This study sought to investigate the effect of road connectivity on horticultural outcome at the county level. More specifically, the study aims at investigation the correlation between existing road connectivity and horticultural output at county level in Kenya using a panel data analysis. Data was sourced from various county government official reports for the period running from 2015-2019 comprising of all 47 county governments of Kenya. Using fixed effect model, the study finding reveals that there is evidence to link road connectivity and county horticultural production. However, we found a negative effect of road connectivity to county horticultural production contrary to other empirical work. Other key factors influencing horticultural production at the county level included rainfall amount, area under production and labour input. We recommend that farmers should increase the area under horticulture production and incur some input costs such as labour in an effort to increase horticultural production at the county level. It is also expected that with increased production, the multiplier effect of the value chain for horticultural products will be impactful.

The recent changes in business dynamics on merchandised goods and cargo transportation have impacts on the business operational costs. On the other hand, the study of Green Freight Transport Practices and freight firm’s operational costs pursued knowledge and environment friendly business practices. The benefits realized by the study are promotion of sustainable development in the economy, environmental protection and sustainable operational costs. The study sought to determine the effects Green Freight Transport Practices on Operational costs of freight firms operating in Kenya. The study objectives were; to determine the level of adoption of green freight transport practices by freight firms and to establish effects of green freight transport practices on operational costs. The study explored seven practices which were distribution strategies and transport practices, reverse logistics, warehouse and green building, eco-design and packaging practices, internal management, cooperation with customers and external management practices. The study adopted descriptive research design in obtaining information about the study topic. The study population comprised 141 licensed freight firms who are members of Kenya International Freight and Warehouse Association (KIFWA). The firms were sampled and data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis. The study found out that the practices were averagely implemented to a moderate extent except for internal management practices and external collaboration practices which were implemented to a small extent. The study found a positive correlation between the green freight transport practices and operational costs. The study concluded that increase in green freight transport practices lead to the positive effect on poerational costs. The study also recommended that proper budgetary consideration and plan should be considered before any freight firm undertake any green freight transport practices decision.

The purpose7of7this7study was to7establish7the7relationship7between problematic smartphone use and psychological distress. The objectives of the study were to establish if there is a relationship between problematic smartphone use and psychological distress; to determine whether there are gender differences in relation to problematic phone usage; and to determine whether the socio- economic status of Mount Kenya University students is a factor as far as problematic smartphone use and psychological distress are concerned. This study had a total of 81 respondents. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants with descriptive correlational methodology adopted. On the level of problematic smartphone use 70.4% of the respondents had mild levels of problematic smartphone use and 17.3% had severe levels with a mean of 26.07 (SD = 5.54). In relation to gender, results indicated that there was no gender difference t (79) = 0.510, p = 0.611 in relation to problematic smartphone use. For relationship between problematic smartphone use and socio-economic, results showed no association between problematic smartphone use and socio-economic status, X2 = (80, 78) = 67.109, p = 0.85. On the relationship between problematic relationship and psychological distress, statistical Pearson correlation coefficient indicated that there was positive correlation between problematic smartphone use and depression (r =0.57, p = 0.00), a significant positive correlation between problematic smartphone use and anxiety (r = 0.56, p = 0.00), and a significant positive correlation between problematic smartphone use and stress (r = 0.52, p = 0.00). This study recommended that from time to time the universities should carry out workshops and training and sensitization to create awareness on the impact of problematic smartphone use and the association to psychological distress.

Financial innovations provide various objectives and therefore include issues like credit generation and availability, transaction cost reductions, risk sharing and transfers, risk pricing and liquidity management. Financial innovation occurs in the emergence of lending platforms that mediate information flows from traditional banking systems to unbanked borrowers and also assist in credit risk-sharing analyses. The study goal was to assess the impact of financial innovation on SMEs' access to loans in Nairobi County, Kenya. The research was influenced by the Theory of Innovation Diffusion (DOI), the cost theory of transactions and the theory of exchange. The study used a descriptive design for research. The research population comprised of 21,100 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) situated primarily in the core business area in Nairobi County, Kenya. The research used a probability sampling method, basic random sampling and a scientific derivative formulation of the Yamane (1967). The outcome comprised of 393 SMEs operating in Nairobi County, Kenya's major business center. A combination of primary and secondary data sources was used. The main data gathering was the use of a closed-end questionnaire as a data collecting method. A crosssectional study was the present study. The research used both descriptive and inferential statistics including correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. The results of the research showed that product innovation in Kenya's financial service providers is highly shown. Further results have shown that process innovation is also highly shown by financial service providers in Kenya. Further studies have shown that SMEs in Nairobi County always have access to loans from their various financial services providers. Further studies showed that none of the characteristics of financial innovation or of company age and size were substantially linked with access to credit. Further research results showed that the model of financial innovation, company age and company size explains at least to some degree access to credit and that the model doesn't predict access to credit substantially. The final results of the research showed that product innovation, process innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises and small and medium enterprises had no significant links with access to finance. Policy suggestions are made to government officials and policy-makers, in particular regulators, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Sacco Corporations Regulatory Authority (SASRA) and to the Treasury, not to concentrate largely on financial innovation while seeking to enhance access to loans. The results of the current research also suggest that financial sector professionals and consultants should not concentrate exclusively on financial innovation when developing strategies to grow their loan books.

From ancient civilizations, societies have sought to increase agricultural productivity by making use of farming techniques and strategies. Poverty and declining agricultural productivity are deeply related problems in Kenya and all are likely to be exacerbated by the impacts of population increase, land fragmentation and climatic change. The objective of the study was to establish strategies used by small scale farmers in Ainabkoi, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The theories that this study were resource-based view theory and the Schlossberg’s transition theory. Descriptive survey research design was adopted by the researcher. The target population of the study was 11,436 small-scale farmers and 4 extension officers located in the Ainabkoi subcounty department of agriculture. The researcher sampled 390 respondents. The researcher used stratified random sampling to select the respondents that participated in the study. The study used self-administered structured questionnaires to collect data. A pilot test enabled the determination of the reliability of the research questionnaire and ensure its validity. Content validity and face validity of research questionnaire was achieved through consultations with the supervisor. Reliability of the research questionnaire was tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The study findings indicate that it was generally agreed that the number of animals stocked, integration of animal and crop farming has enhanced productivity. There was general agreement that they practice horticulture crops which have increased income in the farm. The researcher established that it was consented that the use of automated equipment, internet accessibility, use of electric gadgets and use of automated machines has boosted productivity. The study found out that it was generally agreed that type of quality seeds used, type of feeds given to animals, types of breeds and type of crop inputs has led to increased productivity. Firstly, the study concludes that farmers have increased number of animals, done mixed farming and practiced horticulture in transitioning from subsistence to commercial farming. Secondly, it is concluded that automation of equipment and machines, internet access and use of electronic gadgets enhances agricultural productivity in transitioning from subsistence to commercial farming. Thirdly, the researcher concludes that the use of quality seeds and breeds increases productivity in transitioning from subsistence to commercial farming. It was recommended that land use transition strategy, use of modern technology and use of quality seeds and breeds should be enhanced in order to improve productivity. To future researchers and academicians, this study recommends that a study should be done in other regions to examine the effectiveness of strategies used by farmers in enhancing productivity.

Different scholarly works have assessed the effect of financial leverage on profitability at the NSE and in different sectors giving conflicting findings. Moreover, few researchers have focused on combined agriculture and manufacturing sectors as a context of their study. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of financial leverage on the firm’s profitability in agricultural and manufacturing firms at the NSE. An Unbalanced panel data was gathered for a period of 10 years, that is between January 2009 to December 2018 after sorting and cleaning. Secondary data was acquired from the audited financial statement of agricultural and manufacturing firms at the NSE for the ten years published in NSE handbook. The research design employed was descriptive. The specific data collected was profitability of the firms in terms of ROA, financial leverage in terms of total debts divided by equity, liquidity in terms of current ratio, and size of the firm in terms of the natural log of market capitalization for firms listed under agricultural and manufacturing at the NSE. The three-technique employed for analysis are descriptive, correlation and regression analysis. Specifically, LSDV with fixed effect regression model was used after determining it is the appropriate model to use after carrying out Hausman test. The finding was that financial leverage and firm size had a negative but statistically insignificant effect on profitability. In contrast, the current ratio had a positive but statistically insignificant effect on the profitability of firms in agricultural and manufacturing at the NSE. The study conclusion was that the effect of financial leverage was insignificant in firms under agricultural and manufacturing firms at the NSE. Further research is required to be carried out on the different sector of the economy to establish how the effect of financial leverage influence profitability besides firms agricultural and manufacturing firms at NSE.

The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of service innovation on the competitiveness of Kenyan commercial banks. The research employed Schumpeter's theory of dynamic capacity and innovation. To evaluate the link between service innovation and competitiveness of Kenyan commercial banks, a descriptive survey technique with means and standard deviation was employed. The census research included a sample of 43 commercial banks, and the data obtained from the study was put to basic regression analysis to examine the relationship between the variables. On service concept innovation, nearly the respondents agreed with all statements except customer care operators with service experience. On customer value, strong collaboration with customers, improvement of service operations and benchmarking service outcomes with rivals were all strongly supported. It was further indicated that most of the banks innovated their channels using web and mobile banking. Use of bank agents and partnering and use of direct mails were also highly supported as methods of channel innovation. Use of automated teller machines was not so highly supported aa a means of attaining competitiveness. For organizational learning innovation all statements were highly supported except changes in organizational routines. The regression analysis results indicate that 57.9 % of the dependent variable was explained by service innovation. ANOVA test revealed a statistically significant link between service innovation and competitiveness. It is concluded that the findings support the theories anchoring the study. Recommendations are finally made for practice, policy and future research.

Every organization develops and keeps a completely unique culture which influences the whole organization. Thus, strategic reactions in an organization depict sudden major changes and results in multiple uncertainties. When organizational culture is changed within the Kenyan commercial banks, most activities in the bank are affected. The objective of this study iwas ito establish the effects iof organizational culture ion strategic reactions of commercial banks in Kenya. This study was anchored on two theories namely; Deal Kennedy Theory and Miles and Snow Typology. The research hired descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The study population consisted of all commercial banks licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya to carry out business in Kenya and also that participate directly in the clearing house. A census on the 46 registered banks was carried out. Primary data was collected through close-ended questionnaires. The questionnaire was made of two sections, that is, organization culture and strategic reactions. The questionnaires was issued via the drop and pick method. The researcher employed descriptive statistics. Regression model was also be used to predict the effects of organizations culture on strategic reactions of commercial banks in Kenya. The results further revealed that organizational culture of commercial banks in Kenya positively correlate with the strategic reactions. Also, the results reveal that the organizational culture positively affect the strategic reactions of commercial banks in Kenya. The study recommended that the management of commercial banks in Kenya should work towards a better culture that includes its employees in decision making and that encouraged its employees to take risks for the betterment of the banks. The study also recommended that the Kenya Bankers Association as the authority that oversees the operations of commercial banks in Kenya should support the commercial banks in Kenya in implementation of organizational cultures that will positively impact of the strategic reactions.

Since Operation Linda Nchi started, the war has claimed several lives, especially some Kenyan soldiers deployed in Somalia. Some Kenya Defense Forces soldiers have been left paralyzed, while others still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders. Some returnees have found it difficult to integrate into society on return, while some feel abandoned by the state after such fierce combat. In all the cases, the families of these soldiers seem to be suffering both psychosocially and economically. There is evidence that, upon return, the soldiers tend to suffer more than deployment. Some of the family members also end up spending huge sums of money to treat their beloved ones. Therefore, this study arose against this backdrop to explore the psychosocial and economic impacts of Operation Linda Nchi on KDF soldiers and their families. Specifically, the study assessed the challenges facing soldiers’ families before, during, and after the operation, the economic effects of Operation Linda Nchi on soldiers’ families, and the psychosocial effects of Operation Linda Nchi on soldiers’ families. The study was guided by Abraham Maslow’s need theory, which attempts to interrogate the human being’s needs and ways in which he or she tries to achieve these needs. The study employed qualitative and quantitative techniques to collect data in the military, ex-soldiers, soldiers' families, war journalists, foreign policy practice, and technology. Desk research was also embraced where in-depth interviews were used for qualitative information. The study used 60 respondents as the sample size where key informant interviews; group discussion based on quantitative research technique; in-depth interviews based on the qualitative research method; government, non-government, and other research institutions records; and, library research was conducted. From the results and responses of the respondents, it emerged that military families were the first casualties when it comes to matters of conflict. It was concluded that the challenges experienced because of this war were such as lack of regular communication, separation from families, and education of their children. They also received many other benefits, for example, subsidized health care, tuition assistance, and housing allowances. It was also concluded that isolation was experienced among the soldier’s families in the deployment cycle, which resulted in high rates of depression among the spouses, marital strain, PTSD. From these findings, it was recommended that the service providers and policy informers must comprehend the social setting and the requirements of soldiers’ spouses and their children to improve the military’s programs and soldiers’ families. Further, effort needs to be made towards providing counseling services to permit both the military officer and his family to access the respective services with convenience and confidentiality. Also, there is a necessity to stabilize bereaved families before compensation money is received and to transition from a military family to a civilian one. Moreover, the responsibility of taking care of those left behind, particularly the children, should be taken over by the society that the soldier was protecting. As a way of expressing gratitude for the sacrifices made, the responsibility to educate children whose fathers died while defending the nation should be taken over by the state at public expense as is the practice in other advanced militaries; that KDF adopts a one-for-one policy whereby a sibling or any other close relative to the deceased soldier is recruited into the military so that there is continued financial support, enhanced hope, and reduced stress to the families. Such a policy would portray KDF as an empathetic organization and appreciate the sacrifices made by its members. Finally, KDF needs to develop well-researched intervention programs for military children to promote the military family's general well-being.