Research Papers/conference proceedings
http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/1156
2024-03-29T00:29:56ZPROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF WATER SERVICE BOARDS IN KENYA. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management (IJECM; ISSN 2348-0386)
http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/6006
PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF WATER SERVICE BOARDS IN KENYA. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management (IJECM; ISSN 2348-0386)
Nduko, Fred Nyasetia; Iravo, Mike A.; Wanjala, Yusuf Muchelule
Kenya water service boards are investing millions of money in different portfolios with the objective of profit maximization. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the influence of project portfolio management practices on the performance of water service boards in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were; to determine the effect of project evaluation, project selection and prioritization, resource allocation, portfolio control and to establish the moderating effect of contextual factors on the relationship between project portfolio management practices and performance of water service boards in Kenya. Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted and the target population was 280 respondents constituted with boards project key mandate, study sample size was 165 respondents obtained by stratified sampling. SPSS version 25.0 was used to process and analyze the collected data. there is a significant influence of resource allocation as a project portfolio management practice on the performance of water service boards in Kenya; that a unit increase in portfolio control results to an increase in performance of water service boards in Kenya; and that there is a significant International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, United Kingdom Licensed under Creative Common Page 247 influence of project evaluation as a project portfolio management practice on the performance of water service boards. The study also found that portfolio risk management does moderate the relationships between project portfolio management practice and performance of water service boards in Kenya. The study thus concludes that companies &organizations should consider adopting various project prioritization methods. This includes the ranking method, scoring model, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Technique.
2020-11-01T00:00:00ZExperimental investigation on performance of a compression ignition engine fueled with waste cooking oil biodiesel–diesel blend enhanced with Iron-doped Cerium Oxide nanoparticles
http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5524
Experimental investigation on performance of a compression ignition engine fueled with waste cooking oil biodiesel–diesel blend enhanced with Iron-doped Cerium Oxide nanoparticles
Meshack Hawi, Ahmed Elwardany, Mohamed Ismail and Mahmoud Ahmed
The effect of iron-doped cerium oxide (FeCeO2) nanoparticles as a fuel additive was experimentally investigated with waste cooking oil methyl ester (WCOME) in a four-stroke, single cylinder, direct injectiondiesel engine. The study aimed at the reduction of harmful emissions of diesel engines including oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and soot. Two types of nanoparticles were used: cerium oxide doped with 10% iron and cerium oxide doped with 20% iron, to further investigate the influence of the doping level on the nanoparticle activity. The nanoparticles were dispersed in the tested fuels at a dosage of 90 ppm with the aid of an ultrasonic homogenizer. Tests were conducted at a constant engine speed of 2000 rpm and varying loads (from 0 to 12 N.m) with neat diesel (D100) and biodiesel–diesel blends of 30% WCOME and 70% diesel by volume (B30). The engine combustion, performance, and emission characteristics for the fuel blends with nanoparticles were compared with neatdiesel as the base fuel. The test results showed improvement in the peak cylinder pressure by approximately 3.5% with addition of nanoparticles to the fuel. A reduction in NOx emissions by up to 15.7% were recorded, while there was no noticeable change inunburned hydrocarbon (HC) emissions. Carbon monoxide (CO) emission was reduced by up to 24.6% for B30 and 15.4% for B30 with nano-additives. Better engine performance was recorded for B30 with 20% FeCeO2 as compared to 10% FeCeO2, in regard to cylinder pressure and emissions. The brake specific fuel consumption was lower for the fuel blend of B30 with 10% FeCeO2 nanoparticles, in low-to-medium loads and comparable to D100 at high loads. Hence, a higher brake thermal efficiency was recorded for the blend inlow-to-medium loads compared to D100.
2021-03-08T00:00:00ZASSESSMENT OF OCCURRENCE AND CONCENTRATIONS OF XENOBIOTICS IN SELECTED FISH SPECIES FROM LAKE NAIVASHA, KENYA
http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5454
ASSESSMENT OF OCCURRENCE AND CONCENTRATIONS OF XENOBIOTICS IN SELECTED FISH SPECIES FROM LAKE NAIVASHA, KENYA
Njogu Paul, Keriko Joseph, Wanjau Ruth and Kitetu Jackson
Aquatic organisms are good bio-indicators of the environmental health in freshwater lakes; Xenobiotics are foreign materials to the organisms’ body and do not occur naturally in nature. Xenobiotics accumulate in adipose tissues due to high affinity to fatty tissues. This paper reports the levels of Organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) residues, their metabolites and Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCBs) congeners in selected fish species from Lake Naivasha, Kenya. PCBs and OCPs are persistent organic pollutants most of which are banned or under restricted usage. The levels of p, p’- DDT, p, p’- DDE, p, p’- DDD, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, CB28, CB52 and CB105 were determined in Tilapia, Oreochromis leucostictus, Common carp, Cyprinus carpio, and Mirror carp,Cuprinus spectacularlus, during the months of September - December 2008. The concentrations ranged within Below Detection Limit (BDL) - 0.29 for Heptachlor epoxide, 0.42 - 4.19 μ g/Kg, for Heptachlor, 0.43 - 4.73 Aldrin, BDL - 0.34 Dieldrin, p, p’ - DDT, BDL - 6.69 p, p’ - DDE, BDL - 27.15 p, p’ - DDD, BDL - 28.87 methoxychlor, 0.05 - 5.56 CB28, 0.012 - 13.91 CB52 and BDL - 0.45 CB105. The OCPs and PCBs varied widely between and within species. C. spectacularlusshowed high levels followed by C. carpio and O. leucostictus respectively. Trophic position, lipid contents, weight and age/size of fish were important parameters in Xenobiotics concentrations in specimens. The occurrences of the Xenobiotics in fish indicate recent use in the catchment. The mean values and ranges of residues found in fish were below the FAO/WHO maximum acceptable limits in fish and sea food however increased monitoring is recommended to detect any changes.
2021-01-22T00:00:00ZAssessment of Occupational Safety and Health Practices for Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticides in Flower Farms in Naivasha, Nakuru County Kenya
http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5453
Assessment of Occupational Safety and Health Practices for Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticides in Flower Farms in Naivasha, Nakuru County Kenya
Loise Mukami, Paul Njogu, Margaret Kungu
This study sought to explore cholinesterase monitoring practices in selected flower farms in Naivasha, Kenya, as part of occupational safety and health management. Structured questionnaires were administered to 138 personnel in charge of production and employees’ medical to collect data on cholinesterase monitoring practices in place and the challenges experienced in the monitoring by the farms. Majority of the farms (82.6%) used organophosphate and carbamate pesticides for pest control. All the respondents confirmed that only maleemployees were involved in handling pesticides. Majority of the respondents (70%) reported that their farms conducted regular cholinesterase testing for pesticides handlers. Out of these farms all spray operators were incorporated in the testing program while 85% reported inclusion of spray supervisors and another 70% inclusion of pesticides store men in the testing program. Majority of the respondents (60%) conducted cholinesterase testing after every 3 months of handling pesticides. Cholinesterase baseline is established at a time away from pesticides handling as reported by (70%) of respondents. The most commonlydone cholinesterase testing is plasma cholinesterase (PChE) as reported by three quarters of the respondents. Other medical examinations that were conducted for the pesticides handlers included clinical examination (70%) and liver function (10%) of the respondents. Three quarters of the respondents reported that neither cholinesterase nor medical results were sent to the Directorate of Safety andHealth Services (DOSHS) as required by law. Most of the respondents (65%) reported that re-deployed pesticides handlers were given 3 –4 months away from pesticides handling activities and would resume handling duties without cholinesterase re-testing. More than half of the farms (65%) were reported to have an on-site clinic, but 69% did not conduct cholinesterase testing at the farm clinic. Most of respondents (65%) reported their farms used different laboratory for cholinesterase testing. Most respondents (41.2%) reported that it took 11 –15 days to get laboratory results after conducting the test. 70% of the respondents’ stocked antidotes at the farm, mainly activated charcoal and atropine. 65% of the respondents did not know the existence of a poisoninformation and emergencycenterin Kenya. Challenges encountered at the farms in the management and monitoring of employees cholinesterase program included: employees personal attributes and beliefs e.g. taking blood samples needed for cholinesterase testing not acceptable to some; cholinesterase tests being expensive especially when many employees are involved since it’s done 3 monthly; few testing facilities; lack of a standardized system of conducting cholinesterase test; difference in the interpretation of cholinesterase results; delay in getting lab results and consequently delay in taking appropriate intervention; blood samples hemolysis; existing medical condition; minimal awareness on cholinesterase as subject; misdiagnosis of cholinesterase inhibition since symptoms may present as other common illnesses; few approved occupational health practitioners; poor quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and use ofworn out PPE; long re-entry intervals required after spraying organophosphate and carbamate pesticides; cholinesterase depression levels due to other sources of exposure for some employees e.g. at their own farms, or domestic pesticides.
2021-01-22T00:00:00Z