KCA University Institutional Repository
Not a member yet
1075 research outputs found
Sort by
Influence Of Corporate Governance Practises On Service Delivery Among County Governments In Kenya
Get PDFii
ABSTRACT
This study aims to investigate the impact of corporate governance on service delivery in
Kenyan county governments, with a particular emphasis on Isiolo County. The study's four
main objectives are examining management abilities, organizational transparency, internal
control mechanisms, and the county assembly's oversight function. Corporate governance
practices refer to the set of procedures that businesses use to make sure their operations are
transparent, responsible, effective, efficient, and long-lasting. By protecting the rights of
stakeholders, these methods also hope to benefit the economy and society. In its most basic
form, corporate governance is a management philosophy based on democratic values, true
representation, and active involvement. Early 2000s business scandals like Enron, WorldCom,
Tyco, and others led to the enactment of laws intended to keep similar problems from
happening in the future. These rules place a strong emphasis on managing firms through the
implementation of sound corporate governance procedures. It is anticipated that the
implementation of sound corporate governance principles will improve county governments'
capacity to serve residents within their various jurisdictions in an efficient and timely manner.
This study examines the impact that corporate governance practices have on county
governments in Kenya in terms of service delivery. The research study applied descriptive
research design so as to determine the relationship between effective service delivery and
corporate governance. The study targeted the county leadership and departmental heads.
Questionnaires were administered to 170 respondents. Regression, t-test, correlation and F-test
were applied in analyzing the primary data. The results revealed that transparency,
accountability, and good governance practices are essential for ensuring that services are
delivered efficiently, equitably, and in accordance with legal and ethical standards.
Transparency in county governments is essential for promoting accountability, fostering trust,
and ensuring that government officials and agencies are serving the public interest. County
governments must therefore maintain a strong commitment to providing essential services that
enhance the well-being and quality of life for all members of the community. County
governments should regularly review and update their control systems, train staff on control
procedures, and maintain a culture of compliance and accountability. The study concluded that
Effective governance is essential for ensuring that county governments meet the needs of their
residents, maintain transparency, and uphold democratic principle
Effect Of Institutional Capital On Institution’s Financial Stability Of Deposit-taking Saccos In Kenya
No full textThe deposit-taking Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) sector is a crucial component of the
financial industry contributing significantly to Kenya's economic growth. However, there is still a challenge
on adequate regulatory to enhance compliance given that majority of the SACCO members are small and thus
may be technically and financially constrained to meet the tight liquidity requirements set by SASRA. The
general objective of this research inquiry was to explore the effects of capital composition (structure) decisions
on the institution's financial stability. The study used a populace of one hundred and seventy-four Deposit
Taking Savings & Credit Co-operatives Societies (DTSs) that filed their report for the period ranging from
2014 to 2018 was considered. Data analysis was done through inferential and descriptive statistics. The
correlation and regression features of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 were used
in the analysis of data. The data showed a degree of variation between the capital structure decision of the
deposit-taken SACCOs in Kenya. There was a positive correlation between the institutional capital and
institutional capital to total assets ratio, core capital, total deposits ratio, and total assets to total loans ratio.
This study will provide academics and other researcher with relevant information regarding the influence of
financing approaches on the growth of deposit- taking SACCOS in Kenya and will help the management of the
deposits and credit cooperative societies in implementing viable financial guidelines
Effect Of Investment Decision On Profitability Of Deposit Taking Savings And Credit Cooperatives In Nairobi County, Kenya
Get PDFThis study sought to evaluate the effect of the expansion decision on the profitability of SACCOs in Nairobi County; to assess the effect of replacement decisions on profitability of SACCOs in Nairobi County; to evaluate the effect of renewal decision on the profitability of SACCOs in Nairobi County; and to assess the effect of research and development decision on the profitability of SACCOs in Nairobi County. This study intent was to determine how investment decision impact the profitability of SACCOs in Nairobi. The study population was the 40 DT- SACCOs in Nairobi County, Kenya. The independent variable for the study was investment decisions with four measures: investment in expansion decision, investment in replacement decision, investment in renewal decision and investment in research and development. Profitability (ROI) was the response variable which was the primary focus. The study utilised secondary data from 2018 to 2022 (4 years) on annual basis. A descriptive design together with multiple linear regression model were used for the analysis of the variables. For this analysis, the researcher used STATA software. The finding gave an R- square value of 0.189 approximately 18.9% of the variation in the dependent variable can be accounted for by the independent variables. Additionally, around 2.74% of the variation in the dependent variable can be attributed to differences between groups or categories, while overall, about 12.4% of the variation in the dependent variable remains unexplained. These analysis further revealed results show that the F statistic was substantial at 5% level with P=0.000. This shows that the model was suitable for the study to provide an explanation of the variables. The results also showed that investments in expansion and renewal decisions produced positive and statistically substantial values for this study while investments in replacement and research & development were found to be statistically insignificant determiners of profitability. This study recommends that measures should be put in place to enhance investment in expansion and renewal decisions. As this two have a substantial influence on profitability of DT-SACCOs in Nairobi
Adoption Of Online Psycho-educational Interventions In Tackling Depression Among Students In Private Universities In Meru County, Kenya
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to assess the adoption of online psycho-educational interventions in
tackling depression among students in private universities in Meru County, Kenya. The objectives
were to assess the prevalence of depression in the adoption of online psycho-educational
interventions, to investigate the availability and usage of online psycho-educational services in the
management of depression disorders. Moreover, the study aimed at determining the students’ and
counsellors’ perceptions on the adoption of online psycho-educational interventions, and lastly to
assess the challenges facing current psycho-educational practices in tackling depression among
students in private universities within Meru County. The study was guided by the person-centered
theory developed by Karl Rogers, which constituted its theoretical framework. The target population
comprised of undergraduate students, who had taken part in a mental wellbeing workshop, and mental
health professionals drawn from private universities in Meru County, including KeMU and MKU.
The study featured a sample size of 120 students that were randomly selected whilst 20 mental health
providers were purposively selected. The validity of the questionnaires was determined through a
pilot study prior to the actual study and items adjusted to address this study’s objectives. The
researcher used a descriptive survey design with a mixed methodology in the study, where the quasi structured questionnaires were filled by 82 students and 8 mental health providers; a return rate of
64.3%. The researcher used various descriptive statistics to analyze quantitative data whereas content
analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Thematic analysis was used to identify major themes
from the qualitative data and compared to the quantitative results to establish the study findings. The
study results showed that private universities had a high prevalence of depression, which was
indicated with 87.8% of the sampled student group positing a high likelihood of suffering from
depression. Despite the high prevalence of depression, the usage of psych educational practices was
low with only 29.2% of the students had ever sought mental health services and only 9% had ever
used online approaches to address depression incidence. Nevertheless, the study established that both
respondent groups had positive perceptions towards online psycho educational practices (83%). In
addition, the study found that challenges related to stigma, perceived criticism, and limited mental
health literacy largely impeded conventional psycho educational interventions, which warranted the
need for online psycho educational practices to manage and prevent depression and related
comorbidities among students. The study recommends adoption of online psycho-educational
practices to address the rising prevalence of depression among private university students in Meru
County, Kenya. Potential ethical issues were addressed by requiring participants to consent on taking
part in the study and all study data was stored in an encrypted drive and kept in a safety box by the
researcher. The research recommended future studies to assess the effectiveness of psychoeducational
servicesin prevention and management of depression disorders among students. The findings benefits
students due to convenient and easy access of mental health services from providers. Besides,
providers will benefit due to streamlined and efficient system to offer therapeutic service
On regime-switching European option pricing
No full textThe concern of this article is to derive a regime switching model that can be utilized to price European call options for a financial market that exhibits structural changes with time. The model is formulated based on the fact that the underlying asset process is described by a geometric Brownian motion that is modulated by a continuous-time Markov chain with two regimes. Moreover, by an application of the change of measure technique, an option price is derived under the risk neutral valuation and the model parameter estimates is performed by use of the maximum likelihood estimation. The model implementation is carried out by utilizing the Russell 2000 and Facebook in dices data sets. The model results are compared with that of the Black-Scholes model in order to establish the model with better results in terms of predicting the European call option prices. In general, the data sets have common characteristics of financial time series across the regimes and the volatility process spends longer time in regime 2 than it stays in regime 1. The predicted call option prices from both models are more or less similar across the market indices; however, the results of the Black-Scholes model are a bit closer to the market prices than that of the regime-switching model across the two markets. Therefore, the Black-Scholes model slightly gives better results for the Russell 2000 and Facebook indices data sets as compared with the RS model
A Model for Predicting Traffic Congestion Using Deep Learning Algorithm: Case of Nairobi Metropolitan
Get PDFTraffic congestion is a widespread problem that plagues urban transportation systems, causing
delays, increased fuel consumption, and environmental pollution. Addressing this issue
requires accurate prediction of traffic congestion, enabling proactive management strategies
and real-time information dissemination. Deep learning algorithms have emerged as powerful
tools for traffic prediction, offering the potential to forecast congestion patterns effectively.
The development of a model for predicting traffic congestion that is capable of accurately
detecting and reducing the overall density of traffic in most urban areas frequented by
motorists, such as offices, downtown, and establishments, has become one of the main
challenges for engineers and designers in recent years. Traffic prediction models in use today
are based on several modern technologies, including wireless sensor networks and surveillance
cameras. In Kenya, the Nairobi Metropolitan Area has greatly felt the impacts of traffic
congestion due to ever growing urban population. This is primarily because the number of
vehicles has rapidly increased as compared to the infrastructure growth. This study presented
a platform for addressing the traffic congestion through the establishment of Intelligent Traffic
Management model using Deep Learning Algorithm. The study utilized observation checklist
and questionnaire as the source of data for the study. An observation data collection sheet was
used in collecting the data from the four main roads. To obtain data from the traffic officers,
questionnaires was used. SPSS version 28 were used to analyze the data. Further from the
correlation analysis, all the variables including High cost of travel/fares (r=.494), High vehicle
maintenance (r=.206), Environmental pollution (r=.359), Staff fatigue (drivers and conductors)
(r=.488), Accidents (r=.310), Poor road design (r=.308), Poor Traffic control system (r=.410),
Road construction and maintenance works (r=.353), Vehicle break downs (r=.179), Roadside
parking/obstruction (r=.452), High number of private cars (r=.233), High number of public
transport vehicles (r=.071), Behavior of road usage (r=.228) Accidents (r=-.042), Poor road
use (r=-.042) and Poor traffic management (r=-.209) had positive correlation with traffic
congestion in Nairobi Metropolitan Area. Regression analysis further found that poor traffic
management by traffic officers, a high number of public transport vehicles, poor road design,
accidents, a high number of private cars, poor road use, poor traffic control systems, driver
behavior, vehicle breakdowns, road construction and maintenance, and roadside parking
explained up to 34.4% of the variation in travel time. In comparison, factors such as driver
behavior, roundabout type, time of day, number of lanes, vehicle type, weather conditions, and
travel rate explained 13.7% of the variation in road travel rates. Therefore, improved
infrastructure, traffic management practices, and enhanced driver behavior are concluded to
reduce travel time and improve transportation efficiency in the region. The study recommends
that traffic engineering and urban planning practices should prioritize the optimization of road
networks. The study recommends that local authorities and law enforcement agencies should
collaborate to enforce traffic rules and regulations rigorously. The study also recommends that
implementation of robust traffic management strategy by improving traffic signal
synchronization, implementing intelligent traffic management systems, and investing in
technology-driven solutions like real-time traffic monitoring and congestion alerts. Adequate
and efficient traffic management by officers should also be ensured, as this factor has been
found to play a substantial role in congestion mitigation. Additionally, policymakers should
consider congestion pricing mechanisms during peak hours. This will incentivize drivers to use
alternative routes or modes of transportation, thus reducing traffic congestion during high demand periods. Revenues generated from congestion pricing can be reinvested in
transportation infrastructure and improvements
Effect Of Talent Management Strategies On Employee Performance In State Corporations In Nairobi County, Kenya
Get PDFMany of Kenya’s state corporations have lost employees to companies that are considered to
have decent working conditions, support reform, and have fair remuneration policies, as
well as companies that encourage a culture of monitoring their employees' performance.
Therefore, there is need to ensuring management of the employees’ talent and improvement
on the employee affairs at the work place. The main objective of this study was to determine
the effect of talent management strategies on employee performance in selected state
corporations in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study specifically examined the effect of
training, reward system strategy, career management strategy and performance management
strategy on employee performance. The study was anchored on human resource
management theory, expectancy theory and equity theory. This study employed a
descriptive research design. This study was carried out in three state corporations which
formed the unit of analysis namely: Kenya Bureau of Standards, Agricultural Development
Corporation and East African Portland Cement Company. The targeted population was 2530
employees including the management and support staff working with the state corporations.
The technique of stratified sampling was used to group respondents into two categories
namely; managers and other staff. Thereafter, these respondents were selected using the
method of simple random sampling. The sample size of the study was 345 respondents,
accounting for 13.6 percent of the total population. The study used a questionnaire to collect
primary data. The questionnaire was piloted for 20 respondents. Validity was ensured
through content validity and criterion validity. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient was
used to determine reliability. Descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation
were applied in analyzing quantitative data. The study further conducted inferential statistics
that included correlation analysis and multiple regression to determine how variables relate
to each other. The study found that training strategy ((t=4.018, P<0.05), reward system
strategy ((t=7.681, P<0.05), career management strategy (t=6.744, P<0.05) and performance
management strategy (t=2.882, P<0.05) positively and significantly affect performance of
employees. The study concludes that training aids organizations in attracting and retaining
top people, increasing job satisfaction and morale, increasing productivity, and increasing
profits. Reward system strategies are critical for motivating the employees and increasing
their performance. Career management strategy reduces employee turnover by increasing
promotional opportunities, improves employee morale and motivation. Performance
management and regular reviews can aid in the identification of any flaws or future training
needs. Performance appraisal is an appropriate forum for formalization and prescription.
However, the quarterly assessment should include more than setting goals for the next
quarter. The study recommends that depending on its business strategies and skills, the
company should develop and develop a training strategy. Research, interviews, and internal
research can all be used to conduct needs assessments. The organization should look at
current remuneration practices and take corrective measures to prevent increased staffing.
The organization should consider allowing individuals to work in distinct but related
departments or jobs so as to improve cross-departmental collaboration and develop rapport
in a remote team. The organization’s goals and performance targets should be defined and
communicated by the organization. The first step toward strategic performance management
should be to clearly state performance expectations and organizational goals
Role Of Stakeholders In Successful Solid Waste Management In Machakos County, Kenya
Get PDFRapid population growth and urbanization has resulted to serious problem in SWM. This is due
to indiscriminate disposal due to inadequate involvement of waste stakeholders, finances and
human resources. The problem of concern is lack of synergy between various stakeholders in
SWM who include: Central government, local authority, NGOs and landlords and the role they
play in management of SWM. The study was conducted in Machakos County due to its strategic
location and its status of being part of Nairobi Metropolitan Region. Specifically, Machakos
County acts as a dormitory to residents most of whom work in Nairobi and Machakos town.
Moreover, it has many industries which contribute to a lot of solid waste. Unfortunately, there
has not been good management of the services due to inadequate stakeholder engagement in their
respective roles within the framework. The following objectives we used to guide the study: the
role of local authority engagement, landlords’ involvement, NGOs engagement and National
government engagement in successful SWM. The method of the study adopted descriptive
research design to evaluate various aspects under the objectives. A total population of 105
persons from households, markets, companies, local authority and National government were
randomly sampled and interviewed. Likert scale questionnaires were used to collect data. The
collected data was analyzed using SPSS and presented in tables. From the results, it is evident
that, although key stakeholders have been involved in SWM it is to an extent and therefore there
potential has not been fully utilized meaning further involvement can yield more and excellent
results. Therefore, the recommends that a clear strategy for engagement among the stakeholders,
which include, creating awareness, training employees, coordination and knowledge sharing
Effects Of Firm Characteristics On Operational Efficiency Of Commercial Banks In Kenya
Get PDFThe role played by Commercial banks in any economy in the world cannot be over-emphasized.
Commercial banks in Kenya have contributed to savings which interprets to 78.55% of the total
savings in the economy. The efficiency of commercial banks is of big importance in order to ensure
that the financial sector is stable. There has been an increased cost of running a banking business
that has led to increased cost of loans and customer dissatisfaction in commercial banks in Kenya.
This study sought to examine the effect of firm characteristics on operational efficiency of
commercial banks in Kenya by evaluating the effect of capital adequacy, asset quality and bank
liquidity and on operational efficiency of commercial banks in Kenya. The study also assessed the
moderating effect of bank size in the relationship between firm characteristics and operational
efficiency of commercial banks in Kenya. The study stands to benefit researchers, policymakers
and commercial banks. The study may face the limitation of non-response. The study was anchored
on the liquidity preference theory, credit creation theory and buffer capital theory. The study is
descriptive research design and targeted a population of 40 commercial banks licensed and
operating in Kenya. Secondary data will be used which will be obtained public annual financial
statements from the various commercial banks’ website and Central bank of Kenya website. The
data collected was analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics using Statistical Package for
Social Sciences Version 26.0 and presented using graphs tables, charts and a linear regression
equation. From the analysed data, there is weak relationship between capital adequacy and
operational efficiency of commercial banks in Kenya as shown by a coefficient value was 0.15.
Secondly, the assets quality is key in determining the operational efficiency of the commercial
banks in Kenya as shown by a correlation coefficient of 0.717. Liquidity was established to be
statistically correlating with operational efficiency in commercial banks in Kenya and this was
shown in correlation value of 0.602. Bank size evaluated based on the total assets owned by the
commercial banks revealed a strong positive relationship with banks operational efficiency as
shown by a correlation value of 0.813. form these findings, the study recommended that banks
should strategize to increase their core capital as this will avail more funds for lending which is
the key banking function. Lending will earn the bank interest hence improve their operational
efficiency. Finally, the Treasury and the bank managers should establish a should framework to
ensure the commercial banks have enough assets to sail through the unstable economic conditions
in the financial sector. The assets will able banks meet their operational cash needs, invest
adequately and make profits
Decoupling Point Strategies Promoting Supply Chain Performance of Manufacturing firms Listed in Nairobi Stock Exchange in Kenya
No full textThe study sought to establish the influence of leagility specifically postponement strategies on supply chain performance in the Kenyan manufacturing firms Listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange context. Explanatory research design was adopted while data was collected from all the 70 functional managers in the 10 firms. A pilot study of 7 respondents was conducted and the instrument overall Cronbach coefficient of 0.889 which was found to be sufficient and fit for the tool to be used in the actual field study. Data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire by dropping and picking after two weeks. Collected data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. A response rate of 93% was realized in the study. Key finding of the study was that postponement strategies had a positive and significant influence on supply chain performance with a correlation coefficient of 0.883. The study therefore recommends that manufacturing firms need to embrace more inventory, distribution, decoupling Point and transport postponement strategies since they lead to improved supply chain performance