Search results

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the collection development process at the University of Nairobi library and suggest ways for improvement.

A qualitative approach was employed to collect, analyze and interpret data from collection development librarians at the University of Nairobi purposively selected. Data were collected through structured interviews and documentary review. Data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics.

The study established that the library has a written collection development policy which was revised in 2014 and is strictly adhered to. However, the policy has a gap on the role of faculty as stakeholders in the selection process. In addition, the criteria for selection are not explicitly stated. Findings also indicate that budget allocation, collection development policy, user demands, quality of staff, library consortium and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act of 2015 influence the collection development process at the University of Nairobi Library.

The study was conducted in one public university library in Kenya. However, the findings may be applicable in similar university libraries in the country.

The findings of this study may benefit students and faculty in the University of Nairobi from improved collection development process that would ensure that their information needs are met in a timely manner. This would lead to improved research output by students and faculty and ultimately improved research output by the university. University library management may also benefit in improving the collection development process, thereby making it more economical. The findings may also be useful in decision-making and policy development on matters pertaining to collection development at the University of Nairobi and other universities. Furthermore, the findings may be used by researchers to provide context and background information for future research on collection development in public universities locally and regionally.

This paper fulfills the need to make the collection development process in university libraries more efficient by proposing ways of addressing the challenges experienced.

This paper aims to assess practical aspects of implementation of institutional repositories (IRs) in Africa with reference to the University of Nairobi and provide useful guidelines to the issues and lessons learned to the other practitioners.

The study used cross-sectional descriptive survey design to gather and analyze data that was both qualitative and quantitative in nature. In addition, questionnaires, interview schedule and observation guide were utilized to collect data from the respondents.

First, the study established that the IR has not been well integrated into mainstream information services of the library. Second, there is lack of awareness on the use of IR as an information resource on the part of students and staff. Third, there is need to integrate different forms of information into the IR including graphics, video and sound to carter for the whole population of users even those with disabilities. Finally, there is need for aggressive or serious rebranding, marketing and promotion of the IR.

IRs are vital sources of information that are increasingly being integrated and utilized in African higher education. Discussion of the University of Nairobi as a case study provides practical lessons, implications and home grown solutions for other institutions of higher learning in the African context.

IR is not only contemporary or emerging source of knowledge, information and communication but also fundamental or basic in institutions of higher learning. Consequently, IR provides excellent opportunities for universities to expand knowledge beyond internal and external learning environments.

Being fundamental sources of knowledge, IRs provide and support teaching, learning, research activities, scholarly communications and community services in universities and the society at large. As information and communication hubs, IRs have reinvented the image and role of universities as sources of knowledge in the society.

Universities need to embrace IRs as vital and valid sources of knowledge and learning. Developing IRs without aggressive rebranding, marketing and promotional strategies is not enough for universities, associated institutions plus the information staff, but with prove that the resources are being utilized to achieve organizational goals and objectives.

The purpose of this paper is to present the experience and impact of implementing the ISO 9001: 2008 Standard at the University of Nairobi, in relation to effectiveness on service delivery, operational performance, automation, implementation challenges and related emerging issues.

The paper adopted a case study design approach based on qualitative analysis of internal audit reports, internal surveys and feedback, surveillance audits conducted by the certifying body, and rankings by external bodies, over a period of seven years.

Significant achievements have been realized with regard to institutionalization of quality into the university processes, work environment, documentation and record management, customer satisfaction, infrastructure and facilities, use of ICT as a prime mover of performance improvement, and ranking of the university. Opportunities for improvement as well as critical success factors are presented.

The paper reports successes that may encourage other institutions of higher learning that are not certified to implement Quality Management Systems (QMSs) according to ISO 9001 Standard by focusing on specific factors.

This paper shows how an ISO 9001 certified QMS can improve internal institutional practices and avoid frequently experienced drawbacks.

Tropical wetland ecosystems are threatened by climate change but also play a key role in its mitigation and adaptation through management of land use and other drivers. Local-level assessments are needed to support evidence-based wetland management in the face of climate change. This study aims to examine the local communities’ knowledge and perception of climate change in Yala wetland, Kenya, and compare them with observed data on climate trends. Such comparisons are useful to inform context-specific climate change adaptation actions.

The study used a mixed methods approach that combined analysis of climate data with perceptions from the local community. Gridded data on temperature and rainfall for the period from 1981 to 2018 were compared with data on climate change perceptions from semi-structured questionnaires with 286 key informants and community members.

Majority of the respondents had observed changes in climate parameters – severe drought (88.5%), increased frequency of floods (86.0%) and irregular onset and termination of rains (90.9%) in the past 20 years. The perceptions corresponded with climate trends that showed a significant increasing trend in the short rains and the average maximum temperature, high incidence of very wet years and variability in onset and termination of rainfall between 1981 and 2018. Gender, age and education had little influence on knowledge and awareness of climate change, except for frequency of floods and self-reported understanding of climate change. The community perceived the wetland to be important for climate change adaptation, particularly the provision of resources such as grazing grounds during drought.

The study faced challenges of low sample size, use of gridded climate data and reproducibility in other contexts. The results of this study apply to local communities in a tropical wetland in Western Kenya, which has a bi-modal pattern of rainfall. The sample of the study was regional and may therefore not be representative of the whole of Kenya, which has diverse socioeconomic and ecological contexts. Potential problems have been identified with the use of gridded data (for example, regional biases in models), although their usefulness in data scarce contexts is well established. Moreover, the sample size has been found to be a less important factor in research of highly complex socio-ecological systems where there is an attempt to bridge natural and social sciences.

This study addresses the paucity of studies on climate change trends in papyrus wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa and the role of local knowledge and perceptions in influencing the management of such wetlands. Perceptions largely influence local stakeholders’ decisions, and a study that compares perceptions vs “reality” provides evidence for engagement with the stakeholders in managing these highly vulnerable ecosystems. The study showed that the local community’s perceptions corresponded with the climate record and that adaptation measures are already ongoing in the area.

This study presents a case for the understanding of community perceptions and knowledge of climate change in a tropical wetland under threat from climate change and land use change, to inform management under a changing climate.

This study aims to evaluate the property tax base under the local government property taxation in Nairobi City and its implication on revenue adequacy of the city. Nairobi has grown both in population and in physical extent resulting to increased demand for urban services. The city faces challenges of adequate infrastructure service provision against increasing demand. Property taxation if fully exploited can be a major source of city government revenue, which has been dwindling.

Literature review of property tax bases in the world and examination of best practices was done to highlight the inadequacies of property tax base administration in Nairobi. Primary data were gathered through interviews of officers in Nairobi City involved in the land rating process. Secondary data were obtained through documentary search and field survey of the study area.

The study established that Nairobi relies on a dual system of taxation, namely, site value rating and area rating. Tax is on vacant land only and excludes improvements. There are many legal exemptions and administrative exclusions from the tax base. The property tax registers do not include all the taxable properties and there is no regular updating of the tax registers. Nairobi relies on an outdated valuation roll whose values have no relation to the current market values.

These factors have resulted to a narrow tax base, which affects the revenue potential of the city and its ability to adequately provide infrastructure services.

This is an original research, which relied mainly on primary data. To establish the property tax bases and the exempt properties in Nairobi, the researchers interviewed the officers at the Nairobi city land valuation and property management directorate using structured questionnaires. To address the third objective on whether the property tax base is complete and all-inclusive, the research relied on primary data. The research population was residential properties in Buruburu, Kilimani and Riruta areas of Nairobi city. The sample data on property details were collected from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning (MLPP). The researchers then examined the records at the Nairobi City to evaluate whether the properties, which are registered at the MLPP, are charged land rates at the city level and at what amounts. This included properties under site value rating and area rating.

The purpose of this paper is to look at the applications of factor cost indices in the building industry in Nairobi, Kenya against the possibilities established through a review of the principles so as to establish the extent of use in practical situations in the industry. There are two organisations involved in compilation of factor cost indices in Kenya – Central Bureau of Statistics and Joint Building Council (JBC). Their practices for compilation of factor cost indices are reported in this paper.

The paper reviews the principles of factor cost index in order to establish a conceptual framework within which practices are then evaluated. The statistical bureau's compilation of building cost indices and the instructions by the JBC are considered as available evidence of application.

The paper finds that the application of factor cost index in Kenya is limited, a situation that therefore demands more research by the construction industry in Kenya.

The research's originality lies in its supportive evaluation of the application of the indicator concept in the building industry. More applications would imply greater possibilities for research and development within the case study industry.

To show how the analytical and visualization capabilities of geographic information systems (GIS) can enhance the communication, understanding and utility of data and information to be used in marketing planning, as compared with their conventional presentation as text and tables.

A digital map of the study area was generated and a set of market zones. A multiple regression model for predicting sale of the product under study was then developed, taking into account sales figures from specific distribution outlets and the demographic and socio‐economic characteristics of the population served by the distribution outlets in the identified market zones. Optimum routes and times between the manufacturing plant and the distribution outlets were derived.

Combining geospatial methods with conventional marketing techniques enables users to visualize the spatial distribution of data in maps, complemented by various statistical graphs and diagrams. This form of presentation yields better insights into the nature of the distribution process and better understanding of the diverse markets served.

This is a single case study of the solution to a logistical question in one district of one city in an African country. The findings must therefore be applied to other contexts with due caution.

The study nevertheless vividly demonstrates the important role that GIS can play in sales and marketing planning.

An application of planning technology normally encountered in applications beyond the marketing discipline, readily transferable with care to more familiar situations and settings.

This article discusses university education in Kenya with emphasis on patterns of financing and how this has affected overall operations of the universities. Reforms that have been implemented to reduce government grants to the public universities in an attempt to make them self‐sustaining are assessed. Private universities are discussed in the context of how they differ from the public universities. Problems facing the public universities are outlined. Measures that are being put in place by the universities to cope with reduced funding are evaluated.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the skills required by lecturers to be able to support research data management effectively; assess the research data management literacy levels amongst lecturers at Strathmore University; and suggest how research data management capacity can be strengthened to mitigate the knowledge gaps identified.

This study was conducted as a mixed methods research. Explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was used to collect, analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data from lecturers at Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires while qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS while qualitative data was analysed thematically.

The findings of this study indicate varied levels of research data management literacy amongst lecturers at Strathmore University. Lecturers understand the need of having literacy skills in managing research data. They also participate in data creation, collection, processing, validation, dissemination, sharing and archiving. This is a clear indication of good research data management. However, the study also revealed gaps in research data management skills amongst the lecturers in areas such as sharing of research data on open access journals, data legislation and securing research data.

The study has been conducted in one university in Kenya. However, the findings have been contextualised in the global landscape through suitable references.

The findings of this study may be used to attract the attention of lecturers and librarians to research data management. The findings may also be used to develop institutional policies on research data management at Strathmore University and beyond. The suggested ways of research data capacity strengthening can be adopted or adapted by other universities to enhance research data management.

This is an original study.

The aim of this paper is to use the case study of Nairobi in Kenya in order to fill the gap of knowledge on the component ratios of new building costs that has been missing from international literature.

Using survey methodology that considered firms of contractors registered and operating in Nairobi Kenya, the paper compares its findings rendered in terms of percentage ratios: with theoretical propositions (e.g. Wood), with past studies (e.g. Knowles) and with practice guidelines in Kenya.

Overall it finds that there is no significant change in percentage component ratios considered from past studies and practice guidelines in Kenya leading to the conclusion that the building industry has not undergone any significant technical change during the periods under study, i.e. 1980‐2006.

The study is limited by the fact that it only manages to capture the contractors' views of the component ratios. Contractors may be inclined to hide their profits which can be a sensitive issue in the Kenyan market, which as a developing economy, may be riddled with corrupt practices such as tax evasion and imperfect business competition. However, the issues raised here can be used as base information for further studies on the topic. Additionally an analysis of variance was performed on the data to ascertain its credibility. Second, the data used to argue the paper's case is partially dated but remains useful. The trend shows that there has been no significant change in the composition of component ratios hence the data remains relevant to date.

The paper's findings would be useful to international readers especially now that international contractors are bidding for work in Kenya. The data would give these contractors a glimpse into the structural composition of building cost components in Nairobi.

The paper's original contribution concerns the component ratios of building costs that has been neglected in the existing literature. In Kenya some work had been done by Knowles, but this was restricted to office block buildings only, while this paper considers all buildings as shown in Table V.