Browsing by Author "Njehia, Bernard K."
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Item Analysis of the effects of corporate social responsibility on product extension among listed companies in Kenya(RS PUBLICATIONutelip, 2015) Njehia, Bernard K.; Khamah, Ali Hassan; Njanja, Lilly WanjikuCorporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the marketing strategies that are widely used in the industrial arena for the purposes of creating customer awareness, enhancing product penetration into the market and boosting firm‟s profitability. The study mainly examined the extent to which CSR affect product extensions in organizations. The study was in CSR because it is so rich, current, on going and challenging. In one way or another, organizations are involved in the CSR as they continue to do business. Many at times, marketers and CSR practitioners in general of various companies have been looking at CSR as just a mere tool for „social concern‟ that is, doing it to be seen as “a good neighbour”. This perception needs to be erased off from the marketers‟ minds and a different approach on in handling the CSR must enter the stage with the resolve of strengthening their firms‟ brand equityItem Assessment of the structure and performance of the milk market in western Kenya(2014) Njehia, Bernard K.; Wanjala, S. P. O.; Ngichabe, ChristopherThis study sought to assess the structure and performance of the milk market in Western Kenya. Quantitative data was collected from 385 milk consumers in four counties, while qualitative data was obtained from officials of selected cooperatives, Ministry of livestock and Kenya Dairy Board. Frequencies, percentages, means, correlation and chi square tests were used to analyze data. The findings of this study revealed that farmers and traveling traders supplied 58% of total milk traded, with 70% of the milk passing through the informal channel. Problems associated with milk suppliers included adulteration with water (65.5%), addition of chemicals (18%) and physical dirt (13.5%). There was a significant correlation between channel and contamination of milk (p<0.05). The region’s milk deficit was 177million litres/year, with demand estimated to be 392 million litres against a production of 215 million litres. The main milk markets included households, hotels, institutions who bought raw milk at USD 0.70 per litre while cooperatives bought at between USD 0.37 and USD 0.65. Consumers surveyed preferred quality (56%), price (27%), quantity (9%), packaging (5%) and reliability (3%) as attributes influencing choice of milk supplier. Based on these findings, milk marketing strategy in the region should prioritize quality and pricing. Though households, hotels and institutions offered good prices, they were unsustainable, scattered and unable to absorb increased volumes in an upgrading strategy designed to increase milk production. It is recommended that cooperatives, though comparatively buy milk at lower price, are the better option.Item Business training evaluation: Application and effects on trainee competencies(IOSR, 2015) Njehia, Bernard K.; Guyo, S. Huka; Mbugua, Zachariah KariukiThis study was designed to assess the effects of business training evaluations on the competencies of business trainees in Marsabit Central and South Districts of Marsabit County, Kenya.The researcher used descriptive survey research design alongside simple random,proportionate and census sampling techniques. The study had 345 business trainees and 81trainers respondents. The study used structured survey questionnaires to elicit responses from sampled respondents coupled with secondary data. A regression model was developed and used to compute the effects of training evaluation techniques on the competencies of the business trainees in the study areas. The study revealed that business trainers in the study areas moderately evaluated the reaction and the skills and knowledge levels of their trainees. However, they least evaluated behavioural and impact factors of the business training on the trainees. The business trainers also use mainly experimentation and observation evaluation techniques as opposed to popularly used four-factor and three-factor comparison methods. It was further established that at 95% level of confidence all the training evaluation techniques used by the business trainers in the study areas did not have significant effects on the competencies of the business trainees. Thus, other training evaluation techniques could be explored for use in the study areas. In addition, further research can be carried out to establish reasons why the training evaluation techniques did not have significant effects on the competencies of the business trainees in the study areas.Item The contribution of tourism to micro and small enterprise growth(IP Publishing Ltd, 2010) Njehia, Bernard K.; Mshenga, Patience M; Richardson, Robert B.; Birachi, Eliud A.Tourism is an increasingly important economic sector in many developing countries. In Kenya, it represents the second greatest contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) after agriculture. Data from a survey of 449 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in coastal Kenya were used in a modified Evans growth model to examine the contribution of tourism to the growth of farm and non-farm MSEs. The authors also examined the influence of entrepreneur and business characteristics on the growth of farm and non-farm MSEs along the Kenyan Coast. The age of the business, business income, marital status, number of employees and form of business organization were found to influence MSE growth significantly. Tourist spending and activities were also found to have a significant effect on MSE growth. The results have implications for the role of tourism in economic development, small business growth and poverty alleviation.Item Effects of Business Training Needs Analysis on Competencies of Trainees: The Kenyan Experienc(IOSR, 2015) Njehia, Bernard K.; Guyo, S. Huka; Mbugua, Zachariah KariukiHuman resource development practitioners have employed systematic training cycle approach to build competencies of the business trainees over the years. In this approach training needs analysis forms the principle components of the training as it strengthens foundation for the effective delivery of training programmes. In Marsabit Central and South Districts of Marsabit County, Kenya, business training providers have tried applying training needs analysis in their training programmes with mixed levels of successes and failures. Consequently this study was carried out to establish the effects of training needs analysis on the competencies of business trainees in the study areas. Using descriptive survey design and simple random sampling techniques, 345 trainees and 81 trainers were surveyed. The study established that at 95% level of confidence, target group analysis (p=0.000), man analysis (p=0.002) and ad hoc analysis (p=0.000) had significant effects on the competencies of the business trainees. However, operational analysis (p=0.720) and community analysis (p=0.945) did not have significant effects on the competencies of the business trainees in the study areas. The study therefore recommends that business training providers should enhance use of target group analysis, man analysis and ad hoc training needs analysis techniques. Further studies are also recommended to establish why the operational and target community analysis did not have effect on the competencies of the business trainees in the study areasItem Effects of cattle rustling and household characteristics on migration decisions and herd size amongst pastoralists in Baringo District, Kenya(Research, Policy and Practice, 2011-10-20) Njehia, Bernard K.; Kaimba, George K; Guliye, Abdi YPastoral communities in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya depend on livestock for their livelihood. However, these ASALs are characterized by temporal and spatial climatic variation, making availability of resources uneven. Mobility is a key strategy used by pastoralists to efficiently utilize available resources, notably pasture and water. This strategy is being interrupted by a vicious cycle of livestock rustling/raiding. This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of livestock rustling and other household characteristics on migration decisions and herd size amongst pastoralists in Baringo District in Kenya. A sample of 110 pastoralists were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Binary probit model was used to explain the probability of migrating while ordinary least square was used to explain effects on herd size. Gender and age of the household head are significant (P < 0.1 and P < 0.05, respectively) determinants of migration, whereas both also significantly (P < 0.1) influenced herd size. Intensity of rustling and loss of livestock to drought and/or disease also significantly (P < 0.01) influence the decision to migrate. Level of education had significant (P < 0.1) and negative influence on herd size, whereas size of household had significant (P < 0.01) and positive impact on herd size. Non-livestock income had significant (P < 0.05) and negative influence on migration and herd size. The practice of livestock rustling, rampant amongst pastoralist communities in Kenya and sometimes occurs across borders, influences pastoralists' decision to migrate and also their herd sizes. It destabilizes communities and undermines their normal livelihood strategies, thus contributing to increased poverty. Increasing the level of development in pastoral areas and formulation of appropriate policies will help in controlling the rustling menace.Item Important Variables Influencing Milk Yields on Smallholder Farms in Western Kenya(AJAFS, 2015) Njehia, Bernard K.; Wanjala, S. P. O.; Murithi, Festus M.This study sought to assess the most important variables influencing milk yields on smallholder farms in Western Kenya, a region with persistent milk insufficiency. Four approaches were assessed on ranking of important variables: Use of farmer focus groups, key informant interviews (pair-wise ranking of variables), beta weights and Product measure (multiple linear regression). The findings showed that all the four methods produced different ranking order. Using a combined weighting system, the most important variables influencing milk yields on smallholder farms were found to be fodder; dairy meal, credit, Artificial insemination, improved research technologies, group membership, policy and economic returns. Collectively, they explained 63.9% of the variance in milk yields in the area (F8, 291= 65.089, p<0.001).We argue that a combined weighting approach appears to be a sharper ranking method in selecting important variables from many components in a value chain system.Item Investigating effect of corporate social responsibility on consumer buying behaviour(IJECM Pub UK, 2015) Njehia, Bernard K.; Khamah, Ali H.; Njanja, Lilly W.Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the marketing strategies that are widely used in the industrial field for the purposes of creating customer awareness, enhancing product penetration into the market and boosting firm‟s profitability. The study mainly examined the extent to which CSR affect consumer buying behaviour in organizations. The study was in CSR because it is so rich, current, ongoing and challenging. In one way or another, organizations are involved in the CSR as they continue to do business. Many at times, marketers and CSR practitioners in general of various companies have been looking at CSR as just a mere tool for „social concern‟ that is, doing it to be seen as “a good neighbour”. This perception needs to be erased off from the marketers‟ minds and a different approach on in handling the CSR must enter the stage with the resolve of strengthening their firms‟ brand equity.Item Livestock Marketing Decisions Among Pastoral Communities: The Influence of Cattle Rustling in Baringo District, Kenya(Islamic Azad University, 2011) Njehia, Bernard K.; Kinyua, Kaimba George; Yakub, Guliye Abdi; Bett, Hillary KiplangatThe study sought to determine whether pastoralists haveresorted to sale of livestock as a form of insurance againstcommercialization of cattle rustling in which well structuredand managed cartels have organised more intense and frequentcattle raids on pastoralist, and how their decisions have affectedtheir herd size. The study was conducted among the pastoralBaringo community of Kenya. A sample size of 110 householdswas selected using multi-stage sampling procedures and interviewedusing a questionnaire. Binary Probit Model and OrdinaryLeast Squares were used in the analysis. Results indicated thatcattle rustling, particularly in its predatory state significantlycontributes to spontaneous sale of livestock even under verylow prices that in themselves could be described as raiding.The results further indicated that the number of livestock lostthrough cattle rustling dominated livestock sale and hencereduced herd size and the numbers of livestock available forsale. The insecurity generated by cattle rustling, coupled withthe poor marketing infrastructure make market inaccessible byboth buyers and sellers, resulting to increased poverty and dependencyamongst the pastoralists. Consequently, pastoralismhas become a source of misery rather than source of livelihood.Item Opportunities in adoption of commercial fish farming as a new enterprise for small scale farmers in Kisii county, Kenya(ScienceQ, 2014) Njehia, Bernard K.; Gachucha, Margaret; Mshenga, PatienceThe paper focuses on the opportunities which are present in the livestock sector in terms of new enterprises and which are not exploited by the farmers in the study area. It analyses the socioeconomics behind adoption of fish farming as an enterprise- describing the adopters’ characteristics and explaining the factors that influence the adoption process. Most of the analyzed factors are important and significantly influence the decision to adopt fish farming enterprise, with land size only having a negative relationship. The enterprise is also found to be a profitable venture when the financial analysis is doneItem The Role of Non-farm Investments in Agricultural Risk Management in Kenya(Current Research Journal of Economic Theory, 2011-08-15) Njehia, Bernard K.; Luke, Korir K.; Job, K. LagatWhile risk sharing institutions like national insurance and credit schemes that help reduce the burden of risk to farmers are weak in Kenya, private sector insurance products have failed to develop. Farmers have opted for self-insurance strategies that include diversification and social mechanisms. Non-farm investments are one of the diversification strategies whose effectiveness in risk management in Kenya has not been established. This study sought to investigate farmers’ risk management strategies and the effectiveness of non-farm investments. Data was collected from 100 randomly selected farm households using a structured questionnaire that was administered by trained enumerators. In order to identify the most prevalent risk management strategies, descriptive statistics were computed. Effectiveness of non-farm investments in risk management was assessed by simulating the effect of replacing the weight of farm income with that of non-farm income on the coefficient of variation of total household income. Non-farm self-insurance strategies included engagement in wage or salary earning activity, non-farm investment and membership in social groups. The simulation revealed that an increase in non-farm investment income lowered the coefficient of variation, indicating that a marginal increase in non-farm investment income stabilized total household income, while a decrease in non-farm investment income weight increased variability of total income. Government policies and institutional mechanisms that reduce risk (such as crop insurance and irrigation technologies) and those that facilitate farmers’ access to productive assets like non-farm investments are required in order enable farmers to manage risks in farming.Item SASRA Prudential Regulations and Financial Performance of Deposit Taking Saving and Credit Co-Operative Societies in Kenya(Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Book Publishing, 2023) Gatu, Kamau Antony; Njehia, Bernard K.; Kimutai, CarolineFinancial performance of Kenya’s deposit-taking savings and credit co-operative societies has been a source of concern, as evidenced by declining indicators over time. According to the SASRA study, profitability has declined significantly, as evidenced by a drop in Return on Assets (ROA) from 2.65% in 2020 to 1.59% in 2021. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of prudential requirements imposed by Kenya's Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) on the financial performance of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs). The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of liquidity, asset quality and capital sufficiency on and financial performance of deposit taking saving and credit co-operative societies in Kenya. The study was based on public interest theory, buffer theory and agency theory. The study employed a comparative research design and positivist research theory. The population studied in this study consisted of 175 licenced Deposit Taking SACCOs. Secondary data was used in the study, which was then analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Stata was used to conduct the analysis in this study. A multiple linear regression model was used to forecast financial performance. Diagnostic tests were performed to ensure that the linear regression model assumptions are not violated. The correlation results showed that liquidity has a negative correlation (-0.0497) with ROA. Capital adequacy showed a positive correlation (0.6710) with ROA. Similarly, asset quality had a positive correlation with ROA (0.5663). Panel regression results confirmed the importance of capital adequacy and asset quality in driving financial performance, as evidenced by highly significant coefficients (0.7140 and 0.2087, respectively) with p-values of 0.0000. The liquidity coefficient, on the other hand, was found to be -0.0008 with a p-value of 0.7380, indicating that changes in liquidity have a negligible impact on ROA. The study discovered that liquidity, capital adequacy, and asset quality explain 62.65% of the variation in financial performance (ROA). The study recommended that deposit taking savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOs) should take a balanced approach to liquidity management in order to optimise financial resources and potentially increase returns, and employ a solid capital base to improve stability.Item Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Farmers’ Participation in Grain Warehouse Receipt System and the Extent of Participation in Nakuru District, Kenya(www.iiste.org, 2013) Njehia, Bernard K.; Mutai, Julius K.; Mshenga, Patience; Kosgei, Geoffrey K.Post harvest losses in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) are generally high, arising from handling, transportation, storage, processing and packaging and marketing. In Kenya, it is estimated that 21.1% of total annual maize production is lost through poor post harvest handling techniques. As an effort to mitigate post-harvest losses, the Government together with development partners introduced the Grain Warehousing Receipt System (GWRS). Under this system, farmers store their marketable surplus in parastatal storage capacity or private grain handling service providers. The farmers are charged for storage service. As certification of their deposition, farmers are issued with receipts from the warehouses. The receipts can be used to access credit facilities from cooperating financial institutions up to 80% of the prevailing maize market prices. After waiting for prices to rise over the storage season, the farmers market the produce and payment made through respective financial institutions. Methods: The study was carried out in Nakuru District, Kenya. Double Hurdle model was used to estimate factors influencing farmers’ participation in GWRS and the extent of participation. The sample size was 178 farmers using multistage sampling technique where two divisions, Mauche and Gilgil were chosen to represent zones where maize farming is commercialized. Each of these divisions had 89 farmers randomly selected.The determination of sample size was through the approach based on the precision rate and confidence level. Results: Six explanatory variables were found to significantly influence participation in GWRS. Gender and distance to warehouse negatively influenced participation in GWRS while gender land size under maize production, off farm income, group membership positively influenced participation in GWRS. On the extent of participation in GWRS, five dependent variables were found to significantly influence participation in GWRS. Gender, household size and distance to warehouse negatively influenced while land size under maize production, group membership positively influenced the extent of participation. From the study the following recommendations are made; Strengthening of farmer owned organizations is highly recommended. This is achievable through capacity building and training on organizational development. Empowering women in agricultural activities is desirable. Offline diversification should be promoted to enhance household income. Grain driers and collection points should be made available at distance which farmers access them with ease to counter quality and transport challenges experienced by farmers. Storage costs charged by warehouses, interest on loan and loan arrangement fees should be brought down through research for farmers to optimize profit. This can be achieved by approving more warehouses, involving more cooperating financial institutions, warehouses diversifying to offer farm inputs and financial services and offer contract farmingItem Value chain predictors of milk production on smallholder dairy farms in Western Kenya: a multiple regression analysis(2014-04) Njehia, Bernard K.; Wanjala, Simon P. OmondiValue chain components are known to be important factors that determine the extent of commercialization and productivity in the agricultural sector. This study sought to assess the level of commercialization and variables influencing milk production in Butula and Butere districts of Western Kenya. 400 smallholder dairy farms were surveyed using proportional stratified random sampling, while qualitative data was collected through six focus group discussions, five informal interviews with Ministry of livestock staff and Kenya dairy Board. Household commercialization index (HCI) was used to estimate the level of commercialization. To assess which predictors are important in milk production, a total of eleven variables - Fodder, dairy meal, research technologies, credit, group membership, artificial insemination, extension, returns, linkages with buyers, community attitude and policy were put into Pearson’s correlation with milk production. Seven variables had a positive and significant correlation (p<0.01). To evaluate their collective and individual effect, multiple regression analysis was carried out. Results of the HCI revealed that the input market participation index was 0.32, while the output HCI was 0.46. The overall HCI in the area was 0.39 meaning that dairy farms in the area had a moderate market orientation. Multiple regression model explained 63.9% of the variance in milk production while the collective effect of value chain variables was found to be significant (P<0.001). The most important predictors explaining the variations in milk production were Fodder, dairy meal, research technologies, credit, group membership, artificial insemination, returns, and policy. Fodder and dairy meal had stronger beta co efficients and together explained 51% of the variation in milk yield. The results obtained suggest that multiple regression analysis may provide a rigorous and quantitative tool in selecting important value chain variables ex ante in an upgrading strategy since it goes a step beyond current qualitative approaches