International Regime Governance and Apparel Labour Upgrading in Export Processing Zones in Urban Kenya

This paper analyses the extent to which international regimes on production and trade in apparel offer labour upgrading opportunities in Kenya under the regime on labour. Focussing on the African Growth and Opportunity Act’s labour conditionalities, it presents evidence to show that, apart from the non-employment of children, other conditionalities on wages, hours of work, occupational safety and health, forced labour and right of association and right to organise and bargain collectively have not been met fully. Employing a dependency reading of regimes, the paper argues that the governance of regimes on production and trade in apparel, while not a necessary condition, was a sufficient condition to account for this trend. This evidence implies that Sub Saharan African countries need to overcome a lack of strategic reading of the dependency embedded within international regimes, while social movements and their sympathisers need to demand the full implementation of minimum labour conditions. Key Words: Apparel, Global Value Chain, Dependency, Regimes, Governance, Upgrading, Urba

Gender Disparities in Water Resource Management Projects in Njoro Sub-County, Kenya

Gender disparities are of major concern, in water resources management because men and women play different roles and have different rights on water usage and it is important to take in account the interest of both genders into account. Njoro Sub-county is currently facing a serious problem of water scarcity as a result of several factors such as poor management, loss of forest cover, climatic variability, population increase, and limited endowment of the resource. Water being an economic good and a cost attached to its development, distribution, operation and maintenance there has been gender disparity in its management. Women are responsible for multiple uses of water resources and principal decision-makers regarding domestic uses and sharing responsibility with men for productive uses. However men often control this resource and make major decisions related to location and type of facilities available hence the need to investigate why women despite their vital stake in water affairs, they are frequently overlooked and under-represented in water policy decisions and in water projects committees. The argument in this paper is that gender disparities may have resulted in overexploitation and mismanagement of water resources

Challenges of Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Jubilee Manifesto: the Case of Old People Cash Transfer Pension Scheme in Nakuru County

Most Kenyans lack financial resources for retirement and rely on their families, yet the family is becoming a less reliable source of support in old age due to decreasing fertility and the increasing mobility of the young. In response, and as one of the strategies of realising Vision 2030, the Kenyan government has established an Old People Cash Transfer Pension Scheme (OPCTPS) as a form of social protection for the elderly. This study focused on the challenges of the OPCTPS in Kenya under the Jubilee Coalition government that came to power in 2013. The study used survey research design and the target population was sampled randomly from a list of registered beneficiaries to form 340 respondents and 10 key informants. The data was collected using questionnaires for key informants and interview schedules for the respondents. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science computer program and was presented using descriptive statistics. The results of the study showed that the challenges which hindered implementation of the OPCTPS, in order of importance, include low coverage, low allocation of funds, credibility in management, delays in payments, high administrative costs, poor awareness and lack of relevant documents. The study findings may be used by policy makers to plan for better coverage of the OPCTPS. Also the results may be used by stakeholders to strategies on how to empower the aged and ageing people and in allocation of domestic resources. Above all, the Jubilee Coalition government in power should spearhead the passing of at least one Act of Parliament to consolidate the existing legal framework and policy on the OPCTPS

Apparel exportism in Kenya: international regimes, chain governance and upgrading

An important question in development is how far can the contemporary global context create industrial development opportunities for the South, particularly for Low Income Countries? In an important sense, this can only be answered in non-abstract terms, since the institutional conditions facing particular industries at particular times are highly specific. In this research, a configuration of four regimes- the structural regime on production and trade in apparel, the labour regime, the neo-statist European Union regime on production and trade in apparel and the neo-statist United States regime on production and trade in apparel- creates a window of opportunity for a Kenyan export oriented apparel industry. However, we must ask whether this industry is autonomous from these regimes to the extent that its gains can be sustainably embedded within Kenya, notably in terms of product and labour upgrading, or is it, rather, subservient to them? My theoretical discussion shows that the Global Value Chain (GVC) approach presents lead firms as the primary governors in GVCs, while International Relations theory presents regimes as the primary governors in issue areas. The discussion gives a Dependency interpretation of regimes, subsuming the GVC approach in that interpretation, and arguing that, as far as issue areas are concerned, 'external' control-emergent regime governance of the GVC overrides 'internal' control lead firm governance. My empirical discussion shows that the upgrading of the Kenyan apparel industry has been insignificant, and that the governance of regimes on production and trade in apparel, while not a necessary condition, was a sufficient condition to undermine it. Nonetheless, the Kenyan Government and social movements can exploit systemic weaknesses, the former by negotiating for a single transformation of fabric and promoting export of folklore/ hand loomed/handmade products, the latter by demanding for the full implementation of minimum labour conditions

Incidence and Risk Factors of Surgical Site Infections: Insights from Kakamega County General Hospital in Kenya

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common complications associated with increased morbidity, hospital stay and mortality amongst patients’ post-surgery. This poses a huge economic burden and reduced quality of life in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Data on incidence and risk factors for SSI following surgeries in Kenya is limited. Guided by the infection chain theory, this cross-sectional study investigated the incidence and risk factors associated with surgical site infections amongst the post-surgery patients in Kakamega County General Hospital (KCGH). Pus swabs were collected from infected surgical sites suspected of SSI from 128 patients attending Kakamega County General Hospital in the year 2023. Demographic data was also collected from patients who underwent a surgical procedure at KCTRH. Risk factors were identified from patient demography while wound swabs were subjected to microbiological techniques according to the Centres for Disease control guidelines for SSI surveillance. Associations between identified risk factors and the occurrence of SSIs were examined using Chi-square (categorical) and t-test (Continuous). A total of 128 patients underwent a surgical procedure during the study period. The incidence of SSI was 66% (n=84). Seven bacterial species were isolated namely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22%), gram negative rods (15%), Staphylococcus aureus (9%), Klebsiella species (9%), Escherichia coli (7%), Klebsiella oxytoca (2%) and gram-positive cocci (0.8%). Incidence of SSI was 66% (n=84). Diabetes was 32%, obesity 41% and smoking 17%, among the pre-operative factors but showed no association with SSIs (p > 0.05). There was a correlation between longer surgeries and fewer SSIs (mean duration 114 minutes) and pre-operative stays did not significantly contribute to SSI risk. SSIs remain a challenge in LMICs. From this study, it was concluded that there is a continued systemic and procedural element in the onset of SSIs and highlights the role of post-operative practices in the prevention of SSIs. There is need for targeted interventions in the care of surgical wounds to mitigate the burden of SSIs in the region

Principal leadership and its impact on student discipline in Kenyan secondary schools: a case of Koibatek district

This paper attempts to establish the relationship between leadership approach and students’ discipline in secondary schools. A descriptive survey design was adopted to obtain data allowing the accurate description of situations or relationships in schools in Koibatek District. The study targeted principals, teachers and students in the schools; the results are presented in form of descriptive statistical techniques. The study found that principals frequently or sometimes involve other stakeholders, particularly teachers, students and to some extent parents, in the management of their schools They communicate clearly to students but frequently retain the final authority over most issues. The study found the existence of a significant relationship between leadership approach and student discipline. It is recommended that principals embrace democratic leadership in their capacities as school leaders by involving teachers, students and other stakeholders in decision making processes.Key words: Leadership style, discipline, secondary schools, Koibatek District, Keny

Effects of Processing on Nutritional and Sensory Quality of Pearl Millet Flour.

Malnutrition is a common occurrence in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya. Well-formulated complementary foods in the market are not affordable by mothers living in these resource-poor communities. Therefore nutrition efforts should be geared towards achieving affordable and nutritious complementary foods for children who are the most vulnerable group in the society. The study evaluated the effects of germination of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) for up to 5 days followed by fermentation (24 hrs) and roasting on proximate composition, iron, zinc, calcium and phytates contents. Results showed that this process decreased calcium and phytic acid levels significantly (p<0.05) while protein, ash, crude fiber, iron and zinc levels were increased. The germinated, fermented and roasted flour gave porridge of superior sensory quality than flour from untreated millet. Keywords: Germination/sprouting, fermentation, roasting, millet

Headteachers’ Instructional Supervision and its Effect on Academic Performance in Public Primary Schools in Ol’lessos Division, Nandi County, Kenya.

The head teacher wears many hats being a manager, administrator, curriculum leader and instructional leader. However, it should be understood that the core business of a school is instruction thus head teachers’ instructional supervision is crucial hence this sets the focus of the study. The purpose of this study was to establish head teachers’ instructional supervision and its effect on academic performance in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). The study was based on a theory of leadership developed by House known as Path – Goal theory. Research design adopted for the study was descriptive survey design. The target population comprised of head teachers and teachers of 30 Public Primary schools in Ol’lessos Division and the QASSO officers. To select the schools used in the study, stratified and proportionate sampling techniques were used. Using the techniques, 19 schools participated in the study. The teachers were selected using simple random sampling technique; hence a total of 74 teachers formed the sample, while the QASSO officer and head teachers were purposively selected. This study mainly used questionnaires, interview and document analysis to obtain data for analysis. Content and face validation of research instruments were ensured by the supervisors and lectures in the department of educational administration. The instruments were piloted through test -retest and reliability coefficient was calculated using Cronbach’s coefficient of Alpha, and a coefficient of 0.72 was obtained which was considered sufficient to render the instruments reliable. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically while quantitative data was analyzed using frequencies and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between head teachers’ instructional supervision and academic performance in schools. The study concluded that head teachers are reluctant in carrying out their instructional supervisory role. The findings of this study will be useful to head teachers, stakeholders and the ministry of education which has interest in performance of schools in national examination. This study recommends that head teachers should always undertake instructional supervision as they are internal quality assurance officers for improved performance in KCPE examinations. Key terms: Instruction, Instructional supervision, Instructional Supervision, academic performanc

Indigenous Knowledge, South-South Exchange of New Technologies and a Warped Intellectual Property Rights System

In this paper I analyse the contribution of new technologies in sustainable development and poverty alleviation in the global South. My research design is desktop analysis based on a theoretical communication model of the knowledge and communication interface. I present an analysis of the possibilities that exist in South-South exchange of indigenous knowledge using the new technologies, defined as the modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), to address problems of poverty and sustainability. I also give an example of a programme in India that has successfully attempted this. In this paper I employ qualitative method of analysis. I find that there is great potential in South-South exchange of new technologies to address problems of poverty and sustainability. In the same breath, however, I contend that there are substantial challenges that the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) system poses to this exchange. I conclude that the exchange is sustainable only to the extent that the South is able to push for the revision of the world trade organisation IPRs regime to avoid appropriation of one of its greatest assets, namely indigenous knowledge. In this paper I recommend that the South should be unflinching in its quest for a fair IPR system