Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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Factors Leading To Divorce and Level of Awareness in the Church: A Case of Africa Inland Church, Starehe Sub County, Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textThe main objective of this study was to identify factors leading to divorce and level of awareness in the Church. It identified factors leading to divorce among families, and also examined the level of awareness of the type of support given to members by the Church. The study was conducted in Starehe Sub County in Nairobi County, targeting the Africa Inland church. Church leaders and members of the church were involved to give their views on problem of divorce and if there any strategies that the church has applied in addressing divorce. The research was built on the ecological system theory which look at five environments that human being interact which has great impact on once future and present life. The researcher used mixed research design. A mix research method is a procedure for collecting, analyzing and mixing both qualitative and quantitative research design and methods in a single study to understand research problem. A purposive sampling was used to select a sampling frame consisting of those members who have been divorced between the age of 18 and above 50. The main data collection tools included questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussion. The findings of the research were analyzed using computer packages such as Micro Soft Excel that enable researchers to come up with recommendations for adoptions by relevant stakeholders to address these challenges. The study established that unfaithfulness within families tops the reasons for divorce in the church with more than a half (54%) of respondents agreeing to it. The second most important factor was financial differences at (15%). While misunderstanding scored (13%) however, culture, drug and alcohol become last in the list scoring (9%). Many of the divorced members came into conclusion that the church is in campaigns to make sure people in the church are aware of the divorce issues and its consequences. The study recommended that there is need for the church to instill values for a Christian marriage. Although the church is often not directly to impose on society laws and customs it finds compatible with Scripture, it has a solemn duty to instill or teach members of the church and the society at large, what God also says about Christian union between husband and wife.
Keywords: Divorce, Level of Awareness, Africa Inland Church, Starehe Sub County, Nairobi County & Kenya
Role of E-Procurement Practices in Fighting Fraud and Corruption in Public Procurement
No full textFor a long time, the menace of corruption and fraud in public procurement in Kenya has been a major source of debate. The problem has passed on from one government to the next but no serious effort has been put in place to fight the vice. This study sought to examine the role of e-procurement practices in fighting fraud and corruption in public procurement. Institutional theory on corruption was used to inform the study. The study used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify the main themes. A critical review of empirical literature was conducted to establish e-procurement practices in fighting fraud and corruption in public procurement. The study concluded that e-Procurement can be used as a gatekeeper for all bidders in ensuring that they follow the rules as stipulated in the system. Transparent procurement practices can stop any political and economic forces from interfering with procurement processes. E-Procurement helps to safeguard many public officials through its transparent and efficient system. It can be used as a barrier to avoid unnecessary demands and interference from people with a vested interest. e-Procurement is also useful in dealing with the intertwined relationship between public and private organizations. As public procurement is governed by the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2015 (PPDA), which refers mainly to the manual procurement process, the study recommended that there is a need to amend the Act accordingly to factor in the e-procurement processes. This can be supplemented by an e-procurement manual/guide and other procurement documents in electronic form availed to the process owners for reference. The Government should implement stiff penalties for breaches of procurement requirements and capacity strengthening of procurement practitioners on adherence to procurement regulations. There is a need for instituting proper records management tools for public procuring entities and more robust mechanisms should be implemented in e-procurement to enhance its functionalities at all the stages of the public procurement cycle.
Keywords: E-Procurement, Fraud, Corruption & Public Procurement.
 
Influence of Green Procurement Practices in Supply Chain Management and Leadership on Performance of Parastatals in Kenya; A case of Kenya Airways and Kenya Pipeline
No full textGovernment parastatals experience major challenges in the execution of procurement efficiency. In Kenya, parastatals procurement consumes a huge figure of the national budget. The inefficiency and ineptness of overall procurement efficiency in many government parastatals hinder performance. The study empirically determines the influence of green procurement practices in supply chain management and leadership on the performance of Kenya Airways and the Kenya pipeline. A critical review of the empirical literature is conducted to identify the main thematic concepts of the paper. It was established that green procurement practices improve the overall performance of a firm. Reverse logistics, green distribution, green purchasing, supply selection and green marketing have a significant effect on the overall performance of government parastatals. It is concluded that reverse logistics influence organizational performance through controlling environmental risks, proper utilization of materials by customers results in customer satisfaction and ensures recycling of materials. Green procurement affects the supply chain performance by ensuring production with low environmental impacts, products which are using environmentally friendly processes, environmental collaboration with the suppliers, eco-labelled products and adoption of environmental criteria into the supplier assessment systems. It is also concluded that green packaging influences supply chain performance by reducing the environmental impact of by-products within the supply chain, proper use of products by consumers, appropriate product design to minimize consumption of materials and energy, and facilitating reuse, recycling and recovery of components materials. Waste management systems affect supply chain performance through recycling and re-using waste created, treating and controlling post-combustion emissions, use of alternative fuels and encouraging the implementation of the waste energy processes. The study recommends that the Kenya Airways and Kenya pipeline should encourage proper utilization of materials and recycling of materials. The study recommends that Kenya Airways and Kenya pipeline should integrate the green procurement process in all its purchasing processes since its characterized by a low environmental impact that is products environmentally friendly in nature and produced using environmentally friendly processes. The study recommends that the management of Kenya Airways and Kenya pipeline should purchase products from manufacturers whose design products minimize the consumption of materials and energy, that facilitate the reuse, recycling and recovery of component materials. The study recommends that Kenya Airways and Kenya pipeline should invest more in waste management systems.
Keywords: Green Procurement Practices, Supply Chain Management, leadership, Performance, Parastatals
 
Effect of Debt Financing on Shareholder Value Creation of Non-Financial Firms at Nairobi Securities Exchange
No full textDebt finance may either be long term or short term; a company may prefer long-term debt because of the tax deduction on interest payment which is a distinct advantage over equity. The amount of debt a firm utilizes to fund its activities depends on interest charged on debts, corporate income taxes rates, withholding taxes, and cost of financial distress and covenant restrictions in financial agreements. Rational investors expect good long term yield of their investment. Debt financing play an imperative role in general performance of a company and shareholder value creation. Shareholder value creation and profit maximizing are among the primary objectives of a firm. Shareholder value creation focuses more on long term sustainability of returns and not just profitability. There have been a number of firms facing financial crisis among them; Mumias Sugar Ltd, Uchumi Supermarkets Ltd and Kenya Airways Ltd. All these companies are quoted at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Due to declining performance of these companies, share prices have been dropping and shareholders do not receive dividends. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of debt financing on shareholder value creation of non-financial firms quoted at the Nairobi Securities Exchange for the period 2008-2014. The study was guided by Modigliani and Miller theory. The study used general and empirical models from previous studies as a basis for studying specific models which were modified to suit the current study. The study was guided by the positivism philosophy. The study employed explanatory design which is non-experimental. Census design was used as the number of non- financial firms at the time of the study was 40 companies. The data was gathered from NSE handbooks and CMA publications comprising of annual financial statements, income statements and accompanying notes. Ordinary Least Square regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect of debt financing decision on shareholder value creation. The results revealed that debt financing had a statistically significant positive effect on EVA. The study further analyzed sector based differences among companies listed at the NSE. The results indicated significant differences among various sectors in respect to the effects of debt financing on shareholder value creation. Feasible generalized least squares were used to estimate the model. Diagnostic tests were conducted to ensure non-violation of the assumptions of Classical Linear Regression Model. Among the tests conducted; includes panel unit root test and Autocorrelation. Study model tests showed that, there was non-violation the assumptions and hence the model found fit for further analysis. The study recommends that managers of quoted non-financial companies should strive and practice periodic shareholder value creation analysis for continuous assessment of growth process. The government through the CMA should come up with regulatory framework that guide firm listed in enacted dividend policies. Further it is recommended that shareholder value creation report is enforced as an additional statement published by the firms quoted at the NSE, Kenya.
Key Words: Debt, Financing, Shareholder, Value Creation, Non-financial, Firm
Moderating Effect of University Standards and Guidelines on the Relationship between Administrative Procedure of Setting Examination and Quality of Examinations in Public Universities in Kenya
No full textUniversity examinations play a significant role in evaluating the teaching and learning process. However, there is a widespread perception that the quality of examinations in Universities in Kenya is declining. This study sought to critically examine the influence of university standards and guidelines on the relationship between administrative procedure of setting examination and quality of examinations in public universities in Kenya. It used the mixed method research design specifically the concurrent triangulation research design. It combined phenomenological research design for qualitative data and cross-sectional survey research design for quantitative data. The researcher purposively sampled 5 universities from the 31 public universities in Kenya. The study sampled 242 respondents. Questionnaires, interview guides, interview schedule and document analysis were used to collect data. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented inform of frequencies tables, graphs, mean, standard deviations and inferential statistics by conducting a correlation and multiple regression. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. University standards and guidelines were found to influence the relationship between administrative procedures of setting examinations and quality of examinations. Lecturers were not frequently trained on techniques of setting examinations. The study recommends that university administration should provide funds to train the academic staff on administrative procedures and guidelines of setting examinations according to CUE guidance in order to improve the quality of examinations.
Key words: University Standards and Guidelines, Administrative Procedure, Public Universities & Kenya
Staff Competence, Management Support and Service Delivery in Public Health Sector: A Case Study of Mbagathi District Hospital, Nairobi City County
No full textThe study investigated the influence of staff competences and management support on the quality of service delivery in public hospitals. The target population for this study comprised of 273 employees and 10,000 patients in Mbagathi district hospitals within Nairobi County. Simple random sampling was used to select 398 employees and patients while census was done on the 8 management staff. This study used primary data, both quantitative and qualitative. Primary data was obtained from the original sources using a structured questionnaire and captured through a 5-point type Likert scale. A Likert scale questionnaire was preferred as it makes it possible to convert responses into quantitative format for ease of data analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Interview guide was also used to obtain information from the management of district hospital. The questionnaires were self-administered using the drop and pick later method. A pilot study was undertaken on 5% of the sample population. Findings indicated that there was a positive and significant relationship between staff competence, management support and service delivery in public hospitals in Kenya. The study concluded that offering training to the staff, staff trained regularly, staff equipped with adequate and necessary skills are key impetus to service delivery. Recognition and rewards on members of staff, championing for the achievement, openness and transparency, management encouraging professionalism, monitoring and evaluation of the facility performance influences service delivery in hospitals. Conducive working environment acted as a motivating agent for employees to work better and get job satisfaction in the hospital. It was recommended that Mbagathi Hospital management should acquire, develop, and retain the qualified resources in order to address the dynamics of the environment and the ever-changing technology. Management should recognize and reward members of staff and champion for the achievement of set goals and objectives.
Keywords: Staff competence, management support, service delivery and Mbagathi District Hospita
Top Management Team Diversity and Organizational Performance: An Empirical Investigation of Strategic Leadership Influence
No full textCompetition has pushed contemporary organizations to diversify their workforce, with significant attention being paid to exploring how the diversity of leaders influence organizational outcomes. Despite growth in TMT (Top Management Team) diversity research in the last four decades, results have been inconsistent and unclear. An emerging field of research hints of a link between strategic leadership and TMT diversity and how this association influences performance. The study explored the moderating effect of strategic leadership on the relationship between TMT diversity and organization performance on Public Benefit Organizations (PBOs) in Kenya. A sample of 138 PBOs was developed and data collected and analyzed on various aspects of TMT diversity, strategic leadership and organizational performance. The study found that both transformational and transactional leadership behaviors moderates the relationship between TMT diversity and PBO performance. The research has theoretical implications on upper echelons and strategic leadership theories as well as policy inferences in assisting policy makers leverage on the diversity of TMTs in enhancing performance. The study recommends adoption of the strategic leadership practices in PBOs so as to enhance the outcomes of TMT diversity. Relatedly, further studies should be undertaken in other regions and sectors while at the same time testing the research model in varying environmental settings.
Key Words: Strategic leadership, TMT Diversity, Performance, Moderating effect, Public Benefit Organizations
Relationship between Knowledge Management and Innovative Work Behavior among Commercial Banks in Meru County, Kenya
No full textTo examine the extent to which knowledge management (KM) influences innovative work behavior (IWB) among the staff of commercial banks in Meru County, Kenya. Descriptive survey design was adopted. A structured questionnaire used to collect data in 20 commercial banks in Meru town with a population of 213 using a clustered random sampling on a sample of 110 comprising of top, middle, and lower levels management. A response rate of 92% was established. Content & convergent validity ensured data quality while cronbach's alpha value (0.7) tested the reliability of the questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software and computed using Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Findings indicated a moderate positive correlation between KM and IWB. KM process (acquisition, sharing & application) was well established in banks processes. However, IWB process (idea generation, promotion and realization) was not well structured. Tacit knowledge requires knowledge champions as enabled by empowered leadership. To the knowledge of the authors, no previous studies have analyzed the relationship of KM and IWB nor the approach in the context of commercial banks in Meru County.
Keywords: Knowledge management, Innovative Work Behavior, Tacit Knowledge, Explicit knowledge, organizational performance
Effect of self-Efficacy on the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya
No full textEntrepreneurial mindset is one possible strategy for enhancing the performance of SMEs. This study, therefore, sought to investigate effect of self-efficacy on the performance of small and medium enterprises in Kenya. The focus of the research was to measure the entrepreneurs self-efficacy and how this attribute contributes to the performance of an SME. The study adopted survey research design focusing on a population of 268,100 licensed small and medium enterprises in Nairobi County in Kenya, from which a sample of 400 firms were selected through a multi-stage probability sampling method where stratified sampling method was used first and then simple random sampling from the strata for the 17 constituencies under the Nairobi county. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. The study results established that entrepreneur self-efficacy had positive and significant effect on performance of small and medium size enterprises in Kenya. The study finally concluded that self-efficacy of an entrepreneur is the foundation on which all other entrepreneurial mindset attributes such risk taking, innovativeness and creativity are built hence it is a good predictor of high business performance. Entrepreneurs with high self-efficacy steer their business to profitability even in turbulent business environment. The study finally recommends that SMEs owners should possess high self-efficacy and the belief and ability to steer their businesses to high heights, such beliefs will ensure they run their enterprises with resilience especially during turbulent times.
Keywords: Entrepreneurial mindset, Kenya, SMEs and Self-Efficacy
 
Effect of Proactiveness on the Growth of Women Street Vending in Kenya
No full textEntrepreneurship is perceived as one of the substantial aspects that lead to development, where entrepreneurs are faced with the task of organizing and managing businesses and in the process assuming all risks of their entrepreneurial ventures. Women entrepreneurs all over the world are contributing numerous ideas, energy and capital resources and are making a difference in the business world. This study examined the response that poses as an important factor for growth in the entrepreneurial world. The study provides insight into the role of proactiveness on the growth of women street vending in Kenya. The specific objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of proactiveness on the growth of women street vending in Kenya. The target population of the study consisted of 384 women street vendors in Nairobi who were selected through probability sampling using the systematic sampling technique. The method used for primary data collection was questionnaires that were prepared and administered to women street vendors in the streets of three of Nairobi markets. Data analysis employed quantitative techniques on the questionnaires and hypothesis testing and qualitative methods for content analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected where the descriptive statistics involved frequencies and percentages and the inferential statistics involved correlation analysis and regression to test for the relationship of the variables. Various tests like sampling adequacy test, normality and multicollinearity were carried out during data analysis and the study presented the findings using tables and charts. The response rate of the study was 315 respondents out of the possible 384, majority of whom ranged from 18 to 36 years of age. The correlation results showed that proactiveness was strongly associated to growth of women street vendors in Kenya. Logistic Regression results showed a statistically significant relationship between proactiveness and growth of women street vending. The study concluded that proactiveness has a positive and significant effect on the growth of Women Street vending in Kenya. It was recommended that women in street vending should ensure they are proactive in their business by introducing new products ahead of competition and acting in anticipation of future demand to create, change and shape the environment.
Key words: Proactiveness, Street vending, Growt