Financial Soundness, Interest Rates and Value of Commercial Banks in Kenya
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Date
2024-04
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Well-functioning banks diminish not only the transaction costs, but also the moral hazard
and asymmetric information issues observed in the financial market. Despite the role
played in financial inclusion, commercial banks in Kenya have seen increased credit risk,
liquidity risk, and declining profitability, which has weakened the sector's stability. Other
challenges experienced by the banking sector in the recent years include bank failures,
bank bailout programs, bank recapitalization, as well as substantial management problem
which shows that the country's commercial banks have a problem with financial
soundness. This research sought to establish the effect of financial soundness on
commercial banks value in Kenya. Specifically, the study aimed; to establish the effect of
capital adequacy, earnings, asset quality, management efficiency and liquidity on
commercial banks value in Kenya. The study also investigated the moderating effect of
interest rates on the relationship between financial soundness and commercial banks
value in Kenya. The study was anchored on four main theories including Capital
Structure Irrelevance Theory, Interest Rate Theory, Signaling theory and liquidity
preference theory. This study adopted an explanatory research design and followed a
positivism research philosophy. The study was carried out on all the 43 commercial
banks in Kenya which were selected using census sampling. The study covered a 7-year
period between 2014 and 2021. The study used secondary data obtained from the audited
annual financial reports of the commercial banks in Kenya and Central Bank of Kenya.
The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis with the help
of Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 and STATA. The analysed data was
presented in tables and figures. The study established that Capital adequacy, Asset
Quality, Earnings, Management efficiency, Liquidity and Interest rate have a positive
impact on the commercial banks value in Kenya. On the combined effect of the
independent variables on the dependent variables, the study established that the
regression could explain up to sixty percent of the variation in the commercial banks
value in Kenya. Based on the comparative regression model, it was established that
incorporating the interest rates has a minimal impact on the relationship that exists
between financial soundness and commercial banks value in Kenya. The study concludes
that interest rates have a minimal impact on the relationship between financial soundness
and value of commercial banks in Kenya which suggests that interest rates hence are not
the primary driver of a bank's value. Instead, financial soundness indicators such as
capital adequacy, asset quality, earnings, management efficiency, and liquidity are more
important in determining a bank's ability to generate value for its shareholders. The study
recommends the banks to improve their capital adequacy by retaining profits or raising
new capital through various means such as issuing new shares, selling assets, or
borrowing from financial institutions. The study recommends the banks to improve their
asset quality by adopting effective risk management strategies. The study recommends
the banks to improve their management efficiency by investing in employee training and
development programs, adopting technology to automate processes, and streamlining
operations. Commercial banks can improve their liquidity by implementing effective
liquidity risk management strategies
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Business, Economics and Tourism in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Degree of Master of Science in Finance of Kenyatta University. April 2024
Supervisors:
1.Nathan M. Mutwiri
2.Moses Odhiambo Aluoch