Kenyatta University Repository
Kenyatta University Institutional Repository is a digital archive that collects, preserves and disseminates scholarly outputs of the Institution
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Effect of Diversification Strategies on Performance of Selected Savings and Credit Cooperative Socieities in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(Strategic Journals, 2025-09) Mwilu, Hamida A.; Njuguna, Reuben
This study determined the influence of diversification strategies on performance of SACCOs in Nairobi City County. The study target population was 41 licensed SACCOs in Nairobi County. The study used primary data to collect information, and the data collection instrument was a questionnaire which was given to the 41 operations managers in the 41 selected SACCOs. The data collection procedure was done by the researcher and drop-and-pick strategy was applied. The data was coded and keyed in Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 23.0), and was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. For descriptive statistics was through mean scores, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages, while the inferential statistics was through regression analysis. The findings were presented in tables and charts for easy understanding, interpreting, and describing the data. The study established that diversification strategies had a positive and significant effect on the performance of SACCOs in Nairobi City County. The study concluded that the SACCOs embraced a hybrid of the main diversification strategies, diverse products and services significantly. The study recommended that the SACCOs should embrace diversification strategies in the implementation of corporate growth strategies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Further studies should be undertaken to establish the effect of corporate growth strategies on the performance of other SACCOs in other regions to establish the disparities or similarities among the financial sector players.
Innovation Strategies and Service Delivery in Safaricom Public Limited Company in Kenya
(Strategic Journals, 2025-08) Kimuhu, Tania Wambui; Gakobo, Joyce
Efficiency in service delivery is defined as the experience that organisations have when the proper people, procedures, and technology are used in a way that produces favourable results and is beneficial to the company, therefore lowering operating costs. The purpose of this study was to assess innovation strategies and service delivery in Safaricom public limited company in Kenya. Descriptive research was the method of choice for this investigation. This study was conducted with the firm itself serving as the unit of analysis, and the 214 managers who have direct interface with Safaricom PLC across a variety of divisions were watched. Several strong and positive correlations were discovered between various aspects of Safaricom PLC's service delivery and innovation. These included product innovation, process innovation, market innovation, technological innovation, and service delivery overall. Positive and statistically significant relationships were observed for all of these variables. Findings indicate that innovative initiatives significantly improve Safaricom PLC's service performance. As long as Safaricom continues to prioritize product innovation and invest in it, the company is expected to continue on its current growth trajectory and reaffirm its commitment to delivering exceptional service. Research shows that process innovation has helped Safaricom succeed by increasing service quality, operational efficiency, and the firm's commitment to providing exceptional value to customers. Market innovation has proven to be a vital component of Safaricom's strategy, enhancing service delivery and reinforcing its commitment to providing value to customers across Kenya. The study recommends that Safaricom should develop more targeted marketing campaigns that cater to specific demographics and customer segments, ensuring that product offerings resonate with diverse customer needs.
Corporate Governance and Quality of Financial Reporting of Commercial Banks Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya
(International Academic Journal of Economics and Finance (IAJEF), 2024-09) Kisanya, Luvusi Antony; Njoka, Charity; Makori, Daniel
In Kenya, the banking sector is heavily
regulated to safeguard investor trust, given the
critical economic function of banks.
However, research indicates that even healthy
organizations operating financially secure
have experienced problems related to their
financial strategies. Several banking
institutions in Kenya have experienced
failures over time, largely attributed to
financial embezzlement linked to substandard
financial reporting. This issue has been
exacerbated by the persistent challenges
facing the emerging economy. Consequently,
publicly listed companies must incur
substantial agency costs to mitigate
information asymmetry and counteract the
self-serving behaviors of managers. As a
result, banking sector regulators have been
very active in the introduction of regulatory
policies to enhance the public’s confidence.
For instance, the Capital Market Authority in
Kenya replaced the earlier guidelines of
corporate governance that had been
established in the year 2002 with the 2015
Code, thus targeting to align and comply with
the best practices across the globe owing to
dynamic business environments. The study
purposed to assess the effect of corporate
governance on quality of financial reporting
of commercial banks quoted at Nairobi
Security Exchange. The specific research’s
main goal was to demonstrate how board
independence affected quality of financial
reporting among of commercial banks quoted
at Nairobi Security Exchange. The study was
based on Agency theory and Positive
Accounting theory. Positivist research
philosophy and explanatory research design
was adopted, obtaining secondary panel data
targeting all the eleven listed commercial
banks for the period 2017 to 2021. The study
utilized the panel regression model for
analysis. The target population encompassed
all the eleven listed commercial banks at NSE
under investigation from 2017 to 2021.
Census was applicable as the sampling
design. The analysed data was presented
using tables, graphs and charts. Corporate
governance practises showed adverse
relationship with quality of financial reporting
among listed commercial banks on Nairobi
Securities Exchange. The regression analysis
results revealed board independence had a
negative and significant influence (β1=-
0.0242, p=0.0158). Consequently, the study
suggests enhancement of board independence
to improve the effectiveness of independent
board members in strategic decisions made by
listed commercial banks at Nairobi Securities
Exchange during reporting process
Mobile Banking Services and Profitability of Deposit Taking Saccos in Vihiga County, Kenya
(International Academic Journal of Economics and Finance, 2024-06) Ayugu, John Aguka; Mutswenje, Vincent Shiundu
evelopment an economy. This is achieved by
financial performance that is measured using
profitability that serves a critical role in the
financial markets and in general the entire
economy. Nevertheless, their contributions
may be hindered by issues related to financial
viability. According to the 2022 CBK report,
the SACCOs in Vihiga County had a varied
performance in the period ending on
December 31, 2021. As of December 31,
2021, the Sacco's recorded a pre-tax loss of
Ksh.339million, which is a decrease from the
loss of Ksh.1.4billion reported on December
31, 2020, and a significant decline from the
profit of Ksh.118 million in 2019. The
performance of this investment resulted in a
5% return on assets in 2017, followed by a -
2% return in 2018, a -4.1% return in 2019, a -
5.3% return in 2021, and a -0.6.9% return in
2022. Hence, this research aimed to ascertain
the impact of mobile banking services on the
profitability of SACCOS in Vihiga County,
Kenya. The primary goals are to determine the
impact of mobile money transfer, mobile
account management, mobile credit
facilitation, and mobile bill presentment on
the profitability of SACCOs in Vihiga
County. The research was informed by the
intermediation theory, diffusion of innovation
theory, theory of technological acceptability
model, and the task technology fit theory. A
descriptive research approach was utilized.
The intended demographic for this project
consisted of 125 individuals who were part of
the 12 officially recognized SACCOS in the
County. The research used a stratified
sampling approach to determine a sample size
of 95 individuals. These individuals were
selected utilizing simple random selection
from each stratum. The researcher gathered
primary data via the use of semi-administered
questionnaires that included both open-ended
and closed-ended questions. The analysis
employed descriptive statistics such as
standard deviation, means, frequencies, and
percentages. Conversely, inferential statistics
was employed to determine the correlation
between the variables being studied. The
multiple regression analysis model was
utilized. Multicollinearity, normality and
heteroscedasticity were tested to test for the
violation of regression equation. Frequency
tables were utilized in quantitative data
presentation. The ethical consideration was
adhered to throughout the study period. The
study showed that mobile money transfer,
mobile account management and mobile bill
presentment, all had the significance
threshold of p<0.05 hence all had statistically
significant effect on profitability of DTS in
Vihiga County, Kenya. On the other hand
mobile credit facilitation was statistically
insignificant with p>0.05 The study
concluded that popular of the responders
established to abundant magnitude with the
fact that mobile money transfer, mobile
account management and mobile bill
presentment indeed affected the profitability
of DTS. The study recommended the effective
utilization of bank to mobile transfer, bank to
bank transfer and mobile to mobile transfer to
help improve the profitability of DTS. It
equally recommends the effective utilization
of mobile account statements, transaction
authorization and balance inquiries that would
help to improve on the profitability of DTS.
Additionally, it recommends for the effective
utilization of utility bills management, till
number payments and paybill payments that
contribute to improved performance of DTS
Optimization of Cellulase Production by Nigrospora Oryzae (Berk and Br.) Petch and Its Application in Biomass Saccharification and Ethanol Production
(elsevier, 2026-01-10) Dukuzimana Olivier; Omwenga, George Isanda; Cheruiyot, Dennis Kipngenoh; Ngugi, Mathew Piero
The increasing demand for sustainable biofuel alternatives has intensified the search for new
microbial sources of cellulolytic enzymes. This study aim to evaluate the cellulolytic potential of
Nigrospora oryzae and to optimize its cellulase enzyme production using low-cost lignocellulosic
substrates, specifically maize cobs and sugarcane bagasse, under solid-state fermentation. Additionally, the study assess the efficiency of crude cellulase enzymes in biomass saccharification and
bioethanol production. Molecular identification confirmed the isolate as N. oryzae through ITS
sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. N. oryzae exhibited significant cellulolytic activity on
carboxymethylcellulose-Congo red agar. Maize cobs and sugarcane bagasse were used as primary
substrates for enzyme production. The cultural parameters were optimized using a one-variableat-a-time (OVAT) approach. The peak filter paperase (FPase) activity reached 11.3 ± 0.94 IU/ml
for maize cobs and 8.9 ± 0.47 IU/ml for bagasse on day 9. Additionally, maximum endoglucanase
activity was recorded at 19.7 ± 1.74 IU/ml and 15.5 ± 0.76 IU/ml on day 12, respectively.
Exoglucanase activity peaked at 3.46 ± 0.25 IU/ml for maize cobs and 2.06 ± 0.11 IU/ml for
bagasse. The optimal pH for enzyme secretion ranged from 5 to 6. Nitrogen supplementation with
ammonium nitrate, urea, and peptone significantly enhanced enzyme yields. Among the carbon
sources tested, fructose, mannitol, and sucrose markedly improved enzyme production compared
to glucose, suggesting a partial relief from carbon catabolite repression. An enzyme loading of 5%
optimized saccharification efficiency. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) using
Saccharomyces cerevisiae achieved maximum ethanol concentrations at substrate levels between
5% and 15%, demonstrating the bio-conversion potential of this system. These findings position
Nigrospora oryzae as a promising non-conventional cellulase producer for lignocellulosic
bioconversion, with significant implications for sustainable ethanol production