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Procurement practices and value for money in State Corporations in Kenya
(PLOS, 2024-06-18)
Waci, John Muturi
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Kariuki, Peter Wang’ombe
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Mwirigi, Purity Mukiri
Public procurement related expenditure is approximately fifty to seventy percent of the national budget of developing countries and accounts for almost a third of the gross domestic product. Cognizant of the significant funds committed in public procurement, the quest for value for money is critical. This study sought to determine the effect of procurement practices on value for money in State Corporations in Kenya. Specifically, the study investigated the effect of procurement planning, supplier sourcing, supplies management and E-procurement on value for money. Data collected from 87 State Corporations in Kenya was used in this study. The results of the study indicated that procurement planning, supplier sourcing, supplies management and e-procurement positively and significantly affect the value for money in state corporations in Kenya. The study concluded that proper procurement practices positively and significantly affect the value for money in state corporations in Kenya. The findings of this study contributes to literature by providing an empirical examination on the impact of procurement practices and value for money from a developing country perspective.
Transfer Hydrogenation: Advances in Manganese and Nickel Metal Catalysis
(Wiley, 2025-12-24)
Kamau, James
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Nyamato, George S.
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Ogunah, Joanne
Transfer hydrogenation (TH) of ketones, catalyzed by transition–metal complexes, produces alcohols, which are important building blocks in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. For a long time, catalysts based on noble metals such as ruthenium, rhodium, and iridium have dominated the TH of ketones. However, due to limited availability, high price, and toxicity of these noble metals, there has been a push for their replacement with abundant, nonprecious, and biocompatible metals. In this respect, the reactions catalyzed by first-row transition metals, which are more abundant and benign, have attracted more and more attention. Thus, in this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the advances made in the last decade, in the application of the first-row transition metals, manganese and nickel, in the hydrogenation of ketones. Special focus is given to ligand design and reaction conditions in influencing the catalytic activity, yield, and the nature of the product.
Prospective Impetus of Agriculture Services Post Devolution on Household Food Security among Smallholder Farmers in Eastern Kenya
(Agricultural Science Digest, 2026-06-02)
Kanana Fridah
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Kirimi Florence Kaumi
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Onyari Charles
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Wafula Judith
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Kithome Raphael Wambua
Background: Food and nutrition security is a major challenge worldwide. Food insecurity ranges from moderate to severe and Kenya’s expanding population coupled with challenges in agricultural extension service provision exacerbates the problem. Food insecurity and malnutrition remain common in the country, despite the administration’s various efforts to address these challenges. Methods: This study aimed at assessing the effect of changes of agriculture services post devolution on household food security. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 428 respondents were selected through multistage stratified sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Food security was calculated using food consumption score index while ordered probit was used to model the relationship between the changes post devolution and household food security. The study also used an ordered probit model to assess how changes in agricultural services under devolution affect household food security. Result: The analysis of food consumption scores indicates that 57% of farm households achieved an adequate level of dietary diversity, while 39% fell into the borderline category and 4% were classified as poor. The results show that reliable extension services, subsidized inputs, market links and higher farm profitability had a positive impact while access to superior animal breeds and interruptions in input availability had a negative impact on food security. The findings underscore the importance of dependable and economically priced agricultural services supported by enabling systems for long-term food security improvement.
Influence of Farmland Factors on Adoption Intensity of Nutrient Management Practices in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya
(University of Embu, 2026-07-28)
Raphael Wambua Kithome
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Florence Kaumi Kirimi
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Joyline Mugambi Muchiri
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Raphael Mwiti Gikunda
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Fridah Kanana Kinyua
Background: The adoption of the recommended nutrient management practices can significantly improve agricultural production by up to 66.5% and potentially double farm yields. However, the rate of adoption of the practices is likely to be affected by farmland factors, including land ownership, farm terrain, soil type and farming system, among others. Although research on the adoption of agricultural practices has been widely undertaken, there is limited information on the probable influence of farmland factors on adoption intensity of nutrient management practices, especially among farmers in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. This study analyzed the adoption of nutrient management practices and examined the influence of farmland factors on the adoption of these practices among farmers in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Methods: A sample of 400 farmers was selected from a target population of 85,675 in the county through stratified random sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the results, while the Tobit regression model was used to analyze the inferential statistics using Stata version 15. Result: The findings indicated that the use of cover crops was the most commonly practiced nutrient management practice (39.1%, n = 157), while precision nutrient management was the least adopted practice (0.7%, n = 3). The results also showed that the distance from the farm to the market (coefficient 0.036, p<0.05), mixed cropping (coefficient 0.069, p<0.05) and soil quality (coefficient -0.042, p<0.05) significantly influenced the adoption intensity of nutrient management practices. The adoption intensity of the practices was found to be low, primarily influenced by cropping systems. To enhance the adoption of nutrient management practices, national and county extension providers should design and implement training programs for farmers on soil nutrition.
CAN FARMLAND FACTORS INFLUENCE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES AMONG FARMERS? A CASE STUDY OF THARAKA-NITHI COUNTY, KENYA
(International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 2025-11-25)
Kithome, Raphael W.
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Kirimi, Florence K.
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Gikunda, Raphael M.
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Kinyua, Fridah K.
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Mogaka, Hezron R.
The study contributes to the knowledge base on agricultural extension, specifically examining the potential influence of selected farmland factors on the sustainability of agroforestry practices among farmers, with a particular focus on landholding patterns in Tharaka Nithi County. The research used stratified sampling to select a representative sample of 400 respondents from the target population of 85,675 farmers. A peer-reviewed semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The probit regression model was used to address the research question on the likely influence of farmland factors on the sustainability of agroforestry practices, using Stata version 15. The study revealed significantly higher sustainability of agroforestry practices among farmers with formal land titles (Coef. = 1.104, p = 0.007) and those who adopted a high number of nutrient management practices (Coef. = 0.679, p = 0.001). Additionally, natural features on a farm, such as wetlands, rock outcrops, hills, or uneven topography, significantly and negatively affected the adoption and sustainability of agroforestry practices (Coef. = -0.239, p = 0.038). On the contrary, other farmland factors, including infrastructure around the farm, soil quality perception, farm nature, and terrain type, were found to be statistically insignificant for the sustainability of agroforestry (p > 0.05). Therefore, the adoption and sustainability of agroforestry practices were mainly influenced by landholding structures and tenure security. To promote the efficient adoption and sustainability of agroforestry practices, the government should implement land reforms that secure land tenure and facilitate land consolidation.