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Logistics Management Practices and Post-Harvest-Loss Among Small-Scale Banana Farmers in Selected Counties in Kenya
Full text linkBanana production as a food crop component cannot be underestimated. Bananas are currently ranked fourth among foods produced worldwide. The study aimed to investigate the effects of logistics management practices on post-harvest loss among small-scale banana farmers in selected counties in Kenya. The study used a cross-sectional research design. The target populations were small- scale banana farmers from three selected banana-producing counties in Kenya. The study\u27s sampling frame was a list of 14,447 farmers from three selected counties. The researcher stratified the counties and used a table of random numbers to pick farmers. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data in SPSS. The findings reveal a significant negative relationship between logistics management practices and post-harvest losses among small-scale banana farmers (β = -0.536, p = 0.000). The study concludes that effective logistics management can significantly reduce post-harvest losses. The study recommends that small-scale banana farmers focus on efficient transportation methods and consider traditional technologies. County governments need to train banana farmers on best practices for handling bananas to prevent damage during harvest and post-harvest stages. 
Green Public Procurement in Africa: A Comparative Study of Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa’s Priority Sectors
Full text linkGreen Public Procurement (GPP) is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for advancing sustainable development in Africa. This paper compares GPP frameworks in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, focusing on key sectors such as energy, transportation, construction, and ICT. Using survey data from 287 procurement professionals, policymakers, and sustainability officers, the study analyzes the legal, institutional, and operational aspects of GPP across countries. South Africa leads with a mature, well-coordinated system, while Nigeria and Kenya face challenges related to fragmented implementation and weak monitoring. The research highlights the importance of political will, agency collaboration, supplier development, and international support as drivers of successful GPP. The findings offer practical recommendations to harmonize policy and foster sustainable procurement across Africa
Implications of Electronic Procurement on Firm Performance: A Study of Selected Capital Market Operators in Lagos State, Nigeria
Full text linkThis research investigated the on-time service delivery and process flexibility in the procurement process of selected Capital Market Operators (CMOs) in Lagos State, Nigeria. The electronic procurement independent variables used included e-tendering, e-sourcing, e-bidding, e-purchasing, and e-payment. Data were sourced from 158 CMOs in Lagos State, Nigeria, through the administration of structured questionnaires (online survey) and analyzed using the least squares methods. The results revealed an explanatory negative and significant relationship between e-tendering and on-time service delivery (coefficient = -0.018, p < 0.05), suggesting that electronic tendering processes may slow down prompt supplier deliveries. Conversely, e-sourcing had a positive but insignificant impact on on-time service delivery (coefficient = 0.015, p > 0.05), implying a slight but weak improvement in delivery speed. Electronic purchasing showed a significant positive relationship with on-time service delivery (coefficient = 0.155, p < 0.05), highlighting its role in improving supplier responsiveness. Regarding process flexibility, e-bidding exhibited a positive but insignificant relationship (coefficient = 0.069, p > 0.05), indicating that while e-bidding may support adaptability in supply processes, the impact is not statistically strong. Furthermore, e-payment demonstrated a negative and insignificant relationship with process flexibility (coefficient = -0.051, p > 0.05), suggesting potential inefficiencies or delays linked to electronic payment processes. The study concluded that e-procurement has helped firms in the Nigerian capital market to ease their procurement functions by ensuring a stress-free bidding process, purchasing via online procurement software, and making payments electronically. However, the tendering process being carried out online met some difficulties as it negatively affected the firms’ performance. The study recommended that firms, especially the CMOs, should strive to organize online auctions so as to speed up the bidding process and ensure transparency in their e-procurement functions to enhance their delivery quality
Relationship Between Purchasing Power and Performance of County Governments in Kenya
Full text linkPurpose: The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between purchasing power and performance of county governments in Kenya.
Methods: The study used a descriptive research design. The target population of this study was 384 respondents drawn from all 47 counties in Kenya which included the staff from the procurement, ICT, finance and administration, and audit departments. The study sample size was 188 respondents and both stratified random sampling technique and simple random sampling techniques were adopted to get the sample of respondents to be included in the study. Data analysis was done with the help of Statistical Package for Social Science version 28. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis.
Results: The findings revealed that purchasing power had a positive significant linear effect on performance of county governments in Kenya.
Implication: The study recommends that donors build and strengthen the local capacity of the affected nations and populations to prevent, prepare for, alleviate, and contain County crises, to make sure that governments and societies can efficiently perform their obligations and coordinate effectively with County actors. This also includes promotion of local industries and local supplies increasing standardizing procurement and purchasing power in the event of global county disruptions
The Relationship Between Supplier Collaboration and Pharmaceutical Firms’ Performance in Nairobi City County, Kenya
Full text linkThis study aimed to determine the relationship between supplier collaboration and pharmaceutical firms’ performance in Nairobi City County, Kenya. This study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population comprised procurement managers and supply chain (SC) managers working in 171 pharmaceutical firms in Nairobi County, including 22 local manufacturers and 149 importers and distributors. A sample of 184 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling to ensure balanced representation, with 92 procurement managers and 92 SC managers. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, which provided consistent and focused responses relevant to the study objective. It was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics entailed means and standard deviations, while the inferential statistics entailed Pearson’s Correlation and regression analysis. The findings indicate that collaborating with suppliers on risk mitigation improves customer satisfaction and service delivery. Jointly planning production and delivery schedules enhances order fulfillment accuracy and supply chain alignment. Involving suppliers in strategic decisions contributes to greater market share and responsiveness to customer demands. Engaging in joint sales forecasting and implementing vendor-managed inventory systems reduces lead times and improves inventory control. Sharing IT systems with suppliers enhances communication, data accuracy, and overall performance in pharmaceutical firms. It was concluded that collaborating with suppliers on risk mitigation improves customer satisfaction and service delivery. Joint planning of production and delivery schedules enhances order fulfillment accuracy and supply chain alignment. Involving suppliers in strategic decision-making increases market share and responsiveness to customer demands. Engaging in joint sales forecasting and using vendor-managed inventory systems shortens lead times and improves inventory control. Finally, shared IT systems with suppliers enhance communication, data accuracy, and overall performance of pharmaceutical firms. The study recommends that pharmaceutical companies in Nairobi City County enhance and formalize supplier collaboration by involving suppliers in strategic decision-making, joint production planning, and risk mitigation. Implementing shared IT systems and data-sharing platforms can improve communication, accuracy, and coordination, while adopting joint sales forecasting and vendor-managed inventory systems can reduce lead times, optimize inventory control, and ensure timely delivery, thereby improving service delivery, customer satisfaction, and overall performance
Evaluating the Effect of Product Traceability on Operational Performance: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Food and Beverage Manufacturing Firms in Tanzania
Full text linkThe study aimed to determine the relationship between product traceability and performance of food and beverage manufacturing firms in Tanzania. The research utilized a cross-sectional design, targeting 480 individuals from 120 food and beverage manufacturing companies in Tanzania. This included managers from procurement, inspection, quality, production, and operations departments. A total of 218 individuals were sampled using a stratified random sampling method. Data analysis was carried out with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 27, applying both descriptive and inferential techniques to the quantitative data. The findings indicate that product traceability significantly enhances the efficiency of food and beverage manufacturing firms in Tanzania (R2=.609, p=.000), suggesting that approximately 60.9% of the variance in the dependent variable can be attributed to product traceability. This offers insights into how traceability systems function as strategic assets promoting competitive advantage. The notable benefits of product traceability on the performance of food and beverage manufacturing companies offer empirical support for viewing traceability as a strategic asset within a resource-based view theory. This data reinforces the idea that investing in traceability systems generates sustainable competitive advantages, as these systems are difficult for rivals to replicate and can evolve to adapt to market changes. Therefore, managers should emphasize the importance of investing in strong traceability systems, acknowledging them as strategic resources that improve company performance. Additionally, policymakers in Tanzania ought to create supportive regulatory frameworks that encourage the implementation of effective traceability systems. This may involve tax incentives for companies that invest in advanced traceability technologies. Furthermore, clear guidelines for traceability practices should be developed to ensure alignment with international standards, aiding compliance for manufacturing firms and facilitating their access to global markets
Influence of E-Procurement on Procurement Contract Implementation in Kitui County, Kenya
Full text linkThe purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of e-procurement practices on procurement contract implementation in Kitui County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, targeting 227 staff working in procurement, contract management, inventory, assets, and accounts departments within the county government. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 145 respondents. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire, which was pre-tested to ensure clarity and reliability. The instrument’s reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha with a threshold of 0.7. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression). The findings revealed that e-tendering (β=0.146, p=0.001<0.05), e-evaluation (β = 0.122, p = 0.007<0.05), e-ordering (β = 0.118, p = 0.033<0.05), and e-invoicing (β = 0.119, p = 0.000<0.05) each had a positive and statistically significant effect on procurement contract implementation. The study concluded that e-procurement practices enhance procurement contract implementation by improving efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and transparency throughout the procurement cycle. It was recommended that county governments fully standardize e-procurement processes and that the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) enforce digital compliance across public entities to reduce reliance on manual systems and enhance contract performance
Effect of Inventory Computerization on Procurement Performance of State Service Corporations in Nairobi City County, Kenya
Full text linkThis study aimed to investigate the impact of inventory computerization on the procurement performance of state service corporations in Nairobi City County, Kenya. This study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population comprised chief accountants, procurement managers, and heads of inventory departments from 93 service state corporations in Nairobi City County, Kenya. A sample of 165 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling to ensure balanced representation across the three groups. The sample included 55 chief accountants,55 procurement managers, and 55 heads of inventory departments. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. The data were coded and analyzed using SPSS v28. Data analysis entailed descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics included means, frequencies, and standard deviations, while the inferential statistics entailed correlation and regression analysis. The findings revealed that inventory computerization was moderately adopted among service state corporations in Nairobi City County. Most respondents confirmed the use of fully computerized inventory coding systems, which improved stock identification and retrieval. Inventory coding was widely applied and considered effective in stock categorization, while RFID technology was used to track inventory location, though its application remained limited in some organizations. RFID-based automation was also recognized for enhancing inventory security. Cloud-based systems were strongly acknowledged as critical for stock monitoring. In contrast, the adoption of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for supplier transactions was relatively low, with many respondents expressing neutrality or disagreement. Correlation and regression analyses confirmed that inventory computerization had a positive and significant effect on procurement performance. It was concluded that inventory computerization positively influences procurement performance by enhancing stock management, accuracy, and security. However, the limited use of technologies such as EDI shows the need for wider adoption of modern systems to maximize these benefits. The study recommends that service state corporations in Nairobi City County enhance the adoption of advanced inventory computerization systems to optimize procurement performance. Beyond existing tools such as inventory coding, RFID, and cloud-based systems, organizations should expand the use of technologies like Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to improve supplier coordination and streamline transactions. Management should also invest in continuous staff training and allocate sufficient resources to support the full implementation of computerized systems
Influence of Supplier Relationship Management on Performance of Large Supermarkets in Nairobi Metropolitan, Kenya
Full text linkIn recent times, the retail chain industry in Kenya has experienced challenges, leading to the closure of large retail outlets. After COVID-19, there was a re-emergence of retail supermarkets. This forms the motivation of the study. The study sought to investigate the relationship between supplier relationship management practice and the performance of large supermarkets in Nairobi Metropolitan. The study was grounded in Resource-Based Theory. The target population was 135 employees, consisting of managers, operations supervisors, stock coordinators, loss branch stock controllers, and transport and logistics supervisors of the selected large supermarkets. Primary data was obtained through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied, with simple linear regression analysis used to predict the relationships between supplier relationship management practice and supermarket performance. The data was analyzed through SPSS and presented using tables. The study found that supplier relationship management (β =0.576, p value =0.00) has a significant and positive relationship with the performance of large supermarkets in Nairobi Metropolitan. The study recommends that the supermarkets review and strengthen their quality control mechanisms and regular performance reviews to ensure consistent delivery and product standards. Supermarkets should also standardize supplier evaluation procedures to improve reliability and accountability across all suppliers
Influence of Supplier Diversification on Performance of Manufacturing SMEs in Nakuru County, Kenya
Full text linkThis study aimed to evaluate the influence of supplier diversification on the performance of manufacturing SMEs in Nakuru County, Kenya. This study used a correlational research design. The target population was 304 respondents, including Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement Managers, and Accountants from 76 registered manufacturing SMEs in Nakuru County. A sample of 172 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling to ensure representation of all key informants. SMEs were identified from the county’s Department of Trade, Industrialization, and Cooperatives, and data were collected using structured questionnaires to ensure consistency and relevance to the study objectives. Descriptive analytics involving means and standard deviations were conducted. Pearson’s correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were used to test the relationship between the variables. The findings confirmed that supplier diversification significantly enhances the performance of manufacturing SMEs in Nakuru County. Respondents indicated that engaging multiple suppliers reduces dependency, improves supply continuity, and strengthens resilience. Firms actively sought new suppliers, maintained strong relationships with existing ones, and leveraged certified supplier databases to ensure transparency and reliability. Diversifying across geographic locations and supplier tiers was also seen to enhance flexibility and risk mitigation. The study established a strong positive link between supplier diversification and firm performance, showing that diversified firms are better equipped to maintain stability and respond to disruptions. The study concluded that supplier diversification enhances production efficiency, revenue growth, and responsiveness to market demands. Strong relationships with multiple suppliers improve customer satisfaction and supply continuity, while sourcing from different geographic locations boosts market share and competitiveness. Additionally, using certified supplier databases supports consistent profit margins and operational stability. The study recommends that manufacturing SMEs in Nakuru County adopt deliberate supplier diversification by engaging multiple suppliers across product categories and regions to reduce reliance on single sources. Managers should build strong supplier relationships, use certified databases for transparent sourcing, and proactively identify new suppliers to enhance resilience, revenue growth, and competitiveness