Conference Presentations by barasa odula elias
TITLE: THE DETERMINANTS OF ENERGY ACCESS IN VILLAGES OF LABOOT AND CHEPKITALE OF MT.ELGON SUB-COU... more TITLE: THE DETERMINANTS OF ENERGY ACCESS IN VILLAGES OF LABOOT AND CHEPKITALE OF MT.ELGON SUB-COUNTY, KENYA
ABSTRACT
Low access to energy consumption distorts expansion prospects. In some parts of kenya, individuals have to live with little or no access to electricity which has prompted both national and county government decision makers to take considerable actions at increasing access to electricity nationally and locally. These actions are important considering the fact that modern energy consumption accelerates economic growth, reduces inequality, poverty, as well as environmental pollution and solid fuel consumption. In spite of these actions, the prevalence of limited access to electricity in Turkana county demands empirical research to ascertain the factors that undermine access to electricity in the county considering the fact that not much has been done empirically in this area. Consequently, the determinants of electricity access in turkana county, Kenya was the focus of this study. The methodological framework applied adopted the percentage of population with access to electricity as the dependent variable. The independent variables were constrained by data availability. The findings revealed that several factors have led to the low level of electricity consumption in Laboot and Chepkitale villages of Mt Elgon Sub-County in Kenya. Income per capita, transmission and distribution losses, proportion of rural population, population density, dependency ratio and savings were found to affect electricity access consistently in Mt.Elgon Sub-County. The results further revealed that the credibility of both national and county governments – government’s effectiveness has also hindered electricity access in Mt Elgon Sub-County. Access to electricity as revealed by the results is a normal and necessary good. The findings have considerable lessons for policy interventions both at national and county government that will aid in reducing poor electricity consumption in Mt.Elgon Sub-County.
Keywords: energy access, Regional development, rural development,
Government effectiveness, turkana county, Kenya,
Abstract
Many developed countries have carried out devolved system of governance and New Public... more Abstract
Many developed countries have carried out devolved system of governance and New Public Management (NPM) types of public sector reform in the 1980s and 90s. The objectives are to improve the quality of public services, reduce the drain on the ex-chequer, improve the efficiency of public organizations, and create an environment conducive for private sector investment as a result of the reversal of socialist policies of the 1960s and 70s. Developing countries like Kenya have been slower to adopt such policies, very often dismissing,devolution and public sector reforms as a ‘process’ to disguise the failure of governments in a democratic system to push forward much needed reforms. Devolution and the need to ensure international competitiveness have come to catalyze the process of reform, forcing governments to overcome previously unpopular and politically suicidal reforms, operating against the entrenched inertia of the traditional public administration. The demand and supply-sides factors as a result of devolution have formed an appropriate eco-system for public sector reforms in developing countries, even in democracies with fragile coalition governments which may find it appropriate to institutionalize lead agencies with connections to the centre of power in order to bring continuous reform irrespective of a change in political masters.
URBAN CRISIS AND TRENDS IN SUB –AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND GLOBAL COMPERATIVE: A THREAT TO HUMAN SECUR... more URBAN CRISIS AND TRENDS IN SUB –AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND GLOBAL COMPERATIVE: A THREAT TO HUMAN SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, IN KENYA.
BY BARASA ODULA ELIAS
ABSTRACT
Urban centres have existed and have been evolving for many centuries across the world. However, the accelerated growth of urbanisation in Kenya is a relatively recent phenomenon. The enormous size of urban populations and more significantly, the rapidity with which urban areas have been and are growing in many developing countries have severe social, economic and physical repercussions. This paper argues that the accelerated growth of urbanisation in Kenya has amplified the demand for key services. However, the provision of shelter and basic services such as water and sanitation, education, public health, employment and transport has not kept pace with this increasing demand. Furthermore, accelerated and poorly managed urbanisation has resulted in various types of atmospheric, land and water pollution thereby jeopardising human security. This paper offers the conclusion that the increased environmental, social and economic problems associated with rapid urbanisation pose a threat to sustainable development, human security and, crucially, peace.
Environmental education is the sense of understanding the environment.It gives the interdependenc... more Environmental education is the sense of understanding the environment.It gives the interdependence of human life and the rest of the natural world. The 19th century as the industrial revolution at that time, the degrading living conditions of most European countries showed that environmental problems were approaching unhealthy levels. That the effects of industrial revolution had impacted on quality of living conditions and hence saw need of environmental education for better quality of life. During the period of reconstruction, the World War II devastated countries of Europe embarked on a rapid program of industrialization which had extremely damaging effects on the environment. Some of these effects had taken a long time to be remedied. Thus the need of legal protection of the environment was motivated from the need to protect scenic resources for both present and future generations and concern towards the protection of the public health. The main trust of this paper is to look into the ever increasing population in the cities and the few facilities available to such a population, other consequences of the environmental degradation that were felt i.e water, air and noise pollution, pollution from hazardous and environmental wastes and the late threat of global warming and depletion of ozone layer..The paper will also examine the policies and laws affecting the environmental that is(i)the definition of environment,(ii)evolution of environmental education,(iii)international management of the environment,(iv)the role of law in environmental management,(v)basic environmental policies and laws of developed countries,(vi)environmental management policies and laws in the third world countries Kenya as case study,(vii)the defects of present environmental laws.
Environmental education is the sense of understanding the environment.It gives the interdependenc... more Environmental education is the sense of understanding the environment.It gives the interdependence of human life and the rest of the natural world. The 19th century as the industrial revolution at that time, the degrading living conditions of most European countries showed that environmental problems were approaching unhealthy levels. That the effects of industrial revolution had impacted on quality of living conditions and hence saw need of environmental education for better quality of life. During the period of reconstruction, the World War II devastated countries of Europe embarked on a rapid program of industrialization which had extremely damaging effects on the environment. Some of these effects had taken a long time to be remedied. Thus the need of legal protection of the environment was motivated from the need to protect scenic resources for both present and future generations and concern towards the protection of the public health. The main trust of this paper is to look into the ever increasing population in the cities and the few facilities available to such a population, other consequences of the environmental degradation that were felt i.e water, air and noise pollution, pollution from hazardous and environmental wastes and the late threat of global warming and depletion of ozone layer..The paper will also examine the policies and laws affecting the environmental that is(i)the definition of environment,(ii)evolution of environmental education,(iii)international management of the environment,(iv)the role of law in environmental management,(v)basic environmental policies and laws of developed countries,(vi)environmental management policies and laws in the third world countries Kenya as case study,(vii)the defects of present environmental laws.
A market is an actual or nominal place where forces of ,operate demand and supply and where buyer... more A market is an actual or nominal place where forces of ,operate demand and supply and where buyers and sellers interact (directly or through intermediaries) to trade goods, services, or contracts or instruments, for money or barter. Markets include mechanisms or means for (1) determining price of the traded item, (2) communicating the price information, (3) facilitating deals and transactions, and (4) effecting distribution. The market for a particular item is made up of existing and potential customers who need it and have the ability and willingness to pay for it. This paper would examine and discuss the most common market structure, namely perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, duopoly and monopoly. Identify and discuss the Kenyan examples of such market structure and their impact of economics.
Environmental education is the sense of understanding the environment.It gives the interdependenc... more Environmental education is the sense of understanding the environment.It gives the interdependence of human life and the rest of the natural world. The 19th century as the industrial revolution at that time, the degrading living conditions of most European countries showed that environmental problems were approaching unhealthy levels. That the effects of industrial revolution had impacted on quality of living conditions and hence saw need of environmental education for better quality of life. During the period of reconstruction, the World War II devastated countries of Europe embarked on a rapid program of industrialization which had extremely damaging effects on the environment. Some of these effects had taken a long time to be remedied. Thus the need of legal protection of the environment was motivated from the need to protect scenic resources for both present and future generations and concern towards the protection of the public health. The main trust of this paper is to look into the ever increasing population in the cities and the few facilities available to such a population, other consequences of the environmental degradation that were felt i.e water, air and noise pollution, pollution from hazardous and environmental wastes and the late threat of global warming and depletion of ozone layer..The paper will also examine the policies and laws affecting the environmental that is(i)the definition of environment,(ii)evolution of environmental education,(iii)international management of the environment,(iv)the role of law in environmental management,(v)basic environmental policies and laws of developed countries,(vi)environmental management policies and laws in the third world countries Kenya as case study,(vii)the defects of present environmental laws.
Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to consider the significance of new developmentalism for th... more Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to consider the significance of new developmentalism for the field
of law and development. New developmentalism refers to a theory and practice of
development economics, which appears to have entered mainstream development thinking. Its
core elements also seem to have been a factor in the dynamic economic growth that has
occurred in a number of emerging economies. This trend is significant for the field of law and
development because: (a) conventional economic development orthodoxies are seen to have
shaped previous law and development movements; (b) these models and their corresponding
law reform projects were arguably inadequately adapted to existing domestic circumstances;
and (c) new developmentalism represents a departure from conventional development
orthodoxies, as it necessitates both learning and adapting to local settings. Yet such a system
also creates new challenges for law reformers and policymakers within the international
development community (not to mention domestic reformers), and it remains unclear (if not
doubtful) that new developmental states can be engineered by external actors and institutions.
Thesis Chapters by barasa odula elias
Globally, sustainable resource use requires that appropriate laws and legislations be put in plac... more Globally, sustainable resource use requires that appropriate laws and legislations be put in place so that maximum exploitation of the same is done systematically within the confines of the law. However, in Kenya, this is contrary. While official policies, institutional and legal issues confronting the forest sector exists, there is little information on the application of forest law on resource use and sustainability. In most instances, the application of the laws and legislations has always generated mixed reactions from the affected population despite the intention of the law being to strengthen the effective utilization of these resources. Occasionally it has always generated great resistance from the people who perceive the forest laws and policies as a hindrance to their access and use of resources as a livelihood. The main objective of the study therefore, was to look into the application of forest Legislation on Sustainable Resource Utilization in Kenya with Mt Elgon region. The specific objectives of the study were: Assess the relationship between the role of policies and institutions processes in application of law and sustainable resource utilization; To examine the indicators of application of law on Forest monitoring and Forest management practices for sustainable resource utilization; Examine the obstacles in application of law for sustainable resource use .And to explore what livelihoods strategies and policy strategies in the application of law for sustainable resource utilization. The study was guided by Sen's Endowment, Entitlement Approach and Livelihoods. Theory by Chamber and Conway that certain indicators on the application of law are determinants of sustainable resource use with sustainability measured in terms of depletion, reforestation, and degradation. The target population was 1800 residents of three villages of; Cheokitale, Laboot and Taboo of Mount Elgon. The sample size of 84 respondents using Cronbach's formula of Robert Crey, Daryle and Morgan. The household survey was used to collect data.FGDs, Interviews, and participant observations was part of data collection methods. Secondary data was collected from archives reports ,legal policies and legislations ,research projects carried out by NGOs in the study area and policy documents from MINEF and general literature.Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, variances, percentages and presented in form of tables and charts .The findings evidenced that 65.5% of the respondents mentioned that sustainability was determined by the application of forest law which had a great influence on sustainable resource use in the area. Finally, the study informed that if resources are not exploited wisely, they would soon be depleted leading to degradation of resource and thus affecting development.
Papers by barasa odula elias
Diverse theoretical efforts have been made in order to understand the Kenya’s urban problematic r... more Diverse theoretical efforts have been made in order to understand the Kenya’s urban problematic related to sustainability. Among them is an analysis that highlight an inadequacy about the sustainability concept which is only limited to an ecological matter and it not considers that the most important issue is political and social. This has explained the failure of several national and county governments meetings about the matter, when the contradiction has not been considered in the entrepreneurial arrangement where the economic interest and interest in sustainability contrasts. Then, in the political and social field is where many efforts should be channeled as Kenya’s urban regional research priorities for the next decade. In this regard, most of the academic analysis have been focused on two main aspects: on the one hand, those who consider that the solution to the sustainability problem lies in the change of the relations of production, without clearly specifying what this means; and on the other hand, the analyses that estimate the relevance of making changes inside of the entrepreneurial system where the both national and county Government would play an important role.
The Journal of Modern History, 2013
TITLE: KENYA’S ECOLOGICAL DOGMA AND STRATEGIC INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE METROPOLITAN URBAN CITIE... more TITLE: KENYA’S ECOLOGICAL DOGMA AND STRATEGIC INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE METROPOLITAN URBAN CITIES.
ABSTRACT
Urban sustainability indicators are tools that allow city planners, city managers and policymakers to gauge the socio-economic and environmental impact of, for example, current urban designs, infrastructures, policies, waste disposal systems, pollution and access to services by citizens. They allow for the diagnosis of problems and pressures, and thus the identification of areas that would profit from being addressed through good governance and science-based responses. They also allow urban cities to monitor the success and impact of sustainability interventions. A myriad of indicator tools have been advanced and tested in real cities of the world by various organizations and research groups. These tools are available for implementation by others, and usually include aspects of sustainable development beyond environmental dimensions only, such as public health and services, governance, income, business opportunities, and transport. The challenge for urban authorities in Kenya’s urban cities is deciding which tool best addresses the needs and goals of a particular urban city, which would be easy to implement and which are worth the financial and human effort. In some cases, a selection of different tools may be desirable for a city home to a small population; in others, a large city may want to join an established global programme of indicators. This papers aims to provide both Kenya’s national and county government’s actors and stakeholders with a concise guide to the best currently available indicator tools for sustainable urban cities, focusing on the environmental dimension. The tools summarized herein were chosen based on scalability and ease of use, and the positive and negative aspects of each for different situations of cities are addressed, along with real-world case studies that demonstrate how they can be implemented. The concept of urban metabolism is clarified in the context of environmental, social and economic sustainability, and information on how to choose an appropriate indicator set is provided. It also reviews simple, scalable indicator tools, and other useful indicator programmes and approaches it is important to note that an exhaustive list of all available tools, and a comprehensive evaluation of each is beyond the scope of this paper. However, sustainable city is as a result of good environmental planning and participation of all stake holders for any meaningful urban city is to be realized otherwise neglect of such would result to urban human crises which would be challenge to ever growing urban cities both in Kenya and the world.
Diverse theoretical efforts have been made in order to understand the Kenya's urban problematic r... more Diverse theoretical efforts have been made in order to understand the Kenya's urban problematic related to sustainability. Among them is an analysis that highlight an inadequacy about the sustainability concept which is only limited to an ecological matter and it not considers that the most important issue is political and social. This has explained the failure of several national and county governments meetings about the matter, when the contradiction has not been considered in the entrepreneurial arrangement where the economic interest and interest in sustainability contrasts. Then, in the political and social field is where many efforts should be channeled as Kenya's urban regional research priorities for the next decade. In this regard, most of the academic analysis have been focused on two main aspects: on the one hand, those who consider that the solution to the sustainability problem lies in the change of the relations of production, without clearly specifying what this means; and on the other hand, the analyses that estimate the relevance of making changes inside of the entrepreneurial system where the both national and county Government would play an important role. In both cases a mental change is required to dealing with the problem of sustainability and new forms of population participation to perform it.
The objective of the present dissertation is to deliberate numerous approaches that are recommend... more The objective of the present dissertation is to deliberate numerous approaches that are recommended or useful to find economic extent of the value of ecological goods and services and asses them from the perspective of institutionalism. In a larger perspective, the concern of attaining monetary or fiscal measure of something palpable or impalpable writhes from many drawbacks, but (traditionally) economists have preferred to stick to that. Moreover, the approaches that researcher is working to deliberate writhe from an extra flaw of presumptuous that “the preffered” and “the anticipated” are identical. This is a serious flaw that we inherit from the Benthamites, J S Mill in particular. We must keep aware of these (cultural, philosophical and procedural) predispositions of economists in the posterior of our mind while deliberating what follows.
To gain the institutionalistic perspective one must perceive an economy as an entity (rather than a instrument) with close construction with the ecology. Environmental goods and services are the biogeochemical processes, attributes or the products thereof that relate to the self-maintenance of an ecosystem, provision of wildlife habitat, cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, water or the trapping of nutrients, etc. and make the basis of sustenance as well as prosperity to the human society. Only some environmental goods and services have markets, and therefore, prices of only a few of them are available as data. These prices too, are only the indicators of the minimal payments at which the consumers and the producers have agreed to enter into transactions. At these prices, there may be substantial consumer and/or producer surpluses that may go unaccounted. The worth of environmental goods and services include these unaccounted surpluses, but their prices do not generally reflect their worth. However, a greater part of environmental goods and services have no markets and, therefore, no prices at which they are available to the consumers. Valuation of such goods and services is much more relevant.
Environmental goods and services are often public goods, which to some extent, may be harnessed by many without adversely affecting each other’s interest. However, these goods and services have a limit to their bearing capacity, beyond which they cannot sustain their use. Crowding on their use can decrease users’ utility. Public goods often suffer free-riders’ problem. Although each user values them, none has an incentive to pay to maintain them. These goods and services may also be affected by externalities, or uncompensated side effects of human actions. Market mechanism cannot often regulate their consumption, production and allocation. That necessitates a collective action for their upkeep, which incurs considerable public cost. Hence, the valuation such goods and services may help the resource managers to deal with the effects of market failures, by measuring their social and opportunity costs. The costs to society can then be imposed, in various ways, on those who are responsible, or can be used to evaluate and regulate environmental impacts.
In what follows, researcher will first describe the methods suggested or applied for pecuniary valuation of environmental goods and services. Then study will assess them on certain principles of institutional economics. Subsequently, a tentative scheme for non-pecuniary valuation of environmental goods and services will be proposed.
Drafts by barasa odula elias
Corruption is a major problem for many parts of the public sector in kenya. One dominant vision o... more Corruption is a major problem for many parts of the public sector in kenya. One dominant vision of corruption restraint – the 'Panoptic vision' – sees information technology (IT) as a key enabler of management control. This paper presents five short case studies of IT and public sector corruption to test the realities of this Panoptic vision in Kenyan ministries ,department and public universities. From these it is concluded that, while IT sometimes does detect and remove corruption, it can also have no effect or even provide new corruption opportunities for some public servants. Management of corruption is ultimately shaped more by management decisions and by broader organisational and environmental factors than it is by technology. Put simply, IT-based systems guided by the Panoptic vision affect symptoms of a corrupt system rather than causes. Public managers must therefore adopt a more holistic vision of corruption control. They must also recognise the link between IT and corruption in the planning of some public sector information systems.
Land is increasingly recognised as an important governance issue. The world today faces many comp... more Land is increasingly recognised as an important governance issue. The world today faces many complex challenges, including climate change; rapid urbanization; increased demand for natural resources; food, water and energy insecurity; natural disasters; and violent conflict. Many of these challenges have a clear land dimension: unequal access to land; insecurity of tenure; unsustainable land use; weak institutions for dispute and conflict resolution, etc. Conventional technical approaches to land will not be adequate to address these issues. Part of the reason is that existing land administration tools are not able to cope with even current challenges. While reliable statistics are difficult to obtain, there is wide consensus that the majority of people in the world do not have legally recognised and documented rights to land, and that the land rights of most women are weak in quantity and quality. The other part of the reason, however, is that the nature of the problems is simply too complex for traditional linear analysis and sectoral approaches. Issues like climate change, informal settlements and food insecurity are highly resistant to resolution. The study will start from the assumption that the process of reform is as important as the content of the reform. Many excellent land policies, laws and technical reforms have been developed, yet, in many cases, implementation has slipped, stalled or has even been reversed. The study will argue that an understanding of land issues and the reform process from a governance and political economy perspective offers insights that can not only improve the design of reforms, but can also offer tools to support implementation. The study , it seeks to recognize that land issues cannot be arbitrarily separated into rural or urban sectors – such distinctions create artificial boundaries, which can impede a more holistic approach to the concept and issues. Governance is the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority in the management of a country’s affairs at all levels. Governance is a neutral concept comprising the complex mechanisms, processes and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights and obligations, and mediate their differences.Land governance, by extension, concerns the rules, processes and structures through which decisions are made about the use of and control over land, the manner in which the decisions are implemented and enforced, and the way that competing interests in land are managed. It encompasses statutory, customary and religious institutions. It includes state structures such as land agencies, courts and ministries responsible for land, as well as non-statutory actors such as traditional bodies and informal agents. It covers both the legal and policy framework for land as well as traditional and informal practices that enjoy social legitimacy. A land governance and political economy perspective raises some potentially interesting questions for reformers. Who benefits from the status quo and who is excluded? Who sets the agenda for reform? How do others influence this agenda? What are the interests and objectives of different stakeholders and how do these play out in the reform process? Why do reforms experience slippage during implementation? How are the benefits of the reform distributed? Who benefits; who does not and why? An understanding of land issues from a governance and political economy perspective can be derived through a three part framework that (i) analyzes the broad country context, the types of tenure that exist, the operation of land markets and the institutions (rules and structures) that regulate both tenure and markets; (ii) examines how a governance and political economy perspective can be applied to a specific land issue or reform context, with emphasis on clarifying stakeholders, interests, influence, institutions and relationships; and (iii) explores how to manage a reform process. While the implementation of land sector reforms has been challenging, there is a significant body of experience on which to draw. The study will examine the following land issues from a governance and political economy perspective: land policy formulation; land reform; security of tenure; women’s land and property rights; forced evictions; natural resource management; informal settlements; land disputes and conflicts; and international cooperation. Examples of country experience are presented to illustrate the challenges, as well as some successes, in reform implementation.
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Conference Presentations by barasa odula elias
ABSTRACT
Low access to energy consumption distorts expansion prospects. In some parts of kenya, individuals have to live with little or no access to electricity which has prompted both national and county government decision makers to take considerable actions at increasing access to electricity nationally and locally. These actions are important considering the fact that modern energy consumption accelerates economic growth, reduces inequality, poverty, as well as environmental pollution and solid fuel consumption. In spite of these actions, the prevalence of limited access to electricity in Turkana county demands empirical research to ascertain the factors that undermine access to electricity in the county considering the fact that not much has been done empirically in this area. Consequently, the determinants of electricity access in turkana county, Kenya was the focus of this study. The methodological framework applied adopted the percentage of population with access to electricity as the dependent variable. The independent variables were constrained by data availability. The findings revealed that several factors have led to the low level of electricity consumption in Laboot and Chepkitale villages of Mt Elgon Sub-County in Kenya. Income per capita, transmission and distribution losses, proportion of rural population, population density, dependency ratio and savings were found to affect electricity access consistently in Mt.Elgon Sub-County. The results further revealed that the credibility of both national and county governments – government’s effectiveness has also hindered electricity access in Mt Elgon Sub-County. Access to electricity as revealed by the results is a normal and necessary good. The findings have considerable lessons for policy interventions both at national and county government that will aid in reducing poor electricity consumption in Mt.Elgon Sub-County.
Keywords: energy access, Regional development, rural development,
Government effectiveness, turkana county, Kenya,
Many developed countries have carried out devolved system of governance and New Public Management (NPM) types of public sector reform in the 1980s and 90s. The objectives are to improve the quality of public services, reduce the drain on the ex-chequer, improve the efficiency of public organizations, and create an environment conducive for private sector investment as a result of the reversal of socialist policies of the 1960s and 70s. Developing countries like Kenya have been slower to adopt such policies, very often dismissing,devolution and public sector reforms as a ‘process’ to disguise the failure of governments in a democratic system to push forward much needed reforms. Devolution and the need to ensure international competitiveness have come to catalyze the process of reform, forcing governments to overcome previously unpopular and politically suicidal reforms, operating against the entrenched inertia of the traditional public administration. The demand and supply-sides factors as a result of devolution have formed an appropriate eco-system for public sector reforms in developing countries, even in democracies with fragile coalition governments which may find it appropriate to institutionalize lead agencies with connections to the centre of power in order to bring continuous reform irrespective of a change in political masters.
BY BARASA ODULA ELIAS
ABSTRACT
Urban centres have existed and have been evolving for many centuries across the world. However, the accelerated growth of urbanisation in Kenya is a relatively recent phenomenon. The enormous size of urban populations and more significantly, the rapidity with which urban areas have been and are growing in many developing countries have severe social, economic and physical repercussions. This paper argues that the accelerated growth of urbanisation in Kenya has amplified the demand for key services. However, the provision of shelter and basic services such as water and sanitation, education, public health, employment and transport has not kept pace with this increasing demand. Furthermore, accelerated and poorly managed urbanisation has resulted in various types of atmospheric, land and water pollution thereby jeopardising human security. This paper offers the conclusion that the increased environmental, social and economic problems associated with rapid urbanisation pose a threat to sustainable development, human security and, crucially, peace.
The purpose of this essay is to consider the significance of new developmentalism for the field
of law and development. New developmentalism refers to a theory and practice of
development economics, which appears to have entered mainstream development thinking. Its
core elements also seem to have been a factor in the dynamic economic growth that has
occurred in a number of emerging economies. This trend is significant for the field of law and
development because: (a) conventional economic development orthodoxies are seen to have
shaped previous law and development movements; (b) these models and their corresponding
law reform projects were arguably inadequately adapted to existing domestic circumstances;
and (c) new developmentalism represents a departure from conventional development
orthodoxies, as it necessitates both learning and adapting to local settings. Yet such a system
also creates new challenges for law reformers and policymakers within the international
development community (not to mention domestic reformers), and it remains unclear (if not
doubtful) that new developmental states can be engineered by external actors and institutions.
Thesis Chapters by barasa odula elias
Papers by barasa odula elias
ABSTRACT
Urban sustainability indicators are tools that allow city planners, city managers and policymakers to gauge the socio-economic and environmental impact of, for example, current urban designs, infrastructures, policies, waste disposal systems, pollution and access to services by citizens. They allow for the diagnosis of problems and pressures, and thus the identification of areas that would profit from being addressed through good governance and science-based responses. They also allow urban cities to monitor the success and impact of sustainability interventions. A myriad of indicator tools have been advanced and tested in real cities of the world by various organizations and research groups. These tools are available for implementation by others, and usually include aspects of sustainable development beyond environmental dimensions only, such as public health and services, governance, income, business opportunities, and transport. The challenge for urban authorities in Kenya’s urban cities is deciding which tool best addresses the needs and goals of a particular urban city, which would be easy to implement and which are worth the financial and human effort. In some cases, a selection of different tools may be desirable for a city home to a small population; in others, a large city may want to join an established global programme of indicators. This papers aims to provide both Kenya’s national and county government’s actors and stakeholders with a concise guide to the best currently available indicator tools for sustainable urban cities, focusing on the environmental dimension. The tools summarized herein were chosen based on scalability and ease of use, and the positive and negative aspects of each for different situations of cities are addressed, along with real-world case studies that demonstrate how they can be implemented. The concept of urban metabolism is clarified in the context of environmental, social and economic sustainability, and information on how to choose an appropriate indicator set is provided. It also reviews simple, scalable indicator tools, and other useful indicator programmes and approaches it is important to note that an exhaustive list of all available tools, and a comprehensive evaluation of each is beyond the scope of this paper. However, sustainable city is as a result of good environmental planning and participation of all stake holders for any meaningful urban city is to be realized otherwise neglect of such would result to urban human crises which would be challenge to ever growing urban cities both in Kenya and the world.
To gain the institutionalistic perspective one must perceive an economy as an entity (rather than a instrument) with close construction with the ecology. Environmental goods and services are the biogeochemical processes, attributes or the products thereof that relate to the self-maintenance of an ecosystem, provision of wildlife habitat, cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, water or the trapping of nutrients, etc. and make the basis of sustenance as well as prosperity to the human society. Only some environmental goods and services have markets, and therefore, prices of only a few of them are available as data. These prices too, are only the indicators of the minimal payments at which the consumers and the producers have agreed to enter into transactions. At these prices, there may be substantial consumer and/or producer surpluses that may go unaccounted. The worth of environmental goods and services include these unaccounted surpluses, but their prices do not generally reflect their worth. However, a greater part of environmental goods and services have no markets and, therefore, no prices at which they are available to the consumers. Valuation of such goods and services is much more relevant.
Environmental goods and services are often public goods, which to some extent, may be harnessed by many without adversely affecting each other’s interest. However, these goods and services have a limit to their bearing capacity, beyond which they cannot sustain their use. Crowding on their use can decrease users’ utility. Public goods often suffer free-riders’ problem. Although each user values them, none has an incentive to pay to maintain them. These goods and services may also be affected by externalities, or uncompensated side effects of human actions. Market mechanism cannot often regulate their consumption, production and allocation. That necessitates a collective action for their upkeep, which incurs considerable public cost. Hence, the valuation such goods and services may help the resource managers to deal with the effects of market failures, by measuring their social and opportunity costs. The costs to society can then be imposed, in various ways, on those who are responsible, or can be used to evaluate and regulate environmental impacts.
In what follows, researcher will first describe the methods suggested or applied for pecuniary valuation of environmental goods and services. Then study will assess them on certain principles of institutional economics. Subsequently, a tentative scheme for non-pecuniary valuation of environmental goods and services will be proposed.
Drafts by barasa odula elias
ABSTRACT
Low access to energy consumption distorts expansion prospects. In some parts of kenya, individuals have to live with little or no access to electricity which has prompted both national and county government decision makers to take considerable actions at increasing access to electricity nationally and locally. These actions are important considering the fact that modern energy consumption accelerates economic growth, reduces inequality, poverty, as well as environmental pollution and solid fuel consumption. In spite of these actions, the prevalence of limited access to electricity in Turkana county demands empirical research to ascertain the factors that undermine access to electricity in the county considering the fact that not much has been done empirically in this area. Consequently, the determinants of electricity access in turkana county, Kenya was the focus of this study. The methodological framework applied adopted the percentage of population with access to electricity as the dependent variable. The independent variables were constrained by data availability. The findings revealed that several factors have led to the low level of electricity consumption in Laboot and Chepkitale villages of Mt Elgon Sub-County in Kenya. Income per capita, transmission and distribution losses, proportion of rural population, population density, dependency ratio and savings were found to affect electricity access consistently in Mt.Elgon Sub-County. The results further revealed that the credibility of both national and county governments – government’s effectiveness has also hindered electricity access in Mt Elgon Sub-County. Access to electricity as revealed by the results is a normal and necessary good. The findings have considerable lessons for policy interventions both at national and county government that will aid in reducing poor electricity consumption in Mt.Elgon Sub-County.
Keywords: energy access, Regional development, rural development,
Government effectiveness, turkana county, Kenya,
Many developed countries have carried out devolved system of governance and New Public Management (NPM) types of public sector reform in the 1980s and 90s. The objectives are to improve the quality of public services, reduce the drain on the ex-chequer, improve the efficiency of public organizations, and create an environment conducive for private sector investment as a result of the reversal of socialist policies of the 1960s and 70s. Developing countries like Kenya have been slower to adopt such policies, very often dismissing,devolution and public sector reforms as a ‘process’ to disguise the failure of governments in a democratic system to push forward much needed reforms. Devolution and the need to ensure international competitiveness have come to catalyze the process of reform, forcing governments to overcome previously unpopular and politically suicidal reforms, operating against the entrenched inertia of the traditional public administration. The demand and supply-sides factors as a result of devolution have formed an appropriate eco-system for public sector reforms in developing countries, even in democracies with fragile coalition governments which may find it appropriate to institutionalize lead agencies with connections to the centre of power in order to bring continuous reform irrespective of a change in political masters.
BY BARASA ODULA ELIAS
ABSTRACT
Urban centres have existed and have been evolving for many centuries across the world. However, the accelerated growth of urbanisation in Kenya is a relatively recent phenomenon. The enormous size of urban populations and more significantly, the rapidity with which urban areas have been and are growing in many developing countries have severe social, economic and physical repercussions. This paper argues that the accelerated growth of urbanisation in Kenya has amplified the demand for key services. However, the provision of shelter and basic services such as water and sanitation, education, public health, employment and transport has not kept pace with this increasing demand. Furthermore, accelerated and poorly managed urbanisation has resulted in various types of atmospheric, land and water pollution thereby jeopardising human security. This paper offers the conclusion that the increased environmental, social and economic problems associated with rapid urbanisation pose a threat to sustainable development, human security and, crucially, peace.
The purpose of this essay is to consider the significance of new developmentalism for the field
of law and development. New developmentalism refers to a theory and practice of
development economics, which appears to have entered mainstream development thinking. Its
core elements also seem to have been a factor in the dynamic economic growth that has
occurred in a number of emerging economies. This trend is significant for the field of law and
development because: (a) conventional economic development orthodoxies are seen to have
shaped previous law and development movements; (b) these models and their corresponding
law reform projects were arguably inadequately adapted to existing domestic circumstances;
and (c) new developmentalism represents a departure from conventional development
orthodoxies, as it necessitates both learning and adapting to local settings. Yet such a system
also creates new challenges for law reformers and policymakers within the international
development community (not to mention domestic reformers), and it remains unclear (if not
doubtful) that new developmental states can be engineered by external actors and institutions.
ABSTRACT
Urban sustainability indicators are tools that allow city planners, city managers and policymakers to gauge the socio-economic and environmental impact of, for example, current urban designs, infrastructures, policies, waste disposal systems, pollution and access to services by citizens. They allow for the diagnosis of problems and pressures, and thus the identification of areas that would profit from being addressed through good governance and science-based responses. They also allow urban cities to monitor the success and impact of sustainability interventions. A myriad of indicator tools have been advanced and tested in real cities of the world by various organizations and research groups. These tools are available for implementation by others, and usually include aspects of sustainable development beyond environmental dimensions only, such as public health and services, governance, income, business opportunities, and transport. The challenge for urban authorities in Kenya’s urban cities is deciding which tool best addresses the needs and goals of a particular urban city, which would be easy to implement and which are worth the financial and human effort. In some cases, a selection of different tools may be desirable for a city home to a small population; in others, a large city may want to join an established global programme of indicators. This papers aims to provide both Kenya’s national and county government’s actors and stakeholders with a concise guide to the best currently available indicator tools for sustainable urban cities, focusing on the environmental dimension. The tools summarized herein were chosen based on scalability and ease of use, and the positive and negative aspects of each for different situations of cities are addressed, along with real-world case studies that demonstrate how they can be implemented. The concept of urban metabolism is clarified in the context of environmental, social and economic sustainability, and information on how to choose an appropriate indicator set is provided. It also reviews simple, scalable indicator tools, and other useful indicator programmes and approaches it is important to note that an exhaustive list of all available tools, and a comprehensive evaluation of each is beyond the scope of this paper. However, sustainable city is as a result of good environmental planning and participation of all stake holders for any meaningful urban city is to be realized otherwise neglect of such would result to urban human crises which would be challenge to ever growing urban cities both in Kenya and the world.
To gain the institutionalistic perspective one must perceive an economy as an entity (rather than a instrument) with close construction with the ecology. Environmental goods and services are the biogeochemical processes, attributes or the products thereof that relate to the self-maintenance of an ecosystem, provision of wildlife habitat, cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, water or the trapping of nutrients, etc. and make the basis of sustenance as well as prosperity to the human society. Only some environmental goods and services have markets, and therefore, prices of only a few of them are available as data. These prices too, are only the indicators of the minimal payments at which the consumers and the producers have agreed to enter into transactions. At these prices, there may be substantial consumer and/or producer surpluses that may go unaccounted. The worth of environmental goods and services include these unaccounted surpluses, but their prices do not generally reflect their worth. However, a greater part of environmental goods and services have no markets and, therefore, no prices at which they are available to the consumers. Valuation of such goods and services is much more relevant.
Environmental goods and services are often public goods, which to some extent, may be harnessed by many without adversely affecting each other’s interest. However, these goods and services have a limit to their bearing capacity, beyond which they cannot sustain their use. Crowding on their use can decrease users’ utility. Public goods often suffer free-riders’ problem. Although each user values them, none has an incentive to pay to maintain them. These goods and services may also be affected by externalities, or uncompensated side effects of human actions. Market mechanism cannot often regulate their consumption, production and allocation. That necessitates a collective action for their upkeep, which incurs considerable public cost. Hence, the valuation such goods and services may help the resource managers to deal with the effects of market failures, by measuring their social and opportunity costs. The costs to society can then be imposed, in various ways, on those who are responsible, or can be used to evaluate and regulate environmental impacts.
In what follows, researcher will first describe the methods suggested or applied for pecuniary valuation of environmental goods and services. Then study will assess them on certain principles of institutional economics. Subsequently, a tentative scheme for non-pecuniary valuation of environmental goods and services will be proposed.