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Perspectives of Tradition, Religion, and Science on widow inheritance among the Luo community in Kenya
No full textThe 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. The study 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 misused leading 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.
Keywords: Culture, Tradition, Religion, Levirate, Interpretivism, Widow Inheritance, Luo community, Keny
Financial Resource Mobilization and Counties Sustainable Development in Kenya: A Case Study of Tharaka Nithi County Government
No full textCounty governments in Kenya are tasked with fourteen constitutional responsibilities, necessitating robust financial resource mobilization beyond national allocations. Despite possessing the potential to generate local revenue, most counties, including Tharaka Nithi, have underperformed due to financial inefficiencies. This study investigated how financial resource mobilization affects sustainable development in Tharaka Nithi County. The objectives included exploring how Own Source Revenue (OSR) can enhance sustainable development, identifying obstacles in financial mobilization and proposing strategic, time-bound solutions. The study was guided by public goods and sustainable development theories. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing questionnaires and interviews from 100 participants including county officials, national government officers, and citizens. Stratified random and purposive sampling ensured representative and expert input. Diagnostic tests like normality, multicollinearity, and heteroscedasticity confirmed data reliability. Instrument consistency was assessed through Cronbach’s Alpha and test-retest methods, while validity was established through expert reviews and pilot testing. Analysis using Excel and SPSS revealed that financial resource mobilization significantly influences sustainable development. The study found that taxes and levies (β=0.479, p=0.000), grant transfers (β=0.158, p=0.024), public-private partnerships (β=0.277, p=0.003), and income from county enterprises (β=0.147, p=0.034) positively impacted development. These resources support infrastructure, reduce inequality, and promote sustainable practices. Public-private partnerships were especially noted for enhancing infrastructure and service delivery. However, major challenges included bloated public payrolls, ethnic politics, illicit outflows, debt dependency, and corruption. The study recommends enhancing OSR by formalizing the informal sector, streamlining taxation processes and strengthening legal and institutional frameworks to build economic resilience and support long-term development.
Keywords: Financial Resource Mobilization, Sustainable Development, Own Source Revenue, Public-Private Partnerships, County Governance, Revenue Generatio
Effect of Flexible Work Arrangements on Employee Turnover in Commercial Banks in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
No full textEmployee retention in commercial banks in Kenya is a significant issue as annual turnover rates for employees range between 25-30 per cent and cost the banking sector KSh 3.2 billion on recruitment costs, training costs, and lost productivity annually. In the more rural counties like Uasin Gishu other hurdles for commercial banks are seasonal agricultural financing cycles, labour markets that are competitive for the banks, poor work-life balance mechanisms which affect stability and efficiency of the workforce. This paper investigated the impact of flexible work arrangement on employee turnover on commercial banks in Uasin Gishu County. The theory was based on spillover theory. The research was descriptive research using correlational research design derived from positivism research philosophy targeted 1200 employees of 18 licensed commercial banks operating in Uasin Gishu County. Stratified random sampling and Yamane's formula were adopted for selecting sample of 300 respondents. Structured pilot tested questionnaires with 5-point likert scales were used to gather primary data. Validity of results was assured using expert judgement and factor analysis and reliability was established using Cronbach's alpha (0.756). Descriptive and inferential statistics have been used (including correlation and regression analysis). Findings indicated that flexible work arrangements had a significant positive effect on employee retention (v = 0.450, t = 8.345, p < 0.000), with flexible work arrangements accounting for 20.2% variance of employee turnover. The research recommends development of structured flexible work policies, implementation of systematic schedule flexibility options, expansion of remote work facility, development of compressed workweek programs, and to provide reasonable work location autonomy based on operational requirements and organizational capacity.
Keywords: Flexible Work Arrangements, Employee Turnover, Commercial Banks, Work-Life Balance, Employee Retentio
Innovative leadership and Organizational Performance Among Domestic Airlines in Kenya
No full textThe domestic airline industry in Kenya operates within a highly dynamic environment marked by rapid technological advancements, stringent regulatory frameworks, and intense market competition. This study assessed the role of innovative leadership in enhancing organizational performance among Kenya’s domestic commercial airlines. Grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV), innovative leadership was conceptualized as a strategic internal resource encompassing strategic visioning, employee empowerment, adaptability and learning orientation, and communication clarity. A positivist philosophy and quantitative cross-sectional survey design were adopted, targeting 170 management-level respondents drawn from all 17 registered domestic commercial airlines in Kenya. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and simple linear regression. Descriptive analysis revealed a moderately strong presence of innovative leadership practices across the sector, with leadership practices perceived as consistent but requiring reinforcement in adaptability and proactive communication. Correlation analysis established a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between innovative leadership practices and organizational performance (r = 0.800, p < 0.01), confirming leadership’s critical role in shaping operational efficiency, market competitiveness, and customer satisfaction. Regression analysis demonstrated that innovative leadership practices explained 64% of the variance in organizational performance (R² = 0.640), with each unit increase in innovative leadership associated with a 0.851-unit improvement in performance outcomes. The findings reinforce the RBV argument that leadership capabilities are valuable, rare, inimitable, and non-substitutable resources essential for competitive advantage. The study concludes that innovative leadership significantly enhances the performance of domestic commercial airlines in Kenya. It recommends institutionalizing innovation-driven leadership development, embedding employee empowerment, strengthening strategic visioning and adaptability, enhancing communication clarity, and recognizing innovative leadership as a strategic resource for sectoral growth and competitiveness. These insights provide actionable guidance for airline managers, policymakers, and regulators committed to transforming Kenya’s aviation industry.
Key Words: Innovative Leadership, Organizational Performance, Domestic Airlines (Kenya
Influence of Regulatory Frameworks on Leadership-Driven Performance Outcomes in Kenya’s Domestic Aviation Sector
No full textThe performance trajectory of Kenya’s domestic aviation sector has been marked by persistent inefficiencies, financial instability, and strategic stagnation, despite the sector's critical role in national development and regional integration. This study examined how the regulatory framework moderates the relationship between innovative leadership practices and organisational performance among domestic commercial airlines in Kenya. Guided by Resource-Based View and Institutional Theory, the study conceptualized innovative leadership as comprising strategic visioning, employee empowerment, adaptability, and digital transformation initiatives, while the regulatory framework was analyzed as a moderating force shaping the leadership–performance linkage. A positivist philosophy and cross-sectional survey design were adopted, targeting 170 senior and middle-level managers across all 17 licensed domestic airlines in Kenya. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression models. The findings revealed that innovative leadership practices exert a strong positive influence on organisational performance (r = 0.800, p < 0.01), confirming that leadership capabilities function as strategic resources within the Kenyan aviation context. Additionally, the regulatory framework demonstrated a significant positive association with performance (r = 0.702, p < 0.01) and was found to significantly moderate the relationship between leadership practices and organisational outcomes (β = 0.031, p = 0.027). The regression model showed that incorporating the regulatory framework and its interaction with leadership practices enhanced explanatory power from 64% to 72.6%. These results suggest that while innovative leadership practices are instrumental in driving operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and customer satisfaction, their effectiveness is contingent upon an enabling regulatory environment. The study concludes that Kenya’s aviation performance challenges are not solely attributable to internal leadership deficits or external regulatory rigidity, but to the interaction between these factors. Recommendations include the institutionalization of innovation-oriented leadership frameworks within airlines, regulatory reforms by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to foster an innovation-friendly policy environment, and strategic alignment between leadership initiatives and regulatory structures. The study contributes to aviation management literature by highlighting the conditional role of regulatory frameworks in shaping leadership effectiveness and organisational performance within a highly regulated sector in a developing economy.
Keywords: Innovative leadership, regulatory frameworks, organisational performance, employee empowerment, airline competitiveness, operational efficiency
Competency-Based Curriculum Implementation and Digitalisation in Africa: Successes, Challenges and Solutions as Meta-Analysis from 2017 to 2024
No full textThe implementation of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in education systems globally is crucial for equipping learners with necessary skills for the 21st century. Despite widespread adoption, significant gaps remain in educational outcomes, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 50% of students are not achieving minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics. The integration of digital tools into education is posited as a critical component of CBC reform; however, many educators and institutions are struggling to effectively implement these tools within a competency-based framework. This study aims to conduct a meta-analysis of CBC implementation and digitalization challenges, successes, and solutions across Africa from 2017 to 2024. A comprehensive review of recent literature highlights the importance of value-based education, Africanizing CBC, and strategic approaches to educational reforms. However, significant gaps persist in understanding the interplay between CBC implementation and digitalization within the African context. This study will fill these gaps by providing a comprehensive meta-analysis of existing literature, exploring the challenges and successes of CBC adoption, and examining the potential of digital tools to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
Keywords: Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), Digitalization, Education, Sub-Saharan Africa, Meta-analysi
Land Ownership Structure and Women’s Agricultural Productivity in The Eastern Province of Rwanda
No full textLand ownership plays a foundational role in shaping agricultural productivity, particularly for women who comprise a significant portion of the rural farming population. Secure land tenure enhances access to credit, promotes long-term investment, and strengthens decision-making power, making it a critical factor for sustainable agricultural development. Despite progressive reforms in Rwanda such as the 2005 Organic Land Law and the Land Tenure Regularization (LTR) program women in the Eastern Province continue to face practical barriers to land access, control, and utilization. These barriers, often rooted in socio-cultural norms and weak institutional enforcement, undermine the transformative potential of legal reforms. This study assessed the influence of land ownership structures on women’s agricultural productivity in the Eastern Province of Rwanda using a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 327 women in agricultural cooperatives across seven districts. The study evaluated dimensions such as land tenure security, use of land as collateral, and control over agricultural decisions. Findings revealed that 86.3% of respondents agreed that secure land tenure significantly influenced productivity, while 73.8% identified credit access via land collateral as a key investment motivator. Additionally, 81.4% linked income from agricultural produce to secure ownership, and 82.6% cited rental income as an economic benefit. Women with formal land titles in Rwanda achieve higher yields, better decision-making, and greater financial autonomy, though cultural norms and administrative gaps hinder full benefits. Addressing these requires reforms that strengthen women’s land control, credit access, and gender-responsive governance.
Keywords: Land ownership, women farmers, agricultural productivity, Rwanda, land tenure security, gender equit
Practices of Procurement Professionals and Sustainable Development in Kenya
No full textWhile the legislative framework, including the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (PPADA) 2015 and subsequent sustainability guidelines, sets out clear objectives for integrating economic, social, and environmental considerations, actual implementation varies significantly. The research adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design, targeting procurement professionals across state corporations and government ministries. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. The findings reveal that economic sustainability practices, such as supporting local suppliers and promoting SME participation, are more widely implemented than social and environmental sustainability measures. Social inclusion efforts are constrained by weak enforcement mechanisms and limited follow-up during contract execution, while environmental sustainability remains underdeveloped due to insufficient technical expertise, budgetary constraints, and perceptions of high cost. The study concludes that procurement professionals have the potential to be strategic change agents for sustainable development but require enhanced capacity, institutional support, and performance incentives to achieve this role effectively. Recommendations include targeted training, integrating sustainability indicators into performance evaluations, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, fostering inter-agency collaboration, and allocating dedicated budgets for sustainability initiatives.
Keywords: Public Procurement, Procurement Professionals, Sustainable Development, Economic Sustainability, Social Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, Supply Chain, Kenya, PPADA 2015, Procurement Practices
Impact of Performance Appraisal on Employee Productivity in Kericho County Referral Hospital
No full textPerformance appraisal systems in healthcare institutions face significant challenges in effectively enhancing employee productivity and motivation. Limited research exists on the specific impact of performance appraisal components on employee productivity in Kenyan healthcare settings. This study aimed to evaluate how performance appraisals impact employee productivity at Kericho County Referral Hospital, specifically examining the effects of appraisal feedback, training programs, and reward systems on staff performance. A quantitative descriptive survey design was employed, targeting all 300 employees at Kericho County Referral Hospital. Stratified random sampling was used to ensure representation across clinical, administrative, and support staff categories. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson's correlation analysis. The findings revealed that 60% of employees reported increased motivation and productivity following positive feedback during performance appraisals. Training and development opportunities linked to appraisals enhanced job performance for 55% of participants, while 70% of employees who received rewards after positive appraisals demonstrated significantly higher productivity levels. However, 30% of employees expressed dissatisfaction with limited training programs, and those who received no rewards showed decreased motivation. The study concludes that well-structured performance appraisal systems significantly enhance employee productivity when they incorporate constructive feedback, relevant training opportunities, and fair reward mechanisms. The research recommends enhancing feedback quality, expanding targeted training programs, implementing transparent reward systems, and ensuring fairness in the appraisal process to maximize employee productivity in healthcare settings.
Keywords: Performance, Appraisal, Employee, Productivity, Hospita
Diaspora Diplomacy Strategies and Remittance Flows: Evidence from Kenyan Diaspora in Australia
No full textThe Central Bank of Kenya recognizes the significance of remittances as an economic lifeline, yet the observed irregularities hint at prevailing issues within the diaspora that may impact their ability to contribute effectively to the nation's welfare. Existing research on diaspora contributions has largely focused on traditional migration destinations such as the US, UK, and Gulf countries, creating a contextual gap regarding the Kenyan diaspora in Australia, whose remittance behavior remains under-explored. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of diaspora diplomacy strategies on remittance flows from Australia. A descriptive survey design and a positivist paradigm were employed to collect empirical data from diaspora members. The target population comprised 22,446 individuals, including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya Mission in Australia, diaspora associations, and Kenyan diaspora residents in Australia. A total sample of 484 respondents was selected using random, census, purposive, and stratified sampling techniques. Data was collected using structured questionnaires distributed via digital platforms and interview guide. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS, where descriptive statistics and linear regression were conducted to test the relationships between the study variables. The findings revealed that diaspora diplomacy strategies explained 71.2% of the variation in remittance flows (R² = 0.712, Adjusted R² = 0.706), with the regression model showing statistical significance (F = 432.764, p = 0.000). The study concludes that diaspora diplomacy plays an important role in promoting remittance flows from Kenyans in Australia but is hindered by structural and institutional limitations. The study thus recommends the establishment of a Diaspora Investment Facilitation Office (DIFO) under the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), with liaison officers in key global hubs including Australia.
Keywords: Diaspora Diplomacy Strategies, Remittance Flows, Economic Development, Consular Services, Kenyan Diaspora in Australi