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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Multimodal Pedagogical Skills of Kenyan English Secondary School Teachers
(African Journal of Advanced Arts and Humanities, 2026-03) Midigo, Jackton Otieno; Cherop, Kapkwomu Charles
This study investigated morphophonological adaptation of Luganda nouns into Kupsabiny, a Nilotic language spoken in Kapchorwa District, Eastern Uganda. Although lexical borrowing is widespread in multilingual contexts, little research has examined the interaction between Luganda and Kupsabiny despite Luganda’s growing linguistic influence. The study aimed to identify the morphophonological processes involved in adapting Luganda nouns into Kupsabiny, focusing on how morphological affixation interacts with phonological adjustments to align borrowed nouns with Kupsabiny’s linguistic structure. A qualitative descriptive research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to collect natural speech data from twenty-one purposively selected native Kupsabiny speakers aged between 18 and 50 years. Data were analyzed within the framework of Optimality Theory. The findings revealed that Kupsabiny assimilates Luganda nouns through affixation and phonological modifications such as vowel harmony, tone adjustment, epenthesis, and consonant substitution. These processes are governed by markedness constraints that favor open syllable structures (CV) and restrict consonant clusters. The study concludes that morphological and phonological mechanisms in Kupsabiny operate interdependently in integrating borrowed forms. Overall, the findings highlight a systematic adaptation process that enables Kupsabiny to maintain structural integrity while accommodating lexical influence from a dominant language like Luganda.
The Role of GIZS Community Engagement For Enhancement of Peace Building in Informal Settlement
(Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies (JAIS), 2026-02) Murithi, Eve Mwende; Onyango, Evans Odhiambo
This study investigates the critical role of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit's (GIZ) community engagement strategies in enhancing peacebuilding within Nairobi's volatile informal settlements, such as Kibera and Mathare. These settlements are characterized by endemic conflict driven by resource scarcity, ethnic tensions, and weak state presence. The study argues that GIZ's participatory, bottom-up approach is instrumental in mitigating these drivers of violence by establishing local peace committees, facilitating inter-communal dialogue, and supporting joint livelihood projects. By empowering residents to become active agents in conflict resolution and fostering collaborative problem-solving, GIZ's interventions help to rebuild trust, transform competitive relationships into cooperative partnerships, and strengthen social cohesion. The findings conclude that this model of deep, locally-led engagement not only addresses immediate security concerns but also creates a sustainable and resilient framework for peace, underscoring the imperative for development interventions to be anchored in grassroots empowerment for effective and durable peacebuilding in Nairobi's most vulnerable urban communities.
From Arrears to Earnings: Examining the Impact of Credit Risk on Kenyan Insurers
(IJARKE, 2026-01) Gitau, Kimacia; Wamugo, Lucy; Omagwa, Job
The insurance industry is one of the non-bank financial industry with important roles in the economic sector of a country and contributes critically and uniquely both in developing and developed countries. However, in Kenya, poor profitability was a primary factor in the deterioration and eventual closing down of at least 9 insurance companies over the past decade. This investigation aimed to ascertain the effect of credit risk on profitability of Insurance firms in Kenya. The theoretical framework incorporated modern portfolio theory, extreme value theory and institutional theory. The study employed positivist philosophical approach and explanatory research methodology. The research encompassed a comprehensive examination of all 55 insurance entities registered with the Insurance Regulatory Authority in Kenya through 31st December 2022. Audited financial reports accessible through the Insurance Regulatory Authority and Association of Kenya Insurers digital platforms provided secondary data spanning 2014 through 2022. The Central Bank of Kenya and Kenya National Bureau of Standards supplied supplementary information. Analytical procedures encompassed descriptive statistics, panel regression methodology and Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation technique. Credit risk was found to have a negative and statistically significant effect on ROE, and a negative but insignificant effect on ROA. This suggests that an increase in unpaid or delayed premiums erodes firm profitability, especially from a shareholder value perspective. As a result, the study recommends that Insurance firms in Kenya should enhance their credit risk evaluation processes and underwriting standards, particularly for policyholders, corporate clients, and investment portfolios, to minimize defaults and claim-related financial losses.
From Solvency to Success: How Liquidity Risk Shapes Profitability in Kenyan Insurers
(IJARKE, 2026-01) Gitau, Kimacia; Wamugo, Lucy; Omagwa, Job
Despite the Kenya insurance industry recording consistent growth in premium income, over the period 2014 to 2022, performance data documented by the Insurance Regulatory Authority and the Association of Kenya Insurers indicates that profitability, quantified by Return on Assets and Return on Equity, has been on the decline over the period, though experiencing a spike in 2019. In June 2013 the Insurance Regulatory Authority established a comprehensive set of prudential risk management guidelines for the insurance industry in response to the failure and eventual liquidation of at least 9 insurance firms prior to 2013, primarily due to poor profitability. Nevertheless, despite insurance organizations adopting these regulatory measures, profitability continues demonstrating a downward trajectory throughout the specified period. Consequently, the empirical relationship between Liquidity risk exposure and insurance firm profitability remains theoretically un-established. This investigation aimed to ascertain the effect of liquidity risk on the profitability of insurance companies operating in Kenya. The theoretical framework incorporated modern portfolio theory, extreme value theory, agency theory, institutional theory and stakeholder theory. The study employed positivist philosophical approach and explanatory research methodology. The research encompassed a comprehensive examination of all 55 insurance entities registered with the Insurance Regulatory Authority in Kenya through 31st December 2022. Audited financial reports accessible through the Insurance Regulatory Authority and Association of Kenya Insurers digital platforms provided secondary data spanning 2014 through 2022. The Central Bank of Kenya and Kenya National Bureau of Standards supplied supplementary information. Analytical procedures encompassed descriptive statistics, panel regression methodology and Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation technique. The study found that liquidity risk exhibits positive and statistically significant effect on profitability. Consequently, the study recommends that since higher liquidity risk is associated with higher profitability, insurance firms can explore more aggressive investment strategies, such as investing in long-term, higher-return assets so as to leverage liquidity risk enhancing returns, while ensuring adequate risk buffers. Insurance Regulatory bodies in Kenya should also create policies that allow insurance firms to optimize their liquidity management strategies while ensuring financial stability.
Human Resource Management Practices and Employees Retention in Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-11) Olweny, Odhiambo Fredrick
The main objective of this research was to study the effect of human resource management
practices on employee’s retention within Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi
County. Specifically, the research purposed to ascertain the influence of leadership style,
work environment, and career development opportunities on employee retention.
Additionally, the study sought to assess the role of job embeddedness as a mediator in the
relationship between human resource management practices and the ability of NonGovernmental Organizations to retain employees. A good number of employees in NonGovernmental Organizations in Nairobi express a lack of intention to remain in their
current work environments. In 2020, more than 30% of Non-Governmental Organizations
employees in Nairobi expressed a desire to voluntary leave their employment. A rate that
rose to 34% in 2021 according to reports. This observation was predominantly attributed
to poor working environments, unfriendly organizational cultures, poor staffing practices,
lack of motivating renumeration packages and operational methods. The theoretical
foundations underpinning this study is drawn from one model and three theories, namely,
the Mixed Model of employees Retention, Trait Theory, Hierarchy of Needs Theory, and
Job Embeddedness Theory. They provided insight to understand employee’s retention. The
study assumed an explanatory research design, targeting 201 Non-Governmental
Organizations operating within Nairobi County. The research sample comprised of 69
Non-Governmental Organizations selected through stratified random sampling technique.
This enabled the sample to be representative and accurate, ensuring that the distinct
subgroups from the population were adequately and proportionally included. Fishers’
formula was used to get the 69 organizations. Semi-structured questionnaires were utilized,
with pilot testing conducted on 7 Non-Governmental Organization employees who were
subsequently excluded from the final study. Questionnaire validity was ensured through
expert judgment and reliability was ensured through Cronbach's alpha testing with a
threshold of 0.7. Data analysis involved coding and entry into Statistical Package for Social
Sciences version 22, followed by descriptive statistics analysis to characterize the data, and
logistic regression to assess variability associations of the variables under the research. The
research established that leadership style, work environment and career development
opportunities affected employee’s decision to stay or leave the organization. In addition,
job embeddedness was observed to mediate the affiliation amongst human resource
management practices and retention in Non-Governmental Organisations. Further, the
study showed that job satisfaction moderates the connection amongst human resource
management practices and retention of workers. The study determined that factors such as
employee commitment, motivation, and work-life balance are key contributors to retention.
However, many employees in Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi do not have
adequate access to coaching and mentorship programmes, which could support their
professional growth. It is recommended that managers adopt appropriate leadership styles,
that integrate supportive work environments with career development opportunities to
enhance employee retention