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The current operational setup in Kenya’s Universities is a turbulent one and highly competitive market condition. To ensure survival and sustainability, public universities require to adopt and implement competitive strategies. Many scholars have investigated sustainability efforts by Universities in pursuit of performance, however, it is still not clear how sustainable strategies have the greatest influence on the performance of Public Universities.  Thus, the study set to establish the influence of sustainability strategies on the performance of Public Universities in Kenya. The study was anchored on resource-based theory. To achieve the objectives, the study was anchored on a pragmatic philosophy and mixed research design with a target population of 234 University top managers. Primary data was collected using a 5 point Likert-type questionnaire and an interview guide. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that sustainability strategies had a significantly statistical influence on the performance of public universities in Kenya. The regression analysis for composite results revealed that sustainability strategies (SS) alone account for 53% of the variation of performance of Public Universities (R2=0.53, (t=7.68, p<0.05). Regression analysis for individual results, cost reduction (CR) (R2 0.518, t=18.07 p, <0.05), collaboration (C) (R2=0.418, t=2.7 p, <0.05) and diversification (D) (R2=0.218, t=8.07 p, <0.05). This study concluded that implementation of sustainability strategies (cost reduction, diversification, and collaboration) are essential strategies Public Universities can use in their endeavor to improve their performance.

This study aims to determine the influence of corporate governance on performance of Public Universities in Kenya. The study was anchored on social network theory. To achieve the objective, the study was based on a pragmatic philosophy and mixed research design with a target population of 234 University top managers. Primary data was collected using a 5 point Likert type questionnaire and an interview guide. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that corporate governance had significantly statistical influence on performance of public universities in Kenya. This study concluded that adherence to good corporate governance practices are essential strategies Public Universities can use in their endeavour to improve on their performance. It is further recommended that University top managers should adhere to good corporate governance practices, specifically to management guidelines, allow for public participation and be transparent in their actions. Further, the results present important implications to University top managers, other corporate entities, policy makers, and stakeholders in the University education sector in Kenya and across the world.

Corporate mergers are important for organizations to position themselves for growth and development. Stanbic Bank was formed as a result of a merger between CFC Bank and Stanbic Bank. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the merger has led to positive outcomes, but specific aspects of the merger that have contributed towards the organizational development of Stanbic Bank remain unclear. The study investigated the influence of Post-Merger Restructuring on the organizational development of Stanbic Bank Kenya. It was guided by efficiency theory and collected data from 27 branch managers and 9 senior sectional heads using a semi-structured questionnaire where a 75% response rate was achieved. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that post-merger restructuring has a positive and statistically significant influence on organizational development at Stanbic Bank. The researcher concluded that post-merger restructuring had a positive influence on the organizational development of banks. The study recommends that banks should retrain their workforce, inculcate new culture, and redesign their operations in the post-merger period so as to realize the intended benefits.

The study sought to assess the importance of classifying incubators based on the programs offered for optimum performance. Client selection criteria were assessed through three constructs namely: models that fit program goals, uniqueness of ideas, and standard selection tool. A mixed cross-sectional and causal design was adopted and a census was carried out targeting all the 51 incubators. Primary data was collected with an incubator program as a grouping/ cluster variable yielding a multilevel data structure with incubator centres nested in programs. Linear mixed effect models were fitted using Stata to assess the study objective taking into account the fixed effects for the incubator centre level (level-1) and random effects for the program level (level-2). The uniqueness of ideas was found to have a significant fixed effect on performance at level one while at level two, the study found significant random intercepts of incubator centre performance across the programs. Models that match program goals and standard selection tools were also found to have significant random slopes as level two random covariates in the model. Based on the findings of significant random slopes, the study concluded that incubator classification is key for client selection criteria and enhances incubator performance.

Despite heavy investments in training and development, low-quality education standards and challenges in management practices have been a sticky problem in the Kenyan education sector. Organization Theory guided the main aim of this study in establishing the relationship between management policies and transfer of skills for public secondary school headteachers in schools management. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The study population comprised 226 headteachers.  A mixture of stratified random sampling and census study was adopted in sampling 69 respondents. The results established that management policies explained a 23.4% variation in the transfer of skills for school heads. ?1 = 0.536 and p-value = 0.000 (p<0.05) indicated that management policies had positive and significant effects on transfer of skills. The study established that unsupportive policies like the Students Council, two centers of power, strict policies, and lack of inclusivity in policy formulation adversely affected school heads in implementing learned skills. The study recommends fair representation of all categories of education stakeholders in policies review and formulation to alleviate challenges associated with management policies to enhance the transfer of skills. The Government should address the issue of two centers of power in the public basic education sector. The paper sought to call the attention of the professional development trainers to exercise follow-ups to assess post-training behavioral outcomes in the context of organizational climate.

The paper innovates on the existing literature and field data by assessing the socio-economic factors influencing the enrolment decisions of students, to tourism programs among 12 selected Kenyan public universities. The study uses a descriptive design. A structured questionnaire and an interview guide were used to gather data from 192 students and 12 departmental heads. The study used a multi-sampling technique; purposive sampling was adopted to select the universities, while simple random sampling was used to determine students pursuing a degree in tourism management. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS. A structural equation model was used for data analysis, following exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factors analysis. The logit regression results reveal the existence of a statistically significant relationship between socioeconomic factors and students’ choice to enroll in tourism programs. The most important reasons influencing the student’s tourism degree choice are tuition fees, employment prospects, and parents/family background. The study recommends that education practitioners, scholars, governments, and private sectors allocate resources and dedicate efforts to improving and tourism awareness among high school students. Future research should investigate the same study variables using longitudinal and in-depth approaches to minimize generalizability concerns related to the study findings.

The general objective of the study was to establish the determinants of the uptake of green practices in lodges and tented camps within Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Narok County Kenya. The specific objectives were: to determine whether environmental awareness and organizational commitment influence the uptake of the green practices in lodges and tented camps. This study was anchored on the Institutional Theory of the Firm. The study adopted a descriptive design.The target population was 371 respondents whocomprised of Managers, Housekeepers, and Chefs. A stratified random sampling technique was used to draw the study sample of 196 respondents. The sample size of the study was calculated using Fishers Exact Test 1991 formula. The study used a questionnaire as the main research tool. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Correlation analysis was used to explain the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the determinants of the uptake of green practices in lodges and tented camps. Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis and the subsequent drawing of conclusions. The study found that environmental awareness had a significant positive relationship with green practices in lodges and tented camps within Maasai Mara Game Reserve; organizational commitment had a significant positive relationship with green practices in lodges and tented camps within Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The study concludes that an increase in environmental awareness and organizational commitment will result in increased uptake of the green practices in lodges and tented camps

The purpose of this study was to explore the Effect of Entrepreneurship Education on Innovation Capability of TVET Graduates in Kenya. The study used a cross-sectional survey research design. The study used the entire population as a sample since the accessible population was all TVET graduates in Kenya. The main data collection instrument was semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was tested for reliability and validity. The study found out that entrepreneurship education is key to the innovation capability of TVET graduates in Kenya. The study found out that respondents were interested in pursuing entrepreneurship as a career path. However, with the absence of an adequate platform or systems at the TVET institutions, students are not engaged in entrepreneurial paths in any significant way. Further, the study determines that TVET institutions should focus on entrepreneurship education that would provide the graduates with innovation skills that offer high valued contributions to the accomplishment of quality strategy goals and organizational objectives, enabling businesses to achieve market-leading performance and thus competitive advantage.  The TVET graduates need to be equipped with entrepreneurial skills that will help them improve their firms or where employed in order to capture a higher market share

Kenya is rapidly urbanizing at an annual rate of about 4.3%. One of the consequences of urbanization has been the problem of food insecurity in peri-urban areas. Increased migration to urban from rural areas has enhanced food insecurity in these areas. The peri-urban area of Kangundo-Tala in Machakos County is one of the fastest-growing peri-urban areas due to its proximity to the capital city of Nairobi. This study investigated the impact of home gardening in enhancing food security in the rapidly urbanizing middle-income Kangundo–Tala peri-urban areas of Machakos County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were: to identify the causes of households’ food insecurity in the study area; to examine the factors influencing the adoption of home gardening and; to establish the role of home gardening as a measure of households’ food security. To measure food security, three consumption behaviors were analyzed: consumption changes, food expenditure reduction and income expansion. A qualitative approach was adopted where a total of 120 newly settled households were interviewed. The three main causes of food insecurity were identified (i) small land sizes, (ii) low and erratic rainfall and, (iii) the socialization of peri-urban dwellers. About 68% of the households were practicing at least one form of home gardening. The need for safe and nutritious food, seasonal unavailability, and inaccessibility of food encouraged the establishment of home gardens. From the gardens, households were able to diversify their diets, access safe food and have food readily available. With enhanced stability in food availability, accessibility, and utilization, the study concluded that home gardens played a major role in enhancing food. However, the production was at a very small scale. Up-scaling of home gardening by the Ministry of Agriculture through training was recommended.    

This study sought to determine the link between Performance Contracting and implementation of strategic objectives in Kenyan Public Universities. The main objective was to establish the extent of utilization of the Performance Contract (PC) as a tool for implementation for strategic objectives in Kenyan public universities. The study was anchored on the Balanced Score Card theory and used a combination of descriptive survey research design and correlation research design. The target population for this study included thirty-one (31) public universities in Kenya; a sample of 62 respondents was drawn from senior management and officers in charge of PC and strategy implementation in each University as well as 10 key informants from the Ministry of Education and the Public Service Performance Management and Coordination Office. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; correlation and regression analysis was computed to determine the degree of association between the performance of Kenyan public universities in performance contracting and implementation of their strategic objectives. Methodological triangulation and pilot testing were adopted to test for validity while Cronbach Alpha reliability Correlation Coefficient was used to test the reliability of the data. The study established that utilization of Performance Contracts contributes to 74.2% of the changes in strategy implementation in Public Universities in Kenya. It recommends that the universities should focus on the PC as a tool to enhance strategy implementation, allocate more funds for strategy implementation and improve their financial standing by engaging in more income-generating activities.

This study examines the influence of service reliability on customer satisfaction in the insurance industry in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Assimilation Contrast Theory and employed a descriptive research design. Primary data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics where the mean and standard deviation were determined. Data were analyzed in two levels, the customer level, and the entity level. The study employed the linear mixed effect models of structural equation modeling (SEM) considering the multi-level structure of the data collected. Results were presented in form of tables and path diagrams for the structural equation models. Service reliability was found to have a statistically significant influence on customer satisfaction (? =0.840, p-value= 0.027). The study found that there was a variation of levels of customer satisfaction across entities but this was not attributed to service reliability. The conclusion made was that service reliability significantly influenced customer satisfaction in the insurance industry in Kenya at the customer level but did not significantly influence the variations of customer satisfaction between the insurance companies.

The study aims to evaluate the moderating role of service innovation on the relationship between corporate reputation and the performance of hotels in Kenya. The study design used was cross-sectional descriptive utilizing the mixed approach. The target that served as the study population, was General Managers of all the 4-star hotels in Kenya. Primary data was collected by the use of a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire and secondary data from hotel records, journals, and government publications. Data analysis involved qualitative and quantitative techniques, analyses of variance (ANOVA), and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) which tested the hypothesized relationship in this study. Statistical software such as Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21, MS-Excel for Windows 8, Analysis of Moment Structures version 17, and SmartPLS version 2.0 was used for analysis. The theoretical models and hypotheses were tested based on empirical data gathered from 43 General Managers. The study findings indicate that corporate reputation positively and significantly influences performance (C.R = 5.907 at 5% ?-level) and service innovation moderates (R2 change = 0.054) the relationship between corporate reputation and performance. The study results are meant to benefit hotel industry policymakers, academicians, and other opportunistic entrepreneurs. The recommendation is that the hotel industry should invest seriously in corporate reputation so as to influence customer purchase behavior and improved performance.

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.