The ratio of public debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Kenya has been on the rise. Between 2010 and 2018, mean public debt in Kenya rose by half, from 40 to 59 percent of GDP, making Kenya to be among the fastest-growing debt-accumulation countries in the world. At the same time, the country has also recorded significant growth in development spending and economic growth. The country offers a good context to investigate the effect of debt on economic growth. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of public debt on Kenya’s economic growth. The study was based on Pecking order theory, tradeoff theory and finance growth theory. The independent variable was public debt measured as log total debt per quarter while the control variables were interest rates, the unemployment rate, and inflation rate. The dependent variable that the research attempted to explain was the growth of the Kenyan economy. The data was collected on a quarterly basis over a period of ten years (from January 2011 to December 2020). A descriptive research approach was employed in the research, with a multivariate regression model used to examine the connection between the study variables. The study's findings yielded an R-square value of 0.613, indicating that the chosen independent variables could explain 61.3 percent of the variance in Kenya’s economic growth, while the other 38.7 percent was due to other factors not investigated in this study. The F statistic was significant at a 5% level with a p=0.000. This suggests that the model was adequate for explaining economic growth in Kenya. Further, the conclusions demonstrated that public debt had a negative and significant influence on Kenya’s economic growth. Unemployment rate also had a significant negative influence. Interest rates and inflation did not exhibit a statistically significant impact on economic growth. The research suggests the need for policy makers to review the set limit of public debt as high debt levels negatively affects the economy. The study also recommends that there is need to come up with effective measures of creating employment as high unemployment rate has an adverse effect on economic growth. The study recommends the need for future researchers to conduct a study for a longer period of time such as the last 30 years to capture the effects of economic cycles

Corporate governance and tax aggressiveness among Kenya’s listed entities was explored in this study. Both descriptive and correlational research design were appropriate for this study where 64 listed firms were targeted. Census was used thus all the firms were covered in the study. Information was obtained from secondary sources covering the period 2016 all through 2020. The analysis was supported by descriptive and inferential statistics. It was observed that board size (β=.279, p<0.05) had the largest and significant effect on tax aggressiveness followed by board meetings (β=.221, p<0.0), CEO duality (β=.166, p<0.05) and lastly board composition (β=.157, p<0.05). With regard to the control variables, profitability (β=.966, p<0.05) had the greatest significant effect followed by size (β=.449, p<0.05) and lastly leverage (r=.160, p<0.05). The study concludes the corporate governance significantly predicts tax aggressiveness as controlled by profitability, firm size and leverage. It was recommended that board of directors of the listed firms should effectively discharge their oversight role on behalf of the shareholders to avoid conflict of interests while maximizing tax aggressiveness. Shareholders of the listed firms should ensure that the existing boards are of optimal size. Regular board meetings should be organized by company secretaries of the listed firm to deliberate on strategic issues that may have an implication on these firms. The shareholders of the listed firms should ensure that the board is properly constituted with members having relevant experience and knowledge. The policy makers at the Capital Market Authority should stipulate and enforce strict regulations governing the corporate governance of all the listed firms.

Forests serve Kenya economically, environmentally, socially and culturally. Sustainable management of the same is therefore paramount. Forest resources are on high demand, especially timber which is used by various industries in Kenya. While timber is an important commodity that fulfils the various needs of the society, its current demand however puts a lot of pressure on our forests leading to elevated levels of deforestation and forest degradation. The Constitution, provides that Kenya should target achieving at least 10% tree cover. Timber harvesting therefore needs to be well controlled to achieve this target. Sustainable timber harvesting requires that while trees are cut down for various purposes, their regeneration is also encouraged to address the requirements of all generations. The adequacy or inadequacy of the regulatory framework in ensuring sustainable timber harvesting was the main focus of this study. This study used desk-based research as the main research method, where there was a critique of the existing institutional, policy and legal framework, analysis of the relevant literature review, and key strategies that could impact sustainable timber harvesting while also looking at examples of countries that have utilized the said strategies. This study also looked at the various challenges facing sustainable timber harvesting in Kenya especially from a practical perspective and the impact that these challenges have had on forests and the environment as a whole. It was noted in this study that while there is an existing institutional, policy and legal framework that governs sustainable timber harvesting, there are still gaps in the same as forests are still being degraded at a high rate especially due to illegal activities related to timber harvesting. The regulatory framework as it is today is still inadequate in ensuring sustainable timber harvesting. To protect our remaining forests and for Kenya to achieve its least tree cover target of 10%, a review of the existing framework is urgently needed. This study therefore proposed some recommendations that could enhance the legal, policy and institutional framework to ensure effective regulation of timber harvesting in Kenya, that balances the needs of the society while still ensuring our forests and the environment as a whole is protected and preserved for all generations

Historically within the Kenyan context, the legislature was viewed as a ‘rubber-stamp’ to the executive agenda and was therefore believed to be incapable of exercising its oversight role. The drafters of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 therefore identified and incorporated the need for an accountable government, a prudent public financial management system and the important role parliamentary oversight in ensuring the same as crucial in achieving constitutional reform agendas. While it is generally believed that the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 would hail the shift towards a well-endowed National Assembly with the capability of exercising fiscal oversight, the same has remained an elusive dream. Therefore, this paper will demonstrate that the National Assembly of the 11th Parliament (2013-2017) through the Public Accounts Committee has been largely unsuccessful in the exercise of oversight over national revenue expenditure on account of structural and operational challenges of the Public Accounts Committee and shortcomings in the enabling statutory framework. In making this argument, the paper will employ a multi-pronged methodology which will include doctrinal research methodology by mapping out the constitutional and legal framework of parliamentary oversight and analysing the committee’s reports, case study approach by interrogating the operations of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee of the 11th Parliament and lastly a comparative approach in identifying some best practices in other jurisdictions to inform the recommendations towards strengthening the committee. This study has the potential of informing legal or policy reforms through identifying the challenges of fiscal oversight by the Public Accounts Committee under the new constitutional dispensation and proposing solutions for the same with a view to realize the constitutional spirit on accountability and transparency.

A number of companies listed at the securities exchange market of Kenya have taken to mergers and other forms of restructuring to improve their chance of expanding their capability to offer their services, cutting back on costs and mergers of directorship hired to improve technological progression and improve operational efficiencies required to improve long term financial performance. The various ownership structures of different organizations undergoing corporate restructuring provide a valuable context for investigating whether the expected link between ownership structure and corporate restructuring decision holds true. An investigation of corporate restructuring in Kenya's Nairobi Securities Exchange was the primary goal of this research. New Delhi Stock Exchange (NSE)-listed businesses were studied for their corporate restructuring impact on ownership, concentration and state control. It was decided to base the model's results on characteristics including management effectiveness, liquidity, and profitability. Research was conducted in a descriptive manner. In this study, Kenya's NSE was the intended population. There are 63 companies listed at the NSE but only 55 provided complete data set. Research variables data were derived from audited company's annual financial statements from 2016 to 2020 for all 55 companies making 275 observations. Regression and correlation analysis were used to test the study hypotheses by establishing the relationship between ownership structure and corporate restructuring. The study found that ownership concentration (β=0.111, p=0.000) and state ownership (β=0.118, p=0.000) had a positive and significant relationship with corporate restructuring among NSE listed firms. Management efficiency and profitability (β=0.103, p=0.027) had a significant negative effect on corporate restructuring (β=-0.033, p=0.008) while managerial ownership (β=0.001, p=0.538) and liquidity (β=0.001, p=0.834) were not statistically significant. The results also indicated R2 of 0.234 which implied that the selected independent variables contributed 23.4% to variations in corporate restructuring. The study recommends that policy makers should pay keen attention to ownership concentration, state ownership, management efficiency and profitability as this four has a significant influence on corporate restructuring. The study suggests the need for further studies to focus on other determinants of corporate restructuring.

Beekeeping technology has progressed throughout time. Despite technological developments, satisfying the basic needs of rural people to improve their living conditions through the adoption of modern beekeeping practices has proven to be difficult. This is due to a lack of farmer training and low acceptance rates of new technology. The goal of the study was to look into the factors that influence honey processing project productivity and performance. The study's goal was to figure out how technological adoption, credit availability, market demand, and farmer training affect honey processing production and performance in Kitui County. The study's target population was 125 people, with 110 beekeepers and 15 county agricultural officers from Kitui County, and a sample size of 69 people was chosen. Secondary data was gathered using questionnaires and interview guides, while primary data was gathered using the Kitui government's Ministry of Agriculture records and existing beekeeping literature. The validity of the research technique was determined after engaging with and following the advise of University of Nairobi research supervisors. After the pilot study, the research instruments' reliability was determined using the test-retest method. Descriptive statistics such as frequency tables, percentiles, and ranges were used to evaluate the data. The extent to which the influencing elements account for the success of honey processing projects in Kitui government was determined using inferential data analysis approaches such as regression models. The study discovered that production determinants had a favorable and significant impact on honey processing project performance in Kitui. Market demand had the greatest impact on honey processing project performance, followed by technology adoption, while loan access and farmer training had the greatest positive impact on honey processing project performance in Kitui County. The study found that all four variables, including technological adoption, financial access, market demand, and farmer training, have a favorable impact on honey processing project success in Kitui County. According to the report, beekeepers in Kitui County should concentrate on implementing contemporary technologies and ensuring that farmers are effectively taught to execute beekeeping tasks. The study indicated that beekeeper’s knowledge influenced adoption of technology which was represented by a composite mean of 2.1785 and SD=1.14267 and thus affect performance of honey processing projects in the county. Credit access affects honey processing projects which was represented by a composite means of 1.9524 and SD=1.117. The study indicated that market demand influence performance of honey processing projects which was represented by a composite mean score of 2.08094 and SD=1. 2395 while study indicated that farmers training affected performance of honey processing projects which was indicated by a composite mean of 2.2348 and SD=1.1177. The research recommends that the county government should give institutional support for beekeeping awareness programs and infrastructural improvements. The county government can also help with training programs by providing free beekeeping training or cooperating with other instructors. County governments, in partnership with donors and financial institutions, should finance farmers, and beekeeper loans should be guaranteed, especially in the early stages. The county government should eliminate the middlemen that exploit farmers, and farmers should have direct access to the market. Kitui County Government should develop methods to strengthen the organization's beekeeping activity. The county government could put together training programs for farmers to help them enhance their beekeeping operations

The United Nations was formed out of desperation for the maintenance of world peace and security to prevent war, aggression, conflicts, and loss of lives, which was evident in the First and Second World Wars. Its framework on world peace and security places the UNSC at the centre stage of maintaining international peace and security. Article 39 of the UN Charter emboldens the UNSC to determine whether a situation threatens or breaches international peace and security and to choose the remedial action to be undertaken under Articles 40, 41, and 42 of the UN Charter. The UN Charter envisages that threats to international peace and security have two key characteristics. One, that they are between states. Two, that they involve the use of armed force. This is a problem because contemporary threats to world peace do not exhibit these two key characteristics. They are not necessarily occasioned by states against other states. They do not always involve the use of force. This study aims to determine whether the UN’s framework on world peace and security is well adapted to address contemporary threats to global peace and security. It examines the UN’s legal and institutional framework for maintaining international peace and security. It focuses on contemporary threats, such as infectious diseases, climate change, cyber operations, and human trafficking. It also investigates the challenges posed by contemporary threats to the UNSC’s primary mandate to maintain global peace. Using the doctrinal legal research methodology, the study establishes that even though the UNSC has the core mandate to maintain international peace and security, other organs, such as the UNGA, the Secretariat and the Secretary-General, and the ICJ, as well as regional arrangements carry out some functions in maintaining international peace and security. The study finds that contemporary threats challenge the UN’s framework on global peace and security. Non-traditional threats render its legal and institutional framework inadequate. The study finds that the UN faces several difficulties in the quest to maintain international peace and security in the face of contemporary threats, such as anachronism, lack of definitions of key terms like “threat to peace” and “breach of peace”, inadequate enforcement action, inconsistency, and double incidence of mandates. It concludes that the UN is not well adapted to address non-traditional threats to international peace and security. It is in the interest of stakeholders to take steps towards meeting these concerns. The study makes specific recommendations that could alleviate the obstacles faced by the UN’s peace and security framework in maintaining international peace and security.

Working Capital Management (WCM) encompasses all elements of an organization's planning and management of current assets and current liabilities in ways that maximize the organization's ability to finance obligations as they mature and generate the highest possible returns on recurrent assets. Managers are becoming aware that poor liquidity assessment results in a greater default risk. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of WCM judgments on the financial distress of listed manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. To accomplish the research aims, data were obtained from financial report releases over a five-year period (2016-2020) using a correlation approach. The connection between independent and dependent variables was determined using multiple regression analysis. The results indicate a positive connection between the degrees of financial hardship experienced by publicly traded manufacturing businesses throughout the research period and the return projected by the regression model, where the coefficient of multiple correlation is 0.485. The regression model accounts for roughly 23.5 percent of the variance in the financial distress score of publicly traded manufacturing businesses across the research period. The regression model is significant at the 0.05 level, as are the majority of the coefficients in the regression models. The report advises that managers of the listed industrial enterprises maintain the shortest feasible inventory turnover interval. Reducing the inventory turnover period will help the manufacturing firms incur reduced costs associated with inventory, such as the storage and warehousing expenses. With low inventory costs, there is no doubt that there will be a decrease in the overall cost of operations, which ultimately enhances a firm’s bottom line performance.There has also to be effective coordination in the policies guiding the settlement of sales and the collection of cash from the receivables in order to maximize the contribution of strategic working capital management to the performance of listed manufacturing firms. Manufacturing firms will benefit if they do not settle the obligations arising from credit purchases in a short time, and if they collect cash from credit sales within a very short time. The ultimate objective should be maximizing liquidity while ensuring that the firm’s profitability is not affected. Research in the future should examine how strategic decisions made by a corporation intersect with decisions made about working capital management in order to impact the performance of an organization.

Lodupo, Loserian T