5307 research outputs found
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The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility practices on competitive advantage of media houses in Kenya
No full textFull - text thesisThis study aimed to examine the effect of CSR practices on the competitive advantage of media houses in Kenya. Specifically, it sought to determine the influence of ethical, economic, philanthropic, and legal responsibility practices on their competitiveness. The study employed a correlational quantitative research design, targeting 488 managerial staff across 122 media houses in Kenya. Respondents were selected through random sampling, and data was collected through structured questionnaires. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression techniques. This study was underpinned by two complementary theories: Carroll’s Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Theory. Together, Carroll’s Pyramid defines the nature and scope of CSR activities, while Stakeholder Theory explains how these activities can translate into tangible strategic benefits. They jointly informed the study’s examination of the role of CSR in enhancing the competitive advantage of media houses in Kenya. The findings revealed that ethical and economic responsibility practices significantly contribute to the competitive advantage of media houses, while philanthropic and legal responsibilities did not show a statistically significant effect. The study concluded that CSR practices emphasizing ethics and economic value were more likely to yield competitive benefits in the media landscape, in Kenya. The study recommends that media houses strengthen ethical governance and embed economic responsibility into their core strategic planning. Additionally, integrating innovative CSR models such as cause-related marketing and employee-led community engagement may further reinforce long-term competitiveness. Legal compliance should be supported through continuous training and policy development to enhance sustainability and innovation in the sector
The Effects of risk-based supervision on the financial performance of insurance companies in Kenya moderated by the supervision implementation framework
No full textFull - text thesisThe insurance industry in many African countries has been adversely affected by a high level of risk exposure due to volatility in returns and losses related to underwriting, reducing premiums, and a general reduction in net income. This has necessitated a more effective risk-based supervision (RBS). RBS seeks to address inherent vulnerabilities within individual insurance firms by focusing on their contribution to overall financial instability due to their interconnectedness with the larger financial system. This study aimed to assess the effects of RBS on the financial performance of insurance companies in Kenya. Grounded in the Economic Theory of Regulation and the Public Interest Theory of Regulation, the study adopted a positivist research philosophy and employed a descriptive, quantitative research design. The study population included all 56 licensed insurance companies in Kenya, with a census sampling technique used to select the sample size, categorizing companies based on the number of authorized classes of business. Primary data was collected through close-ended questionnaires, targeting specific RBS elements that could influence financial performance, including Risk-Based Supervision planning, RBS quality control mechanisms, access to reliable information, and the supervision implementation framework. Data analysis combined descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Descriptive statistics were applied to calculate means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages for each variable, while inferential analysis utilized Pearson correlation and multiple regression to evaluate relationships, predictive ability, and variance within the data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data processing. The findings indicate that the key elements of RBS namely, RBS planning, quality control mechanisms, access to reliable information, and the RBS implementation framework positively and significantly influence financial performance. Specifically, RBS planning was found to have a substantial positive impact on financial performance, suggesting that effective planning within RBS enhances financial outcomes by equipping companies to better manage and mitigate risks. Similarly, RBS quality control mechanisms were found to positively and significantly influence financial performance, implying that strong quality control measures lead to improved financial results by ensuring accountability and consistency in supervisory processes. Furthermore, the study highlighted that access to reliable information positively and significantly boosts financial performance, enabling more informed decision-making among supervisors and improving financial outcomes. Lastly, the RBS implementation framework was identified as a moderating factor, with results showing that the framework strengthened the relationship between RBS practices and financial performance, reinforcing the overall effectiveness of RBS strategies. This study underscores that the collective implementation of RBS planning, quality control mechanisms, access to reliable information, and a strong implementation framework positively contributes to improved financial performance in Kenyan insurance companies. This comprehensive approach to RBS serves as a critical driver of financial performance and resilience within the insurance sector. To further strengthen the sector’s financial performance, the study recommends that the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) collaborate closely with industry stakeholders to address barriers to effective RBS adoption. While this study examined RBS planning, quality control mechanisms, and access to reliable information, future research could explore additional factors, such as risk governance structures and capital adequacy requirements, which may also positively influence financial outcomes.
Key words; Risk-Based Supervision (RBS), Financial Performance, Risk Management, Compliance and Regulation
Factors influencing the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in the fight against corruption in Kenya
No full textFull - text thesisThis study examined the factors influencing Kenya's Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in its efforts to combat corruption. Despite the establishment of the EACC in 2011 and subsequent anti-corruption initiatives, Kenya continues to grapple with widespread corruption across both public and private sectors attributable to various factors. The main objective of the study was to determine the factors influencing the EACC in executing its mandate. Specifically, the study sought to: identify legal and institutional framework factors hindering EACC's effectiveness; evaluate the extent of political interference in EACC operations; analyze how resource allocation affects the commission's anti-corruption efforts; and identify coordination challenges in inter-agency cooperation. The study was grounded in Institutional Theory by Selznick (1949), employing a descriptive research design with convergent parallel mixed-methods approach. Data collection involved document analysis, questionnaires administered to 103 EACC officials, and interviews with five key anti-corruption experts. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented through frequency tables, means, standard deviations, and percentages. Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis using NVivo software with results presented as verbatim quotes. Key findings revealed significant operational constraints including limited technological, financial, and human resources. Institutional barriers, particularly political interference and weak interagency coordination, substantially impeded EACC effectiveness. Weak rule of law emerged as the primary weakness in Kenya's anti-corruption framework, while limited technology utilization resulted from inadequate budgetary allocation. Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening EACC's institutional independence, enhancing resource allocation, improving inter-agency coordination mechanisms, and reinforcing legal frameworks. These insights contribute to both theoretical understanding of anti-corruption agency effectiveness in developing countries and provide practical recommendations for policy reform in Kenya and similar contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa
Determinants of blockchain adoption readiness in Kenyan commercial banks’ remittance systems: the moderating role of bank size
No full textFull - text thesisRemittances contribute to economic and social development, stimulating growth, enhancing stability, reducing poverty, and facilitating upward mobility for millions of families. They are leading and stable sources of foreign exchange for many countries. As such, remittances are expected to grow in the foreseeable future, especially in low and middle-income countries. However, current remittance systems are plagued by inefficiencies attributed to reliance on traditional methods that suffer from high transaction costs, a lack of transparency, sluggish processing times, and several other complexities. Blockchain technology is presented as a solution to these challenges, offering a faster, cheaper, and more secure way to send and receive money across borders. However, while plenty of research on blockchain exists, there is scant empirical evidence on its integration into banks’ remittance systems. This study aimed to contribute to this field by examining the readiness of Kenya’s commercial banks for blockchain integration into their remittance systems. The study examined these banks’ organisational readiness, technical readiness, and regulatory readiness. The study was grounded in the contingency theory and technology acceptance model, followed positivist research philosophy, and adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design. 39 commercial banks constituted the units of analysis, whereby a cohort of 156 representatives was targeted. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistic and the PLS-SEM model to establish the relationship between variables. The structural modelling analysis showed that organisational readiness and technical readiness exert a positive and significant influence on blockchain adoption, whereas the effect of regulatory readiness was negligible. Furthermore, firm size had a negative moderating effect on organisational readiness, but its moderation of technical and regulatory readiness was not significant. Therefore, this research advocates for regulatory reforms and the formulation of strategic decisions aimed at driving banks’ technical capabilities and internal environments to drive blockchain integration into remittances
Women in Healthcare Leadership: Advancing Women’s Leadership in the Kenyan Health Sector through Organizational and Systems Change Efforts
No full textThis report presents findings from a mixed-methods study on the organisational factors that influence women's leadership advancement in Kenya's health sector. It offers evidence-based recommendations for promoting gender equity through structural, cultural, and policy reforms.Kenya has made significant strides in promoting gender equality, but women’s representation in leadership roles, especially within the healthcare sector, remains an area of concern. This report captures the findings of a study that aimed to develop a nuanced understanding of how organisational elements interact to constrain or promote women’s advancement in Kenyan health sector organisations. This study thus seeks to create a strong evidence base for organisation-level interventions towards greater gender parity in the leadership of the Kenyan health sector.Strathmore Business Schoo
An Assessment of factors influencing retirement saving among youth in Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textFull - text thesisThis study examined the factors influencing retirement saving behaviour among youth in Nairobi County, Kenya, and their implications for reducing old-age poverty. Despite economic growth and improved financial inclusion over the years, retirement savings among the youth remain critically low. This is largely due to unemployment, informal employment, financial illiteracy, and a focus on short-term consumption needs. The research was guided by the lifecycle hypothesis and the theory of planned behaviour and aimed to assess how socioeconomic, psychosocial, and institutional factors affect youth retirement saving practices. To achieve these objectives, the study employed a mixed-method approach. Quantitative data was collected from youth respondents, and qualitative insights were drawn from interviews with policymakers and financial service providers. Socioeconomic factors such as income level, education, and employment type emerged as significant predictors of saving behaviour. In contrast, family obligations were found to have a negative impact on the ability to save. Psychosocial factors, particularly financial literacy and future orientation were positively associated with saving, although risk attitude was statistically insignificant. Institutional factors such as awareness of pension schemes, access to financial services, and trust in financial institutions also significantly influenced saving behaviour. The findings underscore the need for a multifaceted approach to improve youth retirement saving. Key recommendations include strengthening financial literacy through education, expanding digital pension platforms for informal workers, and revising policy frameworks to encourage voluntary contributions. This study provides a foundation for future research and policy action to build a savings culture and address the risk of old-age poverty among Kenya's youth
Effect of fraud risk management on revenue growth in Women-Owned Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Starehe Sub-County, Kenya
No full textFull - text thesisFraud continues to be a significant challenge for SMEs, particularly women-owned enterprises, as it directly affects financial stability and revenue growth. This study examined the impact of fraud risk management on the revenue growth of women-owned SMEs in Starehe Sub-County, focusing on four key areas: fraud risk assessment, fraud detection, fraud deterrence, and anti-fraud policies. A descriptive correlational research design was employed, using a quantitative approach to analyse the relationships between these factors and revenue growth. Stratified random sampling was utilised to select SMEs from Starehe Sub-County, targeting business owners and financial decision-makers, resulting in a total sample of 236 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaires with a five-point Likert scale. Findings revealed that fraud risk assessment, fraud detection, and anti-fraud policies had strong and statistically significant positive effects on revenue growth. In contrast, fraud deterrence showed a statistically significant but negative effect, suggesting that overly punitive deterrence strategies may inadvertently hinder business performance. Correlation analysis demonstrated strong positive relationships between revenue growth and the independent variables, with fraud risk assessment showing the highest correlation. Regression analysis confirmed that fraud risk assessment had the greatest impact, followed by anti-fraud policies and fraud detection, while fraud deterrence negatively influenced outcomes. The study concluded that while SMEs had adopted various fraud risk management strategies, gaps in fraud deterrence approaches and the enforcement of anti-fraud policies remained. Strengthening fraud assessment frameworks, investing in fraud detection technologies, and balancing deterrence measures with ethical corporate governance were recommended. Collaboration between SMEs, regulatory bodies, and financial institutions is essential to enhance fraud prevention measures and sustain business growth. By addressing fraud risks and proposing actionable solutions, this research contributes to SME sustainability and financial security. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and business owners, reinforcing the importance of fraud risk management in driving SME growth and resilience in Kenya’s business environment
Assessing Kenya’s legal framework with regards to the best interest of the child principle
No full textFull - text undergraduate research projectThe research discusses the situation concerning the handling of children in conflict with the law in Kenya and applies the principle of the Best Interest of the Child. Although Kenya has the Constitution of Kenya and international instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the application of this principle is far from adequate. Ratified by Kenya, the UNCRC requires that the welfare of children be a primary consideration in all matters that affect them. Kenyan laws, however, including the Penal Code, barely consider their special needs as children and instead treat child offenders with similar procedures and penalties as adults. The dissertation identifies diversion as a way that can fill a gap in the judicial system by integrating the use of rehabilitation of children and their reintegration into society. Diversion aims at decreasing stigmatization of child offenders, offering support services to child offenders, and deterring recidivism, thus serving the best interest of the child for children in conflict with the law. The Children Act, 2022, allows courts to use discretionary measures in relation to diversion. There are, however, inconsistencies in its application, which defeats its effectiveness. This dissertation identifies challenges within Kenya's juvenile justice system, assesses the shortfalls of existing legal frameworks, and calls for reforms that focus on restorative approaches to justice, which promote both children's rights and their well-being
Determinants of crowdfunding success among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textFull - text thesisCrowdfunding has become an increasingly popular alternative financing mechanism for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that face persistent challenges accessing conventional financial services. This study explored the determinants of crowdfunding among MSMEs in Nairobi County, Kenya, with a focus on four key factors: entrepreneur’s characteristics, market-related factors, regulatory factors and technological factors. The research was anchored on the Transaction Cost Theory and the Diffusion of Innovations Theory, which informed the understanding of financing behaviour and technology adoption. A descriptive research design and positivist research philosophy guided the study, with data collected through structured questionnaires. The target population comprised 399 registered MSMEs, and the sample size was determined using the Yamane formula. Ultimately, 354 valid responses were received, resulting in an 88.7% response rate. Although the study aimed to cover all 17 sub-counties in Nairobi County, responses were successfully collected from 10 sub-counties namely: Embakasi West, Embakasi East, Embakasi North, Embakasi South, Kamukunji, Makadara, Mathare, Roysambu, Ruaraka, and Starehe. A stratified random sampling technique was used to ensure representation across different business sizes. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis. Diagnostic tests for normality, multicollinearity, and heteroscedasticity confirmed the model's validity. The findings revealed that entrepreneur’s characteristics and market-related factors were statistically significant determinants of crowdfunding success, while technological factors and regulatory factors were not statistically significant. These results highlighted the importance of individual entrepreneurial capacity and effective market strategies in enabling successful crowdfunding initiatives. Although digital infrastructure and regulatory conditions were considered relevant, they did not show a significant direct impact on crowdfunding success. The study concluded that enhancing digital literacy, strengthening entrepreneurial competencies, and improving market visibility can significantly improve crowdfunding outcomes for MSMEs. It recommended that policymakers streamline regulatory processes and create targeted support programs to foster crowdfunding adoption. The research offered valuable insights for entrepreneurs, digital platform developers, and regulatory bodies aiming to enhance financial inclusion and economic resilience through alternative financing models.
Key words: Crowdfunding, MSMEs, Entrepreneurial Characteristics, Market Conditions, Regulatory Environment, Technology Adoption, Alternative Financing, Transaction Cost Theory, Diffusion of Innovations Theory
Factors affecting the uptake of Public-Private Partnerships in affordable housing projects in Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textFull - text thesisThe purpose of this research was to assess the factors affecting the uptake of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Affordable housing projects in Kenya. This research was guided by the following specific objectives; to investigate the effect of the regulatory framework on the adoption of Public-Private Partnerships in affordable housing projects in Kenya, to examine the effect of financing viability on the adoption of Public-Private Partnerships in affordable housing projects in Kenya, to establish the effect of stakeholder participation in influencing the adoption of Public-Private Partnerships in affordable housing projects in Kenya and to determine the effect of risk-sharing mechanisms in the adoption of Public-Private Partnerships in affordable housing projects in Kenya. The study applied three theories namely, Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) Theory, Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) and Institutional Theory. Descriptive research design was employed. The target population for this study was all the 74 real estate developer companies. Each company contributed four staff members, making the number 296 staff involved in overseeing the operations of the real estate developer housing projects. A sample of 296 was considered for the study. A pilot study was done to ensure the validity and reliability of the data collection tool. The data collection instruments for this study included a questionnaire and an interview guide. To improve the reliability of the research instruments, pilot testing of the research tool was done where a sample of 15 participants was picked from the study population to participate in the research. These pilot test respondents were not used in the main study. The data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics. The descriptive tool (SPSS) was used to analyze the data with interpretation in percentages, frequencies, mean score and standard deviation. The findings were presented using tables and graphs to facilitate comparison. Besides, the researcher also conducted inferential statistics to understand more about the in-depth relationship between the variables. The key findings of the study was that the variables have a significant influence on the uptake of the affordable housing projects by the real estate developers in Nairobi. The study also found out that there exists a complex relationship between factors that affect the uptake of PPPs in Nairobi’s affordable housing sector. In statistical terms, the regulatory framework displayed a positive but non-significant relationship with PPP uptake. Stakeholder participation emerged as a critical catalyst for adoption