The study focuses on the effects of diversification strategy on the performance of Kenyan Commercial state-owned corporations. It critically looks at whether or not these corporations use diversification strategy and then goes ahead to examine the relationship between diversification strategy and performance of the same corporations. The main areas explored include theories of diversification, types of diversification and organizational performance. To achieve this objective a cross-sectional survey study was conducted on 14 Kenyan commercial state-owned corporations including Kenya Meat Commission, Kenya Power and Lighting Company, Postal Corporation of Kenya, National Bank of Kenya and Kenya Reinsurance Corporation among others. Structured questionnaires were administered in the 14 selected Kenyan Commercial state-owned corporations. A sample of five employees from each selected state-owned corporation was interviewed resulting to total of 70 respondents. However, only 44 respondents filled and returned their questionnaires. Data was collected and the responses coded into labeled categories and thoroughly analyzed. Since this was a descriptive study, the data obtained was analyzed using statistical tools. Frequency distribution tables, mean scores and standard deviation were used to determine the relationship between diversification strategy and organizational performance in the Kenyan commercial state-owned corporations. The information was presented by use of tables and charts. According to the study, most of the organizations had been operating for more than ten years while most of the employees had worked for the same organization for more than six years. This means that the data collected was factual and credible for the study. This study revealed that diversification strategy has a positive relationship with performance in the Kenyan commercial state-owned corporations.

This study aimed at finding the causal relationship between stock market development and economic growth in Kenya. The development of a stock market is determined by a number of factors that include market capitalization, liquidity, regulation and trades. This paper sought to investigate the causal relation between stock market capitalization, turnover and economic growth. Previous studies done on African stock markets characterize them to be small and hindered by various factors such as thin trading and illiquidity. These studies also point out that countries with well developed financial markets have a better level of per capita income than those with less developed markets. This notion is also confirmed by theory which states that there is a big role that financial markets (stock markets) play in boosting economic activity through provision of long-term capital for projects and risk diversification. There has not been a lot of work done on causal relationship between stock market development and economic growth in Kenya. Few studies show that traditionally the economy follows the stock market in terms of capitalization and there is some what lack of consensus on liquidity. The Kenyan stock market has made various strides in improving some of the aspects that are deemed to result in the development of the stock market and this has seen the increase in the number of listed firms on the bourse and also the improvement of regulatory laws that govern trading and disclosures. This study therefore aims to use the Granger test for causality on stock market capitalization to GDP ratio which represents the size of growth of the stock market, the stock market turnover ratio and GDP growth in Kenya over the period 1993-2012. The results show a strong positive relationship between stock market development and economic growth stemming from a one sided causal relation from market capitalization to economic growth while market liquidity (stock market turnover ratio) showed a non causal effect to economic growth. With the results found it is recommended that measures that boost the size of the stock market should be implemented so as to raise economic activity as the stock market in Kenya is seen to be forward looking and a proponent of long run economic growth.

The role of teachers in improving the quality of education in the county is critical. Empowerment of teachers and performance of private secondary schools are key strategic initiatives. The objective of the study was to establish the extent of the relationship between teacher empowerment and performance of private secondary schools in Bomet County. A descriptive, cross-sectional census survey was used. The population of the study consisted of all the principals from the twelve private schools in Bomet County. Research used both primary and secondary data. Data was collected using semi structured questionnaires. It was then analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution percentages, mean and standard deviations. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the strength and significance of the relationship between extent of teacher empowerment and performance of private secondary schools. The study found a strong positive relationship between empowerment of teachers and performance of private secondary schools. The two variables were found to have a correlation coefficient of 0.833; meaning that empowerment of teachers increases performance of schools. The study concludes that teachers should be given greater degree of flexibility in their performance of their duties so as increase school performance. It was recommended that principals should be trained on how to empower teachers so as to fully entrench the concept of empowerment in the education sector for better performance. The study suggested that it further studies should involve more school variables and teachers characteristics to achieve a more understanding on the concept of empowerment.

This study sought to find out the role of interpersonal communication in the use of family planning among women in Kajiado County, The objectives of the study were. Investigating the role of interpersonal communication in creating awareness about family planning use, examining various forms of interpersonal communication used in creating awareness about family planning use, examining the frequency of use of family planning services and investigating the level of knowledge about family planning methods among women in Kajiado County. The study used social cognitive theory and health belief model to explain behavior change in reproductive health .The research utilized descriptive design so as to be able to collect data to describe a specific behavior of subjects under study as it occurred in the environment. The study used a purposive sampling technique to deliberately select a specific population for study. The study had a target population of women with reproductive age between 15-45 years, with a sample size of thirty six respondents. Twenty-five respondents used in-depth interviews, two groups each with five members in the focused group discussions and one respondent for key informant interview were used in data collection. The findings of the study showed that, various communication channels such as broadcast media, print media and interpersonal communication were used in behavior change campaigns. However, various interpersonal communication channels were found to be the most effective method used by women in passing messages of contraceptive use. Although other communication channels were used, they were more commercial and advertorial unlike interpersonal communication which was more informative and educative as it employed dialogue among women.The study recommended that for adequate use of contraceptives and achieving of vision 2030 and MDGs, various stakeholders as the government, media and development partners should engage in effective communication on reproductive health. Further, spousal communication should be enhanced and the media should involve itself in intense education programmes on family planning.

Strategy implementation involves organization of the firm's resources and motivation of the staff to achieve objectives. Organisational’s performance is the measure of standard or prescribed indicators of effectiveness, efficiency, and environmental responsibility such as, cycle time, productivity, waste reduction, and regulatory compliance. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between strategy implementation and performance in commercial banks in Kenya. The study was a cross-sectional survey as it sought to describe data and characteristics about the population or phenomenon being studied. The target population for this study involved all the commercial banks operating in kenya. Both primary and secondary data was collected for the purpose of this study and analysed using descriptive statistics. From the study findings it was clear that strategy implementation influences organisation performance where organization use various measures such as organization use projected performance of competitors, organization goals, Past performance of the business and projected performance of organisation in other industries to access their performance. On financial performance, the study established that implementation influence organization financial performance positively. The study concluded that implementation influence organization financial performance positively to a great extent resulting to increased organization profitability, business turnover and volumes of sale. On organization growth the study establishedthat strategy implementation influence organisation growth at great extent. The researcher used questionnaires with both closed and open ended questions to collect data. Closed ended questions have the disadvantage of limiting the responses whereby the respondent is compelled to answer questions according to the researcher’s choice. However to mitigate this limitation the researcher ensure that the questions were well thought out and comprehensive enough to cover all important aspects of the study objectives. The study recommended that for the organization to perform effectively on its financial performance clear strategies that guides it operation should be formulated and guideline be provided to all concerned department in order to eradicate occurrence of compromise. On financial performance, the study recommended that in order for organization to achieve their goal such as profitability, large market share and customer retention, there should be effective strategies that cater for the customer need organization goal and environmental changes. The study also suggested further research to be done on impact of strategy implementation on organization performance in other institutions in order to depict reliable information that illustrates real situation in across all sectors.

The concept of corporate social responsibility, its programs and the factors that influence choice of corporate social responsibility programs in commercial Banks in Kenya. The literature reveals different views on the programs of corporate social responsibility and the factors that influence those choices. This study sought to determine the factors that influence choice of social corporate responsibility among commercial banks in Kenya. The study will be of significance to the commercial Banks in Kenya as they implement their corporate social responsibility. The practitioners will be more informed in their roles of administering corporate social responsibility. The study was conducted using a descriptive cross sectional census survey method, which was appropriate as it enabled the researcher to obtain information from a broader category of commercial Banks for comparison purposes. The design also works well where the respondents targeted are few in number. The target population was all the forty three registered Commercial banks in Kenya. The instrument of data collection was a semi structured questionnaire administered to persons in charge of social corporate responsibility. The data collected was analyzed using charts and graphs to identify the order of their significance. The study found out that majority of Commercial Banks is highly influenced by financial capability then followed by everybody is involved in social corporate responsibility, communication among stakeholders, technology level, market competition, company objective, rating purposes by commercial banks association of Kenya, organizational structure and ethical consideration with order of significance. The study findings also found that there in significant influence of government policies, political instability, resource allocation, and literacy of commercial banks staffs, role allocation, incentives of employees and Staff retention to the choice of corporate social responsibility program in commercial banks. The study recommends that there is need to frequently do corporate social responsibility so as to have the good will from the community they operate from. A further study should be done on the effectiveness of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Commercial Banks in Kenya.

Kenya has encountered low levels of private domestic savings rate averaging 8% over the past one decade and half. This has happened despite Kenya implementing financial liberalization policies since 1991. This study determines the effects that interest rate liberalization, opening of financial sector to foreign investors and credit control elimination has had on private domestic savings in Kenya using annual time series data for the period 1975-2011. Error correction model (ECM) was utilized to capture the short run dynamics toward the long run equilibrium. The results indicate that interest rate liberalization together with credit control elimination have a negative effect on private domestic saving. Opening of financial sector to foreign investors was found to positively affect private domestic savings. This implies that financial liberalization has worked only through financial intermediation. The results of the study therefore suggest the need to formulate policies to change the negative influence of real deposit interest rate to positive influence and promote financial deepening.

This study compares ordered logit and ordered probit regression models in identifying patient-level factors that influence his/her satisfaction with quality of health care. Patient satisfaction is a desirable outcome of a health system and is the most common metric used to assess the quality of healthcare provided. The data used was collected from public and private/faith-based health facilities in Kenya. The target population was the patients exiting the health facilities after receiving healthcare. The outcome variable was measured on a five-point ordinal scale: Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral, Somewhat Dissatisfied and Very Dissatisfied. The sociodemographic factors considered as influencing the outcome measure are the patient’s age, gender, education level and employment status as well as facility type and ownership of health facility. The study demonstrated that, provided that the proportional odds assumption is met, the ordered logit, and the ordered probit regression models produce relatively similar results. It also highlighted that patient’s age, gender, education level and employment status are significant in predicting his/her satisfaction with quality of healthcare received. Since the two models considered produce similar results, either of them can be used to model patient satisfaction data.

This study was carried out to assess the influencing factors in accessing agricultural information through selected ICT channels. Systematic sampling technique was used to interview 217 sample population from Ndiuni sub location, Ndeiya Location. Structured pre-tested questionnaires were administered in a face-to-face interview. Data was collected and analysed in line with the study objectives by presentation using percentages and frequencies in tables, bar charts, graphs and pie charts. Chi-square test was employed to test for the hypothesis. The tests revealed that significant relationship exist between age and education of smallholder farmers and access to agricultural information through different ICT channels. Findings indicated that the radio was the most used channel especially by farmers above the age of 40 years and those with little formal education. This was attributed to the radio programmes being presented in Kiswahili and the local language. Television, Mobile Phones and Computers were preferred by young farmers below the age of 40 years. Despite majority of the farmers owning mobile phones, the study revealed that the channel was used mostly for chatting and money transactions as compared to searching for information. However, a few young farmers below the age of 40 years and with college and university education use the mobile phone to access agricultural information. Overall, this study established the need to create awareness and to educate farmers on the use of ICT information communication channels especially the computers. The information generated from the study will be used by information providers to make appropriate contribution to the advancement in dissemination of information to the farmers for knowledge in better farming practices. The study will enhance adoption of agricultural technologies for improved livelihoods.

The Kenya Vision 2030 identifies electricity as a development enabler. Electricity plays a key role in development. It facilitates technological advancements therefore enhancing gains in productivity. Generally, electricity improves social advancement and attains faster economic growth. However the demand for electricity exceeds the supply. The study investigates the determinants of demand for electricity and their current elasticities using secondary annual time series data from 1971 to 2012. The study employed OLS and the Error Correction Model in data analysis. The results indicated that in the short run industrial production and kerosene prices were key factors that determine demand for electricity. The government therefore should strive to improve efficiency through modernizing industrial technology. The government should also increase production of electricity to match the industrial growth.