Browsing by Author "Kavinda, Lucy"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Effective Utilization of Coconut Palms for Sustainable Income Generation among Entrepreneurs in Kilifi District: A Case of SMEs in Kaloleni Division
    (Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Book Publishing, 2025-11) Kitili, Boniface Mutia; Ogutu,Mark; Kavinda, Lucy; Gongera,George
    Despite the abundance of coconut palms in Kenya’s Coast Province and the crop’s importance as Kilifi District’s main cash earner, it remains a highly underutilized resource. Most residents view coconut palms merely as sources of fruit, palm wine, firewood, and roofing materials, leading to minimal value addition or industrial exploitation. Hence, this study examined the effective utilization of coconut palms for sustainable income generation among entrepreneurs in Kilifi District focusing on SMEs in Kaloleni Division. This study adopted a descriptive research design using survey methods such as observation, structured interviews, and focused group discussions to collect data. The findings reveal that many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have not realized the full potential of coconut palms in producing a variety of value-added products that could significantly enhance income levels and improve living standards. The study therefore sought to determine how coconut palms can be effectively utilized for sustainable income generation by identifying existing constraints, potential business opportunities, and the support services required to stimulate enterprise development in the sector. The study concludes that low product prices, limited access to reliable markets, lack of capital, and inadequate awareness of regulations governing palm wine production are the major barriers affecting utilization of coconut palms. The study recommends the establishment of village-based cottage industries to promote local value addition and employment. The government and development organizations should collaborate to build the capacity of selected service providers who will, in turn, train other entrepreneurs at lower costs. Formation of cooperatives and farmer associations should be encouraged to strengthen bargaining power, promote marketing, and facilitate access to financial and technical support. Local investors should be identified and assisted in adopting technologies for producing non-traditional coconut products such as coconut oil, fibre-based crafts, and cosmetics. Enterprise development organizations should lead efforts to implement these interventions, ensuring that coconut palms are fully exploited as a sustainable source of income and rural economic growth.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An investigation into the impact of technology on small scale milk processing: a case study of Thika District
    (2012-11-22) Maina, Godfrey Irungu; Kavinda, Lucy; Gongera, G.
    Milk is the unchanged lacteal secretion practically free from colostrums got by milking one or more cows after fixed and regular milking intervals. Milk from other animals must be specified as such. E.g. camel milk, goat milk etc. In Kenya we mainly produce cow milk. Over the years, the giant, Kenya Co-operative Creameries, has been enjoying monopoly of milk processing in the country. After the industry was liberalized other players came in e.g. Brookside, Spin Knit, Limuru etc. Most of these have grown overtime and are no longer small enterprises because of their volume of production and the number of employees engaged. In the Diary industry there are many small enterprises that are involved in the business of value addition of the commodity. This is done by; Processing of raw milk into products that are more stable. Delivery of the commodity to areas where there is no production but there is high demand. These processors range from raw milk hawkers to operators of milk bars. These have variously been referred to as 'illegal milk hawkers' and therefore the government's dairy sector regulatory body, the Kenya Dairy Board, has been in arms against them. The environment in which they operate can be broken into various elements namely; Technological environment Ecological environment Political legal environment Economic environment Socio-cultural environment In this research the impact of technology on small scale milk processing was examined. The research was based in Thika district as it has many milk producers and processors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Sacco’s Strategies and Member’s Savings in Deposit Taking Saccos in Nairobi County- Kenya
    (IJCAB Publishing Group, 2019) Kariri, Patrick Chege; Kavinda, Lucy
    Just like the case with all investments and other firms, Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs) in Kenya are investment with the target of maximizing their wealth. It is that wealth maximization and capital accumulation is a critical objective whenever SACCOs have chosen pushes for more savings from members. The purpose of the study was to conduct an effect analysis of savings and credit co-operative societies strategies on member’s savings in Sacco’s’ (Nairobi county- Kenya). Specifically, the study focused on the following research objectives; to establish the relationship between loan policies, member training and customer relationship management strategy on member’s savings in Sacco’s in Nairobi County. The study targeted the forty two licensed savings and credit co-operative societies in Nairobi County-Kenya. Specifically the study targeted the management of the Sacco’s, and clients of savings and credit co-operative societies in Nairobi County-Kenya. From the projected target population which was about 12,212 respondents. A purposive sampling technique was employed in this study. Then, simple random sampling procedure was then used to select about 50% of the Sacco’s management/staff targeted from the target population. Then purposively again a random sampling technique was employed to select at least two Sacco’s clients at each office visited from the 42 registered Sacco’s in Nairobi County. In analysis, Descriptive and inferential statistics were considered to conduct an analysis of data generated from respondents. The information obtained was presented through frequency distributions tables, evidence of percentages and the researcher categorized variables. The study found that loan policies, member training and customer relationship management strategy positively and significantly affected member’s savings. The study concluded that it is a SACCO policy to appraise loans based on members’ savings and ability to repay. However, a member needs to clear any outstanding emergency loan, if any, before applying for another. Training of members both employees and clients leads to increased job satisfaction and morale among employees, motivation, increased efficiencies in processes, resulting in financial gain, increased capacity to adopt new technologies and methods by clients, increased innovation in strategies and products and enhanced company image. Customer relationship management strategy enhances better customer service, CRM systems are useful in identifying potential customers, CRM data ensures effective co-ordination of marketing campaigns. The study recommended that loan policy should clearly communicate the strategic goals and objectives of the SACCO, as well as define the types of loan exposures acceptable to the institution, loan approval authority, loan limits, loan underwriting criteria, and several other guidelines. SACCO should train members on communications; because the increasing diversity of today’s workforce brings a wide variety of languages and customs. Customer service; because increased competition in today’s global marketplace makes it critical that employees understand and meet the needs of customers. Customer relationship strategy should aim at governing how to satisfy customers beyond developing good products and services, help retain existing customers to maximize efficiencies and reduce the cost of acquisition and ensure customer satisfaction and a memorable brand experience.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Strategic Management Practices and Performance of Three Star Hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya
    (International Academic Journals, 2019) Ndung’u, Njoki; Kavinda, Lucy
    The strategic management plays a key role in tableting and assuring appropriateness of the strategic themes. The research aimed at determining the role of strategic management activities on hotels performance in Nairobi City. In accomplishing the research key objectives are to be valued which include establishing the influence of strategic planning, formulation , implementation and monition and evaluation on the growth of the country’s hotel sector. In enhancing the research’s objectives are the theories such as knowledge based model, organizational theory and resource based approach. The research utilized descriptive research design with key target pollution being 250 employees across the 25 three start hotels in the city county. The research adopted 30% sample selected via stratified random sampling. In collecting the research data , semi-structured questionnaires are to be used among the major respondents who were both from administration, strategy , human resource and finance departments. The research conducted a pilot study to help in validating the research instruments. The research’s quantitative data was gathered v= and analyzed through descriptive statistics by the use of SPSS and be presented via means , frequencies , standard deviation and means. It’s important that the research is to be of great significance to the hotel sector as they will understand the efficiency of strategic management in relation to its performance. The study concluded that strategic management practices employed by three star hotels in Nairobi City County positively and significantly influenced their performance. The study concluded that the hotels significantly embraced strategic planning through their vision, mission, management, communication strategies and use of analytical instruments which enhanced their performance and supporting their goals. The study concluded that the firms embraced strategy formulation to a significant extent through proper selection of strategy approaches based on risks and results expected and also selecting strategies that are in line with organization mission and vision, based on past experiences and research to reduce chances of failure. It was further concluded that the firms embraced strategy implementation by ensuring the strategies have been implemented as planned, within budget, time schedule, engaging management and modern technology. The study concluded that the firms to a significant extent have embraced M&E as a strategic management practice through use of performance-based monitoring program, feedback mechanism and making adjustments based on the feedback. The study recommends that the three star hotels need to improve their strategy formulation strategies with proper planning, involvement of major stakeholders and due diligence before implementation. The study recommends further that the firms need to enhance continuous and consistent monitoring and evaluation to ensure proper strategy implementation. The management need to ensure M&E feedback is integrated into the strategic management process.