African Journal of Emerging Issues

TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURES AND QUALITY OF LIFE: CASE FOR KENYA

Leonard Njung’e Kimani — 2024-12-10

Purpose of Study: This study investigates the influence of total public expenditures on the quality of life (QoL) of people in Kenya over a period of 15 years, 2008-2022. The period marks the larger part of the ongoing Kenya Vision 2030.

Methodology: The study uses human development index as the metric for QoL, secondary data sources, and the autoregressive distributed lag model in the analysis to test the null hypotheses that total public expenditures are not statistically important in influencing QoL in Kenya.

Results: The results indicate that there is not enough evidence against the null hypothesis, contrary to popular expectations. One possible explanation for this outcome is attribution arising from the likelihood of unbalanced economic growth process in Kenya over time.

Keywords: Quality of life, total public expenditures, autoregressive distributed lag model, unbalanced economic growth, Kenya Vision 2030.

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN KENYA

Leonard Njung’e Kimani — 2024-12-10

Purpose of Study: This study examines the effect of economic growth on the quality of life (QoL) of people in Kenya over a period of 15 years, 2008-2022. The period marks the larger part of the ongoing Kenya Vision 2030.

Methodology: The study uses human development index (HDI) as the metric for QoL, secondary data sources, and the autoregressive distributed lag model in the analysis to test the null hypotheses that economic growth is not statistically significant in influencing QoL in Kenya.

Result: The results indicate that there is not enough evidence against the null hypothesis, contrary to popular expectations. One possible explanation for this outcome is attribution arising from inclusivity in the growth process.

Keyword: Economic growth, quality of life, Kenya Vision 2030, equilibrium theory, cumulative causation theory.

THE IMPACT OF THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HOUSEHOLDS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: A CAPABILITY APPROACH FROM SIERRA LEONE

Abubakarr Turay — 2024-12-16

Purpose of Study: This research aims to quantify the impacts of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war on households, particularly those with persons with disabilities (PwDs), in Sierra Leone. It investigates how the war affects PwD households more significantly than non-PwD households and how these effects contribute to increased vulnerability and poverty.

Statement of Problem: Existing literature has largely ignored the specific vulnerabilities of PwD households during crises like the Russia-Ukraine war, focusing instead on macroeconomic impacts or treating all households as homogenous. This study seeks to address this gap by examining the channels through which the war affects PwD households in Sierra Leone.

Methodology: The study employs Sen’s capability approach as the framework to assess the war’s impact on PwD households. Data was collected by Statistics Sierra Leone from November 2022 to January 2023, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), involving 5,760 households. Percentages, Chi-Square, and Diffusion Index were used to analyze the dataset.

Result: The study found that the Russia-Ukraine war has significantly reduced the capabilities of PwD households to function and achieve their goals through the following channels: worsening employment outcomes, increased food insecurity, harmful coping strategies, and a decline in social network support. This has heightened the risk of vulnerability and poverty among these households.

Conclusion: The paper concludes that the Russia-Ukraine war has disproportionately impacted PwD households in Sierra Leone, exacerbating their vulnerability to poverty. The reduction in their capabilities to function effectively has worsened their overall well-being.

Recommendation: The study recommends targeted social protection support for PwD households, including food assistance and support for micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), to shield them from the lingering impacts of the war-induced inflation and economic slowdown.

Keywords: Persons with disabilities, Russia-Ukraine war, household, capability approach, impact

AGILE LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT AND THE PERFORMANCE OF HUMANITARIAN FIRMS IN NORTHEASTERN KENYA

Collins Musyoka — 2024-12-17

Purpose: This study investigated the determinants influencing effective logistics coordination in humanitarian efforts within Kenya's Northern Eastern Region. It focused on understanding how organizational competent skills, transport infrastructure, and information sharing impact crisis response efficiency in this challenging context.

Design/methodology/approach: The research employed a descriptive design, targeting 33 logistic coordinators from 13 humanitarian organizations. Through purposive sampling, 28 coordinators were selected. Data collection used structured questionnaires, with analysis performed using SPSS software (version 24).

Findings: The study revealed significant positive correlations between organizational competent skills, transport infrastructure, information sharing, and effective logistics coordination. Organizational competent skills showed the strongest correlation, followed by transport infrastructure and information sharing. Issues with decision-making processes and communication channels were also identified.

Conclusion: Stakeholder engagement plays a vital role in successful implementation of logistics coordination in humanitarian efforts. The study emphasized the interdependence of organizational competency, transport infrastructure, and information sharing in achieving effective coordination, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to enhance crisis response efforts.

Recommendations: The study suggests actively involving skilled personnel in decision-making, enhancing communication channels, prioritizing investment in transportation infrastructure, and fostering collaboration among humanitarian organizations. These recommendations aim to improve the overall effectiveness of humanitarian logistics coordination in the Northern Eastern Region of Kenya.

Keywords: Logistics Management, Agility, Performance, Humanitarian Firms, Northeastern Kenya