Export marketing strategies are considered to influence firm performance directly or indirectly if effectively managed. Export marketing strategies are developed and implemented by the organizations with the aim of increasing sales volumes and sales growth. Kakuzi Plc has faced performance challenges in the last two decades and this has mostly been caused by reducing prices and increased competition from foreign agricultural firms. This has also been mainly contributed by intense competitive environment created domestically and complemented by regional integration initiatives. The objective of the study was to establish the effect of export marketing strategies on performance of Kakuzi Plc. This study was based on two theories, internationalization process theory and internalization theory. The research adopted a case study approach and an interview guide was used for collection of data. Content analysis was used to analyze data which was qualitative in nature. The study established that Kakuzi Plc differentiates its products from its competitors in the market in terms of packaging. The finding revealed that the pricing strategies is used often include market-based pricing, marginal pricing and full cost pricing. Kakuzi Plc sells to retailers, who in turn have their own distribution retail store outlets that sell directly to the customers. Kakuzi Plc promotion strategy also include in store promotion/ activations. Export marketing strategy have really helped Kakuzi to enhance performance. Export marketing approaches had a positive impact on customer satisfaction. The study recommends that the management of Kakuzi Plc should keep experimenting with export marketing strategies since they complement each other and boost performance.

In western Kenya, soil nutrient depletion is one of the main problems that has led to declining crop yield. Agricultural intensification through the judicious application of fertilizers has been considered amongst mitigation options for these smallholder farming systems with an average land size of less than 3.0 ha. The blanket fertilizer recommendations used in this region, have led to poor response to the fertilizer applied and low nutrient use efficiency. These recommendations do not take into account the spatial variability occurring at the local level across the smallholder landscape. Furthermore, the methods used to diagnose soil nutrient constraints are inefficient, because they do not take into account the spatial extent to which the nutrient deficiencies occur. Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) technique and the Population-Based Farm Survey (PBFS) approach are promising strategies that can help address this problem though they have not been fully exploited for smallholder farming systems. The main objective of this study was to develop and test nutrient management strategies that could be used to improve fertilizer recommendation using the DSM technique and the PBFS approach. The approach was tested to provide site-specific nutrient diagnostics and provide management recommendations in heterogeneous smallholder farming systems. First, evaluation of Fertilizer Response (FR) – a response ratio, and Agronomic Nutrient Use Efficiency (NAE) was conducted using fertilizer trial data. Meta-analysis technique was employed to identify key factors that influence FR and N-AE in smallholder farming systems. The results indicated soil, climate, and management factors could explain only small amounts (< 30 %) of variation in FR and N-AE. Soil pH, phosphorus (P), texture, and rainfall had significant (P <0.001), but low levels of power in explaining variation in FR and N-AE. This implied that strategies for refining the blanket fertilizer recommendations should include soil-based information, but soil testing needs to be accompanied by nutrient response trials. Secondly, the utility of using the DSM technique was explored, to determine the optimum scale of using digital soil maps, relevant to nutrient management for maize farming systems. A farm survey was conducted and data on soil properties; soil pH, Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), Total Nitrogen (TN), xiv Potassium (K), Phosphorus (P), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg), Grain Yield (GY) and Plant Biovolume (BV) were collected. Data on the soil properties and crop responses (GY and BV) were analyzed using Step-wise Multiple Linear Regression (SMLR) analysis and geostatistical techniques. The results showed high variability in GY, with 32 % of the observed variation being accounted for by the underlying soil properties. SOC was identified as the key driver of crop response to fertilizer application in the study area. Moderate spatial dependencies for SOC with an effective distance of 523 m were observed. The lower nugget value (0.0542) was indicative of short-distance spatial variability in soil properties. A threshold scale of 250 m was proposed, below which, local growing conditions within the study area were captured, implying that a soil nutrients map with a resolution < 250 m would capture the local variability. Lastly, a sampling approach on a population-based survey of smallholder maize fields was tested to diagnose soil nutrient constraints rather than the conventional agronomic trials. Soil test values were established using Cate-Nelson Analysis (1978) for NPK, which were used to define cases on nutrient constraints. In these study, three aspects are considered; evaluation of FR and N-AE to guide nutrient management strategies, the use of DSM techniques to provide fertilizer recommendations at a refined spatial scale, and utility of PBFS for diagnosis of nutrient limitations in smallholder farming systems. The main finding of the study includes: (i) FR and N-AE were highly variable in smallholder maize fields of western Kenya, (ii) SOC was the key soil factor that captured local spatial variability on farms. Thus, 250 m was the optimum soil sampling distance for nutrient management based on the spatial range of SOC. This study demonstrated that soil nutrient maps are useful tools, which can be implemented in strategies aimed at a refined fertilizer recommendation across SSA. The utility of DSM and the new PBFS approach has the potential for providing site-specific diagnostics to guide nutrient management decisions. Successfully developing such an integrated soil-based diagnostic system is warranted, and the wider application will be instrumental for refining fertilizer recommendation across maize smallholder agroecosystem systems.

University of Nairobi is the oldest and best performing University in Kenya. University of Nairobi and other universities in Kenya in general have been facing issues to do with staff turnover intentions. The Public Universities Inspection Board determined that each year the most competent academic personnel from public universities leave abroad. Because of the financial constraints facing the universities, it is quite difficult for them to replace departing staffs. In most cases, universities have observed that graduates sent overseas for training prefer to stay abroad or enter the private sector or leave soon after their return. The objective of this research was to establish the factors influencing employee turnover intentions among teaching staff at the University of Nairobi. The study was based on Herzberg two factor theory and social exchange theory. The research design that was applied in this research was descriptive research design. In this research, the 2220 UON teaching staff formed the population of the research. In this study stratified random sampling was used. The sample size for this research was determined via the formulae suggested by Yamane to give 339 respondents that was used as the sample size for the current study. Primary data was needed and therefore a questionnaire was utilized in collecting the data from the respondent. The questionnaire was composed of close ended questions. Data analysis was achieved through use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software Version 24. The regression coefficients result showed that employee compensation relates negatively and statistically significant with employee turnover intentions (β=0.131 p=0.000); career development relates negatively and statistically significant with employee turnover intentions (β=-0.088 p=0.003); achievement relates negatively and statistically significant with employee turnover intentions (β=-0.126 p=0.001); job responsibility relates negatively and statistically significant with employee turnover intentions (β=-0.123 p=0.000) and recognition relates negatively and statistically significant with employee turnover intentions (β=-0.113 p=0.007). The research recommends that human resource managers at the University of Nairobi, and by extension human resource managers of other organizations, can employ these factors in trying to minimize employee turnover intention. They should incorporate the study findings in formulation of policies and further on how to implement their strategies successfully and on how they could plan to reduce challenges facing it to enable evaluation of the outcomes in a meaningful way.

Good health is essential in ensuring the well-being of people yet, financial access to health care remains a challenge in developing countries. Members of poor households, informal sector workers and rural dwellers feel this strain more due to low insurance coverage. This has caused many individuals to forego seeking treatment, delay seeking treatment or end up becoming impoverished due to high health expenses. Microinsurance has proven to offer financial protection to its beneficiaries and has contributed to the reduction of incidences of OOP expenses. Over the years, the mode of delivery of microinsurance to low-income earners has evolved and now insurers are moving towards digitizing processes by leveraging on mobile phone technology and digital financial platforms. This has enhanced affordability of microinsurance products, made processes more efficient and proven to be convenient. This study sought to analyse how digital health microinsurance is facilitating access to health care using the case of Hospital Cash in Embu County. To achieve this, the study sought to: identify the characteristics of uptakers of Hospital Cash in Embu County; to determine how leveraging on digital technology has enabled Hospital Cash to promote uptake of health microinsurance in Embu County and to establish how Hospital Cash facilitates payment for healthcare services for uptakers in Embu County. The study employed the financial capability theory to understand the importance of the availability of financial services and innovations to choose from and financial knowledge in making improved financial decisions such as taking up health microinsurance, as a form of financial protection against health care expenses. The PACE client value assessment tool was also used to assess the increased individual value clients get from the digitization of microinsurance products which promotes enrollment. Primary data for the study was collected via telephone interviews using a semi-structured interview guide that enabled capturing of both qualitative and quantitative data. Data was collected from 42 individuals who have received a processed claim from the organization using a census approach and from 9 Key Informants who were purposively sampled based on their knowledge and experience in health microinsurance bringing the total number of respondents to 51. The study established that the product; has penetrated a large geographical area and has been able to majorly cover and facilitate access to healthcare to low income earning individuals majority who are women. Financial literacy, awareness and training on the product have significantly contributed to enrollment and digitization has increased efficiency and enabled the organization to avail the product at a rate that is affordable to low income earners. The payout received has enabled the beneficiaries to reduce incidences of OOP expenses and has offered a faster and more convenient mode of settling health expenses via mobile money. Recommendations are made on different areas the product can be improved on based on feedback from the respondents and generally on the viability of adopting digital health financing as a mode of promoting UHC particularly for low income earners.

Most of the firms in the country and other parts of the world engage in CSR activities to improve their images and reputations towards the members of the public with a view to enhancing their performances. Nonetheless, evidence from previous studies provide conflicting results with some of them identifying positive link between firm performance and CSR activities whereas others identify negative link or no link between them. The current study evaluated the link between the performance of large manufacturing firms in the country and CSR activities between 2010 and 2020. Its specific objectives were two and they included determining the influence that community-related CSR activities had on firms’ performances and appraising the influence that environmental-related CSR activities had on the firms’ performances. Both ROA and ROE were used to measure firm performance. Secondary data obtained from the firms’ financial reports and sustainability reports were used to determine how CSR initiatives influenced both ROE and ROA. Both correlation and fixed effect regression analysis method were used to conduct the study. The study found that community CSR projects had negative influence on ROA, but not ROE. Additionally, it established that the environmental CSR projects had positive influence on ROA, but not ROE as well. Despite the variations in the influence, the study recommended that the large manufacturing firms in the country should invest in both community and environmental CSR projects to enhance their images and reputation with a possibility of influencing their performances positively.

This research investigated the Contribution of Faith Based Activities in rehabilitation of offenders: Case of Rwanda prison fellowship - Musanze Prison. Generally, it focused on identifying the different offender rehabilitation faith based programs conducted in Musanze Prison, their opportunities, and influence to the rehabilitation of offenders in Musanze Prison. Similarly, this study used a qualitative design and was conducted on a sample of 85 respondents selected by using purposive sampling methods from a population composed of 722 inmates currently attending different Faith Based rehabilitation activities. The findings of this research have revealed the faith based offender rehabilitation programs delivered in Musanze Prison focus on cognitive rehabilitation programs and welfare programs. The cognitive programs include the counseling and psychotherapy, biblical teaching, socio-healing and reintegration, and peace and reconciliation, while the welfare programs focus on providing basic needs such as food stuff and other equipments. These programs contributed greatly to the rehabilitation of offenders mainly through individual wound healing, the reconciliation with the God, development of a sense of self discipline, development of the good relationship with other prisoners; shaping the capability of love, help and solidarity among prisoners, creating and strengthening the ability to apology and forgiveness, and strengthening the unity and reconciliation between genocide perpetrators and genocide survivors, and the survival of prisoners. However, the study findings disclosed some limitations challenging for the smooth running of faith based offender rehabilitation programs. These include mainly the ineffective integration of all prisoners in PFR programs due to its methodological approach centered on Christianity doctrine and principles indirectly marginalizing offenders not believing in Christianity religion. Other challenges include ineffective running of the rehabilitation programs related to the welfare due to budget constraints; prisoners‟ lower level of awareness of rehabilitation programs. and Ineffectiveness running and follow up of the rehabilitation programs due to the volunteerism nature of Faith Based rehabilitation programs leading staff to feel unmotivated to work Considering the research findings, three main recommendations were suggested to: adopt an integrating framework involving all the prisoners in their respective religious sects, look for financial support from the different partners that can support welfare programs and staff incentives, organize awareness campaigns encouraging prisoners to join prison fellowship programs, and put in place the follow-up mechanisms of rehabilitation programs delivered in prisons.

This study was undertaken to evaluate and determine the impact of integrated farming system on livestock and crop production, as socio-economic development of farmers in Nyagatare district, specifically in the sectors of Gatunda and Nyagatare. The main purpose of this study was due to current dominance of subsistence farming being practiced on the limited land resources with rapid growing of population which does not match with the economic development of Rwanda, this leads to food security crisis and low social economic development of the Rwandan farmers. The general objective was to determine the contribution of integrated farming system to social economic development of farmers in Nyagatare district of Eastern province. It was conducted in two case studies of Nyagatare and Gatunda sectors. Five cells of Nyagatare sector and four cells of Gatunda sector were selected. The method used to select the sample was purposive sampling, whereby forty one (41) respondents were selected for questionnaires and five (5) administrative staff responsible for agriculture and livestock related activities from local (sector, district and province) to central government level were purposively selected for interviews. The findings of this study revealed that, IFS has to some extent a positive social and economic impact. This initiative has allowed some households to shift from a lower level of poorer to a relatively poor class. The participants in this research declared that IFS has increased their livelihood due to selling surplus milk and increased agricultural production due to manure use. Findings in tables 7-14 showed that through IFS, farmers increased their income from agriculture and livestock. This was due to the increase of crop production and livestock production (milk). Because of income increase, the findings showed that farmers increased their expenditures on food, education and clothing. Also, the quantity of food taken has improved. Though IFS contributed to the welfare of farmers, it was revealed in the figures 6-11 that IFS is not 100% well-practiced by the farmers. Some gaps exist and were identified in the figure 12. The farmers face some challenges in practicing IFS, such as insufficient knowledge and skills due to lack of or inadequate training in Gatunda sector especially, lack of or insufficient water in Gatunda animal and crop diseases, drought in both sectors, to mention but a few. Some strategies to address the challenges were proposed, namely regular training of farmers; increase the number of famers field school facilitators and farmer promoters, and assist the farmers in cow breeding and use of manure.

‗Understanding Community service as a tool for sustainable development in Rwanda: A Case Study of Nyamagabe District‘ is a study that was carried out in Nyamagabe district. In particular administrative sectors, namely Cyanika and Gasaka, community service was regarded as a way of punishment for people who committed the crime against humanity. Rather, it involves tigistes‘ self-discipline and respect. As a result, it has the potentials for the offender to make a constructive contribution to the community. As reconstructive measure, it exclusively targeted the offenders who committed genocide crimes in Rwanda. With reference to the conceptual framework established for this study, the existing literature accords to view sustainable development as a complex concept that advocates for environment protection, natural resources management, social life and development, and community development. Emphasis being made on the infrastructure development, an urgent need was felt to reconcile both the theoretical and professional point of views to understand the effect of community service on sustainable development. Along these lines, the primary interest of this study was to establish an inventory of community service achievements. On the basis of these achievements, the study discussed the relevance of community service for the sustainable development of Nyamagabe district. In so doing, the study intended to investigate the questions formulated as follows: In which ways does infrastructure development ensure the subsistence of both present and future generations in Nyamagabe? How does infrastructure development contribute to social services in Nyamagabe district? In which ways does the infrastructure development promote economic welfare in Nyamagabe district? How does the infrastructure development ensure environmental sustainability in Nyamagabe district? These questions involved an empirical inquiry to come up with tentative responses. The sample size was of 99 respondents was selected from genocide survivors, offenders in Cyanika labor camp, ex-offenders and other people. These respondents were reached through different research methods and data collection techniques like questionnaire survey, face-to-face interview, observation and documentation. The findings established the alternative punishment to imprisonment promotes social and economic welfare, environment sustainability though infrastructure development. As a matter of fact, the offenders gained professional skills in different fields such as carpentry; masonry, excavation work, joinery, hydraform machine use and weaving. They have built various public offices, established terraces, schools and markets, added value to human and natural resources, protected infrastructures and environment, self-developed themselves as well as their families, kept unity and reconciliation in their cooperatives. As a result, the empirical inquiry supported that the infrastructure development contributes to the subsistence of present and future generations. High quality infrastructure facilities pertaining to community service such as houses for vulnerable groups, schools, and terraces are among the indications widely highlighted. Finally, the study establishes that the infrastructure facilities support commodity exchange and communication facilities within the district and between the neighboring districts. There are few problems, if at all, in transporting manufactured goods, agriculture production, timber and charcoal in these districts. Thus, community service activities have yielded fruits that promote the economic welfare of the population of Nyamagabe district and beyond.