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INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL AWARENESS ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA: A LITERATURE REVIEW SYNTHESIS
Get PDFThis study examines the influence of social awareness—a key dimension of emotional intelligence—on the organizational performance of universities in Kenya. Social awareness includes empathy, institutional awareness, and service orientation, which are essential competencies for academic leaders navigating complex stakeholder environments. Given the pivotal role universities play in advancing knowledge and shaping societal outcomes, understanding how emotionally intelligent leadership contributes to performance is critical. A structured literature review was conducted by selecting peer-reviewed studies from 2020 to 2025 using databases such as Scopus, JSTOR, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria focused on studies that linked emotional intelligence, specifically social awareness, with institutional performance indicators in higher education contexts. The review was guided by thematic analysis to identify key conceptual strands and empirical patterns.
Findings from the reviewed literature reveal that social awareness enhances employee engagement, student satisfaction, inclusive decision-making, and responsiveness to institutional needs—leading to improved organizational efficiency and adaptability. Three thematic areas emerged: (1) empathy-driven leadership and staff well-being, (2) institutional awareness and stakeholder alignment, and (3) service orientation as a driver of student-centric outcomes. Studies consistently show a positive relationship between social awareness and performance metrics such as staff retention, academic quality, and operational excellence.
Despite strong empirical support, gaps remain in the measurement and integration of social awareness in leadership development frameworks within African universities. The paper concludes by recommending the adoption of emotional intelligence assessment tools in academic leadership training, and alignment of social awareness practices with strategic objectives to enhance institutional resilience and innovation. This synthesis underscores the growing importance of emotional competencies in higher education leadership and provides a foundation for further empirical research in sub-Saharan Africa
From seats to voices: Analysing the effective participation of women in governance in the Kenyan parliament
Get PDFSince Kenya’s independence, women have strived for equal participation in governance, despite facing significant challenges due to societal norms. The Constitution of Kenya (2010) introduced gender reforms, enhancing representation through quotas and decentralisation. Since 2013, women’s representation in Kenya’s parliament has increased. However, the question that remains is whether the elected or nominated women have exercised their roles effectively. This paper traces women’s political participation in Kenya from the pre-colonial to the post-2010 Constitution period, highlighting the fight for gender parity and subsequent representation. It calls for gender equality rather than mere parity thereby addressing concerns about women in parliament being ‘voiceless representatives.’ This paper emphasises the need for women’s meaningful participation in decision-making processes, including their presence in parliamentary committees. This entails not only numerical representation but also active involvement in shaping policies and governance agendas, making their presence substantive rather than symbolic
Significance of Employee Engagement Dimension of Adaptive Leadership on the Performance of Commercial Banks in Kenya
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of adaptive leadership on the performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The supporting objective was to assess the significance of employee engagement on the performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The study was grounded on the Adaptive Leadership Theory and adopted the post-positivist research philosophy and descriptive research design. The study population was 394 top-level managers based on the website records of each bank. This research employed mixed methods to conduct the investigation, adopting the census method. Primary data was collected through self-administered online questionnaires distributed and filled electronically. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data from the open-ended questions, while descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized in analyzing quantitative data with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 29). The correlation results indicated, r (314) =0.871, p<0.001. The model summary results revealed that R2=0.222 which denoted that employee engagement could be used to explain 22.2% of changes in performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The regression coefficient for employee engagement indicated coefficient values of β = 0.307, t (314) = 3.655, p<0.003 which was less than (p<0.05) set for the study. This led to the rejection of the null hypothesis and acceptance of the alternative that employee engagement has a positive significance on the performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The study recommends that the human resources managers of the various banks should incorporate mentorship programs, while incorporating robust recognition and reward system for their staff to enhance employee engagement. This study was limited to the significance of employee engagement on the performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The study, therefore, suggests that similar studies could be carried out in other financial institutions to allow generalization of findings.
 
DETERMINATION OF THE ROLE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL SHARED INFLUENCE IN BANKING SECTOR PERFORMANCE IN KENYA
Get PDFPerformance in the banking industry has always determined the survival of a given bank. The level of such performance could be determined from different perspectives but one most frequented test is the type of leadership driving the particular bank or the industry as a whole. It is from the background that this study sought to establish the influence by transformational shared influence on the performance of commercial banks in Kenya. Using a positivist approach, the study adopted a descriptive correlational research design with stratified sampling of managers from all the 3-Tiers of 39 registered commercial banks in Kenya. The main instrument of data collection was a structured questionnaire from which a total of 307 responses were received out of a target 324 managers. Field results were analysed using both descriptive and inferential models with all processes run through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program. Key findings indicated that the transformational shared influence on performance of commercial banks in Kenya was statistically significant, R2 = 0.283, F (1, 306) =23.264, p-value <.05. This shows that 28.3% of the performance of commercial banks in Kenya was attributed to transformational influence while the remaining 71.7% could be attributed to other factors not included in the study and the error term. Additionally, results of regression coefficient indicated the transformational influence significantly predicted the performance of commercial banks in Kenya (β = .594 t = 4.823, p<.05). The study concluded that transformational shared influence is an important function of shared leadership for commercial banks in Kenya achieving their effectiveness and efficiency. The study thus recommends full implementation of all the aspects of transformational shared influence including idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individual consideration across all commercial banks in Kenya.
Keywords: transformational influence, idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individual consideration, Keny
AN An Empirical Assessment of Cybersecurity Maturity in Higher Learning Institutions
No full textUniversities increasingly rely on digital infrastructure for academic, administrative, and research functions, making them prime targets for cyber threats. In developing regions, these risks are exacerbated by limited resources and weak enforcement of cybersecurity policies. This study assessed the cybersecurity maturity of universities within Nairobi County, focusing on governance, technical capacity, and human factors. A descriptive research design was employed, using online questionnaires administered to IT personnel across 25 universities. Data was analyzed using SPSS, applying descriptive statistics to measure maturity across institutional domains.
Findings revealed that while most institutions had implemented basic technical controls such as antivirus software and firewalls, only 32% had formal cybersecurity policies. Human factors emerged as the most significant weakness, with low staff awareness, limited training, and inadequate incident response preparedness. Overall, institutions displayed moderate cybersecurity maturity, with clear strategic planning and governance structure gaps.
The study contributes to the limited empirical research on cybersecurity in African higher learning institutions by offering data-driven insights into institutional preparedness. It provides a practical foundation for targeted interventions and capacity building. The study recommends the adoption of international frameworks, continuous staff training, and collaboration with national cybersecurity agencies to improve institutional resilience and cyber-readiness
First Principles Computation of Electronic Structure and Dynamical Properties of Perovskite LaBa2Cu3O7
Get PDFPerovskite materials have attracted research because of their ability to transition from normal metals to superconductors. This study reports the electronic structure and dynamical properties of LaBa2Cu3O7 perovskite carried out in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) using the Quantum espresso code. This is based on plane wave self-consistent field (PWscf) and ultrasoft pseudopotential (USPP) method as treated in the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized gradient approximation and local density approximations as implemented in Quantum Espresso Code. The electronic structure uncovers essential aspects such as bandgaps, Fermi surfaces, and density of states, offering valuable insights into the material\u27s behavior. Under structural properties, optimization of the material’s cell dimensions, lattice parameters, k-points, and the kinetic energy cut-off values was properly checked through graphing. Accurate values were obtained at the convergence of the ground state energy at a minimum convergence threshold. Band structures of LaBa2Cu3O7 are similar to that of superconducting perovskites. The results show that LaBa2Cu3O7 is an orthorhombic structure with lattice parameter calculated to be 3.925 Å which compares well with other works and a band gap of 2.043eV. O 2p states typically dominate the valence band, while the conduction band involves Cu 3d states. Phonon calculations shows that the compound is dynamically stable as there are no negative frequencies observed
EFFECT OF WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON SUSTAINABILITY OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN NAIROBI COUNTY
Get PDFThe non-governmental organizations play a significant role in the economic developments and social wellbeing in the economy of a given country. This study aimed at establishing the effect of working capital management practices on Sustainability of NGOs in Nairobi County. The study was guided by the operating cycle theory, and the theory of economic regulation. It was anchored on a positivist paradigm philosophy. The study employed descriptive research design. A sample of 286 out of a target population of 1000 senior program managers and chief executive officers was obtained using stratified random sampling. A pilot study was conducted on 15 senior program managers and chief executive officers from NGOs within Nairobi County. Reliability was tested using the Cronbach coefficient. Primary data was collected from sampled officers using structured questionnaires, while secondary data was obtained from the audited financial statements of the NGOs and publications by the NGO coordination board. 172 questionnaires were found to be satisfactorily completed for analysis yielding a 60.14% response rate. The data was summarized and presented in tables and charts. Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) was used for data handling and analysis. The descriptive statistics included frequencies, percentages, means, modes and standard deviations. Inferential statistics included hypothesis testing using Chi Square test for independence to test whether the rating was dependent on the age of the NGOs, modelling using correlational and linear regression analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). For regression analysis, the normality of the response variable (NGO sustainability) data was confirmed using the Shapiro-Wilks test, while other diagnostic tests included Variance Inflation Factors (VIFs) and Pearson’s Correlation analysis to assess collinearity, coefficients of determination, t and F statistics. In assessing sustainability of NGOs, the current ratio, the donor dependency level, and the survival ratio were computed.
COMMUNICATING POLICIES FOR ENHANCED CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN LAIKIPIA COUNTY IN KENYA
Get PDFThe study focused on how climate change policies were being communicated among smallholder farmers to promote effective adaptation for food security and community resilience. It was believed that several climate-related policies were being developed and communicated by national and county governments and other stakeholders. However, very little was known about the entire the climate policy communication ecology. Using a sample of smallholder farmers and local stakeholders, the study aimed to discern how climate change policy communication worked in Laikipia county. Results indicate that how the policies were implemented were predicated on communication with key players who are farmers. The problem of lack of implementation was related with where, when and how policies were being communicated to the farmers
POLITICAL CONTENT GRATIFICATION AND MISINFORMATION SUSCEPTIBILITY IN KENYAN SOCIAL MEDIA
Get PDFSocial media user’s gratification with the online political information influences their exposure and sharing of political misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. This study sought to answer two questions: firstly, to what extent does political content gratification influences susceptibility to political misinformation exposure and sharing; and secondly, to what extent do heuristic processing, content bias, fear of social isolation, and the cultivation of political beliefs and attitudes mediate the relationship between political content gratification and susceptibility to political misinformation among Kenyan social media users. The study employed purposive and snowball sampling to collect data from 400 respondents active in online political participation. The results indicate that most Kenyans use Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Telegram and news aggregators, to access political information. Content bias and gratification were identified as facilitators of misinformation, while heuristic processing and cultivation effects amplified users\u27 vulnerability to false information, subsequently increasing exposure and sharing. The analysis revealed that fear of social isolation had no significant effect on either exposure to or sharing of misinformation. However, the negative beta coefficient suggests a potential inverse relationship between fear of social isolation and misinformation-related behaviors, this relationship was not statistically significant