Browsing by Author "Kariuki, Albert Chege"

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    Contribution of Disability Infrastructure and Superstructural Practices to Employment Inclusivity of Persons with Disabilities in 4-5 Star Hotels in Mombasa City County, Kenya
    (African Journal of Emerging Issues, 2025-01) Binyanya, Benard; Wandolo, Monica Akinyi; Kariuki, Albert Chege
    Purpose of Study: The purpose of this study was to to determine the contribution of disability infrastructural and super structural practices on employment inclusivity of PWDs among 4-5 star hotels in Mombasa City County Kenya. Problem Statement: More than one billion, or 15%, of PWDs are disproportionately excluded from the workforce globally; by 2030, that number is estimated to rise by 3.5 million, with an annual growth rate of 2.9%. PWDs employment rates average 44% against 75% (WHO, 2020). The hospitality business faces difficulties in hiring PWDs because it is a labour-intensive sector that requires able-bodied human resources. Methodology: A mixed research design was used. The study was underpinned by the theory of change, social oppression theory and the resource-based theory of competitive advantage. The target population was 106 participants from selected hotels and organizations in charge of disability persons;16 general managers, 16 HRM managers, 32 F&B managers, 16 executive housekeepers, 16 front office managers,1 county PWDs regional coordinator, 1 skills development and placement officer from the MLSP, Mombasa county and 8 PWDs. The sample size comprised of all the 106 participants. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and observation methods. Result: The findings revealed that infrastructural and super structural practices had a moderate effect on PWDs employment inclusivity (r= 0.350, p=0.004) Multiple regression analysis was carried out. The results produced insignificant results (B=.114, p=.242), and thus infrastructural and super-structural practices do not predict employment inclusivity. Recommendation: Hotels should enhance their disability mainstreaming efforts by prioritizing the development and implementation of comprehensive health and safety policies that encourage disability inclusion. This includes establishing proper job-matching programs tailored to the skills and capabilities of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and introducing mentorship initiatives to provide consistent support and guidance for PWD employees.
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    Crisis Preparedness Strategies and Tourism Resilience: Does Organisation Size Matter?
    (African Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 2025-10) Mesa, Juliet Magoma; Kariuki, Albert Chege; Kiria, Sisinio Muthengi
    Global crises, including pandemics, political instability, and climate-related disasters, have exposed critical vulnerabilities in the tourism sector. The increasing frequency and intensity of these crises raise critical questions about the preparedness of tourism organisations. Crisis preparedness is paramount in crisis management as it requires a well-developed crisis management plan that is critical in helping tourism organisations to react effectively during crises. This study investigates the relationship between crisis preparedness strategies and organisational resilience among tourism enterprises in Nairobi City County, Kenya, with particular attention to the moderating effect of organisational size. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, data were collected from 284 licensed tourism organisations spanning micro, small, medium, and large enterprises. Quantitative analysis employing multiple linear regression revealed a strong positive association between crisis preparedness, measured through contingency planning and emergency capacity building, and organisational resilience (R² = 0.671, p < 0.001). Notably, while larger organisations benefited from structured systems and resource endowments, smaller enterprises demonstrated resilience through informal coping mechanisms and agility, although they often lacked formal preparedness frameworks. Importantly, the interaction effect of organisational size was non-significant, suggesting that the efficacy of preparedness strategies is universally beneficial across firm sizes. The findings have critical policy implications for Kenya’s broader tourism resilience agenda. There is a clear need for differentiated policy approaches that recognise the varying capacities of small and large enterprises. The findings demonstrate the need for a shift from reactive crisis responses to proactive resilience planning, which must be institutionalised within organisational structures and supported through external partnerships.
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    The Determinants of Collaboration and Partnerships Arrangements in Tourism Development among Industry Organisations in Nairobi County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2015) Kariuki, Albert Chege
    Collaboration and partnerships arrangements among stakeholder organisations are among the central themes of sustainable tourism development in destinations. These collaborative arrangements have become critical as a result of the realisation that, no single stakeholder organisation can dictate the future of this dynamic and often fragmented industry, more so especially in relationship to study area, the Nairobi County. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder collaboration and partnerships arrangements among tourism industry organisations as a tool of enhancing tourism development in Kenya. Specific objectives were; to determine the scope of collaborative arrangements that exists among stakeholder organisations in tourism development, to examine the intensity of the relations that exists in different collaborative arrangements among tourism organisations and their influence on tourism development, to evaluate the prerequisites of effective collaborative arrangements among stakeholder tourism organisation and to explore the potential for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a model of collaborative arrangements among tourism organisations in Kenya. The study adopted a mixed method research design, and specifically QUAL + quan mixed method design type. The population of the study was thirty three stakeholder organisations in Kenya. The study adopted qualitative and quantitative primary data collection methods, using semi-structured interviews, participant observation and questionnaires as data collection instruments. Secondary data was collected through content analysis of various books, journals and websites. The secondary data analysis process started at the beginning of the research and involved a critical review of literature mainly from journals, books, various government and private sector organisations documents and reports. Primary quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented in frequencies, percentages, charts and cross tabulation. Further, primary data was subjected to inferential statistics using correlation and chi square tests. The finding of the study shows that, the existing collaboration and partnerships arrangements in tourism industry in Kenya are not well structured and designed, and have not achieved acceptable thresholds as model of collaborative arrangements. The study recommends the adoption of formal PPPs models as the best practice of collaborative arrangements in tourism development in Kenya.
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    Disability Demographics Factors and Employment Inclusivity: A Study of Persons with Disabilities in 4-5 Star Hotels in Mombasa City County, Kenya
    (Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2025-01) Binyanya, Benard; Wandolo, Monica Akinyi; Kariuki, Albert Chege
    World Health Organization statistics indicates that the average employment rate for PLWDS is 44%. The hospitality business faces difficulties in hiring PWDs because itis a labour-intensive sector that requires able-bodied human resources. This study's goal was toevaluate the impact of disability demographic factors on employment inclusivity of PWDs in hotels in Mombasa city county Kenya. A mixed research design was used. The study was underpinned by the theory of change, social oppression theory and the resource-based theory of competitive advantage. The target population was 106 participants from selected hotels and organizations in charge of disability persons;16 general managers, 16 HRM managers, 32 F&B managers, 16 executive housekeepers, 16 front office managers,1 county PWDs regional coordinator, 1 skills development and placement officer fromthe MLSP, Mombasa county and 8 PWDs. The population was eventually sampled using a combination of purposive, stratified and census sampling methods. The sample size comprised of all the 106 participants. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviewsand observation methods. The results were analysed using content analysis, descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation and multiple regression. Moderation was tested using Process Macro Hayes model 1. The results produced insignificant results that indicatethat demographic factors (B=.141, p=.102) had not been able to positively and significantly influence the employment inclusivity of PWDs in Kenyan hotels. The most underlying factor that contributed to these findings is the lack of knowledge, awareness, and skills to develop an inclusive work environment, implement by employers. Therefore, this study recommends that stakeholders such as training institutions, policy and regulatory frameworks and industry should build capacity by carrying out intensive sensitization campaigns.
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    Influence of Knowledge Creation on Organizational Resilience among Travel Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya
    (Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Book Publishing, 2025-12) Morong, Dorice Ronoh; Kariuki, Albert Chege; Bitok, Jane Jebet
    Knowledge creation have become essential for organizations seeking to build resilience in today's dynamic business environment. The tourism industry, particularly travel firms, faces unprecedented challenges that require effective knowledge utilization to maintain operational continuity. Thus, this study examined the influence of knowledge creation on organizational resilience among travel firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. A mixed-methods research design was employed, targeting 286 participants drawn from travel firms and tourism-related institutions including KATO, KATA, TOSK, Ecotourism Kenya, the Tourism Regulatory Authority, Tourism Promotion Fund, Kenya Tourism Board, Tourism Research Institute, Kenya Tourism Federation, GTRCMC–EA, the Tourism Professional Association, and the State Department of Tourism. The sample size comprised of 233 respondents, representing an 81.47% response rate. Quantitative findings showed that knowledge creation had a significant positive effect on organizational resilience, demonstrating that travel firms with structured practices for generating new ideas, insights, and solutions were better able to withstand disruptions. Qualitative results revealed that although some firms had initiated knowledge creation activities, many relied heavily on informal practices that limited the institutionalization of creativity and innovation. The study concludes that knowledge creation is a critical driver of organizational resilience among travel firms but remains underdeveloped due to inconsistent structures, limited formalization, and insufficient institutional support. Strengthening knowledge creation systems, fostering collaborative innovation environments, and enhancing organizational mechanisms for generating new knowledge are essential for improving resilience capacity. The study recommends that travel firm managers should strengthen structured systems for knowledge creation and innovation, ensuring that such processes are institutionalized and supported through dedicated teams, professional development, and continuous learning mechanisms. The study further recommends that tourism sector policymakers should enact supportive regulatory frameworks that reduce barriers, promote collaboration, and provide incentives that enable travel firms to develop innovation hubs and advance sustainable tourism development.
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    Types of Adventure Tourism Product and Sustainable Tourism Development in Nakuru County, Kenya
    (Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2025-09) Otieno, Valene Aluoch; Kariuki, Albert Chege; Kipkosgei, Bitok
    Tourism destinations globally are pursuing product diversification to enhance competitiveness and meet evolving traveler preferences. Adventure tourism has emerged as a significant growth sector, offering unique experiences that combine physical challengeswith environmental and cultural engagement. The tourism industry in Kenya faces significant challenges in optimizing adventure tourism's contribution to sustainable development. While several studies have explored various tourism aspects, there remains a significant gap in understanding how adventure tourism products contribute to sustainable development in Nakuru County, particularly regarding types of adventure tourism products. Thus, the study examinedthe effect of types of adventure tourism products on sustainable tourism development.The theoretical framework was grounded in Weaver's Model and Diffusion of Innovation Theory, supported through a correlational research design. The target population comprised 507,751 individuals including adventure tourists at four key adventure sites (Lake Nakuru National Park, Hell's Gate National Park, Menengai Crater, Mt. Longonot National Park) and seven key stakeholder groups in Nakuru County. Using stratified random sampling, 400 respondents were targeted and 378 complete responses were received, achieving a 94.5% response rate. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between types of adventure tourism products and sustainable tourism development, with a correlation coefficient of r=.643 (significant at p=0.000). The regression analysis confirmed this relationship, with types of adventure tourism products (β=0.315, t=9.398, p=0.000) showing a significant positive effect on sustainable tourism development. The study recommends that adventure tourism operators shouldimprove the structure and definition of their adventure products, with clear safety protocols and cultural sensitivity, while tourism authorities should establish comprehensive product development guidelines. Future research should exploreadditional variables beyond adventure tourism products and conduct comparative studies in other counties to identify region-specific versus universal factors in adventure tourism's contribution to sustainable development.
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    Wildlife conservation, visitors’ preferences and habitat conditions for wildlife tourism at Oljogi Conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya
    (International Academic Journal of Social Sciences and Education, 2020) Nzomo, Cosmas Munyao; Maingi, Shem Wambugu; Kariuki, Albert Chege
    The enormous potentials of wildlife tourism in recreation, community and economic development can be maximized through focusing on visitors’ preference in ensuring sustainability of this increasingly important sector. Wildlife tourism has an important economic value through revenue that can be used to support conservation. This study examined wildlife conservation, visitor preference and habit conditions for wildlife tourism at Oljogi Conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from visitors touring the Wildlife rescue centre in Oljogi conservancy in addition to an interview guide which was used to collect data from the tour guides. Data were analyzed through content analysis. Results revealed that seeing wildlife in its natural environment, behaving naturally and viewing rare, unique or unusual wildlife were the three most important features sought in a wildlife tourism experience. For most of the visitors we recruited in this study, it was their first time to see the wild animal. It also revealed that most of the tourists touched, handled or fed the wild animal which were friendly in nature, in addition to being rare and unique. The study also found out that the most preferred animal was the black rhino, followed by the leopard and the lion as the top three. It was also found that the conservation status at the Oljogi was good. This study concludes that visitor’s profile for wildlife preference as well as habitat condition had significant influence on wildlife tourism at Oljogi conservancy. In addition, most of the visitors paying a stopover at Wildlife rescue centre in Oljogi conservancy were highly satisfied with the wildlife experience. The study recommends relevant programs that would ensure protection of the endangered species, increased number of preferred animals and high level of satisfaction among visitors. A similar study is recommended in national reserves and parks to compare and contrast the results.