SU+ Digital Repository

SU+ is an online repository for the preservation and promotion of assorted digital content at Strathmore University

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Conferences / Workshops / Seminars + 474
Documents and Proceedings of Conferences, Seminars, Workshops (and more) held at Strathmore University
Digital Archives 178
Assorted collections of resources covering various subject themes contributed by Faculty and Library Staff
Reports / Policies + 10
Public reports and policy documents
Research / Researchers / Publications 4652
Researcher Profiles / Conference presentations / Published research articles / Faculty and Corporate research outputs
Strathmore Heritage Collection 41
A digital chronicle of the History of the University presented through a mix of pictures, videos and digitized publications

Recent Submissions

Analysis of factors influencing the adoption of good agricultural practices (gaps) among smallholder avocado farmers in Muranga County, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2026) Njoka, Kevin Mwangi
Kenya's avocado sector is one of the fastest-growing in Africa, yet a persistent gap exists between production volumes and export performance, with less than 20% of output consistently reaching international markets. Compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) is a critical precondition for export market access, particularly given the stringent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements imposed by markets such as the European Union and China. Despite widespread promotion of GAPs frameworks, adoption among smallholder farmers in Murang'a County, Kenya's leading avocado-producing region, remains uneven and inadequately understood. This study examined the influence of farm size, training, and contract farming with exporter companies on the adoption of GAPs across pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest production stages. The study used secondary data from a cross-sectional survey, with structured questionnaires administered digitally via KoboToolbox to 698 smallholder avocado farmers in Murang'a County, Kenya. Multi-stage purposive and random sampling were used to select respondents across key sub-counties. GAPs adoption was disaggregated into three binary outcomes: pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest practices. A Multivariate Probit (MVP) model was applied to jointly estimate adoption decisions across the three stages while accounting for inter-practice correlations and cluster-robust standard errors. Farm size exerted a positive effect only on pre-harvest GAPs adoption (β = 0.186, p < 0.10), with pre-harvest adopters operating on significantly smaller avocado areas than non-adopters (1.18 vs. 1.48 acres, p = 0.011). Training was a significant predictor of pre-harvest adoption (β = 0.514, p < 0.05) but had no significant effect on harvest or post-harvest adoption. Contract farming strongly influenced both pre-harvest (β = 1.505, p < 0.01) and post-harvest adoption (β = 0.777, p < 0.05). High GAPs adopters exported a significantly greater proportion of their harvest and achieved higher shares of Grade 1 produce than low GAPs adopters. The findings challenge the conventional assumption that larger farms are more likely to adopt GAPs, demonstrating instead that institutional factors, particularly contract farming and targeted training, are more powerful determinants of compliance. Policy should prioritize expanding contract farming arrangements, broadening training content to cover downstream practices, and strengthening public extension services across the avocado value chain in Kenya.
Determinants of food security among cereal farmers in Homa Bay County, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2026) Owino, Malaki Nyakado
Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in developing nations, particularly in Kenya, where over half of the population faces moderate to severe cases. Despite numerous national strategies, progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 on Zero Hunger remains limited. Homa Bay County is among the regions most affected by food insecurity, with nearly half of its population considered food insecure. While several studies have examined the determinants of food security in Kenya, limited empirical evidence exists on the influence of agricultural mechanization, digital agricultural information technologies (DAITs), and sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) among cereal farmers. This study bridges that gap by assessing how these three technological and sustainable dimensions affect household food security in Homa Bay County. A mixed-methods research design was applied, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Primary data were collected from 473 cereal farming households across Suba North, Karachuonyo, and Rangwe sub-counties using structured household surveys, 3 key informant interviews (KIIs), and 3 focus group discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data were analyzed using Propensity Score Matching (PSM), Ordered Logit, and Poisson regression models, while thematic analysis used on qualitative data to enrich interpretation. Findings presented that 76.1% of farmers had adopted some form of agricultural mechanization, mainly in land preparation, which significantly enhanced household food consumption scores. Mechanized farmers demonstrated higher food diversity, improved yields, and increased income levels compared to non-mechanized counterparts. Results also presented that adoption of DAITs had a positive and significant effect on food security, as digital tools improved farmers’ access to agricultural information, markets, and weather forecasts, enhancing decision-making and resilience. Similarly, the adoption of at least three sustainable agricultural practices significantly improved dietary diversity and food availability, highlighting their role in promoting long-term agricultural resilience and nutritional adequacy. The study concludes that integrating mechanization, digital innovation, and sustainable agricultural practices forms a synergistic pathway toward achieving food security among farmers. Socioeconomic factors such as income, education, farming experience, and institutional support were enablers of technology adoption. The study recommends policies that promote affordable mechanization services, enhance digital infrastructure and literacy, strengthen extension systems, and incentivize sustainable farming adoption. It further advocates for inclusive rural financing, improved market access, and nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions to foster resilience and reduce food insecurity. Key words: Food security, Agricultural mechanization, Agricultural technologies, Sustainable agricultural practices, Food Security
Effect of workplace stress management practices on employee productivity in insurance firms in Nairobi County, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2026) Anjili, Belliah
The modern workplace is highly dynamic and competitive, and companies depend on their employees’ ability to meet consumer expectations both in product design and service delivery. This increased pressure has resulted in higher stress levels within the workforce which may negatively impact their productivity. This has led to firms employing various workplace stress intervention programmes which may impact the overall productivity levels to different degree. Despite this the available studies have not conclusively examined this phenomenon hence this study sought to establish the effect of workplace stress management practices on employee productivity among insurance firms in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study specifically examined how primary stress interventions, secondary stress interventions and tertiary stress interventions affect the employee productivity among insurance firms in Nairobi County, Kenya. Further the moderating effect of leadership support on workplace stress intervention and employee productivity was examined. Theoretically the research was premised on the theory of preventive stress management and the managerial grid leadership theory. The research was anchored on a positivist philosophy and a quantitative descriptive design. Unit for analysis was the 58 insurance companies with the Human Resource or Wellness Manager being considered as respondents. Thus, a sample size of 58 participants was included in the study. Data collection was conducted using structured questionnaires developed using Likert scale statements. The data obtained was analyzed using a mix of descriptive, correlation and regression analysis. According to the overall study model, the stress management interventions deployed in jointly have a positive effects on the productivity of employees in Kenya’s insurance sector. Independently, the analysis revealed that primary and secondary stress management interventions have positive, but statistically non-significant effects on the productivity of insurance employees. meanwhile, tertiary interventions were confirmed to have statistically significant effects on the productivity of employees in the insurance sector. Effective stress management interventions such as meditation, exercise, health assessments, post-stress support, counselling and time management training were confirmed to improve employee productivity by reducing fatigue, improving employees’ wellbeing and reducing the negative impacts of workplace stressors. These findings highlight the importance of implementing comprehensive policies to support employees' wellbeing and ability to deal with workplace stressors. In view of the findings, recommendations were for insurance firms to strengthen counselling, relaxation, and meditation services which have been proved to improve employees’ productivity. Policy-wise, managements were recommended to allocate a fixed percentage of their annual profits to employee wellness interventions, and to use this to create a positive public image.
Influence of strategic management practices on the sustainable growth of Small and Medium Enterprises in Uganda’s oil and gas sector
(Strathmore University, 2026) Nagawa, Lilian
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in Uganda’s economic development, particularly in the emerging oil and gas sector, where local content policies have created opportunities for local firms to participate in service provision. Despite this potential, many SMEs struggle to achieve sustainable growth due to limited adoption of structured strategic management practices. This study, therefore, examined the influence of strategic management practices on the sustainable growth of SMEs operating within Uganda’s oil and gas sector. Grounded in the Dynamic Capabilities and Institutional Theories, the study focused on four key strategic management practices: environmental scanning, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy monitoring and evaluation. A descriptive, cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 121 SMEs registered on the Petroleum Authority of Uganda’s National Supplier Database and operating within the Central Region of Uganda. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 27, including descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression. The findings revealed that all four strategic management practices are positively associated with the perceived sustainable growth of SMEs. Among these, environmental scanning emerged as the strongest predictor, highlighting the importance of continuously monitoring regulatory changes, market conditions, and competitive dynamics in a highly regulated and evolving sector. Strategy implementation and monitoring and evaluation were also found to make meaningful contributions to growth, particularly where firms demonstrated alignment between strategic plans and operational activities. In contrast, strategy formulation showed a comparatively weaker influence, suggesting that the existence of formal plans alone does not guarantee improved performance without effective execution and adaptation. The findings suggested that SMEs should adopt practical, resource-sensitive approaches to strategy. For policymakers, the study recommended targeted support mechanisms that address the structural challenges faced by SMEs, such as provision of practical capacity-building programmes and financial support linked to managerial and organisational development rather than short-term operational needs. In conclusion, the study contributed to the understanding of SME development in emerging and regulated sectors by demonstrating that while strategic management practices are important, their effectiveness is context-dependent and influenced by resource constraints, firm capabilities, and institutional environments. The findings underscore the importance of adopting an integrated yet pragmatic approach to strategy to achieve sustainable business growth.
Influence of digital financial inclusion on productivity of smallholder farming households in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2026) Mukaru, David
Economies with high levels of digital financial inclusion is reported in literature to have higher levels of productivity. However, the small-scale farmers in Mwea have been complaining of declining agricultural productivity. The farmers have been encouraged to enroll in digital inclusion platforms in the recent years. This study sought to investigate the influence of digital financial inclusion on productivity of smallholder farming households in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to determine the influence of digital payments on productivity of smallholder farming households; examine the effect of digital lending on productivity of smallholder farming households and estimate the influence of digital insurance on productivity of smallholder farming households in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, Kenya. The philosophy underpinning this study was positivism and this study adopts descriptive correlational research design. This study targeted 7022 smallholder farming households in Mwea constituency of Kirinyaga County. The sample size of households in Mwea was determined using the Yamane sampling formula. Snowballing sampling technique was adopted to select 378 households. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered through assistance of research assistants. Review by experts determined the validity of the data collection instruments. The researcher undertook a pilot test on 38 households in Kirinyaga Central to assure on the reliability of responses through the Cronbach alpha value test. SPSS version 25 was proposed to guide data management and to facilitate synthesis of data through descriptive and ordinal regression analysis. Correlation analysis results indicated that digital payment, digital lending and digital insurance had a significant relationship with agricultural productivity. Regression analysis results also showed that digital payment had a positive effect on agricultural productivity of the selected households. This was shown by the increasing odds for higher outcome due to increased digital payments. The findings also showed that the odds of higher agricultural productivity increased with digital lending indicating that digital lending had a positive effect on agricultural productivity. Further, there were higher odds of higher agricultural productivity when digital insurance was adopted. The study concludes that the digital financial inclusion in Mwea is low reflected in the low uptake of digital financial products. The study also concludes that digital financial inclusion has a positive effect on the productivity of smallholder farming households in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, Kenya. The study recommends that the policy makers come up with policies geared towards increased financial inclusion among the smallholder farmers. The study also recommends that households in Mwea increase the usage of digital payments, lending and insurance for increased agricultural productivity. Future research needs to be done using different measures of digital financial inclusion and productivity. Future research also needs to be done based on other constituencies, and other influencers of productivity.