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Factors Influencing Performance of Children Homes and Rehabilitation Centers within Nakuru Municipality and its Environs, Kenya

Received: 18 December 2014     Accepted: 5 January 2015     Published: 12 January 2015
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Abstract

The street children phenomenon in Kenya has long been regarded a perennial problem of the urban areas of the country and often viewed with disdain by most people in the society due to the menacing behavior of the children. This study investigated the factors influencing performance of street children rehabilitation centers in Kenya and was conducted among children homes in Nakuru municipality. The objectives of the study were: to establish the effect of government policies & regulations on street children rehabilitation projects performance; to evaluate the extent of the effect of financial resources on street children rehabilitation projects performance in and to assess the importance of the managerial skills on street children rehabilitation projects performance. This was a descriptive survey research, targeting two of the senior most rehabilitation managers in the 38 street children rehabilitation centers within Nakuru Municipality bringing the estimated population to 60 respondents. Data was collected through semi structured questionnaires. The instruments were pilot tested before the actual study to ascertain the validity and reliability. The data analysis done using Excel and results were presented in tables. Findings on the objectives revealed high levels of familiarity with the government policies and regulations although compliance rate was still average due to the nature of the regulations which presented a limiting work environment. The level of funding was adequate in most cases, funding allocation prioritized on food, education and medical care. Budget deficits were mainly offset by faming and fundraising. Financial control systems in place were reported as reliable, thus, properly positioning the Homes for better growth prospects. Most of the managers had formal managerial training with project management being the most subscribed course. Strategic planning was practiced in most institutions although the concepts and methods of strategic planning still wanting in some cases. The communities were generally appreciative of the presence of the homes as reform institutions in their neighborhoods. Fewer complaints and many were compliments given to the Homes due to the perceived nobility of the projects. Less material support was available due to misinformation about the nature of the projects. There is need for more consultative engagement among all stakeholders in entrenching the rights and welfare of the abandoned and orphaned children in all legal documents both locally and internationally. This will go a long way in ensuring the wellbeing of these children and make them better citizens of the world tomorrow.

Published in International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijefm.20140206.19
Page(s) 362-377
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Children Homes, Rehabilitation Centers, Nakuru Municipality

References
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[2] Ambler, C., (1988). Kenyan Communities in the Age of I perialism: The Central Region in the Late Nineteenth Century. New Haven, CT and London: Yale University Press.
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[5] Aptekar, L., & Ciano-Federoff, L. M. (1999). Street children in Nairobi: Gender differences in mental health. E ploring developmental issues (pp. 35-46). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
[6] Armstrong, G., (2006). A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, 10th Edition, Kogan Page Ltd., London.
[7] Bibars, I., (1998). Street children in Egypt: from the home to the street to inappropriate corrective institutions. Env ronment and Urbanization 10:1.
[8] Connolly, M., & Ennew, J. (1996). Children out of place. Childhood: A Global Journal of Child Research, 3:131-145.
[9] Corbin, J. & Strauss, A., (1990). Grounded theory research: Procedures, canons, and evaluative criteria.Qualitative Sociology, 13: 3-21.
[10] Davidson, N., (2008). Top Tips for Project Implementation, Atlanta Sage Publications.
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[13] Donnelly, G., (1997). Organizations Behavior Structur Processes, 9th Edition, New York, McGraw Hill.
[14] Earls, F., & Carlson, M., (1999). Children at the margins of society: Research and practice. Homeless and working youth around the world: Exploring developmental issues (pp. 71-82). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
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[17] Farver, J., Welles-Nyström, B., & Frosch, D., (1997). Toy stories: Aggression in children’s narratives in the United States, Sweden, Germany, and Indonesia. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 28, 393-420.
[18] Gareth, E., (1998). Contemporary Management, New York, McGraw Hill.
[19] Graham, D. and Bennet, R., (1998). Human Resource Management, 9th Edition, New Jersey, prentice hall international Inc.
[20] Jobber, D., (2007). Principles and Practice of Marketing, (5th edition), Berkshire McGraw Hill.
[21] Onyango, P. M., Orwa, K., Ayako, A.A., Ojwang', J. B., & Kariuki, P.W., (1999). Research on Street Children in Kenya, A N P P C A N, Nairobi.
[22] Kibuka, E., (1996). Going into Business for Self Projec Finance Data and Consultancy, Nairobi, Kenya Literature Bureau.
[23] Knitzer, J. and Adely, F. J. (2002). The Role of Community Development Corporations in Promoting the Well-Being of Young Children http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:9266
[24] Kotler, P., (2002). Principles of Marketing, 11th Edtion, New Jersey, Prentice Hall.
[25] Mason, D. R., Lind, D.A., and Marchal, W. G., (1999). St tistical Techniques in Business and Economics, (10th edition), Atlanta, Irwin McGraw Hill.
[26] Mullins J., (1999). Management andOrganiz tional Bhavior, 5th Edition, London, Prentice Hall International.
[27] Nalkur, P.G., (2009). Achievement Orientations an Strategies: A Cultural Comparison o Tanzanian Street Children, Former Street Children, and School-Going Children. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 40: 1012.
[28] Wara, G.F.O., (2007). Kenya Street Children Project, Kisumu, United Nations Published Report.
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  • APA Style

    Susan Nyamai, Maina Waiganjo. (2015). Factors Influencing Performance of Children Homes and Rehabilitation Centers within Nakuru Municipality and its Environs, Kenya. International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 2(6), 362-377. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20140206.19

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    ACS Style

    Susan Nyamai; Maina Waiganjo. Factors Influencing Performance of Children Homes and Rehabilitation Centers within Nakuru Municipality and its Environs, Kenya. Int. J. Econ. Finance Manag. Sci. 2015, 2(6), 362-377. doi: 10.11648/j.ijefm.20140206.19

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    AMA Style

    Susan Nyamai, Maina Waiganjo. Factors Influencing Performance of Children Homes and Rehabilitation Centers within Nakuru Municipality and its Environs, Kenya. Int J Econ Finance Manag Sci. 2015;2(6):362-377. doi: 10.11648/j.ijefm.20140206.19

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijefm.20140206.19,
      author = {Susan Nyamai and Maina Waiganjo},
      title = {Factors Influencing Performance of Children Homes and Rehabilitation Centers within Nakuru Municipality and its Environs, Kenya},
      journal = {International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {6},
      pages = {362-377},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijefm.20140206.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20140206.19},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijefm.20140206.19},
      abstract = {The street children phenomenon in Kenya has long been regarded a perennial problem of the urban areas of the country and often viewed with disdain by most people in the society due to the menacing behavior of the children. This study investigated the factors influencing performance of street children rehabilitation centers in Kenya and was conducted among children homes in Nakuru municipality. The objectives of the study were: to establish the effect of government policies & regulations on street children rehabilitation projects performance; to evaluate the extent of the effect of financial resources on street children rehabilitation projects performance in and to assess the importance of the managerial skills on street children rehabilitation projects performance. This was a descriptive survey research, targeting two of the senior most rehabilitation managers in the 38 street children rehabilitation centers within Nakuru Municipality bringing the estimated population to 60 respondents. Data was collected through semi structured questionnaires. The instruments were pilot tested before the actual study to ascertain the validity and reliability. The data analysis done using Excel and results were presented in tables. Findings on the objectives revealed high levels of familiarity with the government policies and regulations although compliance rate was still average due to the nature of the regulations which presented a limiting work environment. The level of funding was adequate in most cases, funding allocation prioritized on food, education and medical care. Budget deficits were mainly offset by faming and fundraising. Financial control systems in place were reported as reliable, thus, properly positioning the Homes for better growth prospects. Most of the managers had formal managerial training with project management being the most subscribed course. Strategic planning was practiced in most institutions although the concepts and methods of strategic planning still wanting in some cases. The communities were generally appreciative of the presence of the homes as reform institutions in their neighborhoods. Fewer complaints and many were compliments given to the Homes due to the perceived nobility of the projects. Less material support was available due to misinformation about the nature of the projects. There is need for more consultative engagement among all stakeholders in entrenching the rights and welfare of the abandoned and orphaned children in all legal documents both locally and internationally. This will go a long way in ensuring the wellbeing of these children and make them better citizens of the world tomorrow.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Factors Influencing Performance of Children Homes and Rehabilitation Centers within Nakuru Municipality and its Environs, Kenya
    AU  - Susan Nyamai
    AU  - Maina Waiganjo
    Y1  - 2015/01/12
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    JF  - International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences
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    AB  - The street children phenomenon in Kenya has long been regarded a perennial problem of the urban areas of the country and often viewed with disdain by most people in the society due to the menacing behavior of the children. This study investigated the factors influencing performance of street children rehabilitation centers in Kenya and was conducted among children homes in Nakuru municipality. The objectives of the study were: to establish the effect of government policies & regulations on street children rehabilitation projects performance; to evaluate the extent of the effect of financial resources on street children rehabilitation projects performance in and to assess the importance of the managerial skills on street children rehabilitation projects performance. This was a descriptive survey research, targeting two of the senior most rehabilitation managers in the 38 street children rehabilitation centers within Nakuru Municipality bringing the estimated population to 60 respondents. Data was collected through semi structured questionnaires. The instruments were pilot tested before the actual study to ascertain the validity and reliability. The data analysis done using Excel and results were presented in tables. Findings on the objectives revealed high levels of familiarity with the government policies and regulations although compliance rate was still average due to the nature of the regulations which presented a limiting work environment. The level of funding was adequate in most cases, funding allocation prioritized on food, education and medical care. Budget deficits were mainly offset by faming and fundraising. Financial control systems in place were reported as reliable, thus, properly positioning the Homes for better growth prospects. Most of the managers had formal managerial training with project management being the most subscribed course. Strategic planning was practiced in most institutions although the concepts and methods of strategic planning still wanting in some cases. The communities were generally appreciative of the presence of the homes as reform institutions in their neighborhoods. Fewer complaints and many were compliments given to the Homes due to the perceived nobility of the projects. Less material support was available due to misinformation about the nature of the projects. There is need for more consultative engagement among all stakeholders in entrenching the rights and welfare of the abandoned and orphaned children in all legal documents both locally and internationally. This will go a long way in ensuring the wellbeing of these children and make them better citizens of the world tomorrow.
    VL  - 2
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    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Education and External studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Department of Commerce, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

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