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Proper management of finances in private primary schools is very imperative to their operations. There are, however, serious financial challenges in these private schools in Kenya as characterized by unprecedented high fees charged on students. The objective of this study was to assess the role of financial control in the growth of private primary schools in Kenya. The study was guided by the Cash Management Theory that gives emphasis to reasonable ways to deal with organizational finance management and efficient utilization as well as the Endogenous Growth Theory which stipulates that, in the long-run growth rate depends on a stable business environment. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative study design, which targeted 7,418 private primary schools in Kenya. Accessible population constituted of 3,431 heads of schools in four regions of Kenya namely: Nairobi, Central Kenya, Northeastern, and the Coastal regions. A random sampling method was used to draw a sample of 320 respondents who were either the principals’/Head teachers or deputy principal of the schools. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Structural Equation modeling using Analysis of Moment Structures was used to analyze the data. The fitness of the hypothesized structural and measurement models was tested using the Normed Fit Index and the Root Mean Squared Error. The overall path coefficients obtained were positive and significant at a 0.05 level of significance. The study established that financial control positively and significantly influenced the growth of private primary schools. The study recommended that private primary schools should have effective budget management mechanisms and strong financial controls.  

Employee retention has become a key focus of the human resource professional agenda. Organizations and schools have come to the conclusion that money could be saved by reducing employee turnover. However, studies have been inconclusive on motivating factors that lower employee retention. The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of motivation on the retention of employees in secondary schools in Kenya. Based on an exhaustive review of literature, three constructs of motivation were taken into consideration namely management. The major hypothesis of the study was that motivation significantly influences the retention of teachers in private secondary schools. To test the hypothesis, three sub-hypotheses were developed; compensation significantly influences employee retention; supervision significantly influences employee retention and psychological contract significantly influences employee retention.  A mixed methodology approach was adopted and data was collected using a structured questionnaire and a structured interview guide. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, correlation analysis, and linear regression were applied to test the research hypotheses. The regression results indicate that motivation is causing a 7.0 percent variation in retention, implying a weak relationship. The weak relationship can be explained by poor salaries, authoritarian supervision, and breach of the psychological contract. 

The study sought to determine the relationship between leadership practices and labor turnover in private primary schools in Kenya with a specific focus on Rongai Sub-County in Nakuru County, Kenya. The theoretical framework of this study was derived from the Two-Factor Theory and Organization Support Theory. The study used a descriptive survey design and targeted a population of 680 employees of 34 private primary schools in the study area. A sample of 204 employees was picked using the simple random sampling method. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from teachers while interview guides were used to collect qualitative data from headteachers and their deputies. Descriptive statistics were computed for each study variable while the Pearson correlation method was used to test the effect of the leadership practices on labor turnover. Qualitative data collected through the interviews were analyzed using the thematic content analysis technique. Results revealed that there is a high labor turnover in the private primary schools in Rongai with a rating of 71.2%. Results also showed that there were less than optimal leadership practices in schools with a rating of 50.8%. Labor turnover in the schools was negatively and significantly associated with leadership practices (r=-.523, p=.000). The study recommends that private primary schools ensure that teachers are actively involved in making key decisions and management of school activities in order to reduce labor turnover.

This study evaluated the influence of service tangibility on repeat visits in two-five star rated Hotels in Nairobi County. The significance of service quality cannot be overemphasized it is generally accepted that the interplay of service quality, customer satisfaction, and repeat visitation represents an attractive, cost-effective approach to gain a competitive advantage for most companies though the hotel industry is a very important sector in Kenya as it has many contributions to the economy. The tourism industry in Kenya is currently facing slow progress and the hotels are losing a lot of revenue due to poor services. The main objective of the study was to determine the influence of service tangibility on repeat visits in two-five star-rated hotels in Nairobi County. The specific objectives were to examine Quality and Cleanliness, the influence of Good Menu, and the impact of Comfortable Beds on repeat visits in two-five star-rated hotels in Nairobi. Mixed methods research design was applied based on a cross-sectional survey. The target population comprised of customers in 2-5 star rated hotels in Nairobi County. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data and the researcher conducted a pre-test of the research instruments to establish their validity. The study showed that there is a positive effect of quality attributes on customer satisfaction and customers’ repeat visits to hotels. The study concluded that majorly, the individual service quality attributes and the level of customer satisfaction influence repeat visits in star-rated hotels in Nairobi County

Energy is one of the most important resources in the growth of an economy. The generation of power is key to the effectiveness of sustainable energy management. Energy production warrants production hence connected to economic development. Environmental change has an impact on the sustainability of renewable energy. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of environmental change on sustainable energy in Olkaria Geothermal and Kenya Power Station, Nakuru County, Kenya. The study was informed by two theories namely; Socio-technical Transitions Approach Theory and Co-evolutionary Approach to Transitions. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 359 employees with a stratified sample design. The sample frame was 108 employees being 30% of the total population. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The preliminary data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in the form of tables. Inferential statistics were employed through Pearson’s Correlation analysis and regression analysis was used to test the study hypothesis at a 5% significance level.  The findings indicated that was a statistically significant relationship between environmental change and sustainable energy (r=0.286; p=0.005). Further, the study revealed that environmental change has a statistically significant effect on sustainable energy in Olkaria Geothermal and Kenya Power Station, Nakuru County, Kenya (p<0.05). The study recommends that institutional environmental changes should be examined and their influence on sustainable energy management.

Employees are the backbone of the hospitality industry, and the people in service are inseparable from the service they provide. This research investigated the influence of employer-employee relationships on service quality in the hospitality industry in Nakuru County, Kenya. Descriptive design was used to gather both quantitative and qualitative data through the use of questionnaires and interview guide as the key informants. The target population was 73 respondents comprising of 55 employees’ operational employees and 18 supervisors at Nuru Palace and the Legacy Hotel in Nakuru County. The findings also reveal that coaching and mentorship as well as mutual trust between employees and their superiors affect service quality positively.  The study recommends that hospitality establishments should facilitate more on job training and provide technical support to their employees. They should also work on establishing trust between the management and the workforce.

Transformational leadership is critical because of its contribution to organizational positive outcomes such as improved performance, motivation, and employee job satisfaction. Existing empirical and extant literature confirms that there is a positive relationship between transformational leadership and employee job satisfaction. This study complemented the findings by studying the effect of transformational leadership style on employee job satisfaction in the county government of Kakamega. A descriptive research design was adopted, focusing on employees at Kakamega County. Out of the 188 questionnaires issued, 174 (81 percent) filled and returned the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and chi-square. The findings indicated that the transformational leadership style influences employee job satisfaction.
  

There are visible challenges with employee development at Telkom Kenya where employees remain in one position for many years with some remaining in the same position until their retirement. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this problem could be linked to the design of the organization, but no systematic study has been conducted to ascertain this claim. This study, therefore, sought to determine the influence of work specialization on employee development at Telkom Kenya Nakuru Branch. The study was guided by the Axiomatic Theory of Organizations. It made use of the correlational research design where all the 51 employees of the Telkom Kenya Nakuru Branch were involved in the census study. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from operational staffs while interview guides were used to gather qualitative data from heads of departments. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, and the multiple regression techniques while qualitative data were analyzed using the thematic content analysis technique. Results showed that work specialization (?= 0.491, p=.000) had a statistically significant and positive influence on the development of employees at TKNB. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the management at TKNB should enhance work specialization by implementing job rotation programs and promoting a match between employees’ skills and their job.

Previous work in Kenyan public hospitals has revealed leadership gaps and poor communication between senior administration and lower cadres as an impediment to achieving better practice. Management training for senior health professionals has been recognized as a priority and is now being provided. The research study explored the influence of leadership skills on effective departmental leadership in Mogotio Sub County. The study used descriptive designs and targeted 32 hospitals consisting of 185 managerial staff in Mogotio Sub County. The stratified random sampling method was used to generate a sample of 126 respondents. Data was collected from this sample using questionnaires and analyzed descriptively and inferentially with the use of SPSS version 24. The correlation analysis determined there is a positive and statistically significant association between leadership skills and effective departmental leadership (r=756, p=.000). This verdict was reinforced by the linear regression results (?=.286, p=.001). The study concludes that leadership skill greatly helps improve effective departmental leadership in the public health sector. The study recommends that hospitals ought to emphasize mentoring leaders in the clinical setup in order to improve the effectiveness of leadership at the departmental level. There is a need to inculcate leadership training into the hospitals’ culture. 

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of gender stereotypes on the effectiveness of women senior managers in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Nakuru County, Kenya. A descriptive survey design was used and the target population was the human resource managers and women senior managers in 65 duly registered and active NGOs in Nakuru County. From these organizations, simple random sampling was used to select a human resource manager and a woman senior manager which resulted in 130 respondents. Primary data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire which had close-ended and open-ended questions while secondary data was collected through the use of document analysis. Quantitative data was sorted, cleaned and analyzed through the SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were analyzed through the use of frequencies and percentages while inferential statistics were analyzed through the use of Pearson Correlation and Pearson Chi-Square tests. The findings of the analysis were presented in form of tables and charts. On the other hand, qualitative data were analyzed thematically and the results were presented in the form of narratives. The study adhered to and ensured that research ethics were upheld. The study found out that gender stereotypes had a statistically significant negative relationship with the effectiveness of women senior managers (r= -0.342; p<0.05). The Chi-square test results indicated that gender stereotypes had a statistically significant association with the effectiveness of women senior managers. The recommendation made was that a similar study can be conducted to provide both the perspectives of men and women senior managers.

The programmed co-operative enterprises’ innovation initiatives in Kenya have been below their expectations of customers. The majority (60%) of the customers are satisfied by banking and related financial services offered by co-operative enterprises in Kenya. This is below the expectations of what the customers perceive and what is realized at the point of service delivery. This study sought to provide insights into the relationship between technological innovation promoters and performance by empirically testing the direct effect of technological innovation promoters on performance and exploring the moderation effects of service quality practices. The study is anchored on the promoter theory and collective entrepreneurship concept. The study used a self-administered questionnaire to Chief Executive Officers of 158 Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs). Data were analyzed by employing Statistical Software for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22 and structural equation modeling using AMOS version 25. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling and hierarchical moderated multiple regression (MMR). Overall, the study found out that, technological innovation promoters have a positive influence on the performance of SACCOs in Kenya, and service quality practices (R2 change) is 0.153. This implied that the moderating effect of service quality practices gained 15.3% variance in the SACCOs above and beyond the variance by technological innovation promoters and performance. This study concludes that an integrative model comprising of technological innovation promoters, service quality practices and performance is a sure way of enhancing collective entrepreneurship and recommends that SACCO management together with their partners should deliberately nurture a customer relationship management culture that will enable them to realize positive performance that has been influenced by service quality practices

This study examined the effect of hazard analysis and critical control points principles on food safety at the National Youth Service in Nakuru County; Kenya. Application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, HACCP) principle in food production and service areas is a requirement especially in all food handling stages, Successful implementation of the procedures based on the HACCP principles requires the full cooperation and commitment of food handlers’ requiring employees to undergo training. Food safety plays a significant role in the economic and health development of Nations by safeguarding the nation‘s health, enhancing tourism, hospitality, and international trade, the production, distribution, and consumption of safe food. The scope of the study was limited to NYS Catering unit kitchens in Gilgil College. The findings explain the hygiene and safety practices of other Academic kitchens in Kenya. The study adopted a mixed research methodology, this study adopted a census method; the reason being the total population was 121. The response from the quantitative data from the questionnaires was tabulated, coded, and processed by use of the statistical package for social sciences Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. From the findings, the R and R2 value representing the simple correlation summary showed that 16.6 percent of HACCP principles can be explained by variance in food safety.  ANOVA results showed that the model applied was statistically significant to predict the outcome variable. The study also concludes that food-hygiene operating procedure that is documented and awareness too that food safety inspections by health inspectors help to ensure safe food handling practices are followed.

This paper was anchored on a pragmatic research paradigm. The study used a cross-sectional survey where a self-semi structured questionnaire was administered to collect the primary data from the target population who were youth-owned SMEs. The study was limited to 135 youth-owned enterprises where 357 employees were selected randomly to form the study sample; the key respondents of the study were limited to owner-managers of small and micro enterprises and top management employees. The questionnaires were tested for reliability and validity. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between youth-owned. The study revealed that entrepreneurship networking has a significant effect on the performance of the agro-processing SMEs owned by the youths. However, there is a need for SMEs to further establish networks outside their business circle and seek networks with other bigger firms in the market. The study, therefore, recommends that there is a need for SMEs to invest more in social media marketing and networking of the SMEs for improved performance.

In order to push development to the grassroots and ensure citizens contribute meaningfully to development, many African countries have adopted the devolved governance system.  However, it has been observed that the devolution of political powers has not translated equally to envisioned overall development. In Kenya County governments have achieved various milestones towards development demonstrated through the infrastructure, social amenities, and standards of living. However, corruption has been increasing mainly due to a lack of transparency. This paper sought to examine the contribution of transparency levels in County government service delivery.  The study adopted mixed method approach using survey and in-depth interviews concurrently.  Stratified multi stage cluster sampling was deployed. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and qualitative data using interview schedules. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and a typological theory developed to explain the study results. The study findings showed that the level of transparency in the counties was low which affected service delivery.  The study concluded that county governments should ensure that public participation and sharing of information is bidirectional to involve both users and management so as to improve service delivery.

This study examines the influence of credit risk on the shareholder market value of commercial banks listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange. A mixed-method approach and concurrent design were used in this study. Logistic regression was performed to ascertain the influence of credit risk on shareholder market value of commercial banks listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange as a quantitative method and processes tracing as a qualitative approach to trace the causal mechanism by which credit risk contributes to shareholder market value. This research demonstrated that (i)there is a relationship between credit risk and shareholder market value among the commercial banks listed in NSE; (ii) Wald (1) =41.475, p=.000, sig<.05, 2-tailed is below the permissible value of likelihood above which null hypothesis is accepted. The study concludes that there is a relationship between credit risks and Shareholders Market Value in commercial banks listed in NSE. 

This article considers the influence of macro-economic factors as integrated factors in financial sustainability of Informal Finance Groups. Informal Finance Groups (IFGs) have become critical in poverty eradication around the world in enhancing access to finance. Despite acknowledgement of this fact, IFGs have been faced with financial constraints as a result of micro factors that affect them. This puts the financial sustainability of the IFGs at risk.  In this study, financial instability in informal finance groups is caused by these factors: loan pricing and loan repayment period. This study required to examine the connection between macro-economic factors and financial sustainability of informal finance groups in Kiharu Constituency in Murang’a County. Both primary and secondary data were collected. Findings indicate that there is relationship between macro-economic factors and financial sustainability of informal finance groups. The R value of 0.238 portrayed a positive linear relationship between the loan pricing practices and financial sustainability of Informal Finance Groups, and the R value of 0.354 portrayed a positive linear relationship between the loan repayment period and financial sustainability of Informal Finance Groups. Therefore the study concluded that the macro-economic factors have an influence on financial sustainability of informal finance groups. The study recommends that the IFGs should devise a standard criteria for optimal pricing of loans to avoid charging exorbitant rates which worsen the poverty situation of the rural residents. Further, the IFGs should also set up loan monitoring systems in place to avoid diversion and defaults.