Browsing by Author "Chepngetich, Rhodah"

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    Audit Committee Attributes and Corporate Governance in State Corporations under the National Treasury in Kenya
    (International Academic Journal of Economics and Finance (IAJEF), 2025-06) Chepngetich, Rhodah; Musau, Salome
    The role of state corporations in national economies is pivotal, given their mandate to implement government policy, provide essential services, and drive socioeconomic development. In Kenya, state corporations under the National Treasury have historically faced scrutiny over governance failures, marked by rising complaints of administrative malpractice and corruption. Despite the establishment of corporate governance frameworks such as the Mwongozo Code and the formation of audit committees intended to enhance oversight, concerns over political interference, weak supervision, and inadequate financial management structures persist. This study sought to analyze the effects of audit committee attributes on corporate governance among state corporations overseen by the National Treasury. The target population comprised 136 respondents from 34 public institutions under the National Treasury. Due to the relatively small population, the study employed a census approach, ensuring that all 136 respondents within these corporations participated. Data were primarily collected using a structured questionnaire. Quantitative data analysis involved statistical methods, including the calculation of means and standard deviations, while qualitative data was analyzed thematically and descriptively. Additionally, an empirical analysis was conducted to assess the effects of audit committee attributes on the governance of state-owned enterprises. The data were subjected to heteroscedasticity, multicollinearity, and normality tests to validate the reliability of the multiple regression model. The analysis showed that all four audit committee attributes had significant positive effects on corporate governance. Audit committee independence enhanced objectivity and accountability; committee size contributed to workload distribution and governance coverage; diversity promoted inclusive and balanced decision-making; and expertise had the greatest impact, enabling informed oversight and risk management. The study concluded that audit committee attributes are critical determinants of good governance in state corporations. It recommends strengthening appointment policies to preserve independence, ensuring optimal committee size, promoting diversity, and enhancing technical capacity through professional development. These findings contribute to the discourse on public sector governance reform and offer practical insights for policy implementation. Further research is encouraged to explore contextual moderators influencing effectiveness of the committee such as institutional culture and regulatory environments.
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    Audit Committee Attributes and Corporate Governance in State Corporations under the National Treasury in Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2025-10) Chepngetich, Rhodah
    The role of state corporations in national economies is pivotal, given their mandate to implement government policy, provide essential services, and drive socio-economic development. Despite governance frameworks such as the Mwongozo and CMA Codes, challenges persist: between 2019 and 2020, the Office of the Ombudsman recorded 3,831 administrative complaints, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission reported 6,021 corruption cases, and pending bills in state corporations rose from KSh 94.4 billion in 2021 to KSh 379.8 billion in 2024. These statistics indicate weak accountability, poor financial management, and inadequate oversight, underscoring the need for effective audit committees. This study sought to bridge this gap by analyzing the effects of audit committee attributes on corporate governance among state corporations overseen by the National Treasury. By addressing methodological and contextual limitations in previous research, the study aimed to offer evidence-based insights that can inform governance reforms and strengthen accountability mechanisms in Kenya’s state-owned enterprises. The target population comprised 136 respondents from 34 public institutions under the National Treasury. Due to the relatively small population, the study employed a census approach, ensuring that all 136 respondents within these corporations participated. Data were primarily collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was tested for reliability to produce Cronbach's alpha coefficient and validity using content analysis. Quantitative data analysis involved statistical methods, including the calculation of means and standard deviations, while qualitative data was analysed thematically and descriptively. Additionally, an empirical analysis was conducted to assess the effects of audit committee attributes on the governance of state-owned enterprises. Findings were further illustrated using frequency tables. The data were subjected to heteroscedasticity, multicollinearity, and normality tests to validate the reliability of the multiple regression model. The study was granted ethical clearance by NACOSTI, alongside an authorization letter from Kenyatta University, to uphold participant confidentiality and data integrity. The analysis showed that all four audit committee attributes had significant positive effects on corporate governance. Audit committee independence enhanced objectivity and accountability; committee size contributed to workload distribution and governance coverage; diversity promoted inclusive and balanced decision-making; and expertise had the greatest impact, enabling informed oversight and risk management. The regression model explained 60.4% of the variance in corporate governance, underscoring the relevance of audit committee structure and capability in public sector governance. The study concluded that audit committee attributes are critical determinants of good governance in state corporations. Recommendations include strengthening independence through institutional safeguards, optimizing committee size, institutionalizing diversity via inclusive recruitment, and investing in continuous professional development to enhance expertise. Implementing these measures will improve governance practices, reinforce public trust, and enhance service delivery. The study also provides empirical support for Agency, Stakeholder, Legitimacy, and Upper Echelons theories, offering validated measures of audit committee attributes for future research in public sector governance