MBA Theses and Dissertations (2024)

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Affordable housing delivery and economic revival in the post COVID 19 era- a case of family homes fund in Nigeria
(Strathmore University, 2024) Gambo, M. M.
Africa is facing an unprecedented population growth and urbanization rate, coupled with the social and economic effects of the COVID pandemic; making it necessary to enhance mechanisms for social support such as housing. This study’s aim was to establish the role of affordable housing delivery and economic revival in the post COVID-19 era using a case study of the Family Homes Fund in Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to analyze the different approaches to affordable housing delivery adopted and their impact on economic revival post COVID -19; determine the skills set of affordable housing delivery affecting economic revival in the post COVID-19 era in Nigeria; and to establish the critical success factors of affordable housing delivery affecting economic revival in the post COVID-19 era in Nigeria. The study was anchored on the Keynesian economic theory and the public interest economic regulation theory. A quantitative explanatory research design and a stratified random sampling technique were utilized. Primary data was collected using questionnaires. Reliability of the data collection tool was determined through Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient, while the data was analyzed by relevant statistical tools using the SPSS 24 package. Correlation results revealed that there was a positive but insignificant relation between the approaches to affordable housing delivery and economic survival in the post COVID-19 era in Nigeria. Further, skills set for affordable housing delivery had a statistically significant moderately positive correlation with economic survival in the post COVID-19 era in Nigeria while critical success factors had a significant weakly positive correlation. Regression analysis revealed that there a positive and significant relation between affordable housing delivery and economic survival in post COVID-19 era in Nigeria. The study also determined that there was no significant effect of the various approaches used in predicting economic revival in the post COVID-19 era in Nigeria. The analysis further found that there existed a positive and significant relation between the Skillset for Affordable Housing Delivery applied as well as Critical Success Factors for Affordable Housing Delivery and economic revival in the post COVID-19 era in Nigeria. The study recommends that the relevant bodies establish and strengthen skills development programs for professionals involved in affordable housing delivery. Additionally, the study recommends exploration of innovative financing models to support the development and implementation of affordable housing projects thereby enhancing the affordability and accessibility of housing options, leading to economic revival. Lastly, the study recommends adopting an integrated planning approach that considers affordable housing as a key component of broader economic revival strategies. Key words: Affordable Housing Delivery, COVID pandemic, Economic Revival, Nigeria.
An Assessment of internal factors influencing the performance of state-owned corporations operating in Kenya’s public construction industry
(Strathmore University, 2024) Kiptoon, E. K.
The performance of public construction initiatives, particularly in developing economies like Kenya, often falls short of expectations due to limited resources, and a heavy reliance on loan funding. This study, grounded in the Resource-Based View theory, aimed to examine the internal factors influencing the performance of public construction firms in Kenya, utilizing McKinsey's 7S framework to assess the company's internal aspects. Guided by inquiries into the impacts of McKinsey's hard and soft factors on the performance outcomes of state-owned corporations in Kenya's public construction industry, this research utilized structured questionnaires for data collection and employed both ordinal logistic regression and Spearman's rank correlation for analysis. Findings reveal significant positive correlations between both hard (Strategy, Structure, Systems) and soft (Shared Values, Style, Staff, Skills) factors and organizational performance, underscoring the complex interplay between these internal elements and their impact on operational success. Specifically, strategy and structure exhibited strong positive relationships with performance, highlighting the importance of clear strategic planning and efficient organizational structures. Systems also positively influenced performance, although some variability in system effectiveness was noted. Soft factors such as leadership style and staff competencies showed strong positive impacts on performance, emphasizing the critical roles of effective leadership and skilled staff. Shared values and organizational culture also positively influenced performance, though some challenges in alignment were identified. The study, however, faces limitations including a lack of top management input, and its focus on Kenya's public construction sector, which may limit the generalizability of findings. Future research directions include longitudinal studies to explore causal relationships, comparative analyses across different sectors or regions, and qualitative inquiries to delve deeper into the organizational navigation of the 7S factors' challenges and opportunities. These suggestions aim to refine the understanding of how internal factors contribute to enhancing organizational effectiveness within the public sector, offering a foundational basis for both theoretical exploration and practical application.
An Evaluation of determinants of innovation adoption by analytical laboratories in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Okwaro, D. R.
Innovation plays a key role in improving the performance of firms. However, innovation adoption in Kenya is generally low in most sectors, including the analytical laboratories sector where most testing is still performed using old methods and technologies. Therefore, the aim of this research was to examine the determinants of innovation adoption by analytical laboratories in Kenya. The specific objectives of this study were to examine the effect of firm level, industry-level, and macro-environment determinants of innovation in analytical laboratories in Kenya. The theories that guided this research were Technology Acceptance Model and the Open versus Closed Innovation model. The positivism philosophy was adopted for this research. The methodological approach research entailed the use of the descriptive cross-sectional research design to investigate the associations between the dependent and independent variables. The target sample size for this research was 100 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires that were administered to 88 respondents comprising of general managers, senior analysts, analysts, business development and marketing managers, quality managers/officers, finance managers, head of research and development (R&D) and human resource managers. The findings of this study showed that firm level, industry level and macroenvironment determinants had a significant positive influence on innovation adoption in analytical laboratories in Kenya. First, the findings suggested that firm level determinants have a significant positive influence on innovation adoption in analytical laboratories in Kenya. These findings imply that innovation adoption was higher in large firms, those with high product diversification, those that focus on continually developing new products/services rather than improving existing ones, older firms, those with high financial and human capabilities, and those pursuing open and closed innovation strategies. This finding suggests that enhancing firm-level determinants can improve the adoption of innovation in analytical laboratories. Secondly, the results showed that industry level determinants have a positive influence on innovation adoption in analytical laboratories in Kenya. The findings suggested that high innovation adoption was associated with high intensity of competition, high buyer power, high supplier power, high threat of substitutes and low entry barriers. This finding suggests that enhancing industry level determinants can improve the adoption of innovation in analytical laboratories. Lastly, the results showed that macro-environment determinants have a positive influence on innovation adoption in analytical laboratories in Kenya. Economic growth, regulatory environment and sustainability standards were found to have a positive influence on innovation adoption in analytical laboratories. This finding suggests that enhancing macroenvironment determinants can enhance the adoption of innovation in analytical laboratories. From the study, it is recommended that policy makers need to strengthen the regulatory environment, develop industry standards and foster compliance in order to encourage innovation in analytical laboratories. Additionally, managers of analytical laboratories should consider strengthening their firm level determinants through increasing their human and financial capacity for innovation. Managers of these firms also need to monitor industry-level determinants as well as changes in the regulatory and economic environment and respond appropriately using innovation. Keywords: Analytical laboratories, firm-level determinants, industry-level determinants, innovation adoption, macro-environment determinants,
An Evaluation of factors affecting the performance of mobile lending FinTech companies in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Wamahiu, J.
The FinTech sector experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade, marked by escalating investments that underscored its disruptive potential and critical role in reshaping the global financial landscape. This growth was especially significant in Africa, where FinTech acted as a pivotal conduit for the unbanked population, providing innovative alternatives to conventional banking challenges. In Kenya, a key player in the African FinTech arena, mobile lending companies formed an essential segment of this burgeoning industry. This study undertook a detailed examination of the factors influencing the performance of mobile lending FinTech companies in Kenya, motivated by a need to elucidate the complex interplay of internal and external elements that determined their success. The primary aim of this research was to dissect and understand the determinants of performance within this sector, with specific focus on: Assessing the impact of internal operations and strategy factors on the performance of mobile lending FinTech companies in Kenya. Evaluating the influence of regulatory and compliance factors on their performance. Investigating how market presence and outreach affected their performance. The findings of the study revealed that performance was significantly influenced by three principal factor groupings: Regulatory and Compliance, Internal Operations and Strategy, and Market Presence and Outreach. Regulatory and Compliance factors were critical, as they encompassed the challenges and opportunities presented by evolving legal frameworks, which necessitated a delicate balance between fostering innovation and adhering to regulatory mandates. Internal Operations and Strategy factors highlighted the crucial role of effective management practices, ongoing innovation, and strategic alignment in propelling organizational success. Meanwhile, Market Presence and Outreach underscored the importance of robust marketing strategies and active customer engagement in securing a competitive advantage. This research further explored the implications of these findings for FinTech companies, regulatory bodies, and policymakers, offering targeted recommendations to cultivate an environment conducive to the sustainable growth and innovation of the FinTech sector. Future research directions suggested included examining the adoption of emerging technologies, understanding customer behaviors and trust dynamics, and analyzing the nuanced impacts of regulatory changes on innovation. By detailing the dynamic factors that affected mobile lending FinTech companies in Kenya, this study enriched the understanding of the sector’s challenges and opportunities. It provided invaluable insights for stakeholders aiming to navigate the complexities of the digital finance ecosystem, emphasizing the necessity for a strategic, regulatory, and market-focused approach to enhance the performance and innovative capacity of FinTech enterprises.
Analysing the forms of contract and the role that written and unwritten contracts play in the resolution of commercial disputes in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Mmbogori, A. G.
As the world develops, so do business dealings and interactions. These interactions can give rise to disputes, and the resolution of these commercial disputes is becoming more important to many businesses. In essence, a commercial dispute can be viewed as a dispute between two or more business people or entities. Commercial disputes generally arise when a term to a contractual undertaking is breached or there is a disagreement between parties regarding how contractual terms are interpreted. Once a commercial dispute emerges, parties can use a number of ways to resolve such disputes including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or Court-based litigation. Regardless of the dispute resolution method chosen, contractual claims are easier to enforce when a written contract exists, yet, many businesses enter into contracts by word of mouth. This study aimed to analyse the legal contractual environment of conducting business in Kenya and determine the role of both written and unwritten or oral contracts in commercial dispute resolution. The study adopted a descriptive research design which targeted individuals and entities involved in commercial litigations for dispute resolution. Ten litigations were selected and analysed using the doctrinal legal research method. This study found that parties who conducted commercial transactions on the basis of oral or unwritten contracts had great difficulty in proving the terms of their agreement or even proving that a contract between them and their counterpart existed in the first place. In contrast, the study found that where a written agreement was provided, the Court tended to stick to the express terms of the agreement and did not allow parties to vary the agreed terms, even when one party argued that the terms of the agreement had been orally renegotiated. The particulars of the manner in which Courts look at contracts in Kenya have been explored throughout this study. Based on the findings, this research recommends observing the requirements of a valid contract and making sure the terms of the agreement are written and related records preserved including communication between parties being documented in writing.
Analysis of factors affecting adoption of big data in the automotive assembly industry in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Macharia, E. M.
The study seeks to assess factors that influence the big data acceptance in the automotive sector in Kenya. The application of big data in companies has been linked to increased customer satisfaction, improved quality, better decision-making, and robust financial performance. Furthermore, in the automotive industry, the big data is applied with the aim of improving safety and providing timely data vital in enhancing customer experience. Despite the benefits associated with big data, the Kenya’s automotive industry has not fully integrated the technology within its operation, hence, missing out on the advantages. The goal of the present study was to establish how the independent variables (innovative culture, perceived ease-of-use, and perceived usefulness) influence the adoption of big data. TAM theory applied. To determine the factors affecting the adoption of big data in the automotive industry, a correlational research design was used. The quantitative study is grounded on the positivist research philosophy. A sample of 235 respondents was obtained from Kenya Vehicles Manufacturers, Associated Vehicles Assemble, Isuzu East Africa, Mobius Motors, and Trans Africa Ltd using a correlational research design and simple random sampling technique. Both the descriptive and inferential statistics were provided. Results indicated a strong and significant relationship between the perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, and innovative culture and the adoption of big data in the automotive industry. Recommendations included improved leadership to enhance big data adoption in automotive sector, improve technology safety, and foster simplification of big data. Future researchers should consider exploring the big data use in other industries and apply mixed research methodology.
Antecedents of telemedicine adoption in private health care facilities in Nairobi County, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Obura, S.
Telemedicine can change how healthcare is delivered globally and in Kenya, as it can allow healthcare service providers to provide better and coordinated healthcare to most communities that the current health services cannot reach. Its adoption in Kenya is limited; thus, the current study aims to examine telemedicine adoption in private health facilities in Nairobi County. Specifically, the study aimed to investigate the effect of technological factors on the adoption of telemedicine by private healthcare facilities in Nairobi County, while concurrently determining the effect of organizational and environmental dimensions on the adoption of telemedicine by private healthcare facilities in Nairobi County. The study was anchored on the TOE framework, applied descriptive research, and sourced primary data by administering 151 questionnaires. The study adopted descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis and presented results in figures and tables. The study concludes that staff within hospitals possess relevant knowledge and skills to guide the implementation of technical systems, the hospitals have adequate staff with technical skills, and there is also a significant agreement on the sufficiency of resource provision to support investments in new emerging technologies within the hospitals. In addition, there are policies to guide the development of training manuals that enhance the infrastructural capacity of staff and systems that ensure they can maintain technological infrastructure. However, despite having systems in place to ensure that technologies adopted in the hospitals support reliable service provision, the staff preparedness to utilize new technical systems in service provision had the lowest mean score. The study concludes that sufficient human resources are available in the hospital to support the implementation of new technical systems and that the hospital has adequate equipment and facilities to adopt new technical systems in their operations. It further concludes that the organization has enough financial resources to support investment in new technology equipment and staff training, and there is sufficient demand for primary and specialized care within the hospital to justify the adoption of new technologies in service provision. The hospital management also routinely delegates duties to subordinate employees to ease decision-making. Similarly, management routinely reviews the existing structures to ensure alignment with their facilities' core objectives. The researcher concludes that the degree of competition in the private health industry is high and has pushed the hospitals to invest in emerging technologies; the competitive environment in the private health industry has exposed the hospitals to new standards and practices in the provision of healthcare; relevant government agencies have streamlined the regulatory environment, which has supported the assimilation of technology in private practice; relevant regulatory agencies provide the facilities with incentives to improve the digitalization of healthcare services, the increased demand for primary and specialized healthcare locally has exerted pressure on the hospitals to revolutionize service offerings and that various stakeholders in the health industry have enabled the facilities to integrate emerging technologies faster respectively. On technology adoption as the dependent aspect, the study concluded that due to various dimensions, the health facilities have clear and defined telemedicine strategies; they identify and adopt new technologies and processes that enhance their business models and improve the customer experience.
Assessing the effectiveness of the legal system in curbing policyholder fraud in Kenya’s motor insurance sector
(Strathmore University, 2024) Wangari, S. K.
The objective of this research was to examine the effectiveness of the legal system in curbing policyholder fraud in Kenya's motor insurance sector. The Insurance Act CAP 487, claims management guidelines, and the Penal Code CAP 63 represented the legal system, the independent variable, with policyholder fraud being the dependent variable. Deterrence theory and fraud triangle theory formed theoretical framework for the study. The study followed the positivist research paradigm and adopted an explanatory research design. The target population for the study constituted employees of the 34 registered motor insurance companies in Kenya, from which a sample of 102 respondents was selected using a stratified sampling technique. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. The survey was conducted in March 2024. Descriptive, correlation, and regression analysis constituted the statistical techniques for analyzing collected data via Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and findings presented using tables and figures. According to the findings, the effectiveness of the Insurance Act and the Penal Code in curbing policyholder fraud is weak and non-significant. However, the effectiveness of claims management guidelines is significant. Therefore, out of the three, this advises insurance firms to specially focus on guidelines for claims management in preventing policyholder fraud. This research also proposes policy changes aimed at strengthening the Insurance Act and Penal Code to improve their effectiveness in fighting insurance fraud. Also, since the three legal instruments covered in this study explains a small margin of policyholder fraud, this study suggests studying the effectiveness of other components of the legal system in curbing policyholder fraud in Kenya’s motor insurance sector.
Assessment of the influence of organisational structure on business process innovation of small and medium-sized supermarkets in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Maina, B. N.
Over the last 10 years, there have been significant challenges in the retail sector in Kenya. Four of the largest supermarket chains have collapsed, while some international outlets have pulled out. All local supermarkets start as small family businesses, most of which fail or remain small. A handful, however, have grown to be large enterprises. What differentiates these successful ventures, which scale from those that remain small or collapse, is not clear. However, what is clear is that the retail industry is hyper-competitive and volatile. Previous studies have indicated the influence of organisational structure on innovation. This is such that businesses that leverage their organisational structure and innovate can adapt to market changes and competitor actions while improving productivity and increasing business survival. However, there is a dearth of studies that examine the connections between organisational structure and business process innovation. Considering this dearth of studies, the purpose of this research was to assess the influence of the organisational structure on business process innovation adoption in small and medium-sized supermarkets in Kenya. the dynamic capabilities and the organisational learning theories anchored this study. The study adopted a descriptive research design and a positivism philosophy. A population of 340 supermarkets was used to draw a sample of 183 supermarkets. The sample was selected using the simple random sampling technique. The findings of the quantitative study indicate that formalisation, centralisation, and integration are positive but non-significant predictors of business process innovation in small and medium-sized supermarkets in Kenya. Overall, organisational structure is a nonsignificant predictor of business process innovation in small and medium-sized supermarkets in Kenya. This study questions previous conclusions regarding the relationship between centralisation, formalisation, and integration and BPI in organisations. This study’s findings call into question the conventional idea that organisational structure has a significant effect on business BPI. The managerial implications lie in a strategy shift away from a narrow focus on structural changes. Instead, small, and medium-sized supermarket managers should prioritise activities that are ingrained in their organisation’s culture. Managers may unlock their teams’ innovativeness by creating an atmosphere that prioritises employee engagement, fosters creativity, and promotes a culture of experimentation.
Chief Executive Officers' entrepreneurial risk-taking behaviour and non-financial performance of family-owned businesses in Nairobi, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Kosgey, S. J.
Family-owned businesses contribute to as much as 70-90% to the economies around the world through innovation, job creation, among other important ways. The management of family-owned businesses therefore ought to be given important consideration as this determines their success, and consequently, their contribution to the GDP. One important factor of success of family-owned businesses is the CEOs entrepreneurial risk-taking behaviour, which has been associated with both the financial and non-financial performance of family-owned businesses. The study sought to examine the influence of family and non-family CEOs entrepreneurial risk-taking behaviour on the non-financial performance of family-owned businesses in Nairobi, Kenya. The specific objectives were to compare how the characteristics of family and non-family CEOs influence entrepreneurial risk-taking behaviour, how risk-taking behaviour affects non-financial performance and to determine the moderating effect of business decision making on the relationship between entrepreneurial risk-taking behaviour and non-financial performance of family-owned business enterprises in Nairobi Kenya. This study, anchored on Upper Echelons theory and Agency Theory, applied descriptive cross sectional research design and sourced primary data among 100 CEOs of family-owned enterprises in Nairobi County. Descriptive and inferential statistics analysed the data. Results showed that there was an inverse and not statistically significant effect of age and education qualifications on the non-financial performance of family-owned businesses. Further, there was a positive and not statistically significant effect of CEO tenure on the non-financial performance of family-owned businesses. Business decision making had a positive and statistically significant moderating effect on the relationship between entrepreneurial risk-taking behaviour and non-financial performance of family-owned enterprises in Nairobi County. This study concludes that risk-taking behaviour should be encouraged within family firms as it yields positive performance outcomes, irrespective of the kinship of the CEO. It can be concluded that there is need for adoption, formulation and incorporation of structural frameworks for risk evaluation, innovation and channelling of energy into most viable options that would enhance long-term sustainability. It is recommended that family businesses should not have a bias when hiring a CEO. CEOs (whether family or not) should not shy away from engaging in risk-taking to enhance business performance. Key words: CEO Characteristics, CEO Entrepreneurial Risk-Taking Behaviour, Business Decision Making, Non-Financial Performance, Family-Owned Businesses, Family and Non-Family CEO.
Company characteristics of early adopters of Environmental Social Governance disclosures on the Nairobi Securities Exchange
(Strathmore University, 2024) Karanja, K. M.
The ESG concept brings together environmental, social, and governance issues in businesses. The concept of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting is gaining increasing attention in the global business community. ESG disclosures refer to a set of voluntary non-financial disclosures made by companies to provide stakeholders with information on their environmental, social, and governance performance. This research aimed to explore the characteristics of firms that are early adopters of ESG disclosures on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in Kenya. The Central Bank of Kenya in 2021 introduced regulations requiring financial institutions to adopt climate risk guidelines to foster sustainable finance practices in the banking sector. Following this the Nairobi Securities Exchange developed guidelines on ESG disclosures for use by all NSE listed companies at least annually, with mandatory reporting beginning twenty ninth November 2022. Reporting has lagged at fourteen percent of NSE listed firms even five months past the mandatory deadline. The research had three objectives, namely - identify the firm characteristics that make firms early adopters of ESG disclosures, analyze the motivations and incentives behind firms' decisions to adopt ESG reporting practices, and assess the challenges and barriers faced by firms in adopting and implementing ESG reporting practices in Kenya. The research provided current practice information and discerned approaches to enhance compliance. The research utilized a mixed-method approach methodology, which combined both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods. The quantitative research methods involved collecting financial data and analyzing the relationship between ESG reporting and firm characteristics using regression analysis. The qualitative research methods involve questionnaires to key stakeholders to gain insights into the motivations and challenges associated with ESG reporting. The target population for the study was the listed firms in the Nairobi Securities Exchange already adopting ESG disclosures before the November 2022 deadline. The researcher used a pre-designed questionnaire for primary data collection which was administered online through use of google docs because of the high response rates associated with the approach. The researcher also used secondary data derived from published annual reports of the listed companies to complement the primary data. Before the commencement of the data collection, there was a pilot study done by the researcher to test the study tool and validate it. Correlation analysis was used to examine the inter-relationship between the independent and the dependent variable. Regression analysis was used to examine the impact of the independent variables on the dependent variable and to identify the most significant predictors of early adoption of ESG disclosures. The findings of the research provided a better understanding of the drivers of ESG adoption and the challenges that firms encounter in implementing ESG reporting practices in Kenya. The research conclusions contributed to the development of policies and strategies that encourage ESG reporting among firms and improve the overall quality of ESG reporting in Kenya.
Determinants of electric vehicle adoption by public transport companies in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Anwar, F. S.
Even though several studies on the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been conducted globally and regionally, there exist significant conceptual, methodological, and contextual inconsistencies identified, necessitating the present study to investigate and bridge these knowledge gaps. A literature search revealed limited studies conducted in Kenya on the factors influencing public transport companies' adoption of EVs in Nairobi City County. Using Kenya's Nairobi County as a case, this study sought to answer the question, "Which factors influence the electric vehicle adoption by public transport companies in Nairobi City County?" The study’s specific objectives are to establish the influence of perceived barriers, perceived benefits, and fleet managers' characteristics on electric vehicle adoption (EVA) by public transport companies in Nairobi City County. The study is grounded on three theoretical underpinnings: the unified theory of acceptance and tech use, automobility theory, and actor-network theory. This study adopted the positivism philosophy for quantitative research to fulfill the purpose of the study and inform the descriptive research design. The public transport companies that had not adopted EVs were selected through simple random sampling while the census approach selected the EVs-adopted firms for this study. As such, a sample size of 174 respondents was selected. Self-administered drop-and-pick questionnaires were used to collect data to minimize non-responsiveness. The pilot study included 18 respondents purposively sampled from Kisumu County public transport companies. In this regard, the unit of observation includes the fleet managers and operational staff members of public transport companies. The researcher tested the instruments to meet the reliability and validity threshold. The study used descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics analyzed data quantitatively using percentages, means, and standard deviation, while inferential statistics estimated the relationship between the variables. Pearson correlation and multiple regression explained the relationship between the variables. Data was then presented in the form of frequency distribution tables. The study established that perceived barriers, perceived benefits, and fleet managers’ personal characteristics were significant predictors of electric vehicle adoption. Particularly, the study findings were that perceived barriers had a strong negative relationship with electric vehicle adoption. Perceived benefits and fleet managers’ personal characteristics had a positive relationship and were statistically significant with electric vehicle adoption. Therefore, there is a need to acknowledge the perceived barriers to EV adoption and leverage on the perceived benefits and fleet managers’ personal characteristics to enhance the rate at which public transport companies accept and use EVs in developing nations such as Kenya. The research focused on the determinants of EV adoption by public transport companies in Kenya’s Nairobi County. Therefore, this study cannot be generalized to private transport firms in Kenya. To address this limitation, a similar study may be undertaken on private transport companies.
Determinants of FinTech adoption and the moderating effect of preparedness on the relationship between determinants and FinTech adoption by commercial banks in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Omamo, S. O.
FinTech has been described as the future of banking due to its disruptive effect. However, the adoption of FinTech by banks in payment, lending and personal banking is low. The purpose of this research was to examine the determinants of FinTech adoption by commercial banks in Kenya. The specific objectives were to examine the effects of cost-related factors, customer-related factors and technology-related factors on Fintech adoption by Kenyan commercial banks. Additionally, this study sought to examine the moderating effect of banks’ preparedness on the relationship between the aforementioned factors and FinTech adoption. The theories that anchored this research were the diffusion of innovation theory and the technology acceptance model. Positivism philosophy guided the methodology for this study. The cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted – this study was observational and collected data from participants at a single point in time. Respondents in this study were recruited using judgmental sampling. The sample needed for this research was respondents from the 34 commercial banks in Kenya. Data was gathered using structured questionnaires, which was distributed to multiple respondents from each bank including marketing, operations, information technology, human resources and finance managers working for banks based in Nairobi County using a drop and pick method. Validity of the study was improved using a pilot study to assess the understandability of the questionnaire and an expert review. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. A multiple linear regression was used to determine if cost-related, customer-related, and technology-related factors predicted FinTech adoption by banks. For the first objective, the results also showed a significant negative effect of cost-related factors on the adoption of FinTech by commercial banks in Kenya. Regarding the second objective, the result from this study showed insignificant positive effect of customer-related factors on the adoption of FinTech by commercial banks in Kenya. For the third objective, the results showed a significant positive effect of technology-related factors on the adoption of Fintech by commercial banks in Kenya. Regarding the fourth objective, the findings also indicated that preparedness for Fintech does not have a moderating effect on the relationship between determinants of Fintech adoption since no significant interaction effects were observed. Overall, in the final model for predicting FinTech adoption by commercial banks in Kenya, only cost-related factors and technology-related factors were included with negative and positive effects respectively. The implication of these findings is that reducing cost-related factors can improve the adoption of FinTech by commercial banks in Kenya. These results also suggest that improving technology-related factors can improve the adoption of FinTech by commercial banks in Kenya. In this respect, FinTech adoption can be improved by reducing reliance on legacy systems, making FinTech compatible with banking systems and processes, and developing secure FinTech. Additionally, the findings from this study suggest that enhancing preparedness can improve the adoption of FinTech by commercial banks in Kenya. Preparedness can be enhanced by adopting digital innovation strategies, improving technical capabilities and human resource capabilities, being agile and adaptable, and partnering with FinTech companies.
Determinants of private health insurance demand: a case of insurance companies in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Njoroge, A. N.
Health insurance is an important tool for promoting health and reducing the burden of healthcare costs for individuals and households. In Kenya, health insurance coverage remains low, with only about 20% of the population covered. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing private health insurance demand in Kenya, with a focus on the effects of education, employment status, and household disposable income. This study is anchored on the Grossman's model of healthcare demand and also leans on the Nyman’s model of private health insurance. Nyman's model emphasizes the role of income and price elasticity in determining healthcare demand, while Grossman's model proposes that an individual's health investment decisions are influenced by their human capital, time preference, age, environmental factors, and expected benefits of investing in health. The study adopted a longitudinal survey design, utilizing secondary data from various sources including the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the Insurance Regulatory Authority, and the World Bank Development Indicators. The data covered the period from 2002 to 2022, allowing for the analysis of trends and changes in health insurance demand over time. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data and examine the distribution of health insurance coverage across educational levels, employment statuses, and income levels. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between health insurance demand and the independent variables of education, employment status, and household disposable income. Using the F-Statistic and R-squared the research concluded that education level, unemployment rate, and household disposable income jointly influenced health insurance demand significantly. Education was not a significant determinant, contrary to expectations and previous research. On the other hand, unemployment rate and household disposable income played crucial roles in shaping health insurance demand. A notable limitation of this study was the confined time frame. This limitation arose from the unavailability of data for the years preceding 2002 for certain data series.
Determinants of private health insurance demand: a case of insurance companies in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Njoroge, A. N.
Health insurance is an important tool for promoting health and reducing the burden of healthcare costs for individuals and households. In Kenya, health insurance coverage remains low, with only about 20% of the population covered. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing private health insurance demand in Kenya, with a focus on the effects of education, employment status, and household disposable income. This study is anchored on the Grossman's model of healthcare demand and also leans on the Nyman’s model of private health insurance. Nyman's model emphasizes the role of income and price elasticity in determining healthcare demand, while Grossman's model proposes that an individual's health investment decisions are influenced by their human capital, time preference, age, environmental factors, and expected benefits of investing in health. The study adopted a longitudinal survey design, utilizing secondary data from various sources including the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the Insurance Regulatory Authority, and the World Bank Development Indicators. The data covered the period from 2002 to 2022, allowing for the analysis of trends and changes in health insurance demand over time. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data and examine the distribution of health insurance coverage across educational levels, employment statuses, and income levels. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between health insurance demand and the independent variables of education, employment status, and household disposable income. Using the F-Statistic and R-squared the research concluded that education level, unemployment rate, and household disposable income jointly influenced health insurance demand significantly. Education was not a significant determinant, contrary to expectations and previous research. On the other hand, unemployment rate and household disposable income played crucial roles in shaping health insurance demand. A notable limitation of this study was the confined time frame. This limitation arose from the unavailability of data for the years preceding 2002 for certain data series.
Determinants of sustainability disclosures among Non-Governmental Organisations in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Owilly, S. O.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of sustainability disclosure among non-governmental organisations in Kenya. The study was anchored on the stakeholder theory. Further, the study adopted a correlative research design and a mixed methodology and employed both quantitative surveys and a qualitative focus group discussion to collect primary data. The population for this study was the executive managers of leading NGO sector players in Kenya. Stratified random sampling was employed to collect quantitative data from respondents and seven randomly selected participants were included in the focus group discussion. Findings indicate that strategic posture is a positive significant predictor of sustainability disclosure in NGOs in Kenya. Governance attributes were found to be a positive put nonsignificant of sustainability disclosure of NGOs in Kenya. Stakeholder attributes were found to have the strongest positive and significant effect on NGO sustainability disclosure in Kenya. The results of the thematic analysis of the FGD support the results of the quantitative findings. The study makes a substantial contribution to the understanding of the specific context of NGO sustainability disclosure in Kenya, providing useful insights into the distinct strategic posture, governance, and stakeholder dynamics that influence reporting practices. It challenged conventional findings and discovered significant predictors of sustainability disclosure, resulting in a more nuanced knowledge of non-profit sustainability activities in developing countries. However, this study acknowledges the limitation of a correctional study where it is a challenge to establish the consistency of findings over time. Therefore, future studies could conduct longitudinal research monitoring the development of sustainability disclosure policies over time to provide a dynamic viewpoint of the third sector in Kenya.
Effect of competitive strategies on the performance of liquefied petroleum gas companies in Nairobi County, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Njiru, C. M.
It is essential for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) companies to outperform their competitors in the industry. LPG consumption has expanded in Kenya in recent years, thanks to better import and distribution facilities. The use of LPG in the commercial sector doubled to around 124,000 metric tonnes by 2017, up from a low base in 2014. In 2018-19, rapid demand growth continued, with demand almost doubling to 217,000 metric tonnes. Demand has boosted competition among LPG manufacturers, which has resulted in price wars. This study examined how competitive strategies influence the performance of LPG companies and how the performance of liquefied petroleum gas companies in Nairobi County is affected by competitive strategies. The specific research objectives were to determine the impact of focus strategies on performance; to define the impact of differentiation strategies on performance, and to determine the impact of cost leadership strategies on LPG business performance in Nairobi County. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional research design approach. LPG companies in Nairobi County were investigated and the sample size was 154 respondents, selected using simple random sampling. Cronbach's alpha was used to verify reliability, and content validity was assessed by consulting domain experts. The data was analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0.2.0. The key findings of the study were that, focus strategy increased performance significantly and differentiation strategy on the other hand had a non-significant increase on performance. Similarly, a unit increase in cost leadership strategy led to a non-significant improvement in performance. The study recommends that the leaders or decision makers of LPG companies widely adopt a focus strategy as it has a significant influence on firm performance compared to other strategies. The study also suggests that further studies be performed on the impact of differentiation and cost leadership strategies on firm performance.
Effect of government accountability on voluntary tax compliance of motor garages in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Nganga, A. W.
The effective functioning of a nation's government relies on resources to fulfill its duty of providing public goods and services to citizens. Taxation constitutes a significant portion of the country's internal revenue. However, implementing tax policies poses a considerable challenge, particularly in developing economies where a substantial part of the economy operates informally. Despite the informal sector being the primary employer in Kenya, most of the tax revenue is derived from personal taxes and value-added tax (VAT), not the informal sector. Apart from this, taxpayer apathy plays a significant role in influencing tax compliance. Yet many studies in this sector have been done in developed countries which are more transparent than countries in developing economies. To fill this gap this study therefore sought to establish the effect of government accountability on voluntary tax compliance of motor garages in Kenya. This research endeavors to explore the viability of the government creating a psychological understanding with merchants, particularly concentrating on those involved in wholesale and retail activities within the motor vehicle and motorcycle repair domain, commonly known as garages. The aim was to evaluate how the government's commitment to social, institutional, and economic accountability influences the voluntary adherence to taxation by these traders. This study was anchored on the legitimacy theory, the theory of predatory rule, and the fiscal exchange theory. The study used a census model to investigate all the 109 registered garages at the Kenya Motor Repairers Association. The study used the ordinary least square regression methodology and found that social and institutional accountability enhances voluntary tax compliance. Economic accountability was found not to have any statistical impact on voluntary tax compliance. KRA should therefore continue with their taxpayer education as this will lead to improvement in compliance. Additionally, the study found that tax audits enhance voluntary tax compliance, personal norms increase voluntary tax compliance while social norms affect tax compliance negatively. This implies that taxpayers comply because they fear tax audits, but taxpayers can also be negatively affected by the behaviors of peers not to pay taxes.
Effect of remote working on employee wellness among Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2024) Waisiko, C.
With organizations faced by diverse challenges that impede their competitiveness, focus has over time been on competitiveness and productivity. Remote working has also been adopted to allow employees work from home. In such arrangement, workforce welfare is neglected and various health problems are reported, causing less employee engagement, morale, and dissatisfaction and suboptimal outputs. Consequently, even the adoption of technology turns out counterproductive in firms. This study sought to determine the effect of remote working on employee wellness by analyzing employees in non-governmental organizations in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study's specific objectives were to determine the effect of job-related factors, organizational factors, and work-life balance on employee wellness. The study followed a positivist research paradigm and applied a cross-sectional descriptive research design to quantitatively describe the relationships between the study variables. From the total population of 80,229 employees in the registered non-governmental organizations in Kenya, a sample of 398 was targeted. To achieve adequate response rate, the study targeted 7 respondents, which is 1 senior-level, 3 mid-level and 3 junior-level employees from each of the 60 international and national non-governmental organizations based in Nairobi County. Therefore, stratified random sampling was employed for an even representation of the 60 organizations. A convenient sampling technique was applied to choose participants based on availability. A pilot study targeting 40 employees from 6 organizations in Kiambu County was conducted. The firms used for pilot testing were not considered during the actual research. Adequate research quality concerning validity and reliability was achieved through Cronbach’s alpha. Data was analysed through SPSS. Regression analysis results indicated a weak relationship between the independent variables: job-related factors, organizational factors and work-life balance and the employee wellness. Based on coefficients, both Job-related and organizational factors were significant at 0.05 significant level. Similarly, work-life balance had a positive, statistically significant influence on employee wellness. The study concludes that job-related factors, organizational factors, and work-life balance have a weak joint effect on employee wellness. Work-life balance has a positive, statistically significant correlation with employee wellness while job-related and organizational factors have significant influence on employee wellness. Organizations should enhance job-related and organizational factors to enhance employee work-life balance which in turn improves employee wellness. Further research can be implemented to test the mediational role of work-life balance in the relationship between job-related and organizational factors and employee wellness.
Effect of transactional and transformational leadership styles on nurses’ productivity in the selected public, private and faith-based hospital in Nairobi County, Kenya: the moderating role of task structure
(Strathmore University, 2024) Muriuki, N.
The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of leadership styles on nurses’ productivity in a public, a private and a faith-based hospital in Nairobi County and examine the moderating role of task structure to this effect. The study specifically sought to assess the effect of transformational leadership style and transactional leadership style, on nursing employee absenteeism in the selected hospitals in Nairobi County. The study applied a descriptive survey design to identify, analyze and describe the effects of leadership styles on nursing employee productivity in selected public, private, and faith-based hospitals in Nairobi County. These include the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), The Nairobi Hospital, and Mater Misericordiae Hospital. The collected data was analyzed by both descriptive and inferential statistics. From the regression of coefficients, it was confirmed that transformational leadership style has a positive and statistically significant relationship with employee productivity. This implies that changes in a unit of the aspects related to transformational leadership style leads to a change in employee productivity. It was also confirmed (from the regression results) that transactional leadership style has a positive and statistically significant relationship with employee productivity. This implies that changes in a unit of the aspects related to transactional leadership style leads to a change in employee productivity. The findings therefore, confirmed that there is a positive and significant moderating effect of task structure on the relationship between transformational leadership style and employee productivity. The study finds conclusive evidence that transformational leadership style has a positive and statistically significant relationship with employee productivity. It was also confirmed that transactional leadership style has a positive and statistically significant relationship with employee productivity. This indicates that when leaders adopt transformational and transactional leadership styles, they are more likely to inspire and motivate their employees, which results in increased productivity. Leaders who exhibit transformational leadership behaviors such as inspiring their followers, providing individualized consideration, intellectually stimulating their employees, and exhibiting idealized influence can enhance employee productivity. Similarly, leaders who use transactional leadership behaviors such as providing rewards, setting goals, and monitoring performance can also improve employee productivity Keywords: Transformational leadership style, transactional leadership style, nursing employee productivity, nursing employee absenteeism, task structure.

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