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Item Business Process Operations and Performance of Carrel Technologies, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2022-06) Mwanga, Juliet BelindaThe increased global competition rate has reduced the product life eyele. An organization must find out ways to cut a niche within the industry, Carrel technologies in Kenya helps organizations find the optimal investment and maintenance spend for their technology requirements, in alignment with strategic objectives. However, due to the competitive nature of the market, there is an increasing pressure being put on the Carrel technologies which has negatively affected its performance. Henee, the study sought o investigate the effect of Business Process Operations practices on the performance of the performance of carrel technologies, Kenya. The specific objectives were 1o determine the influence of innovation, customer orientation, continuous improvement, marketing and sales on the performance of carrel technologies, Kenya. The study findings would be valuable to the management of Carrel Technologies, the Government, policy makers, and Academicians, The study was anchored to the following theories; the Task fit theory, Contingency theory, dynamic capabilities theory and resource based theory. The research design that guided the study was descriptive. The study’s total sample size was 45 senior managers at Carrel Technologies, Head of Business Units, Managers, and Head of Department, working within the organization. This study was census study. Primary data was obtained by use of a structured questionnaire whereas secondary data on performance was sourced from the organization's management reports, Information Communication Technology journals, and Technology Reviews. Data was summarised, coded, tabulated, and analysed using descriptive statistics. Constant validity, face validity, and content validity were undertaken. A reliability test was done by use of Cronbach's alpha. Quantitative data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics, Tables and figures which were accompanied by detailed explanations to put the data into context were used in data presentation. The study established that innovation, customer orientation, continuous improvement and marketing and sales positively and significantly influenced the Carrel Technologies’ performance. The study concluded that innovation act as a catalyst that can makes the organization grow and helps it to adapt in the marketplace. The customer orientation is modern marketing philosophy guiding managers in carrying undertaking marketing endeavours in was resulting into optimum client satisfaction. The continuous improvement approach’s focus is to drive efficiencies to optimize labor productivity, improve customer service and product quality and eliminate waste. Sales and marketing have the responsibility to attract, nurture and close deals thus they should be on a similar page regarding who they should get in touch with. The study recommended that the organization should make sure that they understand truly their client needs and establish collaborative associations with their business partners. The organization should give a definition of client needs from client’s point of view and also do everything possible in meeting the target clients’ expectations. In order to improve the continuous improvement, the organization should empower their employees in making day to day continuous improvement part of their own daily work. The organization needs to know who it’s targeting. Who is the person who would most likely buy its product and buy it immediately.Item Knowledge Management Practices,Performance, Geothermal Development Company, Nakuru City County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2024-09) Bosire, JudyItem Financial Risk and Cost Efficiency of General Insurance Companies in Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2022-07) Chepkirui, SharonInsurance companies play a key role in protecting customers from the risks that they are insured against them occurs. In order for insurance firms to meet this objective they incur costs that are related o this and so the firms should be financially sound and meet every need as it arises. Cost efficiency is the manner in which the processes and products are transformed to minimize costs in order (0 add value to the firm. Cost efliciency is enhanced through different strategies to make directions, drive innovation, and reduce operational costs as well as to minimize financial risk. There has been increasing inputs in the insurance industry in terms of wages for highly qualified stafY, costly digital software and competition from both insurance and banking sector which may reduce the profitability. General insurance companies in Kenya have been underperforming in recent years leading to massive losses as a result of increased costs and reduced revenues leading to reduced efficiency. The study sought to ascertain the effect of financial risk on the cost cfficiency of general insurance in Kenya. Specifically: credit risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, and foreign exchange rate risk on cost efficiency and finally to evaluate the moderating effect of capital adequacy on the relationship between financial risk and cost efficiency. This study used the Neoclassical Theory of the Firm, the Arbitrage Pricing Theory, Theory of Optimal Capital Structure and the X-efficiency Theory. Explanatory research design, and Data Envelopment Analysis model was employed to analyze general insurance companies from 2015 to 2019.DEA and panel data logit model was also adopted. The study targeted 38 general insurance companies in Kenya and formed a sample size of 38 using the census method because of the small number. The study conducted descriptive and inferential analysis. Correlation and logit regression analysis to establish the onship between the variables. The study found that credit risk and cost efficiency were negatively and significantly related (B=-5.6018, P=0.0123). This mecans that cost efficiency would . increase with a decrease in credit risk. The study also showed that liquidity risk has a negative and significant effect on cost efficiency (=-15.1983, P=0.001). This implies that when liquidity gap increases then the cost efficiency of a firm decreases significantly. Moreover, interest rate risk was positively and significantly related to cost efficiency ratio (B=9.277, P=0.004). This implies that when liquidity gap increases then the cost efficiency of a firm decreases significantly. The study also revealed that foreign exchange risk negatively affects cost efficiency (B=-0.1093, P=0.027). This implies that the bigger the position an insurance firm holds in foreign markets relative to local markets, the more exposed they are to fluctuations in exchange rates. The study therefore concluded that credit risk, liquidity risk and foreign exchange risk had a negative influence on cost cfficiency while interest rate risk had a positive influence on cost efficiency of general insurance companies in Kenya. Finally, it can be concluded that capital adequacy moderates the relationship between financial risk and cost efficiency among insurance firms in Kenya. The study recommends that general insurance companies should have sufficient capital reserves in order to be able to handle financial risks they are exposed to should they occur and that the IRA should set up policies that guide the industry and enable insurance companies to improve their cost efficiency and reduce their exposure to different forms of financial risk. The study also reccommended that further research be conducted on other factors that may affect cost efficicncy apart from those discussed in the study.Item Turnaround Strategies and Performance of Cement Manufacturing Firms in Machakos County, Kenya(2023-11) Githinji, Esther WatareItem Differentiation strategies and organizational performance of firms listed under manufacturing and allied sector at the Nairobi securities exchange(Kenyatta University, 2023-11) Sheikh, Abdikheir SaidGrowth in Kenya, like that of many other developing nations, has been driven mostly by the agricultural and services industries, rather than the industrial sector. The fall in manufacturing's share of GDP to 8.4% in 2017 and 9.2% in 2016 is evidence that the nation has undergone premature deindustrialization. Kenya's industrial and associated sectors have overcome several obstacles and are now flourishing. Each business is desperately trying to distinguish itself from the others; therefore, they have introduced novel methods, developed innovative products, engaged in pricing wars, and opened up new distribution channels. The study's main objective was to ascertain whether companies trading on the NSE that operate in the industrial and allied sector may profit from using differentiation strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of product, service, and channel differentiation on the bottom lines of industrial and allied sector companies listed on the NSE. The knowledge-based theory, Porter's generic strategy model, the discrete-choice theory of product differentiation, and the theory of hedonic pricing served as theoretical anchors for this investigation. Using a descriptive research strategy, this study investigated the research topic at hand. Twenty-five managers or supervisors and workers from each of the eight industrial and allied Sector enterprises situated in Nairobi County were surveyed for this study. Yamane's method was used to calculate a sample size of 133 for this investigation from a population of 200, with a 95% confidence interval. The researcher utilized the questionnaire to gather primary data from the institution's management. Descriptive statistics, including percentages, were used to facilitate the transformation of raw data into a format conducive to comprehension and interpretation in alignment with the objectives of the study. Inferential statistics, such as linear regressions, was also used to examine the quantitative data. In this study, an alpha value of 0.7 or above was considered as indicative of a reliable research instrument. In addition, a pilot study was conducted to assess the research instrument and establish the clarity of the questions posed so that any problems were addressed. Graphs and tables were used to display numerical data, with accompanying textual explanations. The study results show that most of the respondents agreed that product differentiation impacts on performance of firms listed under industrial and allied sector at the NSE. The study findings show that product differentiation has a positive statistical beta coefficient. The study findings indicate that majority of the respondents agreed that service differentiation impacts on performance of firms listed under industrial and allied sector at the NSE. Service differentiation has a positive statistical beta coefficient. The results show that most of the respondents were in agreement that channel differentiation impacts on performance of firms listed under industrial and allied sector at the NSE. Channel differentiation has a positive statistical beta. The study results indicate that majority of the respondents agreed that price differentiation affects performance of firms listed under industrial and allied sector at the NSE. Price differentiation has a positive statistical beta coefficient. The study recommends that the firms should consider costs in their production, outsource production to minimize costs and adopt the mechanization method to enhance efficiency in production. It was recommended that the firms consider costs and market conditions when pricing their products in order to improve performance and that that firms should use different distribution channels so that they could reach customers in different areas and improve their performance. The study recommends that the firms broaden their product offering, obtain certification for their products, and adopt innovation.Item Physical Location and Competitiveness of Selected International Airports in Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2024-08) Nguu, Lawrence MurageAirports in Kenya face infrastructural challenges; they lack enough capacity and outdated facilities which hinders efficiency in overall passenger experiences. This research aimed at establishing whether physical location influences competitiveness of international airports in Kenya.The research focussed on Moi International Airport located at the city of Mombasa and Jomo Kenyatta International airport located at the city of Nairobi. The research evaluated the effect of labour supply, the influence of auxiliary services and the effect of market potential on the competitiveness of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport.The resource-based and services marketing theories formed the literature review section. They helped in developing the conceptual framework based on three independent variables which were labour supply, auxiliary services and market potential while airport competitiveness was the dependent variable.The research used a descriptive research design where a questionnaire as the primary data collection tool. The pilot study was conducted at at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where two senior management employees, six junior management employees and nine non-management employees. Validity of the research instrument was achieved to ensure that the content on the questionnaire measured what it was intended to measure. Reliability was checked using Cronbach alpha computations. The targeted population for the research was 1600 people from JKIA (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) and 1450 people from Moi International Airport from which a sample size of 353 respondents was gotten. The samples were arrived at through stratified sampling at both Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport. The data was analyzed using Statistical package of Social sciences and run at 95% confidence level and 0.05 level of significance. The regression analysis provided market potential as the most significant independent variable, followed by the auxiliary services and then labour supply. The results showed that labour supply, market potential, and auxiliary services are significant factors that elevate the competitiveness of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport above that of Moi International Airport due to its physical location. The research will be of great help to decision-makers while formulating laws and making location decisions especially when investing in new airports. This research will to add to the existing body of knowledge and hopefully assist in harnessing the benefits of physical location on the competitiveness of International Airports. These findings will act as a reference point for upcoming researchers and scholars.Item Strategic Management Practices and Performance of the State Department of Sports, Nairobi County(Kenyatta University, 2024-05) Munywoki, Francis WambuaFollowing poor performance and failure to meet public expectations, the State Department of Sports is under pressure to improve its service delivery and meet its objectives. These failures have created a compelling reason for embracing proper strategic management practices. This study investigated the effect of strategic management practices on the performance of the State Department of Sports in Nairobi City County. The study specifically assessed the effect of strategy formulation on the performance of the State Department of Sports in Nairobi City County; examined the effect of strategy implementation on the State Department of Sports performance in Nairobi City County; determined the effect of strategy evaluation on the State Department of Sports performance in Nairobi City County; and examined the effects of strategy control on the State Department of Sports performance in Nairobi City County. The theories that guided the study are the situational leadership theory, resource-based view, dynamic capability theory, and the balanced scorecard model. This study adopted the use of a descriptive research design to implement the research strategy. The targeted population consisted of 80 State Department of Sports employees. Data was collected from a sample of employees using stratified random sampling. Data in the study was collected using questionnaires. The validity of the questionnaire was tested by the expert opinion method. Reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha coefficients. A pilot study was conducted using eight seasonal employees from the Department, which aided in testing the feasibility of the questionnaires. Data collected were examined using descriptive and inferential statistics, and presentation was done using frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. The study findings showed that the State Department of Sports’ performance was significantly affected and determined by strategy formulation, strategy implementation, strategy evaluation, and strategy control, which provides direction for developing plans to achieve objectives. The results analysis also showed that strategy formulation, implementation, strategy evaluation, and control were statistically significant to the State Department of Sports’ performance. The study concludes that strategic management practices are the action plans or strategies that ensure performance targets of organizations are met. Through their effective integration, organizations can thrive as they allow organizations to put forward strategic plans into practice and analyze areas of operational improvement. The study recommends that government organizations should commit to strategic management practices fully when managing and running all their operations. Their successfully integrating would make it easier to develop plans and policies and implement them in order to achieve their goals and objectives.Item Reward Strategies and Performance of Kenya School of Law, Employees in Nairobi City County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2024-06) Mugo, Shelmith WanjiruWithout doubt, the most significant valuable asset for every company is its workforce. Retaining and satisfying staff is the hardest thing a business can do in today's cutthroat economy. Being a business owner means you have to find ways to cut expenses without sacrificing the quality of your net outcome. Therefore, although employers want more from their staff, employees also want more from them. Rewarding workers for putting out their best effort to come up with innovative ideas that improve company efficiency and further enhance both the financial and non-financial performance of the firm is one of the most effective ways to inspire employees. Kenya School of Law faces challenges pertaining rewards strategies due to inadequate budgetary allocation and prolonged policy development processes that have affected employee performance. Recently, Kenya School of Law reported reduced staff and staff dissatisfaction as among the reasons for not meeting its objectives. This thus justified the need as to why this study was carried out, with the aim to examine reward strategies and performance of employees in Kenya School of Law. The specific objectives of the study was: to analyze effect of healthcare benefits on performance employees in Kenya School of Law; to examine effect of flexible work schedules on performance employees in Kenya School of Law; to assess effect of financial benefits on performance employees in Kenya School of Law and to assess effect of performance based pay on performance of employees in Kenya School of Law. The study was underpinned on three theories, which include ability motivation, and opportunity theory; equity theory; and behavior reinforcement theory. The study utilized a descriptive research design. The study targeted 155 respondents who are employees of the Kenya School of Law. The census approach was adopted as a result of the limited size of the research population. Both open and closed ended questions in questionnaire tool were employed to collect primary data from the respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22 and Microsoft Excel and through inferential statistics mainly through multiple regression analysis. The study findings were displayed by through bar charts, graphs, tables and pie charts. The study findings showed that all the four elements of reward strategies assessed in the study had a significant effect on employee performance at the Kenya School of Law. The study concludes that healthcare benefits, flexible work schedules, financial benefits and performance-based pay should be taken into consideration since they had a positive and significant effect on the performance of employees at the Kenya School of Law. The study recommends all the four reward strategies the key to effective employee performance at the Kenya School of Law and therefore they should be allocated adequate resources and time.Item Outsourcing practices and customer satisfaction in public residential real estate in Mombasa County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2024-06) Musyimi, Beatrice NzembiIn today’s highly competitive business environment, real estate organizations constantly seek ways to enhance their services and create value for their customers. Many organizations outsource management functions to external experts to optimize service delivery. Prior research on outsourcing primarily addressed organizational performance. This study fills a gap by examining its impact on customer satisfaction. This study investigates the influence of outsourcing practices on customer satisfaction in public residential real estate in Mombasa County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study are; administrative service outsourcing practices, human resource outsourcing practices, financial service outsourcing practices and sanitation service outsourcing practices on customer satisfaction in public residential houses in Mombasa County. The study is anchored by theory of transaction costs, contingency theory and Resource Dependency theory. The study employed a descriptive design and a quantitative approach to survey 150 participants from three public housing authorities in Mombasa County, including Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Railways, and Kenya Power and Lighting Company. The study adopted a stratified sampling technique to get representative sample from three parastatals, including Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Railways and Kenya Power and Lighting Company. The study relied on primary data collected from the field using a standard structured questionnaire approach. The data collected was analyzed qualitatively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the outcome was presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that outsourcing administrative, financial, and sanitation services improved customer satisfaction. This was attributed to enhanced efficiency, access to skilled labor, and better service quality. These findings suggest that public housing authorities can leverage outsourcing to improve customer experience. Based on the results, the study also concludes that embracing outsourcing practices in public residential properties enhances customer satisfaction by augmenting operational efficiency and improving the quality of service delivery. Therefore, the findings provide critical information that can help the parastatals enhance their outsourcing competencies to improve customer experience in their real estate properties in Mombasa County. Improved service provision would lead to customer satisfaction; however, organizations should consider the potential challenges of outsourcing. The study recommends that these organizations strengthen their outsourcing competencies to enhance resident satisfaction furtherItem Strategic Innovation and Operational Performance of Kenya Breweries Limited, Nairobi City County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2023-12) Imathiu, Michael MuriukiStrategic innovation in either technology, product, process or even service, provide opportunities for enhancing operational performance. Kenya Breweries Limited which is categorized under the manufacturing industry in Kenya, has been operating in an increasingly competitive, highly regulated and dynamic market. Therefore, the company has formulated strategies aimed to ensure the operational efficiency of the firm. However, despite the adopted measures, Kenya Breweries Limited still faces operational challenges which include; inflation impacting operational costs, managing overheads due to the increased number of employee requirements, adopting to modern operations due to high skills requirements, high costs of investing in green energy capital, shifting service demand requirements and diminishing returns from process enhancements. The company also is facing increasing levels of competition in the beer sector marked by illegal brewers as well as new local and international start-ups businesses. The main aim of this study therefore, was to investigate the effect of strategic innovation and operational performance of Kenya Breweries in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to determine the influence of technology, process, product and service innovation on operational performance and the unit of analysis was Kenya Breweries based in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study was anchored on porter’s generic competitive theory and diffusion innovation theory. In the research design, descriptive survey was most preferred methodology for this study. Further, the unit of observation was 382 employees who were distributed within the senior, middle and lower-level management. A sample of 115 participants was arrived and stratified random sampling was used to get the participants. Primary data was collected by use of a questionnaire. The filled in data was then coded in SPPS for analysis where tables were used to display descriptive data. On the same, frequency distributions, numbers, mean and median values and the standard deviation of scores were also used. Thereafter, linear regression analysis, was used to draw inferences about the nature of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. In addition, interpretation of the resulting data in light of the theoretical and empirical literature reviewed in chapter two was carried out. The study found adopted technologies, product innovation, process innovation and service innovation influenced Kenya Breweries Limited operational performance to a great extent. The study therefore concludes that a unit increases in the scores of technology innovation would lead to an increase in the scores of performances of Kenya Breweries Limited, Kenya. The findings presented also show that a unit increase in product innovation would lead an increase on performance of Kenya Breweries Limited. The study conclude that a unit increase in process innovation would lead to an increase on performance of Kenya Breweries Limited. Further, the study conclude that a unit increase in the scores of service innovation would lead to an increase on performance of Kenya Breweries Limited. Overall, product innovation had the greatest influence on performance of Kenya Breweries Limited, followed by then technology innovation, then process innovation, while service innovation had the least influence on the performance of Kenya Breweries Limited. Kenya Breweries Limited should adopt technology innovation that will enhance the company’s product and service generation to support the company’s production performance. The study also recommends that Kenya Breweries Limited should enhance their product innovation to provision of relevant products of the highest quality in order to sustain and expand market share. The study recommends that Kenya Breweries Limited process innovation can be enhanced through employing employees who are skilled in operations evaluation of the company’s systems.Item Behavioural attributes and performance of securities held by individual investor in Isiolo County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2024-07-30) Nkoroi, Elizabeth KarimiThis study explores the relationship between behavioral attributes and the performance of securities held by individual investors in Isiolo County, Kenya. In the realm of behavioral finance, understanding how psychological biases and decision-making patterns influence investment outcomes is of paramount importance. The research objectives include assessing the impact of behavioral attributes, such as risk tolerance, overconfidence, and loss aversion, on the performance of securities in a local context. The main objective of this study was to explore the effect of behavioural attributes on performance of securities held by individual investors’ in Isiolo County, Kenya. To achieve these objectives, a mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights. Data on individual investors' behavioral attributes were gathered through surveys and interviews, while the performance of securities was assessed using common metrics such as returns, risk-adjusted performance, and portfolio volatility. The research analyzed the collected data, employing statistical techniques to examine correlations and patterns. This study adopted a descriptive research design by deriving hypotheses from the theories that are existing. Bartlett’s test of Sphericity with a probability less than 0.05 was employed to test the hypotheses. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to gather primary data. SPSS was used to analyse the data with Factor analysis determining the relationship between independent variables (herding variables, market variables, prospect variables and heuristic variables) and the dependent variable (individual investor decision – making in the NSE); and to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that most of the behavioural attributes affecting the performance of securities held by individual investors had moderate impacts while market factors have a high influence on performance The study established that there is a significant relationship between the market, prospect and heuristics variables and performance of securities held by individual investor by failing to reject three null hypotheses. On the other hand, one null hypothesis was rejected thus concluding that there is no significant relationship between herding variables and performance of individual held. Preliminary findings suggest that behavioral attributes play a significant role in influencing investment decisions and outcomes among individual investors in Isiolo County. The research sheds light on the interplay of cognitive biases, emotional responses, and financial performance, providing valuable insights for both investors and financial professionals. The implications of this study are discussed, offering recommendations to enhance individual investors' financial decision-making in this region and beyond. The contribution of this study to the behavioral finance is that it has provided an understanding of the impact of behavioral attributes on investment performance, particularly in the unique context of Isiolo County, KenyaItem Stakeholder Participation and Performance of Water Projects in Kirinyaga County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2024) Mutu, Mercy WanjikuPerformance of a water project largely depend on how stakeholders are involved in the project. Stakeholder participation collaborates all inputs which are important in the project implementation, especially providing solutions to various challenges based on their shared experiences. Successful projects operate within budget, cost, satisfy customers and embrace quality standards existing, Kirinyaga County water projects show that only 20% of intended water projects have been efficiently and effectively completed, 48% still struggling for completion while the rest have been completely abandoned in the period of 2017-2022. The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of stakeholder participation on performance of water projects in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. The study targeted to evaluate role of involving stakeholder in identification, planning, monitoring and evaluation and implementation on performance of projects pertaining water on county of Kirinyaga. General system hypothesis was used together in conjunction with descriptive research design and cross-sectional in the process of data collection. The total target population were 29 water projects in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. The researcher purposively picked 3 respondents that include managers, assistant project managers and project supervisors giving a total purposive sample of 87 respondents. The questionnaire was used in collecting primary data. Questionnaire were distributed by drop and pick strategy. Analysis of data employed various forms statistics ranging from regression, correlation, standard deviation, mean, percentages and frequencies. A construct composite validity (Cronbach alpha) of 0.6 or above, is considered adequate. Based on this argument, a coefficient of 0.6 or above for all the constructs was accepted. The current study used 0.7 as a threshold due to its wider applicability in literature. The descriptive finding of the study indicated enjoining stakeholders on process of planning, identification, and execution during implementation and supervisory of monitoring and evaluation of projects have been moderately adopted in water projects. Inferential finding indicated that collaborating stakeholders’ initiatives in stage of planning, identification, monitoring and evaluation, planning and implementation significantly contributed to performance. The study recommends that proper feasibility study should involve all the stakeholders comprehensively. In addition, adequate sensitization is supposed to be undertaken to equip the community with information that is necessary. The project implementers should involve the community in tracking projects progress. There is need for project and community to work together during assessment so that elaborate assessment is undertaken and all gaps that might hamper project implementation are identified. The study recommends strengthening public participation in all processes of a project. Public participation promotes accountability in the process thus improving efficiency.Item Financial Risk Management and Profitability of Local Private Commercial Banks in Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2022) Bwibo, Anne Mabel; Job OmagwaCommercial banks are responsible for providing financial services thus form part of the backbone of an economy. While providing the financial service, they are exposed to various financial risks. Risks have adverse cost elements associated with them thus ultimately affect financial performance of institutions. In 2017, as a result of interest rate volatility, Family bank and Standard chartered issued profit warnings a sign of poor performance. During the period 2015-2017, three commercial banks in Kenya i.e. Dubai bank, Chase bank as well as Imperial bank were put under receivership owing to liquidity and capital deficiency challenges among other reasons which exposed financial risk to depositors, creditors as well as the banking sector; hence, the study analysed Financial Risk Management (FRM) and Profitability of Local Private Commercial Banks’ in Kenya. Specifically, the research determined effect of CRM, LRM, IR Risk Management and also FOREX Risk Management on Local Private Kenyan Commercial banks’ profitability. The theories underpinning the study were Modern Portfolio Theory, Managerial Efficiency Theory and Agency Theory. Moreover, descriptive research approach was deployed during the research. The study targeted 20 local private commercial banks operating as at 2021 in Kenya. Banks selection was conducted using the census design. Primary data was gathered using questionnaires. Purposive sampling was adopted to select respondents. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The study found that CRM has a significant positive effect on profitability; LRM has a significant positive effect on profitability; IR risk management has significant positive effect on profitability and foreign exchange rate risk management has a significant positive effect on local private commercial banks’ profitability in Kenya. This indicates that improvement in CRM (credit limits, credit insurance and loan appraisals) improves the banks’ profitability. Improvement in LRM (loan to total deposit ratio, liquid coverage ratio and net stability funding ratio) improves profitability of the local private commercial banks in Kenya, enhancement in interest rate risk management (IR limits and interest on loans) increases local private commercial banks’ profitability and improvement in foreign exchange risk management (cross currency swaps and price adjustment) improves local private commercial banks’ profitability. Hence, the study recommends that local private commercial banks ought to set up maximum credit limits for the borrowers, obtain credit insurance policy and examine the market value of the collaterals used in order to lower default rate on the loan hence improve the banks’ profitability. Moreover, local private commercial banks should charge common percentage of interest rate on all loans offered in order to attract many borrowers who would like to take different types of loans to cater for the diverse needs hence increasing the banks’ profitability. Additionally, the local private commercial banks ought to use cross currency swaps to exchange funding in one currency for funding in another currency as well as hedge investments in foreign currency bonds. The study recommends that further studies ought to be carried out to examine the effect of FRM on profitability of the foreign owned banks and entire banking sector in Kenya. In addition, more studies need to be conducted to assess other factors influencing banks management.Item Marketing Mix and Customer Loyalty in Commercial Banks in Kericho County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2019-06) Yegon, KiptooBanking sector have had high competition in Kenya due to large number of commercial banks and rising increase of Micro Finance Institution as well as Saving and Credit Cooperative Societies. Customer loyalty is inevitable and each bank straggles to outdo each other in getting the greatest customer numbers leading to them investing in different marketing strategies. The study sought to investigate the effect of marketing mix on customer loyalty in commercial banks in Kericho County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study included the following: to investigate the effect of Products on customer loyalty in commercial banks in Kericho County; to establish the effect of pricing on customer loyalty in commercial banks in Kericho County; to examine the role of promotion on customer loyalty in commercial banks in Kericho County; to analyze the influence of place on customer loyalty in commercial banks in Kericho County. This study would be useful to commercial banks in policy making, improving of service to customer and developing strategies for improvement of performance. Government would utilize it for fiscal policies. It would be also important to academicians for future research in the area of marketing. The study was guided by three theories: Social Exchange Theory, the theory of Reasoned Action and Consumer power theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population of the study includes all the customers of the 6 commercial banks in Kericho County, namely: Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity, Standard Chartered, Barclays, Co-operative, and Family Bank Kenya (County Government of Kericho, 2016). The researcher used the multi-stage sampling technique to select 148 respondents. Validity was determined by peers, supervisor and through pilot study. Reliability were obtained from pilot data where the Cronbach alpha was found to be 0.791 which was above threshold of 0.7. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Regression was also used in data analysis. The scope of the study was commercial banks in Kericho County, Kenya. The study covered all commercial banks in Kericho where numerous research has been conducted marketing strategies and not market mix on customer loyalty. Research on product mix concentrated on hotel and tourism creating a knowledge gap. The finding indicated that product mix positively influence to customer loyalty through branding, labeling of logo and picture of products and product packaging through pay bill and flexible accounts. It was also found out that pricing on products was important in customer loyalty and retention. Promotion was not significant since radio advertisement did not affect customer loyalty. Place had significantly affected customer loyalty and based on mobile banking and access to branches. The study concluded that marketing strategies was important in customer loyalty, retention, survey and loyalty in commercial banks. It recommended product, price and place strategies should be used often to improve on customer loyalty.Item Investigation of challenges facing accessibility of credit from commercial banks for financing agricultural sectors in Kenya: (a survey of commercial banks in Nyeri county)(Kenyatta University, 2015) Karumbi, Peter NjorogeAccessibility of credit is vital for the development of any sector in the country. There has been a big challenge in the country in financing the agricultural sector. The research study aims at analysing the various challenges facing accessibility of credit from Commercial banks for financing agricultural sectors in Kenya. The study was carried out in the various Commercial banks in Nyeri County. Kenya has a total of forty three commercial banks. Out of this, Nyeri County has a total of eleven commercial banks with a total of twenty five branches. The research adopted a descriptive survey approach where staffs working in the banks represented in Nyeri County were sampled. As at 31st December 2012, the twenty five branches of the eleven commercial banks represented in Nyeri County had a total population of three hundred and seventy five (375) employees. Out of this, the survey targeted the staffs who are involved in credit processes in their respective institutions. These staffs include branch managers, Credit managers, Operations managers and credit officers. The 11 commercial banks had 25 branch managers, 20 Operations managers, 17 Credit manager and 94 credit officers. The study therefore had a target population of one hundred and fifty six (156) banks staffs. Out of these, 30% were sampled making a sample of 47 employees. Sampling was done using stratified random sampling technique. The research used primary data which was collected through the questionnaires. The questionnaires had both closed and open ended questions and were administered through the employees of the various commercial banks using drop and later pick method. Data collected was both qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics of mean, mode and median. Data has been presented using tables, graphs and charts. Qualitative data has been analyzed using content analysis. The response rate was 85.1% where out of the issued 47 questionnaires 40 were returned and considered adequate to commence the analysis. The findings established that customer related challenges, agricultural activity related challenges, loan related challenges and borrowing costs related challenges influences the accessibility of credit from commercial banks for financing the agricultural sectors in Kenya. It was recommended that Commercial banks in Kenya should come up with more flexible and customer friendly solutions to enable easier access of credit to the Agricultural sectors in KenyaItem Investigating factors that affect rabbit production and marketing as a small business(2013-11-19) Hassane, Mahamat HassaneItem Factors influencing customer demand for automated teller machine services in Nairobi: the case of Standard Chatered and Barclays Banks of Kenya(2012-04-17) Mwangi, Peter Kihara; Maganjo, R.This study aimed at establishing the factors influencing individual customer demand for ATM services in Standard and Barclays banks in Nairobi. The driving force for this study was that since the introduction of the first ATM in Kenya by Standard Chartered Bank 1989, Kenyans, have witnessed proliferation of these facilities in the same and other major commercial banks in this country such as Barclays, Kenya Commercial bank and National bank. After only 9 years since the introduction for the first ATM, there are over 74 ATMS in place today and plans are there to install more. This rapid growth is a pointer that the demand for quality ATM customer services is a major issue among Kenya bank customers. In order to carry out study, a sample of 10 branches of Standard and Barclay’s banks in Nairobi with an ATM facility were selected. Interviews and questionnaires were used to capture both quantitative and qualitative data. The target was to administer questionnaires to 6 respondents per selected branch so as to get a sample of 60 respondents in total. In the final analysis, the researcher managed to get 47 respondents. The response rate was 78.3 percent. Data was analyzed using the SPSS computer programme. Factor analysis and descriptive statistics were used to discuss the results. The findings of this study indicated that the most important factor influencing ATM service demand according to customers is convenience of 24-hour banking followed by time taken to make a withdrawal and banks ATM advertising. Other important factors are age, income, ATM problems, sex, education, occupation and prestige. From the management point of view, the most important factor is ATM advertising followed by occupation and time taken to make a withdrawal. Other factors include sex, education, age, income, and convenience of 24-hour banking, ATM problems and prestige. On the other hand the most common ATM problems experienced by ATM users are ATM location problems (ATMs located in insecure places), insufficient cash in most popular ATM centres, Card retention by ATM cash machines and Faulty ATMs. PIN insecurity, phantom withdrawals (withdrawals which the ATM records but the customer denies) and problem of ATM fraudsters were considered minor. By and large, the study revealed that 61.7 percent of all ATM users were at least statisfied with the operations and services offered by ATM facilities while 66 percent of the customers felt that ATMs are very reliable and offer them quality customer services since they work more often than not. This may explain why majority of the ATM users (66 percent) use the facility at least once a week. Major recommendations that came out of the study are that; 1. 1 Bank management should ensure that their ATMs offer efficient 24 - hour services at all times without breaking down or running out of cash. Standby generators should be installed in all branches with an ATM to cushion against power failures. 2. Banks management should develop an efficient customers service programme to ensure minimized and fair queuing system and speedy and accurate services. 3. Management should offer quick solutions to customer complaints such as ATM problems on the other hand, security should be provided at all times especially in ATMs which are located in hidden insecure places at night or during the weekends. 4. The bank should increase ATM advertising and promotional campaigns in order to attract more customers. 5. Finally the banks should explore the possibility of operating a shared ATM network in Kenya also locating their ATMs away from banking locations like air ports, super markets, and other busy points so that customers can access their accounts wherever they are.Item Factors that affect production and marketing of strawberries in Kenya(2012-04-10) Ochuodho, Origa AlbertHorticulture, especially cut flowers, French beans, off-season strawberries, fruits and vegetables are increasingly becoming an important component of our domestic as well as foreign trade. The future demand for bulk sales of fruit juices and canned pineapple should make feasible annual increases of around ten percentages in value terms (Seasonal Paper No 1 of 1986). This of course includes juices made out of strawberries. The objectives of the study were to establish areas cultivation with strawberries; methods and techniques used in the cultivation and harvesting of the same; pests and disease affecting the main varieties grown in this country; their control methods and how effective they are; the yields harvested from the farms; the promotional and channel management strategies used by both farmers and buyers to market their products; the amounts purchased by buyers; the competitive position of strawberries in the market and the various market differences in terms of quality , price, packing and handling. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire composed of thirty-three questions. The questionnaire was administered to thirty-one respondents out of whom seventeen were farmers and fourteen were buyers. The study established Naivasha, Kinangop, Molo and Limuru as the main strawberry growing areas in Kenya. Most of the farms were small scale farms and most of the yields were below twenty thousand kilograms. It also revealed that crossbreeding was the most common method of cultivation used and picking by hand was the most popular method of harvesting strawberries with farmers. If further established that two main varieties were cultivated i.e. Tioga Selva and Chandler Pajaro. The Chandler Pajaro was more popular with the growers. Three main diseases were established to affect the crop in this country. They were Fusarium Oxysponium, Botrytis and Fusarium Wilt. The study established that Tioga Selfa was not susceptible to Botrytis but was affected by Fusarium Oxysponium and Fusarium Wilt. It also revealed that the Chandler Pajaro was not susceptible to Fusariu Wilt but was affected by Fusarium Oxysponium and Botrytis. This confirms the research carried out by Chandler, (1990) in the USA. The spraying method was moderately effective with Chandler Pajaro but very effective with Tioga Selva. The farmers hardly used any promotional strategies to market their strawberries apart from personal selling and use of agents. The study also established fair competition in the strawberry trade. It further revealed that handling and packing contributed fair competition in the strawberry markets other than quality and price.Item An investigation into the effects of employee downsizing on business organizations in Kenya(2012-04-05) Rori, Richard NyakundiEmployee downsizing is a complex and pervasive phenomenon that has drawn the attention of most Kenyans. It is a phenomenon that strikes fear and anxiety in the minds of many Kenyan employees. It has actually become a legitimate multi purpose tool to preserve and advance corporate interests. Employee downsizing has also been observed in other countries as rapid technological change, shifting markets, new competitors, revamped governmental regulations and increasing global competition have led organizations to seek lower labour costs and increased productivity. While employee downsizing has become a common activity, very little is known of its impact on the employer and the remaining employee during and long after implementation. This research investigated on the effects of employee downsizing on business organizations in Kenya. The interest was on the effects of employee downsizing on business organizations, as most business organizations continue to downsize their employees in order to cope up with the now turbulent, more competitive, and less predictable market place. A total of 20 business organizations were selected for investigation from a list of 30 large business organizations in Kenya that had downsized during the 1990s. Both secondary and primary data was collected from these business organizations for analysis. Two different types of questionnaires were used to guide the research's data collection. Data from the surviving employees and the employers in these organizations was obtained and analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented by use of percentages and tables. The study revealed that most business organizations in Kenya downsized their employees because they felt they were over-staffed, non -competitive, and their market place had changed dramatically. Downsizing of employees was thus a measure for their health and survival. However, the research found out that although there were several alternatives to employee downsizing, few business organizations considered them. The organizations used a variety of approaches including; induced retirements, involuntary retirements, separation with benefits, separation without benefits, induced pay to quit, retraining; few of these business organizations ever bothered to seriously address and identify the needed structural changes and strategic workforce planning to meet future challenges. This had led to critical employees being retrenched and organizations were being forced to re-hire. These organizations simply equate lowering operating expenses by employee elimination to show a greater profit. The study also revealed that except fro reduction of expenses for the business organizations and consequently increase in profits and dividends for shareholders, it has a negative impact on the morale of those employees who remain after downsizing as it causes a 'survivor syndrome' due to lack of sufficient information, loss and growing insecurity. The remaining employees, no longer believe in the concept of lifetime employment, and are concerned about their future chances for promotion and advancement, especially when they see their bosses or mentors being laid off. A fairly good number of them are also worried about their ability to function in a new environment as their jobs have been redesigned. Their feeling is that they will be the ones terminated next, so their attitude is one of "Why try to do the best since I am going to be the next one to be laid off". It was also found that, found that, although employee downsizing enables the organization to release appropriate numbers of people, it affects social networks at the work place. This is because, when a person is laid off, an entire personal network of internal and external relationship in the business organization is lost as well. It destroys informal bridges between departments, disrupts the information grapevine severs ties with customers. It even, eliminates the friendships that bond them to the workplace. A few of the organizations complained of cash flow difficulty, as funds had to be set aside for payment of termination benefits. Managers also complained of being behind schedule, and burnout. From the findings of the study, it was concluded that employee downsizing can lead to short-term improvements in profitability, however long term gains may be lost due to poor planning, implementation and monitoring. A good employee-downsizing programme, therefore, is one that is based on the business organization's mission and vision guided by a clear workforce strategy. Finally, the study has made a number of recommendations that may be considered for adoption by business organizations planning to downsize their employees in order to avoid the suffering from employee downsizing "success". It recommends that downsizing of employees should be done as a last alternative to reduce costs, increase profits, corporate strategy, or make the business more competitive. However, should employee downsizing be necessary, there is need to do an elaborate pre-downsizing analysis, have a comprehensive downsizing plan, do it with a humane face and as much as possible consider how the survivors shall be managed to avoid unnecessary survivor "syndrome".Item An investigation into factors affecting the performance of retail shop business in Kenya: a case of Suba district, Nyanza.(2012-04-05) Yiega, J. O. JuliusRetail shop business is one, which is in both the consumers, and the government rely upon so much and therefore cannot be neglected. The location of the retail shops is spread in the whole country ranging from the urban, semi urban and the rural areas. This research sought to investigate the factors that affects the performance of the retail shop business in the rural areas of which Suba district was chosen as a representative. Both primary and secondary data were collected using the questionnaire and personal interview. The gathered data were analyzed and the results interpreted. The results revealed that the level of initial capital, education, dependency level, experience and age of owner, location, source of supply of stock, and pricing method, were the major variables affecting the retail shop business performance. This study recommends that to improve there performance of these businesses the level of education and exposure of the present and potential entrepreneurs should improved. This can be achieved through adult education programs and awareness seminars. It is also recommended that to reduce the dependency level family planning should be encouraged in these areas and polygamy discouraged. To improve on sources and management of funds this study recommends that the retailers form savings and credits societies. This can be achieved better with government's intervention and support. The results also revealed that the manufacturers/suppliers could not reach some locations due to poor infrastructure. It is recommended that road network and other public utilities should be improved.