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Leadership Succession Planning in Selected Institutions of Higher Learning in Kenya: Myth or Reality?
No full textMASTER OF EDUCATION in Leadership and Policy StudiesLeadership succession planning in institutions of higher learning is a critical but often overlooked component of organisational management. In Kenya, many universities face challenges in maintaining leadership continuity due to the absence of structured succession planning frameworks. This study sought to examine the challenges that hinder effective leadership succession planning, assess its impact on organisational stability and continuity, and propose strategies for enhancing leadership development in higher education institutions. The research was grounded in Contingency Theory, the Resource-Based View (RBV), and Institutional Theory, which collectively provide a robust theoretical foundation for understanding how succession planning impacts institutional performance and governance. A mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide comprehensive insights. The target population comprised university administrators, faculty members, and policymakers, with data collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. Findings from the study highlighted significant gaps in leadership succession planning, including inadequate leadership development programmes, weak talent retention strategies, political interference, and limited alignment between succession planning and institutional strategic goals. The study concludes that while leadership succession planning is acknowledged as essential, its implementation in Kenyan universities remains fragmented and underdeveloped. To address these shortcomings, the study proposes actionable recommendations, including the development of formalized succession planning policies, strengthening mentorship and coaching programs, prioritizing merit-based internal promotions, and allocating adequate resources to leadership development. These findings not only contribute to the growing body of literature on governance in higher education but also provide practical insights for policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to ensure sustainable leadership continuity and institutional stability.Daystar Universit
Is Knowledge Gap on Cancer of the Cervix Increasing the Incidence of the early onset Cancer amongst HIV Negative Young Women in Western Kenya - A Case Study of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital
No full textjournal articleIn many Low- and middle-income countries HIV and cervical cancer have always been interlinked, as HIV patients are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer at a young age. The policy in Kenya is to screen all HIV positive women for cancer of the cervix.
Objective: This study aimed to explore the increase in incidences of advanced cervical cancer in young HIV Negative women, as compared to HIV Positive,
presenting at the hospital.
Methodology: A review of hospital records of all patients aged 13-35 years presenting with Cancer of the Cervix regardless of HIV status at time of
diagnosis in the period 2012 - 2019 of the study and purposive active recruitment of same age set in the 2020 – 2021period.
Findings: After the introduction of routine screening of HIV +VE women, there was an increase of 18% of routine early screening of cancer of the cervix in
the young HIV +VE patients as compared to their HIV –VE counterparts, from 10% to 28% in the 2012-2019 and 2020-2021 study periods.
Conclusion: Our conclusion is that apparently due to the early routine cancer of the cervix screening of young HIV positive women, cases are being
diagnosed very early, in the pre-cancer and early stages, leading to early treatment and remission, in turn leading to the increased contribution of young HIV
negative women with advanced cancer of the cervix
Adaptive Strategies to Climate Change in ASAL Pastoral Communities of Northern Kenya
No full textJournal ArticleClimate change significantly impacts pastoral communities in Northern Kenya's arid and semiarid lands (ASALs), particularly among the Turkana and Somali pastoralists. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and erratic rainfall patterns threaten traditional livestockdependent livelihoods, worsening food insecurity and economic stability. This study aims to assess the climate change adaptation strategies employed by these communities and evaluate the effectiveness of policy interventions in supporting resilience. A mixed-methods approach was used, including household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with 200 pastoralist households. Results indicate that mobility, herd diversification, water conservation techniques, and alternative livelihoods are key adaptation strategies. However, challenges such as inadequate institutional support, weak policy implementation, and land tenure disputes hinder long-term resilience. The study concludes that strengthening community-based resource management, improving climate-resilient infrastructure, and integrating indigenous knowledge into policymaking are crucial for sustainable adaptation. Policy implications emphasise the need for tailored interventions that address socio-economic and cultural dynamics to enhance climate resilience in ASAL regions of Kenya
Perspectives of Tradition, Religion, and Science on Widow Inheritance among the Luo community in Kenya
No full textJournal articleThe loss of a spouse imposes significant economic, social, and psychological challenges, with widows facing the greatest burden, often addressed through the longstanding practice of widow inheritance also referred to as levirate marriage. Historically, levirate marriage was practiced in ancient Judaism and has been observed in countries such as India, West Africa, and Malawi.Further, the practice has been one of the most contested topics, with several Christian denominations having theologically diverse perspectives on the subject. In Kenya, the Luo
community is well known for widow inheritance, which entails an affair between the widow and a close relative of the widow’s late husband. The inheritor largely in all aspects, becomes a new husband and plays all the socio-economic roles of the husband. This paper adopted a systematic analysis which entailed carefully reading each available articles while identifying and synthesizing the available evidence. This study explored the traditional, religious, and scientific perspectives on widow inheritance and their influence on eliminating the practice among the Luo community. Thestudy focused only on the Christian religion that is predominantly practiced in the region. The study revealed that tradition, religion, and science concur that caring for the widows is an essential responsibility for the community. The study also noted that this practice can bring both positive and negative impacts on the psychological well-being of the widow, depending on the inheritor. The study also pointed out that some aspects of widow inheritance have been misusedleading to the exploitation of widows. The paper recommends that women and the community must stand against aspects of traditions that undermine them in society. The study further recommends that widow inheritance should be critically reexamined within the context of modern society to align with evolving cultural and social norms. Specifically, this reexamination should focus on issues such as empowering women to have autonomy over their decisions regarding sexuality and relationships. Policymakers and community leaders should collaborate to establish guidelines and mechanisms that protect widows' rights and promote their well-being. Additionally, the study recommends that marital issues should be regarded as private and personal matters that primarily concern the individuals directly involved. Community members and families should limit their roles to offering moral support and acting as witnesses to unions, rather than imposing decisions on widows. This approach respects women's autonomy and reinforces their right to make independent choices about their lives and relationships. Finally, the study underscores the need for educational campaigns and advocacy efforts to create awareness about the harmful aspects of widow inheritance while promoting alternatives that uphold the dignity, health, and freedom of widows
Exploring Learner Experiences in Project-Based Learning for a Mobile Application Development Course.
No full textJournal ArticleAs higher education increasingly shifts towards inquiry‐based learning to equipgraduates with industry‐relevant skills, project‐based learning (PBL) has emerged as a promising approach, particularly in technical disciplines such as computer science. This study investigates learner experiences with PBL in a semester‐long Mobile Application Development course for diploma students. Employing a case study design, we administered a mixed‐method questionnaire that captured both quantitative ratings and qualitative insights. Analysis of responses reveals that PBL significantly boosts motivation, engagement, and confidence while enhancing conceptual understanding, collaboration, and practical skills in mobile app development. Despite these benefits, students identified challenges related to inadequate computing resources and technical difficulties that can hinder project execution. Importantly, the findings indicate strong learner readiness for adopting PBL across other technical courses, offering practical direction for educators aiming to integrate PBL to foster both hard and soft skills in alignment with industry demands. These results underscore PBL's potential to transform technical education and inform curriculum design, while pinpointing needed improvements in resource allocation and support
The Making of World Class CEO: Key Traits of a Top-Tier CEO
No full textBook ImageOver the years, I have observed many CEOs begin their tenures with great promise, only to face premature and often unexpected exits. Despite arriving with bold visions, which is often articulated passionately in the inauguration speech, the path to success quickly becomes unclear and marked with unexpected setbacks. This raises a pressing question in the minds of employees, customers, and stakeholders alike: Why do such promising CEOs fail? This book seeks to explore that very question. It offers insights aimed at helping current and aspiring CEOs build strong foundations for leadership and reposition their organizations for lasting success
The Mediating Role of Organizational Transformation on The Relationship Between Strategic Leadership and Performance of Agribusiness Companies Listed at Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya
No full textAssessment of Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction among Healthcare Workers' in Public Hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textJournal articleAccording to (Kalinski, 2020) Job satisfaction is a complex combination of psychological, emotional feeling and other environmental factors that can affect an employee positively and give them a sense of achievement on the job. Further, He implys that job satisfaction can be linked to doing a job one enjoys, being productive and getting positive intrinsic rewards like enthusiasm, and contentment. On March 14, 2024 the healthcare worker’s through their union representatves (KMPDU & KNUN) announced a nationwide strike in Kenya. This strike lasted for 56 days and was called off on May 8th 2024 after negotiations, the government officials agreed to some of the union demands. (MoH, 2024). It is evident that Healthcare workers are dissatisfied and the link to the major causes is not clear. Objective This study sort to investigate the factors influencing job satisfaction among healthcare workers' in public hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya based on Herzberg’s Motivation Theory. Methodology This study employed a cross-sectional research design, targeting healthcare workers from five select Hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya. A sample of 400 participants was selected using stratifed random sample based on proportioanl allocation. The data collection instrument was self-administered questionnaires and analysis done using the SPSS software, version 26.0, with the level of significance set at 0.05. Analyzed data was presented using tables with both descriptive, and inferentiall statistics i.e. Chisquare, Odds Ratios and Confidence Intervals. Results The study found that promotions ( p-value<0.001) with OR =1.790 and 95% CI = (1.090, 2.939), Training and development (p-value<0.001) with OR = 1.960 and 95% CI = (1.214, 3.165), Communication (p-value=0.001) with OR = 1.189 and 95% CI = (0.687, 2.059), Supervision (P-Value < 0.001) with OR = 1.380 and 95% CI = (0.805, 2.365), quality of buildings in terms of space (p-value<0.001) with OR = 1.505 and 95% CI = (0.924, 2.453), Equipment adequacy (p-value<0.001) with OR = 2.871 and 95% CI = (1.698, 4.854), Availability of PPEs’ (p-value=0.022) with OR = 2.394 and 95% CI = (1.316, 4.357), and Availability of amenities such as toilets and water (p-value=0.04) with OR = 1.844 and 95% CI = (1.458, 2.556) had a statistically significant effect on satisfaction/dissatisfaction by Healthcare workers. Conclusion The study was able to established that there are factors determining job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Public hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya. They include salaries, fringe benefits, training and development, recognition and reward, supervision and management, communication, equipment and utilities, lighting and ventilation, and conducive work environment. Over (70%) of the respondents were not satisfied with their work environment. This study recommends that employers should come up with clear guidelines on rewards such as merit-based promotions, training, and development opportunities through programs such as in-service training and compensation for extra training that HCWs incur expenses for, and more resources should be invested towards the construction of more hospital spaces and improving the quality of the available hospital spaces
An Evaluation of Student Leadership Training Programs in Universities in Kenya
No full textMASTER OF EDUCATION in Leadership and Policy StudiesStudent leadership plays a vital role in enhancing the educational experience and preparing future leaders in universities. In Kenya SLTPs have become an important avenue for nurturing leadership skills among students however, their effectiveness has not been expansively evaluated. This study assessed SLTPs in universities, focusing on their contribution to skills development, best practices and areas for improvement. The study was guided by Transformational Leadership theory which motivates students, Social Learning theory, which emphasizes role modeling and Kolb’s Experiential Learning which promotes practical engagement. An exploratory sequential mixed-method design was employed and data collected through semi-structured interviews and surveys. The study focused on student leaders from UoN and DU to gain comparative insights into the effectiveness of SLTPs. Findings revealed that SLTPs significantly enhanced leadership skills among the student leaders in areas like communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. However, critical thinking and decision-making skills were found to be less emphasized. The study recommended incorporating learning strategies such as debates, simulations, and case studies into future programs.SLTPs were also shown to improve participants' self-confidence, interpersonal communication and peer relationships although some reported difficulty balancing academic responsibilities with leadership roles. The study recommended integrating time management and wellness training to promote holistic development. Lastly, mentorship was identified as the most impactful component of the programs, underscoring the value of participatory and experiential learning approaches. It was recommended that mentorship be institutionalized and experiential learning be expanded through leadership projects.Daystar Universit
Distribution Strategies, Tracking Technology andQuality Service Delivery in Kenya’s Courier Sector
No full textJournal ArticleThis study examines the effect of exclusive and intensive distributionstrategies on service delivery in Kenya’s courier industry, with trackingtechnology as a moderating variable. Anchored in resource-based theoryand economic distribution channel theory, the research adopts a positivistparadigm and explanatory design. Data was collected from 426 clientsacross twelve courier firms using validated structured questionnaires.Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were employed.Results indicate that both distribution strategies positively influenceservice delivery, with tracking technology significantly moderating theserelationships. The study recommends strategic enhancement of distributionsystems, integration of tracking technologies, and investment in capacitybuilding to improve service performanc