bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Utility Efficiency on Financial Sustainability of Water Service Providers in Kenya
Authors: Christine MAWIA JULIUS  , Elizabeth KALUNDA  
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of utility efficiency on financial sustainability among water service providers (WSPs) in Kenya. The study adopted the pragmatism research philosophy and explanatory sequential mixed design to provide empirical based solution to the financial sustainability concerns among the water service providers in Kenya. The target population constituted 616 senior managers from whom, a sample of 352 selected managers was selected and a structured questionnaire used to collect the quantitative data from the respondents. Additional data was collected using interview schedule from key informants representing the ministry of Water, Sanitation and irrigation (MWSI), Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB), and the eight Water Works Development Agencies (WWDAs). Data collected, was coded, cleaned and analysed to obtain both descriptive and inferential statistics. These were in terms of mean, standard deviation charts, statistical tests, ANOVA and regression analyses. The findings of the study was that utility efficiency had a positive and statistically significant influence on the financial sustainability of WSPs in Kenya (r=0.368, F= 10.719 (1,250df), β= 0.273, t(251)=3.274, p-value=0.002). Based on the findings, various recommendations were made one, there is need for each WSP in collaboration with the responsible county governments to undertake studies geared towards disaggregation of NRW, WSPs to institutionalize high levels of integrity which would reduce commercial losses, WSPs to ensure high levels of integrity, competence and efficiency of staff at the point of hire and National Treasury and Planning together with the Water Works Development Agencies (WWDAs) should ensure efficient and effective application of infrastructure financing in order to achieve value for money for all investments.
Influence of Strategic Dimensions of Entrepreneurship Leadership on Organizational Performance
Authors: Wilfred Harun  , Damary Sikalieh  , Zachary Mosoti  
Published: April 2024

The study sought to determine the influence of the strategic dimension of entrepreneurship leadership on organizational performance. The study examined three elements in the strategic dimension namely, adaptive capability, resourceful innovativeness, and risk-taking behavior, and how they affect organizational performance.
This study adopted a descriptive correlational research design. The study's population comprised 289 managers from solar energy firms in Kenya. The stratified random sampling technique was applied in this research. The sample size used for the study included 165 respondents. Data was collected through questionnaires. Correlational and regression analyses were used to test the relationship and effect of strategic dimensions constructs and organizational performance.
The study established that the strategic dimension has a statistically significant positive relationship with organizational performance. According to results, adaptive capability statistically significantly influences organizational performance (β = 0.287, t (150) = 5.96, p<.05). Resourceful innovation does not statistically significantly influence organizational performance. Lastly, risk-taking does not statistically significantly influence organizational performance (β = 0.065, t (150) = 1.336, p>.05).
The study findings revealed that the strategic dimension of entrepreneurial leadership had a significant effect on organizational performance in the solar energy sector of Kenya. The study revealed that adaptive capability positively and statistically significant influenced organizational performance, resourceful innovation had a positive influence on organizational performance though not statistically significant, while risk-taking also had a positive influence on organizational performance though not statistically significant.
Moderating Role of Management Commitment on the Value Co-creation Relation with Achievement of Competitive Advantage in Kenyan Financial Institutions
Authors: Prescott Muhonza  , Peter Kiriri  , Kefah Njenga  
Published: April 2024

This study objective was to assess the moderating role of management commitment on co-creation and the achievement of competitive advantage in the financial services sector in Kenya. The theories that informed the co-creation were Dialogue, Access, Risk Assessment and Transparency (DART) and Payne’s Models, with positivism as the philosophy informing the methodology. The research design used was descriptive cross-sectional with a sample size of 340 managers working in financial institutions. A multi-stage sampling approach was used to attain the respondents in all the three clusters of financial service sectors in Kenya. The response rate was 92%, and the collected data attained the statistical assumptions for the multi-linear regression model. The result showed the management commitment as moderating variable significantly moderates value co-creation relation and the competitive advantage, R2 = 0.645, F (1, 297) =38.951, p-value <.05 with significant coefficient value of Management commitment (β = .366 t = 6.241, p<.05). The study reaffirms the importance of management commitment in the collaboration engagement as a catalyst to increased organizational performance and as a source of competitive advantage.
Predictors of Pregnancy Timing among Women in the Reproductive Age attending Maternal and Child Health Clinics in Kajiado County, Kenya
Authors: Anthony Wanyoro  , Mary Muiruri  , Mary Muiruri  
Published: April 2024

Maternal age during pregnancy has an influence on the pregnancy outcome. The objective of the study was to investigate the predictors of pregnancy timing among women in the reproductive age attending maternal and child health clinics in Kajiado Central Sub-county. The study employed a cross-sectional analytical study design that used a quantitative approach for data collection. A total of 248 systematically selected women attending maternal and child health clinics participated. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the association between the independent and dependent variables; P < 0.05 was considered significant. Data analysis was based on the USAID recommendation that, to prevent the adverse maternal and child health outcomes; women should delay the first pregnancy until at least the age of 18 years. The predictors of pregnancy timing were found to be; study participant’s formal education level (χ2 = 47.493; df = 4; p = 0.000), spouse formal education level (χ2 = 39.399; df = 4; p = 0.000), study participant’s occupation (χ2 = 22.966; df = 6; p = 0.000), spouse occupation (χ2 = 16.429; df = 5; p = 0.006), female genital mutilation (χ2 =22.757; df = 1; p = 0.000) and spouse approval (χ2 =15.234; df = 1; p = 0.000). The study concludes that there were individual and sociocultural factors that influence the age at which pregnancies occurred. Therefore, the need for reproductive health care stakeholders to design, plan and implement interventions with consideration to the predictors of pregnancy timing.
Mortality Forecasting Using Negative Binomial Model
Authors: Markson Kipyego Rugut  
Published: April 2024

People living in America today are living longer compared to yester years; this is due toreduced mortality rates and increase in life expectancy. Over the years mortality rates have continuously been declining. However, other courses of death like suicide rate have been soaring high for the last 25 years which is a worrying trend for both the state and the insurance providers. According to study report conducted between 2011 and 2012, life expectancy improved by 0.1 years from 78.7 to 78.8 years. This was attributed to improvement of services in the health sector in the country. This constant change in mortality rates is proving to be a challenge to the insurance industry and pension providers in designing the right products for their consumers. In this paper Negative Binomial Regression model is used to forecast male mortality of the United States of America (1980-220). The results of this analysis demonstrate that Negative Binomial with simple polynomial functions give better mortality forecast over the given period.
Influence of Championing Alternatives on Strategy Execution in Insurance Companies in Kenya
Authors: Tabitha Kimonyo  , Muchara Maina  
Published: April 2024

The purpose of the research was to establish the influence of championing alternatives on strategy execution in insurance companies in Kenya. The study also examined how organizational culture moderates the relationship between middle level management involvement and strategy execution in insurance companies in Kenya. The study targeted Kenyan insurance sector with a population of 436 middle managers. The study was guided by the positivism philosophy and used a descriptive correlational research design. . The population of study was 436 middle level managers in all the 49 insurance companies in Kenya. The sample size computed upon using the Yamane (1967) formula revealed a sample size of 209 respondents. A correlational result clearly demonstrated that championing alternatives significantly correlated with effective strategy executive, r (174) = 0.568, p < 0.05. the analysis revealed that there was a strong and positive relationship between championing alternatives and strategy execution among middle level managers in insurance sector in Kenya. The study also revealed that organizational culture positively and significantly moderated the relationship between championing alternatives and strategy execution, β = .059, t(173) = 5.436, p <.05. A manager who is an organizational champion is admired and influences employees.
Laboratory Glassware Cleaning Validation by Liquid Chromatographic Quantitation of Betamethasone Valerate Residues
Authors: Sarah Vugigi  , Christian Mshila  , Vincent Nyandoro  , Rose Obat  
Published: April 2024

Use of clean glassware ensures reliability of analyses that are carried out in laboratories. Glassware should be free of contaminants and residues from previous tests. It is therefore necessary to demonstrate the efficiency of glassware cleaning procedure through validation. This study aims to evaluate the cleaning efficiency of laboratory glassware by quantitation of betamethasone valerate residues in cleaned glassware. Betamethasone ointment was selected through a risk ranking process as the worst to clean product. Glassware used in analysis of this drug product was cleaned manually and residues evaluated using high performance liquid chromatography. The analysis method was validated at concentration levels of 1 - 8 µg/ml for specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, limit of detection and limit of quantitation. The method demonstrated residue recovery of 97%. Repeatability and inter-mediate precision expressed as relative standard deviation were 1.2% and 1.4%, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range from 2.04 to 6.13 µg/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997. The detection limit and quantitation limit were 0.11 µg/ml and 0.34 µg/ml, respectively. No residue was detected in glassware that was sampled for the cleaning validation. The results indicate that the manual cleaning method is effective as the level of betamethasone residues in cleaned glassware was below detection limit and thus will not interfere with analysis of the subsequent analyte.
The Mechanical and Elastic Properties of Selected 211 MAX Phases
Authors: Geoffrey Arusei  , Nicholus Makau  , George Amolo  , Chepkoech Mirriam  
Published: April 2024

Abstract: MAX Phases are a class of ternary materials that have continued to play a greater role in the field of materials science due to their unique properties that bridge the gap between metals and ceramics which have uses in a wide range of applications. The studies done so far have proven that MAX phase materials are indeed a promising class of materials in a wide range of applications. However, in spite of this progress, there are still a lot of open questions and properties that needs to be understood. The Mechanical and elastic properties of (Nine) MAX phase materials, namely, Ti2AlC, Ti2AlN, Ti2GaC, Ti2GaN, Ti2PbC, Ti2CdC, Ti2SiC, Ti2GeC and Ti2SnC have been investigated using the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximations as expressed in Quantum Espresso and VASP codes. The values of elastic anisotropy, Young’s modulus, Poisson ratio and shear modulus revealed that the compounds were indeed stable and ductile. Out of all the nine MAX Phase materials, Ti2PbC and Ti2CdC are more stable than the other considered compounds. The findings of this study suggest that the nine MAX phases considered in this study are potential candidates in various industrial applications requiring hard materials
DESIGN OF A LOW-COST MICROCONTROLLER-BASED LIGHTNING MONITORING DEVICE
Authors: Gilbert Mwangi Kamau  , Samuel Kang'ethe  , Stanely Irungu Kamau  , Nick Giesen  
Published: April 2024

Lightning data is not only important for environment and weather monitoring but also for safety purposes. A device that monitors and keeps track of occurrences of lightning strikes has been developed. A communication interface is established between the sensors, data logging circuit and the microcontroller.Â The digital outputs of the lightning sensor and data from GPS are processed by the microcontroller and logged onto an SD card. The interface program enables sampling parameters such as distance from the lightning strike, time of strike occurrence and geographical location of the device. For archiving and analysis purposes, the data can be transferred from the SD card to a PC and results displayed using a graphical user interface program. Data gathered shows that, the device can track the frequency and movement of lightning strikes in an area. The device has many advantages as compared to other lightning sensor stations in terms of huge memory, lower power consumption, small size, greater portability and lower cost. The device shall be used in designing a lightning networks.
Toxicity and efficacy of aqueous crude extracts from Allium sativum, Callistemon citrinus and Moringa stenopetala against L. major
Authors: Kinuthia Geoffrey Kariuki 
Published: April 2024

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) treatment involves pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, pentamidine, miltefosine among others. These drugs are toxic, costly, and require prolonged use. CL is a protozoan skin infection which may lead to disfiguring and stigmatization. In Kenya, CL is common in Baringo County where it is caused by Leishmania major and transmitted by infected female phlebotomine sand fly. Leishmaniases are common in poverty stricken areas where victims opt for local herbal therapies. Herbs used havenâ€™t been tested scientifically to verify their toxicity and efficacy. The current study determines in vitro toxicity and in vivo efficacy of aqueous crude extracts of Moringa stenopetala, Callistemon citrinus, and Allium sativum against L. major. The IC50 of aqueous extracts against promastigotes ranged from 297Âµg/ml to 575Âµg/ml compared to Pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B with IC50 of 0.26Âµg/ml and 0.82Âµg/ml respectively. The viability of promastigotes upon exposure to extracts ranged from 52.55% to 60.57%. Similarly the IC50 of extracts against vero cells ranged between Â 467Âµg/ml to 2105Âµg/ml compared to 108Âµg/ml and 60Âµg/ml for pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B respectively. Orally administered A. sativum reduced L. major caused footpad lesions significantly (P < 0.05) when compared to control PBS. The efficacy of oral C. citrinus extracts (B) in reducing amastigotes in spleens of infected BALB/c mice was 82.99%, followed by oral M. stenopetala (A) at 66.96% and oral A. sativum (C) at 60.37% compared to pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B at 66.40% and 60.62% respectively. The difference between the mean total LDUs for aqueous oral C. citrinus extracts and control oral PBS was significant (P = 0.017). It was concluded that crude aqueous extracts of A. sativum, M. stenopetala, and C. citrinus show antileishmanial activity at low toxicity.Â Inclusion of garlic and moringa in the diets of people in leishmaniases foci should be emphasized.
Biology Education: A Teachers Perspective on the Challenges in the Delivery of Content and Performance in Biology
Authors: Kennedy W. Nyongesa  
Published: April 2024

Biology is a teaching and learning subject at secondary school level in Kenyan schools. Biology plays a key role in industrialization and other sectors of the economy.Â Biology is a practical subject, which equips students with concepts and skills that are useful in solving the day-to day problems of life.Â The study of biology aims at providing the learner with the necessary knowledge with which to control or change the environment for the benefit of an individual, family or community.Â However, the secondary school studentsâ€™ performance in biology as a learning subject in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in Bungoma District has been quite low over the years.Â The public outcry and concern by parents, teachers, educationists and students about poor performance in science subjects and mathematics in national examinations is a clear indication that factors influencing studentâ€™s performance in these subjects need urgent investigation.Â The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of teacher related factors on performance of secondary school students in biology.Â The Cross-sectional descriptive research design and the Ex post facto were employed in this study.Â Nine (9) secondary schools were randomly selected for study out of 139 schools in Bungoma district.Â Different categories of schools were used depending on the school set-up and these were (i)Â Single- gender boys boarding schools (ii)Â Single- gender girls boarding schools (iii)Â Single- gender girls day schools (iv)Â Co-educational boarding schools (v) Co-educational day schools (vi)Â Co-educational boarding / day schools.Â A total of three hundred and sixty (360) form three students were randomly selected for the study.Â A student questionnaire (SQ) and a teacher questionnaire (TQ) were used as the main instruments for data collection. Class mark lists were used as tracking records of performance in biology. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Â The study established that boys perform better than girls in biology. Female teachers were found to have a higher level of science anxiety in the teaching of biology compared to the male teachers. It was established that most teachers still used the traditional lecture method in the teaching of biology and only a smaller percentage were using the new approaches. This study was expected to significantly contribute in the provision of information that could be used by teachers, parents, educationists and policy makers to improve on the teaching, learning and performance of students in biology.
Integrating Learner Disabilities in Inclusive Schools in Njoro Sub-County
Authors: Jesse Kimani  
Published: April 2024

The complexities and daily challenges experienced by learners with special needs in inclusive primary schools make them feel frustrated and unable to perform optimally in their studies. Sometimes they are unable to cope effectively with inclusive learning, and this makes them withdrawn. In order to avert such situations, counselling services are required in mainstream programmes to aid the learners develop academic, social and personal competencies that assist in their adjustment for life-long development. Â
The purpose of this study was to explore ways of integrating disabilities into the school for international, national and personal development among learners with disabilities in Njoro Sub-County. Data was collected using two questionnaires which were administered to 100 learners and 20 teachers. Interviews were conducted among 5 education officers in the sub-county. The data was analysed using the stastical package for social sciences (SPSS) to obtain descriptive statistics(percentages and frequencies). Â The findings showed that learners with special in inclusive schools in Njoro sub county faced diverse psycho-social challenges including self-pity and self-devaluation among others.Â These challenges require well programmed guidance and counselling services. The findings of the study are expected to provide a basis upon which the ministry of Educations and the school administrators can operate to fully integrate learners with disabilities into all educational institutions for development. They can also help the ministry to formulate guidelines to address the challenges facing this special group of learners. The study recommended that the admission of learners into all schools should be so structured to include learners with disabilities irrespective of their gender and nature of impairment.Â
FREE DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION
Authors: Nelson N. Ngare  , Theodore Ayodo  , Johanness Koech  
Published: April 2024

The study endeavoured to investigate factors that cause dropout of secondary school students in Kipkelion Sub County. The study was guided by social demand theory. The objective of the study was to identify factors that cause drop out in secondary schools in Kipkelion Sub County.Â Â The Study population comprised 1600 form 4 students and 25 head teachers in 25 secondary schools in Kipkelion Sub County. The sample size consisted of 343 students and 19 head teachers which were selected using both purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Questionnaires and document analysis were used to collect quantitative data while interviews with the principals and sub county directors generated qualitative data. Validity of instruments was confirmed by involving experts. Reliability was determined by using parallel form technique and chronbachâ€™s alpha of 0.78 was obtained.Â It was established that despite the introduction of free day secondary school education (FDSE), there is still a good number of obstacles. The greatest causes of dropouts are early marriages and teenage pregnancies among girls. There are also latent costs which are beyond the reach of most parents and others are retrogressive cultural practices, pregnancies, lack of sufficient teachers, HIV and AIDS.Â In spite of innovative strategies the Government of Kenya has undertaken, the cost of education has not substantially decreased for a majority of students whose backgrounds are poor. The recommendation is that the Government of Kenya through the ministry of education should increase the amount of capitation and sensitize the communities on the importance of taking their childrenâ€™s education more seriously especially the girl-child and elimination of retrogressive cultural values.