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This paper explores the sustainability of the current account in Kenya. While the country has experienced large deficits for a number of years in the past, it’s recent downward trend and the realization of its pivotal role in Ken...
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This paper explores the sustainability of the current account in Kenya. While the country has experienced large deficits for a number of years in the past, it’s recent downward trend and the realization of its pivotal role in Kenya’s development agenda raises concern. It employs the intertemporal approach based on pure time series data between the years 1975 and 2010. The results failed to support the existence of a long-run equilibrium between exports and imports in Kenya. This puts to question the effectiveness of Kenya’s current long-term macroeconomic policies and suggests that Kenya is in violation of its intertemporal budget constraint. These results also point to the possibility of a crisis, given the usefulness of the current account in predicting a crisis.
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Ferdinard N. Kasimu INTRODUCTION The idea of establishing community-based libraries (CBLs) in Kenya was mooted and started in the early 1990s by the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) in response to many invitations and applica...
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Ferdinard N. Kasimu INTRODUCTION The idea of establishing community-based libraries (CBLs) in Kenya was mooted and started in the early 1990s by the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) in response to many invitations and applications from various communities asking KNLS to open branch libraries in their areas. This was not possible for financial reasons. However, the pressures of inflation in the country at that time encouraged a trend towards cost-sharing between central government and local bodies, and the idea that the KNLS Board could share the responsibility for establishing, equipping and running local libraries with the communities in need of library services began to gain prominence. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED LIBRARIES Community-based libraries in Kenya can be defined as libraries established with the full participation and input of the community on one side, and the KNLS Board (the service provider) on the other. This can be described as a joint venture, where the community owns the project and KNLS only comes in to stock and run the facility. The CBLs were started due to the thirst for knowledge experienced by most Kenyan communities. Along with the population explosion in the country (the total population now stands at 30 million) came the expansion of the education sector. More schools were opened and with them came the need for more books and other reading materials. However, most communities found themselves with inadequate educational tools to assist their populations to attain desired literacy levels. There was a lack of basic reference materials at all levels of education, whether primary, secondary, tertiary or university. It was against this background that several communities came up with the idea of establishing their own libraries and approaching the KNLS Board for partnership, thus creating the CBLs. Due to the high rate of unemployment and inflation in Kenya, a great number of people find themselves lacking anything to do. Libraries help these people to kill time constructively, as they provide a forum for reading, both informally (e.g. for pleasure) as well as formally (e.g. for examinations). Thus CBLs came in as both community and recreational centres where the community could be involved constructively, either in reading or playing indoor games such as draughts, chess, Ajua (a local indoor game), etc. In this way, the libraries cater for the whole community through all age groups. By establishing a community-based library (CBL), the community gets involved in the project which, once complete and running, truly brings the sense of ownership to them. Thus, such libraries not only become reading centres, but community-ownedprojects which bring both direct benefits as well as a lot of pride and a sense of togetherness to the community.
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Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are the most widely used malaria prevention and control intervention in Africa. However, their effectiveness may vary depending on their local geographic coverage, ownership and use at househ...
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Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are the most widely used malaria prevention and control intervention in Africa. However, their effectiveness may vary depending on their local geographic coverage, ownership and use at household level. This study aimed at assessing LLINs ownership and use following mass distribution campaign in western Kenya. A cross-sectional study was conducted in November 2017. A total of 160 households were randomly selected from 16 villages. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on households’ knowledge on malaria, LLINs ownership, utilization and their perceived benefits. Data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 for windows. Variables were presented as proportions and associations between variables tested using Pearson’s chi-square test. Malaria was reported to be the most frequently occurring disease (87.5%) in the area. Children under 5 years of age were reported to be at higher risks of malaria infection (28.6%). Around 31% of the respondents reported to have at least one member of the household sick with malaria a week before the interview. Commonly cited signs and symptoms of malaria were; fever (24.1%), headache (17.7%), vomiting (14.5%) feeling cold (12.6%) and loss of appetite (10%). There were 382 reported LLINs among 753 occupants in the 160 households surveyed. The average LLIN ownership was 2.4 nets per household and 1.97 persons per LLIN. Among the surveyed households, 96.9% owned at least one LLIN and 64.1% owned at least one LLIN for every two people. Among those who owned LLINs, 98.1% reported using them the previous night. Ownership per household ranged from 0 to 6 with a mean of 2.39. More than three quarter of the nets were acquired through free mass distribution campaigns and 80% were acquired less than 6 months prior to the survey. Despite high net coverage and use, a number of households experienced malaria episodes in the study area. There is need to investigate the likelihood of outdoor malaria transmission and assess the physical integrity of the existing LLINs and their insecticidal effectiveness in protecting household members against malaria.
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A means of deriving a disturbance index reflecting forest use history is demonstrated here to establish a disturbance gradient and enable comparison of different forest areas within and across individual forests. Detailed referenc...
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A means of deriving a disturbance index reflecting forest use history is demonstrated here to establish a disturbance gradient and enable comparison of different forest areas within and across individual forests. Detailed reference is made to Kakamega Forest in western Kenya for which a long-term time series has been established, although the study is spread to four further forests in Kenya and Uganda. A wide variety of sources are drawn upon for spatially resolved data that are integrated in a geographic information system. Three indices are derived: for commercial disturbance, local disturbance, and forest cover change. Results show a wide range of disturbance values (from low to heavy) for the research sites within Kakamega Forest, while results for Budongo and Mabira Forest sites show low and moderate levels, respectively. Correlations of low disturbance levels with nature or national reserves appear to be marked, while a correlation of disturbance with differing management authority is also suggested with Kenya Wildlife Service achieving the lowest disturbance levels. Results from the index are reviewed against other means of estimating disturbance with the conclusion that disturbance evaluations should be both spatially resolved and long-term in nature.
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This study compares two methods of estimating the density of three ungulate species: Kirk's dik-dik, impala and common zebra, in a dry savannah ecosystem. Fixed strip width and distance sampling involving direct animal counts were...
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This study compares two methods of estimating the density of three ungulate species: Kirk's dik-dik, impala and common zebra, in a dry savannah ecosystem. Fixed strip width and distance sampling involving direct animal counts were used in parallel, and tested for bias and precision in two habitats. Distance sampling was the method that achieved a better balance between accuracy and precision. The differences in sightability of ungulates, according to body size, colour and habitat characteristics, are taken into account by the distance sampling method, but not by the strip method, which produced, what we suspect are, underestimates of animal density.
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Background: In the Kenya primary health care (PHC) setting where most patients, including nearly 1.4 million HIV-infected people, seek medical care, PHC providers are expected to identify and manage HIV-related oral diseases durin...
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Background: In the Kenya primary health care (PHC) setting where most patients, including nearly 1.4 million HIV-infected people, seek medical care, PHC providers are expected to identify and manage HIV-related oral diseases during general consultations. This study aimed to assess the current knowledge of clinical officers and nurses in Nairobi East district of Kenya regarding HIV-related oral diseases and conditions. Design and Methods: A 40-item questionnaire was used in interviewing all 57 PHC providers in 2 administrative divisions in the district in a cross-sectional survey. Assessed categories were: knowledge about HIV-related oral lesions, clinical appearance of HIV-suspected conditions, knowledge about oro-pharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), general dental knowledge, common appearances of OPC, knowledge about periodontitis, causes of dental caries, frequency of general oral examinations and past training in oral health topics. The first 4 categories were confirmed as sub domains, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.57, 0.54, 0.59 and 0.45 respectively. Results: All 57 PHC providers (15 clinical officers and 42 nurses) completed the questionnaire (response rate 100%). PHC providers did not routinely perform oral examinations. Their knowledge about HIV-related oral health topics and general oral health was found to be generally inadequate. Recommendations: A training module on HIV-related oro-facial lesions for Nairobi PHC providers, incorporating a practical session covering oral examinations, is recommended; especially in this high HIV-prevalence environment.
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Since 2008 Kenya has distinguished itself in the global war against piracy by undertaking prosecutions in the national courts of suspected pirates arrested in the high seas and handed over by navies of leading maritime nations und...
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Since 2008 Kenya has distinguished itself in the global war against piracy by undertaking prosecutions in the national courts of suspected pirates arrested in the high seas and handed over by navies of leading maritime nations under bilateral agreements (MOUs) entered into between Kenya and these leading maritime nations. As of July 2011, Kenya had over 20 convicted pirates serving jail terms ranging between 7 and 20 years and over 100 suspected pirates awaiting trial in national courts. This is the largest number of suspected pirates held and tried in any one state at any given time in modern history. To achieve this, Kenya had to effect far reaching changes in the law. In the initial stages, suspected pirates were charged under Kenya's Penal Code (Cap 63 Laws of Kenya). However, the high court in the case of Re Mohamud Mohamed Dashi and eight others [2010] eKLR, ruled that Kenya had no jurisdiction to try suspected pirates under that law. In September 2009, Kenya passed a new law (the Merchant Shipping Act), which not only defined more comprehensively and extensively the offence of piracy, but also extended the jurisdiction of Kenyan courts to try piracy committed by non-nationals. Though the law gives Kenya a very broad jurisdiction to try suspected pirates, the process is still fraught with challenges due to lack of financial and human resources. In the case of Republic vs Hassan Jama Haleys Alias Hassan Jamal and five others [2010] eKLR, the court commented thus: "... I must note that the 'piracy trials' have presented a unique challenge to the Kenyan legal system. We cannot ignore the fact that these are suspects who having been arrested by foreign naval forces on the High Seas are brought to Kenya for trial. They are strangers in the country, do not understand the legal system, may not know what their rights are and do not understand the language... the Kenyan Government and the International partners supporting these trials put in place a system to provide free legal representation for the suspects..." This paper discusses Kenya's new model legislation and argues that while the model faces challenges, it should be replicated by all member states of International Maritime Organization as it not only grants extra territorial jurisdiction to national courts but also domesticates comprehensively the relevant key provisions in the fight against piracy found in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Maritime Navigation (the SUA Convention), the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (the SOLAS Convention 1974), Code of Conduct Concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (The Djibouti Code of Conduct), and the International Ship and Port Security Code (the ISPS Code). "In tiie 21st century more than ever before, no state can stand wholly alone. Collective strategies, collective institutions and a sense of collective responsibility are indispensable. The case of collective security today rests on three basic pillars. Today's threats recognize no national boundaries are connected, and must be addressed at the global and regional as well as national levels" (UN 2005, A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility-Report of the United Nations Secretary General High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change. New York UN Publications).
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Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest levels of teenage pregnancies in the world. In spite of that, there is paucity of empirical research on causes of teenage pregnancies in African countries. This paper investigates the dete...
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Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest levels of teenage pregnancies in the world. In spite of that, there is paucity of empirical research on causes of teenage pregnancies in African countries. This paper investigates the determinants of teenage pregnancies based on a case study of Busia District in Kenya. The data are from a household survey conducted in 1998/1999. Empirical results indicate that girls' education level has significant influence on the probability of teenage birth, with non-schooling adolescents and those with primary school level education being more vulnerable. Among the variables used as proxies for access to sex education, availability of church forums that educate adolescents about sex and family life issues reduce probability of teenage pregnancy. Age is positively related to teenage pregnancies, with older adolescents being more predisposed to pregnancies. Though use of contraceptives is found to have a positive effect, only a small proportion of adolescents were using modern contraceptives and, supply side factors such as quality and availability were not accounted for. Other key factors as outlined by the adolescents themselves include peer pressure and social environment-related factors like inappropriate forms of recreation, which act as rendezvous for pre-marital sex, as well as lack of parental guidance and counselling. Overall, lack of access to education opportunities, sex education and information regarding contraceptives, as well the widespread poverty predispose girls to teenage pregnancies. The.problem of teenage pregnancies should be viewed within the broader socio-economic and socio-cultural environment in which the adolescents operate. For instance, lack of parental guidance on issues of sexuality and sex education was reinforced by cultural taboos that inhibit such discussions. Adolescents should be equipped with the relevant knowledge to enable them make informed choices regarding sexual relationships. This should be complemented with broader programmes aimed at promoting girl education and poverty alleviation.
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Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Early identification of factors associated with delayed TB diagnosis forms an effective strategy for minimising the transmission of the disease in the communit...
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Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Early identification of factors associated with delayed TB diagnosis forms an effective strategy for minimising the transmission of the disease in the community. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with diagnostic delay of tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study employed a cross-section cohort design from 154 TB patients between January 2018 and January 2019 at Isiolo County referral hospital, Northern Kenya. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the association between predictive variables and survival outcome at Hazard Ratios (95% CI). Further analysis was conducted to determine patients’ epidemiological characteristics, health-seeking behaviour and clinical factors associated with diagnostic delay. We used Kaplan–Meier plots and logrank tests to evaluate the survival pattern, and used median to describe delays of TB diagnosis. RESULTS After adjustment for covariates, HR (95% CI) aged 16-30 was (HR = 0.24, CI: 0.09, 0.63; P = 0.00), >45 years old (HR = 1.68, CI: 1.06, 2.67; P = 0.03), male gender (HR = 1.64, CI: 0.99, 2.72; P = 0.05), diagnosis at dispensary (HR = 2.00, CI: 1.12, 3.58; P = 0.02), productive cough (HR = 5.67, CI: 1.54, 20.85; P = 0.01), and chest pain (HR = 0.39, CI: 0.19, 0.81 P = 0.01). CONCLUSION Our binary results demonstrated that TB patients’ health-seeking behaviour, health facility of diagnosis, occupation, and education levels were associated with delayed TB diagnosis. Meanwhile, survival analysis indicated age, gender, health facility of diagnosis, productive cough, and chest pain to be associated with delayed TB diagnosis. This affirms the need to strengthen health education in the community.
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Duerosuchus piscator is a middle Eocene eusuchian known only from Corrales del Vino (Zamora, Spain). The species was defined based on an incomplete skull, partial lower jaws and two vertebrae from a single individual, and several ...
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Duerosuchus piscator is a middle Eocene eusuchian known only from Corrales del Vino (Zamora, Spain). The species was defined based on an incomplete skull, partial lower jaws and two vertebrae from a single individual, and several osteoderms referred to other specimens. A detailed study of these remains allows us to question the attribution of all these remains to the same form. Just the cranial remains are considered as indisputably attributable to it; the validity of this species being supported. The present study provides a detailed description and an amended diagnosis for Duerosuchus piscator, which is included for the first time in a phylogenetic analysis in order to establish its systematic position within Crocodylia. As a result of this study, the Eocene crocodyliform paleobiodiversity in the Duero Basin is recognized as comprising a notosuchian (Iberosuchus macrodon), as well as three crocodylians, each belonging to a clade: the alligatoroid Diplocynodon tormis, a crocodyloid traditionally attributed to the genus Asiatosuchus, and Duerosuchus piscator, which is here identified as a planocraniid, up to now unrecognized in the Iberian fossil record.
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