Kenyan Society Research Articles

Organizational Factors and Performance of Dairy Cooperative Societies in Kenya

In this exploratory study an assessment of the relationship between organisational factors performance of the dairy industry in Kenya for cussing on two dairy cooperative societies in Kiambu County which boarders the City of Nairobi, was conducted. The relationship between management, milk marketing and training of staff members; and the performance of dairy cooperative societies was examined. Through a descriptive census survey on a targetpopulation of 80 comprising management and staff was conducted using structured questionnaires to collect primary data. The findings form the 58 respondents were that performance ofdairy cooperative societies was significantly related with management (p < 0.05) and training (p < 0.05). However, the relationship between milk marketing and performance was insignificant at p < 0.05 but only significant at p <0.1). It was also found that while management style had a strong negative influence on performance (t = - 4.1874, p <0.001) both marketing, and training had positive influence on performance (Marketing: t = 1.732, p = 0.089; Training: t = 8.512, p <0.001). The implication of these findings are that managers and staff of dairy cooperatives need to adopt management style and marketing which would positively contribute to performance. The cooperatives should continue emphasizing training since it had the greatest influence on performance.

A Critical Discourse Analysis of Gender Stereotyping in Stand-Up Comedy: A Case Study of MC Jesse’s Churchill Live Performances

This study focuses on the critical discourse analysis of gender stereotyping by MC Jesse in stand-up comedy. There is dearth of in depth researches on stand up comedies to explain how gendered language elicits laughter. The study will be based on the performances of Mc Jesse in the Kenyan TV show, Churchill Live Show normally aired on Nation Television-Kenya (NTV). The objectives of this study are to analyze gender stereotyping, establish the strategies used to bring out gender stereotyping and to find out the audiences' perceptions in Churchill live show. The study makes use of Critical Discourse Analysis theory by Fairclough and Wodak and the Cooperative Principle by Grice to explore the gender stereotypes and attitudes against women. The study will seek to find out whether negative gender stereotypes against women are found in Mc Jesse's jokes. The data will be derived from past ‘Churchill Raw Shows' editions from the You tube from 2015 to 2017, three Focus Group Discussions with twelve participants from three secondary schools and in-depth interviews with five participants of the ‘Churchill Live Show' audiences. CDA being a labour intensive approach, the data used will be limited to two years. Data analysis will involve transcription of the raw data from the original language, translation into English language and thematic content analysis to understand the theme of gender stereotyping as used in Jesse's comedy. The expected findings will benefit the policy makers and gender specialist to formulatepolices which will be effective on the use of gender stereotypes positively in the Kenyan society.

Language and Witchcraft as a Trade: Insights from, Machakos County, Kenya

Witchcraft is defined as the use of magical powers for healing, seeing into the future, causing harm or for religion. The belief in the powers of witchcraft is widespread in Africa. Due to these perceived magical powers people from different walks of life seek for various forms of treatments from witchdoctors. As such, witchcraft in Africa is a trade complete with a marked use of language that sustains in in modern society. This article reports on an analysis of language used by witchdoctors in Machakos County in Kenya, and respondents’ views about witchcraft. The objectives of the study were twofold. One was to identify and describe the language strategies that mark witchcraft as trade. The second objective was to explore the socio-psychological factors governing the use of the language by witchdoctors. Two witchdoctors were purposively sampled: one male and one female. The primary data were collected through recorded interviews of the witchdoctors. It was found that the witchdoctors use various language strategies to attract and retain clientele and that these strategies are a factor of the socio-psychological environment in which the witchdoctors operate. Moreover, the study established that witchdoctor still find relevance in the modern Kenyan society because of prevalent beliefs about social and medical problems. This paper thus argues that language is an important tool in the witchcraft trade that serves to purposely obscure meaning in order to shroud the trade in secrecy, enhance social exclusion and consequently sustain the belief in the magical powers of the witchdoctors.

“I have a story about Nairobi”: narrator unreliability, ethnicity and the imagination of the Kenyan nation in “Khandpaka” by Awillo Mike and Ja-Mnazi Afrika

ABSTRACT This paper reads the popular song “Khandpaka” by the Kenyan music group Awillo Mike and Ja-Mnazi Afrika (2009) as a rhetorical act that argued for the inclusion of ethnicity, rather than its exclusion, in the imagination of the nation in the Kenya of the first decade of the twenty-first century. The paper’s focus is on the ironical presentation of a humorous story in “Khandpaka.” The amusing narrative in “Khandpaka” – the song title is the English word “handbag,” pronounced with a Kenyan African first language influenced accent – is told by a narrator who recounts the day he took his wife on a sightseeing tour of Nairobi on what was her first visit to the Kenyan capital city. The paper shows that the narrative is a conflicted attempt by an unreliable narrator to imagine a Kenyan nation by suppressing ethnicity. “Khandpaka” is thus read to make its argument by drawing attention to the “limitations” of the narrator’s attempt to exclude ethnicity from the imagination of the Kenyan nation. The examination of and reflection on this narrative in “Khandpaka” reiterates the value of narrative research and the role of popular music in Kenyan society and politics.

Sexism of the Jiko(Cooking Stove), Food and Sexuality: The Fuzzy Conceptual Boundary

This paper re-examines the Jiko as a symbol of femininity within the East African region. In the Kenyan society, jikos serve as charcoal based ceramic stoves used for cooking in virtually all households. The goal of this paper is to infuse arguments which interface cognitive linguistics and sociolinguistics, in an attempt to unveil sexist terms coined around the jiko and further drawing on metaphoric extension, reveal how sexist expressions are cognitively interlaced with the semantic domains of marriage, sexuality and the female anatomy.

Effect of leverage and firm size on financial performance of deposit taking savings and credit cooperatives in Kenya

Critical to the success of financial institutions' performance is there Capital Structure. The study aimed to, investigate the effect of two capital structure determinants, leverage, and firm size on financial performance as measured by Return on Assets of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Kenya. The study was grounded on Tradeoff, Pecking order, and Mogdiliani and Miller capital structure theories. A positivist approach was adopted utilizing a mixed-method research design. The population of the research study was 174 Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies from whom primary and secondary data was collected. A stratified and purposive sampling technique was employed. Descriptive statistics and a regression model were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that firm size had a significant and positive effect on financial performance, whereas Leverage, had a significant but negative effect on financial performance. The study recommends having in place an Assets and Liabilities committee in each Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Society that would help manage the assets and liabilities of the institution, ensuring sound liquidity and cash flow management. Critical factors that contribute to a firm size such as increased membership, deposits mobilization amongst others need to be addressed.

New Media, Political Discourse and Public Opinion: A Theoretical Analysis of Social Media Intertextuality and Discursivity and its Effect on Governance in Devolved Political Units in Kenya

Social media is an essential aspect of socialisation in Kenyan society. Within the context of political discourse, it plays an important role in expanding the democratic space by allowing citizens the space to have their voices heard. Counties are the emerging frontiers for economic and social development in the country. Therefore, it is critical for all citizens to participate equally in governance issues affecting the counties. This research sought to establish the level of citizen engagement in political discussion on social media and how this impacted on governance in the counties. It used a theoretical research approach to examine the various theories and practices of social media in political engagement. Engagement of local citizenry on social media was also assessed. The research was pegged on Herbamas Theory on the Public Sphere which posits that, for a public sphere to be adequate and fit-for-purpose for a democratic polity, it must have the capacity for quality interaction and discourse and quantity participation. Key findings: discursivity and intertextuality within the social media environment vastly improve the quality of political participation for citizens. The performance of public spheres within social media sites in the counties says a lot for increased participation of women, youth and minorities in political discourse at the grassroots. Recommendations: social media be inculcated in public policy at the grassroots by including it as a primary conduit of information and civic engagement.

Improvement in coffee production and economic gains by the farmers through support of coffee cooperative societies in Kenya

Improvement in coffee production and economic gains by the farmers through support of coffee cooperative societies in Kenya

“A beautiful woman sitting in the dark”

AbstractThis ethnographic study of the Master’s in Conference Interpreting at the University of Nairobi aims to link interpreter training to the linguistic make-up of Kenyan society and the constraints of public higher education in Africa. It is the first comprehensive study of interpreter training in Kenya, and shows the limits of replicating pedagogical approaches that have been tried and tested in Europe in a different environment. Based on the findings, I recommend a widening of the scope of training to include conference, court and community interpreting. It is argued that this would improve the sustainability and relevance of interpreter training in Africa.

Effect of Mobile Banking Services on Financial Performance of Deposit-Taking Cooperative Societies in Kenya

Journal of Business & Technology (JBT) is an open-access journal published by the Department of the Commerce and Financial Management of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. The journal follows a double-blind peer-review process and is published bi-annually (January, July). JBT aims to publish scholarly research, critical reviews, case studies, practitioner reviews and technology reviews in the fields of business and technology.

Effect of Unsecured Commercial Bank Loans on Financial Performance of Savings and Credit Co-Operative Societies in Kenya

Changes that occur in the co-operative sector affect the development of the country and the general welfare of the members. Given the increasing aggressiveness by commercial banks in Kenya to offer unsecured loans to both their clients and non-clients and their marketing techniques that ensures wide coverage, then there is likelihood of the unsecured commercial bank loans affecting the financial performance of Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Kenya. Thus the general objective of this study was to establish the effect of unsecured commercial bank loans on financial performance of Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the effect of unsecured commercial banks loan amount, loan interest rate and loan tenure on financial performance of Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Kenya. The research adopted a causal research design. The population of the study was the 177 licensed deposit taking Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies and 43 licensed commercial banks in Kenya as at 2015. Secondary data was obtained from Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies Regulatory Authority Annual Supervision Reports and Central Bank of Kenya Bank Supervision Reports using data collection checklist. The study established that unsecured commercial banks loan amount and loan interest rates had a positive significant effect on financial performance of Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies with P-values of 0.004 and 0.03 and coefficients of 0.006468 and 0.013 respectively. Unsecured commercial banks loan tenure had a negative significant effect on financial performance of Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies with a P-value of 0.018 and a coefficient of -0.74. The findings of this study would be of benefit to the management and policy makers of Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in formulating policies that would ensure they remain competitive amidst competition from commercial banks.

Technical Efficiency of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Kenya

Technical Efficiency of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Kenya

Social performance rating in Co-operatives

Social performance is a management process capable of making corporate performance more inclusive, effective and fair. For almost two centuries, co-operatives are perceived as instruments of social change that are well positioned to lead in social performance through their internationally accepted values and principles. However, due to the potential importance of economic objectives to stakeholders’ welfare, like in most firms, financial parameters often overshadow social performance standards in co-operatives. Social performance research in co-operatives is also scanty since most studies relate to financial performance. This study surveyed managers from 100 Savings and credit co-operatives societies in Kenya on the extent operations in co-operatives reflect social performance dimensions. Extant literature revealed social performance management as a catalyst for economic performance of a firm. In particular, the study identified social performance as a key value driver to superior performance and social performance management an essential key performance indicator to any enterprise desiring to “doing good” to the community. Data analysis found co-operatives low in social performance as they do not meet the indicators by 45%, partially meets the indicators by 22% and only meets the indicators by 33%. The finding reveals that co-operatives should not claim as exemplary in social performance based merely on social and community orientation. Thus, the expose is an exhibit that many organizations may not be practicing the social ideals they claim to uphold or represent. The study is expected to help co-operatives to improve on ‘what good the organizations are doing with their profit to people and the planet’ which consequently would improve sustainable performance and competitiveness.

Asset Quality and Efficiency of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Kenya

Asset Quality and Efficiency of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Kenya

Leadership Style, Government Regulations and Sustainability of Sacco Societies in Kenya. A Case Study of Harambee Sacco

Leadership Style, Government Regulations and Sustainability of Sacco Societies in Kenya. A Case Study of Harambee Sacco

Relationship between ISO 9001 Certification and the Number of NonConformities Identified during System Audits in Selected Public Universities in Kenya

The quest for International Standard Organization (ISO) 9001 certification as an international quality tool has been embraced for process improvement and positive perception by customers. With ISO 9001 certification, an institution is anticipated to offer exemplary goods or services that meet client prerequisites, needs and expectations thus enhance organizational performance. As evident in previous studies, despite ISO 9001 certification, cases on wastages, missing student marks and time wastage were indicators of non-conformance. There was no clear evidence of past studies on the relationship between ISO 9001 certification and organizational performance with special interest on number of non-conformities identified during systems audit being a component of organizational performance. The purpose of the study was therefore to establish the relationship between ISO 9001 certification and the number of non-conformities identified during system audits in selected public Universities in Kenya. Explanatory research design was used in the study. The research targeted a population of 433 respondents from which a sample size of 205 respondents was selected using purposive and simple random sampling designs. A questionnaire was used to collect data. To answer the objectives of the study, simple linear regression analysis was performed. From the model, (R2=.600) shows that ISO 9001 certification account for 60% variation in number of nonconformities identified during system audits. There was a positive significant relationship between ISO 9001 certification and number of non-conformities identified during system audits (β=0.611 and p <0.05). Therefore, a unit increase in ISO 9001 certification led to reduced number of non-conformities identified during system audits. The ISO 9001 certification had a significant influence on the number of non-conformities identified during system audits. For every adoption of the ISO 9001 certification in public universities the number of nonconformities identified during system audits reduced. The study concludes that ISO 9001 certification had a significant positive influence on the number of non-conformities identified during system audits. Thus, for every adoption of the ISO 9001 certification in public universities the number of non-conformities identified reduced. The study recommends that there is need for management of public universities through the department of quality management to address the non-conformities raised during system audits, need for university management to raise awareness on the importance of standardization and conformity assessment and to entrench the culture of quality in the Kenyan society by promoting practical usage of standards and development of quality related curricula in public universities.

Counseling Theories and their Application in the Context of Schools

Adolescence is a very trying moment in ones’ life. Many people fail to understand adolescence and in some states, it is termed as a disease. Most adolescents in the Kenyan society are in high schools. At this stage in life, a lot of changes occur in their bodies, a phenomenon that leaves them with more questions about who they really are. For them to negotiate this stage effectively, they need both parental and professional help. Bearing in mind that they spend most of their time in school, the schools have a duty to provide a comprehensive program aimed at helping the adolescents navigate this stage in the right way. This article, thus, sets out to intensively look at the overwhelming issues in adolescence stages, from a theoretical perspective by using the common counselling theories. In its design and methodology, the researcher will also draw from history to effectively address adolescence concerns; and eventually attempt to put it in the current situation in his own national context, and especially with regard to the Kenyan schools. In so doing, the article will attempt to explore ways that may be used to help them understand themselves better. In turn, this hopefully help the adolescents in dealing with their studies and social issues in a better way. It will also help caregivers in these shores.

Building Mental Health Research Capacity in Kenya: A South - North Collaboration.

This paper describes a mental health capacity-building partnership between the University of Nairobi (UON) and the University of Washington (UW) that was built upon a foundational 30-year HIV/AIDS research training collaboration between the two institutions. With funding from the US National Institute of Mental Health Medical Education Program Initiative (MEPI), UW and UON faculty collaborated to develop and offer a series of workshops in research methods, grant writing, and manuscript publication for UON faculty and post-graduate students committed to mental health research. UON and UW scientists provided ongoing mentorship to UON trainees through Skype and email. Three active thematic research groups emerged that focused on maternal and child mental health, gender-based violence, and HIV-related substance abuse. Challenges to conducting mental health research in Kenya included limited resources to support research activities, heavy teaching responsibilities, clinical duties, and administrative demands on senior faculty, and stigmatization of mental health conditions, treatment, and research within Kenyan society. The partnership yielded a number of accomplishments: a body of published papers and presentations at national and international meetings on Kenyan mental health topics, the institution of systematic mental health data collection in rural clinics, funded research proposals, and a mental health research resource centre. We highlight lessons learned for future mental health research capacity-building initiatives.

THE MAASAI OF SOUTHERN KENYA DOMAIN MODEL OF LAND USE

Abstract. We present a domain model that formalises the human-land relations in the Maasai nomadic pastoralist society in Kenya, referred to as MSKDM, and its integration with the prominent Land Administration Domain Model (LADM). Our long-term aim is to facilitate a land administration system that can accurately capture and express salient Maasai concepts of land use, ownership, communal tenure, and to assist in transparency during land transactions. We use an extensive corpus of existing research literature, and input from our own on-site workshops, as source material for our domain model. We use real sketch maps drawn by Maasai community members that we collected during our field studies for validation, and to demonstrate how our model can be operationalised.

US–Kenya Economic Relations under Obama and Their Image in the Kenyan News Discourse

Abstract Economic cooperation between the US and Kenya has reflected the ups and downs in the relations between the two countries. Since independence, both countries have converged on security issues and diverged on questions of democracy and human rights. When Barack Obama was elected as the President of the US, Kenya expected to get an “Obama bonus” in the form of closer trade and investment cooperation. This article analyzes what is the image of US–Kenya economic relations in the news discourse. The analysis reveals that three different and competing narratives are present in the news discourse in Kenya. The US disseminates a narrative that economy, security, good governance and human resources are four interconnected and mutually reinforcing pillars of African development; Kenya must make progress in all these four pillars, and the US is ready to help Kenya. Kenyan leaders seem to internalize the economic part of the narrative and accept the nexus between economy and security, but they reject the nexus between economy and political issues. Finally, the Kenyan society internalizes both these narratives, albeit to a different degree, with the latter prevailing over the former. However, it also produces its own narrative, which presents current US–Kenya economic relations in a different perspective. The whole US engagement in Kenya hardly goes beyond the symbolical level. It is driven by US economic interests and competition with China, while there is no “Obama bonus” for Kenya.