially in developing economies,
impotent.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZAssessing students' attitude towards computer technology
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1077
Assessing students' attitude towards computer technology
KagenI, O. N; Havice, W. L; Isbell, C. J; Smith, R
Recent advances, especially in computer technology, have heralded the development
and implementation of new and innovative teaching strategies. Exposing learners to
computer technology may influence their behavior and hence attitude towards learning.
The purpose of this study was to assess students' attitude towards computer technology
in a history class. Specifically, the study assessed differences in attitude change towards
both computer technologies for students using web-based resources and those using
traditional textbooks, and whether the level of computer literacy was a predictor of
attitude towards computer technology. Thirty eight students from Bridgewater State
College, 70 from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and 54 from Clemson University
formed the sample for the study selected from already existing classrooms instructed
using web-based learning resources. A pre-test-post-test; non-equivalent control group
design was used. The treatment group was instructed using Web-based electronic
textbook, while the control group was instructed utilizing traditional textbook. A Likert-
type scale was developed to measure the attitude towards computer technology and
attitude towards the history class. ANOVA was used to assess differences in attitude
change. Alpha was set at 0. 05. Results of the study indicate that students from both
groups had good attitude towards computer technology with web based group posting
mean of 3.55 and traditional group 3.47 on a 5 point scale. There was a positive
significant relationship between computer literacy and attitude towards computer
technology significance level of 0.016. The results from this study should help educators
in curriculum planning appreciate the importance of computer literacy skills for fresher's
as well as continuing students.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZASSESSING WHETHER DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS INFUENCE PEER PRESSURE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESENCE IN MYAHURURU
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/989
ASSESSING WHETHER DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS INFUENCE PEER PRESSURE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESENCE IN MYAHURURU
R.W, Gikonyo; K., Njagi
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZWESTERN EDUCATION ON THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN: THE CASE OF IDAKHO COMMUNITY, KENYA
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/986
WESTERN EDUCATION ON THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN: THE CASE OF IDAKHO COMMUNITY, KENYA
LEEN, KAVULAVU
2016-05-12T00:00:00ZFactors that Influence Adoption of ISO 9001; 2008 Quality Management Standardsin Legal Practices
http://ir.kabarak.ac.ke/handle/123456789/977
Factors that Influence Adoption of ISO 9001; 2008 Quality Management Standardsin Legal Practices
Odima, Rodgers; Justus, Otiso
Many Organizations invest considerable amount of time and resources in obtaining
certification to the ISO 9001; 2008 standard. Although ISO 9001 has many
benefits legal practices in Kenya have yet to adopt it. This research through three
case studies examined the factors that influence the adoption of ISO 9001; 2008
management standard. The data collection methods included interviews using
semi-structured questionnaires. The findings from the research reveal that external
benefits are deemed more important in for the adoption of ISO 9001 than internal
benefits. This benefit is associated with the prestige of obtaining the ISO
certification. This gives the legal practice publicity and enhances its branding.
Commitment by the Partners was identified as a critical factor influencing the
adoption. The choice of three legal practices limits the applicability of the findings
to other legal practices in Kenya.
2012-01-01T00:00:00Z