SU+ Digital Repository

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

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[ISSN 2519-5883]
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Moderating effect of biodiversity conservation on the relationship between agroforestry practices and productivity of smallholder farmers in Mt. Elgon, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2025) Loyatum, A.
Agroforestry, practiced on over 1 billion hectares globally, represents 28% of agricultural land area and offers potential solutions to smallholder farmers’ challenges, including soil degradation, low productivity and climate variability. Despite its extensive adoption, there is limited statistical evidence quantifying the impact of agroforestry practices and biodiversity conservation on farm productivity. This study sought to address this gap by examining the relationship between agroforestry practices, biodiversity conservation and productivity in Mt. Elgon Sub-County, Kenya. Specifically, the study aimed to analyze the effects of agroforestry types, implementation scale and utilization of extension services on productivity. Additionally, it evaluated how biodiversity conservation moderated the relationship between agroforestry practices and productivity. The research was underpinned by three theories: the Theory of Agroforestry Systems, which explains the ecological and economic synergies of integrated farming systems; the Resource Dependence Theory, emphasizing farmers’ reliance on external and natural resources; and the Theory of Planned Behavior, which accounts for farmers’ attitudes and intentions in adopting agroforestry. A pragmatist research philosophy guided the study, focusing on actionable insights for addressing real-world challenges. A concurrent triangulation research design was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure robust findings. The study targeted smallholder farmers practicing agroforestry in Mt. Elgon Sub-County, Kenya, estimated at 16,283 households. A sample size of 384 farmers was determined using Fisher’s formula, with participants selected through stratified random sampling across geographical zones and purposive sampling for key informants to ensure comprehensive representation of agroforestry practices. Data was collected through questionnaires and key informant interviews from a stratified random sample of smallholder farmers in Mt. Elgon Sub-County. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS Version 27, employing descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression, while qualitative data underwent content analysis. The findings revealed that the type of agroforestry system significantly influenced farm productivity, with more diverse systems showing greater benefits. Expanding the scale of agroforestry implementation had the strongest positive impact on productivity, demonstrating the advantages of wider adoption. Access to extension services contributed moderately to productivity gains, particularly when combined with other factors. Most notably, biodiversity conservation played a crucial moderating role, enhancing the positive relationship between agroforestry practices and productivity, especially when implemented at larger scales and supported by extension services. The research recommended that farmers should be supported with targeted interventions to enhance the scale and effectiveness of agroforestry implementation. This study contributes to policy frameworks and extension programs, supporting sustainable agricultural practices and biodiversity management in the region. Keywords: Agroforestry Practices, Biodiversity Conservation, Smallholder Productivity, Sustainable Agriculture, Mt. Elgon Kenya.
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The Influence of sustainable packaging practices on the operational efficiency of global fast-food outlets in Nairobi, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2025) Kisyoka, E. M.
Sustainable packaging aims to minimize environmental impact throughout a product's lifecycle by utilizing renewable or recycled materials, ensuring energy-efficient production, and designing for reuse or recyclability. Fast-food outlets, which have a heavy reliance on single-use plastics, are currently facing pressure to adopt sustainable packaging. This study’s general objective was to examine the effect of adopting sustainable packaging on the operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets in Nairobi. The specific objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of efficient packaging design on the operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets in Nairobi; to investigate the relationship between recyclability and operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets in Nairobi and to assess the effect of consumer responsibility awareness on operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets in Nairobi. Two theories anchored the study and they were triple bottom line (TBL) framework and lean management theory. This study was underpinned by a quantitative methodology and anchored in positivism research philosophy. The target population was 31 international fast-food outlets. The researcher undertook a convenience sampling of one branch per the global fast-food chain where the employees from the three cadres in the fast-food outlets were selected. For this purpose, a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale was used to gather information. In order to analyse the data, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 was used. Prior to analysis, the data was cleansed and prepared. The survey was filled out by 93 people in total. We used both descriptive and inferential statistics to examine the data. The impact of the independent factors on the dependent variable was determined by a regression analysis. Tables and charts displayed the results of the analysis. Sustainable packaging techniques were shown to have a favourable and statistically significant relationship with operational efficiency at Nairobi's international fast-food outlets. The regression model showed that material sustainability, packaging design, recyclability, consumer responsibility collectively explains 32.8 percent of the variability. The study also revealed that the most significant variable was recyclability. The study concludes that a sustainable packaging practices, significantly contributes to the operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets operating in Nairobi.
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Crisis response strategies and organizational resilience of cargo airlines in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2025) Wachira, H.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the airline industry, cargo airlines included, faced major disruptions due to global travel restrictions. As uncertainty grew, these companies had to adopt different strategies to stay afloat. This study looks specifically at how cargo airlines in Kenya responded, focusing on how their crisis strategies influenced organizational resilience. The research set out to achieve three goals: to assess how positioning, cost-cutting, and diversification strategies affected organizational resilience among these airlines. The study was based on the established business framework, such as the dynamic capability view, and the research used a correlational design targeting 25 cargo airlines. From each airline, respondents included top-level, mid-level and lower management, totaling 75 respondents, and the data collection tool was sampled through a pilot study. Data was gathered using online questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations and regression tests. The results indicated that diversification strategies had a positive and statistically significant effect on organizational resilience, underscoring the importance of strategic flexibility and market diversification in enhancing an organization's ability to adapt and thrive during crises. In contrast, both positioning and cost reduction strategies were found to have non-significant relationships with organizational resilience. The study contributes to theory by reinforcing the applicability of dynamic capability theory and Balance Scorecard in resilience research, and to practice by highlighting the importance of market and product diversification. Policy recommendations include the development of supportive frameworks for diversification and innovation in air cargo operations. Future research should explore the longitudinal impacts of strategic responses across varied contexts in Africa’s aviation sector.
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Social innovation practices, entrepreneurial ecosystems and sustainable performance of social enterprises in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2025) Kyaka, C. M.
Social enterprises in Kenya face growth and sustainable performance challenges with more than 50% not attaining their third birthday after inception. Besides, most social enterprises lack involvement of beneficiaries or stakeholders in decision-making, fail to serve the intended target population or marginalized groups and engage in activities that result in excessive waste production, energy consumption, or water usage without efforts to reduce or offset these negative impacts. The purpose of the research was to determine the influence of social innovation on the sustainable performance of social enterprises in Kenya. The study’s objectives were to examine the influence of co-creation, impact investing, community-led development, and open innovation on the sustainable performance of social enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya. The research also assessed the moderating influence of entrepreneurial ecosystems on the association between social innovation practices and the sustainable performance of social enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya. The research was based on the social innovations’ theory, cluster theory and triple bottom-line framework. This study used the post-positivism philosophy and a quantitative research design which values scope, statistical description, and generalization. The population for this study was 51,000 social enterprises in Nairobi Kenya and a sample of 394 enterprises selected using quota sampling. Data was gathered during the months of March and April 2025 using a questionnaire and analysis was through descriptive statistics, correlation, and ordinal regression analysis. The research findings determined that the main social innovations practices by social enterprises in Nairobi Kenya were impact investing, community led development, open-innovation, co-creation, and partnerships. Those that were rarely practiced included behavioural insights, collaborative consumption. crowdfunding and crowdsourcing. The findings also determined that co-creation, impact investing, community-led development and open innovation have a significant effect on the sustainable performance of social enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya. The study however, determined that entrepreneurial ecosystems have no significant moderating influence on the link between social innovation practices and the sustainable performance of social enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya. The study recommends to management in social enterprises to enhance their interaction with universities, research labs, and even rivals. Further, social enterprises should keep emphasising communities as the centre of their creations by including beneficiaries in the design and execution of solutions to guarantee relevance and ownership but also foster long-term sustainability and confidence inside the society. For policymakers, the study recommends that they should have programs for capacity-building that should concentrate on improving localised development plans and participative innovation. Further a policy framework should support knowledge sharing platforms with regular forums, innovation centres, and digital platforms which help to promote peer learning, copy-on-demand of successful models, and cross-sector alliances.
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Determinants of crowdfunding adoption among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Nairobi City: the moderating role of firm size
(Strathmore University, 2025) Murage, D.
While crowdfunding is a potentially viable and attractive option to get funding, its acceptance and adoption is low among Kenyan small medium enterprises. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to establish the factors that influence the adoption of crowdfunding as a viable financing option for SMEs in Nairobi City, Kenya. The specific objectives were to determine the influence of regulatory support, practical viability, knowledge and infrastructural support on the adoption of crowdfunding as a source of financing by SMEs in Nairobi City. The study also sought to examine how firm size influences the relationship between key determinants and the adoption of crowdfunding among SMEs in Nairobi City County. This study was anchored on the Unified Theory of Use and Acceptance of Technology (UTAUT) and the pecking order theory. The methodology for the proposed study was guided by the positivism philosophy. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design. The target population consist of 21,100 registered SMEs in Nairobi’s CBD Stratified random sampling was utilized in the selection of 392 small medium enterprises. Primary data was gathered using a structured questionnaire that was self-administered through a fill and wait method. To enhance validity, a pilot study and an expert review was carried out. For this study, the Cronbach’s alpha cutoff value that was adopted is <0.7. The data obtained from questionnaires was coded and entered into the SPSS. Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, was used to describe the data. Inferential analysis, using binary logistic regression, was used to examine the association between the dependent and independent variables. The findings of this study offered insights into the barriers and enablers of crowdfunding adoption, offering practical recommendations for policymakers, regulators, and SMEs to enhance crowdfunding uptake as a financing alternative, thereby fostering small medium enterprises’ growth and innovation in Nairobi City County. The study established that regulatory support has a positive and significant influence on the adoption of crowdfunding as a source of financing in SMEs in Nairobi City County. In addition, the findings showed that knowledge has a positive and significant influence on the adoption of crowdfunding as a source of financing in SMEs in Nairobi City County. Moreover, the study established that infrastructure support has a positive and significant influence on the adoption of crowdfunding as a source of financing in SMEs in Nairobi City County. However, the study revealed that practical viability does not have a significant influence on the adoption of crowdfunding as a source of financing in SMEs in Nairobi City County. Also, the study found that firm size has a positive and significant moderating effect on the relationship between regulatory support, knowledge, infrastructure support, and the adoption of crowdfunding among SMEs in Nairobi City County. Therefore, the study recommends that SME owners and managers should enhance their understanding of crowdfunding and financial literacy through educational programs, focusing on campaign creation and financial management. They should also improve digital skills and engage with crowdfunding platforms offering robust technical support. By leveraging their firm’s size and assets, SMEs can enhance their attractiveness to investors and improve crowdfunding adoption. Crowdfunding platforms should provide accessible educational resources, such as tutorials and webinars, to boost entrepreneur confidence. Policymakers should simplify the regulatory framework, enforce stronger privacy regulations, and improve oversight to build trust and encourage crowdfunding adoption.