Over the years rapid urbanization has taken place and with this there has been a need to create sustainable cities with urban infrastructure and social public amenities that support the population surge in the urban areas. Kenya has been no different. Kenya Urban Roads Authority is the government entity mandated to identify the need for urban roads, plan, implement and manage urban roads in Kenya. This study focused on investigating the influence of project planning on implementation of urban road projects: a case of Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Nairobi region. The study was directed by the subsequent objectives; to assess the influence of project resource planning, planning for project procurement procedures, planning for project stakeholder engagement and planning for project risk management on implementation of urban road projects in Kenya. The literature reviewed the theoretical framework focusing on the theory of triple constraints and the theory of project management. The study had a target population of 1,000 Kenya Urban Roads Authority employees. The drawn sample was 90 participants for the study. Piloting of the instrument was done on 9 Nairobi Metropolitan employees, a number derived from a proportion of 10% of the total sample of the study. The study employed a descriptive research design with the data collection instrument selected as a questionnaire having structured questions with the intention of satisfying the research questions and objectives. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS software for descriptive, inferential statistics and the Pearson correlation analysis. From the analysis, it was evident that project resource planning influenced the implementation of urban road projects having a variability of 12.4%. Secondly, planning for project procurement procedures influenced implementation of urban road projects and it could be explained with a variability of 31.8%. Thirdly, from the findings, it was palpable that 19.1% of the variability in the dependent variable- implementation of urban road projects can be explained by the dependent variable- planning for project stakeholder engagement. Finally, it was evident that only 6.5% of the variability in the dependent variable- implementation of urban road projects can be explained by the dependent variable- planning for project risk management. When the hypotheses were tested, the P value for all the independent variables was less than 0.05 thus leading to rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concluded that all the independent variables influenced the implementation of urban road projects although at different extents. The research further proposed some recommendations like proper resource planning, prioritizing stakeholder engagement and formulation of better risk response frameworks before implementation of urban road projects. The areas for further research should be carried out in urban areas where rapid infrastructural developments are happening.

Digital transformation boosts productivity and hence raises revenues and consumption per capita. Over the last ten years there has been an extensive adoption of digitalization by banks in Kenya. This has resulted to slowed branch activities as the growth of digital banking solutions is embraced by customers. There have been notable gains in digitalization which are tied to economic recovery and revenue diversification which has resulted to increased efficiency in banking operations. The researcher also observed that there was an increase in wages and salaries which is contrary to the expectation that banks would accrue some savings on staff costs from a leaner workforce that is more efficient. This trend can be attributed to an increase in staff salaries as employees acquire additional technological skills leading to an improved bargaining power in terms of salaries. There was therefore a conceptual gap that warranted a study in order to understand whether banks were prepared to bear with the rising costs arising from the increased wage bill despite their heavy investment in digitalizing. The study was guided by the following objective; to determine the effect of digital transformation on the capital-labour ratio in the commercial banking sector in Nairobi, Kenya. The study focused on two theories, theory of diffusion of innovation and theory based on resources. Descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. The target population comprised all the 42 commercial banks in Nairobi, Kenya. Data was coded and verified with the use of a Microsoft Excel software to ensure correctness and completeness. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS, software version 23. The respondents’ profiles were summarized and analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequencies, means, standard deviations and percentages. The evaluated data was then presented through tables, graphs and discussion of the results. The effect of digital transformation on capital-work ratio of commercial banks in Nairobi, Kenya was tested by means of a regression analysis. The study found that cost of labour is affected inversely by the changes in digital transformation. There was sharp increase in digitalization between the year 2014 and 2015. Besides, in 2012 and 2013 there was sharp decrease of payroll costs which may be attributed to high job losses in the sector as a result of banks adopting digital technology during this period. The study concluded that access to digital banking technology inversely influenced the capital-labour ratio of commercial banks in Nairobi, Kenya. This could be attributed to the trends recorded in the variables whereby access to digital platforms by users, reduction in operating costs and improvements in turnaround time had an inverse and positive contribution to capital-labour ratio of commercial banks in Nairobi, Kenya. The study recommends that financial institutions should offer low transaction charges for customers using their digital platforms and provide secure digital environment that guarantee security of customers deposits and information at all times. This will attract more customers to take up digital banking services thus ensuring the future sustainability of the banking business. Furthermore, the use of digital banking technology may be a strategic and cheaper option for banks to render banking services to people living in the remote parts of Kenya that are still unbanked thus increasing financial inclusion in the country. Finally, the study recommends that commercial banks in Nairobi, Kenya should ensure that systems failures and down-times are kept at the bare minimum in order to enhance service delivery and thus reduce the operating costs of commercial banks in Nairobi, Kenya

Kenyan courts are required to promote alternative forms of dispute resolution and safeguard timely administration of justice by ensuring timely disposal of proceedings and efficient disposal of their businesses. It is assumed that ADR is an effective tool of achieving these objectives and clearing case backlog. However, despite various judiciary-driven initiatives designed to institutionalize ADR, the Judiciary continues to demonstrate that case backlog remains a major challenge to the timely administration of justice in Kenya. Thus, the study sought to investigate the legal challenges that impede the use of ADR as a tool for achieving timely administration of justice in Kenya. The study employed doctrinal and comparative research methodologies. The study reveals that Kenya lacks a substantive statute on ADR and a national policy. The existing framework is characterized by piecemeal legislations on ADR and the sectoral approach which have occasioned coordination challenges, legal gaps and disharmony amongst normative rules and the established institutions. In addition, TDRMs and TJS disregard principles of natural justice, human rights, equality and the non-discrimination. Further, the efficacy of ADR has also been compromised by antagonism between the formal legal system and the informal legal system. Lastly, culture is equally to blame as Kenyans have litigious tendencies, a negative attitude against ADR mechanisms and advocates discourage their clients from resolving to ADR. By way of comparison, South Africa has a better legal and institutional framework designed to enhance professionalism, competency and institutional jurisprudence. The study recommends the enactment of a single unifying statute to regulate and monitor ADR mechanisms, standardization of TDRMs so as to uphold natural justice, non-discrimination and gender balance. Other recommendations include demystifying TJS, Rethinking the role of advocates, developing a policy framework and conducting civic education to detoxify Kenyans‟ litigious culture.

Mwangi, Lynette W.

This study looks at the influence of Gender Diversity on the Performance of International Non-Governmental Organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The objective of the study was to find out the effect of Gender Diversity on the Performance of International Non-Governmental Organizations in the DR Congo. The population of study equaled to the sample size and had 130 International Non- Governmental Organizations. This is a descriptive research and questionnaires were used to gather information. Human Resources Managers and Executive Directors were participants to this study. Thereafter the findings revealed a significant positive effect between Gender Diversity and the Performance of International Non- Governmental Organizations. That is, the study recommends that, the 3 levels of management in any organization should comprise of individuals of highly diversified gender. This was made possible by the econometric method from which we selected the Linear Regression Model using the IBM SPSS Statistics 24. URI

With the rapid changes in automation and technologies and advent of COVID-19, commercial banks have been forced to speed up the implementation of digital strategies as a way of attaining competitive advantage. The objective of this study was to establish the challenges of implementation of digitization strategies and competitive advantage by international Tier 1 commercial banks in Kenya. This research was based on two theories; the national competitive advantage theory and the chaos theory of management. This study applied a case study design and used an interview guide to collect qualitative data from the nine Tier 1 international commercial banks in Kenya. The target respondents in the 9 Tier 1 commercial banks were the Chief Information System Directors. This study applied the content analysis method to analyze the collected qualitative data. The study findings determined that in most of the international tier 1 commercial banks, formulation and implementation of digital strategies was an interdepartmental process that incorporated two or more departments. The study also determined that all the banks had digital strategies in place prior to COVID-19 pandemic's outbreak in the nation, but had to enhance the scope and accelerate implementation due to COVID-19. Findings indicated that the international tier 1 commercial banks implemented various digital strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic which included digitization of more banking processes and services, partnerships with FinTechs and Telecoms, introduction of digital signatures and workflow automation. Besides, findings indicated that other digital strategies executed included allowing employees to work remotely, upgrading their systems, expanding online banking services, improving aesthetics of digital platforms and upgrading security over systems and increasing allocation of resources. The study findings determined that the commercial banks faced a variety of challenges that included cyber security risks, wastage of resources and time in remote working, regulatory challenges, internet access, increase in emergency investments and resistance to change. The study determined that the digital strategies that were executed by the commercial banks were critical to their ability to achieve and maintain competitive advantage. Based on the findings and conclusions, the study leads to the following recommendations. To begin with, the study recommends that digital strategy formulation and implementation should be an interdepartmental effort and process. Incorporating various departments in the formulation and implementation of digital strategy, it is recommended that commercial banks should have the agility in their culture, strategies and processes so that they can cope with chaos such as those that were brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, top leadership and policy makers should work together in dealing with the challenges of executing digital strategies. The top management should ensure that there are adequate policies and resources to cope with the challenges such as cyber-security, internal efficiency, remote working and connectivity. Besides, it is recommended that CBK should expedite the review and approval of new digital products and services by the commercial banks during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the future.