The role and importance of governance wherever human populations exist cannot be overstated. It is not easy to dispute that Africa’s problem of poor human development is, to a great extent, one largely caused by poor governance. How a country is governed plays a critical role on whether the people within its jurisdiction will be empowered or disempowered by the leadership, and whether such a country will conduct its affairs through the modus operandi of all stakeholders in mobilization on the one hand, or an elitist clique that dances to the tune of the ruling elite on the other. Africa’s international relations context is bereft with a governance and leadership dent that has largely consigned the continent to a second fiddle role as far as human development and effective agency in international relations is concerned. This study posits leadership that complies with good governance constitutes a critical factor for enabling human development in Africa. The study analyzed such governance instruments as the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), the African Youth Charter, the UNDP Human Development Reports, Kenya’s Vision 2030, Kenya’s Foreign Policy Document and the Constitution of Kenya 2010, among others. This study argues that compliance with these (and such) instruments holds promise not only in governance itself, but also in regard to practitioners of leadership and governance. The study advances that leaders’ goodwill in creating a context for such instruments to work is greatly important. This study therefore seeks to evaluate the relationship between compliance on the part of the African countries with such governance instruments and Africa’s international relations from a human development point of view, with a specific focus on Kenya as a case study. The study used a mixed methods approach and relies on primary data from leadership and governance practitioners, as well as diplomats, in arriving at its conclusions and recommendations. Liberalism provides the theoretical framework for the study, in line with its objectives. This is aimed at arriving at findings that will contribute to knowledge, and to recommend ideas for adoption by policy makers and stakeholders in governance matters from a point of view of complying with good governance practices, and its relevance in enhancing Africa’s human development and international relations.

Service recovery strategy is achieved when customers derive value and satisfaction through the quality of service offered. When a service exceeds the previous expectations of a customer on that particular service then service excellence has taken place. Majority of firms excel in customer interactions but fails to pay sufficient attention on service recovery strategies. In Kenya, commercial banks just like other business organizations have spent a lot of resources to adopt various marketing activities to attract customer. The main aim of this research was to assess the impact that service recovery approaches have on Banks in Kenya. This study was based on two theories, Porter’s competitive advantage theory and the resource based theory. The target population in this research comprised of 44 commercial banks in Kenya. The target respondents were senior managers in Commercial bank. Analysis was done using multiple linear regression and correlation analysis. It indicated that Banks in Kenya, for a great extent, improved their personalized services and responsiveness while at a moderate extent banks have improved their reliability, customer focus and communication. Findings established the existence of a that positive linkage amid service recovery strategies and competitive advantage. It concludes that service recovery strategies positively enhance organization competitiveness and also the study concludes that banks ought to inspire all players in the banking sector to apply their known core skills and competencies to instill expertise in their day to day activities. The recommends that the leadership of banks should be committed to service recovery strategies. Top leadership should allocate and provide more resources, both financial and human resources, to support strategies.

University libraries are meant to support the mission of the parent institutions. The growing need for information has made institutions to stay abreast with discoveries thus causing an increased availability of published and non-published information to institutions, which in return has led to overabundance of data thus making it difficult for information users to access the authentic information. The aim of the study was to investigate the r ole of librarians in mitigating information explosion in academic libraries with a review of the University of Nairobi’s Library. The objectives were to: examine the awareness levels of information explosion among the library users at library; establish the effects of information explosion amongst the library users; assess information searching skills of the users at; and propose appropriate strategies for mitigating information explosion. The study used a descriptive research design and purposive sampling technique. The University of Nairobi was purposively selected on its merit. The researcher utilized a Sample size of 208 respondents. Questionnaires were issued to the master’s students and interview guides were administered to library staff to collect data, which was analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences and Microsoft Excel software. The results were then presented in tables and charts as appropriate with explanations given in prose. Findings from the research indicated that; the majority of the library users had challenges in accessing information. Results from library staff indicated that the appropriate strategies to mitigate information explosion were the adoption of Information Communication Technology. In conclusion, there is a need to embrace new Information Communication Technology, information literacy and train staff to impart the same to users.

Marital relationships are noted to be robust predictors of the psychological wellbeing of married couples. The study aims at exploring the relationship between psychological wellbeing and marital quality among married Christian couples. The study focused on sampled couples in Mukinyi Parish in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (P.C.E.A) in Kiambu County, Kenya. Data was collected from couples who have been married for 5 years and more. This was done through questionnaire to collect primary data while secondary data was collected from journals, books and articles. The study was anchored on social exchange theory and Erickson’s theory. P.C.E.A Mukinyi parish has a general population of 4000 people excluding children. Yamane’s formula was used in this study to compute the sample size of 96 couples. The study utilized descriptive design and adopted stratified random sampling procedure to identify the participants. A self-administered data collection instrument consisting social demographic information and marital quality test was used. Data was analysed using inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. The study found that the quality of marriage was high among married Christian couples in PCEA Mukinyi Parish. Most of the couples experienced high marital quality characterized by high marital satisfaction and stability. However, marital adjustment was moderately low. Furthermore, there was significant relationship between psychological well-being and marital satisfaction, marital stability and marital adjustment. Psychological well-being was thus a significant indicator of marital quality. If couples lived in stable relationships devoid of divorce and emotional separation, the marriages could last. This could also create a stable environment for children to grow in. Growing in stable families could also impact the future marriage lives of children. This could buttress future marriage quality in the parish. The study recommends strengthening counselling services to strengthen marriages in the study area. There was also a need to enhance marital adjustment through regular marriage seminars in the churches where marriage counsellors can give training on marital quality. Premarital counselling is also recommendable to psychologically prepare couples before marriage. The factors contributing to marriage instability should also be dealt with through organized seminars.

This study’s aim was to find out the correlation that exists between financial wellbeing and mental health of contract employees employed through managed service providers in Nairobi County between 2019 and 2020. The specific objectives were to investigate the relationship between financial wellbeing and contract employees’ stress levels, ability to manage the daily demands of life, work performance and their general rating of happiness. The study used a descriptive study design. The study population was managed service employees in 32 outsourcing firms in Nairobi County and the study was conducted at Absa Bank Bishops Gate building which is located along Fifth Ngong Avenue in Upper Hill. The sample size comprised of 60 managed service employees from Absa Bank of Kenya sampled using purposive sampling method. This sample was obtained from managed service employees from two of the thirty-two outsourcing firms in Nairobi, Kenya. Primary data was gathered with the aid of a questionnaire. It contained 30 items measuring financial wellbeing, that is; both objective and subjective attributes of financial wellbeing (10 items), its relationship with stress levels (5 items), ability to meet the daily demands of life (5 items), work performance (5 items) and general rating of happiness (5 items). The study results were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively, where quantitative data obtained from the questionnaire was cleaned, coded and computation of descriptive statistics done, aided by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences); whereas qualitative data that was obtained from the questions that were open ended was reported in the form of narration. To measure what relationship exists between the study variables, Pearson’s correlation analysis was employed. Regression analysis was used to show how age, gender and tenure contribute to employees’ mental wellbeing as a result of their financial status. The study revealed that the respondents occasionally experience stress when thinking or dealing with their finances, that majority of the employees indicated that financial concerns have caused them anxiety, frustrations, headaches and depression, and that there is a statistical and significant strong negative correlation between financial wellbeing and employees’ stress levels, (r (45) = -0.7123, p<.005). The study also found out that sometimes the respondents have had to make some financial adjustments because of lack of money, that it was moderately true that the respondents would suffer immediate financial difficulty if they were to lose their job, and that there is a statistical and significant strong positive correlation between financial wellbeing and employees’ ability to manage the daily demands of life, (r (45) = 0.6671, p<.005). It also revealed that just a few of the employees surveyed have left over money monthly in savings, and that most employees to a great extent are worried about their future financial wellbeing. In conclusion, the study found out that there is a statistical and significant strong correlation between financial wellbeing and employees’ mental health.

Over the years, policy makers have embraced financial inclusion as a key policy and development tool. An inclusive financial system boosts savings, resilience to economic shocks, credit uptake hence investments, general welfare, economic growth, and poverty reduction efforts. For that reason, there have been concerted efforts amongst policymakers to promote financial inclusion across the globe. This has led to a global increase in the proportion of the financially included individuals. This study sought to investigate the effects of access to credit on household savings in Kenya. Specifically, the disaggregate access to credit facilities and usage of savings products, the effects of access to credit on household savings and other determinants of household savings in Kenya using the 2019 Kenya National FinAccess survey data. Estimation results revealed a negative effect of access to credit on household savings in Kenya. Other significant determinants of household savings in Kenya were income, education, gender, and age of the household head. The study findings implied that governments should ensure proper regulation of credit lending institutions against exorbitant interest rates that crowd out savings, educate households on usage of loans for economic generating activities and not for mere consumption, and enforce savings-first approach to lending.

The investigation aimed to examine the influence of effect of strategic management accounting techniques on investment decisions among manufacturing firms in Kenya. Target costing, balanced scorecard, and just in time were the explanatory variables of the study which represented SMATs whilst the response variable was investment decision of manufacturing firms. The study adopted the descriptive research design which was cross-sectional as the information collected was done in a defined period. The target population of the study was 691 manufacturing firms from which a sample size of 69 finances managers, production mangers, production supervisors, or accounting managers from sampled firms which was 10 % of the population. A structure questionnaire adapted from past studies was designed to collect the information and the instrument was administered using the drop and pick method so as to avoid personal contact with respondents as per the COVID-19 guidelines of limiting physical contact. descriptive, correlation, and regression analysis was used to analyse the data from which the findings show that target costing and balanced scorecard had a positive and meaningful impact on investment decisions whilst there was no effect of just in time production on manufacturing firms’ investment decision. The study concluded that target costing and balanced scorecard had a positive impact on investment decisions and just in time production did not have any effects. The study recommends that manufacturing firms should adopt target costing approach to help them manage production such that they reduce the costs of products which has a direct effect on investment decision of manufacturing firms. Manufacturing firms should enhance the adoption balanced scorecard principles in their operations and let their stakeholders be aware of their strategy while also defining their strategic goals in a clear and understandable manner. Manufacturing firms should strive to just in time production such as continuous improvement, controlling material flow and production scheduling that can help firms reduce cost whilst increasing productivity and improving quality due to the ever rising costs of production such as raw materials, labour and operating materials in Kenya. The study used quantitative methods and there is need for future studies to include qualitative methods so as to get more in-depth information on how balanced scorecard and target costing have contribute to investment decisions among manufacturing firms.

In the current turbulent, highly competitive contemporary business environment, bank managers are under pressure to implement strategies that will achieve their banks optimal competitiveness. Among the strategies they are largely applying in their pursuit for competitive advantage are electronic banking strategies. However, amidst the banks venturing into electronic banking strategies to maintain their competitiveness, they still have major challenges confronting their competitiveness. It is therefore imperative to interrogate these strategies and their impact on banks’ competitiveness, for these strategies to be streamlined accordingly. Unfortunately, few studies have interrogated the influence of EBS on the banks’ competitiveness. Existing literature thus lacks sufficient insights for decision making. The motive of this study was to interrogate the EBS and their influence on the banks’ competitive advantage in Kenya. It was undertaken using the descriptive cross sectional survey design. By applying a census approach, the entire Kenyan commercial banks were covered. Data was obtained by use of a questionnaire filled by the head of strategy or finance in each of the banks or their assistants. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for analyzing the data. Results indicated that internet banking, mobile banking, and ATMs have a significant correlation (r) with competitive advantage with r values of 0.678, 0.524 and 0.437 respectively. Use of POS machines was found to have an insignificant correlation of 0.308 with competitive advantage. The research concludes that mobile banking, internet banking, ATMs and POS machines have a positive influence on competitive advantage. However, the influence by POS machines is statistically insignificant while mobile banking, internet banking and ATMs have a significant influence on competitive advantage. It is recommended that banks invest in educating their clients on how to access different services from their diverse e-banking channels. Moreover, they should adopt more innovations on e-banking to ensure that a diverse category of customers are able to access services through e-banking.

Budget absorption rate refers to the share of the actual expenditure out of the targeted(budgeted). It is a great benchmark for determining the efficiency and effectiveness of the counties on the utilization, implementation, formulation and execution of county budget. Absorption rate indicates the ability of the counties to co-finance projects and activities, macroeconomics capacity and administration performance. This research sought to establish effect of budget absorption on the performance of county government. Budget absorption is supported by planning, organizing and a quality expenditure control tool. The research focused on the forty-seven counties and the independent variables of the study were Budget allocation, Development expenditure and County Revenue Collection. The secondary data was obtained from KNBS & OCOB. The results were presented inform of tables, figures and graphs. Budget ensures efficiency and effectiveness to the limited allocated resources. Budget is a management and regulation tool used to effectively manage the public funds with the aim of efficiently optimizing financial realization performance targets. The researcher recommends the counties and national government to develop a clear development plan that will reduce non-essential expenditure. The comprehensive development roadmap will act as guidance and compass for the prudential expenditure. This will enhance optimal development of projects. Moreover, the county should determine the optimal staffing that ensure business continuity and reduce the county wage bill. The public involvement and periodic release of county budget absorption rate report will promote prudential expenditure. The study recommends the utilization of experts in budget formulation, utilization, implementation and execution to realize the budget absorption

The aim of this research project was to investigate the participation of students at improving strategic planning and performance for academic libraries using the case of the university of Nairobi law libraries. The objectives of the research were: to assess awareness and level of student’s participation at improving strategic planning and performance of academic libraries, establish the role played by librarians in enabling student participation, establish the benefits of student participation and propose a framework for implementation of student participation. The study approach used was both quantitative and qualitative methods using closed and open ended questions for students and interviews for librarians. It targeted a population of 1707 University of Nairobi Law students and librarians. It employed both probability and non-probability sampling consisting of simple random sampling, stratified and purposive technique to gather the data and the researcher used Yamane formula of 95% level of confidence and margin error of 5% to determine the sample size. Framework analysis and narrative analysis techniques were used to evaluate qualitative data and statistical package for social sciences was used to analyze quantitative data. Inter-rating was used to measure the level of consistency of data collection instruments and content test will be used to test instrument validity. The findings tabulated, condensed, analyzed, and inferences drawn. These processes lead to a deduction on how level of participation of students in strategic planning improve performances of academic libraries. Qualitative data analysis concept was applied to draw out patterns from concepts and insights. The study findings were used to support understanding of the study problem. Analyzed data were presented in form of tables and charts for appropriate dissemination and interpretation. The study findings revealed that participation of students in improving strategic planning had huge significant impact on the performance of academic libraries. It also revealed students’ participation at improving strategic planning is less frequently practiced. This study therefore recommends that students should be frequently involved in the development of the strategic planning.