Utafiti huu ulichunguza muundo wa simulizi kwenye riwaya ya Vuta N’kuvute yake Adam Shafi. Utafiti wetu ulikuwa na malengo ambayo ni kuchunguza muundo wa simulizi katika riwaya ya Vuta N’kuvute, kuonyesha jinsi vipengele vya hadithi, matini na usimulizi vinavyodhihirika katika riwaya hiyo na kubainisha uamilifu wa vipengele vya simulizi katika kujenga ukamilifu wa riwaya ya Vuta N’kuvute. Utafiti uliongozwa na nadharia ya Naratolojia mtazamo wa Rimmon-Kenan (2002). Mihimili ya nadharia hii ndiyo iliongoza kwenye utafiti kwani ilisaidia kwenye uchunguzi wa usawiri wa wahusika na uwasilishaji wa usemi na mawazo yao. Vilevile, ilisaidia kuelewa jinsi kipengele cha wakati kinavyojitokeza kwenye riwaya ya Vuta N’kuvute na kubaini jinsi usimulizi na mtazamo unavyojitokeza. Utafiti ulikuwa wa maktabani na uchanganuzi na uwasilishwaji wa data ulikuwa kwa mbinu ya maelezo. Mapendekezo yaliyotolewa kwenye utafiti wetu ni kuwa, tafiti za baadaye zifanywe kuhusu riwaya zingine za Adam Shafi na pia tafiti za kiulinganishi kama vile kwenye riwaya na hadithi fupi kuhusu muundo wa simulizi.

This thesis focuses on Christian-based interventions in the effects of interethnic conflicts on people residing in the Njoro Sub-county, from 1992 to 2012. The study has provided detailed information on the causes and effects of interethnic conflict. It has further provided valuable information on the Christian based interventions, aspects that influence interventions, and the difficulties experienced. Recommendations on improving the effectiveness of Christian based interventions have been made. The theoretical framework in the study is the theory of situational ethics which asserts that the absolute law that should influence decision making in any circumstance is love. It is envisaged in the study that the provision of interventions to those affected by the conflict is primarily a result of the love that is articulated in Christian teachings. The researcher applied the qualitative methodology to collect the data. Forty informants who comprised members of ethnic communities, individuals engaged in conflict resolution, peace, and reconciliation process, government officials, and members of the clergy were interviewed. Judgmental sampling was applied to identify respondents that had information relevant to the study. From the findings, Christian based interventions provided relief aid to those affected which included food, clothes, shelters, reconstructing livelihoods, psychosocial support, prayers and homilies, lobbying and advocacy, and peacebuilding initiatives. The interventions derived motivation from Christianity's teachings on love, interethnic relations, peace, conflict resolutions, and God's overall plan for humankind. Inadequate support to some members of the clergy who were providing the interventions, lack of cooperation among the members of the clergy, and interruptions by the political environment posed some difficulties to Christian based interventions. Other difficulties include prevalent mistrust, suspicion, inadequate financial resources, and skills among some Christian leaders on how to respond to the interethnic conflict.Christian based interventions are valuable in the future relations of ethnic communities residing in Njoro Sub-county. Such emanates from the significant influence of Christianity in the Sub-county. About 94% of the population within Nakuru County where Njoro Sub-county is located professes Christian faith, providing a valuable avenue to articulate and implement Christian based interventions to mitigate the effects and resolve the interethnic conflict. To enhance the effectiveness of the Christian based interventions, Christianity will need to win the trust and confidence of the divided ethnic communities. Such will require those involved in providing the interventions to be committed to demonstrating the equality of different ethnic communities residing in the Sub-county. Peace and reconciliation between communities will need to be designed as a continuous process and not a short-term exercise during violent periods. It will be crucial to build the capacity of Christian-based institutions and their respective leadership to enhance effectiveness. More research on how interethnic conflict has affected people's trust in Christian teachings and Christian leadership in the Sub-county is needed. Investigations of probable contributions by individuals who refer to themselves as Christian "prophets" and "prophetesses" to the conflict in the region would valuable. The effects of the ethnic constitution of denominations and churches on the integration of ethnic communities and the psychosocial well-being of the affected individuals and communities would require further research.

When a convict has completed his/her sentence, it is everyone’s hope including the government that they will go back to being productive members of the community. Unfortunately, this is not true all the time. Some recently released inmates re-enter crime and ultimately find themselves back in incarceration. In Kenya, reoffending rate has been shown by existing data from Kenya Prison Services to be on a rising trend despite rehabilitation of the prison services. This research work aimed at finding out the risk factors associated with the likelihood of reoffending. The study focused on 174 inmates at Shimo la Tewa prison in Mombasa County. The specific aim of the study was to explore the extent to which personal, interpersonal and community factors influence the likelihood to reoffend. The research employed the PIC-R model that seeks to explain the etiology of deviance. A quantitative survey design was used for the study and the sample was stratified and selected purposively. Data from inmates were collected using self-report questionnaires. The collected data from questionnaires was coded and tabulated. Both descriptive and inferential data analysis was done with the use of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences software. Study results showed that personal, interpersonal and community risk factors have a positive relationship with the likelihood to reoffend. Unemployment was found out to be the highest risk factor in reoffending among the inmates. The study recommends the alignment of programs in accordance with the risk factors in order to prevent reoffending.

This study analyzed managers’ perception of the relationship between competitive advantage and strategic alliances in AAR Insurance Kenya Limited. The study adopted the case study research design. The objective of the study was to determine the managers’ perception of the relationship between strategic alliance and competitive advantage in AAR Insurance Kenya Limited. The research study assumed is a case study design to give a holistic account of the research. The study interviewed six senior managers who are involved in strategic management and processes in the organization. The data was analyzed using content analysis, it helped to identify the concepts and the key words in the text and generate relevant results. The study showed that AAR Insurance had engaged in strategic alliances and specifically engaged in equity alliances severally and just one Joint ventures alliance and never engaged in contractual alliance. The study distinguished that factors that directed AAR Insurance to be involved in strategic alliances with other organizations were two key motives; transaction cost motive and competitive position motive: leveraging on economies of scale, digitization, entry into new markets, market penetration, capturing international markets, improving the capability to develop new products, and distributing organizational resources. The research found that AAR Insurance had attained competitive advantage because of the getting involved in strategic alliances as depicted in increased profitability and market share. AAR Insurance has also generated huge streams of revenue because of their strategic alliances with financial institutions like commercial banks and credit facilities in Kenya. The study recommendation is that the players and regulators within the insurance industry should involve themselves in strategic alliances since strategic alliances help a firm gain competitive advantage and further impacts the lives of their customers in a very crucial manner. The study also recommended that similar studies be simulated across all the other insurance company managers to access how and if strategic alliances can result in competitive advantages in the insurance market in the country. Another suggestion was to conduct a study like this to gauge whether other organizations that have been involved with AAR Insurance achieved any competitive advantages.

Microfinance banks have been experiencing increased cases of loan default, which is a hindrance to their primary objective of supporting low-income households. Therefore, this study sought to determine the effect of internal factors on the level of non-performing loans among deposit taking microfinance banks in Kenya. The precise goals were to ascertain how Kenyan deposit-taking microfinance banks' levels of capital adequacy, asset quality, management competence, earning capacity, and liquidity influenced the proportion of non-performing loans. The adverse selection and moral hazard theories served as the study's foundation. The explanatory research design was used in this study. 13 CBK-regulated microfinance banks made up the study's sample. The study used secondary panel data that covered the years 2015 through 2021. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the level of nonperforming loans was positively and significantly influenced by managerial skill. The level of non-performing loans was significantly and negatively impacted by liquidity. The level of nonperforming loans was negatively but insignificantly impacted by capital sufficiency, asset quality, and earnings potential. The study concluded that management capability of microfinance banks is unable to recognize and respond to financial challenges such as non-performing loans. The study came to the additional conclusion that microfinance institutions with high liquidity levels can control the level of non-performing loans. The study also found that capital adequacy, asset quality, and earnings capacity had a little impact on the level of non-performing loans. According to the study, management of microfinance institutions should improve their management skills. By lowering operating costs and raising operational profits, this can be accomplished. The report also suggests that microfinance bank management should improve their liquidity ratio. This can be achieved through control of overhead expenses, disposal of unnecessary assets, and renegotiation of debt obligations.

Strategic alliances play an essential role to the success of modern organizations. Businesses are increasingly developing strategic alliances to improve their performance and market position. The establishment of strategic alliances is a reaction to globalization and the complicated and uncertain business environment. Companies are developing strategic alliances to help them expand their market share, enter new markets, develop dynamic skills, and lower operating costs The study aimed to investigate the influence of strategic alliances on performance of commercial banks in Kenya: A case study of NCBA bank Kenya PlC. The study used the following two theories; Resource Based View Theory (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities Theory. The study was qualitative in nature, hence adopting a case study as its design. The research instrument used to collect the data was the interview guide. The data obtained by the researcher was analysed qualitatively by the help of content analysis. The study found that NCBA bank formed strategic partnership with in order to increase its customer base number, market share, improve customer service, develop more products or services and eventually achieve profitability. The study found out that NCBA bank had formed strategic alliances with the insurance firms through NBCA insurance agency. The bank had also formed a strategic alliance with Safaricom PLC so as to offer Mshwari and Fuliza products. The bank had also formed a strategic alliance with Isuzu Kenya. The strategic alliance allowed private schools and National Police Service to purchase and lease buses from ISUZU and get financed with NCBA bank. The study found out that NCBA had formed a strategic alliance with Mysafe Vaults and Kenya association of manufacturers. The study also found out that NCBA bank had a strategic alliance with Tilisi developments, Optiven Limited and Shelter Afrique. The study concluded that strategic alliance contributed to the performance of NCBA bank. The strategic alliances formed by NCBA bank can be attributed to have significantly improved the performance of NCBA bank and led to an increase in the customer base, market and profit of the bank. The study concluded that NCBA bank has been able to influence customers as the result of strategic alliances. The study also concluded that NCBA bank has been able to adjust to the changes and opportunity available in the market due to strategic alliance. The researcher concluded that NCBA achieved the following as a result of strategic alliances; markets expansion, increase in customer number, adoption of better technologies to improve customer service delivery and development of new advanced products and services for the customers. Lastly, the study concluded that NCBA bank has diversified its products and services though identifying opportunities and coming up with a product that meets the needs of the market segment identified. The study recommends NCBA to continue forming new strategic alliances for better improvement of the customers services and profitability of the organization. The study also recommends that NCBA to incorporate data protection in its strategic alliances. The study also recommends the government to offer support to banks by providing good working environment and favorable taxes.

Earning management has been trending in the current financial market. The corporate governance has been utilized in ensuring that unsuspecting shareholders have different information. This is due to informational asymmetry. The research aimed at finding the effect of corporate governance on the earning management. The research optimized five predictor variables with firm size as the sixth being the control variable. The research found a significant association amid the predictors’ variables and the regressed variables. The postulated predictor variable explained 53% before controlling for firm size as stipulated by R-Square. After controlling for firm size they explained 68% of changes in the regressed variable meaning firm size alone explained 15% changes in EM. The research stipulated that the variables not indicated in this research accounted for 32%. This laid a crucial foundation in the analysis of earning management. The predictor variables analyzed showed that three repressor variables had positive association amid the earning management and corporate governance. The three variables were; board size, ownership concentration and Board Activity. However, two variables posted negative association, this include; Board independence, Audit Committee. Firm Size also had positive controlling effect on EM and corporate governance. The research postulated a great role of corporate governance on earning management. The research summarized that a unitary increase in each of the following; board size, ownership concentration and Board activity led to an increase in the earning management by 22.4%, 5.2% and 0.1% in that order all other factors constant when firm size is controlled. The research findings postulated that a unit increase in the audit committee led to a decrease in the earning management by 10%. The research further stated that an increase in the one unit of board independence led to a decrease in the earning management by 3.4% when all factors are kept constant and firm size is controlled. The multicollinearity test opined that the data was statistically significant. The researcher recommended further research on the same topic as well the use of first-hand information. The research further clarified the importance of CMA and NSE in stipulating policies to evade the far-reaching problems.

Financial analysts argue in favour of debt utilization, believing that debt finance can help improve a company's performance. The listed firms in Kenya have been experiencing poor profitability in the recent years. Could this be attributed to the debt financing among the firms. This study sought to determine the effect of debt financing on profitability of listed firms in Kenya. The study adopted net income, agency and pecking order theories. The study adopted net profit margin as the measure for profitability which was the dependent variable. Debt financing was adopted as the independent variable and measured in terms of debt ratio. The study adopted firm size, liquidity and equity financing as the control variables. The study adopted descriptive research design on forty-two (42) listed firms in Kenya. This research was grounded on secondary data from individual firm reports of listed firms in Kenya between 2017 and 2021. The reports were mined from the NSE website. The data collection schedule was used for data collection. Stata 14 was utilized for generation of descriptive and regression statistics. Diagnostic tests of normality, multicollinearity, stationarity, autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity were done. The researcher used F-statistics generated through ANOVA to test for the significance of the regression model. The study found that, between 2017 and 2021, the listed firms showed an average profitability as measured by net profit margin of 8%; debt financing showed of 29.04% as reflected in debt ratio; liquidity at 10.59%; Firm size, average log of 9.70; and equity financing at 54.57% as measured by equity ratio. The regression model summary showed a strong relationship between the predictor variables and profitability. The predictors contributed a proportion of 51.1% of the profitability of listed firms. From the ANOVA, debt financing and the control variables had a significant effect on profitability of listed firms. From the regression coefficients, debt financing, liquidity and firm size had significant positive regression coefficients while equity financing had a negative insignificant regression coefficient. The study concludes that debt financing, liquidity and firm size have a positive effect while equity financing has an insignificant effect on profitability of listed firms in Kenya. The study recommends that listed firms in Kenya increase their debt financing; to increase their liquidity ratios optimally by increasing the level of liquid assets or by reducing the level of liquid assets; to increase their assets by purchasing more; and adopt less equity in financing their opertaions to increase the profitability of the firms. The study was limited by the variables of the study; scope; nature of data; and research methods adopted in the study. The study recommends a study based on other factors influencing profitability of listed firms; other firms other than listed firms; primary or quarterly or semi-annual data; as well as other analytical techniques like One Sample T-test or correlation.

The study sought to establish the magnitude of the determinants of access to credit finance by micro, small and medium enterprises in Nairobi County. The study identified owner’s financial literacy, access to business support services, ownership structure and market size as the determinant variables while ease of credit access was the dependent variable. The study collected a sample of 179 responses from participants who were able to complete and submit their responses from the questionnaires which were administered through drop and pick later method. The responses represented a response rate of 84.5% which was found adequate for the study. The analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics which were found relevant to achieve the objective of the study. In summary, ease of credit access was found to have an overall performance which was below average which implied that MSMEs are struggling to access credit finances in Kenya. Owner’s financial literacy had an average performance implying that majority of MSMEs owners have average financial knowledge which is also a challenge in accessing credit finance. Access to business support services was poor indicating that MSMEs do not easily get access to business support services therefore making it harder to acquire credit finance. The correlation analysis established that both owner’s financial literacy and access to business support services had strong, positive and significant correlations against ease of credit access. Ownership structure had a weak and insignificant positive correlation against ease of credit access while market size indicated a positive and significant impact against ease of credit access. The study as well carried out regression analysis which revealed that the model accounted for 38.2 % of the changes in the dependent variable. The adjusted R square was slightly below R square to indicate that the model consists of elements that are not adding value to the model. Owner’s financial literacy, access to business support services and market size were found to have a positive xii relationship with ease of credit access while ownership structure had negative impact on ease of credit access. The study therefore, concluded that owner’s financial literacy and access to business support services require improvement as they affect the ease of credit access among MSMEs in Kenya, while ownership structure and market size do not have any significant effect on ease of credit access of MSMEs in Nairobi. The study recommended that the government should carry out nationwide trainings and workshops to help improve on financial literacy. The study also recommended that the business owners should avoid small term loans, to finance their business operations and at the same time the study recommended them to increase operations that would help them grow their assets (size).

The adoption of budget controls in many organizations has been slow paced and in some poorly implemented that leaves loopholes for fraud and misuse of organization resources. Some organization managers have failed to understand the direct impact between budget controls and financial performance, hence failing in giving budget controls the seriousness it deserves while in other organizations the budget controls are seen as a responsibility of the finance and accounting department and budget controls did not cut across the organization functions. The study examined the effect of budget controls on financial performance of SACCOs in Mombasa County. The theoretical review of the study comprised of four key theories i.e Accounting Theory in Budgeting Control, Theory of budgeting, Control theory and Stewardship theory. The study methodology comprised of a descriptive research design, a target population of 40 managers from SACCOs licensed and operating in Mombasa County. Data was collected using primary instruments i.e questionnaires and secondary instruments i.e financial statements. Data instruments were tested for reliability, validity and diagnostic tests. Data obtained was analysed using descriptive and inferential techniques aided by SPSS. Research concluded that budget controls have a positive and significant influence on targeted SACCOs. Specifically, it was concluded that, Budget monitoring, Budget planning and Budget review had a positive significant influence while insignificant effect was reported for Participative budgeting. The conclusion arrived led to the recommendations that SACCO managers ensure full adoption of budget control systems to ensure that they minimize on resource wastages. To ensure SACCO managers fully realize the benefit of Budget Controls, the study recommended for full involvement of all stakeholders in the budget making and where necessary training provided to stakeholders with less understanding of the budgeting process. There is also need for continuous monitoring of expenses to ensure that, all resources are used for intended purposes. Finally, the study recommended for ensuring the budgeting making process is comprehensive and all needs of the organization are adequately considered to get rid of reallocation of resources that encourage mismanagement of resources.