Motivation and Employee Retention in Savings and Credit Co-Operative Societies in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to assess how motivation affect employee retention in Savings and Credit Cooperative societies in Nairobi City County. The researcher conducted the study in SACCO societies located in Westlands sub-county. The objectives were as follows: to determine the effect of employee rewards in promoting employee retention in SACCO societies; to establish how job design affect employees retention in SACCO societies; and to evaluate how career opportunities affect employee retention in SACCO societies. The evaluation was done using questionnaires tailored towards collecting primary data in line with the objectives of the study. Due to the broad nature of the study, a descriptive research study design was used. The target population of the study was 270 SACCO societies located in Westlands sub-county. The researcher used simple random sampling to select senior staff and junior staff of employed in deposit taking SACCO societies, non-deposit taking SACCO societies, public service SACCO societies to arrive at a sample size of 83. The researcher distributed 83 questionnaires to the respondents of which 62 were returned representing a 75% response rate. The data collection instruments were checked for reliability using Cronbach’s Alpha method. The researcher used descriptive statistics to analyse data using mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics using regression analysis, and analysis of variance. The researcher employed multiple regression analysis at 5% level of significance to establish the association between the variables. The study findings established that the employee rewards, job design and career opportunities are crucial factors that positively affect retention of employees. The study recommends that SACCO societies should formulate well-structured employee rewards with supportive policies. The societies should improve on these rewards to improve the level of employee retention. The study also recommends that the SACCO societies should have a variety of career opportunities to satisfy different employee needs. The study suggests that in future, researchers should carry out a longitudinal study to establish the extent to which employee rewards, job design and career opportunities affect employee retention in SACCO societies.