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The Teaching and Learnig of Poetry in English and Its Influence on Critical Thinking among Secondary School Learners in Kiambu, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2024-07) Dorker, Freeman M.
Poetry teaching and learning has not only the potential to influence Critical Thinking (CT), but it also helps in the growth of students' self-assurance and independent problem-solving skills. In spite of these benefits, both teachers and students around the world, share the opinion that poetry is difficult to understand and that only literary experts can appreciate it. Students can become more self-assured and solve problem on their own with the aid of critical thinking (CT). However, the majority of teachers and students to a great extent everywhere, agree that poetry is challenging, difficult and puzzling. In their believe, only scholars of literature can understand and enjoy it. The objectives of the study were to establish the methods of poetry teaching among secondary school learners, determine the influence of poetry teaching on critical thinking and examine teachers and students’ attitudes towards poetry. The research was founded on Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory, which contends that learners should build new information through social interaction. The theory was suitable for the study because it was founded on knowledge construction. The research adopted a descriptive survey design. A mixed method research approach was used. The target population of the study was 76 English teachers, 1520 Form three students and 37 public secondary schools. The researcher used the sample size of 10 secondary schools with 10 English teachers and 349 Form three students. Schools were chosen using stratified random sampling and teachers were selected purposively. A purposive sampling strategy entails choosing individuals or groups of individuals from the sampling guide that meet specific criteria relevant to the research questions or objectives. The students' sample was chosen using simple random sampling. Data was collected from teachers and students using questionnaires, structured interviews and observation checklist. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics was utilized, which included tables, pie charts, frequency, mean, and standard deviation. The acquired data were then coded and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). The research results were conveyed in frequency distribution tables and charts. For qualitative data, thematic interpretation was done and documented either in tables or pie charts while quantitative data were analyzed using statistical analysis or tabulation. The study established that although teachers mostly teach poetry using interactive classroom setting, disparities were observed on students’ responses. Students reported that they did not work in groups to solve problems in the process of poetry teaching. In addition, the study found out that there was limited use of classroom discussion, brainstorming, group work, analysis of poetic devices, asking questions, evaluating, analyzing, and interpreting poetic texts. The findings were significant to policy makers, school administrations, teachers and students. The study, therefore, recommends that teachers should continue teaching poetry using different methods as this is likely to enhance student’s critical thinking. Teachers should emphasize to students the importance of learning poetry. The teachers should use the necessary resources and materials to facilitate teaching and learning of poetry to promote CT.
Strategic Implementation and Performance of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2024-06) Mwangi, Roseanne Wambui
The ever-changing operating environment and dwindling performance have forced organizations to craft superior strategies to help them remain successful. The implementation of strategy is not an easy task and some of the key drivers of strategy implementation and performance are organization structure, strategic communication, strategic direction and strategic competence. There exist discrepancies in the findings of previous studies with regard to influence of strategy implementation on performance of financial sector organizations. The current study sought to establish the influence of strategic implementation on performance of Deposit Taking SACCOs in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to determine the influence of strategic competence, strategic direction, organization structure and strategic communication on performance of Deposit Taking SACCOs in Nairobi City County. This study was grounded on Resource Based View (RBV) theory, Game theory, General systems theory, and Contingency Theory. This study employs a descriptive research design. The target population included the management working in the head offices of the 42 Deposit Taking SACCOs in Nairobi City County. There were 272 management (top, and middle) staffs working in the head offices of these SACCOs in Nairobi. This research used both convenient and stratified random sampling. The sample size was 81 respondents. Primary data was collected using semi -structured questionnaire. Pilot study was conducted using eight (8) respondents drawn from SACCOs in Machakos County. Internal consistency method was tested using Cronbach’s Alpha test while validity was ensured by seeking lecturer’s opinions on the face validity of the research instrument. Descriptive analysis included descriptive statistics like frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. A multiple linear regression model was used to measure the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The study established that there was a positive and significant relationship between strategic competence, strategic direction, organizational structure and strategic communication and the performance of Deposit Taking SACCOs in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study concludes that SACCOs with strong strategic competence are able to make informed decisions that are aligned with their overall goals and objectives. A well-defined strategic orientation can help Deposit-Taking SACCOs in Nairobi City County to effectively navigate the competitive financial services market, attract and retain members, and achieve sustainable growth. The way in which a SACCO is structured can have a significant impact on its ability to effectively manage its operations, attract and retain members, and ultimately achieve its financial goals. Effective communication strategies enable SACCOs to build strong relationships with their members, attract new customers, and enhance their overall performance. The study recommends that Deposit Taking SACCOs should tailor their products and services to better meet the demands of their members. The SACCOs should conduct a comprehensive market analysis in which they operate, including identifying key competitors, understanding customer needs and preferences, and identifying potential growth opportunities. The SACCOs should strengthen their governance and leadership by ensuring that the SACCO has a strong and effective board of directors and management team in place. One approach is to actively engage with stakeholders, including SACCO members, regulators, government officials, and the general public and also to enhance the reporting and disclosure practices of Deposit Taking SACCOs.
Influence of strategic tourism marketing practices on tour operator firms’ performance in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2024-11) Kisilu, Michael Muia
The study purposed to establish the Influence of Strategic Tourism Marketing Practices (STMPs) on tour operator firms’ performance in Nairobi City County. Specific objectives of the study were: To establish the influence of strategic tourism product practices on tour operator performance; To assess the effect of strategic tourism pricing practices on tour operator performance; To determine the effect of strategic tourism place practices on tour operator performance; To establish the impact of strategic tourism promotion practices on tour operator performance; and To examine the moderating effect of ICT on the relationship between STMPs and tour operator performance. This study was conducted in Nairobi County.. A mixed methods research design was adopted. 256 KATO Full Members that are located in Nairobi City County constituted the target population for this study. Stratified random sampling was used to sample the unit of analysis while purposive sampling was applied to sample the unit of observation. The primary data collection instruments were questionnaires and interviews. The findings on the influence of STMPs on Tour Operator Performance revealed that, to a large extend wildlife was the most sought tourism product at 89.3% followed by beach & marine at 71.0%. Strategic Tourism Product Practices had a positive influence on Tour Operator Performance though not statistically significant(𝛽 =0.032,𝑡 (129)= 0.335,𝑝 = 0.738> 0.05). To a large extent Tour Operators used transportation cost as a strategic pricing practice (81.7%) followed by accommodation cost (69.5%). Strategic Tourism Pricing Practices had a positive influence on Tour Operator Performance though not statistically significant(𝛽 =0.029,𝑡 (129)=0.398,𝑝 = 0.390> 0.05). To a large extent, Tour Operators used accommodation and other facilities at the attraction as a strategic place practice (74.0%) followed by security to and at the attraction (71.8%). Strategic Tourism Place Practices statistically had a significant and positive influence on Tour Operator Performance(𝛽 =0.161,𝑡 (129)=2.349,𝑝 = 0.02< 0.05). To a large extent Tour Operators used recommendations as a strategic promotional practice (67.2%) followed by advertising (45.0%). Strategic Tourism Promotion Practices had a statistically significant positive influence on Tour Operator Performance(𝛽 =0.170,𝑡 (129)=2.013,𝑝 = 0.046<0.05). The findings also showed that to a large extent Tour Operators used E-Mail as an ICT practice (84.0%) followed by E-Payment (61.8%). There was a statistically significant positive moderating effect of ICT practices on the relationship between STMPs and Tour Operator Performance (𝛽 = 0.355,𝑡 (129)= 3.070,𝑝=0.003 < .05). In conclusion, STMPs can enhance tour operators’ revenue and customer growth. Tour Operators could apply strategic product and pricing practices for their revenue and customer growth, but only to a certain extent. On the other hand, Tour Operators use of Strategic Tourism Place and Strategic Tourism Promotion Practices appears worthwhile. The same applies on the use of ICT practices to facilitate the application of STMPs. The study recommends that Tour Operators desiring to increase their numbers in terms of revenues and customers should consider additional strategic practices that would bring more synergy to Strategic Tourism Place Practices and Strategic Tourism Promotion Practices. The study also recommends Tour Operators to embrace ICT practices and minimize overdependence on product and price practices.
Commercialization of Water on Private Service Delivery. Case of Nairobi City County, Kenya.
(Kenyatta University, 2024-09) Mmboga, Esialila Metrin
Commercialization is a concept that has been embraced in modern society to improve the economy and promote equality in the provision of goods and services. Therefore, various goods and services that would otherwise be offered by the government can now be offered by private investors, the goal being to achieve growth and development of counties and ultimately, Countries. However, there are instances to which commercialization or rather the mechanisms used in commercializing goods and services, have no or little impact to growth and development in terms of access of provision of those goods and services, and or coverage of supply versus demand by the so-called private service providers or investors. Chapter 1 provides for the background of the study, highlighting the need for commercialization of water and further states the need to have private service providers regulated by the government. It further sets out the problem that the research intends to cure. That despite having commercialization mechanism i.e., laws in place, procurement practices outlined, and private service providers regulated, there continues to be inadequate water supply coverage especially in low-income households in Nairobi. The study will address these issues that commercialization of water has brought to the fore. There also exist informal water suppliers who ought to be incorporated in the system in one way or another. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to analyze procurement practices, the level of standardization machinery, the extent of equalization and access of water, through commercialization of water and private service delivery in Nairobi City County. This was achieved through collection and analysis of both primary and secondary data. Both the Quantitative and Qualitative methodologies of data collection and analysis were used in this research. The collection of data was through key informant interviews and questionnaires. Secondary data was obtained from library research materials, internet search and document analysis. The Quantitative and Quantitative data collected was analyzed and reported in a table and narrative reports respectively. Pilot study was conducted prior to embarking on the actual research, to test on the validity and reliability of the research instruments, which outcome proved sufficient to undertake the actual research. Descriptive research design was preferred to maximize on data reliability. Descriptive and content analysis techniques were also used. The research was premised upon Stewardship theory of corporate governance. Stewardship theory has a holistic approach. It favors corporate goals as opposed to individualistic aims. The corporate institution that was the subject of the study is the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation which is tasked via Statute to ensure availability of water across the Nation. The researcher also utilized simple random sampling in selecting participants from Nairobi residents/population. This sampling method increased the probability for anyone to participate in the research without preempting the selection process. The researcher also endeavored to adhere to ethical inclinations such as, privacy and confidentiality principles, ensuring express consent is obtained from the participants, required approvals and permissions were sought from the school (Kenyatta University) and NACOSTI (National Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation) and the Nairobi County Government prior to performing the research.
Firm characteristics and financial stability of deposit taking savings and credit co-operative societies in Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2024-11) Birisi, Hesborn O.
In Kenyan, the financial stability of deposit-taking savings and credit cooperative societies (DT SACCOs) has experienced a downward trend as evidenced by increase in non-performing loans (NPLs), a significant concern in recent years. The SACCOs Regulatory Authority's 2020 report highlights the increasing percentage of NPLs to gross loans. If this trend continues, it will negatively impact on the sector’s ability to provide essential financial services. This study investigated the effects of firm characteristics on financial stability of deposit-taking savings and credit cooperative societies in Kenya. Specifically, the study examined the effects of liquidity, capital adequacy and management efficiency on financial stability of SACCOs in Kenya. Additionally, it examines how the operating environment and competitiveness moderate and mediate these relationships, respectively. The research was grounded on agency, market power, financial intermediation, and liquidity preference theories. Utilizing a positivist and an explanatory research design, the study targeted 160 operational institutions, collecting data from their financial records and regulatory reports from 2017 to 2021. The research performed diagnostic tests of Normality, Heteroscedasticity, multicollinearity, stationarity, and model specification before applying regression models Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with STATA software. The researcher adhered to ethical considerations of confidentiality, privacy and anonymity. The findings showed that adequacy of capital, liquidity, and management effectiveness together account for about 71.96% of the differences in financial stability among these cooperative societies (R-squared value of 0.7196). Specifically, having enough capital was linked to fewer non-performing loans (NPLs) (β=-0.3249614, p-value=0.000<0.05), higher liquidity was associated with a higher NPL ratio (β = 0.410056, p=0.003<0.05), and better management led to fewer NPLs (β=-0.0710747, p-value=0.002<0.05). The operating environment was found to significantly affect how firm characteristics influence financial stability. However, the level of competition among these entities only partly explained the relationship between firm characteristics and financial stability. In view of the findings, it is recommended that regulatory authorities in Kenya should take a proactive stance in establishing and enforcing robust capital adequacy standards for these institutions. The study findings highlight the critical role of capital adequacy in ensuring the financial stability of these cooperative societies. In addition, higher levels of capital adequacy and improved management efficiency are associated with reduced NPLs ratio among SACCOs in Kenya, hence improved financial stability. The study thus recommends that the managements of these financial institutions should consider exploring opportunities to strengthen their capital adequacy ratio through prudent financial management and strategic partnerships and strive to improve on their management efficiency. Additionally, SACCOs in Kenya should observe liquidity management guidelines by SASRA and maintain an optimal balance between liquidity and lending activities.