The financial performance of companies listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) over the last five years has been on a downward trend. External auditors have vital qualities that are important in enhancing financial performance. This research sought to assess the influence of external auditor attributes on the financial performance of listed companies at the NSE. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the influence of external auditor’s professional competence, years of experience, audit approach and independence on financial performance of listed firms in Kenya. The study was based on the agency theory and stakeholder salience theory. The study employed descriptive research design. The 63 companies listed at the NSE were the study population. Data collection was done using two instruments; a questionnaire (for data on external auditor attributes) and a secondary data collection sheet (for data on financial performance). Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the collected data. Study findings determined that professional competence, audit approach and independence had a significant positive influence on financial performance of firms listed at the NSE. However, experience of the external auditors had no significant influence on financial performance of firms listed at the NSE. The study recommends to ICPAK and ISACA to ensure continued professional development of external auditors. Board of directors should always ensure independence of external auditors, and audit firms should ensure that auditors are regularly rotated according to guidelines and best practices.

There is an increased importance of customer satisfaction in service provision; thus, the study examined the influence of shopping malls servicescape on the satisfaction of shopping mall customers in Westland's, Kenya. The two theories that informed this study was; Stimulus-Organism-Response and Bitner’s Theoretical Framework. It used a purposive sampling technique to sample shoppers at the malls. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics such as the mean, standard deviation and frequencies. The inferential statistics which included correlation and regression analysis was used to assess the influence of shopping mall servicescape on customer satisfaction. The investigation found that shopping centers servicescape had a positive and huge relationship with consumer loyalty. The study focused on five shopping malls located in Nairobi, Kenya. The study recommended shopping malls to seek more knowledge on what physical settings or attributes attract customers. They should then make sure they make improvements on their servicescape by implementing this knowledge. The study also made the recommendation to the investors to continually monitor customer behavior in shopping malls to alter and encourage improvement on the shopping malls servicescape. Similar studies could be conducted among other shopping malls within and without Nairobi environs. More studies could also be conducted among other players in different sectors such as the financial sector, and other service industry players. Secondary data could also be collected from shopping malls owners and retail shop owners who have their shops in the malls. The study also suggests future studies to assess the relationship between servicescape and shopping malls performance other than customer satisfaction.

The main objective of the study was to establish the effect of financial reporting quality on investment decisions of firms listed at NSE. While earnings management, conservative accounting and accrual quality were the independent variable, firm size was the control variable and investment decision was the dependent variable. The study was guided by agency theory, stakeholder theory, and the signaling effect theory. The study adopted correlational design with quantitative approach targeting 64 listed firms at the Nairobi Securities Exchanged (NSE). Census was used and thus all the listed firms were included in the study. The findings were that earnings management (p<0.05), conservative accounting (p<0.05), accruals quality (p<0.05) and firm size (p<0.05) were all significant. The study concludes that financial reporting quality significantly influences investment decision. The study recommends that finance managers of the listed firms in Kenya should try to minimize incidences and practices of earning quality management so as to support informed decision making among investors. The board of directors being the oversight body on behalf of investors should establish strong internal control systems among listed firms that would minimize earnings management thus allowing investors and shareholders to make rationale and informed investment decisions.

Monetary policies are paramount in shaping the economic well-being of any country. The formulation of policies is strategically for the futuristic survival and sustainability of the business and the economy. The main objective this study was to determine the effect of monetary policies on the dividend payout. The shareholders have also expected for high dividend payout as an indication that corporate governance is maximizing the shareholders’ wealth. The research utilized secondary data from 2016-2019. The integral determinants were Repo Rate, Central Bank Rate, and 91-Day Treasury Bill Rate. The theories anchoring this research were Liquidity preference theory, pecking order theory and life cycle theory. The census was undertaken since all the commercial banks listed in the NSE were studied. The quantitative descriptive research design was integral method useful in this research. The SPSS was utilized to build the foundation of this research. The research assessed and found out that the regressed variable was dividend payout and correlated with the predictor variables such in Repo Rate, Central Bank Rate, and 91-Day Treasury Bill by negative 49.6%, negative 2% and positive 79.6% respectively. The research indicated that 91-Day Treasury Bill was significantly correlated with dividend payout by 79.6%. The research recommended for further consideration of macroeconomics factors since they were not exhaustive in this study. The multicollinearity test was done using Variance Inflation Factors. The findings postulated Repo rate with 1.538, Central Bank Rate 1.044 and 91-Day Treasury Bill at 1.558. This eliminated the assumption that predictor variables were correlated. The multicollinearity was within the normal range and insignificant. In a nutshell, the monetary policies have come of age to transform the economy. The key builders must be addressed to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and to promote economic growth.

The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of socio-economic factors on performance of community empowerment projects in Mogadishu, Somalia. Specifically, the study looked at literacy, gender roles, income levels and diversity of the project teams in relation to performance of community empowerment projects in Mogadishu, Somalia. The study was anchored on empowerment theory. The study adopted descriptive survey design targeting 130 project managers, project coordinators, project team leaders and community liaison officers from the Strengthening Somali Governance Project in Mogadishu City, Somalia. Census was adopted and thus the 130 respondents were included in the study. Primary data was collected with aid of the questionnaire that was piloted to determine reliability. Content and construct validity was tested by the supervisor. The analysis of the findings was done supported by means and standard deviations, frequencies and percentages and regression analysis. Tables were used in presenting the findings of the study. Based on the beta coefficients, literacy (β=.447) had the greatest effect on performance of the community empowerment projects followed by gender roles (β=.363), diversity of project team (β=.198) and lastly income levels (β=.076) respectively. The study concludes that socio-economic factors have significant influence performance of community empowerment projects in Mogadishu, Somalia. The study recommends that the project managers of the community empowerment projects in Mogadishu, Somalia should appreciate literacy when making decisions that affect the general performance of the projects in place. The project managers of the community empowerment projects in Mogadishu, Somalia should strive to promote gender equality and equity while reducing some existing patriarchal believes in the community. The finance managers of the community empowerment projects in Mogadishu, Somalia should have in place diverse sources of income to promote financial sustainability as they enhance community empowerment. The project teams running all the community empowerment projects in Mogadishu, Somalia should be drawn from diverse background to enhance performance